Matteo Wong
@matteowong.bsky.social
Staff writer on science, tech, and health at The Atlantic covering AI. Signal @matteowong.52
Pinned
Matteo Wong
@matteowong.bsky.social
· May 13
Silicon Valley Braces for Chaos
The center of the tech universe seems to believe that Trump’s tariff whiplash is nothing compared with what they see coming from AI.
www.theatlantic.com
In Silicon Valley, the latest tariff matters far less than the latest ChatGPT update and the White House less than OpenAI. Why sweat a recession if AGI is on the horizon? I report on the heart of America's tech industry response to Trump 2.0: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Of course even those fake toll fee texts are the result of SaaS—that is, Scamming-as-a-Service
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
The Criminal Enterprise Behind That Fake Toll Text
Beware the smishing triad
www.theatlantic.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Of course even those fake toll fee texts are the result of SaaS—that is, Scamming-as-a-Service
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
"The science backing up the idea that race can make someone a good or bad scientist or airline pilot is as solid as the logic behind 'orcs can’t be wizards' or 'a hobbit can never become a great fighter.'"
Just an excellent piece
Just an excellent piece
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:43 PM
"The science backing up the idea that race can make someone a good or bad scientist or airline pilot is as solid as the logic behind 'orcs can’t be wizards' or 'a hobbit can never become a great fighter.'"
Just an excellent piece
Just an excellent piece
Reposted by Matteo Wong
I’m still fighting every day to get the answer to this question and now I have a FORM. Please for the love of God fill out the form (or email your answer to cweaver@theatlantic). I’ll let you know how it all works out in the end!!!! docs.google.com/forms/d/11de...
November 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I’m still fighting every day to get the answer to this question and now I have a FORM. Please for the love of God fill out the form (or email your answer to cweaver@theatlantic). I’ll let you know how it all works out in the end!!!! docs.google.com/forms/d/11de...
OpenAI requested the names of anyone who cared for or supervised Adam Raine—whose parents allege, in a lawsuit, killed himself at ChatGPT's encouragement—over the past 5 years, including friends, teachers, school-bus drivers, and “car pool divers" [sic].
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
The New Brutality of OpenAI
The company is pursuing aggressive legal tactics against its opponents.
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
OpenAI requested the names of anyone who cared for or supervised Adam Raine—whose parents allege, in a lawsuit, killed himself at ChatGPT's encouragement—over the past 5 years, including friends, teachers, school-bus drivers, and “car pool divers" [sic].
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Matteo Wong
OpenAI is facing several high-profile lawsuits—and now the company is going on the offensive. @matteowong.bsky.social reports on the tech giant’s new, aggressive legal strategy:
No More Mr. Nice AI
OpenAI is pursuing aggressive legal tactics against its opponents.
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 2:00 AM
OpenAI is facing several high-profile lawsuits—and now the company is going on the offensive. @matteowong.bsky.social reports on the tech giant’s new, aggressive legal strategy:
Reposted by Matteo Wong
Hi! Preposterously excited (& tbh nervous in the good but also terrifying way) to say that i'm spinning up a podcast that will expand on all the work i do covering politics/technology/information hell. here's a lil teaser we made - first ep will come out 11/14! www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnDE...
Introducing: Galaxy Brain with Charlie Warzel
YouTube video by The Atlantic
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Hi! Preposterously excited (& tbh nervous in the good but also terrifying way) to say that i'm spinning up a podcast that will expand on all the work i do covering politics/technology/information hell. here's a lil teaser we made - first ep will come out 11/14! www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnDE...
Reposted by Matteo Wong
In the end, Andrew Cuomo’s long record was a gift to Zohran Mamdani. “What I don’t have in experience, I make up for in integrity—and what you don’t have in integrity, you could never make up for in experience,” Mamdani told Cuomo in a debate.
The Mamdani Era Begins
His opponents tried to smear him for his youth, inexperience, and leftist politics. But New Yorkers didn’t want a hardened political insider to be mayor—they wanted Zohran Mamdani.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
In the end, Andrew Cuomo’s long record was a gift to Zohran Mamdani. “What I don’t have in experience, I make up for in integrity—and what you don’t have in integrity, you could never make up for in experience,” Mamdani told Cuomo in a debate.
Defining and essential from @damonberes.com on how AI is ushering the age of anti-social media: "Although chatbots may be built on the familiar architecture of engagement, they enable something new: They allow you to talk forever to no one other than yourself."
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
The Age of Anti-Social Media Is Here
The social-media era is over. What’s coming will be much worse.
www.theatlantic.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Defining and essential from @damonberes.com on how AI is ushering the age of anti-social media: "Although chatbots may be built on the familiar architecture of engagement, they enable something new: They allow you to talk forever to no one other than yourself."
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
More essential @ibogost.com on the state of higher education—an incredibly smart, compassionate, and compelling view on the specter of "grade inflation"
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
No Easy Fix for Easy A’s
Students and professors are in a drawn-out battle over grade inflation. It may never end.
www.theatlantic.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:58 PM
More essential @ibogost.com on the state of higher education—an incredibly smart, compassionate, and compelling view on the specter of "grade inflation"
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Matteo Wong
“We can’t police that whole thing,” Common Crawl said. “It’s not our job. We’re just a bunch of dusty bookshelves.”
Meanwhile, CC has accepted hundreds of thousands in donations from AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. And it expressed open antagonism toward the media:
Meanwhile, CC has accepted hundreds of thousands in donations from AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. And it expressed open antagonism toward the media:
November 4, 2025 at 12:22 PM
“We can’t police that whole thing,” Common Crawl said. “It’s not our job. We’re just a bunch of dusty bookshelves.”
Meanwhile, CC has accepted hundreds of thousands in donations from AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. And it expressed open antagonism toward the media:
Meanwhile, CC has accepted hundreds of thousands in donations from AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. And it expressed open antagonism toward the media:
Be sure you get to the kicker in this essential investigation into Common Crawl, the data archive behind the AI boom
NEW: Common Crawl, the massive archiver of the web, has gotten cozy with AI companies and is providing paywalled articles for training data. They’re also lying to publishers who have asked for material to be removed. “The robots are people too,” CC’s exec director told us when we asked about this.
The Nonprofit Feeding the Entire Internet to AI Companies
Common Crawl claims to provide a public benefit, but it lies to publishers about its activities.
www.theatlantic.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Be sure you get to the kicker in this essential investigation into Common Crawl, the data archive behind the AI boom
Reposted by Matteo Wong
Zohran Mamdani argues that “freeze the rent” is not just a way of delivering relief from exorbitant housing costs—it is the only way to get enough voters on board with a growth agenda. Rogé Karma spoke with Mamdani to see if he has a point.
Mamdani Has a Point About Rent Control
The YIMBY case for rent control
bit.ly
November 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Zohran Mamdani argues that “freeze the rent” is not just a way of delivering relief from exorbitant housing costs—it is the only way to get enough voters on board with a growth agenda. Rogé Karma spoke with Mamdani to see if he has a point.
Reposted by Matteo Wong
so @matteowong.bsky.social & I wrote on data centers: arguably the most important buildings in the world & are, in a way, holding the economy hostage. Byzantine financial instruments, private equity, depreciating tech, hype, $trillion valuations. it’s all there. an ai crash prob starts here.
Here’s How the AI Crash Happens
The U.S. is becoming an Nvidia-state.
www.theatlantic.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:25 PM
so @matteowong.bsky.social & I wrote on data centers: arguably the most important buildings in the world & are, in a way, holding the economy hostage. Byzantine financial instruments, private equity, depreciating tech, hype, $trillion valuations. it’s all there. an ai crash prob starts here.
Hundreds of billions spent on AI with little to show, a potential $1 trillion IPO without a path to profit, byzantine financial arrangements that, yes, can be sorted in tranches. @cwarzel.bsky.social and I on how the AI boom could come crashing down:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Here’s How the AI Crash Happens
The U.S. is becoming an Nvidia-state.
www.theatlantic.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Hundreds of billions spent on AI with little to show, a potential $1 trillion IPO without a path to profit, byzantine financial arrangements that, yes, can be sorted in tranches. @cwarzel.bsky.social and I on how the AI boom could come crashing down:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
"It is a simple sort of arbitrage: If you can convince your ratings agencies and accountants that it’s not debt, and you convince the debt investors that it is debt, then you can raise cheap debt financing without it counting against your pristine credit profile."
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/news...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/news...
Put the Data Center in the Box
K-cup project finance, box spread rates, Best Egg and an Instagram interview.
www.bloomberg.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:53 PM
"It is a simple sort of arbitrage: If you can convince your ratings agencies and accountants that it’s not debt, and you convince the debt investors that it is debt, then you can raise cheap debt financing without it counting against your pristine credit profile."
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/news...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/news...
Grokipedia is the crown jewel in Elon Musk’s propaganda apparatus. According to Musk’s site, Apartheid wasn’t that bad and the AfD is “preserving German” heritage: www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk’s Holy Trinity
X, Grok, and now Grokipedia have constructed a parallel universe in the billionaire’s image.
www.theatlantic.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Grokipedia is the crown jewel in Elon Musk’s propaganda apparatus. According to Musk’s site, Apartheid wasn’t that bad and the AfD is “preserving German” heritage: www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
In Praise of Jewel Thieves
How nice to read about a heist rather than a massacre
www.theatlantic.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Matteo Wong
I wrote about why “screen time” is an incoherent concept when you live among a proliferating infinity of screens.
‘Screen Time’ Does Not Exist
The first step to recovery is acceptance of this fact.
www.theatlantic.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I wrote about why “screen time” is an incoherent concept when you live among a proliferating infinity of screens.
Reposted by Matteo Wong
OpenAI just launched an AI-powered web browser that looks, more or less, like every other web browser. @matteowong.bsky.social on what’s really behind the move:
OpenAI Wants to Cure Cancer. So Why Did It Make a Web Browser?
The AI giant has lost its imagination.
bit.ly
October 22, 2025 at 10:15 PM
OpenAI just launched an AI-powered web browser that looks, more or less, like every other web browser. @matteowong.bsky.social on what’s really behind the move:
"If Brightline really is the future of rail in the United States, the most important question is obvious: Why are so many people dying?"
Such a compassionate, sharp, and captivating story:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Such a compassionate, sharp, and captivating story:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
A ‘Death Train’ Is Haunting South Florida
The Brightline has been hailed as the future of high-speed rail in the United States, but it has one big, unignorable problem.
www.theatlantic.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
"If Brightline really is the future of rail in the United States, the most important question is obvious: Why are so many people dying?"
Such a compassionate, sharp, and captivating story:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Such a compassionate, sharp, and captivating story:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Matteo Wong
Hi. I wrote an essay about AI slop: How it feels like an invasive species for the internet. How its boosters describe building a future that’s devoid of craft. How frictionlessness can be nihilistic & how this stuff seems to leach part of our shared humanity out of the world. I hope you'll read it.
AI’s Invasive Species
The slop is winning.
www.theatlantic.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Hi. I wrote an essay about AI slop: How it feels like an invasive species for the internet. How its boosters describe building a future that’s devoid of craft. How frictionlessness can be nihilistic & how this stuff seems to leach part of our shared humanity out of the world. I hope you'll read it.
Reposted by Matteo Wong
We tried the new Live Translation feature that Apple has heavily marketed. It turns out to be optimized for Spanish as spoken in Spain (pop. 49 million) as opposed to Latin America or the Caribbean (663 million), which makes it kind of a disaster to use in the U.S. And that's just one problem. Alas.
Lost in AirPod Translation
Apple promises to put an AI interpreter in everyone’s ears. It couldn’t even help me order tamales.
www.theatlantic.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:39 PM
We tried the new Live Translation feature that Apple has heavily marketed. It turns out to be optimized for Spanish as spoken in Spain (pop. 49 million) as opposed to Latin America or the Caribbean (663 million), which makes it kind of a disaster to use in the U.S. And that's just one problem. Alas.
I tried Apple's new AirPod Live Translation feature. It told me I was being sold tamales filled with MDMA.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Lost in AirPod Translation
Apple promises to put an AI interpreter in everyone’s ears. It couldn’t even help me order tamales.
www.theatlantic.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I tried Apple's new AirPod Live Translation feature. It told me I was being sold tamales filled with MDMA.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...