mrdang 🍥
@mrdang.photos
tech worker, photographer, cosplayer
he/him/they, aro/ace
he/him/they, aro/ace
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
Using AI art for reference material is just...dumb on a level that I can barely comprehend. If you build the foundation of your house out of shit, that means your whole house is gonna be sitting on a big heap of shit.
December 18, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Using AI art for reference material is just...dumb on a level that I can barely comprehend. If you build the foundation of your house out of shit, that means your whole house is gonna be sitting on a big heap of shit.
It's very telling what a corporation's future plans are if they don't want to commit to reasonable proposals from labor like this.
Like, dude, your business depends on writing. You don't write NEW things without a human actively investigating and doing interviews.
Like, dude, your business depends on writing. You don't write NEW things without a human actively investigating and doing interviews.
1/ At bargaining yesterday, @propublica.org management said that they should have 100% discretion to replace workers with AI and would not commit to labeling future AI-generated content.
December 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
It's very telling what a corporation's future plans are if they don't want to commit to reasonable proposals from labor like this.
Like, dude, your business depends on writing. You don't write NEW things without a human actively investigating and doing interviews.
Like, dude, your business depends on writing. You don't write NEW things without a human actively investigating and doing interviews.
The AI Civil Rights Act Bill does not solve this.
1. It normalizes 'AI' decision making and presumes there are algorithms that do no harm.
2. It leaves it up to the dev and deployer to audit themselves.
3. It doesn't require disclosure of training data.
We need a GDPR-level privacy law NOW.
1. It normalizes 'AI' decision making and presumes there are algorithms that do no harm.
2. It leaves it up to the dev and deployer to audit themselves.
3. It doesn't require disclosure of training data.
We need a GDPR-level privacy law NOW.
EXCLUSIVE: We found that Instacart is using AI algorithms to charge customers different prices for the same items.
It's not just online. It's in physical grocery stores too.
Our months-long investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social found it could cost families $1200/year.
It's not just online. It's in physical grocery stores too.
Our months-long investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social found it could cost families $1200/year.
We Had 400 People Shop For Groceries. What We Found Will Shock You.
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:57 AM
The AI Civil Rights Act Bill does not solve this.
1. It normalizes 'AI' decision making and presumes there are algorithms that do no harm.
2. It leaves it up to the dev and deployer to audit themselves.
3. It doesn't require disclosure of training data.
We need a GDPR-level privacy law NOW.
1. It normalizes 'AI' decision making and presumes there are algorithms that do no harm.
2. It leaves it up to the dev and deployer to audit themselves.
3. It doesn't require disclosure of training data.
We need a GDPR-level privacy law NOW.
Update on the clickbait headlines and descriptions that appear in Google search results for Instagram handles:
"Google told me that it is not generating the headlines, and that it’s pulling the text directly from Instagram."
Thank you @404media.co and @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social for investigating!
"Google told me that it is not generating the headlines, and that it’s pulling the text directly from Instagram."
Thank you @404media.co and @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social for investigating!
Instagram is creating 2014 Buzzfeed-style SEO headlines for your Instagram posts and guess what? They're often misleading. Thanks to @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social and @mrdang.photos for flagging this to me www.404media.co/instagram-is...
Instagram Is Generating Inaccurate SEO Bait for Your Posts
Instagram is generating headlines for Instagram posts that appear on Google Search results. Users say they are misrepresenting them.
www.404media.co
December 9, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Update on the clickbait headlines and descriptions that appear in Google search results for Instagram handles:
"Google told me that it is not generating the headlines, and that it’s pulling the text directly from Instagram."
Thank you @404media.co and @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social for investigating!
"Google told me that it is not generating the headlines, and that it’s pulling the text directly from Instagram."
Thank you @404media.co and @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social for investigating!
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
Every nazi movement needs a youth wing.
Happening now: Texas leaders announcing a rollout of a statewide program to put TPUSA chapters in high schools and colleges across the state. Gov. Abbott adds that schools that stand in the way should be reported to the Texas Education Agency.
December 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Every nazi movement needs a youth wing.
FINALLY one of my electeds has said something against unregulated 'AI'.
This is a direct ask from Big Tech lobbyists (who also donated millions to Trump’s campaign and ballroom) who only care about their own profits, not our safety.
States must be able to regulate AI to protect Americans.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/t...
States must be able to regulate AI to protect Americans.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/t...
Trump says he’ll sign executive order blocking state AI regulations, despite safety fears | CNN Business
President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday he plans to sign an executive order preempting artificial intelligence regulations at the state level with his more hands-off federal policy.
www.cnn.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:44 PM
FINALLY one of my electeds has said something against unregulated 'AI'.
Deny, defend, depose
"Starting Jan. 1, in six states selected to take part in a federal pilot program, traditional Medicare recipients will face a new hurdle to get certain procedures covered --
private AI companies that get paid based on how many claims they deny..."
www.kuow.org/stories/thou...
private AI companies that get paid based on how many claims they deny..."
www.kuow.org/stories/thou...
Thousands of Washington state Medicare users could soon have claims denied by AI
Starting Jan. 1, traditional Medicare recipients in Washington state will face a new hurdle to get certain procedures covered — private AI companies that get paid based on how many claims they deny.
www.kuow.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Deny, defend, depose
Slight clarification to my last post:
It's more accurate to say that text is appearing in Google searches that neither I nor the cosplayers pictured wrote. It's mediocre and sounds as if an LLM was involved.
Whether it's generated by Google or Instagram is unclear. But it's problematic either way.
It's more accurate to say that text is appearing in Google searches that neither I nor the cosplayers pictured wrote. It's mediocre and sounds as if an LLM was involved.
Whether it's generated by Google or Instagram is unclear. But it's problematic either way.
December 7, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Slight clarification to my last post:
It's more accurate to say that text is appearing in Google searches that neither I nor the cosplayers pictured wrote. It's mediocre and sounds as if an LLM was involved.
Whether it's generated by Google or Instagram is unclear. But it's problematic either way.
It's more accurate to say that text is appearing in Google searches that neither I nor the cosplayers pictured wrote. It's mediocre and sounds as if an LLM was involved.
Whether it's generated by Google or Instagram is unclear. But it's problematic either way.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
“Bring up AI in a Seattle coffee shop now and people react like you’re advocating asbestos." 🥲 I love this city.
Trending: Viral rant on why ‘everyone in Seattle hates AI’ strikes a nerve, sparks debate over city’s tech vibe https://www.geekwire.com/2025/viral-rant-on-why-everyone-in-seattle-hates-ai-strikes-a-nerve-sparks-debate-over-citys-tech-vibe/
December 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
“Bring up AI in a Seattle coffee shop now and people react like you’re advocating asbestos." 🥲 I love this city.
This is your regular reminder that execs don't know shit about what their workers actually do and how to make it better.
Do not be afraid to tell your manager and their leaders that they are wrong and are making a mistake if they try to incorporate 'AI' into your workflow. YOU know your work best.
Do not be afraid to tell your manager and their leaders that they are wrong and are making a mistake if they try to incorporate 'AI' into your workflow. YOU know your work best.
In a note to staff, Business Insider EIC Jamie Heller says the publication is launching a pilot program called Business Insider AI News Desk that will use AI to “help publish quick news stories.”
Several stories a day will now be “created by AI and edited by a person.”
Several stories a day will now be “created by AI and edited by a person.”
December 5, 2025 at 12:19 AM
This is your regular reminder that execs don't know shit about what their workers actually do and how to make it better.
Do not be afraid to tell your manager and their leaders that they are wrong and are making a mistake if they try to incorporate 'AI' into your workflow. YOU know your work best.
Do not be afraid to tell your manager and their leaders that they are wrong and are making a mistake if they try to incorporate 'AI' into your workflow. YOU know your work best.
Today I learned that Business Insider is going to have a byline for an 'AI' bot. This throws credibility out the window.
ACTION: Sign this petition to send a signal to newsrooms that you want human journalists for accuracy and accountability.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
ACTION: Sign this petition to send a signal to newsrooms that you want human journalists for accuracy and accountability.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
December 5, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Today I learned that Business Insider is going to have a byline for an 'AI' bot. This throws credibility out the window.
ACTION: Sign this petition to send a signal to newsrooms that you want human journalists for accuracy and accountability.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
ACTION: Sign this petition to send a signal to newsrooms that you want human journalists for accuracy and accountability.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
Over the summer, artists packed the CA statehouse to support a proposed AI transparency law that'd require tech co's to alert creatives and rightsholders when their work is used in AI models and offer a mechanism to remove it.
They forced another hearing. It's next week, at Stanford. I'll be there.
They forced another hearing. It's next week, at Stanford. I'll be there.
December 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Over the summer, artists packed the CA statehouse to support a proposed AI transparency law that'd require tech co's to alert creatives and rightsholders when their work is used in AI models and offer a mechanism to remove it.
They forced another hearing. It's next week, at Stanford. I'll be there.
They forced another hearing. It's next week, at Stanford. I'll be there.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
This is the difference between making the park safer and keeping it “in tact” for the preservationists that the Landmarks Board said was just not possible to approve
Before (dangerous). After (safe).
Before (dangerous). After (safe).
December 2, 2025 at 7:56 PM
This is the difference between making the park safer and keeping it “in tact” for the preservationists that the Landmarks Board said was just not possible to approve
Before (dangerous). After (safe).
Before (dangerous). After (safe).
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
People keep saying that driverless cars will end congestion.
In reality, all driverless cars do is change the math so that instead of roads being jammed with cars with just 1-2 people in them, the roads will be jammed with cars with 0-1 people in them.
In reality, all driverless cars do is change the math so that instead of roads being jammed with cars with just 1-2 people in them, the roads will be jammed with cars with 0-1 people in them.
Waymo privatized another public street:
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
November 25, 2025 at 3:57 AM
People keep saying that driverless cars will end congestion.
In reality, all driverless cars do is change the math so that instead of roads being jammed with cars with just 1-2 people in them, the roads will be jammed with cars with 0-1 people in them.
In reality, all driverless cars do is change the math so that instead of roads being jammed with cars with just 1-2 people in them, the roads will be jammed with cars with 0-1 people in them.
Meta is creating and serving these ads for their 'AI' with your own photos.
no sorry you’re right this technology is absolutely worth depleting our water supply
November 23, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Meta is creating and serving these ads for their 'AI' with your own photos.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
THIS is the story.
That the feds are spying on people doing completely legal stuff and characterizing them as “anarchist violent extremists.”
The story is NOT that you need to be afraid to court watch or patrol your neighborhood for ICE activity. DO NOT SELF-REPRESS.
That the feds are spying on people doing completely legal stuff and characterizing them as “anarchist violent extremists.”
The story is NOT that you need to be afraid to court watch or patrol your neighborhood for ICE activity. DO NOT SELF-REPRESS.
"An FBI memo that claims 'anarchist violent extremist actors' are targeting law enforcement cites a private text message chat that included immigration court observers, raising questions about whether the spy agency is monitoring political activity, a copy of the document indicates."
FBI memo indicates online chats of immigration court watchers in NYC were monitored
An FBI memo that claims “anarchist violent extremist actors” are targeting law enforcement cites a private text message chat that included immigration court observers, raising questions about wheth…
www.nydailynews.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:04 AM
THIS is the story.
That the feds are spying on people doing completely legal stuff and characterizing them as “anarchist violent extremists.”
The story is NOT that you need to be afraid to court watch or patrol your neighborhood for ICE activity. DO NOT SELF-REPRESS.
That the feds are spying on people doing completely legal stuff and characterizing them as “anarchist violent extremists.”
The story is NOT that you need to be afraid to court watch or patrol your neighborhood for ICE activity. DO NOT SELF-REPRESS.
Your First Amendment right is being surveilled.
A massive cache of Flock lookups collated by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) shows as many as 50 federal, state, and local agencies used Flock during protests over the last year.
Cops Used Flock to Monitor No Kings Protests Around the Country
A massive cache of Flock lookups collated by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) shows as many as 50 federal, state, and local agencies used Flock during protests over the last year.
www.404media.co
November 21, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Your First Amendment right is being surveilled.
Saw a lawn sign that read "SLOW THE FLOCK DOWN" with an image of a bird on it.
I thought it could be about community resistance to Flock automatic license plate readers, but it's reminding people to slow down on a turn that should be done at 25MPH. 😅
I thought it could be about community resistance to Flock automatic license plate readers, but it's reminding people to slow down on a turn that should be done at 25MPH. 😅
November 20, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Saw a lawn sign that read "SLOW THE FLOCK DOWN" with an image of a bird on it.
I thought it could be about community resistance to Flock automatic license plate readers, but it's reminding people to slow down on a turn that should be done at 25MPH. 😅
I thought it could be about community resistance to Flock automatic license plate readers, but it's reminding people to slow down on a turn that should be done at 25MPH. 😅
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
🚨 Yet again Ted Cruz and Steve Scalise are trying to sneak in a moratorium on state GenAi legislation.
If passed states can no longer enact laws for transparency, child safety, privacy, environmental protection etc.
We got 3 days to stop this. Call now!
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
If passed states can no longer enact laws for transparency, child safety, privacy, environmental protection etc.
We got 3 days to stop this. Call now!
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
November 19, 2025 at 7:07 PM
🚨 Yet again Ted Cruz and Steve Scalise are trying to sneak in a moratorium on state GenAi legislation.
If passed states can no longer enact laws for transparency, child safety, privacy, environmental protection etc.
We got 3 days to stop this. Call now!
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
If passed states can no longer enact laws for transparency, child safety, privacy, environmental protection etc.
We got 3 days to stop this. Call now!
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
ICYMI, state and local cops are NOT supposed to be collaborating with the feds yet they searched Flock ALPR databases on behalf of ICE.
THEN it turned out ICE was doing their own searches in a pilot program with Flock.
@404media.co has been making FOIA requests for stories. Livestream here:
THEN it turned out ICE was doing their own searches in a pilot program with Flock.
@404media.co has been making FOIA requests for stories. Livestream here:
LIVE NOW: 404 Media is gonna teach you how to get records from government agencies through public records requests.
Join us now: www.404media.co/our-new-foia...
Join us now: www.404media.co/our-new-foia...
Our New FOIA Forum! 11/19, 1PM ET
Come learn how researchers and others learned what cops were using Flock's nationwide network of cameras for, including searches for ICE.
www.404media.co
November 19, 2025 at 6:37 PM
ICYMI, state and local cops are NOT supposed to be collaborating with the feds yet they searched Flock ALPR databases on behalf of ICE.
THEN it turned out ICE was doing their own searches in a pilot program with Flock.
@404media.co has been making FOIA requests for stories. Livestream here:
THEN it turned out ICE was doing their own searches in a pilot program with Flock.
@404media.co has been making FOIA requests for stories. Livestream here:
Gen AI is a FastPass to cheapen your brand.
Disney CEO Bob Iger said his company is talking with AI companies about allowing subscribers to create their own short-form videos on Disney+. n.pr/47VGhJE
Disney eyes a future where users help shape the story
Disney CEO Bob Iger said his company is talking with AI companies about allowing subscribers to create their own short-form videos on Disney+.
n.pr
November 14, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Gen AI is a FastPass to cheapen your brand.
Flock should have no business anywhere.
Fuck the surveillance state.
Fuck the surveillance state.
There was no sign ICE accessed Redmond's Flock system before Monday's arrests, but city officials said residents remained concerned about the technology.
Redmond turns off Flock Safety cameras after ICE arrests
www.seattletimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Flock should have no business anywhere.
Fuck the surveillance state.
Fuck the surveillance state.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
Best metaphor I've heard is that using AI is like bringing a forklift to lift the weights at the gym. The point is to build YOUR muscles, not to make the weights go up and down.
I love to see stuff like this because it helps explain to people trapped in tech-sponsored information bubbles the actually obvious fact that universities teach people to know & think things, and AI is a way to produce the effect of knowing & thinking things w/o actually knowing & thinking them.
Opinion | Why Even Basic A.I. Use Is So Bad for Students
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Best metaphor I've heard is that using AI is like bringing a forklift to lift the weights at the gym. The point is to build YOUR muscles, not to make the weights go up and down.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
Just wanna highlight that Seattle Public Schools teacher salaries start at just over $60,000, less than half what a new Seattle police officer will make after six months under the new contract.
Cops get bonuses for two-year associate degrees; teachers, of course, have to have finished college.
Cops get bonuses for two-year associate degrees; teachers, of course, have to have finished college.
Salaries were significantly higher last year, presumably because of inflation:
mysps.seattleschools.org/wp-content/u...
mysps.seattleschools.org/wp-content/u...
mysps.seattleschools.org
October 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Just wanna highlight that Seattle Public Schools teacher salaries start at just over $60,000, less than half what a new Seattle police officer will make after six months under the new contract.
Cops get bonuses for two-year associate degrees; teachers, of course, have to have finished college.
Cops get bonuses for two-year associate degrees; teachers, of course, have to have finished college.