Michael Richardson
@richardsonma.bsky.social
Associate Professor. Drones, AI, war, culture, affect, witnessing. UNSW. Media Futures Hub. ADMS Centre. He/him. Nonhuman Witnessing with @dukepress.bsky.social https://t.ly/cQW5N
Longtime listener, first time caller.
Mél is a wonderful interlocutor, which made this an absolute privilege.
Mél is a wonderful interlocutor, which made this an absolute privilege.
New:
The Data Fix with Dr. Mél Hogan - Ep. 68 Witnessing, with Michael Richardson 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
shows.acast.com/the-data-fix...
@richardsonma.bsky.social
The Data Fix with Dr. Mél Hogan - Ep. 68 Witnessing, with Michael Richardson 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
shows.acast.com/the-data-fix...
@richardsonma.bsky.social
Witnessing, with Michael Richardson | The Data Fix with Dr. Mél Hogan
shows.acast.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Longtime listener, first time caller.
Mél is a wonderful interlocutor, which made this an absolute privilege.
Mél is a wonderful interlocutor, which made this an absolute privilege.
I loved doing this with the brilliant Mél... hop in and have a listen once it's out next week!
Please subscribe to The Data Fix podcast so you don't miss an episode!
thedatafix.net
Next up, the amazing @richardsonma.bsky.social (Aug 25) -- on witnessing AI and algorithms.
After this episode, I will take a break to get relocated, but plan to be back at it in October! Stay tuned!
thedatafix.net
Next up, the amazing @richardsonma.bsky.social (Aug 25) -- on witnessing AI and algorithms.
After this episode, I will take a break to get relocated, but plan to be back at it in October! Stay tuned!
The Data Fix with Dr. Mél Hogan
a lefty pod about perpetual tech promises
thedatafix.net
August 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I loved doing this with the brilliant Mél... hop in and have a listen once it's out next week!
This is a bloody good read
for Bills Week I decided to read the new 1000 page Buckley biography
William F. Buckley's Bill Never Came Due | Defector
Perhaps the highest praise I can offer a book that took 27 years to complete and runs over 1,000 pages is that I can see why, and that it doesn’t feel like it. Sam Tanenhaus’s extremely long and anxio...
defector.com
July 19, 2025 at 8:28 PM
This is a bloody good read
Reposted by Michael Richardson
My university has announced a fund to essentially poach doctoral students from US institutions. DM me if you do work on the history/social impacts of AI and are interested in being poached 😂
July 17, 2025 at 8:17 PM
My university has announced a fund to essentially poach doctoral students from US institutions. DM me if you do work on the history/social impacts of AI and are interested in being poached 😂
Reposted by Michael Richardson
Terrific essay from @mmasnick.bsky.social
I wish more of the business community would recognize this
https://www.techdirt.com/2025/07/17/fascism-for-first-time-founders/
I wish more of the business community would recognize this
https://www.techdirt.com/2025/07/17/fascism-for-first-time-founders/
Fascism For First Time Founders
Over the last year or so I’ve seen a disturbing tendency in tech/startup/VC worlds to buy into the neoreactionary view that for startups to be successful they need to get on board the Trump t…
www.techdirt.com
July 17, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Terrific essay from @mmasnick.bsky.social
I wish more of the business community would recognize this
https://www.techdirt.com/2025/07/17/fascism-for-first-time-founders/
I wish more of the business community would recognize this
https://www.techdirt.com/2025/07/17/fascism-for-first-time-founders/
I think this is the best thing I’ve read about journalism, AI and the business models of media companies. Must read for anyone who cares about this stuff, which really should be everyone.
Nailing it.
“It is the only “business model” that we have and that I am certain works: We trade good, accurate, interesting, human articles for money and attention. The risks of offloading that trust to an AI in a careless way is the biggest possible risk factor that we could have as a business.”
“It is the only “business model” that we have and that I am certain works: We trade good, accurate, interesting, human articles for money and attention. The risks of offloading that trust to an AI in a careless way is the biggest possible risk factor that we could have as a business.”
July 16, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I think this is the best thing I’ve read about journalism, AI and the business models of media companies. Must read for anyone who cares about this stuff, which really should be everyone.
Nailing it.
“It is the only “business model” that we have and that I am certain works: We trade good, accurate, interesting, human articles for money and attention. The risks of offloading that trust to an AI in a careless way is the biggest possible risk factor that we could have as a business.”
“It is the only “business model” that we have and that I am certain works: We trade good, accurate, interesting, human articles for money and attention. The risks of offloading that trust to an AI in a careless way is the biggest possible risk factor that we could have as a business.”
July 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Nailing it.
“It is the only “business model” that we have and that I am certain works: We trade good, accurate, interesting, human articles for money and attention. The risks of offloading that trust to an AI in a careless way is the biggest possible risk factor that we could have as a business.”
“It is the only “business model” that we have and that I am certain works: We trade good, accurate, interesting, human articles for money and attention. The risks of offloading that trust to an AI in a careless way is the biggest possible risk factor that we could have as a business.”
My legendary friend and colleague wrote for @crikey.com.au about the Gaza sized hole in Australian universities and what the draconian demands of special envoy Segal would mean for learning, teaching and being in the university. It is fire and you should read it.
www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/15/i...
www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/15/i...
How to silence academic speech on Palestine
Jillian Segal’s proposal seeks to mobilise the IHRA definition of antisemitism and would have far-reaching implications for students and staff across Australian universities.
www.crikey.com.au
July 15, 2025 at 9:52 PM
My legendary friend and colleague wrote for @crikey.com.au about the Gaza sized hole in Australian universities and what the draconian demands of special envoy Segal would mean for learning, teaching and being in the university. It is fire and you should read it.
www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/15/i...
www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/15/i...
Reposted by Michael Richardson
Final registration call for the @britishacademy.bsky.social funded symposium, 'Speculative Machines and Us: Histories and Futures of AI', @lancasteruni.bsky.social on 17 July! 💥🤖 FULL PROGRAMME, ABSTRACTS AND BIOS here: wp.lancs.ac.uk/sciencestudi...
Register now here: wp.lancs.ac.uk/sciencestudi...
Register now here: wp.lancs.ac.uk/sciencestudi...
Speculative Machines and Us: Histories and Futures of AI
We warmly invite colleagues to join us for an in-person one-day symposium on Thursday 17th July 2025. To join, please register using the link below. The event is organised by the Centre for Science…
wp.lancs.ac.uk
July 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Final registration call for the @britishacademy.bsky.social funded symposium, 'Speculative Machines and Us: Histories and Futures of AI', @lancasteruni.bsky.social on 17 July! 💥🤖 FULL PROGRAMME, ABSTRACTS AND BIOS here: wp.lancs.ac.uk/sciencestudi...
Register now here: wp.lancs.ac.uk/sciencestudi...
Register now here: wp.lancs.ac.uk/sciencestudi...
Reposted by Michael Richardson
Mass extraordinary rendition.
And we know with certainty from the War on Terror that those certifications against persecution and torture are pro forma and are better understood as a document colluding to such treatment.
And we know with certainty from the War on Terror that those certifications against persecution and torture are pro forma and are better understood as a document colluding to such treatment.
ICE memo outlines plan to deport migrants to countries where they are not citizens
The dramatic shift in policy could result in thousands of immigrants being deported to places where they lack family ties or even a common language.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 13, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Mass extraordinary rendition.
And we know with certainty from the War on Terror that those certifications against persecution and torture are pro forma and are better understood as a document colluding to such treatment.
And we know with certainty from the War on Terror that those certifications against persecution and torture are pro forma and are better understood as a document colluding to such treatment.
missing from this otherwise insightful account of the extremely online young men of the American far right is the tech platforms that host this garbage, there’s just this tendency to take social media as given but these platforms could be reined in or shut down
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/o...
Opinion | Trolling Democracy
The rise of a toxic online politics.
www.nytimes.com
July 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM
missing from this otherwise insightful account of the extremely online young men of the American far right is the tech platforms that host this garbage, there’s just this tendency to take social media as given but these platforms could be reined in or shut down
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/o...
This is the entire OpenAI business model
feel like Adobe is kind of like the cigarette companies in the 1960s, going after kids. they give cheap licenses to schools to hook young losers such as myself. now i'm an adult stuck paying $90 a month because i never learned any of the other softwares
July 13, 2025 at 2:38 AM
This is the entire OpenAI business model
Reposted by Michael Richardson
The intent behind this project makes me think of viral AI-gen image of girl holding puppy in a dingy during Hurricane Helene, legitimized for being "emblematic of people's trauma." Thru AI there's an active shift from evidentiary images towards a designed emblematic.
www.404media.co/the-un-made-...
www.404media.co/the-un-made-...
The UN Made AI-Generated Refugees
The AIs are designed to teach people about atrocities in Sudan.
www.404media.co
July 10, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The intent behind this project makes me think of viral AI-gen image of girl holding puppy in a dingy during Hurricane Helene, legitimized for being "emblematic of people's trauma." Thru AI there's an active shift from evidentiary images towards a designed emblematic.
www.404media.co/the-un-made-...
www.404media.co/the-un-made-...
I've written a lot about the need to extend witnessing beyond the human, but this ain't it. We need to attend more closely to the abundance of very human testimony about war and suffering, to listen and act in response, not look for ways to dehumanise the survivors of dehumanising violence.
There’s so much wrong here, but in particular it’s noted in the article that the creator of this project met with a bunch of stakeholders who told him the idea was shit, and he did it anyway.
The UN Made AI-Generated Refugees
The AIs are designed to teach people about atrocities in Sudan.
www.404media.co
July 10, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I've written a lot about the need to extend witnessing beyond the human, but this ain't it. We need to attend more closely to the abundance of very human testimony about war and suffering, to listen and act in response, not look for ways to dehumanise the survivors of dehumanising violence.
Reposted by Michael Richardson
If you want to know how political realignment is achieved and how the centre-left is moved inexorably to the right, this is it.
Antisemitism envoy calls for powers to strip universities of funding
www.afr.com//politics/fe...
www.afr.com//politics/fe...
Antisemitism envoy calls for powers to strip universities of funding
Academics and protesters to be targeted by tougher penalties for hate speech in new plan to combat antisemitism.
www.afr.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:23 AM
If you want to know how political realignment is achieved and how the centre-left is moved inexorably to the right, this is it.
Reposted by Michael Richardson
The Albanese govt is seemingly backing a plan that could withhold uni and arts funding if they're seen to not tackle antisemitism. But what counts as "failure"? This sets a dangerous precedent, threatening academic independence, and informed and open debate.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Antisemitism plan would strip funding from unis, arts events who fail to fight Jewish hate
Powers to strip funding from public institutions who fail on antisemitism, a review of Australia's hate speech laws, and visa screening for antisemitic views are among the recommendations of a wide-ra...
www.abc.net.au
July 10, 2025 at 3:38 AM
The Albanese govt is seemingly backing a plan that could withhold uni and arts funding if they're seen to not tackle antisemitism. But what counts as "failure"? This sets a dangerous precedent, threatening academic independence, and informed and open debate.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
I can’t count the number of conversations with students, friends, and academics where people dismissed at the idea that mass data collection was a huge risk to people’s lives and especially the most vulnerable
www.404media.co/ice-is-searc...
www.404media.co/ice-is-searc...
ICE Is Searching a Massive Insurance and Medical Bill Database to Find Deportation Targets
The database, called ISO ClaimSearch, is nearly all encompassing and contains details on more than 1.8 billion insurance claims and 58 million medical bills.
www.404media.co
July 9, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I can’t count the number of conversations with students, friends, and academics where people dismissed at the idea that mass data collection was a huge risk to people’s lives and especially the most vulnerable
www.404media.co/ice-is-searc...
www.404media.co/ice-is-searc...
Reposted by Michael Richardson
Non-academics: if you see an interesting academic paper on here and you can’t access it due to a paywall just email the author and (depending on the state of their inbox 😜) they will generally be thrilled you are interested in their work and send you a copy.
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Non-academics: if you see an interesting academic paper on here and you can’t access it due to a paywall just email the author and (depending on the state of their inbox 😜) they will generally be thrilled you are interested in their work and send you a copy.
New article from me and Zoe Horn. "Digital twins and logistical labour: Models, plans and the inversion of the ‘real’," in which we show how operative, virtual replicas of material environments are beginning to subordinate the real within a logistical paradigm
www.scienceopen.com/hosted-docum...
www.scienceopen.com/hosted-docum...
Digital twins and logistical labour: Models, plans and the inversion of the ‘real’
<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d24518e99">This article argues that digital twins constitute new computational techniques for
the mobi...
www.scienceopen.com
July 7, 2025 at 11:36 PM
New article from me and Zoe Horn. "Digital twins and logistical labour: Models, plans and the inversion of the ‘real’," in which we show how operative, virtual replicas of material environments are beginning to subordinate the real within a logistical paradigm
www.scienceopen.com/hosted-docum...
www.scienceopen.com/hosted-docum...
Eliminate the humans so we can all get “popped up into some kind of sugar cube for a billion simulated years of bliss, but it's only six hours in clock time”
Kinda wild how quickly people’s genocide fantasies became mainstreamed.
Can AI Be Humanity’s "Worthy Successor"?
Is humanity ready to pass the torch to superintelligent AI? Dive into the concept of a "worthy successor" and what it means for our future.
spectrum.ieee.org
June 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Eliminate the humans so we can all get “popped up into some kind of sugar cube for a billion simulated years of bliss, but it's only six hours in clock time”
Or the violation of international law, which is actually more important to the rest of the world
Why are no headlines focusing on the unconstitutional and dictatorial nature of this action?
June 22, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Or the violation of international law, which is actually more important to the rest of the world
Excellent new research on the eco impacts of AI, and the necessity of better transparency regimes and data standards from @sashamtl.bsky.social and crew
Does a ChatGPT query really use ten times more energy than a Google search? Does training any AI model emit as much CO2 as 5 cars? and can AI help us reduce global GHG emissions by 10%? 🤔
We tracked down the origins of these numbers 🕵♀️ and wrote a paper about it!
arxiv.org/abs/2506.15572
We tracked down the origins of these numbers 🕵♀️ and wrote a paper about it!
arxiv.org/abs/2506.15572
June 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Excellent new research on the eco impacts of AI, and the necessity of better transparency regimes and data standards from @sashamtl.bsky.social and crew
Reposted by Michael Richardson
Looking for a research associate to explore societal engagement with forest restoration on digital media – with @lboungr.bsky.social @wildflyingpanda.bsky.social @gabrielecolombo.bsky.social & more. Grateful for help sharing with those who might be interested! jonathangray.org/2025/05/31/s...
June 19, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Looking for a research associate to explore societal engagement with forest restoration on digital media – with @lboungr.bsky.social @wildflyingpanda.bsky.social @gabrielecolombo.bsky.social & more. Grateful for help sharing with those who might be interested! jonathangray.org/2025/05/31/s...
students and even some teachers need to understand that the essay-as-outcome isn’t what matters, but the essay-as-learning is crucial because it teaches thinking, analysis, communication, knowledge-making, resilience, planning, and more
New research from MIT found that those who used ChatGPT can’t remember any of the content of their essays.
Key takeaway: the product doesn’t suffer, but the process does. And when it comes to essays, the process *is* how they learn.
arxiv.org/pdf/2506.088...
Key takeaway: the product doesn’t suffer, but the process does. And when it comes to essays, the process *is* how they learn.
arxiv.org/pdf/2506.088...
June 19, 2025 at 2:21 PM
students and even some teachers need to understand that the essay-as-outcome isn’t what matters, but the essay-as-learning is crucial because it teaches thinking, analysis, communication, knowledge-making, resilience, planning, and more
This is — and I cannot stress this enough — absolutely bonkers
No they do not, New York Times! This is like writing that Santa Claus has IBS.
June 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
This is — and I cannot stress this enough — absolutely bonkers