The Maybe
@themaybe.org
The Maybe is a media studio, collective, and consultancy challenging the power and politics of tech.
Home to the Computer Says Maybe podcast.
Home to the Computer Says Maybe podcast.
Our founder Alix Dunn will sit down with @paulbiggar.com, lead at @techforpalestine.org; Mozilla Fellows @sarrahannachi.bsky.social tech activist, researcher, and @nadakabbary.bsky.social, tech justice researcher, organizer; and Tawana Petty, data justice organizer and ED of Petty Propolis, Inc.
November 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Our founder Alix Dunn will sit down with @paulbiggar.com, lead at @techforpalestine.org; Mozilla Fellows @sarrahannachi.bsky.social tech activist, researcher, and @nadakabbary.bsky.social, tech justice researcher, organizer; and Tawana Petty, data justice organizer and ED of Petty Propolis, Inc.
Tomorrow, we’re unlearning the inevitability of “scale” as the measure of success in tech. @alixdunn.com will chat with Jess Rimington, co-author of “Beloved Economies” and founder of Possible Futures; and @catherinebracy.com, author of “World Eaters” and CEO of @techequity.bsky.social.
November 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Tomorrow, we’re unlearning the inevitability of “scale” as the measure of success in tech. @alixdunn.com will chat with Jess Rimington, co-author of “Beloved Economies” and founder of Possible Futures; and @catherinebracy.com, author of “World Eaters” and CEO of @techequity.bsky.social.
Our founder @alixdunn.com is co-hosting this session on data centers with @justinhendrix.bsky.social CEO + Editor of @techpolicypress.bsky.social. Together we’ll hear from Paz Peña, Mozilla Fellow; @pjarandia.bsky.social, Pulitzer Fellow; and @tpang.bsky.social, Impact Editor at Lighthouse Reports.
November 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Our founder @alixdunn.com is co-hosting this session on data centers with @justinhendrix.bsky.social CEO + Editor of @techpolicypress.bsky.social. Together we’ll hear from Paz Peña, Mozilla Fellow; @pjarandia.bsky.social, Pulitzer Fellow; and @tpang.bsky.social, Impact Editor at Lighthouse Reports.
If you can’t make it in person, join us in the livestreams - links will be in the individual session pages. Hope to see you there! lnkd.in/engHkfQY
November 5, 2025 at 7:04 PM
If you can’t make it in person, join us in the livestreams - links will be in the individual session pages. Hope to see you there! lnkd.in/engHkfQY
Computer Says Maybe is taking the stage at @mozilla.org Festival! This weekend, @alixdunn.com will be leading discussions on reclaiming scale in tech, tackling the role of AI in war, exposing the global footprint of data centers, and more.
November 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Computer Says Maybe is taking the stage at @mozilla.org Festival! This weekend, @alixdunn.com will be leading discussions on reclaiming scale in tech, tackling the role of AI in war, exposing the global footprint of data centers, and more.
@mozilla.org is one of the most known and liked brands in public interest tech. This visibility—and the resources from its market share—position Mozilla Foundation to play an important role today.
But what should a foundation like Mozilla do in an era of uncritical hype around for-profit AI?
But what should a foundation like Mozilla do in an era of uncritical hype around for-profit AI?
October 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
@mozilla.org is one of the most known and liked brands in public interest tech. This visibility—and the resources from its market share—position Mozilla Foundation to play an important role today.
But what should a foundation like Mozilla do in an era of uncritical hype around for-profit AI?
But what should a foundation like Mozilla do in an era of uncritical hype around for-profit AI?
Can a chatbot therapist really replace a human one? The simple answer is, no of course not. But as always, it’s a little more complicated than that.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
October 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Can a chatbot therapist really replace a human one? The simple answer is, no of course not. But as always, it’s a little more complicated than that.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
If you breathe in too much nitrogen oxide, you are at a higher risk for heart disease, lung damage, and more.
So why is Elon’s supercomputer allowed to use 33 gas turbines that are pouring nitrogen oxide into Memphis’ air, increasing their NOx levels by 79% in a single year?
Turns out, it’s not.
So why is Elon’s supercomputer allowed to use 33 gas turbines that are pouring nitrogen oxide into Memphis’ air, increasing their NOx levels by 79% in a single year?
Turns out, it’s not.
October 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
If you breathe in too much nitrogen oxide, you are at a higher risk for heart disease, lung damage, and more.
So why is Elon’s supercomputer allowed to use 33 gas turbines that are pouring nitrogen oxide into Memphis’ air, increasing their NOx levels by 79% in a single year?
Turns out, it’s not.
So why is Elon’s supercomputer allowed to use 33 gas turbines that are pouring nitrogen oxide into Memphis’ air, increasing their NOx levels by 79% in a single year?
Turns out, it’s not.
1/6
How do you run a city when tech companies are selling "solutions" for problems they helped create?
How do you run a city when tech companies are selling "solutions" for problems they helped create?
October 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
1/6
How do you run a city when tech companies are selling "solutions" for problems they helped create?
How do you run a city when tech companies are selling "solutions" for problems they helped create?
There’s nothing sweet about Project Sucre.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
October 16, 2025 at 3:16 PM
There’s nothing sweet about Project Sucre.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
1/7
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
October 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
1/7
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
1/6
Thought we were at peak scam? Well, ScamGPT just entered the chat. This week, we're talking about how generative AI is supercharging the global fraud industry.
Thought we were at peak scam? Well, ScamGPT just entered the chat. This week, we're talking about how generative AI is supercharging the global fraud industry.
October 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
1/6
Thought we were at peak scam? Well, ScamGPT just entered the chat. This week, we're talking about how generative AI is supercharging the global fraud industry.
Thought we were at peak scam? Well, ScamGPT just entered the chat. This week, we're talking about how generative AI is supercharging the global fraud industry.
1/6
Want to be your own boss? Work from home and achieve financial freedom?
This week, we're talking about the original "innovation" that perfected that pitch: the Multi-Level Marketing scheme.
Want to be your own boss? Work from home and achieve financial freedom?
This week, we're talking about the original "innovation" that perfected that pitch: the Multi-Level Marketing scheme.
September 27, 2025 at 1:06 PM
1/6
Want to be your own boss? Work from home and achieve financial freedom?
This week, we're talking about the original "innovation" that perfected that pitch: the Multi-Level Marketing scheme.
Want to be your own boss? Work from home and achieve financial freedom?
This week, we're talking about the original "innovation" that perfected that pitch: the Multi-Level Marketing scheme.
1/2
Amazon planned to build a massive data center in Tucson. If built, Project Blue would have threatened the city’s already scarce water supply.
But the community fought back — and won.
Amazon planned to build a massive data center in Tucson. If built, Project Blue would have threatened the city’s already scarce water supply.
But the community fought back — and won.
September 24, 2025 at 1:40 PM
1/2
Amazon planned to build a massive data center in Tucson. If built, Project Blue would have threatened the city’s already scarce water supply.
But the community fought back — and won.
Amazon planned to build a massive data center in Tucson. If built, Project Blue would have threatened the city’s already scarce water supply.
But the community fought back — and won.
1/4
Why does your electricity bill keep going up?
A new neighbor might be part of the problem: the massive data centers powering the AI boom.
Why does your electricity bill keep going up?
A new neighbor might be part of the problem: the massive data centers powering the AI boom.
September 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
1/4
Why does your electricity bill keep going up?
A new neighbor might be part of the problem: the massive data centers powering the AI boom.
Why does your electricity bill keep going up?
A new neighbor might be part of the problem: the massive data centers powering the AI boom.
1/3
Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer is polluting the air of historically Black neighborhoods in Memphis. Environmental racism meets the AI craze in this new chapter of corporate extraction in Tennessee, and Memphis residents are fighting back.
Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer is polluting the air of historically Black neighborhoods in Memphis. Environmental racism meets the AI craze in this new chapter of corporate extraction in Tennessee, and Memphis residents are fighting back.
September 22, 2025 at 2:21 PM
1/3
Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer is polluting the air of historically Black neighborhoods in Memphis. Environmental racism meets the AI craze in this new chapter of corporate extraction in Tennessee, and Memphis residents are fighting back.
Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer is polluting the air of historically Black neighborhoods in Memphis. Environmental racism meets the AI craze in this new chapter of corporate extraction in Tennessee, and Memphis residents are fighting back.
1/3
Who really benefits from the AI data center boom, and what are we sacrificing in return?
The public narrative is one of inevitable technological progress. But the reality on the ground for many communities is strained energy grids, drained water supplies, and rising utility costs.
Who really benefits from the AI data center boom, and what are we sacrificing in return?
The public narrative is one of inevitable technological progress. But the reality on the ground for many communities is strained energy grids, drained water supplies, and rising utility costs.
September 19, 2025 at 3:32 PM
1/3
Who really benefits from the AI data center boom, and what are we sacrificing in return?
The public narrative is one of inevitable technological progress. But the reality on the ground for many communities is strained energy grids, drained water supplies, and rising utility costs.
Who really benefits from the AI data center boom, and what are we sacrificing in return?
The public narrative is one of inevitable technological progress. But the reality on the ground for many communities is strained energy grids, drained water supplies, and rising utility costs.
Unfun fact: Some AI data centers are as big as 4 football fields and use as much electricity as 80,000 households. Tech companies are taking up huge amounts of land, power, and water to make AI slop - often against the wishes of local communities. Let’s talk about it.
September 17, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Unfun fact: Some AI data centers are as big as 4 football fields and use as much electricity as 80,000 households. Tech companies are taking up huge amounts of land, power, and water to make AI slop - often against the wishes of local communities. Let’s talk about it.
2/3
@alixdunn.com will talk with @keshaunpearson.bsky.social from Memphis Community Against Pollution, Marisol from @nodesertdatacenter.com, KD Minor from Alliance for Affordable Energy, and @ambakak.bsky.social about how they’re reclaiming control of their futures from big tech companies.
@alixdunn.com will talk with @keshaunpearson.bsky.social from Memphis Community Against Pollution, Marisol from @nodesertdatacenter.com, KD Minor from Alliance for Affordable Energy, and @ambakak.bsky.social about how they’re reclaiming control of their futures from big tech companies.
September 16, 2025 at 5:55 PM
2/3
@alixdunn.com will talk with @keshaunpearson.bsky.social from Memphis Community Against Pollution, Marisol from @nodesertdatacenter.com, KD Minor from Alliance for Affordable Energy, and @ambakak.bsky.social about how they’re reclaiming control of their futures from big tech companies.
@alixdunn.com will talk with @keshaunpearson.bsky.social from Memphis Community Against Pollution, Marisol from @nodesertdatacenter.com, KD Minor from Alliance for Affordable Energy, and @ambakak.bsky.social about how they’re reclaiming control of their futures from big tech companies.
1/3
Hearing a lot about AI and data center expansion? That it's happening quickly, behind closed doors, putting huge demands on strained energy grids, leading to rising utility costs, reversing climate progress, and draining water from communities?
Hearing a lot about AI and data center expansion? That it's happening quickly, behind closed doors, putting huge demands on strained energy grids, leading to rising utility costs, reversing climate progress, and draining water from communities?
September 16, 2025 at 12:22 AM
1/3
Hearing a lot about AI and data center expansion? That it's happening quickly, behind closed doors, putting huge demands on strained energy grids, leading to rising utility costs, reversing climate progress, and draining water from communities?
Hearing a lot about AI and data center expansion? That it's happening quickly, behind closed doors, putting huge demands on strained energy grids, leading to rising utility costs, reversing climate progress, and draining water from communities?
1/6
We've figured out how to speak to millions, but not how to listen to them. The third episode in our #Nodestar series on decentralisation is about building protocols that restructure how we turn networks and disparate data points into knowledge.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/node...
We've figured out how to speak to millions, but not how to listen to them. The third episode in our #Nodestar series on decentralisation is about building protocols that restructure how we turn networks and disparate data points into knowledge.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/node...
September 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
1/6
We've figured out how to speak to millions, but not how to listen to them. The third episode in our #Nodestar series on decentralisation is about building protocols that restructure how we turn networks and disparate data points into knowledge.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/node...
We've figured out how to speak to millions, but not how to listen to them. The third episode in our #Nodestar series on decentralisation is about building protocols that restructure how we turn networks and disparate data points into knowledge.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/node...