Episode 8 - Resistance
We've talked about a lot on Politechs this season, and now it's time to pull it all together and think about how we can resist AI. And who better to talk to about resistance than Brian Merchant, author of "Blood in the Machine", a fascinating book about the original Luddites, a group of tech workers in early 19th century England who took up the hammer and smashed the machines that were being used to emiserate them. We talk about the parallels between the time of the Luddites and our current moment, how capital and the state teamed up to crush the Luddites, and how we can avoid their fate.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Empire of AI, by Karen Hao [PERMALINK]
- Blood in the Machine, by Brian Merchant [PERMALINK]
- Blood in the Machine newsletter, by Brian Merchant
- AI Killed My Job: Translators [PERMALINK]
- Getting off US tech: a guide, by Paris Marx [PERMALINK]
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To view full show notes, including transcripts, please visit the episode page. Be sure to follow us on BlueSky and Mastodon!
Cover art by Anya K. Jordan @anyakjordan.bsky.social
Theme music by Xylia
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