Surveillance


Jan. 4, 2025

The Pentagon's New AI Bouncer: Because Your Mom Said It's OK

Listen, I’ve been staring at this bourbon glass for the past hour trying to make sense of this latest piece of government genius. The Pentagon - yes, that five-sided fortress of infinite wisdom - has decided to let AI help decide who gets security clearances. And their ethical compass for this brave new world? “What would mom think?”

I need another drink just typing that out.

Here’s the deal: The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (let’s call it DCSA because I’m already three fingers deep into this bottle) is now using AI to process security clearances for millions of American workers. Their director, David Cattler, has this brilliant idea called “the mom test.” Before his employees dig into your personal life, they need to ask themselves if their mom would approve of the government having this kind of access.

Dec. 31, 2024

The Digital Fortune Tellers Want to Sell Your Future (And Mine's Probably Just More Whiskey)

Christ, what a morning. Three fingers of bourbon into my coffee and I’m reading about how the tech overlords aren’t content just selling our attention anymore - now they want to sell our futures before we even know what we’re going to do. Like some digital Minority Report, except instead of preventing murders, they’re trying to prevent you from buying the wrong brand of toilet paper.

Let me break this down while I light another cigarette.

Dec. 30, 2024

Digital Fortune Tellers Want to Sell Your Soul (While Supplies Last)

It’s 3 AM, and I’m nursing my fourth bourbon at O’Malley’s, watching some suit at the end of the bar try to convince his phone to order him a pizza. The phone keeps suggesting Thai food instead. Tomorrow’s headline, today: the machines aren’t just reading our minds anymore - they’re shopping our thoughts to the highest bidder.

Some eggheads at Cambridge (always Cambridge, isn’t it? Never someplace normal like Toledo) just dropped a paper warning us about something they’re calling the “intention economy.” Fancy way of saying we’re all about to get our brains window-shopped by AI.

Dec. 26, 2024

Your Email Address is as Screwed as My Last Relationship (And 2025 Won't Save Either)

Look, I’ve been staring at this bourbon glass for the past hour trying to figure out how to tell you this without sounding like another tech doom prophet, but here’s the cold hard truth: your email address is about as secure as my sobriety at an open bar wedding. And Google’s latest “groundbreaking” solution? About as effective as putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.

Let me break this down while I pour another drink.

Dec. 19, 2024

1-800-BULLSHIT: Your Grandma's Rotary Phone Just Got an AI Upgrade

Listen, I’ve been staring at this whiskey glass for the past hour trying to make sense of OpenAI’s latest stunt. They’re rolling out this 1-800-CHATGPT thing like they just invented sliced bread, and my hangover isn’t helping me process it. But here we go anyway.

You know what’s funny? While the rest of us were busy trying to figure out how to afford the latest iPhone, these geniuses finally realized that regular phones exist. Revolutionary stuff, right? They’re giving us 15 minutes of free AI chat per month - just enough time to ask about the meaning of life or get a recipe for microwave dinner.

Dec. 4, 2024

AI and Whiskey: A Match Made in Digital Hell

Look, I wouldn’t normally be writing this early in the day, but my bourbon’s getting warm and these government warnings about AI are colder than my ex-wife’s shoulder. So here we go.

Some suit from the British government just announced that AI is “transforming the cyber threat landscape.” No shit, Sherlock. Next thing they’ll tell us is that drinking makes you piss more. But let’s dig into this steaming pile of obvious while I pour another.

Nov. 23, 2024

Your Digital Shopping Buddy Wants to Control Your Wallet (And Maybe Your Life)

Look, I’ve been staring at this press release for three hours now, nursing my fourth bourbon of the morning, trying to make sense of what these tech prophets are selling us this time. Something about AI shopping assistants being the “next iPhone moment.” Right. Because what we really needed was a digital middleman between us and our questionable 3 AM purchase decisions.

You know what? Let me pour another drink and break this down for you poor bastards.

Nov. 19, 2024

A16Z Wants Robot Cops in Vegas (What Could Possibly Go Wrong?)

Look, I wasn’t planning on writing today. My head’s still throbbing from last night’s philosophical debate with a bottle of Buffalo Trace about the meaning of existence. But this story landed in my inbox like a brick through a plate glass window, and even my hangover couldn’t ignore it.

So pour yourself something strong. You’re gonna need it.

Remember when Vegas was just about losing your shirt at the blackjack table and making questionable decisions at 4 AM? Those were simpler times. Now it’s becoming ground zero for Silicon Valley’s latest wet dream: AI-powered law enforcement. And who’s bankrolling this cyberpunk fantasy? None other than Ben Horowitz and the a16z crew, throwing money around like they’re making it rain at the Bellagio.

Nov. 11, 2024

The "Ethical" AI Outfit Just Got In Bed With The War Machine

Look, I’ve seen some real hypocritical bullshit in my time. Hell, I once worked with a post office supervisor who preached punctuality while showing up drunk at noon every day. But this one takes the cake, washes it down with bottom-shelf whiskey, and throws it back up all over its own moral high ground.

Anthropic - you know, the AI company that’s been strutting around like a reformed alcoholic at their first AA meeting, preaching about safety and ethics - just jumped into bed with Palantir. Yeah, that Palantir. The defense contractor that makes the NSA look like a bunch of girl scouts selling cookies.