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Paris Marx

Silicon Valley wants to shape our future, but why should we let it? Every Thursday, Paris Marx is joined by a new guest to critically examine the tech industry, its big promises, and the people behind them. Tech Won’t Save Us challenges the notion that tech alone can drive our world forward by showing that separating tech from politics has consequences for us all, especially the most vulnerable. It’s not your usual tech podcast.

Tech Won't Save Us

Paris Marx is joined by Ben Wray to discuss the Europe’s capitulation to pressure from the United States on Nexperia, as well as on digital protections and labor rights that could have big implications for the future of work.

Ben Wray is a researcher specializing in the platform economy. He writes the Gig Economy Project newsletter and his most recent report for the ETUC is called Uberisation.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Today’s sponsors are ExpressVPN and ⁠Aura Frames. Get four months free by visiting ExpressVPN.com/TWSU. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at ⁠https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS⁠. Promo Code PARIS

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Ben wrote about the brief attempt by the Dutch to nationalize Nexperia.

 
In leaked documents from 2012-2017 Uber executives recognize their own illegal activity and refer to themselves as ‘pirates’.

 
Spain recently ordered Meta to pay €479m fine for breaching EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Europe’s Subservience to the United States w/ Ben Wray

Paris Marx is joined by Aline Blankertz to discuss how right-wing governments and international corporations in the European Union are pushing to gut tech regulations with the goal of boosting AI development in hope of improving economic growth and geopolitical standing.

Aline Blankertz is a cofounder of Structural Integrity.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Today’s sponsor is ⁠Aura Frames. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS. Promo Code PARIS

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Aline wrote about how the sovereignty discussion was progressing at a recent summit in Europe.

 
Aline mentioned an upcoming conference tying together different activist movements that listeners may find interesting: Cables of Resistance.

 
Learn more about the EU’s Digital Omnibus regulation proposal.

 
The Draghi Report examines EU competitiveness.

 
France and Germany are partnering up to utilize AI in public administration

 
Shoutout to the book Vulture Capitalism by Grace Blakeley.

 
Here’s the latest in OpenAI’s ongoing litigation.

 
Macron and Merz spoke out against authoritarianism, in particular calling out a lack of national control over social networks.

 
Some governments are pushing back and disconnecting from US tech giants.

Europe is Gutting Its Tech Regulations w/ Aline Blankertz

Paris Marx is joined by Ketan Joshi to discuss how hyperscale data centers are fueling the consumption of more oil and gas, what that means for climate targets, and the insidious relationship between the tech and fossil fuel industries.

Ketan Joshi is a climate writer and data analyst based in Oslo working with climate and environmental groups.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS. Promo Code PARIS

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Ketan has a page on his website sharing fascinating data sets.

 
The International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook report was just released for this year.

 
xAI was caught using enough illegal methane generators to power a city at a facility that powers Grok.

 
Here is an in-depth look behind the scenes at the construction of the new data center from xAI, including the purchasing of a power plant just across the state line.

 
Google's Chief of Investment loves Doug Burgum’s (Trump’s Secretary of the Interior) commitments to power AI growth with fossil fuels.

 
Microsoft has been investing in nuclear energy.

 
Learn more about the Enabled Emissions Campaign.

 
Shout-out to the book Empire of AI by Karen Hao.

Data Centers Are a Climate Enemy w/ Ketan Joshi

Paris Marx is joined by Gil Duran to discuss how Peter Thiel’s bizarre obsession with the antichrist is really a desperate and embarrassing attempt to divert attention from his own misdeeds.

Gil Duran writes The Nerd Reich and is working on his first book, The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Global Democracy.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/PARIS. Promo Code: PARIS

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Gil wrote about Peter Thiel’s Antichrist obsession and the apocalypse capitalism of Silicon Valley.

 
This link is for Peter Thiel (or any Silicon Valley millionaires who may be listening); Gil recommends a brush-up on the French Revolution.

 
Steve Bannon expects to go to prison.

 
Donald Trump’s relationship to crypto continues to be awful.

Peter Thiel is the Real Antichrist w/ Gil Duran

Paris Marx is joined by Nathan Grayson to discuss how Saudi Arabia is buying its way into the sports, comedy, and video game industries in order to broaden its investment portfolio and launder its international reputation.

Nathan Grayson is a cofounder of Aftermath and the author of Stream Big: The Triumphs and Turmoils of Twitch and the Stars Behind the Screen.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Aftermath launched a refreshed website. Check it out!

 
Nathan wrote about the problems with the Saudi-EA deal.

 
GeoGuessr users made their maps unplayable in protest against the game’s announced participation in the Esports World Cup.

 
Here’s a more comprehensive list of Saudi Arabia’s game investments.

 
And here’s a history of Saudi Arabia’s investments in sports.

Saudi Arabia is Using Games to Improve Its Image w/ Nathan Grayson

Paris Marx is joined by Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear to discuss the many ways cars have negatively affected society, how tech companies seek to entrench those problems, and what can really be done to improve mobility in our communities.

Doug Gordon is a TV producer and writer. Sarah Goodyear is a journalist and author. They are the co-hosts of The War on Cars and co-authors of Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Fighting Traffic by Peter D. Norton

 
Livable Streets by Donald Appleyard

 
Your Six-Year-Old by Louise Bates Ames

 
Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam

Why We Need a War on Cars w/ Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear

Paris Marx celebrates the 300th episode of Tech Won’t Save Us by sharing his reasons to push for digital sovereignty and get off US tech. On top of explaining how that dependence gives the US governments and its tech companies power over us, Paris also provides tips of alternative services to consider migrating to.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Here is the Disconnect post offering a comprehensive list of options for getting off US tech.

 
Producer Kyla seconds the recommendation of the library as an alternative to streaming, audiobooks, big box bookstores, and for plenty of other benefits (including inviting us to be more active community members).

 
Trump’s sanctions against chief ICC prosecutor Karim Kahn has delayed proceedings, and resulted in Microsoft cancelling his email service.

 
Here’s more information about when JD Vance annoyed most of Europe by comparing their governments to authoritarian regimes.

 
Learn more about Alexandre de Moraes and his efforts to regulate US tech in Brazil.

We Need to Cut Our Dependence on US Tech. Here’s How to Start.

Paris Marx is joined by Joanne McNeil to discuss the proliferation of delivery bots and robotaxis and how they recycle disproven claims about how technology will improve transportation.

Joanne McNeil is a freelance writer and the author of Wrong Way and Lurking: How a Person Became a User.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Joanne wrote about delivery bots and robotaxis for the New York Review of Architecture.

 
She’s doing an event in Los Angeles discussing social media on November 1.

 
Uber’s driverless car killed a pedestrian, and the company scapegoated the backup driver. 

 
Sleep Dealer is a sci-fi movie by Alex Rivera.

 
A GM Cruise self-driving car hit a pedestrian and dragged them 20 feet before stopping.

 
Even Chuck E. Cheese is getting into the ghost kitchen business.

Silicon Valley Doesn’t Know What Makes a Good City w/ Joanne McNeil

Paris Marx is joined by Chris Gilliard to discuss how tech CEOs are pushing a new generation of AI-powered smart glasses by promising they’ll be stylish and indispensable to workers in a desperate attempt to convince us we should want their luxury surveillance gadgets.

Chris Gilliard is the co-director of the Critical Internet Studies Institute and is working on a book called Luxury Surveillance.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Harvard students used Meta glasses to dox strangers.

 
Apple tinkered with its AI shortly after Trump was inaugurated.

 
AI may start answering 911 calls.

 
Studies are suggesting that AI may be making doctors worse at diagnosing cancer.

 
Rob Horning has written about overreliance on AI.

 
Chris mentioned Emily Bender and her analogy comparing LLMs to plastic.

Smart Glasses Are Ushering In An Anti-Social World w/ Chris Gilliard

Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Jacob’s new book Gilded Rage, which explores the radicalization of Silicon Valley leaders, who are exerting their growing influence to shape our society for the worse.

Jacob Silverman is an independent journalist and the author of Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Also mentioned in this episode:

 
Jacob recently wrote about Musk’s latest dodgy business dealings.

 
The world continues to wonder at Trump’s ability to get away with corruption and scandal.

 
Saudi Arabia has been involved in Silicon Valley more than folks may have realized (prior to the EA buyout, anyway).

The Gilded Rage of Tech Billionaires w/ Jacob Silverman

Paris Marx is joined by Nitasha Tiku to discuss how AI companies are preying on users to drive engagement and how that’s repeating many of the problems we’re belatedly trying to address with social media companies at an accelerated pace.Nitasha Tiku is a technology reporter at the Washington Post.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode:

Nitasha wrote about how chatbots are messing with people’s minds.

Paris wrote about Mark Zuckerberg’s comments about people needing AI friends.

AI companies are facing ongoing lawsuits over harmful content.

Support the show

Chatbots Are Repeating Social Media’s Harms w/ Nitasha Tiku

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