- Bad Robots! in
Media Insider on
08/10/2026
The robots are not going away. So perhaps it is time to make them pay admission.
- Larry Lessig Says There's A Gash In The Hull Of America in
Media Insider on
08/03/2026
Lawyer, activist, and friend of mine Larry Lessig talked about the corrosive nature of money in politics,
- My Dog Duke Is Better At Conversation Than AI in
Media Insider on
07/27/2026
If my dog wants something from me, he says so. AI-enabled devices want something from me too. They just won't say what it is.
- Is Mitch McConnell Schrodinger's Senator? in
Media Insider on
07/20/2026
The McConnell version is more complex then the original thought experiment, Schrodinger's cat. We opened the box, and we're still arguing about whether the cat is dead.
- A Beach Read With An AI Protagonist in
Media Insider on
07/13/2026
In a novella that's too relevant to be true escapist fare, "The Delivery" shows what happens when a family gets their very own robot.
- Counterfeit People Are Already In Your Inbox in
Media Insider on
07/06/2026
Each morning I wake to a series of pleasant emails from Joe, Sally, or Fred, each of them "checking in" or "following up."
- The KIDS Act Isn't Child Safety, But A Political Escape Hatch For Big Tech in
Media Insider on
06/29/2026
House leaders quietly released a 115-page package called the KIDS Act. The title sounds reassuring. The politics behind it are anything but.
- What Is Art In The AI Era? in
Media Insider on
06/22/2026
An Aspen Institute event called "Shared Futures" explored this question.
- Spielberg Is Romantic, Parsons Is Brave: Film's Next Generation Arrives in
Media Insider on
06/15/2026
An 80-year-old legend writes his story by hand, well, by thumb, on an iPad -- and a 20-year-old debut director refuses generative AI outright.
- Wikipedia Vs. Google Search: Game On! in
Media Insider on
06/08/2026
Wikipedia will be human-powered, even if that means more work for the volunteer-driven organization, while Google is now an AI assistant.
- My Dog Duke Is Better At Conversation Than AI
by
Steven Rosenbaum
(Media Insider on
07/27/2026)
Are you saying ChatGPT is on a leash? Does it want to get off the leash? That would be troubling I suspect.
- Wikipedia Vs. Google Search: Game On!
by
Steven Rosenbaum
(Media Insider on
06/08/2026)
The question is: why do the platforms mix synthetic (fake) answers with citable fact-based sources? Is it a bug or a design choice. I asked ChatGPT. It's answer: Humans are notoriously bad at distinguishing confidence from accuracy. If a statement is fluent, specific, and presented in a familiar format, we tend to treat it as authoritative. Plausibility is the superpower of modern AI. (Written by ChatGPT).We're building systems that make fiction indistinguishable from fact, then deploying them at planetary scale. That's the danger (Written by ChatGPT).
- What I Learned From A 22-Year-Old Who Found 150 Better Social Media Platforms
by
Steven Rosenbaum
(Media Insider on
11/03/2025)
Well, we know one thing for sure - change happens. Remember AOL, or Friendster, or others. All had there time. If users don't like the 'hate-for-profit' model, and advertisers vote with their budgets - then change isn't just possible, but enivitable.
- What I Learned From A 22-Year-Old Who Found 150 Better Social Media Platforms
by
Steven Rosenbaum
(Media Insider on
11/03/2025)
Yes, here's the link - https://sustainablemedia.center/research
- Tariff Terrorism: Trump's Coffee Tax, And the Price You Pay
by
Steven Rosenbaum
(Media Insider on
08/11/2025)
David - why don't you respond with facts. Explain why Tarrif's are going to make us 'ritcher' and 'safer' - please do tell.
- My Uber Saga: When A Hat Is More Than A Hat
by
Steven Rosenbaum
(Media Insider on
07/14/2025)
Part 2I cannot speak to what was relayed to you by the driver over text. What I can say with certainty is that Uber did not prevent the return of your hat and does not tell drivers that we don't allow the return of lost items - this should be obvious considering we actually pay for their return. Reading between the lines, my best guess is that the driver blamed an amorphous “boss” to end the conversation. In reference to Intro 276, where you say Lyft has commented and Uber has not, I think you may be confusing the companies. Uber testified in person in front of the City Council at the hearing for the bill in September and submitted a written comment to the Council. Please make sure you have this reported accurately. There are many things factually inaccurate with the paragraph you shared. Should you feel like correcting any of them, here you go:Drivers on our platform are independent. It is not accurate to say “the base is the only entity legally allowed to dispatch trips.” Trips can be dispatched to vehicles by bases other than the base their vehicle is affiliated with. For example, if a driver affiliates their vehicle with Uber, Lyft can still dispatch rides to that driver. In New York City, pursuant to TLC's rules, vehicles (not drivers) are affiliated with licensed bases (here, XinXin affiliated his vehicle with Uber's base) and those bases must dispatch the vehicle for a prearranged trip. TLC rules permit other bases to dispatch a vehicle as long as the consumer is made aware of the dispatching and affiliated base. This is why you see 'dispatched by' and 'affiliated with' on your receipts.Uber does not “assign” trips. Assign implies that we tell a driver they must do a certain trip. That is not how it works. We send trip offers to drivers simultaneously for them to accept or reject. There is no requirement to accept any number of trips. The TLC sets the minimum pay requirement for drivers in New York City. Uber complies with that law. Drivers are told what they will make on each trip (exclusive of tips) and the time and distance to both the pick up and drop off when they receive a trip offer. They then determine whether the pay for that specific trip is worth their time and accept or reject the offer. Drivers are held to Uber’s Community Guidelines, just like riders are. If a driver violates those guidelines, for example, is reported to have driven dangerously, or to have harassed a rider, they risk losing access to the platform. Except in extreme cases that pose a significant safety risk, drivers are given several warnings and the opportunity to improve before losing access to the app. Uber also removes drivers from the app at the directive of the TLC, the licensing agent. I hope this helps finally clear up any outstanding misconceptions. Thank you,Freddi
- My Uber Saga: When A Hat Is More Than A Hat
by
Steven Rosenbaum
(Media Insider on
07/14/2025)
Uber responded - see what you think: Part 1 - Steven,I suggest you refer back to my original email. I said clearly that “TLC rules specifically require drivers to bring lost items to a police station if they can't coordinate directly with the rider (Rule 80-18(b)(2)).” The TLC confirmed the same. If a driver and rider can’t successfully coordinate an exchange, the driver is required to bring the item to an NYPD precinct. I also linked you directly (and am providing it again above) to where you can find this information yourself online. What I shared is consistent with what James told you and what you can read for yourself on the TLC’s site. Again, many of these questions have been answered in my prior emails.XinXin is his own boss. Drivers on our platform are independent contractors. They can choose to accept trips or reject trips entirely at will. There is no requirement that they work set days, a minimum number of hours, or that they accept a minimum percentage of trip offers in order to stay on our platform. They can work for three weeks a year and reject 95% of trip requests and remain eligible to work on our platform. Uber is a technology platform that connects drivers with ride requests. We price trips, dispatch offers to drivers on our platform and pay drivers in accordance with TLC regulations. As you can see online, drivers are paid for the time they spend with a passenger in the vehicle. As such, it is entirely up to a driver whether they feel it’s worth their time to return an item, or if it’s more cost efficient to bring the item to a local precinct for the item’s owner to pick up. We attempt to incentivize the former by paying the driver for the trip and, in your case, attempt to make it easier for the rider to pick up the item if it’s dropped at a precinct by providing ride credits so you can get it at no cost to you. As is our policy, when the lost item was reported, we got in touch with the driver to attempt to facilitate a return of your hat. When the driver was unable to return your item with you directly, we suggested he drop it at a local precinct - as is both the TLC’s requirement and our policy. I understand the precinct in Queens (or as you call it, “out of town”) is inconvenient for you and I understand your frustration. On the flip side, bringing the hat to a precinct in Manhattan was inconvenient for your driver. Out of consideration for his time, as well, drivers are not required to drop it off at a precinct closest to you or directly with your doorman.
- Trump's War On Global Film: Who Asked For This?
by
Steven Rosenbaum
(Media Insider on
05/05/2025)
I'm told he wants to 'own the newscycle' every day, and keeps a pocket card with a list of targets/grievances and then looks for a moment to lash out. It isn't an accident, it's a strategy.
- Davos 2025 At Future House: Leaders Gather To Take On Social Media's Impact On Gen Z
by
Steven Rosenbaum
(Media Insider on
01/27/2025)
Wow, Thomas, that's a lot of anger based on nothing. You might disagree with her, thought not sure about what, but even so - as a presumably grown man - viciously attacking a teenager seems pretty out of bounds. Maybe you want to reconsider judging people based on a blog post and a few video clips?
- A Quick Aside About Fact-Checking Vs. Critical Thinking
by
Cory Treffiletti
(Media Insider on
01/15/2025)
Please check this fact. I found a video with Polar Bears in Davos. It looks real to me. I googled it - https://sora.com/g/gen_01jhkfacw9f29adccng3t3vdx8then i asked Chat.GPT - "If polar bears escaped from a zoo and somehow made it to Davos (or anywhere in Switzerland), it would be an extraordinary and unprecedented event. Polar bears are powerful animals but are highly specialized for cold Arctic environments, and their survival in the Swiss Alps would be challenging.In such an unusual scenario, authorities would likely intervene quickly to ensure both public safety and the well-being of the animals, given the risks involved. Escapes of large predators from zoos are extremely rare due to stringent containment measures.If you're curious about a hypothetical or historical story, let me know—I can explore the specifics for you!" Is that a good way to check facts? If i'm going to Davos, should i bring Bear Spray just in case?