Working 9 to Hype, 2026.08.10

In the past year, tech companies have laid off thousands of employees. But when CEOs blame "AI innovation," they're redirecting attention from something much more predictable: job discrimination and gig-ification. Emily and Alex examine some narratives of AI-streamlined workplaces — and why they don't match up with reality.

References:

• Block press release: "From Hierarchy to Intelligence"
• "Lawsuit claims Meta's layoff decisions were made by AI, not humans"

Fresh AI Hell:

• "OpenAI’s latest math breakthroughs commit research misconduct, experts say"
  • Also referenced: Leiden Declaration
• "AI Assisted Autism Screening"
• Weird comparison of "AI" emissions to other data center activity
• Paved paradise and put up a data center
• "What if you just talked to your children"
• Palate cleanser: US judge holds DOGE accountable for output they took from ChatGPT
• Palate cleanser: Data center opposition momentum

Check out future streams on Twitch. Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see.

Find our book The AI Con here, and MAIHT3k merch here.

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Emily

• Bluesky: emilymbender.bsky.social
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBender

Alex

• Bluesky: alexhanna.bsky.social
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@alex
• Twitter: @alexhanna

Music by Toby Menon.
Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park. 
Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.