Stay Safe Out There

Dear Citizen,

It’s beginning to look a lot like 2073 out there. Predator drones are flying over Los Angeles to aid ICE; Airlines are selling your data to the Department of Homeland Security. Big Tech is paying for President Trump’s military birthday party. And Meta is ramping up its “superintelligence lab,”  intended to develop an AI with powers that ultimately exceed those of the human brain.

Don’t worry though, we’ve got your back. Here’s what to read, learn and do this week: 

# ONE READ: Slop Shop # 

How’s our AI future working out? Apple researchers say in a paper published this week that reasoning models (LRMs) – an advanced form of AI – faced a “complete accuracy collapse” when presented with highly complex problems. Same girl, same. 

Meanwhile, POLITICO reports that the internet is overflowing with “AI Slop” about the Los Angeles protests, distorting understanding of these events in real time. 

It’s not just the sheer amount of slop that is filling social media feeds that’s posing a problem. It’s the ability to visually manipulate scenes to fit the creator’s political agenda that is making it so much harder to decipher the truth during the L.A. protests. Consider these completely fake AI-generated videos posted over the past few days: one of a hypocritical protester who preaches peace and then throws a molotov cocktail. Or another of a man screaming “Viva Mexico,” but then cowering away from an officer who says he will take him to Mexico. These clips aren’t just delivering conservative talking points either: This one emanates from the left, featuring a young man delivering a heartfelt speech about standing with his community and fighting injustice.

Read more here. 

#ONE WATCH: The Data Center Next Door# 

What’s it like to live 400 yards away from one of Mark Zuckerberg’s massive data centers? The terrific activist news organization More Perfect Union found out, going to rural Georgia to speak with residents who are living next to massive data centers owned by Meta and Blackstone and facing nonstop noise, pollution and rapidly rising electricity bills.

You have to see it to believe it; watch here: 

# ONE ACTION: No Kings, Still On # 

Two weeks ago we shouted out a major action in the US, No Kings - a protest of President Trump’s birthday party slash military parade. (Banana Republic much?) These events were planned before President Trump sent the Marines to LA … and the growing protests over immigration raids. In spite of his threats, they’re more important than ever. 

Click here to see how you can take part tomorrow, in the US or abroad. 

If you’re headed out and worried about your safety and privacy, here’s a guide from the Electronic Frontier Foundation to protecting your digital devices before, during and after a protest. Stay safe out there. 

That’s it for this week. 

The Citizens Team 

*PS - Join our Signal Chat if you haven’t already!