James Hughes

Sociologist, left social dem antifascist w/ technoprogressive tendencies, postgenderist, @ieet.org, @citizencyborg on Substack, Bsky & Threads.

[James Hughes @citizencyborg]

This is puzzling. There is no basis for either divine Creationism or intelligent design in canonical Buddhism. In fact Buddhism specifically rejected Vedic claims of divine creation of the universe. (see the Aggañña Sutta)

[James Hughes @citizencyborg]

Sex/gender freedom for all still has a slog ahead

[Eurasia Group @EurasiaGroup]

Same-sex marriage remains illegal in far more places than it is legal.

As countries around the world mark #PrideMonth this June, a look at the global divide in LGBTQ rights versus public attitudes:

#GraphicTruth via @gzeromedia: https://t.co/ovKE3Te2Lu

[IEET @IEET]

Stefan Lorenz Sorgner: "Politics, Religion, and Variants of Transhumanism." Transhumanism is much more than a technological utopia-it has become an influential philosophy among global decision-makers.

https://t.co/z7tNqP4Xh7

[Matthew Botvinick @mattbotvinick]

I’m delighted to report that my book, AI and Political Freedom, is now available for pre-order (ahead of publication October 6). However, I’m even more delighted to share that I’m personally choosing to donate my author royalties to Protect Democracy (@protctdemocracy), in support of their AI for Democracy Action Lab. Please check out the Action Lab’s webpage, linked in the replies.

[Calum Chace @cccalum]

"AI as agents for the rich, and erotica and distracting simulations for the poor."

A bleak view of an AI future from Ezra Klein's latest podcast. A lot like Brave New World.

We can avoid this.

[IEET @IEET]

China's Palantir: A Chinese company has been trying to develop AI to enable authoritarian governments to not just monitor dissidents but also potentially predict who could become one in the future. https://t.co/mMBf9D2Fj9

[Novara Media @novaramedia]

Former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will introduce legislation aimed at giving the American public ownership of 50% of the largest AI companies.

The American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act would impose a one-off 50% tax on certain firms, paid in stock instead of cash.

The proposal would give the federal government voting shares and equal representation on the companies’ boards.

Sanders named OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI among the targets. Those firms do not have publicly traded shares, but the Vermont senator said more details about the “mechanics of implementation” would be revealed when he unveils the proposed bill in the coming weeks.

Writing in the New York Times on Monday, he said the legislation “would give the public a direct role in determining the future of this technology.”

He added that AI is built using intellectual property created with the “labour of the American people – typically without permission or payment.”

“The data and language used by generative AI tools didn’t just pop into Sam Altman’s head or Elon Musk’s imagination,” he said. “AI is built on our collective intelligence: our books, songs, artwork, journalism, computer code, scientific research, videos, conversations, images and ideas spanning generations.”

He added that AI is built on “a public resource far more valuable than oil: the accumulated knowledge, creativity and labour of mankind.”

“The American people deserve a cut of the profits,” he said.

[Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders]

I will soon be introducing a bill to give the public a 50% ownership stake in the largest AI companies in America.

This would guarantee that the trillions created by AI are used to improve the lives of all of us — and block oligarch decisions that harm the American people.

[Keegs 🧮🏗️ @LittleKeegs0]

The most important takeaway here is that it's not remotely enough to return to prior levels of inequality in the US. We must aim for a *lot* more equality than that.

[BoysLove Hub ENG @boyslovehub]

Thailand is pushing to host WorldPride 2030 and says it will do whatever it takes.

Government says diversity will be fully embraced and that progress will help create a freer and more equal society. The goal is to position the country as a leader in human rights.

[James Hughes @citizencyborg]

Inside every salaryman is a gyaru screaming to be free

[Eaaaw @Eaaaw]

Happy Pride y'all 🏳️‍🌈

[Alex Bores @AlexBores]

Feared by the corrupt and powerful, fighting for you.

Watch and share our campaign’s second ad—and if you’re with me, join the team: https://t.co/rXgo3rcX9G

[David Wood @dw2]

"If you're asking yourself, 'Which jobs will survive AI, and which jobs will disappear?' you're asking the wrong kind of question" - Correct! https://t.co/brX6KdIvmY

[IEET @IEET]

Brain data is not like other data. What norms, laws, and institutions should govern BCIs? Join the conversation June 5–6.
Register: https://t.co/U64mxb3gen @citizencyborg

[Alex Bores @AlexBores]

.@berniesanders is right: the future of humanity belongs in the hands of our workers, not the handful of AI oligarchs pursuing unlimited wealth and power at the expense of our job, our kids, our economy, our climate, and our democracy.

Here in NY, I delivered the strongest AI safety bill in the country. Now, I'm running for Congress to put Americans ahead of AI, and I look forward to partnering with Senator Sanders to get it done.

[Tony Annett @tonyannett]

Finally, an excellent AI policy proposal.

Bernie Sanders proposes a 50% tax on AI companies to be paid in the form of stock. This would seed a social wealth fund that pays out citizens’ dividends.

I would make the social wealth fund bigger and broader, though.

[Matt Bruenig @MattBruenig]

Of course this is a broader problem with income distribution in a capitalist society. If you try to disentangle it, what you find is the vast majority of all output is not the result of inputs from capital, land, or currently-living labor. But this is very literally true for AI.

[Matt Bruenig @MattBruenig]

It's an argument about desert-based income distributions. If each input is meant to be compensated according to its contribution to output, then AI companies will, left alone, end up with windfall distributions owing to using inputs they didn't produce but do not have to pay for.

[Arash Azizi آرش عزیزی @arash_tehran]

This is really a travesty and a true shame for the Starmer government. It’s a naked attack on free speech