Post B0rebdnpT2ExC8m0yu by billbennett@mastodon.nz
(DIR) More posts by billbennett@mastodon.nz
(DIR) Post #B0qcP0UfOiGUjqhMK8 by lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-12-02T19:28:15Z
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Can't help but wonder why democratic governments, worldwide, are doing whatever US BigTech tells them to do with regard to 'AI' policy & adoption. How do these governments not realise that BigTech is inherently authoritarian, psychotic, & working against democracy? They are antithetical to our societal values & yet they're welcomed with open arms? Do our governments secretly realise that they're 100% dependent on these corporations & are therefore vassals, not sovereign? Or is it corruption?
(DIR) Post #B0qcg1v3LnEa5C9pQG by lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-12-02T19:31:18Z
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@mkj which is the same as them being deeply ignorant, gormless, and credulous.
(DIR) Post #B0qcsgxga6m0qgQW0m by Cheeseness@mastodon.social
2025-12-02T19:33:33Z
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@lightweight I've asking the same question about our government's use of Microsoft's stuff for years, but this is even worse.Even if the tech vendors at play right now were benign and this wave of "AI" didn't inherently lead to dependencies that are inappropriate, it is fundamentally critical that the act/process of government is done by humans who are peers of and accountable to the people being governed. In the same way it's critical that our electoral system is by hand by voters
(DIR) Post #B0qdfFSxb8HNlKCzeS by Meznor@mstdn.social
2025-12-02T19:33:02Z
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@mkj @lightweight 🎯 shiny object syndrome too. And human tendency to want to believe that complexity can be solved with a silver bullet.
(DIR) Post #B0qdfGg75iOXWPN0nA by lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-12-02T19:42:20Z
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@Meznor @mkj regarding 'blind faith in technology' from many politicans, I just posted this elsewhere https://mastodon.nzoss.nz/@lightweight/115651581355994119 - as a technologies, I'm amazed by how politicians are always happy to believe comforting lies from technologists (more likely entrepreneurs with little tech capability) & ignore *actual* technologists if their advice isn't aligned with their narrative...
(DIR) Post #B0qdh59ktsecMm6GXo by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-12-02T19:42:32Z
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@lightweight In part it is because they are inherently clueless about these matters but also because their main connection with the big tech companies is through expensive lobbyists and government relations folk whose job is all about feeding an unbalanced picture to politicians .
(DIR) Post #B0qdlUcEBYdoU8WMKG by lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-12-02T19:43:31Z
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@billbennett so how can we hold government folks to account? The difference between what's happening and 'corruption' is pretty fine-to-non-existent.
(DIR) Post #B0qdzPAPEyALdl8pH6 by lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-12-02T19:46:02Z
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@billbennett I want to see some members of this coalition tried for corruption and jailed - or at the very least, lose their jobs. I think that'd be a step in the right direction.
(DIR) Post #B0qgKK2xfhwNkZlFbM by Salty@mastodon.nz
2025-12-02T20:12:08Z
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@lightweight @mkj That tracks
(DIR) Post #B0qvFTNR3N22YHU1RI by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-12-02T22:57:41Z
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@lightweight I don't think there is corruption here in the usual sense of the word (although if a former minister goes to work for one of these companies that would be corrupt). It's more that politicians are dazzled by the smoke and mirrors, the promise of new jobs being created or billions added to GDP and the idea of being, in their eyes, new and modern. People who know enough to be skeptical in one or more domains really need to bring that to the government technology procurement party.
(DIR) Post #B0r2vRBkHQ0TbcyNEW by lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-12-03T00:25:26Z
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@billbennett Seems to me that quid pro quo is corruption - they give campaign financing, and the MP ensures the donor's 'issues' are addressed. We're seeing a LOT of that.
(DIR) Post #B0r30JnnAZsq9561Sq by lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-12-03T00:26:19Z
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@billbennett we need the tech media to be openly skeptical...
(DIR) Post #B0rebdnpT2ExC8m0yu by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-12-03T07:27:38Z
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@lightweight We are... but to the best of my knowledge that's not happening (or not happening much) with the big tech companies... they get what they want anyway. It does show up when big donors to the right-wing parties are awarded lucrative government contracts.
(DIR) Post #B0rhYu3csLygbNY42q by lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-12-03T08:00:46Z
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@billbennett yup.