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By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 03/08/2026

This (seeming) contradiction melts away once you realize that these workers only *appear* to be doing the same thing. The first group of workers, excited about their AI-assisted output, are "centaurs": people assisted by machines; workers who choose the time and manner of their AI adoption. 40/

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By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 03/08/2026

The second group are "reverse centaurs": people recruited to serve as peripherals for machines, who direct their actions and workflow: pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p... 41/

pluralistic.net

Pluralistic: The Reverse-Centaur’s Guide to Criticizing AI (05 Dec 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

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By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 03/08/2026

Note that this isn't the same thing as saying "A skilled worker who adopts a tool willingly is always right and will produce a better output as a result." Nor is it saying, "The tool is so flawed that workers who claim it works for them must be deluded." 42/

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Toby Bartels @tobybartels.name · 04/08/2026

I think that you mean ‘WHICH direct their actions and workflow’ (or possibly ‘who DON'T direct their actions and workflow’). Because unless I'm completely misunderstanding, in this situation the people aren't directing the things, but the things are directing the people.

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