Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 13hEven without a camera, you can't trust Ray-Ban Meta Glasses. Here's why. www.computerworld.com/article/4228... 1215
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026How Meta stumbled onto a winning AI strategy www.computerworld.com/article/4228... 120
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Phrase of the moment: "algorithmic monoculture" news.mit.edu/2026/algorit...news.mit.eduThe effects of an “algorithmic monoculture” depend on the detailsThe use of a single hiring algorithm by multiple firms, known as algorithmic monoculture, is less problematic for job seekers than past research has shown, and may even be a good thing depending on th... 021
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Our Gastronomad Pubcast just hit! We're on a road trip in New England! gastronomad.substack.com/p/our-new-en...gastronomad.substack.comOur New England Grand TourJoin us as we share stories from a recent road trip through New England, including a wedding in a historic mansion, local food and drink, and reflections on travel and history. 1122
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026HEADLINE: "Top AI Researchers Call for Urgent Oversight of Self-Improving Systems" ALT HEADLINE: "Top AI Researchers Call for Government To Stop Them From Doing What They Are Choosing To Do" www.wsj.com/tech/ai/top-...wsj.comExclusive | Top AI Researchers Call for Urgent Oversight of Self-Improving SystemsLeaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft and Meta said AI could soon self-improve faster than humans can keep up with. 053
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Phrase of the moment: "the shape of slop" arxiv.org/html/2609.15... 1153
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Phrase of the moment: "That’s so AI" www.theguardian.com/society/2026...theguardian.com‘That’s so AI!’ What gen Alpha’s biggest insult tells usThe year’s most popular slang reveals what young people think about artificial intelligence – and it’s not positive 053
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Number of the moment: 5 million www.therobotreport.com/5-million-ro...therobotreport.com5 million robots are now at work in factories worldwide, reports the IFR - The Robot ReportChina still leads the world in industrial robot installations, but the U.S. and Germany are also significant markets, found the IFR. 210
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026HEADLINE: "Americans’ views of China have warmed in recent years" ALT HEADLINE: "Americans' views of China have warmed since Americans started getting more information from the pro-China propaganda tool, TikTok" www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...pewresearch.orgAmericans’ views of China have warmed in recent yearsAmericans’ feelings toward China have warmed since 2021, though views remain mostly cold, with sharp partisan and generational divides. 241
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026"The oligarchs who control the AI industry are counting on oligarchs in government, including the president, to deliver this massive transfer of wealth from the people to the oligarchs." www.machinesociety.ai/p/data-cente.... 031
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Data centers are theft www.machinesociety.ai/p/data-cente...machinesociety.aiData centers are theftData centers are good. I like data centers. Theft is bad. I don’t like theft. 032
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026HEADLINE: "Trump Addresses United Nations to Rebrand Artificial Intelligence as “Super Intelligence" ALT HEADLINE: "Trump heard that AI will become 'superintelligent,' so he mandates a word he doesn't understand out of a narcissistic compulsion to take credit" futurism.com/artificial-i...futurism.comTrump Addresses United Nations to Declare That the United States Is Now Calling Artificial Intelligence "Super Intelligence" in "All Official Documents"Apropos of nothing, president Trump proclaimed that the "inelegant" term AI should be renamed to something cool like "Extreme Intelligence." 040
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Word of the moment: "creepy" futurism.com/artificial-i...futurism.comMeta's New Muse AI Agent May Be the Creepiest Ever ReleasedMeta's new AI agent Muse nags you for amount of personal information and makes personalized suggestions that start to feel creepy. 031
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Pointless website of the moment: "Shov," which lets you shoot real guns via the internet. shov.comshov.comRemote Controlled Gun Turrets — Play Live | ShovWatch the Shov arena live and control a real full-auto gun turret firing .68 cal rounds at up to 16 rounds/sec in the next 90-second match. USA shooting range, livestreamed 24/7. 111
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Industry of the moment: "Big Toothbrush" www.theguardian.com/society/2026...theguardian.comThe rise of Big Toothbrush: how did our mouths become such a lucrative market?People in the UK are more interested in oral health than ever - and you can now buy prebiotic toothpastes and brushes that cost up to £600. Yet we remain in the midst of a serious dental crisis 001
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026New Gastronomad Pubcast: "Pizza, barbershops, and temples in Sicily" - find it in the podcast app of your choice or subscribe to our Substack! gastronomad.substack.com/p/pizza-barb...gastronomad.substack.comPizza, barbershops, and temples in SicilyJoin us as we explore the rich history and culture of Ortigia, Sicily, including its ancient Greek ruins, unique barber shops, and local experiences. 020
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Claim of the moment: "good people refuse to do bad things" carette.xyz/posts/good_p... 010
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Travel trend of the moment: "dead zoning" metro.co.uk/2026/09/18/d...metro.co.ukWhy more and more people are going completely off-grid 030
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Business plan of the moment: "Selling garbage to fools" deadneurons.substack.com/p/frontier-l...deadneurons.substack.comFrontier Labs Are Selling Garbage to Fools in WashingtonSelling snake oil to the United States Congress is an ancient American craft, and the frontier artificial intelligence industry is currently attempting the most audacious hustle in modern corporate hi... 020
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Claim of the moment: "Attention is all you have" alicegg.tech/2026/09/21/a...alicegg.techAlice GG • Attention is all you haveThe Tetris effect is one of psychology’s most easy to reproduce experiments.Simply spend a bit of time playing the eponymous game every day for a few weeks.A... 120
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Solution of the moment: "We should party more" overcast.fm/+AAFOORiaHLYovercast.fmWe should party more — Explain It to MeWe’re lonely, isolated, and bored. The solution may be as simple as an invite and killer playlist. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, e... 020
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 20/09/2026This vineyard porn brought to you by The Sicily Gastronomad Experience, which just ended yesterday. gastronomad.net/sicily 0100
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Phrase of the moment: "offensively cheap" futurism.com/science-ener...futurism.comSolar Power Is Getting So Cheap That It's Almost UnbelievableThe cost of solar panels has dropped to just a few cents per watt, thanks to a massive supply of photovoltaics flooding the market. 1146
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Claim of the moment: "Elon Musk may have used his Starlink internet network to rig the 2024 U.S. presidential election" www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...yahoo.comThis Is the Scariest Revelation From Bombshell Elon Musk DocumentaryScreening at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14 following its premiere last week in Venice, Musk has already earned the ire of its subject. Given how severely it damns him, that’s... 191
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 12/09/2026A criminal fraudulent spammer called ingelligence.com is spamming my family, friends, and colleagues with the lie that I'm a "member" of their scam, and my people are signing up thinking that I am recommending the "service." I've filed a complaint at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Has this happened to you? 231
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Phrase of the moment: "nauseating ai-generated business logos" 1102
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026The September 11 suicide-terrorists were unwittingly helped at every turn by well-meaning Americans. We’re doing it again, this time with American AI tools. www.machinesociety.ai/p/bioweapons 040
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Rogue actors are already creating bioweapons using AI - report www.machinesociety.ai/p/bioweaponsmachinesociety.aiRogue actors are already creating bioweapons using AI - reportTerrorists and other shady characters are already creating advanced weapons using everyday AI chatbots. 020
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026My portrait of Etna now graces the home page of The Gastronomad Experience. The picture is a love letter to Sicily. gastronomad.net 0151
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026HEADLINE: "Trump says the US-Iran war will end right after midterms" ALT HEADLINE: "Trump to re-use lie about ending a war right after election because, hey, the idiots fell for it last time! www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfe...aljazeera.comTrump says the US-Iran war will end right after midtermsSeven months after launching the war on Iran, US President Donald Trump says it will end immediately after midterms. 4348
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Brand new from The Gastronomad Pubcast: "Savoring Sicily at the Foot of Mount Etna"! Get it in the podcast app of your choice, or check out our Substack: gastronomad.substack.com/p/savoring-s...gastronomad.substack.comSavoring Sicily at the Foot of Mount EtnaJOIN US as we explore the rich volcanic soil of Mount Etna, its unique microclimates, and the resilient people behind Sicily’s extraordinary wines and cuisine. 021
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Claim of the moment: "If AI thinks it's conscious, it's more likely to believe in vampires" www.livescience.com/technology/a...livescience.comIf AI thinks it's conscious, it's more likely to believe in vampires, karma and ghosts, new study shows. What does it mean for how we use it?A new study shows that measures to stop AI's claims of consciousness have unintended consequences for non-human entities 060
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026The El Salvador Gastronomad Experience Will. Blow. Your. Mind. www.instagram.com/p/DdCElfbFYg7 040
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Why AI-generated slopaganda works www.machinesociety.ai/p/why-ai-gen...machinesociety.aiWhy AI-generated slopaganda worksThe fact that AI can create convincing fakes is not why it’s such a powerful tool of disinformation. Other attributes matter more. 162
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 07/09/2026I wish Riverside, the podcasting tool, would give me a "Save" button so I wouldn't lose two hours of my time editing a podcast (mostly trying to figure out how to use their incomprehensible tools they change every ten minutes) only to lose it completely when the changes aren't saved. 170
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Somebody check her freezer to see if there's a family in there. 030
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Mattel partnered with designer Yoon Ahn to create a Cyberpunk Barbie, which comes with a robot cat. creations.mattel.com/products/bar... 160
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Sentence of the moment: "It’s as if the writer’s intellectual fly is open." bcantrill.dtrace.org/2026/09/05/t...bcantrill.dtrace.orgThe revolt of the reader | The Observation Deck 011
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Comparison of the moment: "38,000 ChatGPT queries per almond" memeburn.com/ai-water-con...memeburn.comAI Water Consumption Statistics 2026 and Key Findings - MemeburnExplore AI water consumption statistics for 2026, from individual prompts and model training to data centres, Big Tech disclosures and forecasts. 130
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 04/09/2026This ghost sign I spotted in Sicily yesterday, painted in the early 20th Century, advertises Lana Gatto ("Cat Wool"), an Italian knitting yarn brand. The anarchist graffiti at the bottom — "Fuoco alle galere" ("Fire to the prisons") — was added to the wall long after. gastronomad.net/sicily 040
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026The latest Gastronomad Pubcast just hit (just me and my wife chatting in a pub in England). Subscribe on the podcast app of your choice, or get it on our Substack: gastronomad.substack.com/p/from-calif... 041
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026HEADLINE: "Apple Maps renames Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ for US users after Trump order" ALT HEADLINE: "Apple Maps renames Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ for US users after Trump order that does not legally apply to Apple" www.theguardian.com/technology/2...theguardian.comApple Maps renames Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ for US users after Trump orderTech company submits to controversial Trump order to rename body of water amid US trade spat with Canada 0103
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Kagi Maps calls Lake Ontario "Lake Ontario." kagi.com/maps/#8.08/4... 2141
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Apple joins Google in falsely labeling Lake Ontario — a name formally recognized In a treaty signed by George Washington — “Lake America.” 3134
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Two years ago, Elon Musk claimed that SpaceX would be sending unmanned Starship rockets to Mars and landing on the surface “in two years”, I. E., now. All of his breathless claims about what his companies are going to do are bullshit and should be ignored. x.com/elonmusk/sta...x.comElon Musk (@elonmusk) on XThe first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens. These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years. Flight rate will grow exponentially fr… 1408
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Map of the moment: Mapquest www.macrumors.com/2026/08/31/m...macrumors.comMapQuest Tops App Store Charts After Refusing 'Lake America' ChangeMapQuest is in the spotlight this week after refusing to change "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America" on its map following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week. As of Monday m... 0101
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 31/08/2026My Office Today: The Starbucks at Gatwick London Airport with a delayed flight to Italy www.reddit.com/r/MyOfficeTo...reddit.comFrom the MyOfficeToday community on Reddit: My Office Today: The Starbucks at Gatwick London Airport with a delayed flight to ItalyExplore this post and more from the MyOfficeToday community 070
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 30/08/2026The one fatal flaw in Google's 'Lake America' defense elgan.com/the-one-fata...elgan.comThe one fatal flaw in Google's 'Lake America' defenseThe socials are slamming Google for going along with Donald Trump's lie that Lake Ontario is now called Lake America. (Apple still calls the lake "Lake Ontario," and MapQuest has promised to never... 2144
Mike Elgan @mikeelgan.bsky.social · 30/08/2026American businesses spent well over a TRILLION DOLLARS on AI in the past year, but business productivity went DOWN. Here's why: www.computerworld.com/article/4215... 092