iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 07/10/2026

Any serious candidate needs a good position on labour. Really appreciate that you know which side of the fight to be on!

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 07/10/2026

The fact that this won’t cover city housing or any apartment where it will cost too much is really disappointing. When I rented I would have qualified for this yet I could afford to buy my own AC, so this really isn’t helping the people who need it most. But still a step in the right direction. 🤷

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 05/10/2026

This is hilariously unhinged, Aaron, I love it. Truly inspired nonsense. No notes 🤌

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 05/10/2026

This is a great response, and yet I think the people who want to be upset about this won’t want to hear it, unfortunately. Thanks for being so thoughtful and nuanced, even if it isn’t always heard in good faith! 🤷

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 02/10/2026

Truly! At least bring back the stocks! 🍅 Wouldn’t that be a more inclusive community activity?

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Reposted by Simon Peng

Bruno Dies @brunodias.dev · 21/08/2026

I am becoming incredibly exhausted of this pattern: many people: "AI sucks!" Very Smart Person: ah but have you considered (distinct application of ML or statistical modeling that has no real relationship to what the tech industry is marketing as, and people broadly perceive as, "AI")

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Reposted by Simon Peng

Ken Jennings @kenjennings.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

For the record: NOPE. Honestly, I don’t think there’s an issue today I care about on a personal level more deeply than trans rights. And it’s rough out there right now. Bigots on one side of the political aisle and too many cowards on the other. ⬇️

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 28/07/2026

I know it’s probably impossible to say if they’re related, but it’s curious that this is suddenly fixed a few days after you were posting about it still being broken… 🤔🤷

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 23/07/2026

The crazy thing about never using AI is how I don’t feel like I’m withholding it from myself because of a belief. It’s nothing like being vegan or not using Amazon. It’s just so completely unnecessary, I don’t think about it. And this is the world changing tech we all need to be brace for?

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Reposted by Simon Peng

Avi Lewis @avilewis.ca · 22/07/2026

These companies, and the tech oligarchs leading them, are completely out of control. The Carney government is committing a grave error by embracing corporate generative AI with no controls, regulation, or red lines whatsoever.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 21/07/2026

I guess they think cars vote more than poors, apparently? 😵‍💫 I don’t understand the controversy at all.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 16/07/2026

This quote feels more and more important to internalize as every day passes. "Corporations are not moral actors. They’re self-interested, immortal vampires - parasites that thrive on moving as much money from your pocket to theirs. ... simonpeng.net/2026/07/16/this-quote…

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 16/07/2026

On the self-limiting beliefs of Canadian politics: simonpeng.net/2026/07/16/on-the-sel…

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 19/06/2026

That train of thought sure is helpful for the AI companies. If “it’s coming” no matter what, why does none of his policy have anything to do with regulating AI more strictly? 🤔

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Reposted by Simon Peng

Noah Berlatsky @nberlat.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

reading a book allows you to access the actual thoughts of dead authors. but what if AI allowed you to read things which dead authors did not say?!

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 09/06/2026

What is the point of Adobe creating a customizable user interface if they are going to re-open their stupid generative AI tabs every time you launch the application? I have saved over my InDesign workspace so many times, and “generate” always comes back. It’s annoying and gross and unsurprising.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 04/06/2026

An Open Letter to Hamilton Centre MP Aslam Rana re: the Government's "AI for All" Policy Announcement: simonpeng.net/2026/06/04/an-open-le…

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 04/06/2026

I have a lot of half-formed thoughts about Canada’s new “AI for All” policy but for now I can’t help but note how inevitability is baked into every pillar. Nowhere are consent, choices or alternatives made a focus of the policy. It’s happening whether you like it or not. The liberals have bought in.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 03/06/2026

It seems like only people who stand to profit from data centres think building data centres is a good idea. 🤔🤔🤔 #ai #hamont

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 28/05/2026

Best we can do is sell our airports to American corporations and sign a bunch of defence contracts with American AI companies. 💪💪💪🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 28/05/2026

I emailed my MP @aslamrana.bsky.social asking him to support this bill. He has never responded to any of my emails, this included, but I hope he does support it. It’s a simple, easy way to signal support for the working people he represents in Hamilton.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 27/05/2026

I can’t keep track anymore. What are my elbows supposed to be doing, again? 😵‍💫 I get an American flag tattooed on them?

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Reposted by Simon Peng

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 19/05/2026

i’m already pretty cynical about canadian politics but i have to imagine it must be pretty disillusioning for people who aren’t to see all these liberal politicians and talking heads do such a big 180 on their climate rhetoric (not to mention actions) in such a short period of time

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 04/05/2026

Patreon really can’t stop trying to enshittify. I love the IDEA of improving discoverability, but the shape it’s taking really makes me feel like one day you’ll struggle to see posts from people you follow (remember how YouTube subscriptions used to work?)

Screenshot of a Patreon product announcement for some reason sharing “a feed for just your memberships” as a feature and not the entire point of Patreon.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 02/05/2026

Also, I sense some irony to fundraising off of the NDP’s fight against surveillance pricing (which @avilewis.ca quite rightly called “creepy”) while using an email marketing tool that is placing my name into text and almost certainly tracks if people open it and any links they click. Creepy indeed.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 02/05/2026

This screams “this is how we’ve always done this” and that has been and will continue to be the downfall of the @ndp.ca

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 02/05/2026

The NDP could gain a lot more goodwill (and money) by speaking more like humans and less like corporate email marketing tools. I’d honestly prefer to receive a text-only email outlining their funding issues than this.But I just work in marketing so what do I know 🤷

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 02/05/2026

I’ve seen a lot of not for profits struggle to write meaningful fundraising messaging, and this has the same exact tone. It’s very derivative and people have a strong sense for it now. That makes it feel inauthentic, which undercuts everything it’s trying to do.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 02/05/2026

I really wonder how effective these @ndp.ca fundraising emails are. The fake “your name here” format, the immediate jump to donations. @avilewis.ca is saying lots of great new things but this feels right out of the traditional NDP playbook. Not very inspiring to me, so I hope they have other ideas.

Screenshot of part of an NDP fundraising email. It reads: “Simon, A couple of weeks ago, Avi Lewis and the NDP put forward a ban on surveillance pricing, and it's been making national headlines:” and shows a screenshot of a National Observer article about NDP Surveillance Pricing policy.

Screenshot of part of an NDP fundraising email. After the article screenshot is reads: “Simon, this is making noise because people know it's a real threat if not addressed.” And is immediate followed by a call-to-actions button that’s says “I want to donate”

Screenshot of an NDP fundraising email. It reads: “And that's why we need your help.
Can you donate $75 or whatever works for you to help put pressure on the Liberals to ban surveillance pricing?
If we act now, we can stop these kinds of predatory practices from taking over and becoming the norm.
Thank you,
Canada's NDP”

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 30/04/2026

I’ve been tinkering with an old soviet “AGAT 18” half-frame film camera. The first roll had some issues, mostly with me not understanding how to focus properly, but one of the best pictures I got out of it was of the moon through my telescope!

Photo of the moon, partially in shadow, shot on film. Pretty grainy and not framed fully and with a slightly orange hue.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 30/04/2026

It seems like the big AI revolution is just making automated phone systems worse? How does having fake typing and room sound make dealing with a robot that can’t understand my last name any more “user friendly?” There’s a real dishonesty to these systems that is maddening.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 29/04/2026

Yikes! I’d vote to never have to hear about this guy again, if that’s on the ballot. 🙈

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 29/04/2026

Now we just need someone to pass a law to stop the Liberals from being scammed by these AI companies. 🙈

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 24/04/2026

Artemis II was amazing!!! But most of us (most of everyone ever) will never have the chance to see what they saw with our own eyes. But you actually can see the moon in an amazing amount of detail with a pretty cheap telescope, and it is more impactful than just looking at pictures.

Photo of the moon taken through a 8" dobsonian telescope. Moon is almost exactly half-illuminated, with sharp shadows cast on the craters along the terminator line. The photo was taken on my iPhone 13 mini against the telescope eyepiece.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 19/04/2026

Lesson from this and the NW clause for labour rights: Doug really does care what people think about him. When a story lands and the optics are bad, he hits undo. Unfortunately, so much of the damage he does goes unnoticed. #onpoli

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Reposted by Simon Peng

Joey Coleman @joeycoleman.ca · 14/04/2026

Council Quote of the Week (nothing will top this) Gage Park basketball court scheduled to be build by 2051. They will be age 41 in 2051, noted two teenagers to City Council, adding that will probably be more concerned about back pain than playing basketball by the time the court is built. #yhmcc

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Blayne Haggart @bhaggart.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

“AI for all” is an empty marketing phrase that serious, informed leaders would never, ever utter (And “more rewarding”? Don’t insult my intelligence). It tells us that the person saying it — in this case, Mark Carney — is either ignorant, a sucker, or simply dishonest. bsky.app/profile/saro...

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 04/04/2026

I don’t often feel simple patriotism. It’s not something I really understand. But I’ll be honest, seeing a Canadian on his way to the moon fills me with a really simple kind of pride. 🇨🇦🚀🌕

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 03/04/2026

Finished reading: There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm 📚 This book was a real blast. It was a fun mix of heady, sci-fi thought experiments and some more pulpy fun. It helped that it didn’t overstay its welcome, too. A differ... simonpeng.net/2026/04/03/finished-r…

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 01/04/2026

Here’s a blog post I wrote for work: It’s okay if you have an ugly logo. My hot-take as a designer is that aesthetics in branding really aren’t as important as the people behind the brand really owning how they look and speak. If that looks janky or naive, often that’s completely fine.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 26/03/2026

Thanks for calling this out. It’s so frustrating how unambitious our “leaders” tend to be. I feel like I’m starving for anyone to say anything of substance on these fundamental issues, but all we get are “discussions” and then excuses. The bar is on the floor 🙈

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 26/03/2026

Any chance you discussed actual policy ideas? ‘Cause four years of your mayorship hasn’t done much for Hamilton’s housing crisis and I’m not clear on how any of these platitudes help most Hamiltonians. I’d love to hear something of substance!

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 19/03/2026

Some surprisingly good news coming from home. Ontario’s Court of Appeal upholds our city’s rejection of a bigoted ad on public transit. The older I get, the more naïve I find free-speech absolutism. I like living in a country that recognizes that we shouldn’t give hate speech a pass. Feels good.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 17/03/2026

I think by this point we’re used to any and all AI features being opt-out or impossible to disable. So imagine my surprise when I looked at Microsoft’s privacy settings to see the one feature they make opt-in is making AI slop more easily identifiable! Devious, nasty design all the way down.

Screenshot of microsoft privacy setting for turning on AI watermarking, which is disabled by default.

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 05/03/2026

Just finished reading: Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI by Karen Hao. This book is so dense and leaves me with so many different thoughts about the AI industry. My biggest takeaways right now: OpenAI ... simonpeng.net/2026/03/05/just-finis…

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Simon Peng @simonpeng.net · 04/03/2026

I couldn’t tell if people were being duped or just feigning ignorance when they declared they were ditching OpenAI and said “look, you can just come over here and it’ll all be fine! They’re the GOOD ones!” Either way this was entirely predictable. 🙈

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