Cameron Watters
@cameronwatters.com
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced" —Baldwin
Unfortunately, most of you are far too credulous…
Unfortunately, most of you are far too credulous…
This describes the world we already exist in, but the dominant mechanism is not (yet) LLMs.
The techno-dystopia I fear is not one where an LLM becomes sentient, developing both a desire and means to wipe out humanity, but one where people come to believe that truth is whatever Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, or Grok say, and the few very rich people who own them use that to manipulate the public.
FRIEND (IN CANADA): What's the Gulf called, what's the lake called, who won in the US in 2020?
GOOGLE: Mexico, Ontario, Biden.
ME (IN AMERICA): What's the Gulf called, what's the lake called, who won in the US in 2020?
GOOGLE: America, America, I am not at liberty to disclose.
GOOGLE: Mexico, Ontario, Biden.
ME (IN AMERICA): What's the Gulf called, what's the lake called, who won in the US in 2020?
GOOGLE: America, America, I am not at liberty to disclose.
October 28, 2026 at 5:52 PM
This describes the world we already exist in, but the dominant mechanism is not (yet) LLMs.
So much this!
Friction is hormetic and (specious) claims about things now being frictionless often arise from relocating that friction and, sometimes even increasing it in that new location.
Friction is hormetic and (specious) claims about things now being frictionless often arise from relocating that friction and, sometimes even increasing it in that new location.
i know it's the age of immediacy and frictionless and what-have-you but *everything* takes longer to complete now than it did even two or three years ago. it's stunning.
October 27, 2026 at 8:23 PM
So much this!
Friction is hormetic and (specious) claims about things now being frictionless often arise from relocating that friction and, sometimes even increasing it in that new location.
Friction is hormetic and (specious) claims about things now being frictionless often arise from relocating that friction and, sometimes even increasing it in that new location.
It’s not an accident that Anthropic is filing for IPO while the “tokenmaxxing” era is still in the trailing 12 month period, and before companies’ spending caps show up in the numbers.
Companies now impose spending caps that limit their spend to 20-30% (or less) of their peak spend in 1H 2026.
Companies now impose spending caps that limit their spend to 20-30% (or less) of their peak spend in 1H 2026.
October 27, 2026 at 6:03 PM
It’s not an accident that Anthropic is filing for IPO while the “tokenmaxxing” era is still in the trailing 12 month period, and before companies’ spending caps show up in the numbers.
Companies now impose spending caps that limit their spend to 20-30% (or less) of their peak spend in 1H 2026.
Companies now impose spending caps that limit their spend to 20-30% (or less) of their peak spend in 1H 2026.
Reposted by Cameron Watters
i am fully aware of the overwhelming power of brute force but i do think it's worth stepping back and taking a look at where the fist is aimed and who it is heading for rather than tell me about how firm and muscular the hand is and how many things you'd like to see punched for low low prices
October 27, 2026 at 3:36 PM
i am fully aware of the overwhelming power of brute force but i do think it's worth stepping back and taking a look at where the fist is aimed and who it is heading for rather than tell me about how firm and muscular the hand is and how many things you'd like to see punched for low low prices
Reposted by Cameron Watters
I am not aiming this at MY. I don't live in the same world with that discourse. But, I did want to say to normal people that his comment is not sensible. Thank you.
October 26, 2026 at 7:46 PM
I am not aiming this at MY. I don't live in the same world with that discourse. But, I did want to say to normal people that his comment is not sensible. Thank you.
Reposted by Cameron Watters
*Centrists* define themselves by their opposition to the Left(s). They do not define themselves by opposition to the Right (because they share many of the Right's political aims).
October 26, 2026 at 1:39 PM
*Centrists* define themselves by their opposition to the Left(s). They do not define themselves by opposition to the Right (because they share many of the Right's political aims).
Reposted by Cameron Watters
Idgaf what AOC says I refuse to accept the framing of Woke 1.0 what you had was one of the largest uprisings against racism in US history that reverberated throughout the social structure to the extent that businesses that otherwise didn't give a shit had to at least look like they cared
October 26, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Idgaf what AOC says I refuse to accept the framing of Woke 1.0 what you had was one of the largest uprisings against racism in US history that reverberated throughout the social structure to the extent that businesses that otherwise didn't give a shit had to at least look like they cared
Reposted by Cameron Watters
the thing about programming is the finding out is usually pretty disconnected from the fucking around, be it a dev/ops split, or user/developer, or even past/future, people do not get to experience the consequences of their choices and are not incentivised to imagine them either
October 26, 2026 at 11:39 AM
the thing about programming is the finding out is usually pretty disconnected from the fucking around, be it a dev/ops split, or user/developer, or even past/future, people do not get to experience the consequences of their choices and are not incentivised to imagine them either
In the US, the top 25% of pay >85% of income taxes.
The bottom 50% pay less than 4%.
This difference would be more pronounced in the U.S. if we fairly taxed the top 1% and taxed asset growth.
The bottom 50% pay less than 4%.
This difference would be more pronounced in the U.S. if we fairly taxed the top 1% and taxed asset growth.
October 26, 2026 at 4:33 AM
In the US, the top 25% of pay >85% of income taxes.
The bottom 50% pay less than 4%.
This difference would be more pronounced in the U.S. if we fairly taxed the top 1% and taxed asset growth.
The bottom 50% pay less than 4%.
This difference would be more pronounced in the U.S. if we fairly taxed the top 1% and taxed asset growth.
Reposted by Cameron Watters
That’s not wildly different from what the US breakdown looks like.
October 26, 2026 at 4:27 AM
That’s not wildly different from what the US breakdown looks like.
Is Nick Emmanwori related to Michael Irvin?
October 26, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Is Nick Emmanwori related to Michael Irvin?
Reposted by Cameron Watters
While Ireland is at risk from the impending bursting of the AI bubble, it has not benefitted much from AI's growth. The investment happening here is producing little that can be taxed, and few jobs. It's virtually all cost and no benefit to us as a country.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
Was that a stock market wobble, or the start of something more serious?
Markets becoming nervous about the scale of borrowing by ‘hyperscalers’
www.irishtimes.com
October 25, 2026 at 4:06 PM
While Ireland is at risk from the impending bursting of the AI bubble, it has not benefitted much from AI's growth. The investment happening here is producing little that can be taxed, and few jobs. It's virtually all cost and no benefit to us as a country.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
Reposted by Cameron Watters
Ultimately, if you only have time to know one thing about all of this, just know that not a single solitary tech oligarch, tech company, or tech-backed politician has a single solitary serious commitment to the existence of Black political power or economic security in their plans for the future.
October 25, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Ultimately, if you only have time to know one thing about all of this, just know that not a single solitary tech oligarch, tech company, or tech-backed politician has a single solitary serious commitment to the existence of Black political power or economic security in their plans for the future.
Apples, in general, are much better now than even when I graduated from high school.
Social media loves talking about how everything is getting worse. But what’s something that you’ve seen get _better_ in your lifetime?
October 23, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Apples, in general, are much better now than even when I graduated from high school.
Reposted by Cameron Watters
"AI is a serious problem"
Okay, agreed
"You can't just ignore it"
Very true
"We need responsible adoption--"
Ah, there it is.
Okay, agreed
"You can't just ignore it"
Very true
"We need responsible adoption--"
Ah, there it is.
October 23, 2026 at 3:34 PM
"AI is a serious problem"
Okay, agreed
"You can't just ignore it"
Very true
"We need responsible adoption--"
Ah, there it is.
Okay, agreed
"You can't just ignore it"
Very true
"We need responsible adoption--"
Ah, there it is.
"The military" here should be read to include domestic law enforcement.
*NEW* Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm and Anduril’s Palmer Luckey team up on a new startup to genetically engineer war dogs for the military. Warhound comes out of stealth at $1.2B valuation
For @forbes.com with @iainmartin.bsky.social and @mhunterhart.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/amyfel...
For @forbes.com with @iainmartin.bsky.social and @mhunterhart.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/amyfel...
Billionaires Palmer Luckey And Ben Lamm Spin Up Startup To Genetically Engineer Military Dogs
Ben Lamm of de-extinction startup Colossal has teamed up with Palmer Luckey’s team at Anduril to create a dog that’s optimized for military use. The new “warhounds” will be cloned and gene edited.
www.forbes.com
October 23, 2026 at 2:50 PM
"The military" here should be read to include domestic law enforcement.
Spy Hunter (arcade version)
Name the first videogame you played.
October 23, 2026 at 5:14 AM
Spy Hunter (arcade version)
Reposted by Cameron Watters
It will be a cold day in Hell before I give these people money.
Democratic leadership should listen to what its most popular member says instead of doing this
www.erininthemorning.com/p/dccc-relea...
www.erininthemorning.com/p/dccc-relea...
October 23, 2026 at 1:55 AM
It will be a cold day in Hell before I give these people money.
Reposted by Cameron Watters
If you thought Ben Lamm was a shithead, you underestimated him. He's worse.
Genetically engineering any creatures, but dogs especially, to be weapons of war — it's unspeakable.
www.forbes.com/sites/amyfel...
Genetically engineering any creatures, but dogs especially, to be weapons of war — it's unspeakable.
www.forbes.com/sites/amyfel...
Billionaires Palmer Luckey And Ben Lamm Spin Up Startup To Genetically Engineer Military Dogs
Ben Lamm of de-extinction startup Colossal has teamed up with Palmer Luckey’s team at Anduril to create a dog that’s optimized for military use. The new “warhounds” will be cloned and gene edited.
www.forbes.com
October 23, 2026 at 1:26 AM
If you thought Ben Lamm was a shithead, you underestimated him. He's worse.
Genetically engineering any creatures, but dogs especially, to be weapons of war — it's unspeakable.
www.forbes.com/sites/amyfel...
Genetically engineering any creatures, but dogs especially, to be weapons of war — it's unspeakable.
www.forbes.com/sites/amyfel...
Reposted by Cameron Watters
Sorry you don't like the "you can fire your entire staff" pitch, but you're not the audience. They're happy you fell for the shtick and are on their team, but they are not and never will pitch you. They do not need you. You're paying them AND defending them. They already got you.
Seeing more marketing talk the past few days from people who never worked in the business. AI is not marketed wrong. It's being sold to lazy assholes looking to cut corners and to C suites looking to fire people. Just because you like AI but don't like the pitch doesn't mean it was marketed wrong
This is why whenever someone says "AI was marketed wrong" you know that person don't know shit about advertising or marketing. The reason AI took off from the jump was the B2B marketing they did to C suites at big brands long before it hit the public consciousness.
October 22, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Sorry you don't like the "you can fire your entire staff" pitch, but you're not the audience. They're happy you fell for the shtick and are on their team, but they are not and never will pitch you. They do not need you. You're paying them AND defending them. They already got you.
The entire conceit of prosecutorial discretion.
We have to find a way to talk about the fact that sometimes people of color do bad things and then only get caught because of racism
And the white people who do the same bad things simply don’t get caught because no one is checking their work
And the white people who do the same bad things simply don’t get caught because no one is checking their work
October 22, 2026 at 3:53 PM
The entire conceit of prosecutorial discretion.
Reposted by Cameron Watters
Had this idea in lockdown, half-built it, forgot about it, remembered it again, though might as well finish it.
Local Wikipedia: The Encyclopedia For Local People
Wikipedia, but only for things a half hour walk from you.
edjefferson.com
October 22, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Had this idea in lockdown, half-built it, forgot about it, remembered it again, though might as well finish it.
Reposted by Cameron Watters
The first genuinely honest ad for generative AI I've ever seen, from Microsoft / CoPilot
A mediocre white guy sees his non-white colleague getting praised for good work, he asks AI to *literally copy it*, and then he gets all the praise instead:
www.ispot.tv/ad/SoDi/micr...
A mediocre white guy sees his non-white colleague getting praised for good work, he asks AI to *literally copy it*, and then he gets all the praise instead:
www.ispot.tv/ad/SoDi/micr...
October 21, 2026 at 7:12 PM
The first genuinely honest ad for generative AI I've ever seen, from Microsoft / CoPilot
A mediocre white guy sees his non-white colleague getting praised for good work, he asks AI to *literally copy it*, and then he gets all the praise instead:
www.ispot.tv/ad/SoDi/micr...
A mediocre white guy sees his non-white colleague getting praised for good work, he asks AI to *literally copy it*, and then he gets all the praise instead:
www.ispot.tv/ad/SoDi/micr...
As someone who finds Trump's what folks label Trump's charm and/or charisma off-putting because of other experiences with narcissists, the way I make sense of this kind of observation is:
Nobody wants to be like J.D. or Viv; too many people, unfortunately, do want to be like Trump.
Nobody wants to be like J.D. or Viv; too many people, unfortunately, do want to be like Trump.
like vance, ramaswamy is a hateful, resentful orc of a human being, and the reason i think this will hurt him politically — where this stuff didn’t hurt trump — is that ramaswamy, like vance, is also profoundly unlikeable. he has no charm or charisma or anything. just a dipshit.
Unearthed footage of Vivek Ramaswamy mocking Amy Acton for being a survivor of childhood abuse:
"She has no vision other than to complain about what someone else did to her"
"She has no vision other than to complain about what someone else did to her"
October 21, 2026 at 9:35 PM
As someone who finds Trump's what folks label Trump's charm and/or charisma off-putting because of other experiences with narcissists, the way I make sense of this kind of observation is:
Nobody wants to be like J.D. or Viv; too many people, unfortunately, do want to be like Trump.
Nobody wants to be like J.D. or Viv; too many people, unfortunately, do want to be like Trump.