Andrew Sempere
@feralresearch.org
Municipal Technologist. Computational queer. Arts, culture, design. Riding the global frequency of weird and working on a better future. Sometimes I academic, less so lately.
http://andrewsempere.org
http://andrewsempere.org
Pinned
Andrew Sempere
@feralresearch.org
· Jul 19
Mixtape Browser
Browse and listen to a collection of Mixtape recordings
mixtape.secretvenue.org
Psstt... a few of you are here because a friend told you I sometimes drop haunted mixtapes, which is true! They're usually part of my newsletter, but also archived here:
mixtape.secretvenue.org
mixtape.secretvenue.org
A ton has been happening in the community VR space. If you're free this FRIDAY you should come check out BASISVR COMMUNITY EVENT/load test.
Come watch a movie, do yoga, help us break 1500 users in a single session, meet some amazing folks!
store.steampowered.com/app/3157090/...
Come watch a movie, do yoga, help us break 1500 users in a single session, meet some amazing folks!
store.steampowered.com/app/3157090/...
September 17, 2026 at 6:07 PM
A ton has been happening in the community VR space. If you're free this FRIDAY you should come check out BASISVR COMMUNITY EVENT/load test.
Come watch a movie, do yoga, help us break 1500 users in a single session, meet some amazing folks!
store.steampowered.com/app/3157090/...
Come watch a movie, do yoga, help us break 1500 users in a single session, meet some amazing folks!
store.steampowered.com/app/3157090/...
Public talk on next-gen VR I gave at Fabville in Somerville, MA. On virtual worlds, furry and building a better post-platform internet by centering community: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FYA...
Fabville 2026: Next-Gen VR: What if we built this one ourselves?
YouTube video by feralresearch
www.youtube.com
July 19, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Public talk on next-gen VR I gave at Fabville in Somerville, MA. On virtual worlds, furry and building a better post-platform internet by centering community: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FYA...
Psstt... a few of you are here because a friend told you I sometimes drop haunted mixtapes, which is true! They're usually part of my newsletter, but also archived here:
mixtape.secretvenue.org
mixtape.secretvenue.org
Mixtape Browser
Browse and listen to a collection of Mixtape recordings
mixtape.secretvenue.org
July 19, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Psstt... a few of you are here because a friend told you I sometimes drop haunted mixtapes, which is true! They're usually part of my newsletter, but also archived here:
mixtape.secretvenue.org
mixtape.secretvenue.org
Reposted by Andrew Sempere
"One Last Call From Harrowden"
May 11, 2026 at 8:18 PM
"One Last Call From Harrowden"
I just keep thinking about that billionare thing where they were like "no actually we should just do the olympics but like with everyone on drugs" and it fell apart because it turns out it's fucking boring.
May 11, 2026 at 7:28 PM
I just keep thinking about that billionare thing where they were like "no actually we should just do the olympics but like with everyone on drugs" and it fell apart because it turns out it's fucking boring.
"Yes, an AI system might remix and recycle our knowledge in interesting ways. But that’s all it will be able to do. It will be forever trapped in the vocabulary we’ve encoded in our data and trained it upon — a dead-metaphor machine."
archive.is/202605101650...
archive.is/202605101650...
archive.is
May 11, 2026 at 7:24 PM
"Yes, an AI system might remix and recycle our knowledge in interesting ways. But that’s all it will be able to do. It will be forever trapped in the vocabulary we’ve encoded in our data and trained it upon — a dead-metaphor machine."
archive.is/202605101650...
archive.is/202605101650...
Reposted by Andrew Sempere
nyan cat head 🐱🌈💾 #floppydiskart #nyancat
May 11, 2026 at 4:47 PM
nyan cat head 🐱🌈💾 #floppydiskart #nyancat
LLMs are Temu Intelligence
"Rather than memory palaces, dialogue with an LLM produces Ptomkin villages of intelligence, giving you the emotional satisfaction of believing you have insight while requiring none of the effort. This is dunning-kruger-as-a-service."
feralresearch.org/newsletter/l...
"Rather than memory palaces, dialogue with an LLM produces Ptomkin villages of intelligence, giving you the emotional satisfaction of believing you have insight while requiring none of the effort. This is dunning-kruger-as-a-service."
feralresearch.org/newsletter/l...
LLMs are Temu Intelligence
In my last newsletter I talked a lot about the effort that's gone into getting you to believe the services you use are free. I think the LLMs-as-AI industry specifically weaponizes this infrastructura...
feralresearch.org
May 9, 2026 at 2:03 AM
LLMs are Temu Intelligence
"Rather than memory palaces, dialogue with an LLM produces Ptomkin villages of intelligence, giving you the emotional satisfaction of believing you have insight while requiring none of the effort. This is dunning-kruger-as-a-service."
feralresearch.org/newsletter/l...
"Rather than memory palaces, dialogue with an LLM produces Ptomkin villages of intelligence, giving you the emotional satisfaction of believing you have insight while requiring none of the effort. This is dunning-kruger-as-a-service."
feralresearch.org/newsletter/l...
Reposted by Andrew Sempere
The only adjudication that can be laid somewhat globally is through American tech companies, who everyone secretly wants to act as sovereign transnational governments for their own ideological axe.
May 3, 2026 at 9:05 PM
The only adjudication that can be laid somewhat globally is through American tech companies, who everyone secretly wants to act as sovereign transnational governments for their own ideological axe.
"The Internet is Dead, But You're Not"
New newsletter up at feral research.
feralresearch.org/newsletter/t...
New newsletter up at feral research.
feralresearch.org/newsletter/t...
The Internet is Dead, But You're Not
Newsletter Mix #03Ån
Where do we begin?
As of a few weeks ago, Feral Research LLC became a real entity. As of a few days ago, we actually signed a handful of clients and some neat projects, not enou...
feralresearch.org
May 3, 2026 at 9:07 PM
"The Internet is Dead, But You're Not"
New newsletter up at feral research.
feralresearch.org/newsletter/t...
New newsletter up at feral research.
feralresearch.org/newsletter/t...
Reposted by Andrew Sempere
Persist against all odds
February 25, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Persist against all odds
Rare lovely nerd-town moment with my favorite people <3
June 7, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Rare lovely nerd-town moment with my favorite people <3
Reposted by Andrew Sempere
“…the rest you will have to learn from women and queers — out in the dark. Also, don’t be too artistic to count your own receipts. Also, carry your pistol. There are thugs out there.” #happyPride #futw
June 3, 2025 at 9:20 PM
“…the rest you will have to learn from women and queers — out in the dark. Also, don’t be too artistic to count your own receipts. Also, carry your pistol. There are thugs out there.” #happyPride #futw
“understanding hypernormalization gives us language – and permission – to recognize when systems are failing, and clarifies the risk of not taking action when we can.”
“the visceral sense of waking up in an alternate timeline with a deep, bodily knowing that something isn’t right – but having no clear idea how to fix it”
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
Systems are crumbling - but daily life continues. The dissonance is real
If everything feels broken but strangely normal, the Soviet-era concept of hypernormalization can help
www.theguardian.com
May 23, 2025 at 11:48 AM
“understanding hypernormalization gives us language – and permission – to recognize when systems are failing, and clarifies the risk of not taking action when we can.”
“the visceral sense of waking up in an alternate timeline with a deep, bodily knowing that something isn’t right – but having no clear idea how to fix it”
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
Systems are crumbling - but daily life continues. The dissonance is real
If everything feels broken but strangely normal, the Soviet-era concept of hypernormalization can help
www.theguardian.com
May 23, 2025 at 11:44 AM
“the visceral sense of waking up in an alternate timeline with a deep, bodily knowing that something isn’t right – but having no clear idea how to fix it”
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
We have had an impact on the local Francophone scene
Omg my child has every kid in French class saying “nonante” instead of “quatre-vingt dix” 😂
May 22, 2025 at 11:44 PM
We have had an impact on the local Francophone scene
I donated design time to help our local volunteer pride group with their signs and promotional material and it’s awesome to see them popping up everywhere.
Each a small gesture but especially here and this year, solidarity means a lot.
Each a small gesture but especially here and this year, solidarity means a lot.
May 20, 2025 at 2:12 AM
I donated design time to help our local volunteer pride group with their signs and promotional material and it’s awesome to see them popping up everywhere.
Each a small gesture but especially here and this year, solidarity means a lot.
Each a small gesture but especially here and this year, solidarity means a lot.
Sometimes I feel like we didn’t entirely fail as parents
My child is singing along to Baby Lasagna 😂
May 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Sometimes I feel like we didn’t entirely fail as parents
I don’t really agree with the framing or the analysis here, but fascinating to me that Superhot feels like it’s missing something because it is… I’ve played through twice and wasn’t aware there was a story clawback, just assumed it was unfinished.
cw: discussion of suicide
cw: discussion of suicide
SUPERHOT VR had its whole story patched out. I thought about it slightly too long and fell into rabbit hole. It doesn't make sense, it's bad that it happened, and it prompts a whole bunch of naval-gazing about Art.
SUPERHOT VR's Story was Removed. What? / GioCities
I don't talk about how horny the game is. it is horny but that's not part of this
blog.giovanh.com
May 15, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I don’t really agree with the framing or the analysis here, but fascinating to me that Superhot feels like it’s missing something because it is… I’ve played through twice and wasn’t aware there was a story clawback, just assumed it was unfinished.
cw: discussion of suicide
cw: discussion of suicide
Also Quill is adorable (if you haven’t played Moss you should)
🚨Quill is coming to @vrchat.com!!🚨
You can now run, dance, wave, jump, and even use modified ASL gestures AS your favorite heroine! 👋💃🐭
Quill launches soon in the VRChat Avatar Marketplace!
#VRChat #VRChatCommunity #Moss #Quill #Avatar #Mouse
You can now run, dance, wave, jump, and even use modified ASL gestures AS your favorite heroine! 👋💃🐭
Quill launches soon in the VRChat Avatar Marketplace!
#VRChat #VRChatCommunity #Moss #Quill #Avatar #Mouse
May 14, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Also Quill is adorable (if you haven’t played Moss you should)
Another major feature out today! Couldn’t be more humbled and impressed by my brilliant coworkers.
As an established user you might not get the big deal, but getting creators paid while providing folks w/ fast secure access to an identity that feels right is core and I’m thrilled. Onward!
As an established user you might not get the big deal, but getting creators paid while providing folks w/ fast secure access to an identity that feels right is core and I’m thrilled. Onward!
For once, the rumors are true!
Avatar Marketplace is coming soon to #VRChat !
Check out our video for more information: youtu.be/MWH1RA3bEz0
Avatar Marketplace is coming soon to #VRChat !
Check out our video for more information: youtu.be/MWH1RA3bEz0
May 14, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Another major feature out today! Couldn’t be more humbled and impressed by my brilliant coworkers.
As an established user you might not get the big deal, but getting creators paid while providing folks w/ fast secure access to an identity that feels right is core and I’m thrilled. Onward!
As an established user you might not get the big deal, but getting creators paid while providing folks w/ fast secure access to an identity that feels right is core and I’m thrilled. Onward!
Happy day to @anindita.org. Exceptional mother to M and monstrous plants! 🍾🌿🍤
May 11, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Happy day to @anindita.org. Exceptional mother to M and monstrous plants! 🍾🌿🍤
Someday, all this will be fur…
May 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Someday, all this will be fur…
Today!
Are you going to PAX? Come hang out on Saturday with a bunch of furry nerds (including me) and debate the inherent furry-ness of various game characters!
Why? Why not.
east.paxsite.com/en-us/schedu...
Why? Why not.
east.paxsite.com/en-us/schedu...
Listing
east.paxsite.com
May 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Today!