Working 9 to Hype, 2026.08.10

In the past year, tech companies have laid off thousands of employees. But when CEOs blame "AI innovation," they're redirecting attention from something much more predictable: job discrimination and gig-ification. Emily and Alex examine some narratives of AI-streamlined workplaces — and why they don't match up with reality.
References:
• Block press release: "From Hierarchy to Intelligence" (block.xyz/inside/from-hierarchy-to-intelligence)
• "Lawsuit claims Meta's layoff decisions were made by AI, not humans" (arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/07/lawsuit-cl…)
Fresh AI Hell:
• "OpenAI’s latest math breakthroughs commit research misconduct, experts say" (scientificamerican.com/article/openais-latest-…)• Also referenced: Leiden Declaration (leidendeclaration.ai)

• "AI Assisted Autism Screening" (bsky.app/profile/missmira2u.bsky.social/post/3…)
• Weird comparison of "AI" emissions to other data center activity (archive.ph/JEOxj)
• Paved paradise and put up a data center (futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/google-da…)
• "What if you just talked to your children" (bsky.app/profile/veerenderjubbal.bsky.social/p…)
• Palate cleanser: US judge holds DOGE accountable for output they took from ChatGPT (bsky.app/profile/zoetillman.bsky.social/post/3…)
• Palate cleanser: Data center opposition momentum (bsky.app/profile/jessefelder.com/post/3msnvqu7…)
Check out future streams on Twitch (twitch.tv/dair_institute). Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see (thecon.ai/submit-fresh-ai-hell).
Find our book The AI Con here (bit.ly/3OZ9PNx), and MAIHT3k merch here (store.dair-institute.org/category/mystery-ai-h…).
Subscribe to our newsletter via Buttondown (bit.ly/456Q0Ln).
Follow us!
Emily
• Bluesky: emilymbender.bsky.social (bit.ly/3VpFk7H)
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBender (bit.ly/3yJ6g9z)
Alex
• Bluesky: alexhanna.bsky.social (bit.ly/4c05L9h)
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@alex (bit.ly/3X4poc1)
• Twitter: @alexhanna (bit.ly/3V6NuQM)
Music by Toby Menon.
Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park (naomipleasurepark.com).
Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.