Ryan Broderick, internet culture journalist and author of Garbage Day, traces the intellectual roots of Silicon Valley's AI ideologies back to mid-2000s message boards.
Prediction Didn’t hold up
Broderick predicts Bluesky will reach 100 million users by early 2026
“Blue Sky
Is now north of twenty-five million users, and it's well on its way to, let's, let, let's say that by this time next year, maybe even sooner, Blue Sky is gonna be around a 100,000, Blue Sky will be around a hundred million users, which I looked up th…”
Opinion
Clubhouse was merely a pandemic conference call simulator for bored rich guys
“The most embarrassing moment in social media history as far as I'm concerned.
Acting like that was anything other than just like a conference call simulator for board rich guys during the pandemic.
I hate that app.”
Insight
Media companies can no longer run viable businesses purely on viral traffic
“You just can't run a proper company with viral traffic anymore. It doesn't translate.”
Opinion
Broderick: EA and e/acc share goals of wealth and anti-democratic thought
“They're not opposites in the sense that, like, EA are communists. Like, they're both pretty aligned on the idea of making as much money as humanly possible. They're both supported by a lot of anti-democratic thinkers. They're both sort of center to not maybe j…”
Opinion
Broderick: Effective Altruists focus on AI risk because it makes good posts
“EA people should be, like, super into vaccinations or, like, preparing for the covid-twenty-four or whatever, but they've determined that it is the ultimate risk to humanity because it's exciting and interesting, and it, like, makes for a good post. And that i…”
Opinion
Broderick: EA and e/acc differ primarily on timeframe, not ultimate goals
“I have not found much difference in what these two groups want, only the timeframe in which they want them to happen. It is, it, in my opinion, I have not seen enough difference between the two.”