Hello. We're reading Why We Fear AI by Hagen Blix & Ingeborg Glimmer.

Last week we read chapter 2 and had a chat on Sunday. This week, we're going to get back on schedule, meeting on Thursday evening to talk about a couple of readings:

• Why We Fear AI chapter 3: "Who Knows the Future: AI, Oppression, and Control"
• "The Ends of AI" by Mél Hogan for Disjunctions Magazine

(If you haven't ordered Why We Fear AI, please place an order as soon as possible - you can order it here as an ebook or physical copy.)

subscribe

You're viewing this on the web; if you subscribe, you'll get these updates in your inbox (as well as updates that don't get archived).

(okay, let's get back to it)

stickers?

I'm considering getting some stickers printed. Here are some candidate designs (we wouldn't be making all of them, but it would probably be one of these designs, or something similar):

If you want to financially support the group and help get stickers made, you can upgrade your membership.

If we get to $50/month, I'll tell you all, order a run of stickers, and send any premium subscribers (including newcomers) a couple of stickers as a thank-you.

At the moment, we're about halfway to the goal, so I think it's likely to happen, maybe in the next week or two.

routine stuff

If you've read these emails before, this is mostly the same stuff as last week (except for the discount code at the end). You can probably skip it if you're caught up.

format

As a reminder, there are numerous ways to keep up with the reading group:

• newsletter: I send updates on Mondays and Thursdays. In the Monday updates, I'll point to what to read; in the Thursday updates, I'll send an icebreaker question to think about, and a reminder of where & how to join the video chat later that day.
• video chats: Thursdays at 8pm ET we have a video chat on jitsi¹ where we talk about that week's readings. Sometimes we'll have a guest to talk about something related to what we read that week.
• group chat: if you want to chat with people on signal, we have a pretty active group chat. You can join the signal group chat here.

schedule

Here's my tentative schedule for the book. I'm not including the additional readings, but I'm thinking about ways to archive what we read each week - it just doesn't fit well in a table sent via email. If you have suggestions (the signal chat has recommended Zotero - if you have thoughts; please join the signal chat and let us know.)

next book(s)

After Why We Fear AI, we'll read Disabling Intelligences by Rua Williams. If you go to the link to order the book, I've been advised that the discount code PALAUT will give you a 20% discount on the book. Please order the book at your earliest convenience!

I'm also thinking about what our book after Disabling Intelligences will be; if you have suggestions, please feel free to reach out and make a suggestion!

last thoughts

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc... please feel free to reach out. Talk soon.

Also, if you come across something you think we'd like to read, I'd love to hear about it; contact me.

Okay, that's it; see you Thursday to discuss the chapter and other reading.