Tech Won't Save Us
The Dirty Alliance Between Tech and the Oil Industry w/ JS Tan
Apr 3, 2025
JS Tan, a PhD student at MIT researching cloud computing, dives into the troubling ties between tech and the oil industry, sharing insights from his experience at Microsoft. He reveals how cloud services help Chevron maximize oil extraction, raising concerns about climate change and corporate ethics. Tan discusses tech worker organizing efforts against fossil fuel partnerships and the ethical dilemmas faced in Kazakhstan's oil sector. The conversation also touches on the balance between innovation and sustainability, urging a reevaluation of tech's role in climate advocacy.
53:06
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast reveals how a Microsoft worker's article catalyzed critical discussions among tech employees about their industry's ties to fossil fuel companies.
- It highlights the troubling contradiction between the tech industry's sustainability claims and their partnerships with oil corporations, particularly in cloud computing.
Deep dives
Tech Workers and Open Conversations
The podcast highlights how the article written by a Microsoft worker became a catalyst for tech employees to openly discuss the intricate relationship between the tech industry and fossil fuel companies. This discourse enabled workers in different sectors, such as gaming and office environments, to engage with critical concerns regarding their company's partnerships with oil corporations. By addressing these alliances, employees were encouraged to challenge the prevailing narratives that often portray tech firms as environmentally conscious. The emergence of these discussions marked a significant shift in the workplace culture, fostering a space for activism among tech workers.
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