Cory Doctorow, a prominent writer and digital rights activist, joins forces with Brian Merchant, an insightful author on tech's societal implications. They delve into how monopolistic practices have stifled innovation in the tech industry today. The duo connects the historical Luddite fight for worker rights to modern tech critiques, discussing the ethical dilemmas of generative AI and its detrimental effects on artists. They advocate for grassroots movements and effective regulation to reclaim user agency and combat corporate dominance.

Brian Merchant, technology columnist and author, explores the history and true motivations of the Luddites. He discusses their fight against exploitation enabled by technology, the impact of generative AI on labor, and the need for democratic inputs on technology development. The podcast also highlights the Luddites' campaign for worker's rights and the deliberate misrepresentation of their movement by those in power. The chapter also mentions an upcoming Luddite Tribunal event where the resurgence of modern Luddism will be debated.

Freelance journalist Brian Merchant joins the show to talk about the history of Luddism. They delve into environmental justice regarding air pollution, government concerns on carcinogenicity, and the legacy of resistance against big tech. The conversation highlights the impact of Luddites on modern technology debates and the rising skepticism towards major tech corporations.

Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss the vision of the future of computing offered by Apple’s Vision Pro headset and why it should be resisted. Brian Merchant is the technology columnist at the LA Times. He’s also the author of The One Device: The Secret History of the iPhone and Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech. Follow Brian on Twitter at @bcmerchant.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.Also mentioned in this episode:Paris will be in Edmonton, Alberta on June 24. More info here.Brian wrote a column about the Apple Vision Pro for the LA Times, and another about Uber drivers in California getting payouts.Paris also wrote about why Apple Vision Pro should be ridiculed for Disconnect.David Karpf called virtual reality the “rich white kid of technology.”Meta employees are not working in the metaverse.Mark Gurman reported on the internal division at Apple over whether to release the Vision Pro in its current form.Support the show

Exploring the parallels between Dune and modern tech, discussing themes of power dynamics and genetic manipulation, delving into constraints of sci-fi combat narratives, advocating for sabotage as a tactic, exploring radical disruptions against tech, and reflecting on 'Dune' character portrayals and societal scrutiny.

The Heritage Foundation’s extreme Presidential Transition Project proposes sweeping changes to government and packing the next GOP administration with extreme loyalists to Trump. Plus! Tech journalist and author of Blood in the Machine, Brian Merchant, talks to Andy Levy about the tech industry’s obsession with trying to create the dystopian futures portrayed in media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luddites! It’s a dirty word, right? One that’s become synonymous with anti-technology crusaders that want to return us to an idyllic past where everyone is free from their phones. But who were the Luddites? Where does the term come from? How has it been misused and do we, perhaps, need a little more King Ludd in all our lives?Brian Merchant is here to answer all our burning questions about Luddites and his new book Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech. He’s a technology columnist at the LA Times now. But Brian is as old school Motherboard as they come. We once made him eat Soylent for a month!Buy Blood in the Machine here.We’re recording CYBER live on Twitch. Watch live during the week. Follow us there to get alerts when we go live. We take questions from the audience and yours might just end up on the show. Subscribe to CYBER on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Winter, a concept artist, and Brian Merchant, a technology columnist, explore the threat of generative AI to their careers. They discuss the impact of AI on various professions, the anxieties of artists, taxing capital, AI's impact on creative work, and the social role of AI in human lives.

Brian Merchant, author of 'Blood in the Machine,' discusses the Luddites' true intentions, highlighting their critique of technology and its relevance today. He explores the impact of automation on historical systems and marginalized groups, dispels misconceptions about Luddites, and explores their resistance against factory and automation in the 19th century. The chapter also delves into the clash of ideologies in early capitalism and the shift towards a factory model of work.

Brian Merchant, a longtime tech writer and author of "Blood in the Machine," joins the conversation to explore the implications of a pro-tech Trump presidency. They discuss the intertwining of technology and political power, particularly the influence of figures like Elon Musk on social media. Merchant critiques the Democratic Party's corporate alignment and its impact on labor rights. The conversation also delves into the hype surrounding AI, the evolving landscape of tech regulation, and the consequences for democracy amid shifting political dynamics.