Perilous Tech

The Warning Label For Emerging Technology

  • The Great AI Washing and the Mere Idea of AI

    The Great AI Washing and the Mere Idea of AI

    The cool thing right now seems to be to tell the world you are reducing headcount because of AI, regardless of the reason. Although not a recent development, it’s picking up steam. There’s even a term for it, “AI washing.” Although this term began life as a reference to products and services, it’s now right… Read more

  • Transforming Books Into Statistics Won’t Bring Wisdom or AGI

    Transforming Books Into Statistics Won’t Bring Wisdom or AGI

    Here’s a secret: turning books into statistics won’t bring AGI, cures for cancer, utopia, or any number of useful inventions that we are told are merely 12 to 18 months away. This activity also won’t bring their users wisdom. As a society, we are told that if we don’t let companies freely pillage the intellectual… Read more

  • Confusing Innovation With Progress

    Confusing Innovation With Progress

    One mistake we continue to make, time and time again, is confusing innovation with progress. It’s true that in many cases, innovation is progress. We see the results of this every day, in the development of vaccines, antibiotics, and even indoor plumbing. The results of innovation have improved people’s lives across the globe, allowing them… Read more

  • The Death of Software Is Greatly Exaggerated

    The Death of Software Is Greatly Exaggerated

    Social media is flooded with the same hot take: software is dead! Yup, that’s right, the world runs on software, but applications are either in the grave or the ICU with the cardiac monitor flatlining. It only takes a modicum of reflection to see through this illusion. But our modern world rewards reaction, not reflection,… Read more

  • 7 Books For More Robust Humans In The AI Age

    7 Books For More Robust Humans In The AI Age

    The entire modern world seems to be doing everything it can to rob us of our humanity. Everywhere we turn, every reaction we have is either mediated or a byproduct of our current technological environment. Pretty much every piece of content we encounter online is a form of manipulation. This tiresome cacophony of content overwhelms… Read more

  • Agentic Shopping: How Silicon Valley Accidentally Destroys Retail

    Agentic Shopping: How Silicon Valley Accidentally Destroys Retail

    Recently, Google, along with Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, and Target, created Universal Commerce Protocol. A protocol that retailers can use in their AI agents to support product discovery, purchasing, and even support. However, I don’t think retailers understand the full impacts of agentic shopping. When viewed through the autonomous lens, this approach presents the act of… Read more