Reailty Check

Supreme Court to judges: Don't be so judgy.

In a 6-3 ruling, the high court invalidated nationwide injunctions issued in the fight over birthright citizenship. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned…

Jun 30 • 

Jed Miller

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"Byrd-watching" the AI moratorium in the Senate

The past week saw mixed news from the fight to give people a say in the courts and the statehouse, as the push to end nationwide injunctions and the…

Jun 25 • 

Jed Miller

Civic wishes amid civic crises

It's a hard week for the civic fabric of the U.S., as the military crackdown in L.A. strains fundamental norms and parade tanks roll through DC's…

Jun 13 • 

Jed Miller

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May 2025

AI moratorium and attacks on autonomy

People have a tendency to cede power unwittingly and power has a tendency to consolidate and protect itself. So how strong does the rule of law need to…

May 28 • 

Jed Miller

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5

April 2025

Public solidarity and passive surveillance

We are not simply passive victims of abuse by corporations or governments (or the increasing collusion between them). We are agents of our own exposure.

Apr 29 • 

Jed Miller

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2

March 2024

Even a good AI law is only a good start

If we want enforceable rules and design processes that yield less biased AI, we need to keep an entire puzzle in view: not just the letter of the law…

Mar 22, 2024 • 

Jed Miller

Concrete examples of people-centered process

This past week, two expert friends released valuable resources on participation in AI governance and design. Tim Davies and Connected by Data posted…

Mar 10, 2024 • 

Jed Miller

2

3 points about basketball and data

All of Lynette Woodard’s 3,649 baskets dropped through the hoop, but as far as the NCAA’s records are concerned, they remain invisible. The facts are…

Mar 2, 2024 • 

Jed Miller

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February 2024

"Sliding into" company habits until culture catches up?

If we see change as new behaviors with no clear place in the status quo, we can then ask what existing behaviors and rituals could be entry points for…

Feb 23, 2024 • 

Jed Miller

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Zero-sum frames

It’s incredibly useful to explain things using distinctions. Our instinct to differentiate is part of our ability to adapt and survive. But when did we…

Feb 8, 2024 • 

Jed Miller

1

Frames, frictionlessness and furry friends

Frictionlessness can be delightful. Remember the first time you used wifi? At the same time, adding friction (delay, difficulty, decisions) to an…

Feb 1, 2024 • 

Jed Miller

1

January 2024

Faces in the clouds

In literature and popular fiction, our tendency to merge automation and personality is older than electrification or science fiction.

Jan 27, 2024