Happy Nice Mall

How the AI ​​industry profits from disaster

It was supposed to be a temporary side job – a way to make some extra money. Oskarina Fuentes Anaya signed up for Appen, an AI data labeling platform, while studying at university to take up a well-paid position in the oil industry.

But then the economy shook in Venezuela. Inflation skyrocketed and a stable job, once guaranteed, was no longer an option. His side gig was now full-time; temporary now the foreseeable future.

Today Fuentes lives in Colombia, one of the millions of Venezuelan immigrants and refugees who have left their country in search of better opportunities. But he is trapped at home, both by a chronic illness that develops after delayed access to healthcare and by incomprehensible algorithms that determine when to work and how much to earn.

Despite Appen’s threats of retaliation against him, he chose to go on the record as a cited source. He wants people to understand what his life is like to be a critical part of the global AI development pipeline, but those who benefit from his work also mistreat him and make him invisible. He wants the people who did this job to be seen.Read the full story.

—Karen Hao and Andrea Paola Hernández

This is the second part of our series that explores AI colonialism and shines a light on how technology impoverishes communities and countries that have no say in its development. Episodes 3 and 4 will be up next week, but you can read the first episode.hereand Karen Hao’s introductionhere.

Crypto millionaires are pouring money into Central America to build their own cities

Home to a lush ecotourism retreat amidst El Salvador’s sun-drenched jungle, Conchagua Volcano is poised to host a sparkling new Bitcoin City, the country’s president announced in November 2021. A major construction project to transform virgin forests into a vibrant metropolis could soon be underway.

While some politicians and residents believe in crypto’s potential to boost the economy, others see history repeating itself. While El Salvador’s experiment takes shape in the form of Bitcoin City, a similar development is already underway in Honduras – but the local community’s backlash has put its future in jeopardy. Fans hope to create hundreds more Bitcoin Cities, but others question who these projects are really for and whether the countries that serve as testbeds can actually benefit.Read the full story.

—Laurie Clarke

must read

I scoured the internet for today’s most entertaining/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 Ukraine’s ‘internet army’ pressures Western brands to exit Russia
And their campaign seems to be working. (WSJ $)
+ One out of every four people in Ukraine has left their home. (WSJ $)
+ US and allies send more weapons to Ukraine. (BBC)

What has the zero covid policy taught China?
It has saved countless lives, but it is getting harder and harder to implement. (Atlantic Ocean $)
+ Moderna is optimistic that its new vaccine will provide better protection against variants. (NYT $)

3 NASA wants to charter a mission to Uranus
We know surprisingly little about the distant planet. (Atlantic Ocean $)
+ Why are we so focused on sending humans to Mars? (slate $)
+ Maybe we should send robots instead of astronauts. (wired $)

4 People are canceling Netflix subscriptions in their herd
And secretly sharing passwords between households. (Variation $)
+ Netflix can start showing ads too. (hollywood reporter)

5 Twitter may be preparing to turn down Elon Musk’s buyout offer
This would force him to reconsider his position. (WSJ $)
+ Whatever the outcome, Musk’s proposal may ultimately be good for the company. (FT $)
+ A crypto billionaire wants to be involved. (Bloomberg $)
+ Here’s what it might entail making Twitter’s algorithm public. (CNN)

6 Maybe the tech bubble really is insurmountable
Or maybe we’re just tired of hearing that it’s about to explode. (NYT $)
+ There may be problems in the future for England’s initiatives. (Times $)

Unmasking the woman behind the 7 Libs of TikTok Twitter account 
A Brooklyn real estate agent played a huge role in promoting hateful anti-LGBTQ+ narratives in the US. (WP $)

8 Being sober is more than quitting drinking
Sober influencers are reshaping the way we think about alcohol. This is not always a positive thing. (wired $)
+ Does paying people to stop drinking keep them sober in the long run? (boston globe $)

9 Why is it so hard to create unbiased AI?
For starters, prejudice is in the eye of the beholder. (vox)
+ AI can reduce the number of car crashes. (NYT $)
+ Self-driving drivers in the UK may soon be allowed to watch TV behind the wheel. (Times $)

10 This Twitter account detects writers’ tics
Because you can’t keep repeating yourself. Or can you? (New Yorker $)

We can still have beautiful things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction in these strange times. (Any ideas? Write me or tweet me.)
+ Congratulations to 21 year old TobyKeith. world’s oldest living dog.
+ Louis Theroux is not just an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Room some patient spit out sticks (Thanks Tania!)
+ these easy recipes for desserts they speak my language.
+ If you’re starting to worry about what to get for Mother’s Day, this list is a great starting point.
+ US government funded research invisibility cloakthis seems like a worthwhile effort to me.
+ do you think talking your cat on a leash?
+ World’s oldest unopened Easter egg He’ll be thankful Easter is over.