Plus: Finally a good use for AI — replacing your boss ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

February 05, 2025 | Read online
# 2264. Aussie governments ban Deepseek, Google to use AI to kill and surveill and Apple's new event app plus: Finally a good use for AI — replacing your boss
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Issue 2264 - Wednesday 5 February, 2025
A small note: my newsletter platform, Beehiiv, is gradually transitioning the Sizzle’s sender address to cam@thesizzle.com.au. So if this message gets sent to spam or bounces… well I guess you won’t be reading this, so sorry. But hopefully it works!
# In Today’s Issue
Well of course Aussie governments are banning DeepSeek Google to use AI for killing and surveillance Apple’s invite app scratches an itch Finally a good use for AI: replacing your boss Plus deals on Sony noise cancelling headphones, DJI Mini 4 Pro, Apple 10.9’’ iPad, Nebula PCs and more.
# The News
### Well of course Aussie governments are banning DeepSeek
The least surprising news story of the year goes to Australian governments deciding to ban DeepSeek on their networks and devices. First, the NSW government (Information Age), followed by the feds (The Guardian). As you might recall, government departments blocked unauthorised ChatGPT when it first came out (Cyber Daily) but started to trial other AI technologies albeit in more controlled settings (Digital Transformation Agency). I would posit that regardless of whether you think DeepSeek is literal CCP spyware or just a standard AI chatbot that it is good policy to remove the temptation to public servants of uploading government data to a Chinese hedgefund’s servers. Certainly more sensible than a showboating law proposed by Republican senator Josh Hawley that would imprison or fine someone for merely downloading DeepSeek and any other Chinese AI model (The Register).
### Google to use AI for killing and surveillance
The company that got rid of its “Don’t Be Evil” motto, Google, has made a change to its ethical AI policies: it’s now fine to use it to kill and surveil people (Washington Post). The company reportedly scrubbed some of its AI principles that it put in place after a 2018 employee protest (NYT, $). Its public argument is that it is better that Google does these things instead of companies from other, non-democratic countries (Google blog), as if it matters whether the missile that kills you was approved by someone who was democratically elected.
Between this, tech companies CEOs saying shit like they are exist to “power the West to its obvious innate superiority” (The Register), and Zuck’s MMA-MAGA Meta transformation — MetaMAga? — I reckon what we’re seeing is more than just CEOs letting their true colours show, now that Trump is in power. It’s a reaction to tech founders who were radicalised by feeling like they were held hostage by their employees during 2016-2020s, during a time when the labor market was tight and companies were fighting to keep talent, as diagnosed by former New York Magazine writer Max Read (Substack).
A period of tech-industry labor unrest--walkouts and protests at tech megaplatforms over sexual harassment, racism, and defense contracts1--has given way to a “reset” marked by mass layoffs and corporate clampdowns. A looser tech labor market (and a general national atmosphere of reaction) has shifted power back to management
Max Read
### Apple’s invite app scratches an itch
My prayers have been answered! Finally, a way to organise an event that doesn’t involve dead social media platforms or spammy event apps. Apple has released its Invites app (Apple) which allows you to create events. I’ve been playing around with it this morning and it seems fine, good even? Obviously you can make invitations, approve guest lists, and it also has bells and whistles like custom photo albums and playlists (and, eurgh, “Apple Intelligence” integrations”. Downsides: you need to have an iCloud+ account to create events, which is not a huge biggie, but more significantly: another closed standard!!!!!!!! Apple pls why can’t you just build on .ical or something, I beg you.
# Oh, Also
### Finally a good use for AI: replacing your boss
One of my concerns about this current AI hype moment is the naked salivation by tech bros over the idea of replacing workers with an inferior “correct 80% of the time” machine. Like Silicon Valley figure Marc Andreessen openly coveting how AI will crash human wages “logically, necessarily” (Futurism). Perhaps these fellas would be a bit more circumspect if it was AI coming for their jobs instead?
Well, someone obviously took this to heart and trained an AI on their CEO’s slack messages to create a bot imitating them (Modal). I personally wouldn’t advise doing this as a career move but there are some company leaders who I’m not sure anyone would notice if they were replaced.
# Bargains
Electronics
Pout Hands 3 Pro Fast Wireless Charging Mouse Pad, Latte Cream - $17.13 at Amazon LIMETA Sony Camera Battery Charger + 100W 2m USB-C Cable - $33.54 at Amazon Anker 735 Nano II 65W 3-Port 2C1A GaN Charger - $35.99 at Amazon Samsung Galaxy Fit3 Watch - $66.60 at BIG W Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones - $291.50 at Catch Samsung 55" QLED Q60D 4K Smart TV 2024 - $759.05 at Samsung DJI Flip Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2) - $1,058 at eBay DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2) - $1,498 at eBay
Computing
Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core Docking Station for Mac & Windows - $59 at Officeworks Apple 10th gen 10.9" iPad Wi-Fi 64GB Blue - $549 at Umart HP 255 G9 15.6" Laptop: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $600 at Hub by Triforce Kogan Infinity 49" Curved Ultrawide DFHD 3840×1080 144Hz 1ms FreeSync USB-C Gaming Monitor - $779 at Kogan AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU - $837.50 at eBay Nebula PCs: 600G, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD for $468, 9700X, RTX 4060, 32GB CL32 6000MHz RAM, 1TB SSD for $1528
Mobile
Lebara 30-day prepaid SIM starter pack - 35GB for $9, 70GB for $10 at Coles Vodafone Prepaid Plus Starter Pack (35GB + 65GB Bonus Data on First 6 Recharges) - $15 at Vodafone Online
(Sizzler Toby asked for me to group these bargains. Is this helpful? Let me know!)
# The End
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