The issue of protecting oneself from artificial intelligence (A.I.) was a topic that Mike Masnick had to address in a recent WhatsApp chat with various directors, actors, and screenwriters, including renowned talent. The concern was centered around a possible future scenario where deepfake versions of actors perform screenplays written by ChatGPT. As an experienced tech expert, Masnick advised the Hollywood group to take certain steps: publicly shame projects that replace human labor with A.I., utilize state publicity laws to combat unauthorized deepfakes, and fight for contractual protections. Additionally, he suggested that they embrace the technology and capitalize on it. Masnick cited the example of the singer Grimes, who allowed the use of A.I.-generated versions of her voice in exchange for a share of the royalties. He urged creators to be creative and expand interest in their work. Masnick believes that the integration of A.I. with human creativity is inevitable, and it should be leveraged to one’s advantage.
For over two decades, starting with his Techdirt blog in 1998, Masnick has consistently shared a similar message during each wave of technological innovation that has caused concerns and fears. He has always conveyed that the new technology is not as threatening as it may seem. Masnick was added to the Hollywood A.I. group chat by Alex Winter, an actor and filmmaker known for his work on movies like “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and documentaries related to other disruptive technologies. Winter appreciated Masnick’s pragmatic approach, describing him as a reassuring figure who sets up guardrails to prevent people from making drastic and misguided decisions.
Masnick’s influence comes from his longevity in the tech industry and his deep knowledge of its history. He has become somewhat of an oracle in Silicon Valley, offering guidance on current technology trends and what steps to take next. His philosophy is to embrace change even when it is painful and to avoid knee-jerk legal protections that may have unintended consequences.
While Masnick’s influence is significant, his blog’s design has not evolved much since its inception. It remains text-heavy with numerous hyperlinks. Masnick operates Techdirt as an intellectual gig worker, playing various roles such as business owner, tech journalist, policy analyst, research fellow, and game designer. The blog has a small team of employees and contributors, mostly selected based on merit from the comments section. Techdirt has never enforced a paywall due to Masnick’s commitment to the free flow of information. The site is primarily supported by advertising and the contributions of its readers, although these revenue streams have not fully covered Masnick’s expenses.
In recent years, Masnick has ventured into game design, creating role-playing exercises for the United Nations and content moderation simulations sponsored by a start-up advocacy group. Despite not being traditionally viewed as entertaining, these games help people understand complex technology issues effectively.
Masnick’s productivity hacks include using a laptop with a second slide-out screen for convenience while working on the go and utilizing a paid service called Focusmate to engage in silent “co-working” with strangers. These methods help him stay focused and accountable for his tasks.
Mr. Masnick received a message from Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s CEO, in his Facebook Messenger inbox. Zuckerberg expressed appreciation for Masnick’s insightful and reasonable writing, even when critical of Facebook. Unfortunately, Masnick couldn’t reply to the message because they were not connected as Facebook friends. He reached out to someone at Facebook to resolve the issue, and Zuckerberg apologized for the “bug.” During a phone conversation with him, Masnick suggested that Facebook should consider decentralizing to address concerns about their control over people’s internet experience. He proposed the concept of “protocols, not platforms,” which involves creating interoperable software like email, allowing users to interact across different services and giving them more control over the content they see. Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s co-founder, was inspired by Masnick’s idea and implemented it in Bluesky, a Twitter clone. Masnick spent over an hour on the phone with Zuckerberg, unsure if his suggestions were taken seriously until recently when Facebook made some updates aligned with Masnick’s concept.
In conclusion, Masnick continues to provide valuable insights and guidance in the technology industry despite not reaping the immense financial rewards it offers. He encourages individuals and industries to embrace technological changes, navigate legal protections carefully, and leverage advancements to their advantage.
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