Dismissing critics has “real and dangerous” consequences

There are few things tech critics know better than being dishonestly denigrated for pushing back on the narratives of industry and its boosters.

We’re used to being cast as Luddites as if it were a term of shame, instead of a badge of honor whose history the industry tried to rewrite to turn people off a righteous struggle. We’re also frequently excluded from the conversation until a technology’s harms become too obvious to ignore — or often reverse. Some skeptics even experience severe career consequences for pushing back on the hype their colleagues are all too eager to embrace, while the industry cultivates its own critics who obscure the root of the problem.

Last week, we were treated to yet another example of this when Platformer owner and establishment tech journalist Casey Newton launched a broadside against AI skeptics, and cognitive scientist Gary Marcus in particular. We’re two years into this AI hype cycle, so after attending a conference with a strong “AI safety” focus, Newton seemed to feel it was time to show he’s a true AI understander by echoing industry talking points to slander critics based on some strawman arguments.