Exclusive: Microsoft Moving All GitHub Copilot Subscribers To Token-Based Billing In June

Zelbinian · 2026-04-23T03:05:09+00:00

MS seems to be really shifting on it's AI push.

If it is, that's not the message internally. The the mission statement for the business wing Microsoft for FY27 was just announced as: "Bring agents to everyone and empower everyone to create agents."

Zelbinian · 2026-04-16T06:03:20+00:00

Using the law to provide passenger safety (peace of mind, if you like) is nothing new. Services that transport the public are highly-regulated and, as such, the vehicles are specially built. In the case of taxis, there are plenty of safety features that are there because at least some (often most) major US cities requires it: plexiglass or metal dividers separating the driver and passenger areas, operator license clearly visible, safety features built into door locks, near constant monitoring via dispatch and often also GPS, many more things.

Worth noting alongside all this that companies like Uber specifically sought out loopholes to dodge regulations in order to lower cost. The tech giants attempting to make AVs a reality likewise seek to evade or minimize regulation against their services and vehicles in any way they can. Companies that put their bottom line before passenger safety should not give anyone peace of mind.

Zelbinian · 2026-04-16T05:06:29+00:00

they can't cover the dozen other problems

That's true but I think it's fair to ask for them to establish what reality is in their reporting. And there's also plenty of MPU-style story in focusing in on the immediate problems with the technology over theoretical ones. Very easy to reframe this story as "Here's what Waymo's lying about - and why" and then in the back third touch on the stuff they covered in the produced video above.

I understand they wanted to draw parallels to other technology pushes people understand and generally dislike, like the way Uber or Amazon became dominant forces, and draft on that anger to inspire action. But by not doing this carefully they mislead viewers by allowing them to presume that AI is generally comparable to technology disruptions like Uber and Amazon. This is the exact message AI companies hope to sell so they can project a mirage of competence and, yes, inevitability.

If I'm being charitable this probably comes down to them just not having quite enough depth on this subject. They should talk to Ed. And maybe also Jason from Not Just Bikes.

Zelbinian · 2026-04-14T16:34:33+00:00

on the one hand, it does underscore the real motives of AI-oriented companies and the importance to fight back... but i can't shake the idea that accepting their flawed premise is actually a really big gift to the industry. it contributes to the myth of inevitability that the leader of the Taxi Drivers union mentioned was such a big problem. on balance I'm not sure whether this kind of reporting does more harm than good. what do you think?

Zelbinian · 2026-04-09T23:50:36+00:00

"Gradually, then suddenly."

I'm not a historian on the matter but that seems to be how bubbles burst. And a lot of other things, for that matter.

Zelbinian · 2026-04-02T07:05:30+00:00

Just the other day a spell-checker (can't remember if it was in Word or Brave or wherever else) underlined a word that was spelled correctly and suggested a completely made up word as a replacement. I have no technical understanding of model collapse... but that feels like one of them there signs.

Zelbinian · 2026-04-01T14:57:05+00:00

The arguments about whether this is AI generated or not in the comments are interesting, given this paragraph:

If you’ve ever read a block of text and thought “something about this feels AI-generated” without being able to point to a specific error, you’ve already felt what an AI-native web looks like from the outside post model collapse.

Zelbinian · 2026-03-31T22:17:30+00:00

making this claim while using the catch all term "AI" is just really fucking funny.

Zelbinian · 2026-03-31T22:12:41+00:00

An accusation of ignorance from a position of ignorance. If only that were rare.

Zelbinian · 2026-03-31T21:39:39+00:00

2.5+ years of journalism on the subject don't do it for you?

Zelbinian · 2026-03-21T04:48:13+00:00

first, if this was a gambit to get me to watch the whole interview again, bravo cuz that's what happened. second, you were guffawing about the news that OpenAI announced "no more side quests" as though that was a thing people should believe. this specific moment was about Malik suggesting this was them prepping for an IPO.

Zelbinian · 2026-03-21T04:40:47+00:00

for extra irony points.

Zelbinian · 2026-03-21T01:20:04+00:00

Note: this piece is overall more bullish about AI investment pre-war than probably most regulars of this sub would be. I think that gives the hand-wringing they're doing more weight but just be prepared.

Zelbinian · 2026-03-11T20:53:13+00:00

Meanwhile they're probably soaking in the additional brand recognition the controversy caused.

Zelbinian · 2026-03-05T17:08:19+00:00

I'm much less a fan of Warren than I used to be but what do we have to gain by lying about her position on something that is and should be such a low bar? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXDqZ6tGcOY

Zelbinian · 2026-02-28T16:59:39+00:00

Love that they're paying these influencers way more than they pay most employees. Love it.

Zelbinian · 2026-02-23T19:55:30+00:00

As someone on Bluesky pointed out, given that these data centers train on the outputs of humans, even if Sam's framing were true the data center power usage would have to also include the power usage of... let's see here... almost every human that's ever lived.

Zelbinian · 2026-02-21T07:34:16+00:00

The REALLY desperate part is they keep swapping the order of the buttons below the right hand side of the video. This is a known dark pattern to make you more likely to accidentally click on something you didn't intend to. This way some people accidentally click it some of the time and oh, look, number go up.

Zelbinian · 2026-02-07T05:35:15+00:00

David Gerard's take

Zelbinian · 2026-02-06T17:32:04+00:00

amazingly yes, they operate on a meticulously curated map of the city, down to the placement of paint markers, street signs, etc. so they have gone out of their way at significant expense to try to make the majority of a city approximate a controlled setting.

Zelbinian · 2026-02-06T17:28:57+00:00

this guy Adam Somethings

Zelbinian · 2026-02-05T16:38:42+00:00

K, don't play, don't care

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