Podcast of the Cybernetic Marxists. Examining the intersection of Technology, (Left) Politics, and Philosophy
Episodes
Monday Mar 16, 2020
Monday Mar 16, 2020
In which we chat with Tom O'Brien (host of From Alpha To Omega) about the Coronavirus pandemic, and what it all means for the future of society.
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Wednesday Mar 04, 2020
Wednesday Mar 04, 2020
In which we talk to Callum Cant about his new book, "Riding for Deliveroo: Resistance in the New Economy".
"What is life like for workers in the gig economy? Is it a paradise of flexibility and individual freedom? Or is it a world of exploitation and conflict? Callum Cant took a job with one of the most prominent platforms, Deliveroo, to find out.
His vivid account of the reality is grim. Workers are being tyrannised by algorithms and exploited for the profit of the few – but they are not taking it lying down. Cant reveals a transnational network of encrypted chats and informal groups which have given birth to a wave of strikes and protests. Far from being atomised individuals helpless in the face of massive tech companies, workers are tearing up the rulebook and taking back control. New developments in the workplace are combining to produce an explosive subterranean class struggle – where the stakes are high, and the risks are higher.
Riding for Deliveroo is the first portrait of a new generation of working class militants. Its mixture of compelling first-hand testimony and engaging analysis is essential for anyone wishing to understand class struggle in platform capitalism."
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Wednesday Feb 19, 2020
Wednesday Feb 19, 2020
In which we continue our discussion of "Organizing for Power: Stealing Fire from the Gods", by Amelia Davenport.
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Thursday Feb 06, 2020
Thursday Feb 06, 2020
In which we read "Organizing for Power: Stealing Fire from the Gods", by Amelia Davenport. Part two will air in two weeks.
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Wednesday Jan 15, 2020
Wednesday Jan 15, 2020
In which we interview the worker-owners of Loomio, a decision-making software cooperative.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
- Loomio Cooperative Handbook
- Loomio Facilitators Guide
- Loomio Blog
- Creating the Workplace of the Future
- General Intellect Unit on iTunes
- http://generalintellectunit.net
- Support the show on Patreon
- https://twitter.com/giunitpod
- General Intellect Unit on Facebook
- General Intellect Unit on archive.org
- Emancipation Network
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
In which we read "A Study of Organizational Closure and Autopoiesis", by Harish Jose.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
- A Study of Organizational Closure and Autopoiesis, at https://harishsnotebook.wordpress.com
- General Intellect Unit on iTunes
- http://generalintellectunit.net
- Support the show on Patreon
- https://twitter.com/giunitpod
- General Intellect Unit on Facebook
- General Intellect Unit on archive.org
- Emancipation Network
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
In which we finish our discussion of Eliza, a game by Zachtronics.
"After abandoning her high-powered tech career and a mysterious three-year absence, Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey resurfaces working as a proxy for a virtual counseling app called Eliza. Her job consists solely of reading a script provided to her in real-time by an AI, leaving her no autonomy over what she says. Is Eliza a technological marvel that brings therapy to those who otherwise couldn’t access it? Or is it an ineffective replacement and another vector for technology companies to gain control over our lives and humanity?"
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
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Thursday Oct 31, 2019
Thursday Oct 31, 2019
In which we play Eliza, a game by Zachtronics.
"After abandoning her high-powered tech career and a mysterious three-year absence, Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey resurfaces working as a proxy for a virtual counseling app called Eliza. Her job consists solely of reading a script provided to her in real-time by an AI, leaving her no autonomy over what she says. Is Eliza a technological marvel that brings therapy to those who otherwise couldn’t access it? Or is it an ineffective replacement and another vector for technology companies to gain control over our lives and humanity?"
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
Wednesday Oct 09, 2019
Wednesday Oct 09, 2019
In which conclude our reading of "Digital Socialism?" by Evgeny Morozov.
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Wednesday Sep 25, 2019
Wednesday Sep 25, 2019
In which we read "Digital Socialism?" by Evgeny Morozov. Part 2 will air in a few weeks.
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Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
In which we are joined by our friend Matt, to discuss two articles by François Chollet, "The Implausibility of Intelligence Explosion", and "What Worries Me About AI".
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Sunday Sep 01, 2019
Sunday Sep 01, 2019
Part two of our collaboration episode with Swampside Chats, in which we (re)read Stafford Beers "Designing Freedom".
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Thursday Aug 22, 2019
Thursday Aug 22, 2019
A collaboration episode with Swampside Chats, in which we (re)read Stafford Beers "Designing Freedom", and zoom off on all kinds of tangents along the way. Part two will air next week.
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Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
In which we read "The Necessity of Extended Autopoiesis" by Nathaniel Virgo. (Our reading of) this text treks through cybernetics, gaia theory, deleuzian metaphysics and biology, converging on an understanding of the relation between bodies and processes.
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Monday Jul 15, 2019
Monday Jul 15, 2019
In which we discuss the Viable System Model, by Stafford Beer. We read "The VSM Guide" by Jon Walker, and "The Viable System Model as a Framework for Understanding Organizations" by Raul Espejo and Antonia Gill.
If you like the show, consider supporting us on Patreon.
Links:
- A diagram of the VSM (on wikipedia)
- The Viable System Model as a Framework for Understanding Organizations
- The VSM Guide
- General Intellect Unit on iTunes
- http://generalintellectunit.net
- Support the show on Patreon
- https://twitter.com/giunitpod
- General Intellect Unit on Facebook
- General Intellect Unit on archive.org