Category: The Atlantic

  • An AI That Couldn’t Care Less About Humans

    What if AI didn’t want to be like us at all? Murderbot, Apple TV+’s new sci-fi series, flips the usual AI tale by showing a rogue robot who craves solitude, soap operas, and freedom from humans—not connection. With dry humor and sharp insight, it questions our human-centric view of machine consciousness.

  • Fast Fashion’s End Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

    Fast fashion may have taken a hit from the U.S.–China trade war, but the industry quickly shifted gears, finding new markets and suppliers. Labor abuse and environmental damage remain widespread across brands, not just in China. Real change needs global rules, cleaner production, and political will—not just higher prices.

  • The End Of Publishing As We Know It

    Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews are draining traffic from news sites by answering user questions directly, leaving publishers struggling to survive. As ad revenue and subscriptions fall, media outlets face legal battles and unequal licensing deals, while tech giants push toward a future with fewer journalists.

  • The Dark Poetry of the Bezos Wedding

    Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s lavish Venice wedding turned a historic city into a stage for extreme wealth. Amid ancient beauty and modern decay, the $20 million spectacle drew celebrities, criticism, and irony, symbolizing the collision of luxury, consumption, and privilege in a place slowly crumbling under the weight of tourism and time.

  • Canada’s Terrible New Freedom

    Canada’s quiet nationalism has erupted into urgency as Trump’s hostile policies spark fears of annexation and force the country to confront its defense, trade, and sovereignty. Now rearming with Europe, cutting US ties, and questioning its place in the world, Canada faces a hard but necessary reckoning.

  • The Perils of ‘Design Thinking’

    Design’s promise to fix the world often falls short when it replaces politics with buzzwords. From Bauhaus roots to Silicon Valley hype, “design thinking” has grown into a global movement, yet its impact on deep social issues remains limited. Real change demands more than aesthetics or innovation — it requires collaboration, context, and political will.

  • AI Plan May Weaken Washington Post’s Standards

    The Washington Post plans to use AI to help non-writers publish opinion pieces, risking a flood of low-quality content. Critics say this move could hurt journalistic standards, replacing expert judgment with generic writing. AI should support newsroom tasks, not replace the editorial work that keeps journalism sharp.

  • The Protein Madness Is Just Getting Started

    Protein has taken over the food world, appearing in everything from iced tea to candy. Despite most Americans already eating more than enough, brands keep pushing it as a health fix. While useful for some, the craze risks misleading consumers into overconsumption—turning even junk food into supposedly “healthy” options just by adding protein.

  • The Entire Internet Is Reverting to Beta

    Everyday technology is increasingly powered by AI that’s impressive yet imperfect. Despite widespread use, these tools often produce errors, glitches, and misinformation. As society grows reliant on AI, small flaws become normalized, risking accuracy and critical thinking while reshaping how we interact with the internet and digital services.

  • Israel’s Bold, Risky Attack

    Israel’s sweeping strikes on Iran, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, are being called “preemptive” but resemble a preventive war—one taken before a threat becomes imminent. While Israel argues it’s acting to stop Iran’s nuclear program and long-standing hostility, the scale and timing suggest a bold, risky move to settle existential threats now, not later.