Nairi's LJ

Two researchers from the University of Florida are warning about the psychological toll of AI-related job fears, coining the term AI replacement dysfunction (AIRD) to describe it. According to their article in Cureus, the constant anxiety about being replaced by AI can trigger symptoms like insomnia, stress, paranoia, and loss of professional identity, even in individuals without other psychiatric disorders:

https://www.cureus.com/articles/407877-artificial-intelligence-replacement-dysfunction-aird-a-call-to-action-for-mental-health-professionals-in-an-era-of-workforce-displacement#!/

The authors highlight that this distress is rooted not in traditional mental illness but in the existential threat of professional obsolescence, with layoffs and public warnings from tech leaders intensifying the fear. While AIRD is not yet clinically recognised, the researchers propose screening methods and emphasise the need for clinicians and communities to support those affected, arguing that understanding this phenomenon is essential as AI increasingly transforms workplaces.

Recent talk about the United States asserting control over Greenland, whether framed as acquisition, pressure, or "strategic necessity", should be taken seriously not for its feasibility, but for what it signals. ( Read more... )

Lately I've found myself increasingly uneasy about how the appeal of strongman leadership is not just surviving but thriving, even in places where we once took democratic norms for granted. A recent article in The Economist reminds us that what once felt like an aberration is now looking more like a trend:
https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/10/30/strongmen-in-politics-and-technology-are-changing-the-world

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https://time.com/7297269/founders-wealth-inequality-could-destroy

Economic inequality in the US has reached record levels, with nearly 70% of wealth concentrated in the hands of the richest 10%. Corporate profits and shareholder dividends have skyrocketed over the past five decades, while the share of economic growth reaching workers has steadily declined. By 2023, the working class had effectively lost the gains it had built up since the post World War 2 era.

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AI is changing our world fast - helping with tasks, generating text, even thinking for us. It's tempting and convenient, and that's exactly the danger: it feeds our natural laziness. Especially for younger people, it's easy to stop making effort when a machine can do it all.

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Since June 6 federal immigration raids in LA, including at day-labour sites and warehouse areas, have ignited widespread backlash. California immediately bristled at the sudden surge of federal enforcement in sanctuary jurisdictions.

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Eight South African small towns that feel like a European escape
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/small-towns-south-africa-that-are-just-like-europe-travel-south-africa/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI9OxJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYti4VXI6zIueoD2dzEhFqgRn159mYyX7oR2n4_3CHrgtO-0pNbkUuITtw_aem_OgzOrVa0t7-f6wyEMIVZwA

South Africa’s diverse scenery and incredibly rich history have given rise to towns that echo European charm, offering travellers a unique blend of cultures and architectures. Here are eight South African small towns that provide a European-like escape…

The Dead Internet Theory in a nutshell: AI and bot-generated content has surpassed the human-generated Internet. But where did this idea come from, and does it have any basis in reality? -

The Dead Internet Theory, Explained
https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2024/01/16/the-dead-internet-theory-explained/

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