Look, Let’s Be Real About This
Hi, I’m Linda. I’ve been editing tech features for Tech Monthly since before anyone cared about blockchain. I live in Oakland, I drink too much coffee, and I’m sick of tech journalists acting like AI eating our data is some inevitable, unproblematic thing. It’s not. It’s messy. It’s scary. And we should be pissed.
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin (yes, I know, I should’ve stayed home), and this guy from a big tech firm—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and said, “AI needs data to learn. That’s just how it works.” I asked, “So what, we’re just supposed to be okay with that?” He said, “Well, yeah. It’s progress.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But whose progress, Marcus? Yours?
My Friend Dave’s Horrifying Story
About three months ago, my friend Dave—he’s a software engineer, works for a company you’ve heard of—told me something that chilled me. He said, “Linda, I can’t even show you the data we’re feeding our AI models. It’s that sensitive.” I said, “So why are you doing it?” He said, “Because everyone else is.” That’s it. That’s the justification. Because everyone else is doing it. Great.
And look, I get it. I do. AI is cool. It can do amazing things. But at what cost? We’re talking about our most personal data here. Our messages, our photos, our goddamn search histories. And we’re just handing it over because some tech bro in a hoodie says “trust me.”
This Isn’t Just About Privacy, It’s About Power
You ever notice how this conversation always starts with “AI needs data” and ends with “here’s how to opt out of our data collection”? It’s like they’re saying, “We’re gonna take your stuff, but hey, you can ask us to take less.” That’s not a choice. That’s a joke.
I talked to a colleague named Sarah last week. She’s a lawyer, specializes in tech stuff. I said, “Sarah, is any of this legal?” She said, “Honestly, Linda, it’s a gray area. But the companies? They’re betting on it staying that way.” And that’s the problem. They’re not waiting for rules. They’re moving fast and breaking things—our privacy included.
Okay, But What Can We Do?
First, stop pretending this is normal. It’s not. It’s a huge, glaring problem. Second, demand better. From everyone. Your tech, your apps, your gadgets. Make them prove they’re not selling you out.
And look, I’m not saying don’t use AI. I’m saying use it with your eyes open. Read the fine print. Ask questions. Be a pain in the ass. Because if we’re not careful, we’re gonna wake up one day and realize we’ve traded our privacy for… what? Faster search results? A better algorithm? Not worth it.
Oh, and if you’re gonna stay informed, check out the business news update weekly. They actually ask the hard questions.
A Quick Tangent: Remember When We Used to Care?
Remember 2008? When everyone lost their minds over Facebook’s Beacon? That was a privacy scandal. Now? Crickets. We’ve gotten so used to being exploited that we don’t even react anymore. That’s not progress. That’s complacency.
And it’s not just the big stuff. It’s the little things too. Like how your smart speaker is always listening. Or how your phone knows where you sleep. It’s all connected. And it’s all creepy.
Back to the Point
So yeah. AI is cool. It’s powerful. It’s the future. But it’s also a massive, unchecked invasion of our privacy. And we should be demanding better. Not just accepting it because “that’s how it works.”
Anyway. That’s my rant. I’m gonna go drink more coffee and stare out the window. Maybe I’ll write a follow-up. Maybe I won’t. Honestly, I’m not sure but I’m probably too tired to committ to anything right now.
About the Author: Linda Chen has been a senior editor at Tech Monthly for 22 years. She lives in Oakland with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and drinks an unhealthy amount of coffee. She’s not on social media. You can find her old articles on the magazine’s website, but she’s not sure why you’d want to.
