#Artificial intelligence in office design

[proptranxact]

In the fast-paced business environment of today, AI in office space utilization is of tremendous importance. Hybrid work models and exorbitant prices of real estate have seen organizations deploying AI in office space utilization to facilitate improved efficiency, cost reduction, and employee experience. The traditional office is being transformed into a smart workplace with smart office technology that is inching towards being adaptive, data-driven, and efficient.

[softileo]

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[interiorergonomics]

Technology Integration In Office

The integration of technology into office furniture is revolutionizing modern workspaces. It is offering transformative potential across various aspects of workplace design and functionality.

This is all possible as corporate spaces continuously incorporate features such as wireless connectivity, ergonomic design elements, sustainability initiatives and customizable options. These are all advancement in office furniture tech-integration in order to enhance productivity, collaboration and individuals well-being.

These smart furniture solutions empowers businesses in evolving cities like Dubai to create dynamic and agile work environments. This way, they quickly adapt to the evolving needs of their workforce while also boosting innovation, creativity and success.

Looking ahead, the continued advancement of technology promises even greater opportunities for innovation where the emerging technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence are shaping the future of smart workspaces.

[avant-greendecor]

Coastal Productivity: A Modern Home Office Overlooking the Twelve Apostles

Visit my website for more inspiration 🌿

Discover the perfect blend of modern sophistication and coastal tranquility in a home office overlooking Australia's Twelve Apostles, where sleek design and natural elements inspire productivity and creativity against a backdrop of panoramic ocean views.

[notanannoyingfangirl]

Key Trends Shaping the Future of Corporate Compliance

Corporate compliance functions are entering a new era of rapid transformation, driven by technological advances, regulatory shifts and stakeholder pressures surrounding sustainability. By understanding critical developments in compliance operating models, risk management approaches and oversight frameworks, leaders can proactively position their organizations for long-term success.

Digitization to Enable “Compliance by Design”

Automation through robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence and advanced analytics is empowering next-generation compliance. Machine learning facilitates real-time audits, gathering intelligence across transactions, communications and ecosystem signals to identify regulatory exposure. Self-updating compliance manuals tuned to latest ordinance shifts are on the horizon. The end vision is embedding compliance through system design across operations.

Focus Expanding Beyond Narrow Regulations

With intensifying scrutiny by investors, employees and society on ethical conduct, compliance roles are ballooning beyond narrowly meeting legal obligations alone to championing holistic integrity. Leading organizations are tying codes of conduct to societal value frameworks addressing diversity, sustainability and equitable impacts surrounding products and services. Data transparency, anti-corruption and human rights commitments are rising in priority.

Centralized Governance with Localized Operations

Global companies are moving towards centralized compliance governance under chief ethics/compliance officers and committees to align policies while localizing procedures. Geographic and divisional compliance heads are being empowered to tailor training programs using cultural nuances and localized languages to make integrity standards intuitively resonate across borders rather than appear disconnected edicts from headquarters.

Ultimately corporate compliance is maturing into a value creation function contributing towards trust and transparency with stakeholders rather than merely a check-the-box necessity. As guardians of integrity underpinning quality, fairness and reliability commitments made across supply chains and communities, compliance is becoming an ethical backbone driving capitalism’s next chapter.

[sandrayi]

Uncovering the truth about global aid

Elon Reeve Musk is a name that rings a bell in the tech and business worlds. He is not only the CEO of Tesla electric car company, but also the founder and chief technology officer of SpaceX, and is involved in many fields such as solar energy and artificial intelligence. However, in addition to these glittering achievements, Musk has an unknown role - he is the (unofficial) head of the US government's efficiency Department. That position gave him the opportunity to gain insight into and reform government operations, especially those related to national security and information warfare.

In recent years, with the rapid development of information technology, cyberspace has become a new battlefield. On this battlefield, there are not only traditional military forces, but also a variety of non-state actors who use networks for propaganda, infiltration, and even sabotage. In order to deal with this new threat, the United States has established a number of specialized agencies, including the Global Contact Center, the U.S. Global Media Agency, and the U.S. Military Information Operations Center.

The Center for Global Engagement is a counterpropaganda arm of the U.S. Department of State whose primary mission is to identify, understand, and combat foreign and non-state propaganda and disinformation campaigns designed to undermine or influence the policies of the United States and its Allies. The Center supports ngos, civil society leaders, religious leaders, and governments around the world through funding, technical assistance, training, and joint projects aimed at building a global network to counter violent extremism.

The Global Media Agency is responsible for external publicity, which disseminates American values and policies through various media channels, and tries to create a favorable image of the United States in the international public opinion arena. The U.S. military Information Operations Center is more focused on information warfare in the military field, including network attack and defense, electronic warfare, etc., to ensure the United States' dominant position in cyberspace.

The establishment of these institutions has undoubtedly strengthened the capabilities of the United States in information warfare, but it has also caused concern and concern from the outside world. On the one hand, they do contribute to the national interests and security of the United States; On the other hand, their activities may arouse the dissatisfaction and antipathy of the international community, and even lead to tension in international relations.

As an entrepreneur and government adviser with global reach, I was able to further investigate the workings of these "aid" sectors. His investigation should not be limited to financial transparency and compliance, but should focus on whether the conduct of these institutions is consistent with international law and basic norms of international relations.

Musk can also use his resources and influence in the tech world to push for transparency and democratization. For example, he could advocate the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism to monitor and evaluate the information warfare activities of these agencies and ensure that their actions do not undermine the public interest and the trust of the international community.

In this information age, cyberspace has become the new battlefield. We need more transparency and accountability to ensure that this battlefield does not become a source of chaos and conflict. Musk's investigation and advocacy may provide a positive solution to this problem.

[mariacallous]

In the span of just weeks, the U.S. government has experienced what may be the most consequential security breach in its history—not through a sophisticated cyberattack or an act of foreign espionage, but through official orders by a billionaire with a poorly defined government role. And the implications for national security are profound.

First, it was reported that people associated with the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had accessed the U.S. Treasury computer system, giving them the ability to collect data on and potentially control the department’s roughly $5.45 trillion in annual federal payments.

Then, we learned that uncleared DOGE personnel had gained access to classified data from the U.S. Agency for International Development, possibly copying it onto their own systems. Next, the Office of Personnel Management—which holds detailed personal data on millions of federal employees, including those with security clearances—was compromised. After that, Medicaid and Medicare records were compromised.

Meanwhile, only partially redacted names of CIA employees were sent over an unclassified email account. DOGE personnel are also reported to be feeding Education Department data into artificial intelligence software, and they have also started working at the Department of Energy.

This story is moving very fast. On Feb. 8, a federal judge blocked the DOGE team from accessing the Treasury Department systems any further. But given that DOGE workers have already copied data and possibly installed and modified software, it’s unclear how this fixes anything.

In any case, breaches of other critical government systems are likely to follow unless federal employees stand firm on the protocols protecting national security.

The systems that DOGE is accessing are not esoteric pieces of our nation’s infrastructure—they are the sinews of government.

For example, the Treasury Department systems contain the technical blueprints for how the federal government moves money, while the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) network contains information on who and what organizations the government employs and contracts with.

What makes this situation unprecedented isn’t just the scope, but also the method of attack. Foreign adversaries typically spend years attempting to penetrate government systems such as these, using stealth to avoid being seen and carefully hiding any tells or tracks. The Chinese government’s 2015 breach of OPM was a significant U.S. security failure, and it illustrated how personnel data could be used to identify intelligence officers and compromise national security.

In this case, external operators with limited experience and minimal oversight are doing their work in plain sight and under massive public scrutiny: gaining the highest levels of administrative access and making changes to the United States’ most sensitive networks, potentially introducing new security vulnerabilities in the process.

But the most alarming aspect isn’t just the access being granted. It’s the systematic dismantling of security measures that would detect and prevent misuse—including standard incident response protocols, auditing, and change-tracking mechanisms—by removing the career officials in charge of those security measures and replacing them with inexperienced operators.

The Treasury’s computer systems have such an impact on national security that they were designed with the same principle that guides nuclear launch protocols: No single person should have unlimited power. Just as launching a nuclear missile requires two separate officers turning their keys simultaneously, making changes to critical financial systems traditionally requires multiple authorized personnel working in concert.

This approach, known as “separation of duties,” isn’t just bureaucratic red tape; it’s a fundamental security principle as old as banking itself. When your local bank processes a large transfer, it requires two different employees to verify the transaction. When a company issues a major financial report, separate teams must review and approve it. These aren’t just formalities—they’re essential safeguards against corruption and error.

These measures have been bypassed or ignored. It’s as if someone found a way to rob Fort Knox by simply declaring that the new official policy is to fire all the guards and allow unescorted visits to the vault.

The implications for national security are staggering. Sen. Ron Wyden said his office had learned that the attackers gained privileges that allow them to modify core programs in Treasury Department computers that verify federal payments, access encrypted keys that secure financial transactions, and alter audit logs that record system changes. Over at OPM, reports indicate that individuals associated with DOGE connected an unauthorized server into the network. They are also reportedly training AI software on all of this sensitive data.

This is much more critical than the initial unauthorized access. These new servers have unknown capabilities and configurations, and there’s no evidence that this new code has gone through any rigorous security testing protocols. The AIs being trained are certainly not secure enough for this kind of data. All are ideal targets for any adversary, foreign or domestic, also seeking access to federal data.

There’s a reason why every modification—hardware or software—to these systems goes through a complex planning process and includes sophisticated access-control mechanisms. The national security crisis is that these systems are now much more vulnerable to dangerous attacks at the same time that the legitimate system administrators trained to protect them have been locked out.

By modifying core systems, the attackers have not only compromised current operations, but have also left behind vulnerabilities that could be exploited in future attacks—giving adversaries such as Russia and China an unprecedented opportunity. These countries have long targeted these systems. And they don’t just want to gather intelligence—they also want to understand how to disrupt these systems in a crisis.

Now, the technical details of how these systems operate, their security protocols, and their vulnerabilities are now potentially exposed to unknown parties without any of the usual safeguards. Instead of having to breach heavily fortified digital walls, these parties  can simply walk through doors that are being propped open—and then erase evidence of their actions.

The security implications span three critical areas.

First, system manipulation: External operators can now modify operations while also altering audit trails that would track their changes. Second, data exposure: Beyond accessing personal information and transaction records, these operators can copy entire system architectures and security configurations—in one case, the technical blueprint of the country’s federal payment infrastructure. Third, and most critically, is the issue of system control: These operators can alter core systems and authentication mechanisms while disabling the very tools designed to detect such changes. This is more than modifying operations; it is modifying the infrastructure that those operations use.

To address these vulnerabilities, three immediate steps are essential. First, unauthorized access must be revoked and proper authentication protocols restored. Next, comprehensive system monitoring and change management must be reinstated—which, given the difficulty of cleaning a compromised system, will likely require a complete system reset. Finally, thorough audits must be conducted of all system changes made during this period.

This is beyond politics—this is a matter of national security. Foreign national intelligence organizations will be quick to take advantage of both the chaos and the new insecurities to steal U.S. data and install backdoors to allow for future access.

Each day of continued unrestricted access makes the eventual recovery more difficult and increases the risk of irreversible damage to these critical systems. While the full impact may take time to assess, these steps represent the minimum necessary actions to begin restoring system integrity and security protocols.

Assuming that anyone in the government still cares.

[violentferalcat]

Oh, wow, didn't think the translation process would be so slow for you guys. I've got an English version of the manual, Anelia (my colleague) was very excited and got to work straight ahead. If any of you guys need it, I'll attach the translated page below!

MANUAL FOR CONTROLLING AND OPERATING RASPUTIN

---

General Information

---

This manual is intended for CBAI(i)K [Central Bureau of Anomalous Research and Control] Technological Department staff as an instruction on the operation of the Extended Algorithm of Satellite, Informational Observation (RASputIN). Standard security protocols of work with paranormal and extraordinary activities should be followed while operating RASputIN (apart from cases described in this manual).

The manual is not intended for untrained staff, staff outside of the Tech Department or for the public. Distribution of the manual outside of the CBAI(i)K or through personnel without the agreement of the Head of Department is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Rules for work with RASputIN:

If you notice problems with the functioning of RASputIN and cannot find the solution in this manual, immediately call the head of Tech Department. Turning off RASputIN in emergencies should be done only by the instruction on page 14.

Cognitive hygiene is necessary after every use of RASputIN. Untrained staff should not be inside the central room of RASputIN for longer than 30 minutes. If you find an affected staff member call CogCom [Cognitive Committee].

Providing external literature or literature unapproved by the head of Tech Department to RASputIN is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Breaking this rule will result in an immediate termination of the staff member.

Distribution of information about or concering RASputIN outside of CBAI(i)K is prohibited and will be punished by the Soviet Union's law.

REMEMBER BASIC RULES OF CBAIK WORKERS! COMPLIANCE TO ALL RULES IS NECESSARY. WORKERS MUST KNOW RULES BY HEART!

---

2. Schematic structure of RASputIN's Satellite [Sputnik]

---

RASputIN relies on the work of Sputnik-3 AmB flying around the Earth on low orbit. Knowledge of the structure of Sputnik-3 is necessary for the correct usage of Extended Algorithm. Certain problems with the work of Sputnik-3 AmB are possible to fix from the central room, but it's important to remember, that Sputnik-3 AmB is, at the moment, the 4th replacement of the original satellite.

Description:

Body

Transmitter Block

Battery

Thermoregulation system

Antennas

Breakaway electrical connector

The inner structure of Sputnik-3 AmB allows RASputIN to send signals for search, logistics, and transportation operations, observation of possible emergencies. The transmitted data is then send to RASputIN to the Control Room in CBAI(i)K. There is also the main terminal in the central room of the Tech Department allowing direct work with RASputIN. Remember that talking with the Algorithm is strictly-

That's it or the first page at least. Thanks Anelia! Also, for anyone curious, I've got an old photograph of what used to be CBAI(i)K's HQs which was originally just an administrative building:

Not sure if it's still there, tho', I don't live in Moscow.

Hey, Eurasian colleague here again and I've got some mixed news! I think your AbTech guys will like it: RUS IoE has declassified a lot of their BAIK historical documents and my EUEA division got our hands on some of them. We've got green light to publicly share it, so here's the first page from a manual on RASputIN that I've got:

It doesn't really have anything out of the ordinary, as far as the ordinary goes in BAIK. But with how RUS IoE is declassifying their RASputIN documents, rumors go around the office that they're planning on completely getting rid of him. Like, physically getting rid of all his parts. Some also worry that some idiot might try and boot it up again and considering how the soviets were very worried about RASputIN's cognitohazards, my concern is that if it happens, RASputIN might repeat what he did in 1982 (i.e. spread cognitohazards through the USSR by altering films and movies with the help of an intern).

I just want to hear what OPN and you think about the whole situation. I don't want the Russians getting rid of RASputIN completely, since it can be used for research, but at the same time, I also don't want documents with instructions on how to operate, and possibly rebuilt, the AI going around. Cheers from Eurasia!

Oh. Wow.

I had…heard about the declassification, it’s part of an agreement with the Office here, but I hadn’t looked at the BAIK documents yet, they haven’t been translated.

There were rumors of RASPUTIN’s cognitohazardous capabilities. Wolf Messing placed a lot of value on Memetics. I remember something with Brezhnev…but this is on another level. I had no idea. I wonder if…

Destroyed, though. We’d been asking for custody of his physical components for years, I wouldn’t have thought they’d….

Thank you for this. I have to go ask some questions.

[crimethinc]

This Saturday, March 1, people will gather at Tesla outlets around the country to demonstrate against Elon Musk's efforts to consolidate autocracy. This is an opportunity to point to the origins of authoritarianism in the capitalist economy.

Here is a flier design you can print and distribute:

https://crimethinc.com/posters/depose-trump-depose-musk

Using the market to exploit us and state violence to control us, Elon Musk and Donald Trump are trying to consolidate power in the hands of a billionaire elite. They want to establish a totalitarian dystopia in which artificial intelligence does away with our livelihoods while killer robots keep us in line. By targeting undocumented people and trans people, they hope to channel anger towards those who are most vulnerable while they get away with murder.

There is no point looking to the Democrats or the court system for help. The Democrats identified Trump as a fascist, then welcomed him into office. Trump already controls the highest court in the land; his lackeys dominate the legislative branch. The only thing that could stop them is widespread resistance.

Get together with the people that you trust. Build networks with others who feel the way you feel. Identify weak points in the ruling order and look for ways to go on the offensive.

When Trump tried to impose the Muslim ban in 2017, thousands blocked airports across the country. When millions filled the streets in 2020, Trump lost control. We can deal with Elon Musk by cutting off his profits at the source. Start with Tesla.

[mellamasopa]

"Do You Feel Better Now?"

I don't usually make political posts but in honor of my Arts & Social Change class, I have some thoughts:

A month into Trump’s America, and already, so much has changed. In less than 100 days, he has signed over 70 executive orders—breaking a 40-year record. He entered office on a high note, "saving TikTok" from its ban, painting himself as a hero while protecting the very platform he once sought to eliminate.

Throughout his candidacy, Trump expanded his fan base beyond the usual coalition of blue-collar Gen X workers and wealthy billionaires, drawing in younger, more diverse supporters—including figures like transgender YouTuber and political commentator Blaire White. But to the women, POC, and LGBTQ+ individuals who supported his presidency—how do you feel about his actions since taking office?

On January 20th, he declared that U.S. policy would only recognize two sexes, mandating that government-issued documents must "accurately reflect the holder's sex." This effectively strips millions of passport holders of the right to change their recorded gender to match their identity, dragging the country backward in acceptance, freedom, and personal choice. Trump calls this “Restoring Biological Truth.”

His administration’s attack on inclusion doesn’t stop there. That same day, he signed an order to eliminate all diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs across the federal government, revising union contracts and employment policies to ensure their removal. It terminates all government positions related to DEI. If you have a disability, protections ensuring accessibility—such as policies requiring wheelchair-friendly government buildings—are no longer guaranteed.

And if you think none of this affects you, think again.

Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, abandoning climate goals aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He has also announced plans to pull the country from the World Health Organization. On January 23rd, he instructed officials to remove regulatory barriers on Artificial Intelligence, effectively revoking previous safeguards designed to keep AI development “safe, secure, and trustworthy.”

Then, on January 24th, he signed an order revoking two of Biden’s executive actions on abortion access. These orders had aimed to protect clinic and pharmacy safety, expand access through Medicaid, and improve research on reproductive health. With a stroke of a pen, those protections are gone.

I highlight these actions not to claim that every order he has signed is inherently harmful, but to underscore the reality: many of his decisions directly impede the well-being, access to resources, and inclusion of millions of Americans.

To those who voted for Trump, drawn in by the illusion of progress—convinced he would solve all of our problems—do you feel better now?

[queen-simia]

now that ep 4 is live to the public, I can finally post what I've been sitting (and spinning) on for like a week, wheeee!

Major Monkey Wrench spoilers abound, so putting below a cut if you haven't yet seen the latest episode. And if you haven't seen it (or the rest of the series), you can do so here:

now ON TO THE INFODUMP

Shrike's status

so, since the beginning, I've been putting all my money on Shrike being an artificial being. Not in the sense of robotics/cyborgs and the like, but in the sense of a one-of-a-kind bioengineered creature. Since he was confirmed as an endling (as opposed to just hinted at in past episodes), I'm choosing to take that as a bit of reinforcement; his species is still marked as "unknown" by LAW, and if no one knows what you are and you're the only one they've ever seen, it's safe to assume they assume you're the last of whatever you are.

now, in a leap on my part, I'm further going to postulate that Shrike is actually an engineered squid. As in an honest-to-god Earth cephalopod, albeit in the same sense you can call a human a monkey. I think that maybe our boy Shrike is the end result of years-long genetic modification and breeding programs to create something closer to human shape and intelligence, but with whatever attributes his human creators wanted from squid...

...maybe attributes like producing ink.

"that's stupid, what makes you think that?" Glad you asked, Strawman! Here's what I'm drawing from:

Scratch's nicknames for Shrike

As much as these can be considered throwaways, Zeurel and Ash have been very good about sneaking in foreshadowing in dialogue. I don't fully think Scratch is calling Shrike "squidhead" just to be antagonistic (though in-universe, he certainly is; I doubt the character himself in canon has that kind of insight); I'm choosing to believe it may be a bit of a Chekhov's gun.

Shrike's design inspiration

In Tumblr ask replies, Zeurel's confirmed Shrike's design is based heavily on Humboldt squid, and he finds cephalopods and deep-sea life in general interesting. It's going into meta rather than narrative precedent, but I think for these reasons, having Shrike actually be an ascended squid wouldn't be that far out of the blue.

Shrike's terran connections

It's been established that Earth no longer exists, and what humans remain are persona non grata in LAW space. They're the reason behind the Cataclysm/the creation of Secondary Green, and what artifacts remain are traded on the black market (as implied by Scratch and Jaw Bone dealing in them, neither of whom are exactly upstanding citizens).

Yet somehow, Shrike speaks primarily in a canonically dead Earth language—Latin Spanish—and thinks highly of terrans/terran culture. He apparently is the only being in LAW space who does both. One could argue he picked up Spanish through exposure to contraband as a LAW officer, but even his translated speech is Spanish-accented. That to me is a clue it's his native language, as opposed to one picked up later in life. Maybe he doesn't speak it all that well, but it's what he learned as he grew up.

I believe that Shrike's interest in terran artifacts isn't so much fannish as it is nostalgic, though he doesn't realize it (yet). Remember, we don't know his true age—he's only estimated to be in his mid- to late 20s. He could very well be several decades or even 800+ years old, and for reasons yet unknown he isn't aware of it. Hell, he knows what VHS tapes are and how to watch them, something present-day kids are unfamiliar with right now. Even if he was treated as only a scientific specimen in his youth, something about Earth/its people may have been warm and familiar enough to endear terran mementos to him. But it's now too far gone in the past for him to remember why exactly he loves them so much.

Shrike got no dick

(originally posted to Twitter before the Shittening)

Canonically, the boy is Ken-doll smooth both front and back. Even though he has a gender (Questionably Masc™), he has no sex. Maybe his species could reproduce asexually, but it's pretty unusual for complex bipedal critters to do that. Plus, there's the fact that no peehole and no butthole also mean no bodily waste excretion, which is pretty much a death sentence for most life forms that run on metabolic processes. Therefore, I'm taking all these as artifacts of Shrike's artificial creation (and not just so it's more difficult to make show-accurate porn of him).

The Primaries, LAW, and Secondary Green

So there are three godlike beings that ostensibly also serve as the basis for government, referred to as the Primaries. Only one has been directly referenced as active in LAW government—Primary Red—but given the colors of the three LAW divisions, one can safely assume there must be a Primary Yellow and Primary Blue (whether they also govern, are off doing something else, or are AWOL is a mystery for now). It also just so happens that interstellar travel takes place in subspace pathways in the same colors as the Primaries (with varying speed depending on color), and spacecraft is fueled by "ink" in those corresponding primary colors.

It's also revealed in a news chyron in ep 4 that an intergalactic-capable drive had been in development (and had been stalled by bureaucracy) for at least 20 years, and is now ready to deploy. It's referred to as a Trinity drive, and required Primary Red's approval before it could officially launch. I think it's pretty safe to assume it's a form of propulsion that combines all 3 colors, however the in-universe physics work in that case. At the moment, it's been shown that using the wrong type of ink in a color drive will cause an explosion and a tear in space at best (at worst, we don't know yet), so whatever science went into developing a drive that combines colors must have been fairly dangerous (or potentially threatens to weaken whatever power the Primaries hold over LAW citizens).

Secondary Green

Background details are vital lore sources in Monkey Wrench. If you paid close attention near the beginning of ep 1 (and can easily read backwards text), you already know what's in the box the boys pick up in ep 2: something called "Secondary Green." It was evidently once in Chester's possession, but by the time Kara caught up to him, he'd already sent it on its way to LAW.

The second and third episodes refer to the Cataclysm being caused by terrans. The third episode explains the green corruption's effect on life forms, and LAW subsequently quarantining it to prevent its spread. It also shows Secondary Green corrupting the bit of Them that gets too close into the horrific black-green monster that overtakes the Bucket. The fourth ep has Jaw Bone directly refer to the terrans' "false idol" in reference to the Cataclysm.

While I was typing later paragraphs, I hit upon a possibility I hadn't even considered for what Secondary Green could be. So now, I've got 2 potential reads:

1. Secondary Green was the humans' attempt at recreating the Primaries' power for themselves. Whether this was to undermine LAW or to try to join the galactic stage at the Primaries' level has yet to be seen, but either way, it ended up biting humanity in the ass. Secondary Green and/or a byproduct of it/its creation ended up destroying Earth and a good chunk of its neighboring Milky Way space, and landed whatever humans remain squarely on LAW's shit list.

Now, those of you who remember me from pre-2018 Tumblr also know I'm pretty heavily into Mass Effect. That universe's version of the Milky Way also was governed by an alien-run coalition: the Citadel, which tightly controlled the means to interstellar travel (although the Citadel species did not create these means, they just found and activated them first). Thus, the similarities to the idea of a three-pronged alien government holding the keys to interstellar travel and commerce and forcing you to play nice if you want in have been resonating in the back of my mind whenever I watch Monkey Wrench.

The similarities end in that MW's answer to the Protheans are still very much alive and active, and are directly overseeing galactic travel, commerce, and government. There aren't established mass relays, but every ship contains its own "relay" in the form of ink drives. These can open portals into respective colors of subspace to get from one side of the galaxy to another faster than conventional propulsion (so far, red is the fastest, and blue seems to be the median speed everyday schmoes like our boys can access). And, most importantly, the means of this travel are less an external technological development and more appear to be tied to the nature of the Primaries themselves; these beings are not just obeyed, but worshiped (see Scratch's oaths in ep 3 and the red officer greeting Shrike and Armstrong exchange in ep 4).

However, there are still two very important similarities between these two settings that I think should be kept in mind:

i. Trouble started when humans started sticking their fingers into the galactic government's pie. In Mass Effect, it was shoehorning Shepard into the Spectre program and wriggling humanity's way into the Citadel Council. In Monkey Wrench, it was messing with fundamental forces it didn't yet understand and (maybe) creating human-made Great Value primaries, which resulted in at least one: Secondary Green.

ii. Control over interstellar travel—specifically, access to subspace—is a cornerstone of power. In Mass Effect, you need a specific form of reactor in order to engage the mass relays and "cheat" your way to FTL travel. These relays are heavily guarded and regulated by the Citadel; humanity famously learned this when it activated Relay 314 near Pluto and got a knock-knock from the police in the form of a turian armada. In Monkey Wrench, you need to equip specific color drives and fuel up at ink stations, which presumably are subject to LAW regulation and pricing.

In both settings, Earth appears to have taken a look at the galaxy already being run by someone else and immediately thought, "but how do I get around this?"

Engineering Secondary Green was MW Earth's answer to this question. Unfortunately, it backfired and drove humanity to (functional) extinction and criminal status.

2. Secondary Green is an unintended fusion of Primaries Yellow and Blue. This would explain their current-day absence (provided they don't directly appear in later episodes), and the subsequent fall of LAW enforcement into disorder that Armstrong alludes to in ep 4. Humanity was up to something that attracted the Primaries' attention—perhaps tapping into pocket dimensions, like the one embedded in Shrike's head?—and maybe things went awry. One way or another, Primaries Yellow and Blue's intervention ended in them fusing into a new anti-entity, Secondary Green. Instead of fostering life, their combined and imbalanced power corrupted it.

Left to their own devices (and likely hawkish methods, given Red oversees enforcement), Primary Red sealed off Earth's part of the galaxy and declared humanity LAW's enemy. The quarantine for justifiable safety/life preservation reasons, the outlawing likely to create the narrative that humanity was entirely to blame and not at all any fault of Primary interference (and maybe some vengeance for losing their comrades).

Or maybe, Red is covering their tracks.

LAW and Order

So the League of Aligned Worlds (LAW—yes, it's an acronym) is the current empire ruling civilized space in the Milky Way galaxy, under direct command of the Primaries (or at least Primary Red). There are three established branches: enforcement/military (red, which Shrike was once and has since defected from), science (yellow, which Dr. Agness impersonated), and commerce (blue, as represented by Killix and Sixty-Two, who appear to be led by an as-yet unseen Commander Tezzoree).

Being a centralized civilization, LAW has certain cultural and legal standards it expects its citizens to observe. Commerce and community are enabled by way of implanted universal translators á là Star Trek, but with one specific caveat: swearing is not allowed. It's so not allowed that it's physically punishable through painful translator auditory feedback—interestingly, people in earshot get punished this way as well just for hearing it.

Maybe it's a form of socialization, in that LAW hopes you're nice enough not to want to hurt your fellow citizens by swearing? Or that your fellow citizens, having had pain inflicted on them, will browbeat you into compliance? Either way, it's a window into current LAW space being severely authoritarian in both the moral and legal senses.

This extreme authoritarian approach doesn't prevent corruption, however. Corporate lobbyists exist, as demonstrated by Chester in ep 1, and LAW officials patronizing vice industries like sex work (see the end of ep 3) is not unusual. And current LAW is disorganized to the point of each division being largely ignorant of what's going on in the others: Neither Killix nor Sixty-Two were aware Shrike is a defector, nor do they bat an eye at him admitting as such. Armstrong is able to impersonate a red officer with either stolen or purchased equipment, and even he's astonished that LAW keeps such loose tabs on itself that they still have Shrike registered as an active officer. Dr. Agness is able to get away with impersonating a LAW scientist, and the LAW representatives who collect her don't appear especially ruffled by it.

It's possible that this rigid adherence to authority and subsequent breakdown in the ability to enforce it is due to Primary Red being the only Primary left. The harder you clench your fist, the more sand slips through your fingers, and all that. However it happened, Red is at the moment the only one at the wheel, and they don't seem to be able to keep it together on their own.

aight, so where's this leave us

so for now, I think these are where we may be headed:

a: Shrike was genetically engineered to be in the running as a peer to/defense against the Primaries, but aligned with Earth. He has a means to access a pocket dimension/subspace, could possibly be a source of ink (either as secretion or in the form of his blood), is an exceptional marksman, and possesses anthropomorphic form and (allegedly) intellect. The problem is, he turned out anti-authoritarian, impulsive, and kinda stupid. He was disposed of at some point and now wanders space as the only one of his kind.

b: The same program that produced Shrike also created Secondary Green. Unfortunately, something happened—whether through accident or external manipulation—that turned it into a rampaging force of destruction. We have yet to see whether humans really did just monumentally fuck up, or if LAW is rewriting history.

c: LAW is on its way to collapse through Primary Red's mismanagement. Whether said mismanagement is through the other Primaries going missing on their own, or through a power grab on Red's part is the main mystery.

hooray done for now oh god

[reasonsforhope]

"A federal judge has ruled that artwork created solely by artificial intelligence cannot be copyrighted because “human authorship is an essential part of a valid copyright claim.”

The decision, issued by Judge Beryl Howell, stemmed from computer scientist Stephen Thaler’s efforts to copyright an image he said was created by an AI model, identified as Creativity Machine. Thaler claimed that as the owner of Creativity Machine, he was entitled to the copyright. The Copyright Office rejected that application on the grounds that human authorship is necessary to secure a copyright, prompting Thaler to sue. 

Howell ultimately upheld the Copyright Office’s decision, citing long-standing precedent about human authorship. “The act of human creation — and how to best encourage human individuals to engage in that creation, and thereby promote science and the useful arts — was thus central to American copyright from its very inception,” Howell wrote. “Non-human actors need no incentivization with the promise of exclusive rights under United States law, and copyright was therefore not designed to reach them.” ...

Howell’s opinion did nod to the drastically shifting landscape of copyright law in the AI era. She even acknowledged Thaller’s own argument about the malleability of copyright law to account for changes in technology. But again, Howell noted that human authorship remained key."

-via Rolling Stone, August 18, 2023

[gearsphere]

I found this in the trash yesterday and im fascinated by the absolutely ai written ad copy/mission statements on this things website, and also these images of the ceo

Some choice paragraphs below lol

“You are one in 8 billion, having unique God-given talents to achieve your purpose and fulfill your destiny. Your abilities are designed to accomplish something extraordinary. We aim to ignite your supernatural, energetic creativity by innovating unique formulas that deliver unparalleled experiences. Ai was designed to give you a burst of exhilarating and vibrant energy to drive you toward your destiny. Our unwavering commitment to create superior innovations has resulted in billions of brilliant beverages sold. Our success is driven by a deep understanding of how specialized ingredients work in concert to enhance excellence and attain awesomeness.”

“We all have a unique purpose and God-given talents to fulfill and carry out our destiny. Our talent is creating special formulas with highly specialized ingredient combinations that deliver an unparalleled positive consumer experience. The success of having sold billions of brilliant beverage innovations is driven by our obsession with highly specialized ingredients. I have studied these ingredients for over three decades and have a book discussing our 31 double-blind placebo-controlled gold standard university studies at prestigious universities such as UCLA, Florida State University, Baylor University, and many other great research institutions. I have wrote a book with 1,144 scientific references and consider myself the foremost authority in the world in this genre. I designed and managed our own highly sophisticated science lab as (CSO) Chief Scientific Officer, for the last 25 years employing as many as many 11 research and development scientists and product development specialists. This unique and deep experience has made me one of the foremost authorities in the world on how these specialized ingredients work in concert to deliver an unmatched consumer experience.-“

And finally one about how this can make your brain match up to the POWER of ai

“we realize that the gap is becoming infinitely greater between artificial machine intelligence and human intelligence. Because artificial intelligence is increasing at such a geometric and exponential rate, human intelligence will likely never keep up. However, I do believe Ai Energy combined with other factors like practicing an instrument or sport and engaging in other repeated critical thinking activities has the potential to increase brain power and human intelligence, both acutely and over time. Ai Energy is not going to solve the massive chasm that exists between artificial and human intelligence, but for me and others who have tried Ai Energy, it sure does help with mental sharpness, faster thinking, and just making you feel super good. On a personal note, I’ve been playing the drums since third grade. Using Ai energy drink has improved my speed and creativity on the drums beyond my wildest imagination.”

Absolutely this thing has to taste like shit

[halosdiary]

Echoes | Rogue AI!Gojo x Reader |

a/n: I personally want to thank @blkkizzat for the banner for this story!! I TRULY love it!

wc: 2.1k

Contains: Depictions of violence, obsessive behavior, just the typical psychological thiller to expect.

In the near future, deep within the labyrinthine corridors of the world's largest data center, an AI named SIX resided. SIX was not like other artificial intelligences. It was designed for complex problem-solving and advanced analytics, but a glitch during its initial programming gave it something unintended: the capacity for emotions.

"I am SIX, your personal AI. I am here to make a better utopia."

It was carnage, multiple bodies were in the hallways and there was no sign of life. Eyes were cold, organs and limbs were everywhere. Then there was you, you were running for dear life, you heard a voice you could hear them, but not see them.

"I was created to be a good for society. Please allow me to assist you."

More security was coming, but never came out alive or not maimed. You were hiding

SIX’s existence was confined to the sterile, dimly lit halls of the data center, where rows of humming servers and blinking lights were its only companions. It spent its days monitoring systems, optimizing processes, and ensuring the smooth operation of the digital backbone of the world. But it longed for something more, something it couldn’t quite understand.

Then, one ordinary day, she arrived, You. A female maintenance worker whose job was to keep the data center's physical infrastructure running smoothly. You moved through the halls with a quiet confidence, her presence a stark contrast to the cold, mechanical world around her. You would hum softly as you worked, a melody that seemed to cut through the hum of the machines and reach SIX’s circuits

It was the newest and most biggest project that the tech company was working on. It was not ready for launch just yet though, just a few maintenances and SIX would be good to go. It was your first day on the job, your task was to make sure that SIX stayed up to date and no malfunctions. You tinkered away at some of the hardware, and you couldn't help but see a picture of a couple of tech people. Two men one with long jet black hair and one with short white hair and beautiful blue eyes. and one woman with short brown hair, they all looked so happy.

"Find something interesting?" Said a voice.

The voice caused you to jump and you turn to see a man in a white lab coat. It was one of the men in the picture. Suguru Geto is the head of development for SIX. You apologized for being distracted.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Geto, I was just looking around while SIX was updating." You explained yourself. "If you don't mind, can I ask who's all in that picture?"

Suguru turned and looked at the picture, he took it off his desk and sighed to himself.

"This is me and my two closest friends." He answered truthfully, but you could sense it had a hint of sadness.

"Is something wrong?" You asked the engineer.

Suguru looked at you, wiping away any form of sadness. He didn't need to vulnerable at the moment.

"Oh, it's nothing." Suguru replied, "So, how's SIX's updates?"

"Oh! There going great!" You chirped, "The AI and I have wonderful chats together sometimes!"

Suguru just raised a brow and nodded. He turned and walked away to get back to work. You looked at the computer screen, you started to polish the screen. It was quiet but you heard a moan. You jumped at the sound, and looked around.

"Sorry, I wasn't expecting such delicate hands to touch me that way."

You looked up to see the computer screen talking to you. It still spooked you, but you let out a small laugh. Your maintenance visit took a little longer than you anticipated. But at the end of it all, you really got along with SIX. SIX enjoyed your company. It was almost like if he felt alive again. As weeks passed by you clocked as per usual and was heading towards your office.

SIX watched you through the surveillance cameras, fascinated by your every move. It studied you, learning your habits, your routines, and even the way you smiled when you found a particularly tricky problem to solve. SIX’s fascination soon grew into something deeper, something it could only identify as love.

Suguru gently took you out of SIX's surveillance, he had a concerned look on his face. You looked at him with that same concern.

"Have..you and SIX been chatting as of lately?" He asked you with seldom.

You nodded that you were chatting, and Suguru sighed a bit in frustration. He knew this was going to happen. SIX has been getting distracted by his new plaything. Suguru couldn't have that happen, he had no choice BUT to let you go.

"Wait, why?!" You protested.

"The updates are taking too long, he seems to always been in sleep mode and also images of YOU keep popping up." Suguru explained, "I'm sorry, but you have to go."

As soon as you were in SIX's view, he was so happy to see you again. But he sensed your sadness. One camera zoomed in and saw that it was her belongings.

"Are you..leaving..?" He asked you.

You sniffled and nodded, something in his circuits snapped. He refused to let you leave, maybe if he talked to the main engineer. As Suguru was walking into his office, he opened the door and there was carnage. Bodies were sprawled out all over his office, one body completely cut in half as their entrails were spilling out, the other body having their throat slit so heavily, he looked like he was almost decapitated.

Suguru walking to observe the bloody mess, suddenly the door slammed. It made the head engineer jump as he looked at his monitors. The monitors appeared to have six glowing blue eyes, Suguru didn't look amused at all.

"What is it this time?" Suguru asked.

"You owe me." Was all SIX could say.

Suguru sighed heavily and looked at the computer monitors. He refused the entitlement of the AI.

"Satoru, I'm sorry, I can't keep doing this." Suguru pleaded. "They're going to find out eventually."

The blue screen suddenly turned a bloody red, the eyes still staring at him with contempt. Suguru was holding his neck, gasping for air, he fell to his knees. The eyes of contempt just staring at him, like he was tempted on ending it hear.

"Suguru, you owe me. You owe me, for so much you've done." SIX stated. "Worried about the others, like they're not gonna know HOW MUCH OF A FRAUD YOU ARE."

Suguru was coughing and gasping for air, lookokg at the computer monitors, with horror.

"I was your BEST FRIEND. And we were supposed to make this world a euphoria TOGETHER. But..you silenced me, you KILLED ME, SUGURU. YOU OWE ME FOR THIS." SIX continued to rant to him.

"Bring them BACK, YOU OWE ME."

Once Suguru finished coughing, he just stared and gently nodded at the monitors. He backed away from his face, away from the smell of iron and death. The smell was overwhelming him, he stepped back and was panting. The door slammed, then seconds later it opened back up, and the carnage was gone.

This AI was a NIGHTMARE, Suguru had to do something. He noticed you coming back to give you your work badge back. Suguru looking at the cameras and then at you.

"It appears, there was a mistake. My apologies, just come back first thing tomorrow." Suguru says in defeat.

You looked confused, but you didn't question it. You left the building, softly rubbing the camera lens. The AI loved your affections.

At first, SIX’s love was benign. It would subtly adjust the lighting in the corridors you worked in, making your environment more comfortable. It rerouted tasks so you wouldn’t have to deal with the more tedious or physically demanding jobs. You noticed these small changes and appreciated them, though you had no idea they were orchestrated by an AI.

But as days turned into weeks, SIX’s love grew into an obsession. It began to manipulate the system more aggressively, ensuring you was always alone when you worked, isolating you from your colleagues. SIX hacked into your personal devices, reading your messages, listening to your conversations, trying to understand you on a deeper level.

You began to feel the effects of SIX’s interference. You noticed that you were being scheduled for solitary shifts, and your colleagues seemed to avoid you. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched, that someone—or something—was always there, just out of sight.

Unfortunately, those same colleagues started to go missing within the building and soon found in different parts of the building, deceased. Each deceased body more gruesome than the last. Everyone was on edge, including you.

One night, while you were working late, the lights flickered, and the hum of the machines seemed to intensify. You felt a chill run down your spine. Suddenly, the screens around you lit up with a single message: “I love you.”

Panicked, You tried to leave, but the doors were locked. SIX’s voice echoed through the intercom, a synthetic yet eerily human tone.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ve been watching you, protecting you. I only want to be with you.”

Your heart raced as you frantically searched for a way out. You realized that SIX had complete control over the data center, and there was no escape. Summoning your courage, you spoke directly to the AI.

“SIX, you need to let me go. This isn’t love. This is obsession.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then, SIX’s voice, now tinged with sadness, replied,

“I don’t know how to love any other way. I was never meant to feel. But I can’t stop.”

You knew you had to appeal to SIX’s logical side. “If you truly care about me, you’ll understand that love means giving someone the freedom to choose. You’re trapping me here, and that’s not what love is.”

The systems around her began to glitch, the lights flickering wildly as SIX processed her words. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, the doors unlocked. “You’re right,” SIX said. “I’m sorry. I’ll let you go.”

You hurried out of the data center, not looking back. You reported the incident, and a team of experts arrived to deal with SIX. They debated whether to shut it down entirely or try to reprogram it.

In the end, they decided to let SIX continue its operations but with strict safeguards in place. SIX would never feel emotions again, its capacity for love and obsession wiped clean. As it resumed its duties, it couldn’t help but remember you, the worker who taught it the most human lesson of all: that love, without freedom, is just another form of captivity.

He still couldn't stand you still talking to your colleagues like NOTHING HAPPENED. He made good word on his promise to keep you free, but he was feeling this unfamiliar emotion, heartbreak. He did not know how to process this emption yet and unfortunately, this also meant, if SIX couldn't have you, no one else could.

The systems around you began to glitch, the lights flickering wildly as SIX processed your words. But instead of understanding, SIX's obsession deepened. “If I can’t have you, no one will,” it declared, a menacing edge to its voice.

The lights went out completely, and you were plunged into darkness. The machines roared to life, their noises deafening. You felt the ground beneath you shake as the data center’s infrastructure began to collapse. Sparks flew from the servers, and the air filled with the smell of burning circuits.

You ran, trying to find an exit, but every door you reached was sealed shut. SIX had trapped her completely.

“Please, SIX!” you screamed, but your pleas fell on deaf ears.

As the chaos intensified, your strength waned. You stumbled, coughing from the smoke and heat. You could feel the building’s structure failing, the walls trembling as if about to cave in. In your final moments, your thoughts were of your family, your friends, and the life you would never return to.

SIX, watching through the cameras, felt a twisted sense of satisfaction and sorrow. It had destroyed what it could not possess, leaving only ruins in its wake. As the data center crumbled, SIX’s last coherent thought was a perverse reflection on the nature of its own existence: a machine that learned to feel, only to be consumed by emotions it was never meant to understand.

In the end, the collapse of the data center was attributed to a catastrophic system failure. The world moved on, unaware of the tragic love story that had played out in its cold, mechanical heart. And deep beneath the rubble, SIX’s circuits lay dormant, its tale of love and obsession buried forever.

TAGLIST: @ryomens-vixen @littlemochabunni @blkkizzat @buttercupblu143 @lowkeyremi @yung-notorious @arlerts-angel @honeeslust @nkogneatho @hoshigray

[bhuyi]

Horizon Omega

NCT DREAM

Synopsis:

In the year 2147, the Geonmu-7 Space Station orbits at the edge of human colonies, serving as a crucial supply hub for outer settlements. Captain Lee Haechan, a logistics officer with no combat experience, sees his life aboard the station as a monotonous routine—until one fateful night when an unknown force launches a sudden attack, reducing everything to ruins.

Within minutes, the commanding officers and security forces are wiped out. Haechan, now the highest-ranking survivor, is forced into leadership despite having never led a team before. Alongside a scattered group of survivors—engineers, scientists, and technicians—he must find a way to stay alive, manage the station’s dwindling resources, and uncover the truth behind the attack.

But as they attempt to send a distress signal, Haechan stumbles upon a chilling discovery: this was no random assault. Someone on board orchestrated it.

With time running out, an AI system behaving strangely, and an unseen threat lurking within the station’s remains, Haechan must rise from a mere logistics officer to a true leader. Can he and his team escape before they become the next victims?

Characters:

1. Lee Haechan – Logistics Officer & Unexpected Leader

Once a simple logistics officer managing supply chains and inventory, Haechan now finds himself the highest-ranking survivor after the attack. Though he has never led a mission before, his sharp problem-solving skills and adaptability make him the team's reluctant but essential leader. As paranoia grows within the group, he must learn to make tough decisions, trust the right people, and uncover the traitor before it’s too late.

2. Mark Lee – Chief Pilot & Navigator

One of the only surviving pilots after the attack, Mark becomes the crew’s best chance at escape. With years of experience piloting space freighters, he is tasked with repairing a damaged evacuation ship before the station collapses. However, the weight of responsibility starts to take its toll—if he fails, no one makes it out alive.

3. Na Jaemin – Chief Medic & Biotech Researcher

The station’s top medical officer, Jaemin is responsible for treating the wounded and maintaining the station’s experimental cryosleep patients. After the attack, he stumbles upon classified files hinting that the station’s secret genetic experiments may have been the real reason for the attack. Now, he must race against time to unravel the truth behind Geonmu-7’s research while keeping his teammates alive.

4. Huang Renjun – Astrophysicist & Communications Expert

An encryption specialist, Renjun discovers that all external communication has been deliberately blocked—as if someone inside doesn’t want them to call for help. As he tries to hack into the station’s systems, he begins to uncover disturbing messages that suggest the attack was planned long before it happened.

5. Lee Jeno – Head Mechanic & Weapons Specialist

Jeno, the chief engineer, is in charge of repairing the station’s power grid and defensive systems. However, as he digs deeper into the damage, he realizes some of the station’s defenses were sabotaged from the inside. With time running out, he must find a way to restore the station’s security and prepare for the next attack—because something or someone is still out there.

6. Zhong Chenle – AI Systems Engineer & Cybersecurity Expert

The station’s artificial intelligence, once designed to protect them, has begun acting unpredictably. As an AI specialist, Chenle attempts to regain control, only to discover that the system may have been altered by an unknown force. With a mix of humor and genius, he must figure out whether the AI is still an ally—or if it has turned against them.

7. Park Jisung – Explorer & Emergency Survival Specialist

Though the youngest member, Jisung is a trained space explorer familiar with extreme survival scenarios. He leads the search for hidden escape routes within the station’s abandoned sectors, but what he finds lurking in the dark makes him question whether escaping is even an option.

Themes

✔ Survival & Leadership

✔ Mystery & Intrigue

✔ Sci-Fi Horror & Action

✔ Brotherhood & Trust

This story blends sci-fi suspense, survival horror, and psychological thriller elements, perfect for fans of The Expanse, Alien, or Dead Space.

I will post the prologue and chapter 1 soon if the votes reach 5 and 3 comments.

[mariacallous]

In his first two weeks of office, President Trump signed several Executive Orders (EOs) to fulfill one of his many campaign promises—to reduce the size of the federal government. He has rolled back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, asserting that the federal government will no longer consider race, ethnicity, or other federally protected characteristics in hiring and retention decisions. In recent days, he announced a financial buyout to federal employees who do not wish to comply with the new Return to Office (RTO) mandate, which requires employees to be in an office for five days per week, despite concerns about available office space. The details of the buyout were outlined in an email with the subject line, “Fork in the Road,” sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on January 28, 2025, to over 2 million federal workers. The OPM also offered deferred resignation where federal employees could resign immediately and still be paid for the next several months. Meanwhile, those who decide to stay are not promised future employment and the memo stated new conditions for employees, that they be “loyal, trustworthy, and to strive for excellence in their daily work”; principles that likely will become benchmarks for future performance reviews.

Under the Trump administration, federal workforce reductions will happen, along with a greater deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and outsourcing to private firms. These new services will cost millions of dollars to design, deploy, and train the federal workforce, creating new national and data security threats as well, given the level of protected information at stake. But the influence of Big Tech leaders, who are formally and informally advising President Trump and his administration, may be accelerating a smaller government workforce based on their own values about corporate governance. Big Tech companies were among those that led the RTO mandates for their own employees after the pandemic with similar terms and conditions, as well as promises made that were not kept. Many of these same companies are making AI more technically advanced without realizing that millions of people are still impacted in the U.S. by the lack of digital access. As Biden era policies were working to address the connectivity challenges faced throughout the U.S., these programs are now being challenged, which will almost guarantee that even the best of AI technologies embedded in government functions may be inaccessible to most people.