Skip to content
Notes by Axbom
Per Axbom LinkedIn

One important story that I feel got lost during the end of 2025 is how white-presenting "18-year old" female "AI" companions are cosplayed by 30-year old fathers in Kenyan slums. At a huge cost to their mental health.

"My sole responsibility was to keep the conversation going, no matter what it did to me."

"The challenge went beyond just switching genders; I also had to perform across different sexual identities. Sometimes I was a straight woman flirting with men. Other times, I had to be a lesbian woman talking to other women about desires I'd never felt. In some conversations, I was expected to be a gay man discussing intimate details I knew nothing about. As a straight man, I had no roadmap for understanding what these users wanted or needed, but I had to fake it anyway. Bills don't wait for your comfort zone. The guilt ate at me every night."

I'll do a writeup for my newsletter, but here is Michael Geoffrey Abuyabo Asia's story in his own words (PDF): https://per.ax/nai

Subscribe to my newsletter, My Next Heartbeat - I write about the friction between humans and machines: https://per.axbom.com

🔗 Originally posted on LinkedIn

6 Feb 2026, 07:54
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Bluesky reply

↩ Replying to @jennyanita.bsky.social

"Boss of boss"! 😁

🔗 Originally posted on Bluesky

6 Feb 2026, 07:41
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

One important story that I feel got lost during the end of 2025 is how white-presenting "18-year old" female "AI" companions are cosplayed by 30-year old fathers in Kenyan slums. At a huge cost to their mental health.

"My sole responsibility was to keep the conversation going, no matter what it did to me."

"The challenge went beyond just switching genders; I also had to perform across different sexual identities. Sometimes I was a straight woman flirting with men. Other times, I had to be a lesbian woman talking to other women about desires I'd never felt. In some conversations, I was expected to be a gay man discussing intimate details I knew nothing about. As a straight man, I had no roadmap for understanding what these users wanted or needed, but I had to fake it anyway. Bills don't wait for your comfort zone. The guilt ate at me every night."

I'll do a writeup for my newsletter, but here is Michael Geoffrey Abuyabo Asia's story in his own words (PDF):

https://data-workers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Emotional-Labor-Behind-AI-Intimacy-1.pdf

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

5 Feb 2026, 09:00
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma reply

@astridpoot Thank you. How do I get your DIY Ethics handbook?

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

4 Feb 2026, 08:52
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma reply

@stephan Thanks, they are in California.

My primary reason for searching for an EU-based service is to support services closer to home. In terms of privacy/security, the email part really renders that null and void so I could essentially go with anyone as long as I agree with their values and ethics 😁

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

4 Feb 2026, 08:39
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

I'm looking for an alternative to Gaggle Mail that is based in the EU.

Essentially listserv hosting (email-based discussion groups).

Any tips/boosts are welcome 🙏

Read more about Gaggle Mail to understand what I'm looking for: https://gaggle.email

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

4 Feb 2026, 08:18
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

An "AI" Toy Exposed 50,000 Logs of Its Chats With Kids to Anyone With a Gmail Account

«Margolis adds that this sort of sensitive information about a child's thoughts and feelings could be used for horrific forms of child abuse or manipulation. “To be blunt, this is a kidnapper's dream,” he says. “We're talking about information that lets someone lure a child into a really dangerous situation, and it was essentially accessible to anybody."»

https://archive.ph/dX5xd

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

4 Feb 2026, 07:03
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

Techbro stance: "Regulating AI is hindering innovation."

The purpose of regulation is to protect humans from harm, support wellbeing and promote societal sustainability.

So the techbro stance is "I can't invent new stuff if I can't fuck with people's lives and health."

Except that's not innovation, that's abuse.

Politicians and media really need to start understanding the difference.

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

3 Feb 2026, 17:38
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

French prosecutors have raided the Paris office of Elon Musk-owned platform X, several media outlets report.

"France opened an investigation last month following the proliferation of sexually explicit deepfakes generated by Grok on X, following up on a previous probe into the chatbot's antisemitic outbursts over the summer."

Elon Musk former CEO Linda Yaccarino have also been summoned for questioning on April 20.

I am very on board for this. 🍿

https://www.politico.eu/article/police-raid-elon-musk-x-office-france/

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

3 Feb 2026, 11:44
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma reply

@samuel @bjoreman @fiaewald @iakonkret @terejs

Ja, det Àr bra, och FörsÀkringskassans anvÀndning behövs nog petas pÄ oftare. Jag noterar detta i svaret:

"Regeringen har i regleringsbrevet för 2025 beslutat att ge FörsÀkrings­kassan i upp­drag att senast den 2 juni 2025 redovisa de insatser som har ge­nomförts eller som myndigheten avser att genomföra i syfte att utveckla sin anvÀndning av AI. Myndigheten ska, nÀr det bedöms relevant, redo­visa en analys av riskerna utifrÄn bl.a. ett etiskt, rÀttsligt och sÀkerhetsmÀssigt perspektiv."

Man jag har ingen minnesbild av att FK nÄgonsin följt upp i nÄgot offentligt sammanhang?

Jag Àr vÀldigt sugen nu pÄ att det genomförs en större kartlÀggning av automatiserade beslutsprocesser i offentlig sektor...

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

3 Feb 2026, 09:30
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma reply

@iakonkret @terejs @fiaewald @samuel Varning för rant (jag ber om ursÀkt i förvÀg) men jag var pÄ det humöret ikvÀll tydligen.

Jag tror en av de saker som bekymrar mig mest Ă€r att sĂ„ mĂ„nga bĂ„de debatterar, styr och vill att ”AI” ska bli en viss sak utan att det alls finns en gemensam uppfattning om vad ”AI” Ă€r. Eller ens en egen, tydlig uppfattning hos den enskilda avsĂ€ndaren om vad ”AI” Ă€r. Ingen vĂ„gar sig pĂ„ en förklaring men nĂ€stan alla ’förstĂ„sigpĂ„are’ sĂ€ger sjĂ€lvsĂ€kert att alla medborgare mĂ„ste förstĂ„ detta, som de sjĂ€lva inte förstĂ„r.

Man behandlar ”AI” som en magisk sörja som löser problem utan mĂ€nsklig inblandning och samtidigt som man dristar sig till att kritisera ’tekniken’ friskriver man sig alltid med, ”vi vet att det kan göra fantastiska saker” men utan att tala om (för att man inte vet?) vilka dessa fantastiska saker Ă€r eller hur den tekniken som ”gör fantastiska saker” och kallas för ”AI” ofta Ă€r vĂ€sensskild frĂ„n tekniken som medelsvensson, eller en genomsnittlig politiker, har sett och kallar för ”AI”.

”Detta understryker betydelsen av god digital kompetens och breda allmĂ€nna kunskaper om integritet, kĂ€llkritik, demokrati och AI hos befolkningen.”

Vad om ”AI” mĂ„ste befolkningen veta som inte tĂ€cks av integritet och kĂ€llkritik? Jag reagerade nog extra starkt pĂ„ den meningen för att jag kĂ€nde att ”AI” inte har i nĂ€rheten av samma dignitet som de andra begreppen. Det blev en konstig uppradning av begrepp för mig. Vi klarar av att reglera finansmarknaden för att skydda mĂ€nniskor utan att de flesta ens behöver veta vad debet och kredit Ă€r. SĂ„ varför mĂ„ste vi lĂ€gga över sĂ„ mycket ansvar pĂ„ befolkningen nĂ€r det gĂ€ller ”AI” och digital kompetens?

Det pratas om att ta över rutinmĂ€ssiga uppgifter inom vĂ„rden, eller korta handlĂ€ggningstider. Men inte om hur mĂ„nga fler it-tekniker som mĂ„ste anstĂ€llas för att fĂ„ det att hĂ€nda eller hur farligt det Ă€r nĂ€r ett strömavbrott eller handhavandefel eller exponerade nĂ€tverk gör att de kritiska rutinmĂ€ssiga uppgifterna inte lĂ€ngre kan utföras och inga mĂ€nniskor lĂ€ngre vet hur man gör dem. Att digitalisera sönder processer gör dem ocksĂ„ oerhört mer sĂ„rbara
 det vet vi efter 50 Ă„r av digitalisering.

”DĂ€rför mĂ„ste all anvĂ€ndning av AI inom offentlig verksamhet föregĂ„s av noggranna konsekvensanalyser.” GĂ„r det att göra en rĂ€ttvis konsekvensanalys av probabilistisk AI vars utdata inte Ă€r förutsĂ€gbart och vars innanmĂ€te (svarta lĂ„da) vi inte tillĂ„ts titta in i för att förstĂ„?

”Regeringen behöver dĂ€rför sĂ€kerstĂ€lla att offentliga aktörer fĂ„r det stöd och de förutsĂ€ttningar som krĂ€vs för att kunna hantera risker kring rĂ€ttssĂ€kerhet, transparens, personlig integritet, diskriminering, felaktiga data etc. i samband med AI-anvĂ€ndning. ”

Hela den hĂ€r meningen belyser vilka enorma problem ”AI” kan bidra till. Snarare Ă€n att regeringen ska ge stödet att hantera dessa risker kĂ€nns det nĂ€stan som att man bör avrĂ„da frĂ„n anvĂ€ndningen till dess att det finns en trygghet i att ”AI” inte innebĂ€r en sÄ’n enorm risk inom alla dessa omrĂ„den. För nu lĂ„ter det som att vi mĂ„ste införa ”AI” och eftersom vi ”mĂ„ste” det sĂ„ mĂ„ste alla ocksĂ„ bli riskhanteringsspecialister. Det Ă€r smĂ„tt skrĂ€mmande. I stĂ€llet för att de stora riskerna i sig tolkas som skĂ€l att avstĂ„. Och alltid Ă€r det vĂ„rden som ”AI” ska hjĂ€lpa först. Vad kan gĂ„ fel?

SĂ€kert skulle jag kunna vara mer nyanserad i detta vid en annan tidpunkt pĂ„ dagen sĂ„ jag lovar att lĂ€sa imorgon igen och kritisera mina egna tankar. 😁

Spontant kÀnns det som att man antar alla stÀllningar pÄ en gÄng och Àr rÀdd att avfÀrdas som teknikfientlig. Personligen tycker jag den politiska diskursen mÄste tillbaka till mycket mer starkt vÀrderingsdrivna stÀllningstaganden. Teknik har vi i drivor vare sig vi vill eller inte. MÀnniskosynen mÄste vara sÄ oerhört mycket viktigare att föra fram Àn maskinsynen.

Jag lĂ€mnar er med Kerstin AnĂ©rs text frĂ„n 1972 och rör mig mot sĂ€ngen. 😅
https://pm.axbom.se/dataskuggan/

@iakonkret @terejs @fiaewald @samuel Ja jÀklar vad Akademikerförbundet sa det bra, kan jag ocksÄ bara konstatera nu nÀr jag lÀst.

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

2 Feb 2026, 23:13
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Bluesky

I made this poster in 2023
 and I’m still seeing exactly the same issues.

All the elements of the poster explained here: axbom.com/hammer-ai/

If a hammer was like AI. A poster seemingly dissecting the components of a hammer by having lines to labels describing different parts of an illustration of a hammer.

The labels are:
Obscured Data Theft
Carbon Cost
Invisible Decision-Making
Jerry-Building (Misinformation)
Data / Privacy Breaches
Bias & Injustice
Monoculture & Power Concentraion
Accountability Projection
Moderator Trauma

For a full explanation of each element, visit the linked blog post.

The footer of the poster reads: You can’t own it, but you can subscribe. Perpetually.

🔗 Originally posted on Bluesky

2 Feb 2026, 22:15
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

Jim on The Newsroom: ”I’m not talking about the APPARATUS!”

Damn, I felt that.

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

2 Feb 2026, 20:47
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Bluesky

When people misuse the word literally, they literally don’t.

Literally, it can be used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is *not* literally true or possible.

Meaning there literally is no word for literally. đŸ€Ż

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/l...

Second entry in Merrian-Webster for the word literally:

informal : in effect: VIRTUALLY → used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible 

Example usage:
literally died of embarrassment.
... will literally turn the world upside down to combat cruelty or injustice.. – Norman Cousins.

🔗 Originally posted on Bluesky

1 Feb 2026, 21:59
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

My younger sister recommended The Newsroom to me a week ago and I’m absolutely obsessed. Loving it. And feels ever more relevant, even though it aired 2012-2014.

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

1 Feb 2026, 19:55
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

Everyone thinking they’re setting up an ”AI” assistant and all the while setting up an ”AI” parasite
 consuming both mind and natural resources. 🩠

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

1 Feb 2026, 18:19
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma reply

@pettter The first one I hadn’t heard of. Thanks! Adding it to my list.

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

1 Feb 2026, 10:49
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

Computing power propagates this temptation of abuse: reducing fellow human beings, or even oneself, into what can be counted, weighed and measured.

This omnipresent, invisible threat is the whole reason tech must be governed and regulated to support sustainability and human dignity.

Sadly, government agencies are often wholeheartedly seduced by the temptation of treating humans as constellations of numbers.

And here we are.

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

31 Jan 2026, 21:58
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Bluesky

Computing power propagates this temptation of abuse: reducing fellow human beings, or even oneself, into what can be counted, weighed and measured.

This omnipresent, invisible threat is the whole reason tech must be governed and regulated to support sustainability and human dignity.

🔗 Originally posted on Bluesky

31 Jan 2026, 21:55
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
Per Axbom Akkoma

Chile befinner sig mitt i en torka som förvĂ€ntas vara fram till 2040. SamhĂ€llet Quilicura, i norra delen av Chile, har den högsta koncentrationen av datacenter avsedda för “artificiell intelligens”. Dessa datacenter anvĂ€nder regionens vatten.

Boende i Quilicura vill uppmĂ€rksamma vĂ€rlden pĂ„ hur oseriös anvĂ€ndning av AI-promptar har en direkt effekt pĂ„ deras vattenresurser. SĂ„, för en dag, ber de alla att inte anvĂ€nda “AI”, utan istĂ€llet att anvĂ€nda dem: En grupp lokala Quilicura-invĂ„nare som har gĂ„tt samman för att fungera som er “AI”.

https://video.axbom.se/882942b3-41b3-431a-be73-30a0f3946ba9

🔗 Originally posted on Akkoma

31 Jan 2026, 16:17
Share
LinkedIn Bluesky Email
← Newer Older →
  • Notes by Axbom
  • RSS

© 2026 Notes by Axbom