This Is Also Terrible (Daily Journal 1/6/2026)
I don’t talk very much about the AI litigation I am involved with because it’s never prudent to comment on ongoing litigation, but one thing I have said — both publicly and in depositions — is that I am not “anti-AI” anymore than I am anti steam engine, combustible engine, or nuclear power. Artificial Intelligence isn’t something we can put neatly back into a box and wish it had never been invented. Like the development of those other things, it is here, and we have to learn to live with it incorporated into our world. But I believe there must be societal, legal, and corporate guardrails attached to the technology. In the case of our particular field of work, creators must be given an option whether or not to opt in or out when it comes to the usage of their works, and they need to be offered a fair contract with fair terms and fairly compensated just as they would for the usage of their creations in other forms.
I’d also really like it if companies would give us a choice whether or not we want it baked into their products. Microsoft is the worst at this, so far, with Copilot, an invention I am never ever going to use, but it is built into their latest suite of updates and there is no way to remove it, and it’s sole function — in my experience — is to just slow all the other functions down to the point where Microsoft Word and Outlook have become so janky and glitch-ridden that I’m thinking of abandoning both for the first time since 1997.
Humans have to be given the option to opt out.
Same goes for the collection, storage, and usage of our biometric data.
This is Marty — an in-store robot that our regional chain, Giant, unveiled in all of their supermarkets several years ago. When that first happened, I wondered aloud if Marty could be used to collect data from customers as it rolled up and down the aisles, and the reason I wondered this is because Marty’s only other jobs seemed to be causing traffic jams in aisles, freaking out old people, freaking out small children, and generally getting in everyone’s way.
I never got an answer as to whether or not Marty is spying for the chain, but Wegman’s — a massive chain in America’s Northeast — is now collecting biometric data on shoppers “for their security”. Anyone entering the store could have data on their face, eyes and voices collected and stored by the Rochester-headquartered supermarket chain. The information is used to "protect the safety and security of our patrons and employees," according to the signage. That shit is morally wrong, and we as a society should be able to agree that it is unacceptable. But we won’t agree on that, because in 2026, the powers that be have so successfully divided us and split us into teams and we can’t agree on any goddamned thing. I suspect their will be a backlash against this, and I wish Wegmen’s was a publicly traded company so I could watch their stock price and see if it is impacted by this decision, but they are privately-owned. But I don’t know how much backlash there will be. Whose voices will be louder? Those who can still think independently of the algorithm, or the doe-eyed, slack-jawed zombies pushing their cart with one hand and staring at their phones with the other?
The reason we got the Matrix sequels that we got is because in reality, after that first movie, if Neo had hung up the phone and then woke everyone else up fully 55% of the sleepers would have been mad at him for doing so because they were in the middle of watching something on TikTok.
~
Meanwhile, the long-awaited eighth issue of The Obituaries is here, with me as special guest author!
This paperback book contains all new stories by Brian Keene, Kristopher Triana, Aron Beauregard, and Daniel J. Volpe, with cover art and interior illustrations by Nick Justus. It also features 4 all-new faux obituaries, including one Keene wrote about himself!
Each book comes with a collectible magnet and bookmark! LIMITED to 300 copies. Each book comes SIGNED by Keene, Beauregard, Volpe, and Triana. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
Note: A portion of this issue's sales will go directly to artist Nick Justus to help cover his late mother's funeral expenses. Rest in Peace, Renee W. Smith.
