The Ludditetheluddite
Jun 5, 2026, 5:02 PMLongshot, but looking to connect to someone who took Eng 101 at Arizona State University in Spring or Fall of 2020 who received the following email (or one like it). Boosts greatly appreciated.
Replies
kiwikiwi@kolektiva.socialJun 5, 2026, 5:12 PM@theluddite oh my Lord
- The LudditetheludditeJun 5, 2026, 5:16 PM
@kiwi Ha! Yes, if you know what replika is, that is the only appropriate response. If not, it's just a run-of-the-mill stupid thing.
- kiwikiwi@kolektiva.socialJun 5, 2026, 5:28 PM
@theluddite like,, I guess their ed tech prototype failed so,,,,,,,,,,, they turned it into a sex bot, normal country, normal industry
- The LudditetheludditeJun 5, 2026, 5:40 PM
@kiwi It was already a sex bot at the time, not that participants would've known from this email!
- kiwikiwi@kolektiva.socialJun 5, 2026, 9:14 PM
@theluddite oh SHIT WHAT
- The LudditetheludditeJun 5, 2026, 9:27 PM
@kiwi It is pretty bad. I've been following this mess for 2 years now. Here's the most recent development: https://theluddite.org/post/replika-update.html
I'm currently working on part 2, hence this thread, but it's probably going to take me a very long time!
- kiwikiwi@kolektiva.socialJun 5, 2026, 9:51 PM
@theluddite I'm SCREAMING at this, yes I'd specifically like my sex bot to murder me for being a rapist prison guard please
- The LudditetheludditeJun 5, 2026, 10:00 PM
@kiwi what keeps me coming back to this is how fucking dumb it is. The corruption is so blatant. The research is so shoddy. The lead author is such an obvious grifter. The app itself is even indistinguishable from parody.
Then, just as I start to think it's funny, I remember that the study's author is just out there spouting complete bullshit about the actual tragic death of an actual child, while also treated as an expert by NYT and philanthropies. Just awful shit all around.
- kiwikiwi@kolektiva.socialJun 5, 2026, 10:09 PM
@theluddite yes I was just struck by the thought, reading that section, that because these chat bots "know" everything that was ever published online (by the Reddit pervs among others), kids can't consensually have intimate relationships with them this shit should have been illegal for under 18s from jump (I know age verification is impossible/more invasive biometric surveillance, alternatively I am also open to the guillotine)
- The LudditetheludditeJun 6, 2026, 12:16 PM
@kiwi agreed. It's a genuinely difficult question that I dont know how to solve. Meanwhile, these companies have instead done the exact opposite of trying to solve it and seemingly want to make it as bad as possible!
Bastian Greshake Tzovarasgedankenstuecke@scholar.socialJun 6, 2026, 12:15 AM@theluddite I know some folks at ASU I can reach out to. I'll try to remember to do that tomorrow!
- The LudditetheludditeJun 6, 2026, 12:14 PM
@gedankenstuecke amazing! Thank you!
- Bastian Greshake Tzovarasgedankenstuecke@scholar.socialJun 6, 2026, 2:40 PM
@theluddite done, will keep you posted!
Karen E. Lund 💙💛Karen5Lund@mastodon.socialJun 6, 2026, 5:10 PM@theluddite Your posts specifically reads 2020. That's six years ago. Surely anyone who took a course back then has graduated (or possibly dropped out) by now? Grades are set in stone, diplomas awarded; your grade cannot be changed or any other actions taken against you.
- The LudditetheludditeJun 6, 2026, 5:17 PM
@Karen5Lund Not sure what you mean? Yes, presumably they'll have graduated! I am looking for more information about the study conducted in 2020 and its authors as part of an investigative project. No interest in people's grades or experience with the class in general, just the study that happened to recruit from this particular class.
