Rumors of a Singularity Have Been Grossly Exaggerated, 2026.08.03

In the wake of OpenAI's announcement that its products caused a "cyber incident," Sam Altman is now claiming that we're already in the Singularity. And some media outlets are only too happy to help him advance that narrative! Alex and Emily tear up the AI boosters' latest claims of mathy maths combusting into consciousness. References: Business Insider: "Sam Altman says we are in the singularity: 'This is the moment'"Also referenced: Altman on the Relentless podcast Wall Street Journal: "How the Futuristic Hack by Rogue OpenAI Models Unfolded"Also referenced: OpenAI and Anthropic press releases MacAskill op ed in the Guardian: "Could AI be conscious?"Also referenced: Emily's Bluesky thread Fresh AI Hell: Google kills AlphaFold "Former executive accuses Mayo of cutting corners on AI research" Amazon wants to use Twitch streams to train gen AI "Meta used AI to target workers with medical conditions for layoffs, lawsuit claims" Meta contaminates water in Cheyenne "Humanoid robot teaching assistant" AI companies buying and destroying antique books Palate cleanser: Mathematicians clap back Check out future streams on Twitch. Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see. Find our book The AI Con here, and MAIHT3k merch here. Subscribe to our newsletter via Buttondown. Follow us! Emily Bluesky: emilymbender.bsky.social Mastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBender Alex Bluesky: alexhanna.bsky.social Mastodon: dair-community.social/@alex Twitter: @alexhanna Music by Toby Menon. Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park.  Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.