Jason Koebler

Jason Koebler

Jason is a cofounder of 404 Media. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Motherboard. He loves the Freedom of Information Act and surfing.
552 posts
Behind the Blog: Being New and Some Numbers
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Being New and Some Numbers

This week, we discuss going deeper and Google's search changes.
Cities Are Covering Flock Cameras With Trash Bags
Flock

Cities Are Covering Flock Cameras With Trash Bags

Regretful cities aren't sure how to cancel their surveillance contracts, so they are literally covering their cameras.
‘Lobotomized’: Character.AI Is Showing What AI Enshittification Looks Like
AI

‘Lobotomized’: Character.AI Is Showing What AI Enshittification Looks Like

Ads everywhere. Usage limits. Frustrating guardrails. Less model choice. Users of the Character.AI chatbot app are revolting after a series of changes they say have made the app worse.
Behind the Blog: The Attention Wars
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: The Attention Wars

This week, we discuss Spencer Pratt, bricking phones, and the FTC.
After Town Bans Flock, Councilmember Crashes Out, Proposes Internet and Phone Ban
Flock

After Town Bans Flock, Councilmember Crashes Out, Proposes Internet and Phone Ban

A Texas councilmember will propose “a total ban on all cellular and GPS-capable devices for all operations within city limits" and"a total termination of all internet services."
Behind the Blog: New Music and a Crash Out
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: New Music and a Crash Out

This week, we discuss developers' AI woes, how the magic happens, and the Beach Boys.
Internet of Shit: AI Poop Analysis App Offered to Sell Me Database of Its Users' Poops
AI

Internet of Shit: AI Poop Analysis App Offered to Sell Me Database of Its Users' Poops

"I hoarded a large database of something valuable, just not what you expect… 150k stools images."
At Least We Know the Washington Post Isn't Buying Views
Washington Post

At Least We Know the Washington Post Isn't Buying Views

Jeff Bezos learns being good at YouTube is not so easy.
Your AI Use Is Breaking My Brain
AI

Your AI Use Is Breaking My Brain

AI writing is impossible to avoid, is making everything sound the same, and is driving us crazy.
Behind the Blog: Storage Woes and RSS
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Storage Woes and RSS

This week, we discuss storage, RSS, and a big reporting project.
'The Biggest Student Data Privacy Disaster in History': Canvas Hack Shows the Danger of Centralized EdTech
Canvas Hack

'The Biggest Student Data Privacy Disaster in History': Canvas Hack Shows the Danger of Centralized EdTech

Messages could include "medical circumstances, accessibility accommodations, disputes, sexual assault allegations," and more.
The AI Hard Drive Shortage Is Making It More Expensive and Harder to Archive the Internet
AI

The AI Hard Drive Shortage Is Making It More Expensive and Harder to Archive the Internet

The Internet Archive, Wikimedia, academics, and hobby archivists are having trouble finding hard drives or are having to pay extremely high prices for them.