TechEquity

Next week! Join us on Feb 17 as D&S's Anuli Akanegbu, GA State Senator Nikki Merritt, @techequity.bsky.social's @tnewmsblues.bsky.social, & Bard Professor @threatstovalidity.bsky.social discuss what the AI literacy trap is doing to workers, w @serena124.bsky.social. datasociety.net/events/404-j...

That's it for this week. Leave your #TopFive in the comments, and follow us for more news about tech's impact on the economy.

No Company Has Admitted to Replacing Workers With AI in New York New York state has required companies to disclose if “technological innovation or automation” was the cause of job loss for nearly a year. So far, none has.

5) In accordance with state law, companies in New York must mark if tech, such as AI, is a reason for a mass layoff. Of the 160 companies that have filed since March, none of them have checked that box. @wired.com @peard33.bsky.social

www.wired.com/story/no-com...

It Turns Out That When Waymos Are Stumped, They Get Intervention From Workers in the Philippines During a Congressional hearing, Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, was grilled over the company's reliance on overseas workers.

4) Speaking of, Waymo’s chief safety officer admitted that their “autonomous” vehicles are assisted by workers in the Philippines. This comes after a Waymo hit a child in Santa Monica, adding to a list of pets and humans harmed by the vehicles. @futurism.com

futurism.com/advanced-tra...

Exclusive | OpenAI Executive Who Opposed ‘Adult Mode’ Fired for Sexual Discrimination Ryan Beiermeister, who served as the vice president leading OpenAI’s product policy team, had raised concerns about the upcoming launch of erotic content.

3) OpenAI recently fired an executive who opposed its soon-to-be-released “adult mode,” and started testing ads; it seems the nonprofit mission is no longer in the driver's seat. @wsj.com @georgiawells.bsky.social @samschechner.com

www.wsj.com/tech/ai/open...

One of California's first labor fights over AI is playing out at Kaiser From anxiety about job loss to data privacy, mental health workers, lawmakers and labor unions are trying to mitigate AI's risks as healthcare providers double down on the technology.

2) Workers like those at Kaiser are stepping up to protect themselves from job losses and all of us from the harms of companies using AI. @latimes.com

www.latimes.com/business/sto...

With Ring, American Consumers Built a Surveillance Dragnet Ring's 'Search Party' is dystopian surveillance accelerationism.

Because, amidst all of that, they will maybe find your dog. @404media.co @jasonkoebler.bsky.social

www.404media.co/with-ring-am...

Super Bowl ads want you to stop worrying and learn to love AI | CNN Business If there was an overriding message throughout the Super Bowl ads last night, it’s that artificial intelligence is your friend.

1) Super Bowl ads promoting AI tools want you to stop worrying about worse workplace conditions, the costs of AI data centers, medical misinformation, and mass surveillance. @cnn.com

www.cnn.com/2026/02/09/t...

It's Friday, which means it's time for the #TopFive things you need to read this week to understand tech’s impact on our economy with TechEquity Founder and CEO @catherinebracy.com:

Voters Say Housing Prices Are Too High. Trump Wants Them Higher.

Wait, so does President Trump want to make housing more affordable or drive up housing prices?

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...

Catherine Bracy's year in books 2025 - TechEquity Collaborative These are 5 of the books that most influenced the thinking of TechEquity CEO and author of "World Eaters," Catherine Bracy, this year.

Get Catherine’s other book recommendations from 2025: techequity.us/2025/12/16/c...

He emphasizes that our economy did not just “happen”. It has been shaped by everything from geopolitical issues to personal agendas.

If you’ve ever wondered why the economy feels rigged or why certain industries seem untouchable, this book outlines the historical backbone for why that came to be.

Who knew a book about the history of the Federal Reserve could be so gripping?

TechEquity CEO and author of “World Eaters,” @catherinebracy.com found “Marketcrafters” by Chris Hughes to be an unapologetic argument for using the power of the federal government to craft the economy we want to see.

Steps towards a healthier economy - a letter to the California Law Revision Commission - TechEquity Collaborative The California Law Revision Commission has concluded its study of antitrust law and now has policy recs to create a healthier economy.

Towards the end of the CLRC’s study process, we submitted a letter alongside other California organizations applauding the CLRC for its tentative recommendations.

Check it out to find out what exactly we’re excited about: techequity.us/2026/02/03/p...

That’s why we’re excited that the California Law Revision Commission (CLRC)—an agency that’s been shaping California law for more than 70 years—has concluded its extensive study of California antitrust law and now has tentative recommendations for lawmakers.

How are we supposed to find cheaper groceries if most of the apples come from farms owned by the same company?

How are we supposed to find better jobs if so many companies are actually owned by the same people?

5 stories of how the use of AI is impacting everyday life - TechEquity Collaborative To underline the need for change and help you understand when AI might impact you, we rounded up five stories where AI was involved in harm.

This is one of many stories about how the use of AI is impacting people’s lives.

Check out our latest blog to learn more: techequity.us/2026/01/21/5...

So why did they reject her?

An AI-powered tenant screening tool assigned her a score of 324; she needed to get at least a 443 to qualify. Mary was left to rent a more expensive apartment where the management didn’t use an algorithmic tenant screening tool.

In 2021, a property management company rejected Mary’s housing application.

She admittedly didn’t have the best credit score, but she had a great rec from her landlord of 17 years, who said that she always paid her rent on time, and a housing voucher that would guarantee some rent to the landlord.

An AI Toy Exposed 50,000 Logs of Its Chats With Kids to Anyone With a Gmail Account AI chat toy company Bondu left its web console almost entirely unprotected. Researchers who accessed it found nearly all the conversations children had with the company’s stuffed animals.

If a child in your life has an AI-powered toy, their chat logs with said toy may have been exposed to anyone with a Gmail account.

www.wired.com/story/an-ai-...

2025 in review: A letter from Catherine Bracy - TechEquity Collaborative How we pushed back against Big Tech in 2025—from California's pricing algorithm law to exposing AI exploitation.

In her annual letter, our Founder and CEO @catherinebracy.com discusses how we tackled these issues in 2025 and previews our plans for 2026.

Check it out: techequity.us/2026/01/27/2...

Meanwhile, tech CEOs gained unprecedented access to the White House, blurring the lines between corporate power and government policy.

YouTube video by TechEquity Tech's influence became impossible to ignore in 2025

2025 was the year technology's influence became impossible to ignore.

As algorithms are used to decide who can rent an apartment, what prices we pay, and whether we keep our jobs, tech's reach expanded into nearly every corner of our economy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3m5...

Tech, Financial Firms Sign On to Build Medicaid Work Requirement The Trump administration announced its partnership with more than 15 technology, health, and financial services companies to implement its new Medicaid work requirement.

Prominent tech and financial firms are signing on to build out the new work requirement from Medicaid. Nevermind that an attempt to do this in Arkansas in 2018 resulted in 18,000 people losing coverage, largely due to systemic errors.

news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-a...

Landlords adore AI. After all, the math is simple:

Black-box tenant scores + unexplained rejections + higher rents = more money in their pockets.

Whether they box you out or box you in, they can always send you packing.

We’re heading to UC Davis this Thursday, 11am-3pm, to find out what students know and what they think about the state of AI and AI regulation. Every person interviewed on-camera gets a $10 gift card.

Message us for more details!

What do you know about how AI is impacting everyday life?

Do you have a sense of what’s being done to prevent the negative impacts and promote the positive?

5 stories of how the use of AI is impacting everyday life - TechEquity Collaborative To underline the need for change and help you understand when AI might impact you, we rounded up five stories where AI was involved in harm.

This is one of many stories about how the AI economy is impacting people’s lives.

Learn more: techequity.us/2026/01/21/5...

AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.

An AI data center an hour away requires massive amounts of power, and a @bloomberg.com analysis suggests that this is likely driving up energy prices for people living near data centers across the country.

www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

@dinabass.bsky.social @naurtorious.bsky.social

Kevin Stanley is a 57-year-old man living on disability in Baltimore. His energy bills have increased by about 80% over the past three years, putting pressure on his pocket.

Why is this happening?