Notices by Ian Betteridge (ianb@mastodon.well.com)

Never seen an orange snowflake before.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/24/trump-says-all-canada-trade-talks-terminated-over-ad-criticising-tariffs

The “middle” of the labour market — skilled, stable, ordinary work — is vanishing into the gears of automation.

Capitalism’s answer? Pretend it’s innovation.

https://www.ianbetteridge.com/the-politics-of-the-missing-middle/

Ever wondered what happens when Betteridge's Law gets crossed with enshittification?

(with bonus @pluralistic )

https://www.wired.com/story/can-ai-escape-enshittification-trap/

I actually have already touched a trifold phone (the Huawei one) and it's a proper game changer - the long-awaited phone which can fold out to the size of a big tablet.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-17/samsung-to-showcase-its-first-ever-trifold-phone-at-apec-summit

They're cheesy as heck, but I have always loved Apple's “The Underdogs" ads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K4eUO53-UE

I think we know the answer.

In a surprise development, I have outsourced myself to an AI.

Ten Blue Links, “Peter and the whales” edition: https://www.ianbetteridge.com/ten-blue-links-peter-and-the-whales-edition/

It's hard not to reach the conclusion that Rachel Reeves is going to go down in history are one of the worst chancellors of the post-war era. We know where banking deregulation leads. We know where easing mortgage borrowing caps leads: to 2008.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/16/the-guardian-view-on-reevess-trickle-down-economics-deregulation-dressed-as-economic-renewal

Finance hasn't changed. Bankers haven't changed. They still see their job as maximising profits for shareholders through the strategic application of risk – preferably, placing bets they can't lose on. And now they know that the state will foot the bill if they're in trouble.

What's more, trusting in trickle-down economics makes a mockery of Reeves' supposed economic acumen. It's a model that has never worked, not once in history. It's also a model which is counter to the interests of ordinary people in the UK, the people Labour is supposed to represent.

Yes, I seem to remember it was rules and red tape that nearly caused the meltdown of the entire global financial system in 2008. Oh no wait.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/15/rachel-reeves-rules-red-tape-boot-on-neck-innovation-mansion-house

I've written so often over the past couple of years about how Google traffic is basically going to be non-existent soon. My bet was it would take five years (from 2023). But it sounds like it's going to be sooner. Much sooner.

https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/google-ai-news-publishers-7e687141

I feel the need to rule a categorical "no" on this one.

It is difficult to watch Google I/O and not come to the conclusion that AI is basically what Google is all about now, and it's perfectly prepared to slowly strangle its existing cash cows to make that happen.

Some interesting numbers on the decline for clickthrough rates from Google thanks to AI summaries and overviews. It’s basically the apocalypse for publisher revenue.

https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/digital-journalism/google-ai-overviews-leads-to-dramatic-reduction-in-click-throughs-for-mail-online/

Yes, yes it has. @libreoffice is more than good enough.

“IBM won the mainframe wars fair and square by building a better product for business.”

Oh no wait, we’re talking about Google.

https://world.hey.com/dhh/don-t-make-google-sell-chrome-93cefbc6

This is the thing that tech bros never understand: someone can “win” fair and square and, because they have developed a monopoly, still be subject to limitations and divestitures. The point is to ensure that markets remain competitive.

How about claiming back some of the taxes that big tech companies avoid, you steaming pile of horse dung?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/apr/25/starmer-faces-labour-revolt-over-plan-to-raid-bank-accounts-of-benefit-claimants