Journalist at TheRipCurrent.com covering AI, surveillance, disinformation, platforms, the whole shebang. My book "The Loop" about AI mania is out in paperback. Former NBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, PBS.https://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mlmsrdp6jy24Ilya Sutskever, under oath: the systems his company Safe Superintelligence is racing to build "don't exist" and nobody knows how to build them. Here’s why that makes all the difference in the Musk v Altman case. TheRipCurrent.com12 May 2026 03:08 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlmsrdp6jy24https://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mlecr2bmmb24Prediction markets were sold as democracy's crystal ball. But strip away the hype and you find the same old story: insiders with better information taking money from people who think they're playing a fair game. https://www.theripcurrent.com/p/prediction-markets-were-supposed08 May 2026 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlecr2bmmb24https://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mkzywc34na2zI have the job, but as anyone in this business can tell you you don’t really have the job until you’ve met the people. #cnn #ripcurrent #journalism Full episodes and analysis → YT04 May 2026 15:38 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzywc34na2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mknogzfol22yI have one of 30 public seats inside the courtroom for Musk v Altman. After a break — in which I washed my hands next to Sam Altman, I love courthouses — we’re back, with Musk on the stand being cross-examined by OpenAI’s lawyer.29 Apr 2026 17:58 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknogzfol22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mknge7d3yc2jDay 2 of Musk's testimony, and he's on the stand. I got here at 5:30am to join the line of reporters in the dark, and am seated in the courtroom. Here's what's happening...29 Apr 2026 15:34 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknge7d3yc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mknd6vfvf42gYesterday Musk told the jury he thought of OpenAI, named it, hired the first people. Today he gets cross-examined. Meanwhile the journalists are being very polite and orderly. Good job everyone. #musk #samaltman #openai #ripcurrent Full episodes and analysis → YT29 Apr 2026 14:37 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknd6vfvf42ghttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mkbh2cpkft2sA U.S. Army Special Forces soldier just got criminally charged for using classified military intelligence to place $409,881 in bets on Polymarket. This is the first-ever criminal prosecution for insider trading on a prediction market. https://www.theripcurrent.com/p/prediction-markets-were-supposed24 Apr 2026 21:14 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkbh2cpkft2shttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mjikfpnje72eThe secret to finding good lunch and quick vibes in an unfamiliar city. This has worked for me in Vegas, Detroit, Tulsa, Dallas, and dozens of other new places, and today it paid off again in Omaha. #citylife #urbanexplorer #shoppinghacks #travelhack #ripcurrent Full episodes and analysis → YT14 Apr 2026 23:38 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjikfpnje72ehttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mimcg22ulr27The deepfake era isn't just about technology — it's about who gets legal protection and who doesn't. Famous actors can trademark their likeness. Unknown performers have zero rights. Classic Hollywood power play dressed up as innovation. https://www.theripcurrent.com/p/the-dead-and-the-famous03 Apr 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mimcg22ulr27https://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mimcfxit4n2mThe pattern is predictable: new technology emerges, industry promises self-regulation, then lobbies for laws that look like oversight but preserve the status quo. We're watching it happen with AI in real time.03 Apr 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mimcfxit4n2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3micakbh5z42vDHS runs 238 AI surveillance programs with almost zero oversight. Facial recognition on every agent's phone. Predictive policing from your 911 calls. This is the architecture of the surveillance state, built in plain sight. https://theripcurrent.substack.com/p/the-ai-surveillance-shopping-spree30 Mar 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3micakbh5z42vhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mhvobaqp4726The AI resurrection debate misses the real issue: McConaughey can trademark his voice and likeness. Background actors can't. This isn't about technology — it's about who gets to own themselves in the digital age. https://www.theripcurrent.com/p/the-dead-and-the-famous25 Mar 2026 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvobaqp4726https://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mhvob67peq2mDavid Sacks went from crypto venture capitalist to White House AI czar in record time. Today's framework reads like his wish list — preempting state laws before they could bite. https://www.theripcurrent.com/p/the-ai-industry-got-what-it-wanted25 Mar 2026 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvob67peq2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mhlmeopi3c2wThe real story isn't the hack — it's that DHS operates 238 AI surveillance programs with virtually no oversight. Congress has been asleep while an entire digital panopticon got built with taxpayer money. https://theripcurrent.substack.com/p/the-ai-surveillance-shopping-spree21 Mar 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhlmeopi3c2whttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mgxo25h6wm23It’s creators and brands and media and impact and earned media and core competencies and thrashgrass and brisket and alcoholism and… #sxsw #austin #ripcurrent Full episodes and analysis → YT13 Mar 2026 19:37 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgxo25h6wm23https://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mgw3oh4mgv2rBut no really I’m not that guy. Not yet. #sxsw #austin #ripcurrent Full episodes and analysis → YT13 Mar 2026 04:36 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgw3oh4mgv2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mgvrlgtyoo2zCome say hi at The Belmont (which turns out not to be a hotel, my bad, but it doesn’t change anything) in Austin for SXSW this weekend. I’ll be there midmorning to midafternoon. Come talk surveillance, AI war, and corporate accountability with me! #sxsw #ripcurrent #austin Full episodes and13 Mar 2026 01:35 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgvrlgtyoo2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mgtb6muqxk2pThe majority of adults want to slow down AI development, even if it means falling behind other countries. But it doesn't matter to the White House, it seems, nor to the folks making the money off it. #AI #Technology #Future #Debate #ripcurrent Full episodes and analysis → YT12 Mar 2026 01:36 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgtb6muqxk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mgstqhltfd24If you're going to be in Austin for SXSW and you want to talk about surveillance tech, AI weapons, or corporate power — I'm holding what I'm calling The Lobby at The Belmont Hotel, March 13 through 15. Walk up, or book a 30-minute slot at jacobward.com/sxsw2026. Come find me. #SXSW2026 #SXSW11 Mar 2026 21:36 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgstqhltfd24https://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mgpf2jdj4x2aDecisions shaping our lives are made by unseen people, using unknown tools, in closed rooms. Let's go, democracy. #ripcurrent #FutureTech #Transparency #Democracy #TechPolicy Full episodes and analysis → YT10 Mar 2026 12:35 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgpf2jdj4x2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mgp6fi3dhh2pPentagon's Jetson tech spots individuals 200m away using infrared laser to read unique cardiac signatures. Heartbeat ID is more stable than facial recognition. #Tech #Innovation #FutureTech #Biometrics #ripcurrent Full episodes and analysis → YT10 Mar 2026 10:36 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgp6fi3dhh2phttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mgoqxxcqz62zNo wonder the Pentagon is buzzing about wanting no guardrails! WiFi sees through walls, lasers read heartbeats, cameras know you by your walk. It's all here, right now. #Pentagon #Tech #Innovation #FutureTech #ripcurrent Full episodes and analysis → YT10 Mar 2026 06:36 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgoqxxcqz62zhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mgbkic5uru2zI'm going to SXSW and I'm not doing panels. I'm doing The Lobby — a daily open hangout March 13-15 at The Belmont in Austin where anyone can show up and have a real conversation about surveillance, corporate power, and AI weapons. No badge. No ticket. Just come find me. jacobward.com/sxsw2026🎙️05 Mar 2026 00:35 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgbkic5uru2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mg72kwh6fq2wIsrael built AI targeting systems in Gaza — approved kills in 20 seconds, 10% error rate accepted. Now those same systems are running over Iran and being exported all over the world. I’m calling this “lethal beta,” and there’s an arms industry IPO-ing off the back of it. Full breakdown at04 Mar 2026 00:45 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg72kwh6fq2whttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mfzp2wtie52hI don’t want to trigger the designers here, but this is the phrase that has always worked for me. #collaboration #creative #relationships #ripcurrent Full episodes and analysis → YT01 Mar 2026 21:36 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfzp2wtie52hhttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mfvcdzyww72aThe President banned an AI company from the entire government because it wouldn't let the Pentagon use it for mass surveillance. But Anthropic walked into this. They partnered with Palantir to get into classified systems. They took the $200M contract. And now every other AI company has to decide if28 Feb 2026 03:37 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfvcdzyww72ahttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mfs4q6hn6c24The Pentagon just tried to bully an AI company into removing its safety guardrails. So I looked into what those guardrails are actually holding back. Seven real, documented, sourced AI capabilities that most people have no idea exist yet. The full piece is for paid subscribers. TheRipCurrent.com26 Feb 2026 21:19 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfs4q6hn6c24https://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mfcylmlea22oAfter a week like this one, it felt like the right time to announce: The Rip Current is going paid. Here's what that means. https://open.substack.com/pub/theripcurrent/p/big-news-the-rip-current-is-changing?r=i3x5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true20 Feb 2026 20:55 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfcylmlea22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mdwu2vikba2aIn 1964, Nikolai Kardashev thought he'd discovered alien life. What he actually found changed how we think about humanity's place in the universe — and makes clear that we're wasting our one shot at existence. The closest potentially habitable planet is 200,000 years away. We're already living on03 Feb 2026 07:37 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdwu2vikba2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/byjacobward.bsky.social/post/3mdjqzjgp3y2aDon’t believe the hype. NO TWO HUMANS CAN AGREE on shared values. #ai #artificialintelligence #ethics #ripcurrent #tech Full episodes and analysis → YT29 Jan 2026 02:38 +0000at://did:plc:usloecick2o56sui4orei4ak/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdjqzjgp3y2a