20 Mar 2026
1h 0m

‘A.I.-Washing’ Layoffs? + Why L.L.M.s Can’t Write Well + Tokenmaxxing

Podcast cover

Hard Fork

Tech layoffs and the impact of AI on the labor market are examined, with Atlassian, Block, and Meta as case studies. The conversation explores whether AI is genuinely driving layoffs or if companies are "AI washing" to appease investors. Jasmine Sun, a freelance journalist, joins to discuss why AI models struggle with creative writing, noting that post-training processes prioritize helpfulness over originality. The discussion covers the use of human feedback in AI training and the challenges of evaluating creative content. Finally, the hosts analyze the trend of tech companies using token leaderboards to track AI usage among employees, questioning whether this incentivizes productivity or wasteful spending.

Outlines

Part 1: AI, Copyright, and Artist Rights

Part 2: Tech Layoffs and AI Strategy

Part 3: The Limits of AI Creativity

Part 4: Human-AI Collaboration in Writing

Part 5: Tokenmaxxing and Productivity Metrics

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