You've just been fucked by psyops [video] (media.ccc.de)

Article summary

The article discusses a talk by Trevor Paglen about the history of military and government PSYOPS involving mind-control, UFOs, magic, and remote-control zombies, and how this history explains the future of AI and generative media. The talk also explores the concept of PSYOP Capitalism, where AI-generated content and social media influence operations are used to manipulate perception. A game called CYCLOPS is mentioned, which explores the themes of mind-control and PSYOPS through an interactive narrative. The talk was given at an event called Congress and a video of the talk is available for download.

Main themes

• PSYOP Capitalism
• AI and generative media
• mind control and manipulation
• government secrecy and surveillance
• propaganda and disinformation
• freedom of speech and autonomy

What commenters say

• Some commenters found the talk interesting but wished it was longer and more in-depth, and requested recommendations for further reading and viewing.
• The lack of a transcript for the talk was noted, with some commenters suggesting using automated transcription services to create one.
• There is a debate about the openness of AI models, with some arguing that they are not truly open source because the training data is not available.
• The concept of PSYOP Capitalism is seen as a significant threat to individual freedom and autonomy, with some commenters drawing parallels with other forms of propaganda and manipulation.
• Some commenters noted that the idea of PSYOPs is not new and has been used by governments and other organizations for decades, and that the term 'conspiracy theory' is often used to dismiss legitimate concerns about these activities.
• There is a discussion about the difference between living in a democratic society and living under an authoritarian regime, with some commenters highlighting the importance of freedom of speech and the ability to criticize those in power.
• The role of Russia and other countries in spreading disinformation and engaging in PSYOPs is also discussed, with some commenters arguing that this is a real and significant threat, while others are more skeptical.
• The idea that people in democratic societies are immune to propaganda is challenged, with some commenters suggesting that this is not the case and that people should be more aware of the potential for manipulation.