In this Noēma essay, Laura J. Martin, an environmental studies professor, examines how the internet has transformed from a place we once visited during dial-up days into an environment we always inhabit—seeping into our most private spaces like the bathroom. Martin argues that in the age of AI, we mistakenly treat intelligence as disembodied and placeless, when in fact it is environmental and physical. Her call to action? Think beyond screen time, and start restricting screen space.
“brb” once acknowledged departure and faith in return. It reminded us of the body behind the screen. Now, we are infinitely available, and AI is sold to us as the tireless and needless assistant. But our bodies continue to live in the world with stubborn persistence, despite Silicon Valley’s dream of the immortal avatar, the ability to upload our essence into a durable machine, which is a dream of escaping death and environment alike.
More picks about the internet
The Long Now of the Web: Inside the Internet Archive’s Fight Against Forgetting
“A comprehensive engineering and operational analysis of the Internet Archive.”
What US Tech Did to Ireland
“The country is alarmingly reliant on Meta, Google and Apple.”
My First Months in Cyberspace
“The earlier internet was a haven, everyone making it up as they went along.”
Extremely Offline: What Happened When a Pacific Island Was Cut Off From the Internet
“A colossal volcanic eruption in January 2022 ripped apart the underwater cables that connect Tonga to the world – and exposed the fragility of 21st-century life.”
Tim Berners-Lee Invented the World Wide Web. Now He Wants to Save It
“In 1989, Sir Tim revolutionized the online world. Today, in the era of misinformation, addictive algorithms, and extractive monopolies, he thinks he can do it again.”
Syria’s Quest to Build Its Own Silicon Valley
“Tech founders in Damascus are rebooting a war-torn country.”
