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Guest Talk with Simone Cicero | Perspectives on the Platforms vs Protocols Debate: A Reality Check

Talk Simone Cicero

Simone Cicero addresses the polarized platforms-versus-protocols debate, arguing for a more nuanced conversation beyond the 'platforms are evil' tribal discourse. Drawing on 15+ years of experience with open-source models and platform design, Cicero explores the complex relationship between platforms and protocols rather than presenting final answers, grounding the discussion in real consulting work and organizational design practice.

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Renee DiResta discusses human behavior in the digital built environment, arguing that the internet is no longer a wild space but rather a constructed ecosystem where users adapt their behaviors—similar to how animals adapt to urban environments. DiResta draws on her decade-plus of research studying digital manipulation tactics, algorithmic amplification, and coordinated networks (exemplified by her work on anti-vaccine movements) to frame online phenomena as products of designed systems rather than natural behavior.

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Guest Talk with Alex Komoroske | Gardening Platforms

Alex Komoroske, a veteran tech industry leader known for his work on Chrome's web platform team, discusses gardening platforms—applying horticultural metaphors and coordination principles to platform design and governance. Drawing on his experience navigating large-scale organizational coordination challenges, Komoroske explores how platforms can be cultivated and managed as living ecosystems rather than rigid systems.

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Guest Talk with Daniel Bashir | A Survey of AI for the Protocol-Minded

Daniel Bashir, a machine learning engineer at AWS and host of the Gradient podcast, surveys the intersection of AI and protocols across multiple levels—from funding to ML engineering to research to regulation. He aims to introduce key technologies, conversations, and debates in AI while identifying current protocols that can be understood through a protocol-mindset lens.

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