this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2026
104 points (99.1% liked)

Fuck AI

7102 readers
2429 users here now

"We did it, Patrick! We made a technological breakthrough!"

A place for all those who loathe AI to discuss things, post articles, and ridicule the AI hype. Proud supporter of working people. And proud booer of SXSW 2024.

AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
VerbFlow@lemmy.world
MrMcGasion@lemmy.world
TootSweet@lemmy.world
BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world
cynar@lemmy.world
drmeanfeel@lemmy.world
pavnilschanda@lemmy.world
CriticalMedicine@lemmy.world
WonderfulWanderer@lemmy.world
Communist@lemmy.ml
eatCasserole@lemmy.world
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
NutWrench@lemmy.world
Soup@lemmy.cafe
iAvicenna@lemmy.world
Tinks@lemmy.world
wizblizz@lemmy.world
corus_kt@lemmy.world
Prandom_returns@lemm.ee
TrickDacy@lemmy.world
TheFriar@lemm.ee
HawlSera@lemm.ee
andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works
MeDuViNoX@sh.itjust.works
33550336@lemmy.world
Nougat@fedia.io
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
Quill7513@slrpnk.net
glowing_hans@sopuli.xyz
e8d79@discuss.tchncs.de
ThefuzzyFurryComrade@pawb.social
104
Allbirds was founded with a focus on environmental conservation. Its pivot to AI is leaving that behind. (www.businessinsider.com)
submitted 1 month ago by BlueEther@no.lastname.nz to c/fuck_ai@lemmy.world
7 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Allbirds isn't only pivoting to AI — it's pivoting away from its core environmental principles.

Once dubbed the favorite shoemaker of Silicon Valley, Allbirds announced Wednesday it was transitioning from footwear to AI compute infrastructure and becoming NewBird AI.

The company said it planned to buy GPUs, or powerful chips, and become a GPU-as-a-service company. It's also selling off its footwear assets and its original name, meaning Allbirds-branded shoes could continue to be made, under new ownership.

The company partially answered questions about what that might mean for Allbirds' status as a company committed to ESG — environmental, social, and governance principles — in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The filing said stockholders would vote next month on proposed changes to the company, including removing environmental commitments written into its charter and revoking its status as a public benefit corporation. PBCs are for-profit corporations intended to produce a public benefit and operate responsibly and sustainably.

...

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] basketugly@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

Well, it appears that they acquired their capital as a company focused on a moral cause that people were excited to get behind/support and quality products people wanted to buy. It also appears as though once they achieved the goal of capital acquisition to a certain level (or they saw diminishing returns in the shoe business), they completely shifted their focus towards maximizing shareholder value with their acquired capital, and this would also appear to mean abandoning the customer base that put them there: people who bought the shoes that they sold.

It's an interesting example. It could, in theory, serve as a template: champion a moral cause to secure capital and abandon said cause after reaching the financial goal.

It could also be fair to say that they saw no future in the shoe business and the pivot was out of necessity. I would have to dig deeper, but this is as far as I go today, thanks for your time. Peace.