Podcast: The Xz Backdoor and the AI Peer

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The fascinating Xz backdoor; a looming AI crisis in peer-review; and news around the infamous Lena image. That's all on this week's episode.

This is a super fun episode with a lot of labor themes throughout. Jason starts off by describing the totally wild Xz backdoor which, in a way, was an open source labor issue. Then Emanuel takes us through how AI might be sneaking into the peer-review process. Then in the subscribers-only section, Sam explains why a major journal has decided to stop the use of an infamous image in its papers.

Listen to the weekly podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. There should be a video version on our YouTube channel soon. Become a paid subscriber for access to this episode's bonus content and to power our journalism. If you become a paid subscriber, check your inbox for an email from our podcast host Transistor for a link to the subscribers-only version! You can also add that subscribers feed to your podcast app of choice and never miss an episode that way.

• The Xz Backdoor Highlights the Vulnerability of Open Source Software—and Its Strengths
• ChatGPT Looms Over the Peer-Review Crisis
• Scientific Journal Bans Images of ‘Lena,’ Researchers’ Favorite Centerfold