A few terms I use throughout this site and my articles, defined as I mean them.
Agentic AI
AI systems capable of interacting directly with an operating system, writing files, modifying configurations and executing scripts, to perform tasks autonomously.
Airgap
A security measure that ensures a computer or network is physically isolated from unsecured networks, such as the public internet.
Cognitive Autonomy
The ability to direct your own focus and form independent thoughts without the constant, subconscious influence of external digital stimuli.
Cognitive Scaffolding
The use of AI-generated frameworks or simplified explanations to bridge the gap between a learner's current knowledge and a complex new concept, allowing for incremental mastery.
Digital Serfdom
The condition of paying for digital hosting and tools while remaining dependent on algorithmic authorities that can render one's presence invisible at will.
Knowledge Sovereignty
Owning the tools, hardware, and data required to maintain your own knowledge base, independent of corporate providers.
Local AI / Inferencing
Running artificial intelligence models on your own physical hardware rather than via a corporate cloud service.
OnionChat
A private communication tool built into the OnionShare bundle. It provides a secure, direct channel for messaging on the Darknet, stripping away the algorithms, feeds, and metrics of commercial social networks.
OnionShare
A tool for anonymous, direct file sharing and hosting over the Tor network, facilitating private communication without intermediaries.
Sovereign Infrastructure
The practice of using personally owned hardware, local software, and independent networks to ensure your digital existence is not dependent on third-party providers.
Symbiotic Intelligence
A collaborative relationship between human cognition and local AI, where the machine expands the user's intellectual capacity without compromising their autonomy or privacy.
The Attention Economy
A business model that treats human attention as a commodity, using psychological manipulation and algorithmic feedback loops to maximize engagement and profit.
The Darknet
A decentralized layer of the internet that prioritizes privacy and anonymity, allowing for communication and information exchange outside the reach of mainstream surveillance.
The Exit Protocol
A working blueprint for reclaiming cognitive sovereignty by intentionally reducing dependency on extractive digital platforms and replacing them with locally controlled tools.
The Machine
A shorthand for the collective architecture of surveillance capitalism and algorithmic control that monitors and directs human behavior.
Things That Do Not Scale
The essential human experiences, such as deep thought, genuine connection, and manual creation, that cannot be efficiently digitized, monetized, or optimized by algorithms.
Zero-Click Search
The process where a search engine synthesizes information into a final answer on the results page, eliminating the need for the user to visit the original source website.