Welcome to Less Artificial

Hello, and welcome to less artificial!

I’m Max Weinzierl, and this is my new home for sharing thoughts on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and technology—with a focus on the positive potential of these tools.

Why “Less Artificial”?

There’s a lot of doom and gloom in the AI discourse these days. Headlines scream about job losses, existential risks, and the end of creativity as we know it. While these conversations are important, they often overshadow something equally true: AI is a tool, and like any tool, its impact depends on how we choose to use it.

The name “less artificial” captures my philosophy: making intelligence less artificial—more approachable, more human, and more focused on genuine benefit rather than fear.

What to Expect

Our goal in this project is to highlight areas where AI has the unique opportunity to transform humanity for the better.

And by better, we do not mean “better profits for the shareholders.” We mean positive improvements to the actual, material conditions of all.

We will cover:

• Technical deep dives on NLP, machine learning, and AI research—explained for a general audience, not just specialists
• Project showcases demonstrating AI used for good, from data transparency initiatives to helpful day-to-day tools
• Reflections on the intersection of AI and society, informed by my research on misinformation and framing
• Practical insights from my experience consulting with businesses on AI integration

A Bit About Me

I recently completed my Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas, where I researched how controversial issues are framed on social media—particularly around topics like vaccine hesitancy. This work gave me a unique perspective on how AI can be used to understand (and counter) misinformation.

Outside of academia, I’m the founder of AI Escape, where we’re building AI-powered escape room experiences, and AI Escape Consulting, where we help businesses integrate AI in meaningful ways. You can learn more about me here.

The Vision

My goal is simple: to show that AI can be a force for good. Not by ignoring the risks or challenges, but by actively demonstrating what’s possible when we approach these technologies thoughtfully and ethically.

I will not sugarcoat it; AI currently has the potential to significantly negatively impact society. And I do not mean some far-in-the-future possible AI Skynet apocalypse. There are real risks to the mass rollout of AI systems, including misinformation, societal unrest, unemployment, creative encroachment, IP infringement, and more.

But I have also seen firsthand the unique ability for AI to empower governmental transparency, assist those people with disabilities, and enable creative exploration unlike anything before.

Whether you’re a fellow researcher, a curious technologist, or someone who’s just trying to make sense of the AI revolution, I hope you’ll find something valuable here.

Hopefully together, we can make intelligence less artificial. Thanks for reading, and welcome aboard!

— Max