First Seen
2026-03-20T04:47:19+00:00
simple-description (qwen3.5_2b-q8_0)
This is a humorous post from an intelligence researcher named Klaas, who leads a startup called ForgeBit known for creating embeddings for Large Language Models. He explains that they replaced their standard "loading... dots" animation with animated text resembling "thinking," suggesting a shift toward autonomy where their AI agents start acting rather than just waiting for human input.
detailed-analysis (gemma3_27b-it-q8_0)
Okay, let's break down this meme from an Artificial Intelligence (AI) perspective, weaving in the requested theoretical frameworks where applicable.
Meme Breakdown: "I changed all our 'loading...' states to 'thinking...' We are an agentic AI startup now."
Visual Description:
The meme is a screenshot of a tweet from a verified user (@forgebitz, Klaas), showing a headshot and the text of the tweet. It's minimalist - the impact comes entirely from the words. The headshot suggests a confident, perhaps slightly wry, figure.
Foucauldian Genealogical Discourse Analysis:
This meme is deeply tied to how we talk about AI, and how that discourse has shifted. Michel Foucault's work looks at how knowledge/power are inextricably linked, and how “truths” are constructed through historical discourses.
- The Shift in Terminology: The change from "loading..." to "thinking..." isn't a functional change, but a linguistic one. Previously, AI systems were presented as performing a task (loading, processing) – a mechanical activity. "Thinking" imbues the system with an attribute usually reserved for conscious beings.
- Discursive Power: This signals a deliberate attempt to reposition the startup within a new, powerful discourse: the discourse of agency. "Agency" suggests autonomy, intentionality, and capacity for independent action. By adopting this language, the startup seeks to align itself with the most cutting-edge, ambitious (and hype-filled) areas of AI research.
- Genealogy of "Agency": Tracing the historical "genealogy" of the term "agency" in AI, we see a move from earlier, more cautious language about automation and pattern recognition to current pronouncements about Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and its potential for independent problem-solving. This change isn’t a natural progression; it’s a constructed narrative. The startup wants to be seen as part of that emergent narrative.
Critical Theory:
Critical theory examines how power structures are maintained and perpetuated. This meme reveals several aspects of this within the AI landscape.
- Commodification of Intelligence: The meme illustrates the attempt to commodify intelligence itself. By branding their software as "thinking", the startup is increasing its value, capitalizing on the public fascination (and anxieties) surrounding AI’s potential. This is akin to selling "consciousness" or "autonomy" as a product.
- Ideology & The Black Box: A core tenet of critical theory involves challenging dominant ideologies. The startup is operating within the ideology that AI development is inherently progressive and beneficial. The “thinking” language masks the complex (often opaque) internal workings of the AI – the “black box.” It bypasses critical questions about the biases embedded in the data and algorithms that drive the “thinking” process.
- Instrumental Reason: This meme is evidence of the application of instrumental reason. The sole goal is to make the product more appealing for investors, without regards to the ethical and practical implications of presenting AI as ‘thinking’ when it is not.
Postmodernism:
Postmodernism challenges grand narratives and embraces the subjective and constructed nature of reality.
- Simulation and Hyperreality: The meme plays on the idea that presentation can become reality. The AI isn’t genuinely thinking, but by labeling it as such, the startup creates a simulation of thinking. In Jean Baudrillard's terms, this could contribute to a "hyperreality," where the representation of thinking overshadows the actual underlying processes.
- Deconstruction of Meaning: The meme deconstructs the everyday meaning of “loading…” and “thinking”. It's a playful recognition that meaning isn’t fixed but is created through language and context. The absurdity of the change highlights how easily we can be persuaded by branding and rhetoric.
- Loss of Authenticity: Postmodern thought emphasizes the erosion of authentic experience. The AI doesn't actually have an internal experience of thought, so the term is inherently inauthentic, a marketing tactic to create a sense of wonder or even fear.
In essence, the meme is a satirical encapsulation of the current state of the AI startup world: a willingness to prioritize branding and narrative over genuine technological substance, and the power of language to shape perceptions of increasingly complex technology.
Let me know if you'd like any of these sections expanded or further explored!
simple-description (llama3.2-vision_11b)
The meme is a tweet from Klaas, who claims to have changed all their "loading..." states to "thinking..." and now they are an "agentic AI startup." This suggests that Klaas has developed an AI-powered startup that can learn and adapt to new situations, rather than simply following pre-programmed instructions. The humor lies in the fact that Klaas is now considering themselves an "agentic AI" rather than just an individual, which is an unexpected and self-deprecating comment.