How Author Dave Eggers Avoids Smartphones, Internet Access, and Flock Cameras

Dave Eggers, author of The Circle and The Every, maintains a low-tech writing practice using a 1998 Mac and no smartphone to avoid digital distraction and surveillance, according to SFGate. This analog approach contrasts with his new project, Art + Water, which leverages tech-sector philanthropy to provide free art apprenticeships on San Francisco’s Pier 29.

Why are professional creatives returning to analog tools?

The return to physical tools is a reaction to the “demoralizing” effects of generative AI on the art of writing, according to Eggers. He currently writes on a 1998 Macintosh computer that has never been connected to the internet, working from a sailboat docked near the Golden Gate Bridge. This isolation allows for a strict “banker’s hours” schedule from 9 to 5 without digital interruptions.

Eggers noted that teachers are re-embracing pencil and paper, citing a comeback for cursive writing in classrooms. This shift suggests a growing trend where analog methods are viewed not as obsolete, but as essential for cognitive focus and artistic integrity in an era of AI-generated content.

How is surveillance technology impacting urban privacy?

The proliferation of recording devices in public and private transport has created a climate of caution for some residents. Eggers reports refusing to enter Uber vehicles that utilize recording devices, citing a deep aversion to the growing surveillance technology gripping San Francisco, according to SFGate.

While surveillance expands, there is a counter-movement focusing on legislative protections. Eggers indicated that a well-written ballot measure regarding Flock cameras—automated license plate readers—could potentially protect dwindling privacy rights in the city.

What is the new model for accessible art education?

The upcoming Art + Water space on Pier 29 aims to eliminate financial barriers to art education through an old-school apprenticeship system. Co-founded by Eggers and artist JD Beltran, the facility is funded largely by donations from the art world, according to SFGate.

The model is specific: 10 artists in residence will mentor 20 students entirely free of charge. This structure replaces the traditional tuition-based art school model with a direct mentorship approach, focusing on skill transfer without the burden of student debt.

How does tech philanthropy coexist with tech criticism?

A tension exists between the dystopian themes in Eggers’ novels and the funding sources for his real-world projects. While Eggers describes AI-driven advertisements at bus stops—which urge companies to stop hiring humans—as “over the top,” he acknowledges that tech philanthropy has helped his various projects flourish.

This creates a documented contrast: the author uses the financial output of the tech industry to fund initiatives that promote analog skills and free education, effectively using tech capital to build non-tech sanctuaries.

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