Brian Merchant, the former technology columnist at the Los Angeles Times, is joining the AI Now Institute for a project that puts the business models of AI companies under the microscope.

He will be journalist in residence.

Merchant was among the layoffs at the Times, where he had been for a year, in January.

Writing and editing for Motherboard, Gizmodo and other outlets, he has carved out a niche around the intersection of tech, labor and the environment.