Wednesday 15 January 2025

Greetings all, and Happy 2025!

Hope you had a happy, healthy and relaxing break, with a splash of craic, and a dash of joy.

This year has been off to quite the hectic start, and so am running behind a little. But – surprisingly – only on the newsletter, the rest of my work life has been off to a really good start this year, and i look forward to sharing some quite exciting publication news (plural!) soon.

If you’re in the UK the big news has obviously been the government’s AI, all the time, for everything, announcement. I have to say, choosing to refer to it as being ‘mainlined into the UK’s veins’ does not conjure up images of long term health. Prof. Gina Neff (always worth a listen/read in this space) has a brief comment, which highlights some of the concerns. The FT is also uncertain. The ICO put out a statement that summarises some of their related work. On the topic of Labour, AI features in their most recent (at time of writing) communications faux pas. Surely checking the lyrics is communications 101? WTAF you might say.

Just Security have announced an AI and emergent tech initiative with the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford. There doesn’t appear to be a lot of info, but watch that space i guess.

The Washington Post have a big story on the misuse of facial recognition technology in the investigation and prosecution of crime. Great investigation, which in fairness does build on a lot of pre-existing work. Worth a read. They have a podcast too. Which i guess is probably worth a listen too.

The Conversation has an intriguing piece on how surveillance is changing not only our behaviour, but our brains, which I look forward to reading more about. This ties into a lot of the chilling effects work i’ve been doing with Pete Fussey, and the project team here.

You may also be interested in Jerry Seinfeld’s take on AI in The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. A pretty on point 30 second insight into AI governance. Apparently the new Wallace & Gromit movie also focuses on AI, but I haven’t managed to see it yet.

Work on developing the newsletter continues apace, and should come online in the next few weeks.

Thanks again to Ameneh Deshiri for support with the newsletter.

I’ll leave you this week with ‘Do You Realize??’ by the Flaming Lips. I think I may have shared this before, but its just so gooooood. Love the lyrics, especially the verse about everyone you know someday dying (its more upbeat in the song). And, just to protect against accusations that i’m repeating myself, here’s ‘Orlando in Love’ by Japanese Breakfast.

Websites

FT, UK has half of what it needs to be an AI hub

The Conversation, Surveillance tech is changing our behaviour – and our brains

Washington Post, Arrested by AI: Police ignore standards after facial recognition matches

Washington Post, Arrested by AI

BBC, Apple urged to withdraw ‘out of control’ AI news alerts

UserMag, Instagram blocked teens from searching LGBTQ-related content for months

Washington Post, Israel built an ‘AI factory’ for war. It unleashed it in Gaza.

WIRED, AI Agents Will Be Manipulation Engines

Financial Times, ‘Healthcare turns to AI for medical note taking ‘scribes’’

Guardian, Labour apologises for TikTok video with ‘inappropriate’ soundtrack

The New York Times, Who Is Making Sure the A.I. Machines Aren’t Racist?