"It is the world’s first national AI-agent that goes beyond answering questions — it actually provides government services directly within a chat" digitalstate.gov.ua/news/govtech...

Russia routinely paints its neighbors as threats to justify its own aggression. "Helsinki is pursuing a confrontational course in preparation for war with Russia, apparently preparing a springboard for an attack on us," Medvedev wrote in a column for TASS.

I love technology more than most, but it's not the answer to everything and ultimately the future is about people, and how people deal with each other. And all the good and bad that goes along with that.

This is a text book example of reflexive control. The Russians are really experienced at it, and Trump's ignorance means he is completely defenceless against it.

NEW: Landmark decision on UK's failure to investigate Russian interference to be handed down tomorrow. A five-year legal battle in UK and European courts comes to a head: will we finally - learn the truth about the Kremlin & the Brexit vote?

Support Ukraine. Drink Ukrainian beer.

Here's a big-picture geopolitical thread on Israel's war on Iran - its possibilities, impossibilities, dynamics, and delusions. My goal is to give you a full big-picture view in one place, which is why this is a long thread. If you prefer drip-fed updates, skip this thread.

Russia is building a garrison in Kandalaksha for an artillery brigade. This is the first concrete sign of a permanent increase in the number of troops near the Finnish border.

Some thoughts about the military parade in my hometown of Washington DC today -- specifically, the route. Military parades in DC are quite rare. But when they happen, they have always begun, symbolically and geographically, at the Capitol and moved outward. 1/

diamond

Open Data Camp news – help us run in 2025! While we work with our friends and partners to bring Open Data Camp UK back to Scotland in 2026, we're looking at the potential of running one anywhere in the UK before the end of 2025, preferably in October. #odcamp #opendata

the bit that makes the whole AI conversation suck is all are true: (1) it *can* do some constrained stuff in a meaningful incremental improvement (2) it cannot do a lot of the things people are selling it as (3) a lot of the people have a near religious fervor on 2 with major social collateral harms

L - The official photo from the Kremlin of US Special Envoy @SteveWitkoff putting his hand over his heart as he greets his friend Vladimir Putin again this week. R - Putin’s latest missile attack killing at least 21 people, including 7 children, on Palm Sunday. Putin’s stooge.

Fascinating thread on the roots of Finland's resilience. This particularly resonates in the context of increasingly polarised & unequal societies in Europe & the US: "Strong defence requires a strong society". If people are busy finding reasons to resent each other, will they then defend each other?

Trump is playing an imaginary boardgame with other people's pieces of land. Putin has gotten into his head.

I’ve posted a number of threads over the past couple of weeks explaining the framework I’ve developed around disordered discourse and its outcomes. But I also want to explain why that framework is useful, beyond just mapping the problem or explaining how we got here.

Recently updated!!

NEW: Last week Trump announced 'Stargate' a $500bn AI sci-fi inspired plan to boost US economy. This week, I turn the spotlight on the man who stood behind Trump, lesser-known tech bro, Larry Ellison, his special friend Tony Blair & how they're coming for the UK too open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

When you do social purpose work of any sort, it materially reduces your market value. You can be as good as (or better than) a Deloitte or a McKinsey consultant, but if you have a tinge of "doing good" about you, everyone expects some kind of handwoven mates rates.

Picard management tip: Polite crew members solve problems together. Rude crew members escalate problems all by themselves.

This may be just my personal ignorance speaking but I would so appreciate it if all the politicos informing us how various governments will now succeed *because they have AI* would go into detail a bit. How exactly will AI help run a country? “They can use AI, it will be great.” is not an answer.

Have a great #ukgc25 today friends. I hope you have wonderful discussions and then one of you can come to Helsinki to fill me in on all the exciting new ideas floating around... @ukgovcamp.bsky.social

Peter Pomerantsev on a worrying analysis of the global conversation. Wise reasoning as always! www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

While we’re banning books… Finland is teaching children in school how to recognize fake news and propaganda as part of critical thinking and civic responsibility. Some of this will seem very familiar. Be. Like. Finland.

With the holiday quiet filling my inbox, I took the opportunity to explore Russia’s potential to disrupt Western underwater cables. Here’s what I uncovered – it’s a deep dive, so buckle up! 1/24

Today, we again celebrate Finnish independence. Given everything we see happening in Europe, it’s a good moment to pause and be grateful for sacrifices it has taken to remain free for 107 years. And also think what we can do to ensure we’re always ready to face potential threats to our freedom.

OTD in 1939 USSR began to liberate Finland from themselves in the Winter War. It followed denials, a false flag, a bullshit excuse, us deliberately targeting civilians while we took massive casualties we lied about. Imagine that happening today...

'UK govt failing to list use of AI on mandatory register', reports Guardian, noting only 9 entries www.theguardian.com/technology/2... But - and I might be reading (far) too much into this - do the menus on the hub page give us a clue about what might be coming? www.gov.uk/algorithmic-...

If I had a nickel for every time a Chinese ship was dragging its anchor on the bottom of the Baltic Sea in the vicinity of important cables I would have two nickels, which isn't much, but it's weird that it happened twice.

Had a great time today talking about why social scientists need to pay attention to virtual reality and introducing a methodology for analyzing immersive content. Thanks to the Helsinki Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities for having me. Photo credit: HSSH.

A Northern Europe-ish security policy starter pack

NEW: The great Trump-Musk crackdown is coming. And it will hit hard & fast. Journalists will be first. But everyone else is next. I urge you to read my 20 lessons in How to Survive the Broligarchy, inspired by & featuring the great @timothysnyder.bsky.social 1/ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

@bethodology.bsky.social heya, nice to see you here! 🤗

If anyone here has any examples of AI systems or solutions currently being procured by local or central government bodies, I would be most interested to know what those are.

This is too amazing. The Onion has just bought Alex Jones’s Infowars! Brain pills for all! 💊💊💊 www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/b...

This book lasted less than 5 years in the House of Lords library. It now lives happily in Finland and will be referenced next month in a presentation to Scottish educators. #circularknowledgeeconomy

How are you spending your afternoon?

@pixlz.com look who I found!

It's election time. Are you fully aware of what is happening in the information space around you? euvsdisinfo.eu/elections-ar...

Y'alright? #ODCamp 9 in Manchester is go! Top information on the event including accommodation, child care and bursaries.... oh and TICKETS!!! #opendata www.odcamp.uk/open-data-ca...

@ayymanduh.bsky.social Happy birthday! 🎂🥂🦄

Anybody want to come to Buenos Aires with me? www.abrazotango.fi/post/argenti... #Tango

Hello world! Nice to see some old friends here the Musk algorithm had decided to remove from sight and mind...