This is an excellent, level-headed, informative piece. I'd kill for a government which could discuss the issue with the same sense of objectivity and calm.

when its definitely not a hostage situation

CBI chief Rain Newton-Smith tells gov't: "Change course on Employment Rights... The minimum wage, the last Labour govt's defining reform has endured because it was built in partnership with us." Hmm. Was it? Some of us are old enough to remember it was introduced in the teeth of CBI opposition. ~AA

It's that magical time of year, when the more unapologetically rage-baiting parts of our press dust off the "they're cancelling christmas!" stories. Thank you Telegraph, Express and Mail - it wouldn't be winterval without you! 😍

Physician who was no longer at the hospital but was on the email list had Otter ai installed and his bot “attended” the meeting, generated a transcript, and sent it to all 65 people on the email list, 12 of whom also no longer worked at the hospital.

AI for Good Panel Discussion from #BristolDataWeek With @conjh.bsky.social, @sanakb.bsky.social, @sethbullock.bsky.social, @simonmcs.bsky.social, Sidharth Jaggi, Agnes Nairn, @digitalfutures.bsky.social, Genevieve Liveley Watch now: tinyurl.com/3fnc9mtv Video credits: @beestonmedia.bsky.social

Chilling piece on employment effects of AI on early careers. Includes this line, which will probably become the norm for many firms: "Managers at Shopify must now justify hiring a human by first explaining why AI can’t do the job." nymag.com/intelligence...

Delighted to see that my old chair won't be vacant for too much longer.

NEW The letter the BBC could send back to Trump A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim By me. Enjoy. emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...

Possibly the wackiest case of AI solutionism since the January announcement that it would be used to find (not fix, mind, just find) potholes in the roads. But if you've bought a really expensive hammer, I suppose every problem does assume a certain nail-like appearance...

SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten. "I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA

685,000 Britons has wealth of £2.8 trillion, 48m have £2.4trn. 4 people have more wealth than 20m Britons. Bottom 50% of the population has 5% of wealth, the bottom fifth only 0.5%. Rich buy political parties, legislators; hold govts to ransom. Can't get economic growth without redistribution.

@thenewworldmag.bsky.social Pretty savage Codeword this week! If I solve this, do I get out of Slough House?

The BBC are accidentally running the subtitles to Mrs Marple over the Mercury Prize, and it’s rather wonderful. A few of lines could plausibly have been written by Jarvis.

AI has a cargo cult problem on.ft.com/4qg0Hp6 | opinion

Absolutely love this twitter classic:

We are now accepting abstracts for our Annual Conference at @aberuni.bsky.social 15-17 Apr. 2026. Join us for critical talks on law, tech & education (and generally a good time!) The theme is: 'Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.' More info: www.bileta.org.uk/news/bileta-...

Also tiktok, so relevant both sides of the Atlantic.

The richest man on earth owns X. The second richest man on earth is about to be a major owner of TikTok. The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post. See the problem here?

After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.

Spot on.

UPEND THE ESTABLISHMENT, by voting for a party composed entirely of rejects from the oldest party in the country that was in power for 14 years. 😂 Reform UK increasingly look like the Tories just ran off stage, then ran back on wearing a comedy glasses-nose-moustache disguise.

Trump on 19 Russian drones shot into Poland: "could've been a mistake..." Part 2 of our podcast for TRUMP & VANCE - W/ FRIENDS LIKE THESE WHO NEEDS ENEMIES? www.alteredstate.org.uk/podcast w/ Gen Sir Tim Radford Prof Ana Garcia Richard Graham ex MP & diplomat @digitalfutures.bsky.social #nato

'living in a drably anonymous corner of the United Kingdom (the film was shot in Bristol)' Harsh. www.theguardian.com/film/2025/se...

There are two kinds of people. There are those who see this statue and see a teddy bear reaching out to comfort someone in despair. And there are those who see a nightmare toy come to life, about to push him off the ledge... 😈

This was such a rewarding gig!

I have a rape case. Offence in April 2022. Reported within days. Charged Oct 2023. Trial listed July 2024. Put back to Oct 2024. No court available so put back to today. At court today, there's no court available AGAIN. FOURTH trial date now June 2026 - more than four years after the incident!!

A real treat to spend a weekend with good books by fine friends.

Reading through a 6-page explainer doc on how to navigate 8 website pages listing about 80 different links, so that I can check my teaching timetable for the coming year. I sure am optimistic about the next wave of tech freeing us up to do the 'high value' work because it's going so well so far...

Can't beat listening to one of my favourite tech ethics people on one of my favourite podcasts. Check out @drkatedevlin.bsky.social on @bunkerpod.bsky.social! pod.link/1496246490

14 years, I think you'll find! Some of them even pretty good ones. Srsly, it's a tremendous place and a great opportunity.

Brilliant talk last night about UK defence in the era of America First foreign policy Thanks to Gen Sir Tim Radford, Prof Ana Juncos Garcia, Richard Graham & host @digitalfutures.bsky.social Punches were not pulled Spades were called spades Blog & podcast to follow #alteredstate #bristoltalks

Those of you in London today: This is TONIGHT! Drinks at 6:15pm, panel at 7pm, free to attend but please do sign up via the link below. Trump is taking a stand against ‘woke’ in the US — but what’s happening in the UK? And does technology help or hinder it?

Fun times trying to persuade a law firm that I really don't, in 2025, need to print, sign and *post* all the docs. AI might eventually revolutionise the profession, but I'd be more convinced if they could get their heads around e-signatures and the fax machine ...

What are the consequences of the US's involvement in Israel's war w/ Iran? Iran are active in the war in Europe via their pact w/ Russia So is Britain A NATO general, a prof of EU politics & a former MP & diplomat talk this Tues 24th www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #bristoltalks #bristolevents

A thing I wrote. theconversation.com/the-assisted....

Not an original observation, but the debate around assisted dying, while certainly passionate, has mostly been serious and civil, both in parliament and in the media. Why was that possible in this case, while other 'social' questions descend immediately into hyper-polarised bun-fights? Any thoughts?

@kimleadbeatermp.bsky.social making the clear and obvious point that, under her Bill, far more safeguards will exist than for all the end-of-life decisions we currently allow.

CEO pay at UK’s top companies is 52 times that of typical worker, report finds

'Hillier's other amendment seeking to stop health professionals from raising assisted dying with any patient was defeated by 256 votes to 230 - a majority of 26.' Glad to see this. Probably well intentioned, but NZ had a similar rule and it didn't work well at all. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The excellent 'Strong Message Here' podcast asks what political catchphrases people would ban. I'd like 2, please. 1. 'You can't achieve anything from opposition.' Aside from the fact that it's invariably a precursor to doing something awful but popular, that must be news to Nigel Farage. 1/2

It’s not just that it’s clearly intentional, it’s that it’s clearly intentional knowing that he’s being recorded. They know they can do whatever they want with complete impunity.

Prof @digitalfutures.bsky.social is our host for TRUMP & VANCE - W FRIENDS LIKE THESE, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES? We talk about the implications of America First foreign policy on the UK June 24 Tickets headfirstbristol.co.uk/checkout/alt... #bristoltalks #bristolevents #whatsonbristol #talks #nato

I've been a panelist on a couple of these, but this will be my first time chairing. It looks like being a good one!

This seems so valuable. So many of the habits & rituals of 'academic writing' just seem designed to suck every molecule of joy from the business of reading, & even people who're great communicators in other media (like lectures) get drawn into it.

A heavyweight panel for a deadly serious subject that affects us all w/ @aejuncos.bsky.social @digitalfutures.bsky.social Coincides w/ the annual NATO summit Early bird tickets headfirstbristol.co.uk/checkout/alt... #defence #ukrainewar #nato #americafirst #putin #zeleskyy #trump #jdvance #talks

Really nice job with this, team. You've even made it sound as if I know what I'm talking about! 😉

That Labour strategy in full: Reform were right! Also, don't vote for Reform.

I do wish it was better understood by now—especially by folks in the media—that these "warnings" from large AI corporations in fact function as "advertisements" www.axios.com/2025/04/22/a...

In Liverpool for SLSA. First stop after hotel? Yeah, that'll be Specsavers.