Ambrose's Avatar

Ambrose

@ambrosia-engine.bsky.social

Writer, author, and researcher. PhD student in Informatics: AIAI: Automated Reasoning, Agents, Data Intensive Research, Knowledge Management. No, I don't know why the title is so long. Also Affiliate of the Center for Technomoral Futures. Views are my own.

492 Followers  |  1,294 Following  |  636 Posts  |  Joined: 03.01.2025
Posts Following

Posts by Ambrose (@ambrosia-engine.bsky.social)

We went from making up reasons like "weapons of mass destruction" to you know what, fuck it we don't need to even lie, the president "had a feeling" that they pose a threat so we just bomb them so we can. A country doing this can't expect peace inside.

05.03.2026 07:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 370    ๐Ÿ” 80    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 8    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

At this point is there a tracker for chatbot related deaths?

05.03.2026 10:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yeah, I'm trying to think about some of the big problems in science right now and be more thoughtful about how I work and how I contextualize my work. It's also really important to me we all critically examine the way academia functions. But that's long term, science should be slow.

05.03.2026 04:30 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Ludwik Fleck (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

"Cognition is a collective activity." Wow, I love this line, I'm less on the philosophy side of things, but love reading it, and especially spend a lot of time thinking about this (recently wrote a piece on this actually), so I'm excited to add Fleck to my reading list, thank you.

05.03.2026 04:07 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
ChatGPT uninstalls surged by 295% after DoD deal | TechCrunch Many consumers ditched ChatGPT's app after news of its DoD deal went live, while Claude's downloads grew.

Yeah that's the shit

ChatGPT uninstalls surged by 295% after DoD deal | TechCrunch

techcrunch.com/2026/03/02/c...

04.03.2026 10:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 564    ๐Ÿ” 196    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 17

Thank you, these all seem explicitly useful for my research! I've encountered similar findings already on the persistence of false beliefs and cognitive dissonance, so I'm keen to see what these add, I'm very interested in the idea of epistemic capture as you mentioned.

04.03.2026 19:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
People or systems? To blame is human. The fix is to engineer Person-centered safety theories that place the burden of causality on human traits and actions have been largely dismissed in favor of systems-centered theories. Students and practitioners are now taught that accidents are caused by multiple factors ...

How many of us read it and didn't believe for science-based reasons vs not believing it because our social context told us not to?

We tend frame it as if we have one rational side and one set of idiots, but...attribution bias. Context is more complex to tweak. We're entitled to expect integrity!

04.03.2026 17:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Wait, do you have any paper recommendations on this?

04.03.2026 18:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Slide on Misinformation:

Misinformation: the false dichotomy
โžข
Most discussion of misinformation is overly simplistic: โ€œWith us or against us!โ€
โžข
โ€œThings are OK, back to normal!โ€ vs โ€œThings are not OK (because microchips/5G/etc)โ€
โžข
Often led by institutional voices
โžข
Frames misinformed beliefs as โ€œhuman errorโ€ (and claims of stupidity, malice, etc)
โžข
Proposed solutions generally involve shouting at (big budgets for PR campaigns) and/or punishing (social media bans) people until they do what they are told
โžข
Thatโ€™s about obedience, not understanding
โžข
It also doesnโ€™t work

Slide on Misinformation: Misinformation: the false dichotomy โžข Most discussion of misinformation is overly simplistic: โ€œWith us or against us!โ€ โžข โ€œThings are OK, back to normal!โ€ vs โ€œThings are not OK (because microchips/5G/etc)โ€ โžข Often led by institutional voices โžข Frames misinformed beliefs as โ€œhuman errorโ€ (and claims of stupidity, malice, etc) โžข Proposed solutions generally involve shouting at (big budgets for PR campaigns) and/or punishing (social media bans) people until they do what they are told โžข Thatโ€™s about obedience, not understanding โžข It also doesnโ€™t work

Slide: 

Preamble: โ€œhuman errorโ€ is not a cause
โžข One of the most common findings of
an incident investigation, across fields,
is โ€œhuman errorโ€
โžข That answers โ€œWho is to blame?โ€
โžข But humans commit errors โ€“ thatโ€™s
unavoidable!
โžข Preventing failure is a systems problem.
We have to ask: โ€œWhy does the system
allow a predictable event (human
error) to lead to a significant failure?โ€

Slide: Preamble: โ€œhuman errorโ€ is not a cause โžข One of the most common findings of an incident investigation, across fields, is โ€œhuman errorโ€ โžข That answers โ€œWho is to blame?โ€ โžข But humans commit errors โ€“ thatโ€™s unavoidable! โžข Preventing failure is a systems problem. We have to ask: โ€œWhy does the system allow a predictable event (human error) to lead to a significant failure?โ€

Slide:

Preamble: โ€œhuman errorโ€ is not a cause
โžข This does not mean there is not a place
for accountability, but we have an
obligation to learn from failure
โžข When the same error is widely
repeated, we also have to ask: โ€œWhy is
the system creating this error?โ€
โžข โ€œHuman errorโ€ is at most a component
of a bigger systems failure, and often an
excuse to stop thinking

Slide: Preamble: โ€œhuman errorโ€ is not a cause โžข This does not mean there is not a place for accountability, but we have an obligation to learn from failure โžข When the same error is widely repeated, we also have to ask: โ€œWhy is the system creating this error?โ€ โžข โ€œHuman errorโ€ is at most a component of a bigger systems failure, and often an excuse to stop thinking

Love these three slides especially, can't wait to read this now:
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Thank you.

04.03.2026 18:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Just dm'd it.

04.03.2026 15:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

A folk logic about it is starting to develop. People may not understand the monopolies and geopolitics of renewable energy at a gradual level. But they can see data centers, hear data centers, and read their electric bill statements. They are angry.

03.03.2026 22:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1293    ๐Ÿ” 240    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 14    ๐Ÿ“Œ 21
Preview
Resist โ€˜dangerous and socially unacceptableโ€™ age checks for social media, scientists warn Computer scientists are campaigning against the global march toward age checks online.

Over 400 scientists have signed a letter calling for a moratorium on the deployment of age-verification technologies. The letter suggests the widespread deployment of untested AV tech is making the internet less safe.

www.politico.eu/article/age-...

03.03.2026 17:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1461    ๐Ÿ” 729    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 30    ๐Ÿ“Œ 18
Preview
Soldier Details Chilling Messaging From Higher-Ups About โ€˜Godโ€™s Planโ€™ In Iran: โ€˜It Shocked Many Of Usโ€™ One commander had a โ€œbig grinโ€ on his face while saying Donald Trump โ€œhas been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran," a service member said.

The Huffington post did an article on this.

04.03.2026 09:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Mr Onion, did Milo really stan Clinton. Actually nevermind, I don't want context.

04.03.2026 09:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The strongest reason to get off X always has been "otherwise you are quite literally enriching nazis" but some people really don't want to hear that.

01.03.2026 00:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 46    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
X Is Drowning in Disinformation Following US and Israelโ€™s Attack on Iran WIRED has reviewed hundreds of posts on X that promote misleading claims about the locations and scale of the attack.

โ€œAlmost all of the most viral posts reviewed by WIRED on Saturday came from accounts with blue check marks, meaning theyโ€ฆcould be eligible to earn money based on how much engagement their posts generate, even if the content is false.โ€

From @davidgilbert.bsky.social

28.02.2026 22:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1255    ๐Ÿ” 461    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 37    ๐Ÿ“Œ 43
Preview
Parents Tried to Shield Their Children From Vaccines. Instead They Got Measles.

Impeccable headline writing here.
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/u...

03.03.2026 16:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 29    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 3

It was that amazing interview you did Sophie btw. Thank you for the great reporting, keep going, everything matters.

04.03.2026 08:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I wrote about this problem at the beginning of February actually citing something else you wrote, so its funny seeing this piece.

04.03.2026 08:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
This Is What It Looks Like When Nothing Matters Welcome to the internetโ€™s nihilism crisis.

I wrote about something I've been thinking about for a long time. A kind of post-ironic collapse in our politics and culture where nihilism has become the lingua franca of the internet and beyond. It links Kirk, Clavicular, Epstein, memestock/coin stuff, mass shooters. I hope you'll read it.

14.02.2026 17:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1021    ๐Ÿ” 263    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 38    ๐Ÿ“Œ 51
Video thumbnail

A DHS document obtained by 404 Media shows for the first time CBP used location data sourced from the online advertising industry to track phone locations. ICE has bought access to similar tools. @evystadium.bsky.social reports.

Story by @josephcox.bsky.social: www.404media.co/cbp-tapped-i...

03.03.2026 16:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 426    ๐Ÿ” 259    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 11    ๐Ÿ“Œ 24

I think you sort of knew on some level that your core argument here is v v flimsy and the examples you cite are insubstantial, so you've dropped it on bsky with provocative language in the hope the angry backlash stops people from noticing you've done a bad job at proving your point

03.03.2026 20:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 49    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

"Your responses may be analysed and summarised using technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), to help us to handle consultation responses efficiently and accurately."

Algorithms are not neutral. Can the public have more transparency on how our responses are analyzed?

03.03.2026 10:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If you have any thoughts about the failures or successes of the Online Safety Act, Grok undressing kids, Meta intentionally connecting groomers to kids, or the mental health crisis created by these addictive, polarizing, disinformation machines, better to speak up here than a social media post.

03.03.2026 10:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Learning to Think Critically | 10 | v3 | Handbook of Research on Learn Critical thinking (CT) is increasingly recognized as an essential skill for education, employment, and civic engagement in the 21st century. With the rapid

Reformers have called for better critical thinking education to help people deal w/modern challenges (#GenAI, social media, post-truth world). This book chapter expertly discusses what critical thinking is, how to measure it, & how to teach it re: these challenges. #PsychSciSky #AcademicSky #EduSky

02.03.2026 13:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 12    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
X introduces โ€˜Made with AIโ€™ label for creators posting synthetic content The new disclosure feature allows users to mark AI-generated or manipulated content on posts, as platforms face growing regulatory pressure over synthetic media

X is introducing a "made with AI label" to ensure ethical production of child abuse and sexual abuse material on its website

www.buzzincontent.com/news/x-intro...

03.03.2026 07:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 86    ๐Ÿ” 28    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

i find the LLM "capabilities" debate to be almost uniquely poisoned. people who claim that LLMs cannot do things that they verifiably can arguing with people claiming that LLMs can do things that they verifiably cannot.

01.03.2026 22:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 196    ๐Ÿ” 21    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

One annotator sums it up:

โ€œYou think that if they knew about the extent of the data collection, no one would dare to use the glassesโ€.

02.03.2026 21:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
This strikes at a core principle of the American republic, one that has traditionally been especially dear to conservatives: private property. Suppose, for example, that the military approached Google and said โ€œwe would like to purchase individualized worldwide Google search data to do with whatever we want, and if you object, we will designate you a supply chain risk.โ€ I donโ€™t think they are going to do that, but there is no difference in principle between this and the message DoW is sending. There is no such thing as private property. If we need to use it for national security, we simply will. The government wonโ€™t quite โ€œstealโ€ it from youโ€”theyโ€™ll compensate youโ€”but you cannot set the terms, and you cannot simply exit from the transaction, lest you be deemed a โ€œsupply chain risk,โ€ not to mention have the other litany of policy obstacles the government can throw at you.

This strikes at a core principle of the American republic, one that has traditionally been especially dear to conservatives: private property. Suppose, for example, that the military approached Google and said โ€œwe would like to purchase individualized worldwide Google search data to do with whatever we want, and if you object, we will designate you a supply chain risk.โ€ I donโ€™t think they are going to do that, but there is no difference in principle between this and the message DoW is sending. There is no such thing as private property. If we need to use it for national security, we simply will. The government wonโ€™t quite โ€œstealโ€ it from youโ€”theyโ€™ll compensate youโ€”but you cannot set the terms, and you cannot simply exit from the transaction, lest you be deemed a โ€œsupply chain risk,โ€ not to mention have the other litany of policy obstacles the government can throw at you.

Good point from Dean Ball on Pentagon/Anthropic and why the real stakes go even further than AI www.hyperdimensional.co/p/clawed

02.03.2026 15:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 421    ๐Ÿ” 132    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 21
Preview
American schools werenโ€™t broken until Silicon Valley used a lie to convince them they wereโ€”now reading and math scores are plummeting | Fortune Neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath warns the U.S.โ€™s $30 billion bet on laptops in schools has made Gen Z less cognitively capable than their parents.

Not mad about the spate of headlines like this one.

02.03.2026 14:05 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 140    ๐Ÿ” 56    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 6