Elena Simperl

Six months after DeepSeek’s breakthrough, China speeds on with AI Real-world applications have priority over cutting-edge development

Provincial and municipal governments have rushed to use DeepSeek to improve hotlines, analyse data and interpret policies for residents. But plenty of risks come when the state and investors rush in

The Urgent Need For Revolutionizing Economic Statistics | NOEMA Donald Trump’s abandonment of honest economic statistics highlights what’s been true for a while: The way we measure economic activity has long been inadequate for modern political challenges.

I’ve written for @noemamag.com about the need for a different approach to economic statistics - the data isn’t ‘rigged’ but it hasn’t kept up with the changing economy www.noemamag.com/the-critical...

White banner with an image of a lecturer giving an academic presentation. The words 'Postdoctoral Fellowships’ are written on the right-hand side.

Are you an early-career humanities and social sciences researcher seeking a permanent academic role? Our Postdoctoral Fellowships can support you in strengthening your research profile and gaining teaching experience in a university setting. Apply now: buff.ly/McS8lRk

Could you lead a scientific meeting dedicated to your area of research?
Fast-forward scientific progress in your field by assembling global scientists for two days of discussion and collaboration. Proposals are considered twice a year.
Submit by 24 September 2025: royalsociety.org/science-even...

Absolutely love the winning entry here: visual and participatory sense making of data. Fab to see how @databarometer.bsky.social continues to develop

We are happy to announce that the Faraday Discovery Fellowships are now open for applications. These prestigious long-term awards are designed to support mid-career research leaders to undertake high-quality, original research. Find out more on now:

#RSGrants

royalsociety.org/grants/farad...

Policy Fellow - Strategy 12-month fixed term contract Salary: up to £50,999 plus excellent benefits Application deadline: 20 August, 23.00

We're looking for a Policy Fellow to join the team.

You'll support the shaping of our strategy for 2026–2030, and contribute to policy team projects on NHS reform, primary care, public health and social care.

Find out more and apply by 23.00 on 20 August ⬇️

https://bit.ly/3JhRYlf

Join our free webinar with Data Ethics Professional Ramon Abraham Sarmiento, 17 September, where we take a deep dive into dark patterns, the need for high-quality data and protecting individual confidentiality and privacy rights. Book now!
buff.ly/9DWZa6m #Data #Ethics

📣 Calling all @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social doctoral & postdoctoral researchers - applications are now open for the The King’s Parliamentary Research Internships programme to engage directly with the inner workings of parliament & policy.

➡️ Apply by 17 Aug: kcl.targetconnect.net/user/app/job...

The Future of Data and AI Governance: Insights from Our Expert Panel Find out what's in our European Data and AI Policy Manifesto and examine the key issues.

We recently launched our European Data and AI Policy Manifesto - a timely intervention as Europe stands at a crossroads on the road to shaping its digital future. Find out what was discussed at a webinar on the topic.

Top Scholars Call for Evidence-Based Approach to AI Policy | Stanford HAI Experts from Stanford HAI and top universities urge policymakers to prioritize scientific understanding to govern frontier AI.

In a new Science paper, top scholars from Stanford, UC Berkeley, Princeton, and other leading institutions urge policymakers to adopt an evidence-based approach to AI policy. Lead author Rishi Bommasani explains what it entails and why it matters: hai.stanford.edu/news/top-sch...

Are you interested in building arts and humanities perspectives into AI system design? Want to work with researchers in North America?

Check out our sandpit events with SSHRC-CRSH 👇
#ahrc

Our summary report on the Royal Society UK/Canada “frontiers in AI” event; Ottawa last year. www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/...

a close up of a man 's face with the words it 's me below it ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the words it 's me below it

New GO data just out!! The July 2025 GO Release 2025-07-22 is now available.

➡️ current.geneontology.org

➡️ release.geneontology.org/2025-07-22

📓 DOI 10.5281/zenodo.16423886: doi.org/10.5281/zeno...

39,906 GO terms
9,417,935 annotations
1,602,275 gene products
5,497 species

Will AI make you stupid? Creativity and critical thinking might take a hit. But there are ways to soften the blow

Creativity and critical thinking might take a hit. But there are ways to soften the blow

Horizon Europe guarantee: application deadline approaching UK-based researchers and innovators who are wishing to apply for the Horizon Europe guarantee are reminded that the final application deadline is approaching.

UK-based researchers and innovators: If you were successful in a Horizon Europe 2021 - 2023 call, here's a reminder that the final application deadline for the Horizon Europe guarantee is 27 November 2025 at 4pm (UK time).

More details: www.ukri.org/news/horizon...

Great initiative, so many interesting socio-technical projects to do.

Given everything that has happened on Twitter/X in the last 2 years it is astonishing that the govt hasn’t even reviewed its use of the platform

Global Minds Initiative Germany - BMBF Our Global Minds Initiative Germany offers international research talent career prospects in the German science system. We will thereby lastingly strengthen the German and European Research Area.

Global Minds Initiative Germany: Federal Ministry of Research launches new programme to strengthen Germany as a science location together with the Humboldt Foundation, @dfg.de and @daadworldwide.bsky.social.
www.bmftr.bund.de/EN/Research/...

#Event2025 I 👉 As part of the @horizoneu.bsky.social ANERIS project, #EMOBON observatories are supporting its #CitizenScience #sampling campaign

➡️ This scheme will explore EU coastal communities & produce indicator maps for species diversity

My whole career is based on the idea of working on web things long enough that I might one day learn how to make something this amazing.

A genuine inspiration

Book Talk: Preserving Government Information Virtual; August 28, 1pm ET / 10am PT REGISTER HERE Join us for a timely conversation with librarians James Jacobs and Jim Jacobs about their new book, PRESERVING GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, covering ho…

Join us and @archive.org for a conversation with librarians James Jacobs and Jim Jacobs about their book, Preserving Government Information, on how libraries and research organizations safeguard public information in the digital age.

8/28, 1pm ET / 10am PT

www.authorsalliance.org/2025/07/29/b...

We're looking for talented people to help build a better Web for everyone - through open standards, open source technologies and community development. We're looking for two Senior Developers experienced with Semantic Web, Solid and digital identity standards.
buff.ly/8glhJA8

Discover the latest news from our Research team including our latest publications: A framework for AI-ready data & Mapping the role of data work in AI supply chains, and webinars: Unveiling AI-Driven Collective Action for a Worker-Centric Future & Local Authorities, Data, and AI.
buff.ly/RI6f4ww

Mis(sing) information: The impact of disappearing archives and data sources – Full Fact Discover how digital decay and disappearing archives weaken public scrutiny and fuel misinformation.

I wrote somethingfor @fullfact.org about the ways in which the disappearing archive makes their work even harder but more important. I'm a trustee & continue to be amazed at their resiliency in an age of AI slop and attacks against those who investigate accuracy.
fullfact.org/technology/m...

Horizon Europe 2028 - 2034: twice bigger, simpler, faster and more impactful Research and innovation news alert: As part of the next long-term EU budget 2028-2034, the Commission is proposing to double the budget of the research and innovation framework programme to €175 billi...

Very promising news on the next seven-year EU budget, with a proposed substantial increase for Horizon Europe including the ERC.

We are analysing the other parts of this proposal in more detail.

@Vonderleyen @EZaharievaEU

research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-res...

What on earth is what3words? It sounds odd but it is changing how people find their way

It sounds odd but it is changing how people find their way

The Case for Open Source Investment in Europe’s Digital Sovereignty Push | TechPolicy.Press The EU has a unique opportunity to institutionalize investment in openness at scale through a continent-wide fund, writes Nicholas Gates.

As Europe moves to cut tech dependence on the US, projects like EuroStack and the Open Internet Stack show momentum for digital sovereignty. But to what end? Nicholas Gates calls for strategic use of open source and sustained support for those who maintain it.

This is why I find the Open Data Institute's approach to take stock of what's happening through the lens of its strategic principles very effective and draw on first-hand experiences from different countries, sectors, and ecosystems a very effective way to identify new practical ways forward.

#Data and #AI regulation is not easy to do - use and impact are not always easy to predict, technology unfolds against a complex mix of social, economic, environmental, and geopolitical factors, and advances and adoption happen at uneven speeds.