Ian Miles

@ianmiles.bsky.social

310 followers 110 following 150 posts

Prof Emeritus, University of Manchester.
Research: foresight, innovation, services, soc change...
HE/HIM -don't mind, but dislike those who find pronouns offensive
No interest in sport
I love music, speculative fiction, play with words and colours.... .. more

Videos

Business 51%

Political science 17%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Ian Miles

Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 18h

President Trump announces details of his new Ukraine peace plan.

Watch ‘An Evening with Private Eye 2025’ in full, on Private Eye’s YouTube channel now.

Reposted by Ian Miles, Steve Peers, Carlos Nunes Silva , and 4 more Ian Miles, Steve Peers, Carlos Nunes Silva, Michael H. Whitworth, Michiel van Meeteren, Mark Robinson, Jelena Subotić

public health guy @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 6d

this is the greatest feeling, when the cord box proves its utility to a family member

new yorker cartoon by bernstein. watercolor of a middle aged white dad holding a cord up from the cord box in a heavenly light in triumph. title reads THE BEST DAY OF MY FATHER'S LIFE. caption reads “Did you say you needed a six-pin-to-eight-pin FireWire for a 2006 MacBook?"

Reposted by Ian Miles

Centre for the Study of Existential Risk @cser.bsky.social · 9d

CSER is looking for an Assistant Professor in Global Risk and Resilience!

The role holder will lead research relevant to the study of global risk and resilience and contribute to teaching, assessment, and admissions for CSER's MPhil.

Deadline: 8 February 2026
Apply and learn more: bit.ly/4j3PZyT

Reposted by Ian Miles

Peter Lipman @peterlipman.bsky.social · 10d

America's collapsing consumption is the world's disenshittification opportunity pluralistic.net/2025/12/16/k...

Pluralistic: America’s collapsing consumption is the world’s disenshittification opportunity (16 Dec 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

pluralistic.net

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · 11d

Stannage Edge last Saturday, great walk from Hathersage. Sunny morning, windy on the top. People, many with kids, drove there to enjoy views or go bouldering.

Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Ian Miles, Lesley A. Hall

The Fake History Hunter @fakehistoryhunter.net · 13d

www.smbc-comics.com/comic/rise-o...

Reposted by John Drury, Ian Miles, Elizabeth Stokoe , and 2 more John Drury, Ian Miles, Elizabeth Stokoe, Martin Paul Eve, Christina Pagel

Steve Griffin @profstevegriffin.bsky.social · 14d

So, to those who say "masks don't work", cite the flawed Cochrane report, insist upon an unfeasible RCT, accuse folks of panic, and undermine public health on social and mainstream media during a flu/RSV epidemic...

1. Seasonal viruses may be "normal", but they do immense harm.

Reposted by Ian Miles

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · 19d

The conversation in the comments! Well, whaddaya know, andwho are you to know? Answers on the back of a postcard, please. [#askingforafriend ]

dear Abbie @abbie4science.bsky.social · 20d

I entered some student's essays into ChatGPT and asked if they had been written by AI (cuz what else can we do?). Completely useless result- 'maybe' for each one of them.

Reposted by Ian Miles

dear Abbie @abbie4science.bsky.social · 20d

I entered some student's essays into ChatGPT and asked if they had been written by AI (cuz what else can we do?). Completely useless result- 'maybe' for each one of them.

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Gavin A. Schmidt, Ian Miles , and 12 more Shannon Vallor, Gavin A. Schmidt, Ian Miles, Melissa Terras, Kelly Smith, Ian Hussey, Rebecca Tushnet, Kate Starbird, Alfie Kohn, Woodrow Hartzog, Greg Linden, Aleksandra Urman, Rebecca Zorach, David Spurrett, David Lay Williams

Dr. Casey Fiesler @cfiesler.bsky.social · 21d

Let me tell you a story. Perhaps you can guess where this is going... though it does have a bit of a twist.

I was poking around Google Scholar for publications about the relationship between chatbots and wellness. Oh how useful: a systematic literature review! Let's dig into the findings. 🧵

The Psychological Impact of Digital Isolation: How AI-Driven Social Interactions Shape Human Behavior and Mental Well-Being
Felix Eling
3697-3705
Apr 30, 2025
Education
The Psychological Impact of Digital Isolation: How AI-Driven Social Interactions Shape Human Behavior and Mental Well-Being

Felix Eling

Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Gulu College of Health Sciences, Gulu City, Northern Uganda

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.90400265

Received: 13 March 2025; Revised: 22 March 2025; Accepted: 25 March 2025; Published: 30 April 2025

ABSTRACT
The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in social interactions has transformed how humans experience companionship, communication, and mental well-being. This review examines the psychological impact of AI-driven social interactions, focusing on virtual assistants, AI chatbots, and digital companions. It explores the benefits, risks, and ethical concerns associated with AI companionship. A systematic review methodology was employed, detailing inclusion criteria, databases searched, and analysis techniques. Findings suggest that while AI can offer emotional relief and support, over-reliance may disrupt real-world social bonding. Ethical concerns such as data privacy, emotional manipulation, and regulatory gaps are highlighted. The study underscores the need for balanced AI integration in human socialization. The study also addresses gaps in previous literature by examining AI’s influence on different demographic groups and cultural contexts.

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · 22d

Claims about glyphosate safety written by company, not scientists who were named authors
www.lemonde.fr/en/environme...

Influential study on glyphosate safety retracted 25 years after publication

A 2000 study that concluded the well-known herbicide glyphosate was safe, widely cited since then, has just been officially disavowed by the journal that published it. The scientists are suspected of ...

www.lemonde.fr

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Stephen M. Walt, Cas Mudde , and 5 more Anne Applebaum, Stephen M. Walt, Cas Mudde, Will Jennings, Ian Miles, Rosemary A. Joyce, Alan Richardson, Christina Pagel

Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 24d

He’s gesturing to a sleeping man as he says “He’s the only leader in the world who can help end [the war in Ukraine].”

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 24d

Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.

Reposted by Ian Miles

dr. caitlin m. green @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social · 25d

it’s been four years since i wrote this analysis of campus reform, another vector for this college instructor harassment machine.

behaving perfectly will not prevent them from attacking you. your employers/unions need plans to protect you from their lies.

www.liberalcurrents.com/how-to-decip...

How to Decipher Propaganda

Discourse studies is an interdisciplinary method used to unpack how we use language to organize and express ideas in the most convincing possible way, even up to the point of misleading our audience. ...

www.liberalcurrents.com

Reposted by Christopher Millett, Ian Miles, Michael Warren

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 25d

Sovereignty? Democracy? Sorry, but we can't afford those anymore. We'll be sued if we try to defend them.
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Hello, foreign oligarchs and corporations! Please come and sue the UK for billions | George Monbiot

The case of a planned Cumbrian coalmine shows how governments around the world are being threatened by litigation in shadowy offshore courts, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

www.theguardian.com

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · 26d

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust trying to buy some moorland near Cromford and Wirksworth - not much time left - please care and share! www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/appeals/midd...

Middleton Moor £1.2 Million Appeal | Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has been given a once-in-a-generation opportunity to purchase Middleton Moor.

www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

Reposted by Ian Miles

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 26

www.lbc.co.uk/article/ditc...

Isn’t it time we ditched Black Friday for something that actually matters? | LBC

It’s everywhere. In our inboxes, through the letterbox, on billboards during the commute, and plastered across every social media feed. Black Friday is coming.

www.lbc.co.uk

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 25

If you want to understand the power of the bond markets, and incidentally discover what gilt yields are, read this lucid piece. www.newstatesman.com/business/eco...

Meet the bond market vigilantes

Governments are now at the mercy of unseen investors

www.newstatesman.com

Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · Nov 25

I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.

Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise

bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...

Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny

Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment

bylinetimes.com

Reposted by Ian Miles

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · Nov 25

Carole Cadwalladr asks why the Labour gov are choosing not to
investigate Russian interference in British elections and referendums

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 25

Watch out, Taiwan!

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 25

And this would be a plausible outcome of youth from politically oppressive countries being exposed aa students, to all of the debates and freedoms that this government professes to value. And coming to views that will not be tolerated in country of origin.

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 25

But I'm impartial! I'm even impartial when it comes to judging my impartiality. In fact, I have a God's eye view of impartiality. Enough said. Ask any of my friends.

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 25

Closure of coal mines leaves desolate communities, unless special attention is paid to THEIR interests. Not to the mine owners, but to the society shaped by their decisions. Even rich countries let these communities down. Poorer countries may need help.

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 25

BBC News - How X's new location feature exposed big US politics accounts
www.bbc.com/news/article...

How X's new location feature exposed big US politics accounts

Dozens of pro-Trump accounts are being accused of misleading followers after the social media site began showing user locations.

www.bbc.com

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 24

fundedbyerasmus.co.uk/report
Another thing that needs recovery after the Brexit disaster.

Funded By Erasmus - Bring Back Erasmus+ to the UK

Discover Erasmus+ funded projects across the UK and join our campaign to bring the UK back into Erasmus+. Search by postcode, contact your MP, and support educational opportunities for all.

fundedbyerasmus.co.uk

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 24

Un réacteur de méthanisation ( tank in a biogas unit) - BUT how common back then? Not very.
2. A mechanical mixer tank, réacteur, where slurry or effluent is stirred and treated.
3. A jet engine -Outside of farming, réacteur = jet engine. Probably what he meant, réacteur nucléaire is too big.

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 24

réacteur de méthanisation - the most farm-specific meaning, according to chat GPT, a biogas digester tank used for methanisation.
That’s the sense where “reactor” directly overlaps with everyday agricultural equipment.

Ian Miles @ianmiles.bsky.social · Nov 24

I've shared with Fortean Times Appreciation on Facebook
What do you think A FRENCH FARMER meant by "reactors" ( that could have been feet, in his view]

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