Andrew Cullen
@adrcullen.bsky.social
AI (security, privacy, HPC) Snr Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, researcher who rides bikes to go nowhere, and lifts heavy things for fun. Surprisingly interested in Iranian brickwork (just weird like that).
The number of times I've seen AI research that says "well, it could be used to harm, but also it'll provide benefit too" is shocking. The benefits often are the harm. And the harm is borne by people who have no agency in the use of the system.
One of the first things anyone learns about facial recognition is that it is often wrong and that it is biased. And yet ICE is using it all day every day to determine legal status & who to detain. And now we have a high-profile example of it being flat out wrong:
www.404media.co/ices-facial-...
www.404media.co/ices-facial-...
ICE’s Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman. Twice
In testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, the official described how Mobile Fortify returned two different names after scanning a woman's face during an immigration raid. ICE has said th...
www.404media.co
January 19, 2026 at 8:39 PM
The number of times I've seen AI research that says "well, it could be used to harm, but also it'll provide benefit too" is shocking. The benefits often are the harm. And the harm is borne by people who have no agency in the use of the system.
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
Predictive algorithms in hiring, creditworthiness, and welfare programs are sold as objective and efficient, writes James O’Sullivan. In practice, however, they operationalize historical bias, scale discrimination, and launder political choices through opaque technical systems, he argues.
How Algorithmic Systems Automate Inequality
James O’Sullivan explains how automated decision-making can reinforce inequality, obscure accountability, and reshape power under the guise of efficiency.
buff.ly
January 18, 2026 at 4:54 AM
Predictive algorithms in hiring, creditworthiness, and welfare programs are sold as objective and efficient, writes James O’Sullivan. In practice, however, they operationalize historical bias, scale discrimination, and launder political choices through opaque technical systems, he argues.
Only a casual 5000+ comment thread of two Gemini AI agents constantly doing and then undoing a task.
github.com/google-gemin...
github.com/google-gemin...
allow exit and quit commands without leading slash (/) · Issue #16723 · google-gemini/gemini-cli
What would you like to be added? This is feature request - someone can point it as bug as well but I will not. Ask / Request 👉🏽 Implement exit and quit as standard commands with a simple confirmati...
github.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Only a casual 5000+ comment thread of two Gemini AI agents constantly doing and then undoing a task.
github.com/google-gemin...
github.com/google-gemin...
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
atrocious. How can anyone, but particularly ECRs who are often in insecure work, plan with this??
⁉️The ARC has delayed outcomes of ALL grants 1–4 months & increased scheduled outcome windows from 2 weeks to 3 months!
This reverses 4 years of progress in providing greater certainty & ability to plan for researchers, their families & unis.
Their excuse? Security checks under new ARC legislation👇
This reverses 4 years of progress in providing greater certainty & ability to plan for researchers, their families & unis.
Their excuse? Security checks under new ARC legislation👇
January 12, 2026 at 10:04 PM
atrocious. How can anyone, but particularly ECRs who are often in insecure work, plan with this??
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
How's that even going to work with the 2x DP cap, given +1 yr on responses? Seems as well thought through as a paper raincoat.
ECR/MCR precarity is already ridiculous, but this is only going to make it worse. Genuinely have to wonder if it'd be easier for the ARC if we all just left research.
ECR/MCR precarity is already ridiculous, but this is only going to make it worse. Genuinely have to wonder if it'd be easier for the ARC if we all just left research.
January 12, 2026 at 11:30 PM
How's that even going to work with the 2x DP cap, given +1 yr on responses? Seems as well thought through as a paper raincoat.
ECR/MCR precarity is already ridiculous, but this is only going to make it worse. Genuinely have to wonder if it'd be easier for the ARC if we all just left research.
ECR/MCR precarity is already ridiculous, but this is only going to make it worse. Genuinely have to wonder if it'd be easier for the ARC if we all just left research.
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
“With a fixed budget, every dollar that you spend on armed men is one that is not going to mitigate the actual systemic issues that create the conditions that the armed men purportedly exist to fight” - @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social
The Consequences of Rejecting "Defund the Police"
Political cowardice is paid for in blood.
open.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:57 PM
“With a fixed budget, every dollar that you spend on armed men is one that is not going to mitigate the actual systemic issues that create the conditions that the armed men purportedly exist to fight” - @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social
To answer the headline: seemingly another dude in tech who views women as his playthings. The barriers are already high enough, and these sort of actions kick down the few ladders that could exist.
www.smh.com.au/technology/w...
www.smh.com.au/technology/w...
Why a groundbreaking new TV show disappeared without a trace
Choosing high-profile tech boffin James Curran as co-host proved to be disastrous.
www.smh.com.au
January 3, 2026 at 3:10 AM
To answer the headline: seemingly another dude in tech who views women as his playthings. The barriers are already high enough, and these sort of actions kick down the few ladders that could exist.
www.smh.com.au/technology/w...
www.smh.com.au/technology/w...
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
What's funny is you can tell exactly why it output this string.
When it stole literally all of Stack Overflow, it stole tons and tons of people's explanations of how to make a program that produces random character strings.
One of the easiest ways to do so, contains *this* ASCII string.
When it stole literally all of Stack Overflow, it stole tons and tons of people's explanations of how to make a program that produces random character strings.
One of the easiest ways to do so, contains *this* ASCII string.
July 31, 2025 at 5:02 AM
What's funny is you can tell exactly why it output this string.
When it stole literally all of Stack Overflow, it stole tons and tons of people's explanations of how to make a program that produces random character strings.
One of the easiest ways to do so, contains *this* ASCII string.
When it stole literally all of Stack Overflow, it stole tons and tons of people's explanations of how to make a program that produces random character strings.
One of the easiest ways to do so, contains *this* ASCII string.
How exactly can a country like Australia be out of anti-bleeding drugs like Tranexamic Acid? It's used, among other things, to control post surgical bleeding - my local hospital is down to 16 tabs, and all chemists have been out of stock for months. Madness. Seems like total supply chain failure.
December 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
How exactly can a country like Australia be out of anti-bleeding drugs like Tranexamic Acid? It's used, among other things, to control post surgical bleeding - my local hospital is down to 16 tabs, and all chemists have been out of stock for months. Madness. Seems like total supply chain failure.
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
“Maybe we’re onto something.”
“How can we tell? We’ve only done this 187,623 times with the same success every single time. Could be a fluke.”
“How can we tell? We’ve only done this 187,623 times with the same success every single time. Could be a fluke.”
An Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees a staggering reduction in homelessness. The program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years, and at the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness
The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
www.streetroots.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:17 AM
“Maybe we’re onto something.”
“How can we tell? We’ve only done this 187,623 times with the same success every single time. Could be a fluke.”
“How can we tell? We’ve only done this 187,623 times with the same success every single time. Could be a fluke.”
Probably would be a good idea to actually fund research and commercialisation in AI then....? Australia does punch above its weight in terms of AI research efficiency, but fundamentally without money the country will continue to experience a brain drain.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
December 2, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Probably would be a good idea to actually fund research and commercialisation in AI then....? Australia does punch above its weight in terms of AI research efficiency, but fundamentally without money the country will continue to experience a brain drain.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
What exactly is the threat model that this is addressing? May as well just say "turn off your router all the time". Ludicrous advice like this will surely make it harder to get real messages through, especially if naive users think that things like this are what's required for cyber safety. So dumb.
December 1, 2025 at 5:29 AM
What exactly is the threat model that this is addressing? May as well just say "turn off your router all the time". Ludicrous advice like this will surely make it harder to get real messages through, especially if naive users think that things like this are what's required for cyber safety. So dumb.
Good to see politicians going so quickly from responding to groundswell to trying to put forth action. But long term this isn't about CSIRO, it should be about how science is treated (and funded) in Australia.
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Good to see politicians going so quickly from responding to groundswell to trying to put forth action. But long term this isn't about CSIRO, it should be about how science is treated (and funded) in Australia.
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
"CSIRO adding it would be looking for between $80m and $135m each year to renovate its ageing property portfolio."
Here I was thinking it was that humans that did science, not buildings. Yet one more set of cuts to finally yield the"sharpened research focus that capitalises on our unique strengths"
Here I was thinking it was that humans that did science, not buildings. Yet one more set of cuts to finally yield the"sharpened research focus that capitalises on our unique strengths"
Read more (don't let this gutting of CSIRO and science happen in silence): www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Shame on your government, @albomp.bsky.social .
Shame on your government, @albomp.bsky.social .
‘Sad day for publicly funded science’: up to 350 more jobs to go at CSIRO
Australia’s national scientific agency announces more research job losses as it looks for budgetary savings
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:51 AM
"CSIRO adding it would be looking for between $80m and $135m each year to renovate its ageing property portfolio."
Here I was thinking it was that humans that did science, not buildings. Yet one more set of cuts to finally yield the"sharpened research focus that capitalises on our unique strengths"
Here I was thinking it was that humans that did science, not buildings. Yet one more set of cuts to finally yield the"sharpened research focus that capitalises on our unique strengths"
On one level, I'm surprised that people are surprised by this - Chinese academics coming to American AI conferences has apparently become a near impossibility, especially for PhD students. On the other, it's still deeply concerning to see things potentially getting worse.
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 15, 2025 at 10:46 AM
On one level, I'm surprised that people are surprised by this - Chinese academics coming to American AI conferences has apparently become a near impossibility, especially for PhD students. On the other, it's still deeply concerning to see things potentially getting worse.
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
Attention Authors: Updated Practice for Review Articles and Position Papers in arXiv CS Category – arXiv blog
blog.arxiv.org
November 1, 2025 at 5:28 PM
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
Unwarranted detention, brought to you by the false positive rate.
Have reviewed AI papers proposing similar work, that haven't been flagged for ethics reviews. For authors working in adjacent spaces - this is how your work will be used. Reviewers - think broadly about potential harm. ACs - filter!
Have reviewed AI papers proposing similar work, that haven't been flagged for ethics reviews. For authors working in adjacent spaces - this is how your work will be used. Reviewers - think broadly about potential harm. ACs - filter!
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
ICE and CBP Agents Are Scanning Peoples’ Faces on the Street To Verify Citizenship
Videos on social media show officers from ICE and CBP using facial recognition technology on people in the field. One expert described the practice as “pure dystopian creep.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Unwarranted detention, brought to you by the false positive rate.
Have reviewed AI papers proposing similar work, that haven't been flagged for ethics reviews. For authors working in adjacent spaces - this is how your work will be used. Reviewers - think broadly about potential harm. ACs - filter!
Have reviewed AI papers proposing similar work, that haven't been flagged for ethics reviews. For authors working in adjacent spaces - this is how your work will be used. Reviewers - think broadly about potential harm. ACs - filter!
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
Translation for last year PhD students: You want to watch the ARC webpage tomorrow to see who will be looking for postdocs in 2026
ARC says Discovery Projects outcomes will be tomorrow (Tuesday). Linkage Projects (2025, round 1) on Wed. Over past ~year, it's often been at about 11am (Canberra).
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
October 27, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Translation for last year PhD students: You want to watch the ARC webpage tomorrow to see who will be looking for postdocs in 2026
This seems to be...interestingly timed, given the lawsuit regarding Adam Raine. From a security perspective, I'm curious as to what exactly OpenAI has done that leaves them confident about amping up how much "like a friend" LLMs will be, given our evolving understanding of the human risk landscape.
October 15, 2025 at 6:24 AM
This seems to be...interestingly timed, given the lawsuit regarding Adam Raine. From a security perspective, I'm curious as to what exactly OpenAI has done that leaves them confident about amping up how much "like a friend" LLMs will be, given our evolving understanding of the human risk landscape.
Huge repositories of private information? Check. No information security at all? Check.
Rental applications are an absolute goldmine of private information - up to and including bank account information, passport numbers, job history and more, especially for foreign nationals.
Rental applications are an absolute goldmine of private information - up to and including bank account information, passport numbers, job history and more, especially for foreign nationals.
Hackers have allegedly breached a Sydney real estate agency, posting a sample of stolen tenant and agent data online – while threatening to release more over coming days www.realestatebusiness.com.au/tech/30638-h...
Hackers claim breach of Sydney agency, threaten to leak tenant and agent data
Hackers have allegedly breached a Sydney real estate agency, posting a sample of stolen tenant and agent data online – while threatening to release more over coming days.
www.realestatebusiness.com.au
September 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Huge repositories of private information? Check. No information security at all? Check.
Rental applications are an absolute goldmine of private information - up to and including bank account information, passport numbers, job history and more, especially for foreign nationals.
Rental applications are an absolute goldmine of private information - up to and including bank account information, passport numbers, job history and more, especially for foreign nationals.
In today's installment of bad graphs and data: the power of setting the boundaries to fit personal views. What does accept mean? How does accept differ from undecided? There may have been a justification by the pollster, but that's not clear in the presentation.
Incredible stuff here from the Nine papers to combine “I don’t have strong feelings but I accept the fact we have purchased these submarines” with “support”.
September 16, 2025 at 4:10 AM
In today's installment of bad graphs and data: the power of setting the boundaries to fit personal views. What does accept mean? How does accept differ from undecided? There may have been a justification by the pollster, but that's not clear in the presentation.
Reposted by Andrew Cullen
The National Climate Risk Report - my life for two years - has just been released.
www.acs.gov.au/pages/nation...
Minister Bowen press conference at: www.youtube.com/live/GLvd_fu...
My specific report on the weather and climate hazards: climateservice.maps.arcgis.com/sharing/rest...
www.acs.gov.au/pages/nation...
Minister Bowen press conference at: www.youtube.com/live/GLvd_fu...
My specific report on the weather and climate hazards: climateservice.maps.arcgis.com/sharing/rest...
September 15, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The National Climate Risk Report - my life for two years - has just been released.
www.acs.gov.au/pages/nation...
Minister Bowen press conference at: www.youtube.com/live/GLvd_fu...
My specific report on the weather and climate hazards: climateservice.maps.arcgis.com/sharing/rest...
www.acs.gov.au/pages/nation...
Minister Bowen press conference at: www.youtube.com/live/GLvd_fu...
My specific report on the weather and climate hazards: climateservice.maps.arcgis.com/sharing/rest...
Hard to be proud of the institution over this. An organization that can pursue the Fisherman's Bend folly for years, and yet $110k to honor its commitment to an Australian intellectual institution is suddenly too much? And to just shutter it without even trying for alternate pathways?
It’s ludicrous and insulting to suggest that the richest university in Australia can’t afford the two part-time wages to run Meanjin.
Also: did they even try to save it? Donation drive? Philanthropic efforts? Offering it to another institution?
No.
The university council shut it down intentionally.
Also: did they even try to save it? Donation drive? Philanthropic efforts? Offering it to another institution?
No.
The university council shut it down intentionally.
Exclusive: Australia’s second-oldest literary journal, Meanjin, is being shut down today for "financial" reasons, Crikey can reveal.
September 4, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Hard to be proud of the institution over this. An organization that can pursue the Fisherman's Bend folly for years, and yet $110k to honor its commitment to an Australian intellectual institution is suddenly too much? And to just shutter it without even trying for alternate pathways?
This is such a simple thing, and would be so impactful. I've had part time PhD students who've had to make difficult decisions when juggling childcare, finances, and just surviving. This wouldn't fix it all, but would 100% move the needle.
My petition to the 🇦🇺 Australian government: make part-time PhD students' stipends tax exempt!
📋 Read and sign here: www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/...
⏰ Deadline: October 1
📋 Read and sign here: www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/...
⏰ Deadline: October 1
e-petitions
e-petitions
www.aph.gov.au
September 3, 2025 at 8:09 AM
This is such a simple thing, and would be so impactful. I've had part time PhD students who've had to make difficult decisions when juggling childcare, finances, and just surviving. This wouldn't fix it all, but would 100% move the needle.