AlanFricker
@alanfricker.bsky.social
Still growing stuff, running and generally interested. Probably library chat will happen.
This from @aarontay.bsky.social is excellent - challenging people to be more subtle in where AI is in our tools and which parts of that are an issue for us as individuals or a service aarontay.substack.com/p/what-do-we... 📚
What Do We Actually Mean by "AI-Powered Search"?
When we say "AI-powered search engine," we're conflating at least four different things—and your concerns about one may not apply to another.
aarontay.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
This from @aarontay.bsky.social is excellent - challenging people to be more subtle in where AI is in our tools and which parts of that are an issue for us as individuals or a service aarontay.substack.com/p/what-do-we... 📚
It would be unfair to pick out a formative book - I basically read everything I could get hold of
Back home, and found my Christmas present from when i was about 10:
The Cambridge Encyclopedia.
It will surprise none of my followers to learn this book is my origin story.
The Cambridge Encyclopedia.
It will surprise none of my followers to learn this book is my origin story.
December 27, 2025 at 9:09 PM
It would be unfair to pick out a formative book - I basically read everything I could get hold of
Reposted by AlanFricker
the robot also doubling over as if it kicked itself in the balls too makes this ten times funnier
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 5:56 PM
the robot also doubling over as if it kicked itself in the balls too makes this ten times funnier
December 26, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Just a lovely thing. Fully into my man of a certain age local interest books gift era
December 25, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Just a lovely thing. Fully into my man of a certain age local interest books gift era
Reposted by AlanFricker
Pleased to see this piece. Personally, I find these uses of synthetic data v concerning and I find the traction and endorsements that this work has to be quite baffling, esp given the well-storied role of algorithmic targeting in undermining democracy
"We risk inheriting a future in which institutions answer to synthetic publics rather than real ones" rebootdemocracy.ai/blog/researc...
Research Radar: Synthetic Data Is Redefining Representation
As governments experiment with AI to simulate public opinion, new questions are emerging about who these systems truly represent. This Research Radar examines the Collective Intelligence Project’s Dig...
rebootdemocracy.ai
December 22, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Pleased to see this piece. Personally, I find these uses of synthetic data v concerning and I find the traction and endorsements that this work has to be quite baffling, esp given the well-storied role of algorithmic targeting in undermining democracy
Reposted by AlanFricker
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
December 21, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
Second batch of the season
December 21, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Second batch of the season
Librarians are going to be busy / tearing their hair out 📚
It seems AI is creating new jobs! I can see every journal will be needing a dedicated citation verification editor.
December 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Librarians are going to be busy / tearing their hair out 📚
Reposted by AlanFricker
Very sad to hear Dr Paul Ayris has passed away. He was a great champion of libraries and open access, hugely influential, and very supportive of us at #ebookSOS. A great loss to the library and research communities.
www.leru.org/news/in-memo...
www.leru.org/news/in-memo...
Dr Paul Ayris | LERU
Dr Paul Ayris LERU UCL Open Science
www.leru.org
December 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Very sad to hear Dr Paul Ayris has passed away. He was a great champion of libraries and open access, hugely influential, and very supportive of us at #ebookSOS. A great loss to the library and research communities.
www.leru.org/news/in-memo...
www.leru.org/news/in-memo...
Reposted by AlanFricker
Quakers in Britain are continuing to work to ensure that all Quaker communities are inclusive of gender diversity, following a decision in 2021. A new document provides both theological background for this, rooted in the commandment to love one another, and practical guidance. 1/4
December 19, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Quakers in Britain are continuing to work to ensure that all Quaker communities are inclusive of gender diversity, following a decision in 2021. A new document provides both theological background for this, rooted in the commandment to love one another, and practical guidance. 1/4
Glad that colleagues across Keele Uni and partner NHS libraries were able to successfully integrate their Alma with the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub #medlibs 📚
ciliphlg.com/mission-coll...
ciliphlg.com/mission-coll...
Mission collaboration – Integrating our catalogue into the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub
Frances Griffiths, Deputy Health Library Manager, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust The Scenario The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust holds a service level agreement …
ciliphlg.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Glad that colleagues across Keele Uni and partner NHS libraries were able to successfully integrate their Alma with the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub #medlibs 📚
ciliphlg.com/mission-coll...
ciliphlg.com/mission-coll...
Reposted by AlanFricker
You do *not* need a shift key! Real hackers have a keyboard with separate uppercase and lowercase.
The caps lock key is for wimps 😄
(As seen in the very fine Kauri Museum outside of Auckland.)
The caps lock key is for wimps 😄
(As seen in the very fine Kauri Museum outside of Auckland.)
December 19, 2025 at 4:11 AM
You do *not* need a shift key! Real hackers have a keyboard with separate uppercase and lowercase.
The caps lock key is for wimps 😄
(As seen in the very fine Kauri Museum outside of Auckland.)
The caps lock key is for wimps 😄
(As seen in the very fine Kauri Museum outside of Auckland.)
Reposted by AlanFricker
This is hilarious and terrifying in equal measure.
AI is coming for what is famously the easiest job on the planet... and absolutely eating shit in the attempt.
We Let AI Run Our Office Vending Machine. It Lost Hundreds of Dollars.
An AI agent ran a snack operation in the WSJ newsroom. It gave away a free PlayStation, ordered a live fish—and taught us lessons about the future of AI.
www.wsj.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:06 PM
This is hilarious and terrifying in equal measure.
Reposted by AlanFricker
Adore the British-themed mural in my hotel in Valletta, including: yassified Virgin Queen, Churchill with pigeon, and for some reason General Rochambeau (not very British? like really pointedly not? did they think he was Nelson? wrong number of arms for a start) in a Spitfire that says “dong” on it
December 17, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Adore the British-themed mural in my hotel in Valletta, including: yassified Virgin Queen, Churchill with pigeon, and for some reason General Rochambeau (not very British? like really pointedly not? did they think he was Nelson? wrong number of arms for a start) in a Spitfire that says “dong” on it
Email advertising new features on an AI tool that sets off all manner of IP alarm bells
a man is standing on a city street with the words `` the secret ingredient is crime '' written on his face .
ALT: a man is standing on a city street with the words `` the secret ingredient is crime '' written on his face .
media.tenor.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Email advertising new features on an AI tool that sets off all manner of IP alarm bells
This is interesting from @tripdatabase.bsky.social exploring the kinds of questions where there is limited evidence with reasons why #medlibs 📚
blog.tripdatabase.com/2025/12/12/w...
blog.tripdatabase.com/2025/12/12/w...
Where Evidence Is Thinnest: What 100 Real Clinical Questions Reveal
Looking across clinical questions over time can be revealing, but looking specifically at those where the evidence is limited is particularly instructive. The analysis below draws on the most recen…
blog.tripdatabase.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This is interesting from @tripdatabase.bsky.social exploring the kinds of questions where there is limited evidence with reasons why #medlibs 📚
blog.tripdatabase.com/2025/12/12/w...
blog.tripdatabase.com/2025/12/12/w...
Essex Vets XC V50 team bronze!!!!!!
December 13, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Essex Vets XC V50 team bronze!!!!!!
Reposted by AlanFricker
Think that today may be your last day. Logs off to clean bathroom
"that's a cool old jug with a ship on it this antique dealer just listed, i wonder what cheerful twee nautical verse is printed on the other side"
December 12, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Think that today may be your last day. Logs off to clean bathroom
When you realise the implication of a search tool combining searches not result sets (can't NOT two otherwise identical searches with different limiters applied to find the uniques). Is this normal?
December 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
When you realise the implication of a search tool combining searches not result sets (can't NOT two otherwise identical searches with different limiters applied to find the uniques). Is this normal?
Christmas finally getting started. I'll be paying my annual pilgrimage to visit the little guy next week
Found Festive Crab* in Soho yesterday. They have a friend I hadn't seen before!
* Someone pointed out it's probably Santa Claws but that's not as fun so shh
* Someone pointed out it's probably Santa Claws but that's not as fun so shh
December 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Christmas finally getting started. I'll be paying my annual pilgrimage to visit the little guy next week
Another cracking #ChingfordLeague night racing under the lights with Loughton AC at the Velopark
December 11, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Another cracking #ChingfordLeague night racing under the lights with Loughton AC at the Velopark