Andy Harbison
@andrewharbison1.bsky.social
Early refugee from the Bad Place. IT security, forensics and investigations guy with far too many history books. All opinions personal and do not reflect etc. etc.
Reposted by Andy Harbison
“AI is actually brown people in a shed” part 6519
Once again, it turns out “fully autonomous” means “a guy in the Philippines.”
It Turns Out Waymos Are Being Controlled by Workers in the Philippines
During a Congressional hearing, Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, was grilled over the company's reliance on overseas workers.
futurism.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:13 PM
“AI is actually brown people in a shed” part 6519
Reposted by Andy Harbison
5/5 PMs with approval ratings of measles isn't just a feature of failed leadership. It's Brexit Britain. There's no money for anything people want and were promised they would have, and no one can blame the people who got us into this mess because they got 52% of the vote (let alone reverse it).
Starmer's reported condition - incredibly unpopular, shorn of authority, probably un-reelectable and yet will stagger on for want of an alternative - is just the new normal of how Britain is governed. It was also true for two-thirds of May's premiership, half of Johnson's and all of Sunak's.
February 6, 2026 at 12:10 PM
5/5 PMs with approval ratings of measles isn't just a feature of failed leadership. It's Brexit Britain. There's no money for anything people want and were promised they would have, and no one can blame the people who got us into this mess because they got 52% of the vote (let alone reverse it).
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Every American needs to watch this:
February 5, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Every American needs to watch this:
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Thread:
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
February 5, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Thread:
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Former speechwriter for Bush the Younger and Senior Editor at The Atlantic:
February 4, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Former speechwriter for Bush the Younger and Senior Editor at The Atlantic:
Reposted by Andy Harbison
For basically my entire adult life, Mandelson has been resigning from one job after another in distinctly unedifying ways. The fact he keeps being rehired presumably shows he's very good at something and I'd be interested to read a brief summary of what exactly that is. Does anyone know?
February 4, 2026 at 1:14 PM
For basically my entire adult life, Mandelson has been resigning from one job after another in distinctly unedifying ways. The fact he keeps being rehired presumably shows he's very good at something and I'd be interested to read a brief summary of what exactly that is. Does anyone know?
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Pleased to see the jury make this decision.
We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.
People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.
People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Palestine Action protesters not guilty of defence firm burglary
The group are cleared of aggravated burglary over the alleged raid at an Elbit Systems warehouse.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Pleased to see the jury make this decision.
We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.
People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.
People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Possibly the biggest burn in this year, and this says a lot when reflecting the last 4 weeks. The French MFA absolutely torched Elon Musk.
February 4, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Possibly the biggest burn in this year, and this says a lot when reflecting the last 4 weeks. The French MFA absolutely torched Elon Musk.
Reposted by Andy Harbison
This isn’t some anonymous tip. This is sworn testimony, under penalty of perjury, from someone who said Trump threatened to kill her if she exposed Epstein’s sexual abuse.
February 3, 2026 at 5:04 PM
This isn’t some anonymous tip. This is sworn testimony, under penalty of perjury, from someone who said Trump threatened to kill her if she exposed Epstein’s sexual abuse.
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Striking paper from researchers at Anthropic using a randomised control trial to look at the effects of AI use on skills acquisition.
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
February 4, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Striking paper from researchers at Anthropic using a randomised control trial to look at the effects of AI use on skills acquisition.
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Geht doch 👇‼️
Musk's X office in France raided by Paris prosecutor
Musk's X office in France raided by Paris prosecutor
The Paris prosecutor says its cyber-crime unit is conducting a search of X's offices.
www.bbc.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Geht doch 👇‼️
Function specific AI’s can be of immense use (eg the protein folding AIs that won the Nobel last year.) LLMs are also useful in reformatting data - text to speech, summarisation etc, where their intrinsic propensity to hallucinate can be controlled.
But for too many, AI has become akin to a cult.
But for too many, AI has become akin to a cult.
AI conferences have rushed to restrict the use of LLMs for writing and reviewing research papers in recent months after being flooded with AI-generated slop (Melissa Heikkilä/Financial Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
February 2, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Function specific AI’s can be of immense use (eg the protein folding AIs that won the Nobel last year.) LLMs are also useful in reformatting data - text to speech, summarisation etc, where their intrinsic propensity to hallucinate can be controlled.
But for too many, AI has become akin to a cult.
But for too many, AI has become akin to a cult.
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Trump sued the BBC for editing one of his speeches.
It makes you wonder why he's not suing people for directly, openly stating that he's a rapist and a paedophile.
It makes you wonder why he's not suing people for directly, openly stating that he's a rapist and a paedophile.
February 1, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Trump sued the BBC for editing one of his speeches.
It makes you wonder why he's not suing people for directly, openly stating that he's a rapist and a paedophile.
It makes you wonder why he's not suing people for directly, openly stating that he's a rapist and a paedophile.
Reposted by Andy Harbison
The right way to get into the Epstein files.
February 1, 2026 at 3:44 PM
The right way to get into the Epstein files.
Nah. Not genocide at all.
If you consider MSF some kind of hostile organisation, you’re simply evil. Accept it, and stop wasting everyone else’s time with excuses.
If you consider MSF some kind of hostile organisation, you’re simply evil. Accept it, and stop wasting everyone else’s time with excuses.
Israel announces that Doctors Without Borders (MSF) will have to leave Gaza by February 28th. rfi.my/COxw
Israël annonce que Médecins sans frontières (MSF) devra quitter Gaza d'ici au 28 février prochain
Israël a décidé, dimanche 1er février, de mettre fin aux activités de Médecins sans frontières (MSF) dans la bande de Gaza d'ici au 28 février pour avoir refusé de fournir la liste de ses employés pal...
rfi.my
February 1, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Nah. Not genocide at all.
If you consider MSF some kind of hostile organisation, you’re simply evil. Accept it, and stop wasting everyone else’s time with excuses.
If you consider MSF some kind of hostile organisation, you’re simply evil. Accept it, and stop wasting everyone else’s time with excuses.
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Israel announces that Doctors Without Borders (MSF) will have to leave Gaza by February 28th. rfi.my/COxw
Israël annonce que Médecins sans frontières (MSF) devra quitter Gaza d'ici au 28 février prochain
Israël a décidé, dimanche 1er février, de mettre fin aux activités de Médecins sans frontières (MSF) dans la bande de Gaza d'ici au 28 février pour avoir refusé de fournir la liste de ses employés pal...
rfi.my
February 1, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Israel announces that Doctors Without Borders (MSF) will have to leave Gaza by February 28th. rfi.my/COxw
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Kristi Noem Calls On Minneapolis Residents To Stop Obstructing Murders
Kristi Noem Calls On Minneapolis Residents To Stop Obstructing Murders
WASHINGTON—Urging locals to “fully cooperate” with federal agents, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called on Minneapolis residents Monday to stop obstructing murders. “The brave ...
theonion.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Kristi Noem Calls On Minneapolis Residents To Stop Obstructing Murders
The S&P is wildly overvalued, the AI bubble is getting insane with circular financing all over the place, Gold is astronomical, T-bill yields gyrating and crypto as mad as it ever was.
And who’s there to respond to the inevitable massive crash? Trump, Bessent, Lutnick and now Warsh?
We’re screwed.
And who’s there to respond to the inevitable massive crash? Trump, Bessent, Lutnick and now Warsh?
We’re screwed.
CNBC confirming that Kevin Warsh was at the white house today meeting with the president. Pres Trump said he’s announcing his pick for fed chair “tomorrow morning.”
January 30, 2026 at 8:35 AM
The S&P is wildly overvalued, the AI bubble is getting insane with circular financing all over the place, Gold is astronomical, T-bill yields gyrating and crypto as mad as it ever was.
And who’s there to respond to the inevitable massive crash? Trump, Bessent, Lutnick and now Warsh?
We’re screwed.
And who’s there to respond to the inevitable massive crash? Trump, Bessent, Lutnick and now Warsh?
We’re screwed.
Reposted by Andy Harbison
CNBC confirming that Kevin Warsh was at the white house today meeting with the president. Pres Trump said he’s announcing his pick for fed chair “tomorrow morning.”
January 30, 2026 at 12:35 AM
CNBC confirming that Kevin Warsh was at the white house today meeting with the president. Pres Trump said he’s announcing his pick for fed chair “tomorrow morning.”
Reposted by Andy Harbison
“Imagine how they lie when there’s no evidence to contradict them.”
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
January 27, 2026 at 7:59 PM
“Imagine how they lie when there’s no evidence to contradict them.”
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
Reposted by Andy Harbison
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by Andy Harbison
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases
January 28, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases