Gavin Starks
@dgen.net
Pinned
And there we have it.
"Shareholders’ anxiety about Musk’s threat to quit as chief executive if the proposal was rejected outweighed governance and societal concerns around the huge pay deal for the world’s richest man"
"Shareholders’ anxiety about Musk’s threat to quit as chief executive if the proposal was rejected outweighed governance and societal concerns around the huge pay deal for the world’s richest man"
Breaking news: The package, which could add as much as 12% to Musk’s ownership stake through equity awards, was approved by a majority of 75% of votes cast at Tesla’s annual meeting at its Texas gigafactory. on.ft.com/3LxdIe5
November 7, 2025 at 2:10 AM
And there we have it.
"Shareholders’ anxiety about Musk’s threat to quit as chief executive if the proposal was rejected outweighed governance and societal concerns around the huge pay deal for the world’s richest man"
"Shareholders’ anxiety about Musk’s threat to quit as chief executive if the proposal was rejected outweighed governance and societal concerns around the huge pay deal for the world’s richest man"
today in _spectacular_ communication & community management from @soundcloud.dev we see the classic "we've updated our terms but won't tell you what's changed, if it's better, or why, who knows! Give us your money, and let us do whatever we want to. We don't like to build trust and we don't care."
November 7, 2025 at 12:17 AM
today in _spectacular_ communication & community management from @soundcloud.dev we see the classic "we've updated our terms but won't tell you what's changed, if it's better, or why, who knows! Give us your money, and let us do whatever we want to. We don't like to build trust and we don't care."
Owen is right to highlight this. As taxpayers, we already paid. All this will do is introduce higher prices to all consumers and businesses.
This GOTT guidance is Treasury-brained and low-key hostile to #opendata – it starts from the premise that organisations in the UK public sector should look to commercially exploit "their" knowledge assets, with no real expectation that they should prioritise the wider public interest.
October 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Owen is right to highlight this. As taxpayers, we already paid. All this will do is introduce higher prices to all consumers and businesses.
curious email from @spotify.com saying they're increasing monthly fees by 8% to "invest in [their] product, develop new features and continue to bring you the best experience."
1. Really? I'd love to see how $much is invested in it
2. Stop with the AI: it's sh*t
3. Please pay artists properly
1. Really? I'd love to see how $much is invested in it
2. Stop with the AI: it's sh*t
3. Please pay artists properly
October 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
curious email from @spotify.com saying they're increasing monthly fees by 8% to "invest in [their] product, develop new features and continue to bring you the best experience."
1. Really? I'd love to see how $much is invested in it
2. Stop with the AI: it's sh*t
3. Please pay artists properly
1. Really? I'd love to see how $much is invested in it
2. Stop with the AI: it's sh*t
3. Please pay artists properly
Today in opting out of more "the default is AI" nonsense: @linkedin
This link should take you right to it, change from "on" to "off" www.linkedin.com/mypreference...
This link should take you right to it, change from "on" to "off" www.linkedin.com/mypreference...
October 8, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Today in opting out of more "the default is AI" nonsense: @linkedin
This link should take you right to it, change from "on" to "off" www.linkedin.com/mypreference...
This link should take you right to it, change from "on" to "off" www.linkedin.com/mypreference...
Can anyone explain to me why Google is breaking the concept of document permissioning by getting permission changes to cascade *up* a folder structure rather than down?
workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2025/09/upco...
cf www.linkedin.com/posts/gavins...
workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2025/09/upco...
cf www.linkedin.com/posts/gavins...
Google Workspace Updates: Upcoming Change to Drive Sharing Permissions
workspaceupdates.googleblog.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Can anyone explain to me why Google is breaking the concept of document permissioning by getting permission changes to cascade *up* a folder structure rather than down?
workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2025/09/upco...
cf www.linkedin.com/posts/gavins...
workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2025/09/upco...
cf www.linkedin.com/posts/gavins...
Has anyone set up a lettuce for the digitalID expiry?
(digital ID will have as much impact on immigration as blockchain, or a potato)
Judging by the 1.2M+ petition signatures, dozens of industry solutions, and media backlash ... a u-turn can't be far off?
(digital ID will have as much impact on immigration as blockchain, or a potato)
Judging by the 1.2M+ petition signatures, dozens of industry solutions, and media backlash ... a u-turn can't be far off?
September 26, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Has anyone set up a lettuce for the digitalID expiry?
(digital ID will have as much impact on immigration as blockchain, or a potato)
Judging by the 1.2M+ petition signatures, dozens of industry solutions, and media backlash ... a u-turn can't be far off?
(digital ID will have as much impact on immigration as blockchain, or a potato)
Judging by the 1.2M+ petition signatures, dozens of industry solutions, and media backlash ... a u-turn can't be far off?
Reposted by Gavin Starks
reading this OKF report
imo it's right to question the impact and role of openness + open licences..
..and take an interest in other "modes of governance and ways of sharing value"..
..but I don't think it's useful to bend the definition of open to encompass those modes okfn.org/en/projects/...
imo it's right to question the impact and role of openness + open licences..
..and take an interest in other "modes of governance and ways of sharing value"..
..but I don't think it's useful to bend the definition of open to encompass those modes okfn.org/en/projects/...
From Open Data to Sustainable Data Commons – Open Knowledge Foudation
Better governance mechanisms and legal tools to grow and sustain the data commons
okfn.org
September 18, 2025 at 3:28 PM
reading this OKF report
imo it's right to question the impact and role of openness + open licences..
..and take an interest in other "modes of governance and ways of sharing value"..
..but I don't think it's useful to bend the definition of open to encompass those modes okfn.org/en/projects/...
imo it's right to question the impact and role of openness + open licences..
..and take an interest in other "modes of governance and ways of sharing value"..
..but I don't think it's useful to bend the definition of open to encompass those modes okfn.org/en/projects/...
Great example of where we are vs where we think we are.
Asking the OpenAI Whisper audio model to transcribe 30 seconds of silence generates the output "ترجمة نانسي قنقر", which is "translation by Nancy Qanqar".
Nancy Qanqar is a volunteer translator of (among other things) many pirated movies, so that invites an interesting conclusion on data sources.
Nancy Qanqar is a volunteer translator of (among other things) many pirated movies, so that invites an interesting conclusion on data sources.
July 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Great example of where we are vs where we think we are.
Interesting observations here. There is a vast amount of activity around tech, ai and, now with the Data Act, on data sharing. We are in a moment of great opportunity and very material risk. More eyes across everything is absolutely essential to ensure the UK gets the outcomes we all need and want.
There seems to be a lot of US tech money in UK think tanks at the moment. Feel a bit 👀👀 about the fact that the Social Markets Foundation, not exactly known for their deep tech engagement, have created an Open Source Readiness Index, with backing from Meta www.smf.co.uk/open-source-...
July 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Interesting observations here. There is a vast amount of activity around tech, ai and, now with the Data Act, on data sharing. We are in a moment of great opportunity and very material risk. More eyes across everything is absolutely essential to ensure the UK gets the outcomes we all need and want.
If this is a sign of things to come we can reasonably expect all ai investment to slow down, as trust evaporates: investors get nervous if they know they are wading into a mess.
Imagine if we could address good governance and transparency up-front?! I wouldn't invest in any ai that doesn't.
Imagine if we could address good governance and transparency up-front?! I wouldn't invest in any ai that doesn't.
Extraordinarily response from the EHRC to our letter asking whether they were using AI to process consultation responses: "It is not for your client to question the manner in which that process is
being conducted while the process is ongoing."
Obviously we won't let it drop.
being conducted while the process is ongoing."
Obviously we won't let it drop.
July 13, 2025 at 12:20 PM
If this is a sign of things to come we can reasonably expect all ai investment to slow down, as trust evaporates: investors get nervous if they know they are wading into a mess.
Imagine if we could address good governance and transparency up-front?! I wouldn't invest in any ai that doesn't.
Imagine if we could address good governance and transparency up-front?! I wouldn't invest in any ai that doesn't.
In news literally no one could have seen coming...
🔴 Remember the £330million contract given to Trump donor Peter Thiel's firm Palantir to build an NHS data platform?
Well we've found out that most English hospitals aren't using it - because it's not very good
Scoop on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/palantirs-...
Well we've found out that most English hospitals aren't using it - because it's not very good
Scoop on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/palantirs-...
Palantir's NHS data platform rejected by most hospitals
US spy tech firm's £330million software isn't much cop, experts say
democracyforsale.substack.com
May 13, 2025 at 9:03 AM
In news literally no one could have seen coming...
Seems bizarre we need to remind us all to supprt science while reading & writing on devices that we couldn't make without it.
"science" describes a process to make things, not a belief system or political viewpoint.
Observe→Question→Hypothesise→Create tests →Test→Adapt→More tests→Generalise→Repeat↺
"science" describes a process to make things, not a belief system or political viewpoint.
Observe→Question→Hypothesise→Create tests →Test→Adapt→More tests→Generalise→Repeat↺
Inspiring celebration of David Attenborough from Kate Winslet and many others - and a much-needed reminder to stand with science www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Happy birthday, David Attenborough! 99 ways he has inspired us, by Barack Obama, Billie Eilish, Morgan Freeman – and many more
This week the presenter turns 99. To celebrate, we asked 99 nature lovers – including Margaret Atwood, Jane Fonda, Bono, Kate Winslet and Michael Palin – how he has helped us see the world with fresh ...
www.theguardian.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Seems bizarre we need to remind us all to supprt science while reading & writing on devices that we couldn't make without it.
"science" describes a process to make things, not a belief system or political viewpoint.
Observe→Question→Hypothesise→Create tests →Test→Adapt→More tests→Generalise→Repeat↺
"science" describes a process to make things, not a belief system or political viewpoint.
Observe→Question→Hypothesise→Create tests →Test→Adapt→More tests→Generalise→Repeat↺
Today in news that no one could ever have foreseen or predicted*
*everyone has been predicting since the inception of IoT
*everyone has been predicting since the inception of IoT
The Internet of Things ended up being the internet of unsupported products.
Google is ending support for 1st & 2nd generation Nests and completely pulling out of Europe.
Imagine having to replace the thermostats in your home because of a reorg at some big tech meant it was no longer a priority.
Google is ending support for 1st & 2nd generation Nests and completely pulling out of Europe.
Imagine having to replace the thermostats in your home because of a reorg at some big tech meant it was no longer a priority.
Google is killing software support for early Nest Thermostats
No more controlling these “smart” thermostats from a phone.
www.theverge.com
April 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Today in news that no one could ever have foreseen or predicted*
*everyone has been predicting since the inception of IoT
*everyone has been predicting since the inception of IoT
If you ever wondered if we're at the beginning of a journey... Here's the ai version of Internet tubes...
For your enjoyment: here is Secretary of Education Linda McMahon talking about implementing AI in schools, but pronouncing it "A1," as in "A1 Steak Sauce"
www.youtube.com/live/lxrg28z...
www.youtube.com/live/lxrg28z...
April 9, 2025 at 9:17 PM
If you ever wondered if we're at the beginning of a journey... Here's the ai version of Internet tubes...
Updated reflections and ideas around data sharing (esp. in relation to the 'national data library'). All comments welcome, as always agentgav.medium.com/fair-weather...
Fair weather, foul weather: navigating to positive impact in turbulent times
The National Data Library can deliver its vision,
but it must pivot to build trust in the age of today’s web
agentgav.medium.com
April 6, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Updated reflections and ideas around data sharing (esp. in relation to the 'national data library'). All comments welcome, as always agentgav.medium.com/fair-weather...
Would be very good to hear people's opinions here.
*looks left at UK government plans to charge for access to "data" held by public sector*
*looks right at UK government plans to relax copyright on "data" produced by creative sector*
*wonders if anyone can explain the difference in a paragraph of plain English*
*looks right at UK government plans to relax copyright on "data" produced by creative sector*
*wonders if anyone can explain the difference in a paragraph of plain English*
April 2, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Would be very good to hear people's opinions here.
"an early prototype for ministers as they draw up broader plans to sell anonymised public data...within 10 years"
Peter Kyle told FT “a really good example of the kind of gathering of data together and the use of data that ...will ultimately be the National Data Library”
www.ft.com/content/85d8...
Peter Kyle told FT “a really good example of the kind of gathering of data together and the use of data that ...will ultimately be the National Data Library”
www.ft.com/content/85d8...
UK tech scheme includes AI tool to mark homework as ministers weigh selling data
Public records my be monetised as part of National Data Library within a decade, says science secretary Peter Kyle
www.ft.com
March 31, 2025 at 9:19 AM
"an early prototype for ministers as they draw up broader plans to sell anonymised public data...within 10 years"
Peter Kyle told FT “a really good example of the kind of gathering of data together and the use of data that ...will ultimately be the National Data Library”
www.ft.com/content/85d8...
Peter Kyle told FT “a really good example of the kind of gathering of data together and the use of data that ...will ultimately be the National Data Library”
www.ft.com/content/85d8...
Many moons ago, a friend joked we needed a service called 'kickstopper' to actively stop certain kickstarter projects from existing... I think something related is happening for Telsa?
www.theguardian.com/technology/2... cc @yoz.bsky.social :)
www.theguardian.com/technology/2... cc @yoz.bsky.social :)
Protesters picket London Tesla showroom on global anti-Musk day
Alarmed by the havoc the Tesla CEO has wreaked in the US, Britons and Americans are showing their displeasure
www.theguardian.com
March 29, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Many moons ago, a friend joked we needed a service called 'kickstopper' to actively stop certain kickstarter projects from existing... I think something related is happening for Telsa?
www.theguardian.com/technology/2... cc @yoz.bsky.social :)
www.theguardian.com/technology/2... cc @yoz.bsky.social :)
I am at once both excited by people using ai to address systems challenges, and disappointed by the absence of systems thinking when people are looking at the many impacts of ai. (e.g. when people say ai will add $xx to GDP, I don't see much on where that extraction actually comes from)
March 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
I am at once both excited by people using ai to address systems challenges, and disappointed by the absence of systems thinking when people are looking at the many impacts of ai. (e.g. when people say ai will add $xx to GDP, I don't see much on where that extraction actually comes from)
lovely post on ai here bertus.substack.com/p/image-gene...
Image Generation, beyond better and worse
"I can be whatever you like me to be," she said, "take you wherever you want to go. Just tell me what you like and check the agree button."
bertus.substack.com
March 14, 2025 at 11:46 AM
lovely post on ai here bertus.substack.com/p/image-gene...
Congrats to the whole team here. A great example of data done well.
I'm delighted to say our highly secure and productive OpenSAFELY platform has received a further £17 million in funding from Wellcome, including for a new mental health data project. More here, and clips from Today on Radio4 this morning too!
www.bennett.ox.ac.uk/blog/2025/02...
www.bennett.ox.ac.uk/blog/2025/02...
Game-changing new funding from Wellcome for OpenSAFELY and mental health data | Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science
This morning the Today programme on Radio 4 did two great spots on OpenSAFELY.
www.bennett.ox.ac.uk
March 14, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Congrats to the whole team here. A great example of data done well.
Useful set of questions to consider when thinking about ai (and other disruptive tech)
Yesterday a group of us put our heads together to think about the questions that should be asked of Starmer's plans for AI in government - you might have seen this nod to it in Politico this morning. These are for journalists, politicians, and anyone with an interest in pro-democracy tech (1/3)
March 14, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Useful set of questions to consider when thinking about ai (and other disruptive tech)
Reposted by Gavin Starks
“Scopely will continue to share some player data from its games as part of a $50mn investment in Niantic Spatial” on.ft.com/3FnScpe
Saudi-owned Scopely buys Pokémon Go in $3.5bn gaming deal
US-based Niantic is selling its games business as part of a pivot to artificial intelligence
on.ft.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:17 PM
“Scopely will continue to share some player data from its games as part of a $50mn investment in Niantic Spatial” on.ft.com/3FnScpe