Kate Devlin
@drkatedevlin.bsky.social
Academic; writer. Professor of AI & Society, Chair-Director @kings-dfi.bsky.social, King’s College London. Eye-rolling at AI nonsense on a daily basis. #academicsky . Norn Irish in Norwich.
Pinned
Kate Devlin
@drkatedevlin.bsky.social
· Dec 9
Turned On
'Illuminating, witty and written with a wide open mind' - Sunday TimesAn exploration of humans, sexuality, interaction and technology through the lens of the se…
www.bloomsbury.com
Wondering what to get the person who has everything for Christmas? Might I suggest my book: a pop-sci foray into love, sex, history, psychology, philosophy, AI, and robots? Still timely, still relevant. Described by one reviewer as “not enough tentacle porn”.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/turned-on...
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/turned-on...
Christmas holidays, one week in. I'm just eating stuff because it's there, like Mallory facing Everest. Have I relaxed enough yet? Is there a set relaxation target?
December 27, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Christmas holidays, one week in. I'm just eating stuff because it's there, like Mallory facing Everest. Have I relaxed enough yet? Is there a set relaxation target?
"The snow in the mountains was melting and, unlike Tiny Tim who did NOT die, Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation."
‘It was the afternoon of my eighty-first birthday, and I was in bed with my catamite, Tiny Tim who did NOT die, when Ali announced that the archbishop had come to see me’
Sue silently took her companion’s hand, and with eyes on each other they heard these passing remarks—the quaint and mysterious personality of Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, being a subject which formed a large ingredient in the hints and innuendoes.
December 25, 2025 at 8:31 PM
"The snow in the mountains was melting and, unlike Tiny Tim who did NOT die, Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation."
Reposted by Kate Devlin
This is the 15th year of #DuvetKnowItsChristmas, which is preposterous. Rules: if you find yourself dealing with unusual / claustrophobic / gaudy sleeping arrangements this Christmas Eve, share a picture with the world. Use the hashtag (with capitalisation) and cc me if you can be bothered.
December 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
This is the 15th year of #DuvetKnowItsChristmas, which is preposterous. Rules: if you find yourself dealing with unusual / claustrophobic / gaudy sleeping arrangements this Christmas Eve, share a picture with the world. Use the hashtag (with capitalisation) and cc me if you can be bothered.
In case you need any last minute Christmas gift ideas. Give it to anyone who either believes or refuses to believe that people can fall for a robot or an AI companion.
Wondering what to get the person who has everything for Christmas? Might I suggest my book: a pop-sci foray into love, sex, history, psychology, philosophy, AI, and robots? Still timely, still relevant. Described by one reviewer as “not enough tentacle porn”.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/turned-on...
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/turned-on...
Turned On
'Illuminating, witty and written with a wide open mind' - Sunday TimesAn exploration of humans, sexuality, interaction and technology through the lens of the se…
www.bloomsbury.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM
In case you need any last minute Christmas gift ideas. Give it to anyone who either believes or refuses to believe that people can fall for a robot or an AI companion.
Reposted by Kate Devlin
Aaaand that's a wrap on 2025 🙃
From eVisas and crime-predicting tech to Stalker Ads and the Online Safety Act, ORG has fought for digital rights all the way.
With Digital ID, encryption battles and more ahead, it's time for a recap.
Check out #ORG2025 ⬇️
www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/org-end...
From eVisas and crime-predicting tech to Stalker Ads and the Online Safety Act, ORG has fought for digital rights all the way.
With Digital ID, encryption battles and more ahead, it's time for a recap.
Check out #ORG2025 ⬇️
www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/org-end...
ORG End of Year Review 2025
Digital rights in 2025 From age verification and digital ID to crime-predicting tech and attacks on migrants’ digital rights, this year we had to fight harder than ever against Big tech and…
www.openrightsgroup.org
December 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Aaaand that's a wrap on 2025 🙃
From eVisas and crime-predicting tech to Stalker Ads and the Online Safety Act, ORG has fought for digital rights all the way.
With Digital ID, encryption battles and more ahead, it's time for a recap.
Check out #ORG2025 ⬇️
www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/org-end...
From eVisas and crime-predicting tech to Stalker Ads and the Online Safety Act, ORG has fought for digital rights all the way.
With Digital ID, encryption battles and more ahead, it's time for a recap.
Check out #ORG2025 ⬇️
www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/org-end...
Reposted by Kate Devlin
Machine+Behavior is back! Pls spread the word.
18-19 May
Submission 8 Feb
Speakers include: Tom Griffiths, Allan Dafoe, Thore Graepel, Laura Weidinger, Kinga Makovi, @baronca.bsky.social, @drkatedevlin.bsky.social, Emilio Calvano, Brian D. Earp, Christopher Summerfield
machinebehavior.science
18-19 May
Submission 8 Feb
Speakers include: Tom Griffiths, Allan Dafoe, Thore Graepel, Laura Weidinger, Kinga Makovi, @baronca.bsky.social, @drkatedevlin.bsky.social, Emilio Calvano, Brian D. Earp, Christopher Summerfield
machinebehavior.science
Machine+Behavior Conference
Welcome to the forefront of behavioral science in the digital age.
machinebehavior.science
December 22, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Machine+Behavior is back! Pls spread the word.
18-19 May
Submission 8 Feb
Speakers include: Tom Griffiths, Allan Dafoe, Thore Graepel, Laura Weidinger, Kinga Makovi, @baronca.bsky.social, @drkatedevlin.bsky.social, Emilio Calvano, Brian D. Earp, Christopher Summerfield
machinebehavior.science
18-19 May
Submission 8 Feb
Speakers include: Tom Griffiths, Allan Dafoe, Thore Graepel, Laura Weidinger, Kinga Makovi, @baronca.bsky.social, @drkatedevlin.bsky.social, Emilio Calvano, Brian D. Earp, Christopher Summerfield
machinebehavior.science
Another beautiful #NewgrangeSolstice broadcast. Thank you, @opwireland.bsky.social
Quick, catch the path of the solstice sun at Newgrange. It's so incredible and quite, quite moving, even if the sun doesn't shine.
www.youtube.com/live/lRgumO6...
www.youtube.com/live/lRgumO6...
Winter Solstice Live Streaming - 21 December 2025
YouTube video by Office of Public Works
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Another beautiful #NewgrangeSolstice broadcast. Thank you, @opwireland.bsky.social
Quick, catch the path of the solstice sun at Newgrange. It's so incredible and quite, quite moving, even if the sun doesn't shine.
www.youtube.com/live/lRgumO6...
www.youtube.com/live/lRgumO6...
Winter Solstice Live Streaming - 21 December 2025
YouTube video by Office of Public Works
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Quick, catch the path of the solstice sun at Newgrange. It's so incredible and quite, quite moving, even if the sun doesn't shine.
www.youtube.com/live/lRgumO6...
www.youtube.com/live/lRgumO6...
If, like me, you love a ghost story at Christmas, this one is excellent ⬇️
Thanks for all the kind words about TOND, the #BrokenVeil ghost story for Christmas.
We’re really proud of it, and hope to be able to make lots more of these. So, thanks to all our supporters on Patreon.
pod.link/1745494718/e...
We’re really proud of it, and hope to be able to make lots more of these. So, thanks to all our supporters on Patreon.
pod.link/1745494718/e...
December 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
If, like me, you love a ghost story at Christmas, this one is excellent ⬇️
Waiting for my work laptop security update to complete so I can change my email autoreply from "I am unwell and hope to be back tomorrow" to "I am on annual leave until 5th Jan, see you next term."
December 19, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Waiting for my work laptop security update to complete so I can change my email autoreply from "I am unwell and hope to be back tomorrow" to "I am on annual leave until 5th Jan, see you next term."
This is such lovely news.
Huge announcement! We’re delighted to welcome Janet Ellis as our next President. 🎉
Janet is a brilliant communicator with a unique ability to connect with people, and she embodies the warmth, curiosity, and compassion at the heart of the humanist outlook.
Welcome! humanists.uk/2025/12/16/b...
Janet is a brilliant communicator with a unique ability to connect with people, and she embodies the warmth, curiosity, and compassion at the heart of the humanist outlook.
Welcome! humanists.uk/2025/12/16/b...
December 18, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This is such lovely news.
Sigh. Lemsip for breakfast. #itsthemostmiserabletimeoftheyear
December 18, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Sigh. Lemsip for breakfast. #itsthemostmiserabletimeoftheyear
It's too near the Christmas break for me to get appropriately annoyed about this to the point where I write about it so consider me sufficiently annoyed and imagine me pointing to all my previous comments on this topic.
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
December 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM
It's too near the Christmas break for me to get appropriately annoyed about this to the point where I write about it so consider me sufficiently annoyed and imagine me pointing to all my previous comments on this topic.
Me arguing with my other half that the only spectre haunting Europe rn should be the spirits from the Muppet's Christmas Carol.
a man with a red beard is standing next to a stuffed gnome in front of a building .
Alt: The Muppet Ghost of Christmas Present is standing next to Michael Caine playing Scrooge.
media.tenor.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Me arguing with my other half that the only spectre haunting Europe rn should be the spirits from the Muppet's Christmas Carol.
This work week before the Christmas break feels like mile 19 of a marathon, which is my least favourite marathon mile by, well, a country mile.
December 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
This work week before the Christmas break feels like mile 19 of a marathon, which is my least favourite marathon mile by, well, a country mile.
Show me how your 2025 went
December 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Show me how your 2025 went
Reposted by Kate Devlin
When 97% is 'no clear consensus', and 52% is 'the will of the people', it's time to face facts that Governments do what Governments want to do regardless of what their people actually want.
December 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM
When 97% is 'no clear consensus', and 52% is 'the will of the people', it's time to face facts that Governments do what Governments want to do regardless of what their people actually want.
In deeply unsurprising news, the foxes said they'd prefer the hen house doors to be left wide open.
December 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
In deeply unsurprising news, the foxes said they'd prefer the hen house doors to be left wide open.
Reposted by Kate Devlin
🚨 The UK government just published a breakdown of the responses to its consultation on AI & copyright:
- 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is)
🧵 1/2
- 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is)
🧵 1/2
December 15, 2025 at 11:22 AM
🚨 The UK government just published a breakdown of the responses to its consultation on AI & copyright:
- 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is)
🧵 1/2
- 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is)
🧵 1/2
This year, the amazing @trudybarber.bsky.social drew a series of Big Heads, and I was lucky enough to be one of them. After the exhibition, she gave them to us! Mine arrived this morning. Here I am, unfurling my Big Head.
December 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
This year, the amazing @trudybarber.bsky.social drew a series of Big Heads, and I was lucky enough to be one of them. After the exhibition, she gave them to us! Mine arrived this morning. Here I am, unfurling my Big Head.
The Christmas break cannot come soon enough because I'm in a Checking My Pension To See If I Can Retire Very Early mood. (I cannot.) This is a direct result of the Burnt Out By AI Discourse mood. It aligns with the I Just Want To Do Interesting Research And Write Stuff mood.
December 15, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The Christmas break cannot come soon enough because I'm in a Checking My Pension To See If I Can Retire Very Early mood. (I cannot.) This is a direct result of the Burnt Out By AI Discourse mood. It aligns with the I Just Want To Do Interesting Research And Write Stuff mood.
Reposted by Kate Devlin
which language? which human expert? what level of expertise? in which domain? by what metric?
If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that large language models have gained “metalinguistic” abilities? www.wired.com/story/in-a-f...
For the First Time, AI Analyzes Language as Well as a Human Expert
If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that large language models have gained “metalinguistic” abilities?
www.wired.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:23 PM
which language? which human expert? what level of expertise? in which domain? by what metric?
Reposted by Kate Devlin
✨ New online:
Five experts offer their thoughts on the future of human intelligence - featuring @drkatedevlin.bsky.social, Martha Nussbaum, Richard Susskind, @ziyadmarar.bsky.social and Moheb Costandi
Five experts offer their thoughts on the future of human intelligence - featuring @drkatedevlin.bsky.social, Martha Nussbaum, Richard Susskind, @ziyadmarar.bsky.social and Moheb Costandi
Five voices on the future of human intelligence
How can we all stay smart in a changing world? We asked the experts
newhumanist.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 12:37 PM
✨ New online:
Five experts offer their thoughts on the future of human intelligence - featuring @drkatedevlin.bsky.social, Martha Nussbaum, Richard Susskind, @ziyadmarar.bsky.social and Moheb Costandi
Five experts offer their thoughts on the future of human intelligence - featuring @drkatedevlin.bsky.social, Martha Nussbaum, Richard Susskind, @ziyadmarar.bsky.social and Moheb Costandi
Love some archaeology news; hate a headline using the term "man-made". Don't @ me about it being an inclusive and all-encompassing term because not to me, it's not. (And thank you @mattpope.bsky.social for saying "humanly made".)
BBC coverage of breaking news announcing the earliest evidence for humanly made fire. From Barnham, UK.
Quite probably early Neanderthal people with a late Acheulean culture 🦣🏺🔥
www.bbc.co.uk/news/resourc...
Quite probably early Neanderthal people with a late Acheulean culture 🦣🏺🔥
www.bbc.co.uk/news/resourc...
The moment the earliest known man-made fire was uncovered - BBC News
Archaeologists in the UK have discovered the world's oldest evidence of humans lighting fires
www.bbc.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Love some archaeology news; hate a headline using the term "man-made". Don't @ me about it being an inclusive and all-encompassing term because not to me, it's not. (And thank you @mattpope.bsky.social for saying "humanly made".)
Reposted by Kate Devlin
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot