Giles Wilkes
@gilesyb.bsky.social
Former politico, comment writer, spread betting dealer, editor, now think tanker, consultant, former baker of overly dense loaves.
Pinned
Giles Wilkes
@gilesyb.bsky.social
· Jul 15
There really is no getting out of this fiscal corner
It is something of a cliche to argue that Britain is running out of money, living beyond its means, wandering through a fiscal fool’s paradise – but no less true for that. The trend of …
freethinkecon.wordpress.com
In an effort that will no doubt torch my follower base, I have laid out some basic numbers around our fiscal situation. Obvious, but still a little sobering for me.
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
stupidly proud of this
I want to hear that some of the actual staff at the FT don't hit these levels ...
I want to hear that some of the actual staff at the FT don't hit these levels ...
January 7, 2026 at 11:17 AM
stupidly proud of this
I want to hear that some of the actual staff at the FT don't hit these levels ...
I want to hear that some of the actual staff at the FT don't hit these levels ...
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
86 billion neurons in the human brain, connected by around 100 trillion synapses, arranged in multiple overlapping massively parallel neural networks evolved over 500 million years to be the most efficient thinking machine nature can make.
Gonna take some serious effort & hardware to copy.
Gonna take some serious effort & hardware to copy.
January 7, 2026 at 11:12 AM
86 billion neurons in the human brain, connected by around 100 trillion synapses, arranged in multiple overlapping massively parallel neural networks evolved over 500 million years to be the most efficient thinking machine nature can make.
Gonna take some serious effort & hardware to copy.
Gonna take some serious effort & hardware to copy.
“The US cannot win the AI race against China without nuclear power.” www.ft.com/content/9f6c...
I remember very clearly the AI excitement in 2015-19; people then would be *astonished* about today's language achievements, but also that what you need above all is (checks notes) some massive nukes 1/
I remember very clearly the AI excitement in 2015-19; people then would be *astonished* about today's language achievements, but also that what you need above all is (checks notes) some massive nukes 1/
The cost of America’s nuclear revival
Donald Trump has promised to build fleets of new reactors to help ‘win’ the AI race. But many think the goals are unrealistic
www.ft.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:47 AM
“The US cannot win the AI race against China without nuclear power.” www.ft.com/content/9f6c...
I remember very clearly the AI excitement in 2015-19; people then would be *astonished* about today's language achievements, but also that what you need above all is (checks notes) some massive nukes 1/
I remember very clearly the AI excitement in 2015-19; people then would be *astonished* about today's language achievements, but also that what you need above all is (checks notes) some massive nukes 1/
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
Save this, it's perfect.
December 27, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Save this, it's perfect.
"I want the dogs to look as noble as possible ..."
...
"no that is too noble"
...
"no that is too noble"
January 6, 2026 at 3:29 PM
"I want the dogs to look as noble as possible ..."
...
"no that is too noble"
...
"no that is too noble"
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter.
Featuring illustrations by Grok, because “pixels 🟰 zero harm” apparently. www.ft.com/content/ad94...
Featuring illustrations by Grok, because “pixels 🟰 zero harm” apparently. www.ft.com/content/ad94...
January 6, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter.
Featuring illustrations by Grok, because “pixels 🟰 zero harm” apparently. www.ft.com/content/ad94...
Featuring illustrations by Grok, because “pixels 🟰 zero harm” apparently. www.ft.com/content/ad94...
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
Then at 10:30 we will kick off our first panel event exploring whether the centre of government is built to deliver.
Our panel includes Ed Balls, Kelly Beaver @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social, @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social, Sir Sajid Javid and chair @gilesyb.bsky.social
Our panel includes Ed Balls, Kelly Beaver @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social, @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social, Sir Sajid Javid and chair @gilesyb.bsky.social
January 6, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Then at 10:30 we will kick off our first panel event exploring whether the centre of government is built to deliver.
Our panel includes Ed Balls, Kelly Beaver @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social, @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social, Sir Sajid Javid and chair @gilesyb.bsky.social
Our panel includes Ed Balls, Kelly Beaver @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social, @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social, Sir Sajid Javid and chair @gilesyb.bsky.social
Gorgeous morning, albeit punishing on a runner's hands
January 6, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Gorgeous morning, albeit punishing on a runner's hands
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
The government have decided to remark in Hansard that 10 million people in Britain use X as their primary news source. A statistic that cannot possibly be true. Probably needs a correction I think.
If there is an argument then this is the argument. But lol I can’t find where this obviously false stat is coming from. And if the government does believe more than half the families in the UK are using it as their primary news source then woah maybe time to up the scrutiny of it!
January 5, 2026 at 8:38 PM
The government have decided to remark in Hansard that 10 million people in Britain use X as their primary news source. A statistic that cannot possibly be true. Probably needs a correction I think.
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
We need to establish an acceptable proper timeline for the late 20th/early 21st C.
* 'Last year' = 2023-2025
* 'A couple of years ago' = after Lockdown
* 'A few years ago' = between 2004 and Lockdown
* 'About ten years ago' = 1994-2014
* 'Last year' = 2023-2025
* 'A couple of years ago' = after Lockdown
* 'A few years ago' = between 2004 and Lockdown
* 'About ten years ago' = 1994-2014
doing a quick lit review and wrote something along the lines of "this was published in 1994 so it is over 20 years old now" and then realised my maths error and did the oblig. crumble into dust.
January 5, 2026 at 2:11 PM
We need to establish an acceptable proper timeline for the late 20th/early 21st C.
* 'Last year' = 2023-2025
* 'A couple of years ago' = after Lockdown
* 'A few years ago' = between 2004 and Lockdown
* 'About ten years ago' = 1994-2014
* 'Last year' = 2023-2025
* 'A couple of years ago' = after Lockdown
* 'A few years ago' = between 2004 and Lockdown
* 'About ten years ago' = 1994-2014
well that throws a spanner in the works
MADURO DENIES U.S. NARCO-TERRORISM ACCUSATIONS, PROCLAIMS INNOCENCE; LAWYER ENTERS NOT-GUILTY PLEA ON ALL CHARGES
January 5, 2026 at 5:23 PM
well that throws a spanner in the works
I guess the two questions on the consumer side of this are:
- how many users
- how much $$ per user.
If they get to Apple Services/Alphabet levels on the second of these, they get $100 per user, many tens of billions of revenue, they do fine. If SNAP levels ($6 per user per year)... less so
- how many users
- how much $$ per user.
If they get to Apple Services/Alphabet levels on the second of these, they get $100 per user, many tens of billions of revenue, they do fine. If SNAP levels ($6 per user per year)... less so
"The boss of one VC firm notes that Openai’s losses are as big as the deficits of many national governments"
www.economist.com/business/202...
Gotta say that, given the ubiquity and ferocity of the competition, and dubiousness of many use cases, I don't understand the bull case for OpenAI
www.economist.com/business/202...
Gotta say that, given the ubiquity and ferocity of the competition, and dubiousness of many use cases, I don't understand the bull case for OpenAI
OpenAI faces a make-or-break year in 2026
One of the fastest-growing companies in history is in a perilous position
www.economist.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:08 PM
I guess the two questions on the consumer side of this are:
- how many users
- how much $$ per user.
If they get to Apple Services/Alphabet levels on the second of these, they get $100 per user, many tens of billions of revenue, they do fine. If SNAP levels ($6 per user per year)... less so
- how many users
- how much $$ per user.
If they get to Apple Services/Alphabet levels on the second of these, they get $100 per user, many tens of billions of revenue, they do fine. If SNAP levels ($6 per user per year)... less so
"The boss of one VC firm notes that Openai’s losses are as big as the deficits of many national governments"
www.economist.com/business/202...
Gotta say that, given the ubiquity and ferocity of the competition, and dubiousness of many use cases, I don't understand the bull case for OpenAI
www.economist.com/business/202...
Gotta say that, given the ubiquity and ferocity of the competition, and dubiousness of many use cases, I don't understand the bull case for OpenAI
OpenAI faces a make-or-break year in 2026
One of the fastest-growing companies in history is in a perilous position
www.economist.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:15 AM
"The boss of one VC firm notes that Openai’s losses are as big as the deficits of many national governments"
www.economist.com/business/202...
Gotta say that, given the ubiquity and ferocity of the competition, and dubiousness of many use cases, I don't understand the bull case for OpenAI
www.economist.com/business/202...
Gotta say that, given the ubiquity and ferocity of the competition, and dubiousness of many use cases, I don't understand the bull case for OpenAI
"The expanded flow of oil revenues would be used to compensate US oil companies and fund Venezuela’s reconstruction. Quite how America’s oil companies could accomplish this without heavy US military protection Trump did not specify."
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Trump now owns Venezuela
The US president has a growing appetite for military adventure
giftarticle.ft.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:17 AM
"The expanded flow of oil revenues would be used to compensate US oil companies and fund Venezuela’s reconstruction. Quite how America’s oil companies could accomplish this without heavy US military protection Trump did not specify."
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Seagulls standing on a lake this morning, because they can
January 4, 2026 at 7:46 AM
Seagulls standing on a lake this morning, because they can
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
Nige I think Russia and China might think: what's ok for you is also ok for me
January 3, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Nige I think Russia and China might think: what's ok for you is also ok for me
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
I don’t see how the World Cup can go ahead when FIFA’s peace prize recipient has attacked another country: hosting the competition in America would be a mockery of the solemn prize, making it an unserious joke.
January 3, 2026 at 8:51 AM
I don’t see how the World Cup can go ahead when FIFA’s peace prize recipient has attacked another country: hosting the competition in America would be a mockery of the solemn prize, making it an unserious joke.
Ten years since this gorgeous photo made us all realise we actually can recognise the composition of perfect artwork when we see it- www.ft.com/content/5932... via @financialtimes.com
The messy art of escapism
Britain’s relationship with alcohol is complicated. It was too simple to heap blame on the young and calculatedly reckless
www.ft.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Ten years since this gorgeous photo made us all realise we actually can recognise the composition of perfect artwork when we see it- www.ft.com/content/5932... via @financialtimes.com
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
"We convinced the civil service that we were actually serious about making proper policy trade-offs and standing by them under political pressure... by mistake"
January 2, 2026 at 6:54 PM
"We convinced the civil service that we were actually serious about making proper policy trade-offs and standing by them under political pressure... by mistake"
Actually heard a Labour peer on the radio deploy the words "the civil service tricked the government into cutting winter fuel payments". Excuse generation is reaching new and dizzy heights.
January 2, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Actually heard a Labour peer on the radio deploy the words "the civil service tricked the government into cutting winter fuel payments". Excuse generation is reaching new and dizzy heights.
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
It's also such an easy political win.
Point to Musk donating to far right groups like Rupert Lowe's and his previous support for Reform and say they're being funded by a noncebot.
Point to Musk donating to far right groups like Rupert Lowe's and his previous support for Reform and say they're being funded by a noncebot.
If the British government, and indeed other governments, can’t muster a fast and strong response to Twitter adding a facility enabling users to create and share AI child sexual abuse material then not sure what Musk could ever do that would actually provoke a response.
January 2, 2026 at 2:16 PM
It's also such an easy political win.
Point to Musk donating to far right groups like Rupert Lowe's and his previous support for Reform and say they're being funded by a noncebot.
Point to Musk donating to far right groups like Rupert Lowe's and his previous support for Reform and say they're being funded by a noncebot.