Gina Helfrich
@ginahelfrich.bsky.social
Centre for Technomoral Futures @ U of Edinburgh. PhD in Philosophy, Grad Cert in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.
Texan. Feminist.
I’m on Mastodon and encourage you to be there, too: techpolicy.social/@ginahelfrich
Texan. Feminist.
I’m on Mastodon and encourage you to be there, too: techpolicy.social/@ginahelfrich
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
The entire US economy is propped up by a product so toxic and insidious that everyone has to go on a weekly scavenger hunt just to remove it from products they're already using.
heads up, gmail has a new setting automatically on that allows their a*i to be trained on your emails so make sure to turn off the 'Smart Feature' checkbox in your settings
November 22, 2025 at 8:17 PM
The entire US economy is propped up by a product so toxic and insidious that everyone has to go on a weekly scavenger hunt just to remove it from products they're already using.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Just wanted to say: Have been reading versions of this a lot.
If you've survived an abuse situation, you understand the *point* is that he insults her AND that nobody speaks up. Of course nobody does. The entire presentation is the propaganda. It's about the witnesses' compliance and complicity.
If you've survived an abuse situation, you understand the *point* is that he insults her AND that nobody speaks up. Of course nobody does. The entire presentation is the propaganda. It's about the witnesses' compliance and complicity.
I’ve been thinking and it’s kind of exceptional that not a single person said “Hey now” after the piggy comment.
November 19, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Just wanted to say: Have been reading versions of this a lot.
If you've survived an abuse situation, you understand the *point* is that he insults her AND that nobody speaks up. Of course nobody does. The entire presentation is the propaganda. It's about the witnesses' compliance and complicity.
If you've survived an abuse situation, you understand the *point* is that he insults her AND that nobody speaks up. Of course nobody does. The entire presentation is the propaganda. It's about the witnesses' compliance and complicity.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
On Wednesday, the Trump administration circulated a six-page draft executive order titled “Eliminating State Law Obstruction of National AI Policy.” It would create an “AI Litigation Task Force” led by the Attorney General to challenge state AI laws, among other provisions.
White House Circulates Draft Executive Order Targeting State AI Laws | TechPolicy.Press
The draft order, titled "Eliminating State Law Obstruction of National AI Policy," followed a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump.
www.techpolicy.press
November 20, 2025 at 11:51 AM
On Wednesday, the Trump administration circulated a six-page draft executive order titled “Eliminating State Law Obstruction of National AI Policy.” It would create an “AI Litigation Task Force” led by the Attorney General to challenge state AI laws, among other provisions.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
"Students at the University of Staffordshire have said they feel “robbed of knowledge and enjoyment” after a course they hoped would launch their digital careers turned out to be taught in large part by AI"
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
‘We could have asked ChatGPT’: students fight back over course taught by AI
Staffordshire students say signs material was AI-generated included suspicious file names and rogue voiceover accent
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:32 AM
"Students at the University of Staffordshire have said they feel “robbed of knowledge and enjoyment” after a course they hoped would launch their digital careers turned out to be taught in large part by AI"
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
70 teaspoons placed in tearooms around the institute & observed weekly over 5 months. 80% of spoons disappeared; spoon halflife~81 days. Communal room halflife lower than in specific labs. 250 spoons annually required to maintain 70 spoon population.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
The case of the disappearing teaspoons: longitudinal cohort study of the displacement of teaspoons in an Australian research institute
Objectives To determine the overall rate of loss of workplace teaspoons and whether attrition and displacement are correlated with the relative value of the teaspoons or type of tearoom. Design Longitudinal cohort study. Setting Research institute ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 AM
70 teaspoons placed in tearooms around the institute & observed weekly over 5 months. 80% of spoons disappeared; spoon halflife~81 days. Communal room halflife lower than in specific labs. 250 spoons annually required to maintain 70 spoon population.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
More evidence that those copyeditors nobody seems to employ anymore actually did important work. “Week.” Are you serious.
Target said it doesn’t think holiday sales will be enough to turn around a tough year.
Target Predicting Week Holiday Sales As Consumer Angst Weighs On Season
Target said it doesn’t think holiday sales will be enough to turn around a tough year.
www.forbes.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:34 PM
More evidence that those copyeditors nobody seems to employ anymore actually did important work. “Week.” Are you serious.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
NEW: ProPublica has found multiple cases of women with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW: ProPublica has found multiple cases of women with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
These are not serious people.
November 19, 2025 at 9:05 AM
These are not serious people.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Key context from the Texas Tribune: www.texastribune.org/2025/11/18/t...
November 18, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Key context from the Texas Tribune: www.texastribune.org/2025/11/18/t...
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Every single media company that has responded to a Trump lawsuit has won because the claims are frivolous and have no legal basis.
Which makes the voluntary capitulation by ABC and CBS all the more offensive.
Which makes the voluntary capitulation by ABC and CBS all the more offensive.
Eleventh Circuit affirms dismissal of Trump defamation lawsuit against CNN for calling his election denialism the "Big Lie"
Opinion: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Opinion: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![Trump’s argument is unpersuasive. First, although he concedes that CNN’s use of the term “Big Lie” is, to some extent, ambiguous, he assumes that it is unambiguous enough to constitute a
statement of fact. This assumption is untenable. Although we haven’t squarely addressed the point, case law from other circuits is
persuasive. In Buckley v. Littell, 539 F.2d 882 (2d Cir. 1976), cert.
denied, 429 U.S. 1062 (1977), the Second Circuit held that, by using
the terms “fascist,” “fellow traveler,” and “radical right” to describe
William F. Buckley, Jr., the defendant was not publishing “statements of fact.” Buckley, 539 F.2d at 893. Rather, the court ruled,
the terms were “so debatable, loose and varying[] that they [we]re
insusceptible to proof of truth or falsity.” Id. at 894. Similarly, in
Ollman v. Evans, 750 F.2d 970 (D.C. Cir. 1984) (en banc), cert. denied,
471 U.S. 1127 (1985), the D.C. Circuit held that when the defendant
called the plaintiff “an outspoken proponent of political Marxism,”
his statement was “obviously unverifiable.” Ollman, 750 F.2d at
987. Trump argues that the term “Big Lie” is less ambiguous than
the terms “fascist,” “fellow traveler,” “radical right,” and “outspoken proponent of political Marxism.” But he does not explain
this assertion. If “fascist”—a term that is, by definition, political—](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7r477jd7q7p2mzmyqfm7jmp7/bafkreifzrcycynll6e4vval5gho3ixmpdo4odqha5cgw4zjydntc5yhtxm@jpeg)
![is ambiguous, then it follows that “Big Lie”—a term that is facially
apolitical—is at least as ambiguous.
Second, Trump’s argument hinges on the fact that his own
interpretation of his conduct—i.e., that he was exercising a constitutional right to identify his concerns with the integrity of elections—is true and that CNN’s interpretation—i.e., that Trump was
peddling his “Big Lie”—is false. However, his conduct is susceptible to multiple subjective interpretations, including CNN’s. As we
held in Turner, one person’s “subjective assessment” is not rendered false by another person’s “different conclusion.” 879 F.3d at
1264. In Turner, the defendants stated that, on at least one occasion,
the plaintiff, James Turner, offensive line coach of the Miami Dolphins, participated in the “homophobic taunting” of one of his players. Id. Turner argued that this statement was false because his
conduct was a “harmless ‘joke,’ as opposed to homophobic taunting.” Id. We rejected his argument, concluding that the statement
“[wa]s the [d]efendants’ subjective assessment of Turner’s conduct
and [wa]s not readily capable of being proven true or false.” Id.
Just as the Turner defendants described Turner’s conduct as “homophobic taunting,” CNN described Trump’s conduct as his “Big
Lie.” Just as Turner viewed his own conduct as a “harmless ‘joke,’”
Trump viewed his own conduct as the exercise of a constitutional
right. As in Turner, so too here. CNN’s subjective assessment of
Trump’s conduct is not readily capable of being proven true or
false.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7r477jd7q7p2mzmyqfm7jmp7/bafkreib6bvzynagsmnxqtdezowccqs6d3mzl3ceyoodhxwkbaizqo2j3ma@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Every single media company that has responded to a Trump lawsuit has won because the claims are frivolous and have no legal basis.
Which makes the voluntary capitulation by ABC and CBS all the more offensive.
Which makes the voluntary capitulation by ABC and CBS all the more offensive.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
UCU Edinburgh strike rally. 1pm, Wed 19 Nov, on the concourse outside the Scottish Parliament. Speakers from @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social UCU, Unite and Unison branches at the university and students #StopTheCuts #StopStaffCutsatUoE
Join us tomorrow at the Parliament for a staff and student rally against the cuts!
November 18, 2025 at 1:53 PM
UCU Edinburgh strike rally. 1pm, Wed 19 Nov, on the concourse outside the Scottish Parliament. Speakers from @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social UCU, Unite and Unison branches at the university and students #StopTheCuts #StopStaffCutsatUoE
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Question from @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social in the Scottish Parliament on cuts and job losses at Edinburgh University as @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social take third day of strike action this week #SaveHE #StopTheCuts www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563152...
SNP minister told to intervene in Edinburgh University crisis to protect 1,800 jobs
SNP ministers have been warned they must intervene in the University of Edinburgh's dispute with staff amid fears 1,800 jobs could be lost.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Question from @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social in the Scottish Parliament on cuts and job losses at Edinburgh University as @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social take third day of strike action this week #SaveHE #StopTheCuts www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563152...
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
I just feel like people should know about this as we move into some of the busiest travel weekends of the year, no reason.
www.reuters.com/world/us-dro...
www.reuters.com/world/us-dro...
www.reuters.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I just feel like people should know about this as we move into some of the busiest travel weekends of the year, no reason.
www.reuters.com/world/us-dro...
www.reuters.com/world/us-dro...
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Drumrolls, please! I’m thrilled to share the cover for my forthcoming #book from @doubledaybooks.bsky.social
(Penguin Random House), #PROPHECY. This is the best book I’ve written: the boldest, the most innovative, the most personal. I have poured my soul into it like never before. 1/
(Penguin Random House), #PROPHECY. This is the best book I’ve written: the boldest, the most innovative, the most personal. I have poured my soul into it like never before. 1/
November 17, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Drumrolls, please! I’m thrilled to share the cover for my forthcoming #book from @doubledaybooks.bsky.social
(Penguin Random House), #PROPHECY. This is the best book I’ve written: the boldest, the most innovative, the most personal. I have poured my soul into it like never before. 1/
(Penguin Random House), #PROPHECY. This is the best book I’ve written: the boldest, the most innovative, the most personal. I have poured my soul into it like never before. 1/
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Never forget that just a week ago, Ross Douthat and the NYTimes were asking if women ruined the workplace.
November 17, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Never forget that just a week ago, Ross Douthat and the NYTimes were asking if women ruined the workplace.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
This seems fine 👍www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
This seems fine 👍www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Student journalists at The Crimson continue to do outstanding work.
As someone who *twice* discovered that a supposed mentor was just pretending to be interested in my work and friendship, and had gone to great lengths to keep up the act, reading this turns my stomach. Also occurs to me now that at least one of them was probably in Epstein’s orbit.
As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ | News | The Harvard Crimson
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: convicted sex offender Jef...
www.thecrimson.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Student journalists at The Crimson continue to do outstanding work.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Today we have called a "Lobby Day".
UoE's ongoing cuts could lead to up to 1800 compulsory redundancies in addition to the damage already being done. Our political representatives should be addressing this crisis.
Flood MSPs' offices with calls!
More here: ucuedinburgh.org.uk/lobby-your-msp
UoE's ongoing cuts could lead to up to 1800 compulsory redundancies in addition to the damage already being done. Our political representatives should be addressing this crisis.
Flood MSPs' offices with calls!
More here: ucuedinburgh.org.uk/lobby-your-msp
November 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Today we have called a "Lobby Day".
UoE's ongoing cuts could lead to up to 1800 compulsory redundancies in addition to the damage already being done. Our political representatives should be addressing this crisis.
Flood MSPs' offices with calls!
More here: ucuedinburgh.org.uk/lobby-your-msp
UoE's ongoing cuts could lead to up to 1800 compulsory redundancies in addition to the damage already being done. Our political representatives should be addressing this crisis.
Flood MSPs' offices with calls!
More here: ucuedinburgh.org.uk/lobby-your-msp
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Pickets all over Edinburgh this morning! From Old College to King's Building, Edinburgh UCU staff are saying NO to job cuts!
November 17, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Pickets all over Edinburgh this morning! From Old College to King's Building, Edinburgh UCU staff are saying NO to job cuts!
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
there are so many things about this that are despicable but please, for one moment, imagine a piece of jewellery is the last thing you have to remember a loved one, your home or your life before the worst things you have ever experienced -- and these monsters want to take it to score some points
The Sun has been told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will on Monday propose confiscating jewellery, watches, necklaces from asylum seekers to meet asylum costs
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
November 17, 2025 at 9:08 AM
there are so many things about this that are despicable but please, for one moment, imagine a piece of jewellery is the last thing you have to remember a loved one, your home or your life before the worst things you have ever experienced -- and these monsters want to take it to score some points
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Tag us on your picket line pics and videos and tell us why you are striking #UCU members
#StopStaffCutsatUoE
#StopStaffCutsatUoE
November 16, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Tag us on your picket line pics and videos and tell us why you are striking #UCU members
#StopStaffCutsatUoE
#StopStaffCutsatUoE
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Shameful FT headline today says Shabana Mahmood is "shaking up" human rights law
Um, no. Even for a newspaper that habitually describes cuts as "reforms", the only objective verb for removing minimal legal protection for asylum-seekers is "weakening"
The Home Sec is <weakening> human rights law.
Um, no. Even for a newspaper that habitually describes cuts as "reforms", the only objective verb for removing minimal legal protection for asylum-seekers is "weakening"
The Home Sec is <weakening> human rights law.
For Shabana Mahmood to attack some of the most cruelly treated people in the world as having won a "golden ticket" because they manage to get to and claim asylum in Britain is unforgiveable.
A new, far right, low for which I can think of no precedent, by any UK Government.
A new, far right, low for which I can think of no precedent, by any UK Government.
November 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Shameful FT headline today says Shabana Mahmood is "shaking up" human rights law
Um, no. Even for a newspaper that habitually describes cuts as "reforms", the only objective verb for removing minimal legal protection for asylum-seekers is "weakening"
The Home Sec is <weakening> human rights law.
Um, no. Even for a newspaper that habitually describes cuts as "reforms", the only objective verb for removing minimal legal protection for asylum-seekers is "weakening"
The Home Sec is <weakening> human rights law.
Reposted by Gina Helfrich
Calling all staff and students at UoE, and all those who care about its future: join us on the picket lines!
Teach outs, picket locations, bake sale... see our FAQ
#UCU
#WearetheUniversity
#StopStaffCutsatUoE
www.ucuedinburgh.org.uk/industrial-d...
Teach outs, picket locations, bake sale... see our FAQ
#UCU
#WearetheUniversity
#StopStaffCutsatUoE
www.ucuedinburgh.org.uk/industrial-d...
Industrial Action FAQ — UCU Edinburgh
www.ucuedinburgh.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Calling all staff and students at UoE, and all those who care about its future: join us on the picket lines!
Teach outs, picket locations, bake sale... see our FAQ
#UCU
#WearetheUniversity
#StopStaffCutsatUoE
www.ucuedinburgh.org.uk/industrial-d...
Teach outs, picket locations, bake sale... see our FAQ
#UCU
#WearetheUniversity
#StopStaffCutsatUoE
www.ucuedinburgh.org.uk/industrial-d...