Hannes Cools
@hannescools.bsky.social
Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam 🇳🇱 || Journalism, AI, Tech & innovation 👨💻 || Fellow Digital Democracy Centre 🇩🇰 & Marie Curie Scholar 🇪🇺 || #FirstGen
🌐 https://hannescools.com/
🌐 https://hannescools.com/
2025 wrapped! 🎁🔥
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the world, this year brought an incredible highlight: the birth of my son ✨✨✨
Happy holidays to all!!
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the world, this year brought an incredible highlight: the birth of my son ✨✨✨
Happy holidays to all!!
December 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
2025 wrapped! 🎁🔥
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the world, this year brought an incredible highlight: the birth of my son ✨✨✨
Happy holidays to all!!
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the world, this year brought an incredible highlight: the birth of my son ✨✨✨
Happy holidays to all!!
'Hallucinate' has been chosen as the Dutch word of the year... Again building on this anthropomorphic notion that LLMs etc can make up or hallucinate content. This implies they have a capacity to perceive, which they don’t.
@emilymbender.bsky.social
nltimes.nl/2025/12/16/h...
@emilymbender.bsky.social
nltimes.nl/2025/12/16/h...
"Hallucineren" chosen as Van Dale's word of 2025 as AI gives term new meaning
The editors of Van Dale have chosen “hallucineren” as the Word of the Year 2025. According to the dictionary, artificial intelligence has given the word, Dutch for “hallucinating,” a new meaning.
nltimes.nl
December 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
'Hallucinate' has been chosen as the Dutch word of the year... Again building on this anthropomorphic notion that LLMs etc can make up or hallucinate content. This implies they have a capacity to perceive, which they don’t.
@emilymbender.bsky.social
nltimes.nl/2025/12/16/h...
@emilymbender.bsky.social
nltimes.nl/2025/12/16/h...
Ik schreef opinie voor @volkskrant.nl nav 'Nationaal' AI Plan.
"Nederland verdient een breder debat. Niet: hoe snel kunnen we AI invoeren, maar: welke AI willen we? (...) Niet: hoe doen we mee aan de race, maar: waar willen we eigenlijk naartoe?"
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...
"Nederland verdient een breder debat. Niet: hoe snel kunnen we AI invoeren, maar: welke AI willen we? (...) Niet: hoe doen we mee aan de race, maar: waar willen we eigenlijk naartoe?"
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...
Opinie: Het Nationaal AI Deltaplan komt vooral de industrie ten goede, en niet de mens
Het nieuwe deltaplan dat oproept om te investeren in AI-infrastructuur is vooral een verlanglijstje van de tech-elite. Nederland verdient een breder debat. Niet: hoe snel kunnen we AI invoeren? Maar: ...
www.volkskrant.nl
December 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Ik schreef opinie voor @volkskrant.nl nav 'Nationaal' AI Plan.
"Nederland verdient een breder debat. Niet: hoe snel kunnen we AI invoeren, maar: welke AI willen we? (...) Niet: hoe doen we mee aan de race, maar: waar willen we eigenlijk naartoe?"
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...
"Nederland verdient een breder debat. Niet: hoe snel kunnen we AI invoeren, maar: welke AI willen we? (...) Niet: hoe doen we mee aan de race, maar: waar willen we eigenlijk naartoe?"
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...
Zeer, zeer pijnlijk voor NRC. Maar liefst drie rectificaties voor berichtgeving Wijers. Zelfs bij het bericht van afgelopen zaterdag van hoofdredacteur Patricia Veldhuis staat nu: "NRC kan niet instaan voor de zorgvuldige totstandkoming van dit artikel." 🫠
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
NRC rectificeert berichtgeving rondom informateur Wijers
Beste lezer, Deze week zijn er nieuwe feiten bekend geworden over onze berichtgeving over informateur Hans Wijers. Na nader intern onderzoek moeten we constateren dat we bij het voorleggen van zijn ve...
www.nrc.nl
November 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Zeer, zeer pijnlijk voor NRC. Maar liefst drie rectificaties voor berichtgeving Wijers. Zelfs bij het bericht van afgelopen zaterdag van hoofdredacteur Patricia Veldhuis staat nu: "NRC kan niet instaan voor de zorgvuldige totstandkoming van dit artikel." 🫠
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Reposted by Hannes Cools
We just published a new report on how UK journalists are adopting AI in their work
Authored by @neilthurman.bsky.social @sinatk.bsky.social & @richardfletcher.bsky.social, it's based on a survey conducted in 2024
Read in full
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/ai-adoption-...
10 findings in thread
Authored by @neilthurman.bsky.social @sinatk.bsky.social & @richardfletcher.bsky.social, it's based on a survey conducted in 2024
Read in full
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/ai-adoption-...
10 findings in thread
November 27, 2025 at 7:45 AM
We just published a new report on how UK journalists are adopting AI in their work
Authored by @neilthurman.bsky.social @sinatk.bsky.social & @richardfletcher.bsky.social, it's based on a survey conducted in 2024
Read in full
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/ai-adoption-...
10 findings in thread
Authored by @neilthurman.bsky.social @sinatk.bsky.social & @richardfletcher.bsky.social, it's based on a survey conducted in 2024
Read in full
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/ai-adoption-...
10 findings in thread
Disappointed but not surprised.
Secretary RF Kennedy shares a Thanksgiving photo of Trump & Musk that's clearly AI-generated... 🫠🫠 Not a great look.
Secretary RF Kennedy shares a Thanksgiving photo of Trump & Musk that's clearly AI-generated... 🫠🫠 Not a great look.
November 27, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Disappointed but not surprised.
Secretary RF Kennedy shares a Thanksgiving photo of Trump & Musk that's clearly AI-generated... 🫠🫠 Not a great look.
Secretary RF Kennedy shares a Thanksgiving photo of Trump & Musk that's clearly AI-generated... 🫠🫠 Not a great look.
✨ New publication: 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐨𝐱 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ✨
Happy to share latest research exploring how media labs are shaping the future of journalism across Europe. This study focuses on 6 European countries 🇧🇪 🇬🇧 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇮🇹 🇩🇪
Small 🧵
Happy to share latest research exploring how media labs are shaping the future of journalism across Europe. This study focuses on 6 European countries 🇧🇪 🇬🇧 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇮🇹 🇩🇪
Small 🧵
November 27, 2025 at 7:35 AM
✨ New publication: 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐨𝐱 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ✨
Happy to share latest research exploring how media labs are shaping the future of journalism across Europe. This study focuses on 6 European countries 🇧🇪 🇬🇧 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇮🇹 🇩🇪
Small 🧵
Happy to share latest research exploring how media labs are shaping the future of journalism across Europe. This study focuses on 6 European countries 🇧🇪 🇬🇧 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇮🇹 🇩🇪
Small 🧵
"De uitspraak over 'een leugenaar' was door 2 van de 14 bronnen gehoord (...). Sommigen hadden zelfs helemaal niets gehoord van wat er op het podium was gezegd." Ombudsman NRC noemt berichtgeving gerechtvaardigd maar als je zulke aantijgingen hebt...
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Opinie | Verslaggeving van NRC over Wijers was gerechtvaardigd maar er ging te veel fout
Een stortvloed aan mails en veel opzeggingen: NRC had informateur Hans Wijers ten onrechte gevloerd met „bedroevende journalistiek”, of erger met „riooljournalistiek zonder weerga”. De redactie kwam v...
www.nrc.nl
November 22, 2025 at 12:12 PM
"De uitspraak over 'een leugenaar' was door 2 van de 14 bronnen gehoord (...). Sommigen hadden zelfs helemaal niets gehoord van wat er op het podium was gezegd." Ombudsman NRC noemt berichtgeving gerechtvaardigd maar als je zulke aantijgingen hebt...
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
🟥 OPEN LETTER by media organizations in NL 🟥
Tech giants threaten democracy in the Netherlands.
Clear & urgent letter on digital autonomy & alternative infrastructures. It also the first time that almost all major Dutch news organizations have jointly made such an appeal to politicians. 🙏
Tech giants threaten democracy in the Netherlands.
Clear & urgent letter on digital autonomy & alternative infrastructures. It also the first time that almost all major Dutch news organizations have jointly made such an appeal to politicians. 🙏
November 20, 2025 at 8:22 AM
🟥 OPEN LETTER by media organizations in NL 🟥
Tech giants threaten democracy in the Netherlands.
Clear & urgent letter on digital autonomy & alternative infrastructures. It also the first time that almost all major Dutch news organizations have jointly made such an appeal to politicians. 🙏
Tech giants threaten democracy in the Netherlands.
Clear & urgent letter on digital autonomy & alternative infrastructures. It also the first time that almost all major Dutch news organizations have jointly made such an appeal to politicians. 🙏
Een krachtige, urgente, & eensgezinde boodschap van de Nederlandse mediasector 👇🙏
sdm.nl/brief-aan-de...
sdm.nl/brief-aan-de...
Brief aan de informateur namens de Nederlandse mediasector - Stichting Democratie en Media
sdm.nl
November 20, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Een krachtige, urgente, & eensgezinde boodschap van de Nederlandse mediasector 👇🙏
sdm.nl/brief-aan-de...
sdm.nl/brief-aan-de...
New book chapter 📚
On the evolving role of journalists as gatekeepers in the age of (generative) A.I.
Thanks to the editors, Aynur Sarısakaloğlu & Martin Löffelholz 🙏
www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Ha...
On the evolving role of journalists as gatekeepers in the age of (generative) A.I.
Thanks to the editors, Aynur Sarısakaloğlu & Martin Löffelholz 🙏
www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Ha...
November 17, 2025 at 8:03 AM
New book chapter 📚
On the evolving role of journalists as gatekeepers in the age of (generative) A.I.
Thanks to the editors, Aynur Sarısakaloğlu & Martin Löffelholz 🙏
www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Ha...
On the evolving role of journalists as gatekeepers in the age of (generative) A.I.
Thanks to the editors, Aynur Sarısakaloğlu & Martin Löffelholz 🙏
www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Ha...
"If you want, I can also make a snappier 'front-page style' version" 🫠🫠
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
"If you want, I can also make a snappier 'front-page style' version" 🫠🫠
Disappointed but not surprised...
www.demorgen.be/nieuws/pano-...
www.demorgen.be/nieuws/pano-...
‘Pano’ toont hoe professoren aan VUB en UGent ondanks tuchtprocedures jarenlang aan de slag bleven: ‘Schoolvoorbeeld van toxisch leiderschap’
Pakken Vlaamse universiteiten grensoverschrijdend gedrag daadkrachtig genoeg aan? Drie jaar nadat het thema bovenaan de agenda kwam, onderzoekt VRT-magazine Pano of er iets veranderde. ‘Moet hij ieman...
www.demorgen.be
November 13, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Disappointed but not surprised...
www.demorgen.be/nieuws/pano-...
www.demorgen.be/nieuws/pano-...
"Cools, Henk"
Nice to find some made-up references in a paper citing my work 🫠🫠
Nice to find some made-up references in a paper citing my work 🫠🫠
November 10, 2025 at 8:15 AM
"Cools, Henk"
Nice to find some made-up references in a paper citing my work 🫠🫠
Nice to find some made-up references in a paper citing my work 🫠🫠
Pressure had been building for days...
"BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resign following criticism that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US President Donald Trump."
Live coverage: www.bbc.com/news/live/cd...
"BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resign following criticism that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US President Donald Trump."
Live coverage: www.bbc.com/news/live/cd...
November 9, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Pressure had been building for days...
"BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resign following criticism that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US President Donald Trump."
Live coverage: www.bbc.com/news/live/cd...
"BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resign following criticism that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US President Donald Trump."
Live coverage: www.bbc.com/news/live/cd...
✨ Audiences doubt the benefits of AI-generated imagery in news are worth the risks, new study finds.
@andrewdeck.bsky.social wrote an article on our latest study in @digitaljournalism.bsky.social 🙏
w Dina Strikovic
www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/audi... @aimediademlab.bsky.social @ddc-sdu.bsky.social
@andrewdeck.bsky.social wrote an article on our latest study in @digitaljournalism.bsky.social 🙏
w Dina Strikovic
www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/audi... @aimediademlab.bsky.social @ddc-sdu.bsky.social
Audiences doubt the benefits of AI-generated imagery in news are worth the risks, new study finds
What do readers really think of AI-generated images in their news? There has been substantial research on how audiences respond to AI-generated text, but far less dedicated research on image generator...
www.niemanlab.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:56 AM
✨ Audiences doubt the benefits of AI-generated imagery in news are worth the risks, new study finds.
@andrewdeck.bsky.social wrote an article on our latest study in @digitaljournalism.bsky.social 🙏
w Dina Strikovic
www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/audi... @aimediademlab.bsky.social @ddc-sdu.bsky.social
@andrewdeck.bsky.social wrote an article on our latest study in @digitaljournalism.bsky.social 🙏
w Dina Strikovic
www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/audi... @aimediademlab.bsky.social @ddc-sdu.bsky.social
Wait, what?
"Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic. An unlicensed school named after the Zuckerbergs’ pet chicken tipped them over the edge."
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
"Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic. An unlicensed school named after the Zuckerbergs’ pet chicken tipped them over the edge."
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
Mark Zuckerberg Opened an Illegal School at His Palo Alto Compound. His Neighbors Revolted
Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic. An unlicensed school named after the Zuckerbergs’ pet chicken tipped them over the edge.
www.wired.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Wait, what?
"Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic. An unlicensed school named after the Zuckerbergs’ pet chicken tipped them over the edge."
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
"Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic. An unlicensed school named after the Zuckerbergs’ pet chicken tipped them over the edge."
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
Yesterday, the European Commission launched some pointers on marking & labelling AI-generated content.🏷️
Downside: It will be a voluntary instrument to help providers of generative AI systems effectively meet their transparency obligations @ec.europa.eu
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...
Downside: It will be a voluntary instrument to help providers of generative AI systems effectively meet their transparency obligations @ec.europa.eu
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...
November 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Yesterday, the European Commission launched some pointers on marking & labelling AI-generated content.🏷️
Downside: It will be a voluntary instrument to help providers of generative AI systems effectively meet their transparency obligations @ec.europa.eu
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...
Downside: It will be a voluntary instrument to help providers of generative AI systems effectively meet their transparency obligations @ec.europa.eu
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...
Interesting 🧐
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
November 4, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Interesting 🧐
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
BBC just released their updated AI transparency labels. They have devised a simple, neutral shape (a hexagon) which is derived from the BBC blocks.
The particular disclosure label is being trialled in BBC Sport live 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Ontluisterend stuk over oa hoofd communicatie GL-PVDA. Of over misverstanden tss VL & NL:🆘
"Achteraf bleken Vlamingen met ‘voorlichter’ iets heel anders te bedoelen dan NLers. Waar de fusiepartij een strateeg dacht binnen te halen, kregen ze een debattrainer met ambities"
www.vn.nl/missie-timme...
"Achteraf bleken Vlamingen met ‘voorlichter’ iets heel anders te bedoelen dan NLers. Waar de fusiepartij een strateeg dacht binnen te halen, kregen ze een debattrainer met ambities"
www.vn.nl/missie-timme...
Missie-Timmermans was gedoemd te mislukken
GroenLinks-PvdA verliest vijf zetels. Hoe heeft het zover kunnen komen? En lost het vertrek van Timmermans het probleem op?
www.vn.nl
November 2, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Ontluisterend stuk over oa hoofd communicatie GL-PVDA. Of over misverstanden tss VL & NL:🆘
"Achteraf bleken Vlamingen met ‘voorlichter’ iets heel anders te bedoelen dan NLers. Waar de fusiepartij een strateeg dacht binnen te halen, kregen ze een debattrainer met ambities"
www.vn.nl/missie-timme...
"Achteraf bleken Vlamingen met ‘voorlichter’ iets heel anders te bedoelen dan NLers. Waar de fusiepartij een strateeg dacht binnen te halen, kregen ze een debattrainer met ambities"
www.vn.nl/missie-timme...
Hoe AI verkiezingscampagnes verandert: "Mensen horen te weten dat wat ze zien niet echt is"
Wat inzichten vr @demorgen.be, over recent onderzoek bij @ascor.bsky.social over AI beelden/teksten
@claesdevreese.bsky.social @lcjacobs89.bsky.social
@bramjaques.bsky.social www.demorgen.be/politiek/hoe...
Wat inzichten vr @demorgen.be, over recent onderzoek bij @ascor.bsky.social over AI beelden/teksten
@claesdevreese.bsky.social @lcjacobs89.bsky.social
@bramjaques.bsky.social www.demorgen.be/politiek/hoe...
Hoe AI verkiezingscampagnes verandert: ‘Mensen horen te weten dat wat ze zien niet echt is’
Ook in de politiek is AI doorgebroken, blijkt uit honderden deepfakes tijdens de Nederlandse en Ierse verkiezingen. Staat ons dat straks ook te wachten? ‘Politici kunnen een realiteit creëren die er n...
www.demorgen.be
November 1, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Hoe AI verkiezingscampagnes verandert: "Mensen horen te weten dat wat ze zien niet echt is"
Wat inzichten vr @demorgen.be, over recent onderzoek bij @ascor.bsky.social over AI beelden/teksten
@claesdevreese.bsky.social @lcjacobs89.bsky.social
@bramjaques.bsky.social www.demorgen.be/politiek/hoe...
Wat inzichten vr @demorgen.be, over recent onderzoek bij @ascor.bsky.social over AI beelden/teksten
@claesdevreese.bsky.social @lcjacobs89.bsky.social
@bramjaques.bsky.social www.demorgen.be/politiek/hoe...
"The week that AI hit Europe’s elections"
With insights from @claesdevreese.bsky.social, @favstats.eu & yours truly!
Thanks to @pieterhaeck.bsky.social & @evahartog.bsky.social.
With insights from @claesdevreese.bsky.social, @favstats.eu & yours truly!
Thanks to @pieterhaeck.bsky.social & @evahartog.bsky.social.
This was the week that AI hit two European electoral campaigns in a major way and exposed significant gaps in ongoing efforts to curb undue influence on voters.
The week that AI deepfakes hit Europe’s elections
Dutch and Irish elections show voters now have to worry if the political content they consume is real.
www.politico.eu
October 31, 2025 at 2:16 PM
"The week that AI hit Europe’s elections"
With insights from @claesdevreese.bsky.social, @favstats.eu & yours truly!
Thanks to @pieterhaeck.bsky.social & @evahartog.bsky.social.
With insights from @claesdevreese.bsky.social, @favstats.eu & yours truly!
Thanks to @pieterhaeck.bsky.social & @evahartog.bsky.social.
Reposted by Hannes Cools
From far-right AI imagery to AI chatbots offering vote advice.
Weighing in in @politico.eu on the role of AI in the Dutch elections with great colleagues @favstats.eu and @hannescools.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/elec...
Weighing in in @politico.eu on the role of AI in the Dutch elections with great colleagues @favstats.eu and @hannescools.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/elec...
The week that AI deepfakes hit Europe’s elections
Dutch and Irish elections show voters now have to worry if the political content they consume is real.
www.politico.eu
October 31, 2025 at 6:50 AM
From far-right AI imagery to AI chatbots offering vote advice.
Weighing in in @politico.eu on the role of AI in the Dutch elections with great colleagues @favstats.eu and @hannescools.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/elec...
Weighing in in @politico.eu on the role of AI in the Dutch elections with great colleagues @favstats.eu and @hannescools.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/elec...
Watching Dutch elections results right now 🏇🏇
horses are racing on a track with the words real close above them
ALT: horses are racing on a track with the words real close above them
media.tenor.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Watching Dutch elections results right now 🏇🏇