James Abley
@jabley.bsky.social
Ghost in a meatsack. Opinions model's own. Occasionally useful. Won’t speak on all-male/-white panels. Anti-fascist. (He/him) #BLM
Reposted by James Abley
authors you have the chance to do the funniest thing right now
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:35 AM
authors you have the chance to do the funniest thing right now
Reposted by James Abley
The 🇬🇧UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially designated Apple as having Strategic Market Status (SMS). After four years investigating Apple’s restrictions on browser engines and web apps, the CMA now has statutory authority to enforce a code of conduct.
1/12
1/12
November 4, 2025 at 8:14 AM
The 🇬🇧UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially designated Apple as having Strategic Market Status (SMS). After four years investigating Apple’s restrictions on browser engines and web apps, the CMA now has statutory authority to enforce a code of conduct.
1/12
1/12
Reposted by James Abley
A bit of a holiday rant...
We need to stop designing "target architectures." They're a fantasy. A waste of money.
An approach that forces decisions too early, kills speed, and guarantees you'll never fix legacy tech.
A utopian plan that's an anchor, not a map.
dafyddvaughan.uk/blog/2025/th...
We need to stop designing "target architectures." They're a fantasy. A waste of money.
An approach that forces decisions too early, kills speed, and guarantees you'll never fix legacy tech.
A utopian plan that's an anchor, not a map.
dafyddvaughan.uk/blog/2025/th...
The bridge to nowhere: Why your ‘Target Architecture' won’t ever deliver
Stop funding fictional target architecture blueprints and start funding empowered, long-lived teams. The traditional, rigid approach is too slow for the age of AI and will never solve your real-world ...
dafyddvaughan.uk
November 3, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A bit of a holiday rant...
We need to stop designing "target architectures." They're a fantasy. A waste of money.
An approach that forces decisions too early, kills speed, and guarantees you'll never fix legacy tech.
A utopian plan that's an anchor, not a map.
dafyddvaughan.uk/blog/2025/th...
We need to stop designing "target architectures." They're a fantasy. A waste of money.
An approach that forces decisions too early, kills speed, and guarantees you'll never fix legacy tech.
A utopian plan that's an anchor, not a map.
dafyddvaughan.uk/blog/2025/th...
Reposted by James Abley
This is from Autocracy, Inc, about how modern autocratic propaganda works.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
November 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This is from Autocracy, Inc, about how modern autocratic propaganda works.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
Reposted by James Abley
How Caerphilly best Farage Reform
October 26, 2025 at 9:04 AM
How Caerphilly best Farage Reform
Reposted by James Abley
We (OpenUK) are running a free unconference in London next week to discuss AI.
agentopenunconference2025.eventbrite.co.uk
Boosters and sceptics very welcome!
#Unconference #London #AI
agentopenunconference2025.eventbrite.co.uk
Boosters and sceptics very welcome!
#Unconference #London #AI
Agent Open Unconference organised in partnership with the AI Alliance
Agentic technology will be explored in a day of technical and security discussions, with maybe some governance and ethics in an unconference
agentopenunconference2025.eventbrite.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 9:43 AM
We (OpenUK) are running a free unconference in London next week to discuss AI.
agentopenunconference2025.eventbrite.co.uk
Boosters and sceptics very welcome!
#Unconference #London #AI
agentopenunconference2025.eventbrite.co.uk
Boosters and sceptics very welcome!
#Unconference #London #AI
Reposted by James Abley
Ruby Central said some really concerning things today. I don’t think they’re representing the situation accurately. andre.arko.net/2025/10/09/t...
The RubyGems “security incident”
Ruby Central posted an extremely concerning “Incident Response Timeline” today, in which they make a number of exaggerated or purely misleading claims. Here’s my effort to set the record straight.
Fir...
andre.arko.net
October 10, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Ruby Central said some really concerning things today. I don’t think they’re representing the situation accurately. andre.arko.net/2025/10/09/t...
Reposted by James Abley
📣 Germany's close to reversing its opposition to mass surveillance & private message scanning, & backing the Chat Control bill. This could end private comms-& Signal-in the EU.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...
signal.org
October 6, 2025 at 6:46 AM
📣 Germany's close to reversing its opposition to mass surveillance & private message scanning, & backing the Chat Control bill. This could end private comms-& Signal-in the EU.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
Reposted by James Abley
1/ A longtime Wired editor just wrote a mush-brained essay about how he totally missed the political rot of Silicon Valley (& still doesn't get it).
But in the late 1990s, a Wired journalist warned of a toxic ideology bubbling up from tech. Paulina Borsook has largely been erased. Let's change that
But in the late 1990s, a Wired journalist warned of a toxic ideology bubbling up from tech. Paulina Borsook has largely been erased. Let's change that
September 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
1/ A longtime Wired editor just wrote a mush-brained essay about how he totally missed the political rot of Silicon Valley (& still doesn't get it).
But in the late 1990s, a Wired journalist warned of a toxic ideology bubbling up from tech. Paulina Borsook has largely been erased. Let's change that
But in the late 1990s, a Wired journalist warned of a toxic ideology bubbling up from tech. Paulina Borsook has largely been erased. Let's change that
Reposted by James Abley
The Ruby community has a DHH problem
tekin.co.uk/2025/09/the-...
tekin.co.uk/2025/09/the-...
The Ruby community has a DHH problem
The Ruby community can no longer afford to stand silent in the face of DHH and his toxic ideas.
tekin.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 8:17 AM
The Ruby community has a DHH problem
tekin.co.uk/2025/09/the-...
tekin.co.uk/2025/09/the-...
Reposted by James Abley
This. Is. Why. I. Paint.
October 4, 2025 at 4:52 AM
This. Is. Why. I. Paint.
Reposted by James Abley
🧵
When I was growing up, my Uncle Noel would come to stay every Christmas. He was a solitary character, quiet but droll. Quite a hard character to read or get to know. Certainly not a cuddly, fun uncle who played games.
He grew up very poor, became a builder/labourer like many Irish immigrants...
When I was growing up, my Uncle Noel would come to stay every Christmas. He was a solitary character, quiet but droll. Quite a hard character to read or get to know. Certainly not a cuddly, fun uncle who played games.
He grew up very poor, became a builder/labourer like many Irish immigrants...
A little bit of a moment for me -- appearing in an @johnyorkestory.bsky.social radio programme, to talk about Charles Darwin and On the Origin of Species.
I love Into the Woods, and use it for teaching.
And Origin is really important to me.
Listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I love Into the Woods, and use it for teaching.
And Origin is really important to me.
Listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Opening Lines - On the Origin of Species - BBC Sounds
John Yorke investigates Charles Darwin’s world-changing book On The Origin of Species.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 3, 2025 at 10:51 AM
🧵
When I was growing up, my Uncle Noel would come to stay every Christmas. He was a solitary character, quiet but droll. Quite a hard character to read or get to know. Certainly not a cuddly, fun uncle who played games.
He grew up very poor, became a builder/labourer like many Irish immigrants...
When I was growing up, my Uncle Noel would come to stay every Christmas. He was a solitary character, quiet but droll. Quite a hard character to read or get to know. Certainly not a cuddly, fun uncle who played games.
He grew up very poor, became a builder/labourer like many Irish immigrants...
Reposted by James Abley
The debate around Musk and the Royal Society is just so frustrating. If those who think it is right to retain him as an FRS were to say "Here, despite his having been a direct accomplice to the dismantling of scientific institutions, destruction of scientific data, spreading of...
August 1, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The debate around Musk and the Royal Society is just so frustrating. If those who think it is right to retain him as an FRS were to say "Here, despite his having been a direct accomplice to the dismantling of scientific institutions, destruction of scientific data, spreading of...
Reposted by James Abley
My latest piece @thenation.com is the loving, heartfelt tribute you've been waiting for: "Real American Scumbag: Hulk Hogan Was a Racist, Liar, and Scab" www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Hulk Hogan Was a Racist, Liar, and Scab
In the 1980s, the professional wrestler portrayed himself as an all-American hero—but he was really a “jabroni” the entire time.
www.thenation.com
July 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
My latest piece @thenation.com is the loving, heartfelt tribute you've been waiting for: "Real American Scumbag: Hulk Hogan Was a Racist, Liar, and Scab" www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by James Abley
When I did a story on conditions in migrant hotels, there was a woman who would have to wash the spicy sauce off the pasta - in the sink - because there was no meal suitable for her toddler. She felt like a bad mum who couldn’t feed her own child
July 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
When I did a story on conditions in migrant hotels, there was a woman who would have to wash the spicy sauce off the pasta - in the sink - because there was no meal suitable for her toddler. She felt like a bad mum who couldn’t feed her own child
Reposted by James Abley
Never thought I'd be talking about tech, trust and tennis...but here we are! I've finally read up on the Hawk-Eye failure at Wimbledon. And I think it reveals something more nuanced and useful than the big headlines make out.
🧵
🧵
July 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Never thought I'd be talking about tech, trust and tennis...but here we are! I've finally read up on the Hawk-Eye failure at Wimbledon. And I think it reveals something more nuanced and useful than the big headlines make out.
🧵
🧵
Reposted by James Abley
Honestly this is so infuriating. AI and copyright issues go way beyond the creative sector, and the idea that we'll get to the best approach *for the public interest* by having Big Tech and Big Content duke it out is insane. At the *very least* unions should be there to represent worker interests.
Creative and AI sectors kick-off next steps in finding solutions to AI and copyright www.gov.uk/government/n...
UK Government press release about launch of expert working groups. Unclear if representatives of "both" sectors will meet face to face.
#DataBill #genAI #IPlaw #techpolicy #fightclub
UK Government press release about launch of expert working groups. Unclear if representatives of "both" sectors will meet face to face.
#DataBill #genAI #IPlaw #techpolicy #fightclub
July 16, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Honestly this is so infuriating. AI and copyright issues go way beyond the creative sector, and the idea that we'll get to the best approach *for the public interest* by having Big Tech and Big Content duke it out is insane. At the *very least* unions should be there to represent worker interests.
Reposted by James Abley
thread
As an individual citizen, I shouldn't have to care about any of this.🤷🏿♂️
There should be a federal climate scientist (with some PhD from some very good program I don't know about) working with federal and state government employees (at agencies with boring names), using my taxes to increase drainage.
There should be a federal climate scientist (with some PhD from some very good program I don't know about) working with federal and state government employees (at agencies with boring names), using my taxes to increase drainage.
Extreme rainfall puts cities on alert
The need to boost resilience to rapid swings in weather is becoming urgent
www.ft.com
July 6, 2025 at 4:25 PM
thread
Reposted by James Abley
btw we have less than 2 weeks before glitch.com project hosting shuts down on july 8th. i don’t work there anymore but i am here to help with your export/migration questions, as is the glitch engineering team and rest of the community on support.glitch.com
June 25, 2025 at 6:08 PM
btw we have less than 2 weeks before glitch.com project hosting shuts down on july 8th. i don’t work there anymore but i am here to help with your export/migration questions, as is the glitch engineering team and rest of the community on support.glitch.com
Reposted by James Abley
Reposted by James Abley
What would it look like if tech was viewed as an infrastructural component of Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Professional and Business Service - my strong hunch is that you'd get better, more directed outcomes
June 24, 2025 at 6:58 AM
What would it look like if tech was viewed as an infrastructural component of Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Professional and Business Service - my strong hunch is that you'd get better, more directed outcomes
If you see this, quote a show with an awesome theme song.
June 17, 2025 at 11:07 PM
If you see this, quote a show with an awesome theme song.
Reposted by James Abley
one of the best tech conferences in the US opens applications for its 2025 DEI program. we'll cover your ticket and provide a travel and accommodation stipend if necessary. @monktoberfest.com is a lovely intimate event in Portland, Maine, October 1/2.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Monktoberfest 2025 - Diversity & Inclusion Application
The Monktoberfest (https://monktoberfest.com/) is a one-of-a-kind conference focused on the intersection of social and technology. We'd love to have you join us in Portland, Maine on October 1-3, 2025...
docs.google.com
June 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM
one of the best tech conferences in the US opens applications for its 2025 DEI program. we'll cover your ticket and provide a travel and accommodation stipend if necessary. @monktoberfest.com is a lovely intimate event in Portland, Maine, October 1/2.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by James Abley
This is actually an interesting post beyond the headline, more nuanced and useful to think about
‘AI is not doing its job and should leave us alone’ says Gartner’s top analyst
‘AI is not doing its job and should leave us alone’ says Gartner’s top analyst
As for agentic AI, don’t get him started about the enormous challenge of making it work vendors just won't discuss
“AI is not doing its job today and should leave us alone” according to analyst firm Gartner’s global chief of AI research Erick Brethenoux.…
dlvr.it
June 17, 2025 at 9:19 AM
This is actually an interesting post beyond the headline, more nuanced and useful to think about