Jacopo Bertolotti
@jacopobertolotti.com
Associated Professor of Physics at the University of Exeter.
Scientific visualizations (grouped under the hastag #PhysicsFactlet).
He/lui/on. All opinions are my own fault.
Scientific visualizations (grouped under the hastag #PhysicsFactlet).
He/lui/on. All opinions are my own fault.
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
We spoke to a dozen professional concept artists who are currently or have previously worked in game development about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs any easier.
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Concept Artists Say Generative AI References Only Make Their Jobs Harder
“The ‘early ideation stages’, when worlds are being fleshed out by writers and artists, are literally crucial to the development of a game’s vision,” said one artist.
thisweekinvideogames.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:06 PM
We spoke to a dozen professional concept artists who are currently or have previously worked in game development about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs any easier.
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
Physicist Leo Szilard, in a short science fiction story from 1948, describing how to retard science by making the funding application longer and harder than the proposed research - now called the ‘Szilard point’
December 19, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Physicist Leo Szilard, in a short science fiction story from 1948, describing how to retard science by making the funding application longer and harder than the proposed research - now called the ‘Szilard point’
Streaming services are getting more expensive and are packed with adverts
+
DVD prices are incredibly low
=
I guess I will go back to buy the DVD of the movies/series I want to watch
+
DVD prices are incredibly low
=
I guess I will go back to buy the DVD of the movies/series I want to watch
December 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Streaming services are getting more expensive and are packed with adverts
+
DVD prices are incredibly low
=
I guess I will go back to buy the DVD of the movies/series I want to watch
+
DVD prices are incredibly low
=
I guess I will go back to buy the DVD of the movies/series I want to watch
I went to the Dolomites a lot as a kid, and I could clearly see the difference between the '80s and the '00s. Much less snow, higher temperatures, ski slopes that only existed because of snow cannons.
I haven't been there in over 20 years, but I guess the situation now is a million times worse.
I haven't been there in over 20 years, but I guess the situation now is a million times worse.
Wow @thetimes.com, that’s impressive
An entire article about “freak heat” in the Dolomites causing mayhem amongst skiers without once mentioning climate change…🤷🏼♀️
🧵
1/5
An entire article about “freak heat” in the Dolomites causing mayhem amongst skiers without once mentioning climate change…🤷🏼♀️
🧵
1/5
December 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM
I went to the Dolomites a lot as a kid, and I could clearly see the difference between the '80s and the '00s. Much less snow, higher temperatures, ski slopes that only existed because of snow cannons.
I haven't been there in over 20 years, but I guess the situation now is a million times worse.
I haven't been there in over 20 years, but I guess the situation now is a million times worse.
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
December 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
There is a call for joint PhDs between @exeter.ac.uk and @univparissaclay.bsky.social with deadline for projects (not students' applications) in mid-January.
Most of the people I know in Paris works at Sorbonne, but maybe I know someone at Paris Saclay who wants to collaborate? 😀
Most of the people I know in Paris works at Sorbonne, but maybe I know someone at Paris Saclay who wants to collaborate? 😀
December 15, 2025 at 3:12 PM
There is a call for joint PhDs between @exeter.ac.uk and @univparissaclay.bsky.social with deadline for projects (not students' applications) in mid-January.
Most of the people I know in Paris works at Sorbonne, but maybe I know someone at Paris Saclay who wants to collaborate? 😀
Most of the people I know in Paris works at Sorbonne, but maybe I know someone at Paris Saclay who wants to collaborate? 😀
The proposal to use the frozen Russian money to fund Ukraine is more complex (from a international law point of view) than I thought, and I understand Belgium's argument.
Still, I really hope they go through with it.
Still, I really hope they go through with it.
Update: I had a chance to talk to him. Personally he sees the move as breaking international law, but he sent me an interesting blog post laying out the larger argument (see here: verfassungsblog.de/on-the-legal...). As for consequences, he thinks it won't be settled before post-war reconciliation.
December 15, 2025 at 11:49 AM
The proposal to use the frozen Russian money to fund Ukraine is more complex (from a international law point of view) than I thought, and I understand Belgium's argument.
Still, I really hope they go through with it.
Still, I really hope they go through with it.
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
Made a site comparing the sizes of living things :)
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
December 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Made a site comparing the sizes of living things :)
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
EU set to indefinitely freeze Russian assets, removing obstacle to Ukraine loan reut.rs/4iV4xAP
EU set to indefinitely freeze Russian assets, removing obstacle to Ukraine loan
The new freeze would stay in place "until there is no longer an immediate threat to the economic interests of the Union".
reut.rs
December 12, 2025 at 11:25 AM
EU set to indefinitely freeze Russian assets, removing obstacle to Ukraine loan reut.rs/4iV4xAP
I am tempted to say that should teach the difference between heat, temperature, and heat capacity in primary schools, but I suspect that most kids knows it better than the adults.
Just because it's being passed around a lot: NO, data centers in space do NOT benefit from space being cold. Space is cold in the formal sense we use to define temperature. But it is very bad at cooling. What would you rather have to cool hot metal: a lukewarm water tub or a giant cold atmosphere?
December 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I am tempted to say that should teach the difference between heat, temperature, and heat capacity in primary schools, but I suspect that most kids knows it better than the adults.
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
Operation Bluebird wants to relaunch “Twitter,” says Musk abandoned the name and logo arstechnica.com/information-...
Operation Bluebird wants to relaunch “Twitter,” says Musk abandoned the name and logo
“Abandonment” offers rare chance to reclaim one of tech’s most recognized brands.
arstechnica.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Operation Bluebird wants to relaunch “Twitter,” says Musk abandoned the name and logo arstechnica.com/information-...
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
you could make an ad like this made by actual humans that goes viral and gets making of press coverage or you could put out AI slop like mcdonalds that everyone hates and still have the team whining how brutally hard it was and how long it took while also feeling creatively unfulfilled
tough choice
tough choice
Saw this adorable French animation ad and I had to share it over here! The style looks familiar but I can’t my finger on what group it is. Any ideas?
December 10, 2025 at 9:54 AM
you could make an ad like this made by actual humans that goes viral and gets making of press coverage or you could put out AI slop like mcdonalds that everyone hates and still have the team whining how brutally hard it was and how long it took while also feeling creatively unfulfilled
tough choice
tough choice
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
In early 2024, I got to speak to Deans from up & down the West Coast of the US & Canada about "AI". I told them that the only value of ChatGPT for university administrators is as a contrast-dye test to show where resources are lacking.
December 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
In early 2024, I got to speak to Deans from up & down the West Coast of the US & Canada about "AI". I told them that the only value of ChatGPT for university administrators is as a contrast-dye test to show where resources are lacking.
What you write: "If using a <insert list of OSs/browsers> the link might not work - please use on a windows/chrome device if you have issues with the link."
What I read: "We are too incompetent to make a working web page. But instead of sorting it out, we are dumping the blame on you."
What I read: "We are too incompetent to make a working web page. But instead of sorting it out, we are dumping the blame on you."
December 9, 2025 at 10:16 AM
What you write: "If using a <insert list of OSs/browsers> the link might not work - please use on a windows/chrome device if you have issues with the link."
What I read: "We are too incompetent to make a working web page. But instead of sorting it out, we are dumping the blame on you."
What I read: "We are too incompetent to make a working web page. But instead of sorting it out, we are dumping the blame on you."
Mimics are just a silly #DnD idea. They can't harm you.
The Tasselled Wobbegong is a master of disguise that can eat a fish almost as big as itself in one gulp. It's classified as a shark, but when it lays on the sea floor it looks like a harmless rug if you manage to see it. But with powerful jaws and sharp teeth they are no fish to mess with.
December 8, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Mimics are just a silly #DnD idea. They can't harm you.
As somebody who is not particularly good at international politics, what I read is: the USA have unambiguously decided to drop all of their soft power. Likely because they think they don't need it (it reminds me a lot of the "shoot yourself in the foot" strategy the UK is following).
A few thoughts on the new US national security strategy that was released today.
🧵
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
🧵
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
December 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
As somebody who is not particularly good at international politics, what I read is: the USA have unambiguously decided to drop all of their soft power. Likely because they think they don't need it (it reminds me a lot of the "shoot yourself in the foot" strategy the UK is following).
Repeat with me: The "internet of things" is a bad idea, it has always been a bad idea, and it will always be a bad idea.
No appliance (no, not even a tv) needs to have an internet connection. Especially one you don't have control over.
No appliance (no, not even a tv) needs to have an internet connection. Especially one you don't have control over.
This Pluribus ad on a fridge caused a schizophrenic woman named Carol to be hospitalized.
December 4, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Repeat with me: The "internet of things" is a bad idea, it has always been a bad idea, and it will always be a bad idea.
No appliance (no, not even a tv) needs to have an internet connection. Especially one you don't have control over.
No appliance (no, not even a tv) needs to have an internet connection. Especially one you don't have control over.
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
FFS no, no, no, this is not happening with genAI. All it will do is make results worse. The ouroboros eating its own tail. This is the grift desperately trying to keep the promise alive and the cash coming in www.theguardian.com/technology/n...
‘The biggest decision yet’: Jared Kaplan on allowing AI to train itself
Anthropic’s chief scientist says AI autonomy could spark a beneficial ‘intelligence explosion’ – or be the moment humans lose control
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
FFS no, no, no, this is not happening with genAI. All it will do is make results worse. The ouroboros eating its own tail. This is the grift desperately trying to keep the promise alive and the cash coming in www.theguardian.com/technology/n...
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
December 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM
It is genuinely impressive how bad the user interfaces of most streaming services are.
They are all so bad that I can only assume they are bad on purpose, but I can't find any reason why enshittifying the user interface would bring them more money. 🤔
They are all so bad that I can only assume they are bad on purpose, but I can't find any reason why enshittifying the user interface would bring them more money. 🤔
December 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM
It is genuinely impressive how bad the user interfaces of most streaming services are.
They are all so bad that I can only assume they are bad on purpose, but I can't find any reason why enshittifying the user interface would bring them more money. 🤔
They are all so bad that I can only assume they are bad on purpose, but I can't find any reason why enshittifying the user interface would bring them more money. 🤔
Reposted by Jacopo Bertolotti
My cartoon for this week's @newscientist.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:01 PM
My cartoon for this week's @newscientist.com
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
It is not going to be pretty, but I genuinely feel bad for the kidnappers (and anybody in a 10km radius).
It is not going to be pretty, but I genuinely feel bad for the kidnappers (and anybody in a 10km radius).
November 26, 2025 at 11:23 AM
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
It is not going to be pretty, but I genuinely feel bad for the kidnappers (and anybody in a 10km radius).
It is not going to be pretty, but I genuinely feel bad for the kidnappers (and anybody in a 10km radius).