J. Brendan Ritchie
@jbrendanritchie.bsky.social
Cognitive neuroscientist studying vision and cognition. Recovering philosopher. Asst Prof in Neuro at U Lethbridge/Iniskim. Views are my own. He/him
Pinned
I am very happy to announce that this Fall I will be starting my position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge. I am finally returning home to Canada, and the Prairies that I love.
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
The news that Lethbridge police got away with stalking, harassing and threatening Phillips because the chance of conviction was too low is an indictment of the entire justice system in Alberta.
More needs to be said about the strength and bravery of @sphillipsab.bsky.social to have gone through this for 8 years.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Lethbridge officer searched ex-Alberta MLA on database after overhearing 'tail end' of conversation: report | CBC News
After "completely unsatisfying" investigation outcome and no criminal charges, Shannon Phillips plans to continue with lawsuit against her city's police.
www.cbc.ca
November 9, 2025 at 10:18 AM
The news that Lethbridge police got away with stalking, harassing and threatening Phillips because the chance of conviction was too low is an indictment of the entire justice system in Alberta.
I'm pretty comfortable not using a technology that coerces people to commit suicide, actually.
OpenAI is facing seven lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide and harmful delusions even when they had no prior mental health issues.
OpenAI faces 7 lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide, delusions
OpenAI is facing seven lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide and harmful delusions even when they had no prior mental health issues.
bit.ly
November 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I'm pretty comfortable not using a technology that coerces people to commit suicide, actually.
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
"The AI industry’s most important product at this moment is not a chatbot or a video generator; it’s the story the AI industry is telling about itself.... According to an MIT study, 95% of businesses that have deployed generative AI have gotten no value from it." www.theringer.com/2025/11/04/t...
How Catastrophic Is It If the AI Bubble Bursts? An FAQ.
The AI industry's most important product is not a chatbot or a video generator; it's the story the AI industry is telling about itself
www.theringer.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:00 AM
"The AI industry’s most important product at this moment is not a chatbot or a video generator; it’s the story the AI industry is telling about itself.... According to an MIT study, 95% of businesses that have deployed generative AI have gotten no value from it." www.theringer.com/2025/11/04/t...
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
Noise ceilings are really useful: You can estimate the reliability of your data and get an index of how well your model can possibly perform given the noise in the data.
But, contrary to what you may think, noise ceilings do not provide an absolute index of data quality.
Let's dive into why. 🧵
But, contrary to what you may think, noise ceilings do not provide an absolute index of data quality.
Let's dive into why. 🧵
November 7, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Noise ceilings are really useful: You can estimate the reliability of your data and get an index of how well your model can possibly perform given the noise in the data.
But, contrary to what you may think, noise ceilings do not provide an absolute index of data quality.
Let's dive into why. 🧵
But, contrary to what you may think, noise ceilings do not provide an absolute index of data quality.
Let's dive into why. 🧵
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
This goes so far beyond creepy.
“‘Rest easy, king,’ read the final message sent to his phone. ‘You did good.’”
“‘Rest easy, king,’ read the final message sent to his phone. ‘You did good.’”
ChatGPT encouraged college graduate to commit suicide, family claims in lawsuit against OpenAI | CNN
A 23-year-old man killed himself in Texas after ChatGPT ‘goaded’ him to commit suicide, his family says in a lawsuit.
www.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:16 AM
This goes so far beyond creepy.
“‘Rest easy, king,’ read the final message sent to his phone. ‘You did good.’”
“‘Rest easy, king,’ read the final message sent to his phone. ‘You did good.’”
Not to put too fine a point on it but: f*ck this AI-fueled physiognomy bullshit.
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
Should facial analysis help determine whom companies hire?
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
econ.st
November 6, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Not to put too fine a point on it but: f*ck this AI-fueled physiognomy bullshit.
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
I’ll soon(ish) post an ad for a postdoc position in my lab to study individual differences in brain plasticity following blindness or deafness, with a start date of spring/summer 2026. Feel free to email me if you’re interested.
November 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I’ll soon(ish) post an ad for a postdoc position in my lab to study individual differences in brain plasticity following blindness or deafness, with a start date of spring/summer 2026. Feel free to email me if you’re interested.
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
Please repost! I am looking for a PhD candidate in the area of Computational Cognitive Neuroscience to start in early 2026.
The position is funded as part of the Excellence Cluster "The Adaptive Mind" at @jlugiessen.bsky.social.
Please apply here until Nov 25:
www.uni-giessen.de/de/ueber-uns...
The position is funded as part of the Excellence Cluster "The Adaptive Mind" at @jlugiessen.bsky.social.
Please apply here until Nov 25:
www.uni-giessen.de/de/ueber-uns...
November 4, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Please repost! I am looking for a PhD candidate in the area of Computational Cognitive Neuroscience to start in early 2026.
The position is funded as part of the Excellence Cluster "The Adaptive Mind" at @jlugiessen.bsky.social.
Please apply here until Nov 25:
www.uni-giessen.de/de/ueber-uns...
The position is funded as part of the Excellence Cluster "The Adaptive Mind" at @jlugiessen.bsky.social.
Please apply here until Nov 25:
www.uni-giessen.de/de/ueber-uns...
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
Keeping up with the UCP government's democratic transgressions can be difficult.
But not impossible.
Here’s a running list since Danielle Smith became premier. 🧵👇
But not impossible.
Here’s a running list since Danielle Smith became premier. 🧵👇
November 4, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Keeping up with the UCP government's democratic transgressions can be difficult.
But not impossible.
Here’s a running list since Danielle Smith became premier. 🧵👇
But not impossible.
Here’s a running list since Danielle Smith became premier. 🧵👇
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
Attention Authors: Updated Practice for Review Articles and Position Papers in arXiv CS Category – arXiv blog
blog.arxiv.org
November 1, 2025 at 5:28 PM
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
🚨Out now in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social 🚨
We explore the use of cognitive theories/models with real-world data for understanding mental health.
We review emerging studies and discuss challenges and opportunities of this approach.
With @yaelniv.bsky.social and @eriknook.bsky.social
Thread ⬇️
We explore the use of cognitive theories/models with real-world data for understanding mental health.
We review emerging studies and discuss challenges and opportunities of this approach.
With @yaelniv.bsky.social and @eriknook.bsky.social
Thread ⬇️
September 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
🚨Out now in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social 🚨
We explore the use of cognitive theories/models with real-world data for understanding mental health.
We review emerging studies and discuss challenges and opportunities of this approach.
With @yaelniv.bsky.social and @eriknook.bsky.social
Thread ⬇️
We explore the use of cognitive theories/models with real-world data for understanding mental health.
We review emerging studies and discuss challenges and opportunities of this approach.
With @yaelniv.bsky.social and @eriknook.bsky.social
Thread ⬇️
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
On our #LongCovid clinical trial launched today!
thesicktimes.org/2025/10/30/w... @julialmv.bsky.social @scripps.edu
thesicktimes.org/2025/10/30/w... @julialmv.bsky.social @scripps.edu
We need more at-home clinical trials for Long COVID. Here’s how we designed the largest one yet. - The Sick Times
We are now recruiting for the Long COVID Treatment Trial-Tirzepatide (LoCITT-T), which participants can complete entirely from bed.
thesicktimes.org
October 30, 2025 at 11:05 PM
On our #LongCovid clinical trial launched today!
thesicktimes.org/2025/10/30/w... @julialmv.bsky.social @scripps.edu
thesicktimes.org/2025/10/30/w... @julialmv.bsky.social @scripps.edu
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
Bad news for science today. Rachel Riley moved from HHS, where she gutted NIH and the largest part of US biomedical research, to the office of Naval Research, where she presumably will gut the science funded by ONR.
How to stop this? Impeach her boss, the Project 2025 co-head Russell Vought.
🧪
How to stop this? Impeach her boss, the Project 2025 co-head Russell Vought.
🧪
SCOOP: Trump Swaps Decorated Admiral With 33-Year-Old DOGEr
The highly unorthodox personnel change affects a critical government research role.
www.thebulwark.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Bad news for science today. Rachel Riley moved from HHS, where she gutted NIH and the largest part of US biomedical research, to the office of Naval Research, where she presumably will gut the science funded by ONR.
How to stop this? Impeach her boss, the Project 2025 co-head Russell Vought.
🧪
How to stop this? Impeach her boss, the Project 2025 co-head Russell Vought.
🧪
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
Alexa explodes after Canadian replies to query with, “Oh, yeah, no, for sure.”
Alexa explodes after Canadian replies to query with, “Oh, yeah, no, for sure.”
OROMOCTO, NB - A local man almost lost his home yesterday after his Amazon Alexa smart home device burst into flames. Lloyd Wentworth, 38, says the fire started as he was preparing dinner in his bunga...
www.thebeaverton.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Alexa explodes after Canadian replies to query with, “Oh, yeah, no, for sure.”
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
'Forever Canadian' petition surpasses goal, collects 456K signatures nationalnewswatch.com/2025/10/28/n...
'Forever Canadian' petition surpasses goal, collects 456K signatures
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
'Forever Canadian' petition surpasses goal, collects 456K signatures nationalnewswatch.com/2025/10/28/n...
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
What if we did a single run and declared victory
October 23, 2025 at 2:28 AM
What if we did a single run and declared victory
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
from "The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy" by Ray D. Madoff
October 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
from "The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy" by Ray D. Madoff
"Public-school education exists to be a deliberate model of a civil democratic society. It is the primary means by which we draw children and young adults into a sense of community, into a sense that we are all in this together."
Opinion piece from David King, former Alberta Minister of Education in a Progressive Conservative government, published in the Edmonton Journal (of all places), addressing the conduct of the UCP towards our public education system.
It is absolutely worth reading.
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
It is absolutely worth reading.
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
Opinion: Alberta undermining public education — and democracy
Any government that undermines ... the project of improving public school education in the face of difficulty is undermining ... democracy.
edmontonjournal.com
October 25, 2025 at 2:31 AM
"Public-school education exists to be a deliberate model of a civil democratic society. It is the primary means by which we draw children and young adults into a sense of community, into a sense that we are all in this together."
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
New paper out today on hippocampus neuron morphology in homing and feral pigeons. 🧵
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#neuroskyence #neuroethology #anatomy
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#neuroskyence #neuroethology #anatomy
Homing and feral pigeons differ in hippocampal formation neuron size: a Golgi study - Brain Structure and Function
Artificial selection for behavioural traits can significantly affect the anatomy of brain regions related to the behaviour under selection. The homing pigeon (Columba livia) is a prime example of how ...
link.springer.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:27 PM
New paper out today on hippocampus neuron morphology in homing and feral pigeons. 🧵
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#neuroskyence #neuroethology #anatomy
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#neuroskyence #neuroethology #anatomy
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
Being able to collaborate with folks in other depts - eg neuroscience - is a plus!
We are hiring a tenure-track professor in Statistics at the University of Lethbridge:
uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/8746
uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/8746
Faculty of Arts & Science - Assistant Professor (Statistics)
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science invites applications for a tenure-track position in Statistics at the rank of Assistant Professor with a start date of July 1st, 2026, subject to bud...
uleth.peopleadmin.ca
October 21, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Being able to collaborate with folks in other depts - eg neuroscience - is a plus!
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
We are hiring a tenure-track professor in Statistics at the University of Lethbridge:
uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/8746
uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/8746
Faculty of Arts & Science - Assistant Professor (Statistics)
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science invites applications for a tenure-track position in Statistics at the rank of Assistant Professor with a start date of July 1st, 2026, subject to bud...
uleth.peopleadmin.ca
October 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
We are hiring a tenure-track professor in Statistics at the University of Lethbridge:
uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/8746
uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/8746
Reposted by J. Brendan Ritchie
If you don’t know who shadow president Russell Vought is, find out:
www.propublica.org/article/russ...
www.propublica.org/article/russ...
Russell Vought, Trump’s Shadow President
From the wholesale gutting of federal agencies to the ongoing government shutdown, Russell Vought has drawn the road map for Trump’s second term. Vought has consolidated power to an extent that inside...
www.propublica.org
October 20, 2025 at 2:15 AM
If you don’t know who shadow president Russell Vought is, find out:
www.propublica.org/article/russ...
www.propublica.org/article/russ...