Karsten Lemm
@lemmk.bsky.social
Business & Technology writer. Former Californian, now in Berlin. Details -> www.kalemm.com
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
PSA: tips to protect yourself from scams on Signal.
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
November 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
PSA: tips to protect yourself from scams on Signal.
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
Tech for good. 😊
New from 404 Media: people are 3D-printing whistles to warn each other about the presence of ICE. Some people make designs and upload them; others are given a design and are printing hundreds and hundreds of whistles at home. It's been effective in Chicago
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
The Latest Defense Against ICE: 3D-Printed Whistles
Chicagoans are making, sharing, and printing designs for whistles that can warn people when ICE is in the area. The goal is to “prevent as many people from being kidnapped as possible.”
www.404media.co
November 11, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Tech for good. 😊
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
New from 404 Media: people are 3D-printing whistles to warn each other about the presence of ICE. Some people make designs and upload them; others are given a design and are printing hundreds and hundreds of whistles at home. It's been effective in Chicago
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
The Latest Defense Against ICE: 3D-Printed Whistles
Chicagoans are making, sharing, and printing designs for whistles that can warn people when ICE is in the area. The goal is to “prevent as many people from being kidnapped as possible.”
www.404media.co
November 11, 2025 at 1:56 PM
New from 404 Media: people are 3D-printing whistles to warn each other about the presence of ICE. Some people make designs and upload them; others are given a design and are printing hundreds and hundreds of whistles at home. It's been effective in Chicago
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
No single US news source is consumed by more than 25% of Americans, whereas 60% of Brits regularly watch/read/listen to the BBC.
A single shared source of truth makes it harder for partisan echo chambers to form, or for divisive narratives to dominate. It’s good for social cohesion and compromise.
A single shared source of truth makes it harder for partisan echo chambers to form, or for divisive narratives to dominate. It’s good for social cohesion and compromise.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
No single US news source is consumed by more than 25% of Americans, whereas 60% of Brits regularly watch/read/listen to the BBC.
A single shared source of truth makes it harder for partisan echo chambers to form, or for divisive narratives to dominate. It’s good for social cohesion and compromise.
A single shared source of truth makes it harder for partisan echo chambers to form, or for divisive narratives to dominate. It’s good for social cohesion and compromise.
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
Stop overhyping AI, scientists tell von der Leyen
Stop overhyping AI, scientists tell von der Leyen
Open letter criticises the Commission President for remarks earlier this year – when she anticipated AI would “approach human reasoning” in 2026
dlvr.it
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Stop overhyping AI, scientists tell von der Leyen
For the record, nobody is being “persecuted for their political beliefs” in Germany.
This is just a publicity stunt intended to strengthen the AfD-MAGA connection.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
This is just a publicity stunt intended to strengthen the AfD-MAGA connection.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
German far-right activist seeks asylum in U.S. as Trump ties deepen
Social media influencer Naomi Seibt, a supporter of the nationalist AfD party, said she is being persecuted in Germany for her political views.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
For the record, nobody is being “persecuted for their political beliefs” in Germany.
This is just a publicity stunt intended to strengthen the AfD-MAGA connection.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
This is just a publicity stunt intended to strengthen the AfD-MAGA connection.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Um, ***fewer*** Germans moving to US, dear @reuters.com colleagues.
You can still count them, right?
#English #grammar #journalism
You can still count them, right?
#English #grammar #journalism
Less Germans moving to US since Trump's inauguration, official data show reut.rs/4oAg0rE
Less Germans moving to US since Trump's inauguration, official data show
The number of people moving from Germany to the United States dropped sharply in 2025 following the start of President Donald Trump's second term, official data showed on Monday.
reut.rs
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Um, ***fewer*** Germans moving to US, dear @reuters.com colleagues.
You can still count them, right?
#English #grammar #journalism
You can still count them, right?
#English #grammar #journalism
UK Conservatives under Boris Johnson have already succeeded in crippling the #BBC.
BBC World News is gone; mostly talking heads instead of reporting; often “breaking” news that consists of press conference live feeds.
Sad and disheartening.
BBC World News is gone; mostly talking heads instead of reporting; often “breaking” news that consists of press conference live feeds.
Sad and disheartening.
November 10, 2025 at 10:26 AM
UK Conservatives under Boris Johnson have already succeeded in crippling the #BBC.
BBC World News is gone; mostly talking heads instead of reporting; often “breaking” news that consists of press conference live feeds.
Sad and disheartening.
BBC World News is gone; mostly talking heads instead of reporting; often “breaking” news that consists of press conference live feeds.
Sad and disheartening.
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
AI is essentially incompatible with net zero, in the short term. I know which I'd rather have www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
AI power use forecast finds the industry far off track to net zero
Several large tech firms that are active in AI have set goals to hit net zero by 2030, but a new forecast of the energy and water required to run large data centres shows they’re unlikely to meet thos...
www.newscientist.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:04 AM
AI is essentially incompatible with net zero, in the short term. I know which I'd rather have www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
What are you doing, @nytimes.com?
I pay to read articles – not to get inundated with invasive CTAs about playing games and upgrading my subscription to plans I don’t need.
#marketing #fail #media #journalism #webdev
I pay to read articles – not to get inundated with invasive CTAs about playing games and upgrading my subscription to plans I don’t need.
#marketing #fail #media #journalism #webdev
November 10, 2025 at 9:04 AM
What are you doing, @nytimes.com?
I pay to read articles – not to get inundated with invasive CTAs about playing games and upgrading my subscription to plans I don’t need.
#marketing #fail #media #journalism #webdev
I pay to read articles – not to get inundated with invasive CTAs about playing games and upgrading my subscription to plans I don’t need.
#marketing #fail #media #journalism #webdev
“We know the models aren’t perfect, and no company’s policies or protections are perfect”, #OpenAI VP tells @wsj.com re: #copyright violations.
Reminder: These same #AI models are being touted as #productivity boosters, prompting massive layoffs.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
Reminder: These same #AI models are being touted as #productivity boosters, prompting massive layoffs.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
Exclusive | OpenAI Wants Brands to Allow Their Mascots to Appear in Gen AI Videos
ChatGPT maker suggests marketers could eventually charge for use of their ‘beloved characters’ in its Sora 2 text-to-video app.
www.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:53 AM
“We know the models aren’t perfect, and no company’s policies or protections are perfect”, #OpenAI VP tells @wsj.com re: #copyright violations.
Reminder: These same #AI models are being touted as #productivity boosters, prompting massive layoffs.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
Reminder: These same #AI models are being touted as #productivity boosters, prompting massive layoffs.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
To be clear, users already hijack characters like SpongeBob for goofy videos – and rather than stop them, OpenAI wants to turn this into a licensed business model.
#genius
#genius
#OpenAI wants companies to license trademarked characters for use in #Sora, #ChatGPT. What could go wrong?
“Users quickly created videos of protected characters, like one depicting Paramount’s SpongeBob SquarePants cooking crystal meth…”
Oh.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
“Users quickly created videos of protected characters, like one depicting Paramount’s SpongeBob SquarePants cooking crystal meth…”
Oh.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
Exclusive | OpenAI Wants Brands to Allow Their Mascots to Appear in Gen AI Videos
ChatGPT maker suggests marketers could eventually charge for use of their ‘beloved characters’ in its Sora 2 text-to-video app.
www.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:48 AM
To be clear, users already hijack characters like SpongeBob for goofy videos – and rather than stop them, OpenAI wants to turn this into a licensed business model.
#genius
#genius
#OpenAI wants companies to license trademarked characters for use in #Sora, #ChatGPT. What could go wrong?
“Users quickly created videos of protected characters, like one depicting Paramount’s SpongeBob SquarePants cooking crystal meth…”
Oh.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
“Users quickly created videos of protected characters, like one depicting Paramount’s SpongeBob SquarePants cooking crystal meth…”
Oh.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
Exclusive | OpenAI Wants Brands to Allow Their Mascots to Appear in Gen AI Videos
ChatGPT maker suggests marketers could eventually charge for use of their ‘beloved characters’ in its Sora 2 text-to-video app.
www.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:44 AM
#OpenAI wants companies to license trademarked characters for use in #Sora, #ChatGPT. What could go wrong?
“Users quickly created videos of protected characters, like one depicting Paramount’s SpongeBob SquarePants cooking crystal meth…”
Oh.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
“Users quickly created videos of protected characters, like one depicting Paramount’s SpongeBob SquarePants cooking crystal meth…”
Oh.
www.wsj.com/articles/ope...
While #climate experts are searching for solutions at #COP30…
…and millions go hungry due to #SNAP #shutdown…
…it’s good to know that Ferrari owners can take their $300k cars for a spin at private racing clubs.
#Roaring20s #inequality #ClimateCrisis
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...
…and millions go hungry due to #SNAP #shutdown…
…it’s good to know that Ferrari owners can take their $300k cars for a spin at private racing clubs.
#Roaring20s #inequality #ClimateCrisis
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...
I Tried the Track Where Rich People Drive 150 Miles an Hour to Unwind
Members of this club pay a small fortune for free rein of an F1 circuit. I was a member for a day.
www.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
While #climate experts are searching for solutions at #COP30…
…and millions go hungry due to #SNAP #shutdown…
…it’s good to know that Ferrari owners can take their $300k cars for a spin at private racing clubs.
#Roaring20s #inequality #ClimateCrisis
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...
…and millions go hungry due to #SNAP #shutdown…
…it’s good to know that Ferrari owners can take their $300k cars for a spin at private racing clubs.
#Roaring20s #inequality #ClimateCrisis
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...
Now even Trump’s billionaire friends suffer from the #lockdown.
Surely this has gone on for too long!?!
www.wsj.com/business/air...
Surely this has gone on for too long!?!
www.wsj.com/business/air...
FAA Limits Private Aircraft Flights at Major Airports
The restrictions will affect private jet flights at a dozen airports, including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, and Chicago’s O’Hare, according to the National Business Aviation Association trade ...
www.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Now even Trump’s billionaire friends suffer from the #lockdown.
Surely this has gone on for too long!?!
www.wsj.com/business/air...
Surely this has gone on for too long!?!
www.wsj.com/business/air...
Worth noting that a “modern car creates 25 GB of data per hour”, according to the German Association of Automobile Manufacturers, VDA.
Yes, that’s 25GB *per hour*.
www.vda.de/de/themen/di...
Yes, that’s 25GB *per hour*.
www.vda.de/de/themen/di...
😮
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Norweger stellen fest, dass China 850 ihrer Elektrobusse fernsteuern und sogar stoppen kann
Etwa 850 in Norwegen eingesetzte Elektrobusse können aus China vollständig kontrolliert werden. Das hat ein geheimer Test der öffentlichen Verkehrsbetriebe ergeben.
www.focus.de
November 10, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Worth noting that a “modern car creates 25 GB of data per hour”, according to the German Association of Automobile Manufacturers, VDA.
Yes, that’s 25GB *per hour*.
www.vda.de/de/themen/di...
Yes, that’s 25GB *per hour*.
www.vda.de/de/themen/di...
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
😮
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Norweger stellen fest, dass China 850 ihrer Elektrobusse fernsteuern und sogar stoppen kann
Etwa 850 in Norwegen eingesetzte Elektrobusse können aus China vollständig kontrolliert werden. Das hat ein geheimer Test der öffentlichen Verkehrsbetriebe ergeben.
www.focus.de
November 6, 2025 at 10:43 AM
😮
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
The entire speech is an ode to the venture capital dynamic. He lays out five points that mould defence to the needs of VC (my words, not his). Important: he will remove "anything that unnecessarily slows down government contracts". In line with the playbook theconversation.com/the-silicon-...
November 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The entire speech is an ode to the venture capital dynamic. He lays out five points that mould defence to the needs of VC (my words, not his). Important: he will remove "anything that unnecessarily slows down government contracts". In line with the playbook theconversation.com/the-silicon-...
The CEOs of #OpenAI and #Coinbase are funding experiments in genetic engineering and #eugenics.
Too crazy to ignore.
Gift link to @wsj.com investigative report. 👇 🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
Too crazy to ignore.
Gift link to @wsj.com investigative report. 👇 🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway.
Silicon Valley startups are pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics, hoping to prevent diseases as well as improve chances for a high IQ and other traits.
www.wsj.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:54 PM
The CEOs of #OpenAI and #Coinbase are funding experiments in genetic engineering and #eugenics.
Too crazy to ignore.
Gift link to @wsj.com investigative report. 👇 🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
Too crazy to ignore.
Gift link to @wsj.com investigative report. 👇 🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
The web design of this @nytimes.com article is just as broken as the #WhiteHouse East Wing…
#webdev
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/a...
#webdev
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/a...
November 9, 2025 at 11:14 AM
The web design of this @nytimes.com article is just as broken as the #WhiteHouse East Wing…
#webdev
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/a...
#webdev
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/a...
Reposted by Karsten Lemm
Trump 2.0’s media ecosystem: influencers with government access, policy shifts at tech platforms, and multi-million dollar settlements from traditional media reut.rs/3JCl8fI
November 8, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Trump 2.0’s media ecosystem: influencers with government access, policy shifts at tech platforms, and multi-million dollar settlements from traditional media reut.rs/3JCl8fI
“The parallels between the 1920s and the 2020s are numerous — and ominous…”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
Opinion | Trump Is Pushing Us Toward a Crash. It Could Be 1929 All Over Again.
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:28 AM
“The parallels between the 1920s and the 2020s are numerous — and ominous…”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...