merrick giles
@merrickgiles.bsky.social
university of melbourne phd candidate in computational cognitive science. I study learning, strategy, and communication.
merrickgiles.neocities.org
merrickgiles.neocities.org
Reposted by merrick giles
Bit of a life update: After 4 wonderful years in Melbourne, yesterday I arrived in the US to start a postdoc at UC Berkeley with @wdt.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Bit of a life update: After 4 wonderful years in Melbourne, yesterday I arrived in the US to start a postdoc at UC Berkeley with @wdt.bsky.social
Reposted by merrick giles
I just created a series of seven deep-dive videos about AI, which I've posted to youtube and now here. 😊
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Part 1: How do LLMs work?
YouTube video by Andrew Perfors
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:45 AM
I just created a series of seven deep-dive videos about AI, which I've posted to youtube and now here. 😊
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Reposted by merrick giles
It's a struggle, but it's gratifying once things start coming together. What I have on paper tonight is a clean expression of idea I didn't have well-formed when I began this morning.
Some people think we should hand off this painstaking form of labor to LLMs and get back to doing science.
Some people think we should hand off this painstaking form of labor to LLMs and get back to doing science.
December 16, 2025 at 11:44 PM
It's a struggle, but it's gratifying once things start coming together. What I have on paper tonight is a clean expression of idea I didn't have well-formed when I began this morning.
Some people think we should hand off this painstaking form of labor to LLMs and get back to doing science.
Some people think we should hand off this painstaking form of labor to LLMs and get back to doing science.
Reposted by merrick giles
What do kids choose to do when they think that someone will help them? What about when no one will help?
New paper: "Young children strategically adapt to unreliable social partners" - led by Kat Shannon, with @hyogweon.bsky.social and Willem Frankenhuis.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
New paper: "Young children strategically adapt to unreliable social partners" - led by Kat Shannon, with @hyogweon.bsky.social and Willem Frankenhuis.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
November 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
What do kids choose to do when they think that someone will help them? What about when no one will help?
New paper: "Young children strategically adapt to unreliable social partners" - led by Kat Shannon, with @hyogweon.bsky.social and Willem Frankenhuis.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
New paper: "Young children strategically adapt to unreliable social partners" - led by Kat Shannon, with @hyogweon.bsky.social and Willem Frankenhuis.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by merrick giles
Hello fellow nerds! The upcoming Australasian Mathematical Psych Conference (AMPC) is going to be on Feb 23-25, and they've just put out the call for abstracts.
Details below. This is one of my favourite conferences and this year it's in Singapore(!!) which should be awesome.
Details below. This is one of my favourite conferences and this year it's in Singapore(!!) which should be awesome.
November 13, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Hello fellow nerds! The upcoming Australasian Mathematical Psych Conference (AMPC) is going to be on Feb 23-25, and they've just put out the call for abstracts.
Details below. This is one of my favourite conferences and this year it's in Singapore(!!) which should be awesome.
Details below. This is one of my favourite conferences and this year it's in Singapore(!!) which should be awesome.
Reposted by merrick giles
Interested in how we make preference-driven decisions, and how this is implemented in the brain?
We report that neural correlates of evidence accumulation (CPP, Mu/Beta) are also observed during value-based decisions.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Led by @laurencf.bsky.social (Lauren Fong)
1/n
We report that neural correlates of evidence accumulation (CPP, Mu/Beta) are also observed during value-based decisions.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Led by @laurencf.bsky.social (Lauren Fong)
1/n
Tracing the neural trajectories of evidence accumulation and motor preparation processes during voluntary decisions
Voluntary decisions have previously been described by where they arise in the brain and how actions corresponding to one's choice are prepared. However, the processes by which these internally guided ...
www.biorxiv.org
November 3, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Interested in how we make preference-driven decisions, and how this is implemented in the brain?
We report that neural correlates of evidence accumulation (CPP, Mu/Beta) are also observed during value-based decisions.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Led by @laurencf.bsky.social (Lauren Fong)
1/n
We report that neural correlates of evidence accumulation (CPP, Mu/Beta) are also observed during value-based decisions.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Led by @laurencf.bsky.social (Lauren Fong)
1/n
Reposted by merrick giles
my knowledge of Hume has unexpectedly come in handy for my fire safety training test
October 31, 2025 at 10:25 AM
my knowledge of Hume has unexpectedly come in handy for my fire safety training test
Reposted by merrick giles
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
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🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
Reposted by merrick giles
In 2008, Google created an ad-powered wiki encyclopedia called Knol, seen as a "Wikipedia killer" amid its highly-publicized launch. And the Wikimedia Foundation gave an unbothered response that I quite like: "the more good free content, the better for the world." Anyway Knol instantly flopped
October 29, 2025 at 2:37 PM
In 2008, Google created an ad-powered wiki encyclopedia called Knol, seen as a "Wikipedia killer" amid its highly-publicized launch. And the Wikimedia Foundation gave an unbothered response that I quite like: "the more good free content, the better for the world." Anyway Knol instantly flopped
Reposted by merrick giles
When there is a random way to do something, there is a less random way that is better but requires more thought. In this case, regression models that make no sense don't belong in a multiverse analysis. An inferential regression without a causal justification is like an opinion without reasons.
October 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
When there is a random way to do something, there is a less random way that is better but requires more thought. In this case, regression models that make no sense don't belong in a multiverse analysis. An inferential regression without a causal justification is like an opinion without reasons.
Reposted by merrick giles
Using EEG 🧠⚡ and representational similarity analysis, we mapped how the neural representations of food attributes (e.g., taste & health) unfold over time when viewing foods🍎🍰🥗 @danfeuerriegel.bsky.social @tgro.bsky.social
theconversation.com/our-brains-e...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
theconversation.com/our-brains-e...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
Redirecting
doi.org
October 22, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Using EEG 🧠⚡ and representational similarity analysis, we mapped how the neural representations of food attributes (e.g., taste & health) unfold over time when viewing foods🍎🍰🥗 @danfeuerriegel.bsky.social @tgro.bsky.social
theconversation.com/our-brains-e...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
theconversation.com/our-brains-e...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
Reposted by merrick giles
The linked course is an incredibly well-written, clear explanation of how LLMs work and outlines really thoughtfully what the can, and can't, do. Recommended read for absolutely everyone out there. #MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky 💻🧬
So why do I let AI in my house? Don’t I care about the environmental consequences? What about the theft of intellectual property? Don’t I understand that these are bullshit machines?
Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
It’s what I do all day long.
Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
It’s what I do all day long.
Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines: Introduction
A free online humanities course about how to learn and work and thrive in an AI world.
thebullshitmachines.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:01 AM
The linked course is an incredibly well-written, clear explanation of how LLMs work and outlines really thoughtfully what the can, and can't, do. Recommended read for absolutely everyone out there. #MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky 💻🧬
Reposted by merrick giles
I, too, smoked a lot of weed in my dorm room sophomore year
October 18, 2025 at 6:29 AM
I, too, smoked a lot of weed in my dorm room sophomore year
Reposted by merrick giles
Now out in Open Mind!
@drbarner.bsky.social and I find that when people hear a conditional statement like “If you mow the lawn, you’ll get $5,” they often interpret it as “only if you mow the lawn”, a pragmatic, perfected meaning.
doi.org/10.1162/opmi...
@drbarner.bsky.social and I find that when people hear a conditional statement like “If you mow the lawn, you’ll get $5,” they often interpret it as “only if you mow the lawn”, a pragmatic, perfected meaning.
doi.org/10.1162/opmi...
Already Perfect: Language Users Access the Pragmatic Meanings of Conditionals First
Abstract. Conditional statements often have two interpretations. For instance, the statement, “If you mow the lawn, you will receive $5”, might be understood to mean that mowing the lawn is just one p...
doi.org
September 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Now out in Open Mind!
@drbarner.bsky.social and I find that when people hear a conditional statement like “If you mow the lawn, you’ll get $5,” they often interpret it as “only if you mow the lawn”, a pragmatic, perfected meaning.
doi.org/10.1162/opmi...
@drbarner.bsky.social and I find that when people hear a conditional statement like “If you mow the lawn, you’ll get $5,” they often interpret it as “only if you mow the lawn”, a pragmatic, perfected meaning.
doi.org/10.1162/opmi...
Reposted by merrick giles
Melbourne people! We're very lucky to have the one and only Alison Gopnik giving a talk here on November 11th at 6pm. Details below, open to the public, should be fabulous 😊
Space is limited so do be sure register!
alisongopnik.bsky.social
psychunimelb.bsky.social
Space is limited so do be sure register!
alisongopnik.bsky.social
psychunimelb.bsky.social
Alison Gopnik - Three Ages & Three Intelligences: Explore, Exploit, Empower
The Complex Human Data Hub presents Prof Alison Gopnik delivering the 2025 Pip Pattison Oration on her work in learning and development.
www.eventbrite.com.au
October 14, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Melbourne people! We're very lucky to have the one and only Alison Gopnik giving a talk here on November 11th at 6pm. Details below, open to the public, should be fabulous 😊
Space is limited so do be sure register!
alisongopnik.bsky.social
psychunimelb.bsky.social
Space is limited so do be sure register!
alisongopnik.bsky.social
psychunimelb.bsky.social
Reposted by merrick giles
A little while ago I wrote a blog post about this work for @spspnews.bsky.social 🧑🤝🧑👫👭 Check it out here: spsp.org/news/charact...
October 13, 2025 at 10:05 PM
A little while ago I wrote a blog post about this work for @spspnews.bsky.social 🧑🤝🧑👫👭 Check it out here: spsp.org/news/charact...
Reposted by merrick giles
Very excited to share a new preprint that’s been brewing for a long time! This work was led by the exceptional @traceym.bsky.social, and made possible by a developmental + comparative + computational dream team.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
October 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Very excited to share a new preprint that’s been brewing for a long time! This work was led by the exceptional @traceym.bsky.social, and made possible by a developmental + comparative + computational dream team.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by merrick giles
michael?
peter.
peter.
October 4, 2025 at 7:56 PM
michael?
peter.
peter.
totally couldn’t tell
Report on Australian Higher Education finds:
🔹️ Council members have no lived experience of universities
🔹️ Council members have COIs with consultancy firms
🔹️ Council meetings are closed affairs that lack transparency
🔹️ Leaders' exorbitant salaries could not be justified
🔹️ Council members have no lived experience of universities
🔹️ Council members have COIs with consultancy firms
🔹️ Council meetings are closed affairs that lack transparency
🔹️ Leaders' exorbitant salaries could not be justified
October 6, 2025 at 8:19 AM
totally couldn’t tell
Reposted by merrick giles
Slight timeline cleanse maybe? I was interviewed about teaching and the article ended up being kind of sweet and full of bunnies so some of you may enjoy it 😊
Storytelling, stats, and helping everyone belong with Andy Perfors
Storytelling, stats, and helping everyone belong with Andy Perfors
about.unimelb.edu.au
October 3, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Slight timeline cleanse maybe? I was interviewed about teaching and the article ended up being kind of sweet and full of bunnies so some of you may enjoy it 😊
i would like a future where psychological scientists could do their job without needing to be babysat by a chat bot
New preprint 🌟 Psychology is core to cognitive science, and so it is vital we preserve it from harmful frames. @irisvanrooij.bsky.social & I use our psych and computer science expertise to analyse and craft:
Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Psychologists. doi.org/10.31234/osf...
🧵 1/
Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Psychologists. doi.org/10.31234/osf...
🧵 1/
October 4, 2025 at 8:23 AM
i would like a future where psychological scientists could do their job without needing to be babysat by a chat bot
Reposted by merrick giles
Using Linda Evangelista’s
💅 “I won’t get out of bed for less than $10,000”
to explain smallest effect sizes of interest to people
💅 “I won’t get out of bed for less than $10,000”
to explain smallest effect sizes of interest to people
September 27, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Using Linda Evangelista’s
💅 “I won’t get out of bed for less than $10,000”
to explain smallest effect sizes of interest to people
💅 “I won’t get out of bed for less than $10,000”
to explain smallest effect sizes of interest to people
One of the most depressing phd experiences is hearing of others' advisors (the ones that are supposed to train us into good scientists) encourage the use of chatbots in lieu of their students' development. thankfully mine don't.
Getting close to 50k views and I'm wondering is it just everybody is scared to say this and pleased I did? Because if there's so many of us who agree, trust me I'd know if 1k people disagreed with me let alone 50k, why are we letting AI ruin our universities?
Together we can turn back the tide.
Together we can turn back the tide.
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
September 23, 2025 at 1:04 PM
One of the most depressing phd experiences is hearing of others' advisors (the ones that are supposed to train us into good scientists) encourage the use of chatbots in lieu of their students' development. thankfully mine don't.