J. Nathan Matias
@natematias.bsky.social
I work with communities on citizen science for safer, fairer, more understanding Internet. Founder: Citizens & Technology Lab. Assistant Prof in Communication at Cornell · Guatemalan-American. @natematias@social.coop
natematias.com
citizensandtech.org
natematias.com
citizensandtech.org
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
One of the big tidal forces of the coming years is that the baseline reliability of things you see on a screen is going to decline.
I think this has not been adequately metabolized.
This is one version, but there are a bunch of them.
I think this has not been adequately metabolized.
This is one version, but there are a bunch of them.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
One of the big tidal forces of the coming years is that the baseline reliability of things you see on a screen is going to decline.
I think this has not been adequately metabolized.
This is one version, but there are a bunch of them.
I think this has not been adequately metabolized.
This is one version, but there are a bunch of them.
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
This August as I sheltered indoors from wildfire smoke, I got a moving note from MIT statisticians - my disability story had informed a fundamental insight about wildfire smoke forecasting that could someday help AI systems protect public health.
Here's the story:
natematias.com/portfolio/20...
Here's the story:
natematias.com/portfolio/20...
Is it safe to go outside? Including disability voices in tests of wildfire smoke forecasts
What counts as a useful pollution forecast when you’re trying to manage your physical health?
natematias.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This August as I sheltered indoors from wildfire smoke, I got a moving note from MIT statisticians - my disability story had informed a fundamental insight about wildfire smoke forecasting that could someday help AI systems protect public health.
Here's the story:
natematias.com/portfolio/20...
Here's the story:
natematias.com/portfolio/20...
This August as I sheltered indoors from wildfire smoke, I got a moving note from MIT statisticians - my disability story had informed a fundamental insight about wildfire smoke forecasting that could someday help AI systems protect public health.
Here's the story:
natematias.com/portfolio/20...
Here's the story:
natematias.com/portfolio/20...
Is it safe to go outside? Including disability voices in tests of wildfire smoke forecasts
What counts as a useful pollution forecast when you’re trying to manage your physical health?
natematias.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This August as I sheltered indoors from wildfire smoke, I got a moving note from MIT statisticians - my disability story had informed a fundamental insight about wildfire smoke forecasting that could someday help AI systems protect public health.
Here's the story:
natematias.com/portfolio/20...
Here's the story:
natematias.com/portfolio/20...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Many people don't know this but arXiv is maintained and operated by @cornelltech.bsky.social (that does NOT mean you can send me complaints or feature requests!)
Everyone in the community should be excited that arXiv got $7M to upgrade from Schmidt Sciences, NASA
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
Everyone in the community should be excited that arXiv got $7M to upgrade from Schmidt Sciences, NASA
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
$7M grant from NASA, Schmidt Sciences to upgrade arXiv | Cornell Chronicle
The funding will help arXiv – which is maintained and operated by Cornell Tech – finish migrating to cloud infrastructure and modernizing its code.
news.cornell.edu
November 24, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Many people don't know this but arXiv is maintained and operated by @cornelltech.bsky.social (that does NOT mean you can send me complaints or feature requests!)
Everyone in the community should be excited that arXiv got $7M to upgrade from Schmidt Sciences, NASA
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
Everyone in the community should be excited that arXiv got $7M to upgrade from Schmidt Sciences, NASA
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Writing the intro to a high-stakes article, I'm grateful for the years of training and community in the art of making the truth sing.
November 23, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Writing the intro to a high-stakes article, I'm grateful for the years of training and community in the art of making the truth sing.
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
After two weeks of #COP30 negotiations, countries agreed to BEGIN DISCUSSIONS on fossil fuel phase out. And as the article says, "they achieved this incremental progress only in the teeth of implacable opposition from oil-producing countries."
THIS is the problem with requiring unanimous decisions.
THIS is the problem with requiring unanimous decisions.
End of fossil fuel era inches closer as Cop30 deal agreed after bitter standoff
Wealthy countries agree to triple funds for countries to tackle climate impacts, but deforestation and critical minerals blocked from final deal
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:52 PM
After two weeks of #COP30 negotiations, countries agreed to BEGIN DISCUSSIONS on fossil fuel phase out. And as the article says, "they achieved this incremental progress only in the teeth of implacable opposition from oil-producing countries."
THIS is the problem with requiring unanimous decisions.
THIS is the problem with requiring unanimous decisions.
"The idea that a gadget... could tell you how many calories you personally burned... was revolutionary. It was also wrong."
"By the time a researcher... runs a study, writes it up, submits it to a journal, and finally gets it published... the company has moved on."
lifehacker.com/you-cant-tru...
"By the time a researcher... runs a study, writes it up, submits it to a journal, and finally gets it published... the company has moved on."
lifehacker.com/you-cant-tru...
Your Fitness Tracker Has No Idea How Many Calories You’re Burning
Before FItbits and Apple Watches, no one knew how many calories they were burning during a workout. Even after Fitbits and Apple Watches, though, they still don't really—because calorie burn data can'...
lifehacker.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
"The idea that a gadget... could tell you how many calories you personally burned... was revolutionary. It was also wrong."
"By the time a researcher... runs a study, writes it up, submits it to a journal, and finally gets it published... the company has moved on."
lifehacker.com/you-cant-tru...
"By the time a researcher... runs a study, writes it up, submits it to a journal, and finally gets it published... the company has moved on."
lifehacker.com/you-cant-tru...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
The International Association for Cryptologic Research has used heliosvoting.org – my online voting system – for a number of years.
This year, a trustee lost their secret key. The election has to be re-run.
Below, a few thoughts that didn't fit in the NYT piece.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...
This year, a trustee lost their secret key. The election has to be re-run.
Below, a few thoughts that didn't fit in the NYT piece.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...
Cryptographers Held an Election. They Can’t Decrypt the Results.
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:40 AM
The International Association for Cryptologic Research has used heliosvoting.org – my online voting system – for a number of years.
This year, a trustee lost their secret key. The election has to be re-run.
Below, a few thoughts that didn't fit in the NYT piece.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...
This year, a trustee lost their secret key. The election has to be re-run.
Below, a few thoughts that didn't fit in the NYT piece.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
We are on the brink of a once in a generation transformation in world politics. @erikvoeten.bsky.social @segoddard.bsky.social and I talk neo-royalism as one future.
Give a list: goodauthority.org/news/the-new...
Check out the article it is based on here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Give a list: goodauthority.org/news/the-new...
Check out the article it is based on here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
November 21, 2025 at 1:27 PM
We are on the brink of a once in a generation transformation in world politics. @erikvoeten.bsky.social @segoddard.bsky.social and I talk neo-royalism as one future.
Give a list: goodauthority.org/news/the-new...
Check out the article it is based on here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Give a list: goodauthority.org/news/the-new...
Check out the article it is based on here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
In the last twenty years of my journey as a scientist and organizer, only three pieces about mathematics have brought me to tears.
In this post, I write about the common thread in each of those pieces &the privilege of seeing that inspiration come full circle.
natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
In this post, I write about the common thread in each of those pieces &the privilege of seeing that inspiration come full circle.
natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
Gravity and Grace in the Science of AI
Learning from stories that brought me to tears through a hopeful commitment to the truth
natematias.medium.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:09 AM
In the last twenty years of my journey as a scientist and organizer, only three pieces about mathematics have brought me to tears.
In this post, I write about the common thread in each of those pieces &the privilege of seeing that inspiration come full circle.
natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
In this post, I write about the common thread in each of those pieces &the privilege of seeing that inspiration come full circle.
natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
In the last twenty years of my journey as a scientist and organizer, only three pieces about mathematics have brought me to tears.
In this post, I write about the common thread in each of those pieces &the privilege of seeing that inspiration come full circle.
natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
In this post, I write about the common thread in each of those pieces &the privilege of seeing that inspiration come full circle.
natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
Gravity and Grace in the Science of AI
Learning from stories that brought me to tears through a hopeful commitment to the truth
natematias.medium.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:09 AM
In the last twenty years of my journey as a scientist and organizer, only three pieces about mathematics have brought me to tears.
In this post, I write about the common thread in each of those pieces &the privilege of seeing that inspiration come full circle.
natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
In this post, I write about the common thread in each of those pieces &the privilege of seeing that inspiration come full circle.
natematias.medium.com/gravity-and-...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
How do you center hope in your research, activism and media work?
Join our annual symposium in two weeks to imagine new possibilities for media research and practice at this time of profound upheaval.
Keynote: music educator, André de Quadros
Register: bit.ly/beyondendurance @asc.upenn.edu
Join our annual symposium in two weeks to imagine new possibilities for media research and practice at this time of profound upheaval.
Keynote: music educator, André de Quadros
Register: bit.ly/beyondendurance @asc.upenn.edu
November 20, 2025 at 6:58 PM
How do you center hope in your research, activism and media work?
Join our annual symposium in two weeks to imagine new possibilities for media research and practice at this time of profound upheaval.
Keynote: music educator, André de Quadros
Register: bit.ly/beyondendurance @asc.upenn.edu
Join our annual symposium in two weeks to imagine new possibilities for media research and practice at this time of profound upheaval.
Keynote: music educator, André de Quadros
Register: bit.ly/beyondendurance @asc.upenn.edu
While I often critique ranking algorithms, I will admit to being pleased that Megan Price (of @hrdag.org) and my PNAS article on the science of AI is now the journal's third highest trending Perspective article, just after an article on successful grant applications.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 20, 2025 at 5:23 PM
While I often critique ranking algorithms, I will admit to being pleased that Megan Price (of @hrdag.org) and my PNAS article on the science of AI is now the journal's third highest trending Perspective article, just after an article on successful grant applications.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
📍We're inviting submissions for an essay series, as part of a project studying the crucial role that lawyers can play in preserving democratic freedoms and institutions, organized by @knightcolumbia.org in partnership with Senior Fellow Madhav Khosla. Details here: knightcolumbia.org/blog/call-fo...
Call for Proposals: Lawyering Without Law: The Legal Profession in an Age of Authoritarianism
knightcolumbia.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
📍We're inviting submissions for an essay series, as part of a project studying the crucial role that lawyers can play in preserving democratic freedoms and institutions, organized by @knightcolumbia.org in partnership with Senior Fellow Madhav Khosla. Details here: knightcolumbia.org/blog/call-fo...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Big thanks to @npr.org for boosting The Harvard Plan, our new co-production with @bostonglobe.com about the Trump administration's war on science. Listen to Season 2 Episode 1 in the Embedded podcast feed:
The Harvard Plan: And so it begins… : Embedded
The Harvard Plan, a collaboration between On the Media and The Boston Globe, is about the fight for the soul of America’s oldest and most prestigious university. In the new season, they explore what h...
www.npr.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Big thanks to @npr.org for boosting The Harvard Plan, our new co-production with @bostonglobe.com about the Trump administration's war on science. Listen to Season 2 Episode 1 in the Embedded podcast feed:
Has anyone looked into creating a very privacy-protecting service that would help people find out if they appeared in one of these horrific deepfake archives and take action?
www.404media.co/ai-porn-secr...
www.404media.co/ai-porn-secr...
Massive Leak Shows Erotic Chatbot Users Turned Women’s Yearbook Pictures Into AI Porn
Chatbot roleplay and image generator platform SecretDesires.ai left cloud storage containers of nearly two million of images and videos exposed, including photos and full names of women from social me...
www.404media.co
November 19, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Has anyone looked into creating a very privacy-protecting service that would help people find out if they appeared in one of these horrific deepfake archives and take action?
www.404media.co/ai-porn-secr...
www.404media.co/ai-porn-secr...
For corporate AI evaluation teams, "bias is considered to a reasonable extent, but it’s not a priority right now. Given the current political climate […] it’s something we downplay."
Just one insight from this (not peer reviewed) preprint on first & third-party AI testing
arxiv.org/html/2511.05...
Just one insight from this (not peer reviewed) preprint on first & third-party AI testing
arxiv.org/html/2511.05...
Who Evaluates AI’s Social Impacts? Mapping Coverage and Gaps in First and Third Party Evaluations
arxiv.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:56 PM
For corporate AI evaluation teams, "bias is considered to a reasonable extent, but it’s not a priority right now. Given the current political climate […] it’s something we downplay."
Just one insight from this (not peer reviewed) preprint on first & third-party AI testing
arxiv.org/html/2511.05...
Just one insight from this (not peer reviewed) preprint on first & third-party AI testing
arxiv.org/html/2511.05...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
HRDAG's executive director Megan Price teamed up with CAT Lab Founder @natematias.bsky.social to research how human participation can improve AI. Read our latest findings. hrdag.org/2025/11/17/n...
New Research Shows Community Engagement Improves the Validity and Reliability of Artificial Intelligence
Community involvement can improve the validity and reliability of artificial intelligence (AI), argue HRDAG Executive Director Dr. Megan Price and Citizens and Technology Lab founder Dr. J. Nathan Mat...
hrdag.org
November 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
HRDAG's executive director Megan Price teamed up with CAT Lab Founder @natematias.bsky.social to research how human participation can improve AI. Read our latest findings. hrdag.org/2025/11/17/n...
Today in civil liberties
Prediction: CAIR will sue; they will be supported by free speech groups across the political spectrum; they will win; Texans will pay their legal fees; Abbott will be remembered as a free-speech charlatan and a bigot. gov.texas.gov/news/post/go...
Governor Abbott Designates Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR As Foreign Terrorist Organizations
gov.texas.gov
November 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Today in civil liberties
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Great work by @natematias.bsky.social & Megan Price: public involvement in AI is an important part of rigorous science. AI systems are sociotechnical, meaning that the lived experience of the public is essential for validation, etc.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
How public involvement can improve the science of AI | PNAS
As AI systems from decision-making algorithms to generative AI are deployed more widely,
computer scientists and social scientists alike are being ...
www.pnas.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Great work by @natematias.bsky.social & Megan Price: public involvement in AI is an important part of rigorous science. AI systems are sociotechnical, meaning that the lived experience of the public is essential for validation, etc.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Can public involvement in AI evaluation improve the science? Or does it compromise quality, speed, cost?
In @pnas.org, Megan Price & I summarize challenges of AI evaluation, review strengths/weaknesses, & suggest how participatory methods can improve the science of AI
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
In @pnas.org, Megan Price & I summarize challenges of AI evaluation, review strengths/weaknesses, & suggest how participatory methods can improve the science of AI
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
How public involvement can improve the science of AI | PNAS
As AI systems from decision-making algorithms to generative AI are deployed more widely,
computer scientists and social scientists alike are being ...
www.pnas.org
November 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Can public involvement in AI evaluation improve the science? Or does it compromise quality, speed, cost?
In @pnas.org, Megan Price & I summarize challenges of AI evaluation, review strengths/weaknesses, & suggest how participatory methods can improve the science of AI
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
In @pnas.org, Megan Price & I summarize challenges of AI evaluation, review strengths/weaknesses, & suggest how participatory methods can improve the science of AI
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Calling all rapid review experts!
We’re seeking methods papers on lessons learned from leading rapid reviews for policy. We're looking to build standards that support the shift toward living evidence synthesis.
🗓 LOIs due Dec 1, 2025
👉 Details: www.campbellcollaboration.org/2025/11/call...
We’re seeking methods papers on lessons learned from leading rapid reviews for policy. We're looking to build standards that support the shift toward living evidence synthesis.
🗓 LOIs due Dec 1, 2025
👉 Details: www.campbellcollaboration.org/2025/11/call...
November 17, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Calling all rapid review experts!
We’re seeking methods papers on lessons learned from leading rapid reviews for policy. We're looking to build standards that support the shift toward living evidence synthesis.
🗓 LOIs due Dec 1, 2025
👉 Details: www.campbellcollaboration.org/2025/11/call...
We’re seeking methods papers on lessons learned from leading rapid reviews for policy. We're looking to build standards that support the shift toward living evidence synthesis.
🗓 LOIs due Dec 1, 2025
👉 Details: www.campbellcollaboration.org/2025/11/call...
Can public involvement in AI evaluation improve the science? Or does it compromise quality, speed, cost?
In @pnas.org, Megan Price & I summarize challenges of AI evaluation, review strengths/weaknesses, & suggest how participatory methods can improve the science of AI
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
In @pnas.org, Megan Price & I summarize challenges of AI evaluation, review strengths/weaknesses, & suggest how participatory methods can improve the science of AI
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
How public involvement can improve the science of AI | PNAS
As AI systems from decision-making algorithms to generative AI are deployed more widely,
computer scientists and social scientists alike are being ...
www.pnas.org
November 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Can public involvement in AI evaluation improve the science? Or does it compromise quality, speed, cost?
In @pnas.org, Megan Price & I summarize challenges of AI evaluation, review strengths/weaknesses, & suggest how participatory methods can improve the science of AI
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
In @pnas.org, Megan Price & I summarize challenges of AI evaluation, review strengths/weaknesses, & suggest how participatory methods can improve the science of AI
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by J. Nathan Matias
Next: Lisa Bero with: 'Hijacking research integrity: What can possibly go wrong and how can we fix it?'
In certain companies, authors who raise integrity issues can be 'discredited'.
LB's research has been 'monitored by Coca-Cola
www.smh.com.au/technology/c...
#IRICSydney
In certain companies, authors who raise integrity issues can be 'discredited'.
LB's research has been 'monitored by Coca-Cola
www.smh.com.au/technology/c...
#IRICSydney
November 16, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Next: Lisa Bero with: 'Hijacking research integrity: What can possibly go wrong and how can we fix it?'
In certain companies, authors who raise integrity issues can be 'discredited'.
LB's research has been 'monitored by Coca-Cola
www.smh.com.au/technology/c...
#IRICSydney
In certain companies, authors who raise integrity issues can be 'discredited'.
LB's research has been 'monitored by Coca-Cola
www.smh.com.au/technology/c...
#IRICSydney