Patricia Clarke
@paticlarke.bsky.social
Technology reporter at The Observer | AI Fellow at the Pulitzer Center
Got a story? Email me or message me on Signal: patriciaclarke.19
patricia-clarke.com
Got a story? Email me or message me on Signal: patriciaclarke.19
patricia-clarke.com
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
New: Together with colleagues I’ve been testing Grok.
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
Exclusive: Despite new curbs, Elon Musk’s Grok at times produces sexualized images - even when told subjects didn’t consent
Elon Musk’s flagship artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, continues to generate sexualized images of people even when users explicitly warn that the subjects do not consent, Reuters has found.
www.reuters.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:37 AM
New: Together with colleagues I’ve been testing Grok.
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
NEW: "Since @theobserveruk.bsky.social reported on the expansion of the Trump family’s business interests during the second administration, in May 2025, analysts estimate the family’s net worth has increased by several billion dollars"
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
February 3, 2026 at 10:14 AM
NEW: "Since @theobserveruk.bsky.social reported on the expansion of the Trump family’s business interests during the second administration, in May 2025, analysts estimate the family’s net worth has increased by several billion dollars"
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
ChatGPT’s erotica rollout raises concerns over safety and ethics.
Critics warn upcoming adult feature could intensify emotional reliance for vulnerable users and hamper regulators’ ability to control emerging AI.
✍️ @paticlarke.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/49HBkXa
Critics warn upcoming adult feature could intensify emotional reliance for vulnerable users and hamper regulators’ ability to control emerging AI.
✍️ @paticlarke.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/49HBkXa
ChatGPT’s erotica rollout raises concerns over safety and...
Critics warn upcoming adult feature could intensify emotional reliance for vulnerable users and hamper regulators’ ability to control emerging AI
bit.ly
January 25, 2026 at 11:46 AM
ChatGPT’s erotica rollout raises concerns over safety and ethics.
Critics warn upcoming adult feature could intensify emotional reliance for vulnerable users and hamper regulators’ ability to control emerging AI.
✍️ @paticlarke.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/49HBkXa
Critics warn upcoming adult feature could intensify emotional reliance for vulnerable users and hamper regulators’ ability to control emerging AI.
✍️ @paticlarke.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/49HBkXa
OpenAI was founded to build AI “for the benefit of all humanity”. A decade later, it’s planning to launch “erotica” inside ChatGPT. Critics argue revenue growth is winning out over user safety, as mental health concerns mount
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
ChatGPT’s erotica rollout raises concerns over safety and...
Critics warn upcoming adult feature could intensify emotional reliance for vulnerable users and hamper regulators’ ability to control emerging AI
observer.co.uk
January 25, 2026 at 11:26 AM
OpenAI was founded to build AI “for the benefit of all humanity”. A decade later, it’s planning to launch “erotica” inside ChatGPT. Critics argue revenue growth is winning out over user safety, as mental health concerns mount
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
NEW: The UK is playing “whack-a-mole” with big tech regulation.
After the Grok backlash, ministers rushed through an important ban on nudification apps, but it may not even apply to Grok, or stop wider AI harms.
Me + @catneilan.bsky.social for @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
After the Grok backlash, ministers rushed through an important ban on nudification apps, but it may not even apply to Grok, or stop wider AI harms.
Me + @catneilan.bsky.social for @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
UK laws in response to Grok won’t stop harms | The Observer
‘We are behind the curve,’ warns Harriet Harman, who fears the country is adopting a scattergun approach to big tech regulation
observer.co.uk
January 17, 2026 at 1:48 PM
NEW: The UK is playing “whack-a-mole” with big tech regulation.
After the Grok backlash, ministers rushed through an important ban on nudification apps, but it may not even apply to Grok, or stop wider AI harms.
Me + @catneilan.bsky.social for @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
After the Grok backlash, ministers rushed through an important ban on nudification apps, but it may not even apply to Grok, or stop wider AI harms.
Me + @catneilan.bsky.social for @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
UK laws in response to Grok won’t stop harms.
‘We are behind the curve,’ warns Harriet Harman, who fears the country is adopting a scattergun approach to big tech regulation.
✍️ @catneilan.bsky.social and @paticlarke.bsky.social.
https://bit.ly/4qZfgx8
‘We are behind the curve,’ warns Harriet Harman, who fears the country is adopting a scattergun approach to big tech regulation.
✍️ @catneilan.bsky.social and @paticlarke.bsky.social.
https://bit.ly/4qZfgx8
UK laws in response to Grok won't stop harms | The Observer
‘We are behind the curve,' warns Harriet Harman, who fears the country is adopting a scattergun approach to big tech regulation
bit.ly
January 17, 2026 at 12:44 PM
UK laws in response to Grok won’t stop harms.
‘We are behind the curve,’ warns Harriet Harman, who fears the country is adopting a scattergun approach to big tech regulation.
✍️ @catneilan.bsky.social and @paticlarke.bsky.social.
https://bit.ly/4qZfgx8
‘We are behind the curve,’ warns Harriet Harman, who fears the country is adopting a scattergun approach to big tech regulation.
✍️ @catneilan.bsky.social and @paticlarke.bsky.social.
https://bit.ly/4qZfgx8
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
The UK is hoping to build a "coalition of decency", following the Grok nudification row
Govt is speaking to allies in Aus, Canada and the EU, & is even finding unlikely MAGA support
No sign they're coming off X for now - but they are considering joining BlueSky
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Govt is speaking to allies in Aus, Canada and the EU, & is even finding unlikely MAGA support
No sign they're coming off X for now - but they are considering joining BlueSky
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
UK considers ban on X as anger over sexualised AI images ...
Ofcom could act ‘in days’ to implement sanctions against Musk’s platform and the Grok chatbot
observer.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 9:16 AM
The UK is hoping to build a "coalition of decency", following the Grok nudification row
Govt is speaking to allies in Aus, Canada and the EU, & is even finding unlikely MAGA support
No sign they're coming off X for now - but they are considering joining BlueSky
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Govt is speaking to allies in Aus, Canada and the EU, & is even finding unlikely MAGA support
No sign they're coming off X for now - but they are considering joining BlueSky
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
You can listen to my previous work on the industry here observer.co.uk/listen/daily...
The crypto gamblers betting $200 million on Zelensky’s clothes | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 9:42 AM
You can listen to my previous work on the industry here observer.co.uk/listen/daily...
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
I wrote about prediction markets arriving at UK shores for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/busines...
Prediction markets arrive in UK, but with a different set...
While trading in the sector is booming in the US, players such as Matchbook may face more resistance here
observer.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 8:51 AM
I wrote about prediction markets arriving at UK shores for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/busines...
Wrote about the men’s rights activists waging war with Bumble
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
December 19, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Wrote about the men’s rights activists waging war with Bumble
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
The return of the dating app’s "girl boss” founder as CEO has done little to allay fears that its feminist principles have been dropped in the face of thousands of legal challenges by men’s rights activists.
✍️ @paticlarke.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3Y25Xjp
✍️ @paticlarke.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3Y25Xjp
Losing the buzz: how lawsuits and layoffs stopped Bumble ...
The return of the dating app’s ‘girl boss” founder as CEO has done little to allay fears that its feminist principles have been dropped in the face of thousands of legal challenges by men’s rights act...
bit.ly
December 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The return of the dating app’s "girl boss” founder as CEO has done little to allay fears that its feminist principles have been dropped in the face of thousands of legal challenges by men’s rights activists.
✍️ @paticlarke.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3Y25Xjp
✍️ @paticlarke.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3Y25Xjp
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
"Wasn’t this app supposed to empower women to date on their terms?"
@paticlarke.bsky.social investigates how a wave of legal threats from men's rights activists pushed Bumble to dilute its core product.
https://bit.ly/3Y25Xjp
@paticlarke.bsky.social investigates how a wave of legal threats from men's rights activists pushed Bumble to dilute its core product.
https://bit.ly/3Y25Xjp
Losing the buzz: how lawsuits and layoffs stopped Bumble ...
The return of the dating app’s ‘girl boss” founder as CEO has done little to allay fears that its feminist principles have been dropped in the face of thousands of legal challenges by men’s rights act...
bit.ly
December 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM
"Wasn’t this app supposed to empower women to date on their terms?"
@paticlarke.bsky.social investigates how a wave of legal threats from men's rights activists pushed Bumble to dilute its core product.
https://bit.ly/3Y25Xjp
@paticlarke.bsky.social investigates how a wave of legal threats from men's rights activists pushed Bumble to dilute its core product.
https://bit.ly/3Y25Xjp
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
Amazing story from @paticlarke.bsky.social about the death of the girlboss and feminism in tech
🚨 SCOOP: The dating app Bumble built its brand on women making the first move. But a wave of legal threats from men's rights activists pushed the company to dilute its core product, robbing the company of its USP at a moment when dating apps are already in decline 🧵
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Losing the buzz: how lawsuits and layoffs stopped Bumble ...
The return of the dating app’s ‘girl boss” founder as CEO has done little to allay fears that its feminist principles have been dropped in the face of thousands of legal challenges by men’s rights act...
observer.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Amazing story from @paticlarke.bsky.social about the death of the girlboss and feminism in tech
As Bumble has continued to dilute its women-first messaging, many former employees say leadership had lost its organising principle. For a company built on the promise that woman-first design could shift power dynamics, the retreat has been costly 9/
December 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
As Bumble has continued to dilute its women-first messaging, many former employees say leadership had lost its organising principle. For a company built on the promise that woman-first design could shift power dynamics, the retreat has been costly 9/
At an all hands meeting shortly after the restructuring was announced, Wolfe Herd criticised staff for “freaking out” about layoffs, telling employees they needed to “grow up” 8/
December 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
At an all hands meeting shortly after the restructuring was announced, Wolfe Herd criticised staff for “freaking out” about layoffs, telling employees they needed to “grow up” 8/
One Trust & Safety engineer says escort sites were flagged in his case because his job involved tackling escort-related abuse. Other sources speculated that the terminations were used to meet headcount-reduction targets while limiting severance costs. 7/
December 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
One Trust & Safety engineer says escort sites were flagged in his case because his job involved tackling escort-related abuse. Other sources speculated that the terminations were used to meet headcount-reduction targets while limiting severance costs. 7/
One curious detail: sources say 25+ UK staff were suddenly dismissed in August for allegedly viewing porn on work laptops 6/
December 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
One curious detail: sources say 25+ UK staff were suddenly dismissed in August for allegedly viewing porn on work laptops 6/
Former employees describe chaos across Bumble’s UK and European offices as leadership tries to remake the company while stripping back the feminist framing that once defined it 5/
December 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Former employees describe chaos across Bumble’s UK and European offices as leadership tries to remake the company while stripping back the feminist framing that once defined it 5/
The stakes could hardly be higher. Post-pandemic, dating app users are reporting widespread fatigue and burnout. Since Bumble’s 2021 IPO, its share price has fallen ~90% 4/
December 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
The stakes could hardly be higher. Post-pandemic, dating app users are reporting widespread fatigue and burnout. Since Bumble’s 2021 IPO, its share price has fallen ~90% 4/
An ongoing case, filed in 2024 by lawyer Alfred Rava, argues that Bumble’s model “exploits sexual stereotypes for profit” and “portrays females as perpetual victims needing special emotional and psychological protection”, and stereotypes men as “rude, sexually-forward ogres” 3/
December 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
An ongoing case, filed in 2024 by lawyer Alfred Rava, argues that Bumble’s model “exploits sexual stereotypes for profit” and “portrays females as perpetual victims needing special emotional and psychological protection”, and stereotypes men as “rude, sexually-forward ogres” 3/
In 2023 alone, Bumble received 20,000 legal threats alleging discrimination against men, costing the company as much as $65m. Multiple sources say the legal exposure pushed Bumble towards “opening moves”, a feature that lets men reply to prompts in women’s profiles 2/
December 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
In 2023 alone, Bumble received 20,000 legal threats alleging discrimination against men, costing the company as much as $65m. Multiple sources say the legal exposure pushed Bumble towards “opening moves”, a feature that lets men reply to prompts in women’s profiles 2/
🚨 SCOOP: The dating app Bumble built its brand on women making the first move. But a wave of legal threats from men's rights activists pushed the company to dilute its core product, robbing the company of its USP at a moment when dating apps are already in decline 🧵
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Losing the buzz: how lawsuits and layoffs stopped Bumble ...
The return of the dating app’s ‘girl boss” founder as CEO has done little to allay fears that its feminist principles have been dropped in the face of thousands of legal challenges by men’s rights act...
observer.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 8:06 AM
🚨 SCOOP: The dating app Bumble built its brand on women making the first move. But a wave of legal threats from men's rights activists pushed the company to dilute its core product, robbing the company of its USP at a moment when dating apps are already in decline 🧵
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
More on the UAE interest, this time in the tech space, via this Observer article
bsky.app/profile/pati...
bsky.app/profile/pati...
Next: the UAE. Billions are flowing into Africa’s AI infrastructure as Abu Dhabi locks itself into the continent’s digital future.
We found 20 government deals and huge investment – a strategy analysts call a “digital Belt and Road”.
observer.co.uk/news/busines...
We found 20 government deals and huge investment – a strategy analysts call a “digital Belt and Road”.
observer.co.uk/news/busines...
UAE bids to sweep Africa into its AI industrial revolution | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 2:04 PM
More on the UAE interest, this time in the tech space, via this Observer article
bsky.app/profile/pati...
bsky.app/profile/pati...
This project has been a mammoth effort from our data, editorial and design teams. Thank you to Joe White, Hannah Schuller, Serena Cesareo, Marine Saint, Oscar Ingham, Lola Williams, @ktriley.bsky.social , @chefboibex.bsky.social , @jesswinch.bsky.social & the whole @theobserveruk.bsky.social team
December 4, 2025 at 12:51 PM
This project has been a mammoth effort from our data, editorial and design teams. Thank you to Joe White, Hannah Schuller, Serena Cesareo, Marine Saint, Oscar Ingham, Lola Williams, @ktriley.bsky.social , @chefboibex.bsky.social , @jesswinch.bsky.social & the whole @theobserveruk.bsky.social team