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
🚨 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...
Who is winning the AI arms race?
New data from the @observeruk.bsky.social Global AI Index shows Europe falling behind, China pulling ahead, and the UAE rapidly expanding its influence abroad.
So what have we found? Here are three stories behind the numbers 👇
observer.co.uk/data/global-ai
New data from the @observeruk.bsky.social Global AI Index shows Europe falling behind, China pulling ahead, and the UAE rapidly expanding its influence abroad.
So what have we found? Here are three stories behind the numbers 👇
observer.co.uk/data/global-ai
The Observer
Independent journalism | News, culture & style | Investigations, analysis, features, ideas, recipes, newsletters & podcasts that make sense of the world
observer.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Who is winning the AI arms race?
New data from the @observeruk.bsky.social Global AI Index shows Europe falling behind, China pulling ahead, and the UAE rapidly expanding its influence abroad.
So what have we found? Here are three stories behind the numbers 👇
observer.co.uk/data/global-ai
New data from the @observeruk.bsky.social Global AI Index shows Europe falling behind, China pulling ahead, and the UAE rapidly expanding its influence abroad.
So what have we found? Here are three stories behind the numbers 👇
observer.co.uk/data/global-ai
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
Introducing The Observer’s first ever digital subscription.
Become a subscriber today and get:
🗞 Early access to our biggest investigations
📱 Exclusive features on our website and app
📥 Premium newsletters including The Puzzle Edit and Observer Food Weekly
Subscribe now: https://bit.ly/3Mr9lSf
Become a subscriber today and get:
🗞 Early access to our biggest investigations
📱 Exclusive features on our website and app
📥 Premium newsletters including The Puzzle Edit and Observer Food Weekly
Subscribe now: https://bit.ly/3Mr9lSf
November 29, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Introducing The Observer’s first ever digital subscription.
Become a subscriber today and get:
🗞 Early access to our biggest investigations
📱 Exclusive features on our website and app
📥 Premium newsletters including The Puzzle Edit and Observer Food Weekly
Subscribe now: https://bit.ly/3Mr9lSf
Become a subscriber today and get:
🗞 Early access to our biggest investigations
📱 Exclusive features on our website and app
📥 Premium newsletters including The Puzzle Edit and Observer Food Weekly
Subscribe now: https://bit.ly/3Mr9lSf
Some astonishing reporting on the state of UK maternity care from my Observer colleagues ⬇️
It’s shocking that the NHS spends almost as much on clinical negligence claims related to maternity care as it does on maternity care itself - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the crisis in maternity services and how to fix it observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Clinical negligence costs NHS almost the same as it spend...
Maternal death rate has risen 42% in a decade, while ombudsman reports a culture of cover-ups
observer.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Some astonishing reporting on the state of UK maternity care from my Observer colleagues ⬇️
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
I'm beyond delighted to have been chosen as one of the @pulitzercenter.org’s eight AI Accountability Fellows, among such an inspiring cohort of investigative journalists
Award-winning journalist Patricia Clarke joins the AI Accountability Network!
@paticlarke.bsky.social, a technology reporter at @observeruk.bsky.social , has covered the ways emerging technologies are reshaping lives, business, and power.
👉 bit.ly/25AIaccF
@paticlarke.bsky.social, a technology reporter at @observeruk.bsky.social , has covered the ways emerging technologies are reshaping lives, business, and power.
👉 bit.ly/25AIaccF
October 25, 2025 at 8:29 AM
I'm beyond delighted to have been chosen as one of the @pulitzercenter.org’s eight AI Accountability Fellows, among such an inspiring cohort of investigative journalists
As 4chan’s lawyers told me: “4chan will pay the fine when pigs fly. If you see any porcine aviators in the skies above London that will be your cue to assume 4chan has cut Ofcom a check.”
observer.co.uk/news/busines...
observer.co.uk/news/busines...
Messageboard 4chan refuses to pay fine over ‘free speech’
The US messageboard is openly defying British regulators and refusing to comply with the Online Safety Act
observer.co.uk
October 26, 2025 at 1:09 PM
As 4chan’s lawyers told me: “4chan will pay the fine when pigs fly. If you see any porcine aviators in the skies above London that will be your cue to assume 4chan has cut Ofcom a check.”
observer.co.uk/news/busines...
observer.co.uk/news/busines...
I'm beyond delighted to have been chosen as one of the @pulitzercenter.org’s eight AI Accountability Fellows, among such an inspiring cohort of investigative journalists
Award-winning journalist Patricia Clarke joins the AI Accountability Network!
@paticlarke.bsky.social, a technology reporter at @observeruk.bsky.social , has covered the ways emerging technologies are reshaping lives, business, and power.
👉 bit.ly/25AIaccF
@paticlarke.bsky.social, a technology reporter at @observeruk.bsky.social , has covered the ways emerging technologies are reshaping lives, business, and power.
👉 bit.ly/25AIaccF
October 25, 2025 at 8:29 AM
I'm beyond delighted to have been chosen as one of the @pulitzercenter.org’s eight AI Accountability Fellows, among such an inspiring cohort of investigative journalists
October 17, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
Exc: The Electoral Commission has been given early notice of the UK's first ever crypto donation
The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform
Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way"
share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...
The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform
Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way"
share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...
Calls for transparency on political funding after first c...
Electoral Commission notified of financial contribution, which is rumoured to have been handed to Reform UK
share.google
October 11, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Exc: The Electoral Commission has been given early notice of the UK's first ever crypto donation
The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform
Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way"
share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...
The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform
Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way"
share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
Solid reporting about the pricier end of the longevity industry.
And I'll be damned if this line doesn't also describe the state of genAI.
Both fields share that same sales pitch: possible-distant-future benefit in exchange for present-day money.
And I'll be damned if this line doesn't also describe the state of genAI.
Both fields share that same sales pitch: possible-distant-future benefit in exchange for present-day money.
September 28, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Solid reporting about the pricier end of the longevity industry.
And I'll be damned if this line doesn't also describe the state of genAI.
Both fields share that same sales pitch: possible-distant-future benefit in exchange for present-day money.
And I'll be damned if this line doesn't also describe the state of genAI.
Both fields share that same sales pitch: possible-distant-future benefit in exchange for present-day money.
Reposted by Patricia Clarke
“What makes a company investable is not necessarily its proximity to a breakthrough, but its ability to monetise belief.”
Private bankers are already offering wealth management plans for cryonically preserved people, in the event that they should ever come back to life.
Believe it or not, that was one of the less surreal moments at the Longevity Investors Conference
observer.co.uk/news/science...
Believe it or not, that was one of the less surreal moments at the Longevity Investors Conference
observer.co.uk/news/science...
Blood rejuvenation, gut pills and beaded leggings seek et...
Billions of dollars are being poured into the longevity industry, with investors rapidly warming to cryonics
observer.co.uk
September 27, 2025 at 9:06 AM
“What makes a company investable is not necessarily its proximity to a breakthrough, but its ability to monetise belief.”