William Russell
@robotowilliam.bsky.social
He/him | 38 | Lifelong explorer and learner
🦋 Reylo
⏹️ Stop AI
MSc Animal Behaviour (Queen's University Belfast) interested in animal cognition and social behaviours
https://linktr.ee/robotowilliam
🦋 Reylo
⏹️ Stop AI
MSc Animal Behaviour (Queen's University Belfast) interested in animal cognition and social behaviours
https://linktr.ee/robotowilliam
Pinned
Reposted by William Russell
Oh, I love this. A new species of sea anemone was discovered recently that parks itself on top of a hermit crab shell like a hat. It seems to feed partly off the crab's faeces, but it also excretes a hard shell that extends the crab's home. In return, it's carried around the seafloor like a king.
November 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Oh, I love this. A new species of sea anemone was discovered recently that parks itself on top of a hermit crab shell like a hat. It seems to feed partly off the crab's faeces, but it also excretes a hard shell that extends the crab's home. In return, it's carried around the seafloor like a king.
Reposted by William Russell
I put in a freedom of information request for her register of interests, which would reveal if she owns OpenAI shares. The government refused to share it, claiming it contains ‘personal information’.
For context, the PM’s previous AI Adviser’s register of interests *was* published.
3/5
For context, the PM’s previous AI Adviser’s register of interests *was* published.
3/5
November 11, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I put in a freedom of information request for her register of interests, which would reveal if she owns OpenAI shares. The government refused to share it, claiming it contains ‘personal information’.
For context, the PM’s previous AI Adviser’s register of interests *was* published.
3/5
For context, the PM’s previous AI Adviser’s register of interests *was* published.
3/5
Reposted by William Russell
There’s a good chance the British Prime Minister’s main adviser on AI is an OpenAI shareholder - but the government refuses to say whether she is.
🧵 1/5
🧵 1/5
November 11, 2025 at 9:25 AM
There’s a good chance the British Prime Minister’s main adviser on AI is an OpenAI shareholder - but the government refuses to say whether she is.
🧵 1/5
🧵 1/5
Reposted by William Russell
going on twitter now is like the dark world part of link to the past, where the shape of things is roughly the same only now instead of the friendly villagers there's some demihuman freak snarling at you going "welcome to the village of assholes!! we hate you!!" also the trees shoot bombs now
November 11, 2025 at 1:27 AM
going on twitter now is like the dark world part of link to the past, where the shape of things is roughly the same only now instead of the friendly villagers there's some demihuman freak snarling at you going "welcome to the village of assholes!! we hate you!!" also the trees shoot bombs now
Reposted by William Russell
While agreeing in the round,
I've found this (below) both reassuring and highlighting of the need for constant vigilance. There is no perfect end state. See if you can see where the 'thousand year reich' occurs (also, that Roman Empire lasted quite a while).
m.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P...
I've found this (below) both reassuring and highlighting of the need for constant vigilance. There is no perfect end state. See if you can see where the 'thousand year reich' occurs (also, that Roman Empire lasted quite a while).
m.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P...
The History of Europe: Every Year
YouTube video by Cottereau
m.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:56 AM
While agreeing in the round,
I've found this (below) both reassuring and highlighting of the need for constant vigilance. There is no perfect end state. See if you can see where the 'thousand year reich' occurs (also, that Roman Empire lasted quite a while).
m.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P...
I've found this (below) both reassuring and highlighting of the need for constant vigilance. There is no perfect end state. See if you can see where the 'thousand year reich' occurs (also, that Roman Empire lasted quite a while).
m.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P...
Reposted by William Russell
9. An autocratic ruler can quickly assert control, shutting down democratic institutions and competing poles of power, building an apparatus of state terror to crush dissent, controlling beliefs through the media, social media and other propaganda outlets. Every step makes the next one easier.
November 7, 2025 at 6:41 AM
9. An autocratic ruler can quickly assert control, shutting down democratic institutions and competing poles of power, building an apparatus of state terror to crush dissent, controlling beliefs through the media, social media and other propaganda outlets. Every step makes the next one easier.
Reposted by William Russell
1. This is a thread on freedom, and how easy it is to lose.
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 AM
1. This is a thread on freedom, and how easy it is to lose.
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
Got an email from @frontierhelpline.bsky.social apologising sincerely for the stress and trouble caused, with a free travel voucher! For exclusive use on Frontier Airlines, in the next 90 days! To the tune of, get this...
$25!!!
Lmaooooo
$25!!!
Lmaooooo
Well, currently sitting in the airport waiting another 5 hours for my now 10-hour-delayed flight. @frontierhelpline.bsky.social have given me a pitiful $10 food voucher.
Let's continue the account of wrong estimations we were given... 6 so far and I've gotten as far as the deboarding.
🧵
Let's continue the account of wrong estimations we were given... 6 so far and I've gotten as far as the deboarding.
🧵
So flying domestically in the US this afternoon, and delayed due to ice in the engine.
Fine, it happens.
But I'm blown away by the sheer number of completely wrong estimates we've been given as the situation has evolved...
Fine, it happens.
But I'm blown away by the sheer number of completely wrong estimates we've been given as the situation has evolved...
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Got an email from @frontierhelpline.bsky.social apologising sincerely for the stress and trouble caused, with a free travel voucher! For exclusive use on Frontier Airlines, in the next 90 days! To the tune of, get this...
$25!!!
Lmaooooo
$25!!!
Lmaooooo
It was Rain Man!
November 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
It was Rain Man!
Well, currently sitting in the airport waiting another 5 hours for my now 10-hour-delayed flight. @frontierhelpline.bsky.social have given me a pitiful $10 food voucher.
Let's continue the account of wrong estimations we were given... 6 so far and I've gotten as far as the deboarding.
🧵
Let's continue the account of wrong estimations we were given... 6 so far and I've gotten as far as the deboarding.
🧵
So flying domestically in the US this afternoon, and delayed due to ice in the engine.
Fine, it happens.
But I'm blown away by the sheer number of completely wrong estimates we've been given as the situation has evolved...
Fine, it happens.
But I'm blown away by the sheer number of completely wrong estimates we've been given as the situation has evolved...
November 10, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Well, currently sitting in the airport waiting another 5 hours for my now 10-hour-delayed flight. @frontierhelpline.bsky.social have given me a pitiful $10 food voucher.
Let's continue the account of wrong estimations we were given... 6 so far and I've gotten as far as the deboarding.
🧵
Let's continue the account of wrong estimations we were given... 6 so far and I've gotten as far as the deboarding.
🧵
So flying domestically in the US this afternoon, and delayed due to ice in the engine.
Fine, it happens.
But I'm blown away by the sheer number of completely wrong estimates we've been given as the situation has evolved...
Fine, it happens.
But I'm blown away by the sheer number of completely wrong estimates we've been given as the situation has evolved...
November 10, 2025 at 8:54 PM
So flying domestically in the US this afternoon, and delayed due to ice in the engine.
Fine, it happens.
But I'm blown away by the sheer number of completely wrong estimates we've been given as the situation has evolved...
Fine, it happens.
But I'm blown away by the sheer number of completely wrong estimates we've been given as the situation has evolved...
Will reveal later today...
What movie am I recreating, at the location it was filmed in Cincinnati?
November 10, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Will reveal later today...
Reposted by William Russell
Reposted by William Russell
Reposted by William Russell
That is, we can never perfectly predict any individual's behavior. This probably isn't surprising and this variation often gets swept into the black box of "residual variation." But what if there's more to it than that? What if the variation *is* the point? (3/7)
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
That is, we can never perfectly predict any individual's behavior. This probably isn't surprising and this variation often gets swept into the black box of "residual variation." But what if there's more to it than that? What if the variation *is* the point? (3/7)
Don't trust those 'helpful' little AI suggested questions
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse Meta AI has now started critiquing my work on Facebook.
And its critique is… well, it’s something…
Stop the world, I want to get off.
And its critique is… well, it’s something…
Stop the world, I want to get off.
November 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Don't trust those 'helpful' little AI suggested questions
That's a lot of quote posts
November 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
That's a lot of quote posts
Reposted by William Russell
"Obviously, no one should deploy superintelligence without being able to align and control them"
Great for OpenAI to say this! And it is obvious.
But forgive me for being concerned about OpenAI's track record of doing things they say is "obvious".
Accountability will be key.
Great for OpenAI to say this! And it is obvious.
But forgive me for being concerned about OpenAI's track record of doing things they say is "obvious".
Accountability will be key.
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"Obviously, no one should deploy superintelligence without being able to align and control them"
Great for OpenAI to say this! And it is obvious.
But forgive me for being concerned about OpenAI's track record of doing things they say is "obvious".
Accountability will be key.
Great for OpenAI to say this! And it is obvious.
But forgive me for being concerned about OpenAI's track record of doing things they say is "obvious".
Accountability will be key.
Reposted by William Russell
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
Reposted by William Russell
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
Reposted by William Russell
Have you ever wondered about the different roles on a research boat?
We’d like to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what each of the six people on board from OBI & @whaleresearch.bsky.social are responsible for!
Is this what you imagined? Which role would you most want to do?
#whalesky #orca
We’d like to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what each of the six people on board from OBI & @whaleresearch.bsky.social are responsible for!
Is this what you imagined? Which role would you most want to do?
#whalesky #orca
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Have you ever wondered about the different roles on a research boat?
We’d like to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what each of the six people on board from OBI & @whaleresearch.bsky.social are responsible for!
Is this what you imagined? Which role would you most want to do?
#whalesky #orca
We’d like to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what each of the six people on board from OBI & @whaleresearch.bsky.social are responsible for!
Is this what you imagined? Which role would you most want to do?
#whalesky #orca
Reposted by William Russell
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
Reposted by William Russell
Solar’s price drop is astonishing: panels are now 98% cheaper than when I first analyzed them in 2004.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Solar’s price drop is astonishing: panels are now 98% cheaper than when I first analyzed them in 2004.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
What movie am I recreating, at the location it was filmed in Cincinnati?
November 10, 2025 at 1:04 AM
What movie am I recreating, at the location it was filmed in Cincinnati?
Reposted by William Russell
lol she got his ass and he knows it
November 9, 2025 at 3:36 PM
lol she got his ass and he knows it