Sarah O'Connor
@sarahoconnorft.ft.com
FT columnist, writing about work, technology & economics.
If AI is coming for junior lawyers’ jobs, why does their pay keep going up? Our latest AI Shift newsletter... www.ft.com/content/1d85...
The AI Shift: If AI is coming for junior lawyers’ jobs, why does their pay keep going up?
Automation may be freeing up their time to do more valuable work
www.ft.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
If AI is coming for junior lawyers’ jobs, why does their pay keep going up? Our latest AI Shift newsletter... www.ft.com/content/1d85...
Isn't it funny how your brain just knows when you've left one gulp of tea in a cup, somewhere in the house. Like, somehow you just know you're one gulp short of having drunk a whole cup. Is this a uniquely British skill, I wonder?
December 18, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Isn't it funny how your brain just knows when you've left one gulp of tea in a cup, somewhere in the house. Like, somehow you just know you're one gulp short of having drunk a whole cup. Is this a uniquely British skill, I wonder?
Are "Made by Humans" labels going to be the new Fairtrade? On why transparency about how AI is used in creative endeavours is trickier than it sounds, but better than just giving up www.ft.com/content/bab5...
December 16, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Are "Made by Humans" labels going to be the new Fairtrade? On why transparency about how AI is used in creative endeavours is trickier than it sounds, but better than just giving up www.ft.com/content/bab5...
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
It's so important to read splashy findings about the impact of AI on jobs with a critical eye 🤔
@sarahoconnorft.ft.com and John Burn-Murdoch are spot on here - highlighting issues I see in these studies time and time again.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... #EconSky
3 of the big ones... [1/5]
@sarahoconnorft.ft.com and John Burn-Murdoch are spot on here - highlighting issues I see in these studies time and time again.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... #EconSky
3 of the big ones... [1/5]
The AI Shift: How to read the news
Questions to keep in mind when you come across splashy AI stories
giftarticle.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:05 AM
It's so important to read splashy findings about the impact of AI on jobs with a critical eye 🤔
@sarahoconnorft.ft.com and John Burn-Murdoch are spot on here - highlighting issues I see in these studies time and time again.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... #EconSky
3 of the big ones... [1/5]
@sarahoconnorft.ft.com and John Burn-Murdoch are spot on here - highlighting issues I see in these studies time and time again.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... #EconSky
3 of the big ones... [1/5]
Sure, we're the weak and decaying ones...
December 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Sure, we're the weak and decaying ones...
Welcome to Britain, a country so short of dentists that an MP's 87-year-old mum pulled her teeth out with pliers. Also a country with thousands of foreign-qualified dentists who can’t work until they pass an exam so oversubscribed it’s like trying to book Glasto tickets. www.ft.com/content/f4e5...
December 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Welcome to Britain, a country so short of dentists that an MP's 87-year-old mum pulled her teeth out with pliers. Also a country with thousands of foreign-qualified dentists who can’t work until they pass an exam so oversubscribed it’s like trying to book Glasto tickets. www.ft.com/content/f4e5...
In 2016, godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton said: "People should stop training radiologists now." In this week's The AI Shift newsletter, we ask: why are there still so many radiologists?? www.ft.com/content/f2e0...
December 4, 2025 at 1:54 PM
In 2016, godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton said: "People should stop training radiologists now." In this week's The AI Shift newsletter, we ask: why are there still so many radiologists?? www.ft.com/content/f2e0...
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
This week's FT AI shift newsletter is so far up my street, it's practically parked on my drive - On how, despite AI leaders predictions of doom, there are now growing numbers of radiologists and how those professionals are working with AI @sarahoconnorft.ft.com @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:04 PM
This week's FT AI shift newsletter is so far up my street, it's practically parked on my drive - On how, despite AI leaders predictions of doom, there are now growing numbers of radiologists and how those professionals are working with AI @sarahoconnorft.ft.com @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
If you're lucky enough to be able to read the @financialtimes.com these evidence-based conversations between @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com are particularly fascinating. Here's the latest.
The AI Shift: Is AI about to break polling?
Online surveys are susceptible to bogus respondents and synthetic samples warrant scepticism
www.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:59 AM
If you're lucky enough to be able to read the @financialtimes.com these evidence-based conversations between @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com are particularly fascinating. Here's the latest.
Out of interest, I just checked my Facebook feed. I had to scroll through 86 posts before I saw one from someone I know. (shout out to @groomb.bsky.social whose post it was!)
My Facebook feed no longer has anything from people I know. Instead it's 99% AI slop videos of "trains floating on canal boats having accidents in which someone falls into the water". It's horrible, mainly because I can't stop watching them on repeat and the algorithm knows the darkness of my soul.
November 25, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Out of interest, I just checked my Facebook feed. I had to scroll through 86 posts before I saw one from someone I know. (shout out to @groomb.bsky.social whose post it was!)
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
"What is certain, and felt instinctively by almost everybody, is that things cannot go on in their present way" – The Times, May 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
November 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
"What is certain, and felt instinctively by almost everybody, is that things cannot go on in their present way" – The Times, May 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
I was on hiring teams in 2012/13 where we would routinely go from applications closing to making offers within 3 weeks, sometimes 2! Because our team prioritised an efficient process.
These days, as an employee, anything faster than 3 months is basically unheard of.
These days, as an employee, anything faster than 3 months is basically unheard of.
November 14, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I was on hiring teams in 2012/13 where we would routinely go from applications closing to making offers within 3 weeks, sometimes 2! Because our team prioritised an efficient process.
These days, as an employee, anything faster than 3 months is basically unheard of.
These days, as an employee, anything faster than 3 months is basically unheard of.
Another one for you, @dlknowles.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Another one for you, @dlknowles.bsky.social
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
November 14, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
Via @sarahoconnorft.ft.com Am seeing similar in so many other settings. Eg planning applications:
-> Firms now offering 'AI' solutions to opponents of big developments. So expect similar to emerge for those in favour, and even more for 'assessing' docs targeted at under-resourced #Localgov.
-> Firms now offering 'AI' solutions to opponents of big developments. So expect similar to emerge for those in favour, and even more for 'assessing' docs targeted at under-resourced #Localgov.
From the always interesting AI Shift newsletter by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com:
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
November 13, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Via @sarahoconnorft.ft.com Am seeing similar in so many other settings. Eg planning applications:
-> Firms now offering 'AI' solutions to opponents of big developments. So expect similar to emerge for those in favour, and even more for 'assessing' docs targeted at under-resourced #Localgov.
-> Firms now offering 'AI' solutions to opponents of big developments. So expect similar to emerge for those in favour, and even more for 'assessing' docs targeted at under-resourced #Localgov.
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
Depressing @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com newsletter today - general use of AI in crafting job applications now makes it impossible to identify the best candidates. So a probable return to "it's not what you know, it's who you know" recruitment? Top work everyone!
November 13, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Depressing @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com newsletter today - general use of AI in crafting job applications now makes it impossible to identify the best candidates. So a probable return to "it's not what you know, it's who you know" recruitment? Top work everyone!
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
From the always interesting AI Shift newsletter by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com:
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
November 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
From the always interesting AI Shift newsletter by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com:
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
AI is maximising job applications and word counts, in vicious circle of doom kind of ways
"If a country as rich as Norway can’t afford to stick to principles, who can?" Great edition of the Free Lunch newsletter today by @martinsandbu.ft.com on Norway suspending its $2.1 trillion oil fund's ethics rules. www.ft.com/content/f6b3...
How Norway jeopardised its integrity overnight
Oslo abruptly changed the ethics rules for the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund
www.ft.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
"If a country as rich as Norway can’t afford to stick to principles, who can?" Great edition of the Free Lunch newsletter today by @martinsandbu.ft.com on Norway suspending its $2.1 trillion oil fund's ethics rules. www.ft.com/content/f6b3...
2nd edition of our The AI Shift newsletter is out. The question today: could AI be making us LESS productive? @jburnmurdoch.ft.com www.ft.com/content/2480... At the individual level, it's clear we're not reliable witnesses on this Q. At an organisational level, it gets even more interesting...
October 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
2nd edition of our The AI Shift newsletter is out. The question today: could AI be making us LESS productive? @jburnmurdoch.ft.com www.ft.com/content/2480... At the individual level, it's clear we're not reliable witnesses on this Q. At an organisational level, it gets even more interesting...
Reposted by Sarah O'Connor
Somebody at HMRC needs to be canned for this idiotic ‘fraud-detection’ idea. And I fear future use of AI in welfare cases might well produce this kind of story regularly (as they have in Nevada for example).
UK woman who booked Oslo flight but did not fly loses child benefit ‘because she emigrated’
Exclusive: HMRC told Lisa Morris-Almond there was no record of her return to UK, but she did not take the trip
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Somebody at HMRC needs to be canned for this idiotic ‘fraud-detection’ idea. And I fear future use of AI in welfare cases might well produce this kind of story regularly (as they have in Nevada for example).
In news that will surprise no-one... www.404media.co/metas-ray-ba...
Meta's Ray-Ban Glasses Users Film and Harass Massage Parlor Workers
“The shameless use of covert recording technology at massage parlours to gain likes, attention, and online notoriety is both disgusting and dangerous.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 3:21 PM
In news that will surprise no-one... www.404media.co/metas-ray-ba...
Does this description come from 2025, or 2006? Unnerving piece by @brookeamasters.ft.com www.ft.com/content/fddb...
October 29, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Does this description come from 2025, or 2006? Unnerving piece by @brookeamasters.ft.com www.ft.com/content/fddb...