Shakeel
@shakeelhashim.com
Writing about AI policy at Transformer. Supporting AI journalism with grants at Tarbell. Prev: AI safety and EA comms; journalist at The Economist, Protocol, Finimize. London.
https://transformernews.ai
https://transformernews.ai
Pinned
Shakeel
@shakeelhashim.com
· Nov 18
Lots of new AI people on Bluesky today! I updated my highly-opinionated starter pack of who to follow: go.bsky.app/V62wBer
Reposted by Shakeel
I got the AI writing homies together to launch SAIL (readsail on socials): A team bundle to get access to the best content in AI all in one subscription. Otherwise, nothing in my mission is changing. Get the best content written to inform the public and shape the trajectory of AI.
readsail.com
readsail.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I got the AI writing homies together to launch SAIL (readsail on socials): A team bundle to get access to the best content in AI all in one subscription. Otherwise, nothing in my mission is changing. Get the best content written to inform the public and shape the trajectory of AI.
readsail.com
readsail.com
Reposted by Shakeel
🗞️ 🤖 Weekend reading anyone? For the launch of @transformernews.ai as a standalone publication, they invited me to contribute a piece on what persuasive AI might mean for democracy and elections.
Here’s the result…
buff.ly/OJsNmpK
Here’s the result…
buff.ly/OJsNmpK
AI is persuasive, but that’s not the real problem for democracy
Opinion: Felix M Simon argues that AI is unlikely to significantly shape election results in the near future, but warns that it could damage democracy through a steady erosion of institutional trust.
www.transformernews.ai
October 3, 2025 at 5:19 PM
🗞️ 🤖 Weekend reading anyone? For the launch of @transformernews.ai as a standalone publication, they invited me to contribute a piece on what persuasive AI might mean for democracy and elections.
Here’s the result…
buff.ly/OJsNmpK
Here’s the result…
buff.ly/OJsNmpK
Kanishka Narayan, the UK's new minister for AI, is a rare example of a politician who actually *gets* his brief.
In a new profile for @transformernews.ai, @alys.bsky.social notes that he takes AI risks pretty seriously, too.
In a new profile for @transformernews.ai, @alys.bsky.social notes that he takes AI risks pretty seriously, too.
October 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Kanishka Narayan, the UK's new minister for AI, is a rare example of a politician who actually *gets* his brief.
In a new profile for @transformernews.ai, @alys.bsky.social notes that he takes AI risks pretty seriously, too.
In a new profile for @transformernews.ai, @alys.bsky.social notes that he takes AI risks pretty seriously, too.
The Cambridge Analytica panic was basically nonsense.
The AI-is-rigging-elections panic might be, too.
The AI-is-rigging-elections panic might be, too.
AI is persuasive, but that’s not the real problem for democracy
Opinion: Felix M Simon argues that AI is unlikely to significantly shape election results in the near future, but warns that it could damage democracy through a steady erosion of institutional trust.
www.transformernews.ai
October 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The Cambridge Analytica panic was basically nonsense.
The AI-is-rigging-elections panic might be, too.
The AI-is-rigging-elections panic might be, too.
Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares' new book — If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies — is out today.
I am much more sympathetic to their views than most.
Unfortunately, the book is littered with torturous sentence structures and smug, self-satisfied writing.
I was not a fan.
I am much more sympathetic to their views than most.
Unfortunately, the book is littered with torturous sentence structures and smug, self-satisfied writing.
I was not a fan.
Book Review: 'If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies'
Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares’ new book should be an AI wakeup call — shame it’s such a chore to read
www.transformernews.ai
September 16, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares' new book — If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies — is out today.
I am much more sympathetic to their views than most.
Unfortunately, the book is littered with torturous sentence structures and smug, self-satisfied writing.
I was not a fan.
I am much more sympathetic to their views than most.
Unfortunately, the book is littered with torturous sentence structures and smug, self-satisfied writing.
I was not a fan.
Thrilled to have @ruchowdh.bsky.social and Mala Kumar in @transformernews.ai today, writing alongside the launch of the new Humane Intelligence PBC.
www.transformernews.ai/p/why-ai-eva...
www.transformernews.ai/p/why-ai-eva...
Why AI evals need to reflect the real world
Opinion: Rumman Chowdhury and Mala Kumar argue that we need better AI evaluations — and the infrastructure and investment to do them
www.transformernews.ai
September 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Thrilled to have @ruchowdh.bsky.social and Mala Kumar in @transformernews.ai today, writing alongside the launch of the new Humane Intelligence PBC.
www.transformernews.ai/p/why-ai-eva...
www.transformernews.ai/p/why-ai-eva...
Reposted by Shakeel
Data centers use 2% of the world’s electricity. There’s a *huge* push to build more for AI.
But even the most optimistic growth paths for AI predict it’ll drive less growth in energy demand than electric cars or aircon. It’s significant, but it’s not the biggest thing going on.
But even the most optimistic growth paths for AI predict it’ll drive less growth in energy demand than electric cars or aircon. It’s significant, but it’s not the biggest thing going on.
We’re getting the argument about AI's environmental impact all wrong
Individual ChatGPT queries are a rounding error — we need to think about the future
www.transformernews.ai
September 9, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Data centers use 2% of the world’s electricity. There’s a *huge* push to build more for AI.
But even the most optimistic growth paths for AI predict it’ll drive less growth in energy demand than electric cars or aircon. It’s significant, but it’s not the biggest thing going on.
But even the most optimistic growth paths for AI predict it’ll drive less growth in energy demand than electric cars or aircon. It’s significant, but it’s not the biggest thing going on.
When I launched Transformer a year ago, it was with a simple mission: provide decision-makers with the information and analysis needed to anticipate and steer the impacts of transformative AI.
Today, we're announcing an exciting new effort to achieve that: Transformer 2.0.
Today, we're announcing an exciting new effort to achieve that: Transformer 2.0.
Welcome to Transformer 2.0
We're now a team of reporters and editors dedicated to covering the power and politics of AI
www.transformernews.ai
September 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
When I launched Transformer a year ago, it was with a simple mission: provide decision-makers with the information and analysis needed to anticipate and steer the impacts of transformative AI.
Today, we're announcing an exciting new effort to achieve that: Transformer 2.0.
Today, we're announcing an exciting new effort to achieve that: Transformer 2.0.
Last year, the crypto industry set up a network of super PACs.
Its strategy? Throw huge amounts of money at politicians to discourage crypto regulation.
Now many of those same people have launched a $100m campaign to do the same thing for AI.
Read my full piece on Transformer:
Its strategy? Throw huge amounts of money at politicians to discourage crypto regulation.
Now many of those same people have launched a $100m campaign to do the same thing for AI.
Read my full piece on Transformer:
AI embraces crypto’s dirty politics
A new super PAC network looks set to spend millions to influence AI regulation
www.transformernews.ai
August 27, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Last year, the crypto industry set up a network of super PACs.
Its strategy? Throw huge amounts of money at politicians to discourage crypto regulation.
Now many of those same people have launched a $100m campaign to do the same thing for AI.
Read my full piece on Transformer:
Its strategy? Throw huge amounts of money at politicians to discourage crypto regulation.
Now many of those same people have launched a $100m campaign to do the same thing for AI.
Read my full piece on Transformer:
Reposted by Shakeel
I am genuinely so frustrated with the state of the average journalist. Just nonstop dunking and in a way that makes people less informed.
They're being very clear that it's not a calculator and should not be used that way!
defector.com/it-took-many...
They're being very clear that it's not a calculator and should not be used that way!
defector.com/it-took-many...
It Took Many Years And Billions Of Dollars, But Microsoft Finally Invented A Calculator That Is Wrong Sometimes | Defector
It’s not AI winter just yet, though there is a distinct chill in the air. Meta is shaking up and downsizing its artificial intelligence division. A new report out of MIT finds that 95 percent of compa...
defector.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:50 AM
I am genuinely so frustrated with the state of the average journalist. Just nonstop dunking and in a way that makes people less informed.
They're being very clear that it's not a calculator and should not be used that way!
defector.com/it-took-many...
They're being very clear that it's not a calculator and should not be used that way!
defector.com/it-took-many...
Why assume Meta’s hiring freeze is for financial reasons, rather than logistical ones (which seems much more likely)?
It makes a lot of sense to pause hiring shortly after a huge hiring surge and restructuring — you need time to get the new structure working before bringing more people in!
It makes a lot of sense to pause hiring shortly after a huge hiring surge and restructuring — you need time to get the new structure working before bringing more people in!
Meta was on track to spend $50bn on R&D this year (compare to about $60bn on capex). Quite a turnaround to go from $300m comp packages to hiring freeze in a few weeks.
August 21, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Why assume Meta’s hiring freeze is for financial reasons, rather than logistical ones (which seems much more likely)?
It makes a lot of sense to pause hiring shortly after a huge hiring surge and restructuring — you need time to get the new structure working before bringing more people in!
It makes a lot of sense to pause hiring shortly after a huge hiring surge and restructuring — you need time to get the new structure working before bringing more people in!
Reposted by Shakeel
“If Anthropic loses big,” the judge’s order concludes, “it will be because what it did wrong was also big.”
www.transformernews.ai/p/anthropic-...
www.transformernews.ai/p/anthropic-...
Anthropic’s piracy could make its copyright battle existential
Anthropic could have to pay billions in damages — and others may follow
www.transformernews.ai
August 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
“If Anthropic loses big,” the judge’s order concludes, “it will be because what it did wrong was also big.”
www.transformernews.ai/p/anthropic-...
www.transformernews.ai/p/anthropic-...
Hugging Face still has a ton of porn hosted on its website which can be accessed without logging in or verifying your age.
Not entirely sure how that's compliant with the UK Online Safety Act ... which even 4Chan's taken action to comply with today!
Not entirely sure how that's compliant with the UK Online Safety Act ... which even 4Chan's taken action to comply with today!
July 25, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Hugging Face still has a ton of porn hosted on its website which can be accessed without logging in or verifying your age.
Not entirely sure how that's compliant with the UK Online Safety Act ... which even 4Chan's taken action to comply with today!
Not entirely sure how that's compliant with the UK Online Safety Act ... which even 4Chan's taken action to comply with today!
Reposted by Shakeel
It's a bit dispiriting to see a company that talks so much about being "ethical" adopt the same old strategy of relying on journalists to find bad stuff on their platforms. I saw this for years covering Meta, and Hugging Face is following exactly the same playbook. bsky.app/profile/shak...
We sent the list of models we found to Hugging Face.
The company removed some, but not all, of the models we shared with them.
They left up a video model that references a film released when the actress was 15, for instance.
The company removed some, but not all, of the models we shared with them.
They left up a video model that references a film released when the actress was 15, for instance.
July 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
It's a bit dispiriting to see a company that talks so much about being "ethical" adopt the same old strategy of relying on journalists to find bad stuff on their platforms. I saw this for years covering Meta, and Hugging Face is following exactly the same playbook. bsky.app/profile/shak...
Here's a story about Hugging Face, deepfake pornography, and irresponsible content moderation.
Last week, 404 Media found that Hugging Face hosted 1000s of nonconsensual AI models of real people, many clearly intended to be used to create sexual content.
Last week, 404 Media found that Hugging Face hosted 1000s of nonconsensual AI models of real people, many clearly intended to be used to create sexual content.
July 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Here's a story about Hugging Face, deepfake pornography, and irresponsible content moderation.
Last week, 404 Media found that Hugging Face hosted 1000s of nonconsensual AI models of real people, many clearly intended to be used to create sexual content.
Last week, 404 Media found that Hugging Face hosted 1000s of nonconsensual AI models of real people, many clearly intended to be used to create sexual content.
Reposted by Shakeel
It is pretty shameful that Hugging Face is still hosting these models for making deepfake porn of celebrities (and others), despite @404media.co's reporting a week ago.
Hugging Face portrays itself as the "ethical" AI company.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
July 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
It is pretty shameful that Hugging Face is still hosting these models for making deepfake porn of celebrities (and others), despite @404media.co's reporting a week ago.
Hugging Face portrays itself as the "ethical" AI company.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
July 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Hugging Face portrays itself as the "ethical" AI company.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
Reposted by Shakeel
Hell of a time to publicly identify as a liberal, isn’t it.
July 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Hell of a time to publicly identify as a liberal, isn’t it.
Big news! Delighted to announce that @jasperjackson.bsky.social is joining Transformer as managing editor.
Jasper is an absolute rockstar, having previously run teams at @tbij.bsky.social, @newstatesman.com, and @theguardian.com.
Jasper is an absolute rockstar, having previously run teams at @tbij.bsky.social, @newstatesman.com, and @theguardian.com.
Been a while since I’ve done this but *Personal News Klaxon*: In a couple of weeks I’m starting a new role as managing editor at transformernews.ai, working with @shakeelhashim.com to expand its coverage of how AI is set to transform huge swathes of society.
Transformer | Shakeel Hashim | Substack
Your weekly briefing of what matters in AI and AI policy. Read by thousands of AI professionals in government, industry, and public affairs. Click to read Transformer, by Shakeel Hashim, a Substack pu...
transformernews.ai
July 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Big news! Delighted to announce that @jasperjackson.bsky.social is joining Transformer as managing editor.
Jasper is an absolute rockstar, having previously run teams at @tbij.bsky.social, @newstatesman.com, and @theguardian.com.
Jasper is an absolute rockstar, having previously run teams at @tbij.bsky.social, @newstatesman.com, and @theguardian.com.
Reposted by Shakeel
AI safety researcher have long warned about a set of behaviors skeptics insisted were fantasies like deception (including during training) and reward hacking. These days, examples of those concerning patterns are showing up more and more often.
www.transformernews.ai/p/ai-misalig...
www.transformernews.ai/p/ai-misalig...
Misaligned AI is no longer just theory
A host of new evidence shows that misalignment is possible — but it's unclear whether harm will follow
www.transformernews.ai
May 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
AI safety researcher have long warned about a set of behaviors skeptics insisted were fantasies like deception (including during training) and reward hacking. These days, examples of those concerning patterns are showing up more and more often.
www.transformernews.ai/p/ai-misalig...
www.transformernews.ai/p/ai-misalig...
It's your last week to apply to Tarbell Grants! We're offering $1,000-$15,000+ for original reporting on AI and its impacts.
The first round has been a huge success — to inspire you to apply, here's a short 🧵 of pieces we're very excited to have supported so far...
The first round has been a huge success — to inspire you to apply, here's a short 🧵 of pieces we're very excited to have supported so far...
May 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM
It's your last week to apply to Tarbell Grants! We're offering $1,000-$15,000+ for original reporting on AI and its impacts.
The first round has been a huge success — to inspire you to apply, here's a short 🧵 of pieces we're very excited to have supported so far...
The first round has been a huge success — to inspire you to apply, here's a short 🧵 of pieces we're very excited to have supported so far...
Tarbell Grants Round 2 is back! Learn more and apply:
Announcing the return of Tarbell Grants: $1,000-$15,000+ for original reporting on AI and its impacts.
Journalism plays an essential role in communicating AI developments to the public—and holding AI companies and policymakers to account.
Journalism plays an essential role in communicating AI developments to the public—and holding AI companies and policymakers to account.
April 28, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Tarbell Grants Round 2 is back! Learn more and apply:
🚨 Transformer is hiring!
We're looking for a managing editor and a reporter to help grow our coverage of transformative AI systems into the world’s leading publication for AI decision-makers.
Details and links below 👇
We're looking for a managing editor and a reporter to help grow our coverage of transformative AI systems into the world’s leading publication for AI decision-makers.
Details and links below 👇
April 1, 2025 at 12:05 PM
🚨 Transformer is hiring!
We're looking for a managing editor and a reporter to help grow our coverage of transformative AI systems into the world’s leading publication for AI decision-makers.
Details and links below 👇
We're looking for a managing editor and a reporter to help grow our coverage of transformative AI systems into the world’s leading publication for AI decision-makers.
Details and links below 👇
I've finally written a bunch of 2024 roundup stuff
— best theatre, books, films, and everything else. Links in thread:
— best theatre, books, films, and everything else. Links in thread:
January 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I've finally written a bunch of 2024 roundup stuff
— best theatre, books, films, and everything else. Links in thread:
— best theatre, books, films, and everything else. Links in thread:
arguably the best to ever do it. RIP.
January 16, 2025 at 6:41 PM
arguably the best to ever do it. RIP.