Ammina Kothari
@abkothari.bsky.social
Dean of Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences at Simmons University. Journalism educator and researcher focusing on AI and news production, social media, data ethics and communication technology
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
OpenAI has published its first in-depth public study on chatbot users and their most common requests. cdn.openai.com/pdf/a253471f...
September 15, 2025 at 9:52 AM
OpenAI has published its first in-depth public study on chatbot users and their most common requests. cdn.openai.com/pdf/a253471f...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
Almost all NOAA Research websites that rely on cloud services - including Amazon, Google and WordPress - are poised to disappear at midnight ET Saturday after a contract was targeted for "early termination." Labs may also feel the effects.
Story for @bloomberg.com (free link):
Story for @bloomberg.com (free link):
US Weather Agency Websites to Vanish Under Planned Contract Cuts
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency is poised to eliminate most websites tied to its research division under plans for the cancellation of a cloud web services contract, a move that could s...
www.bloomberg.com
April 4, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Almost all NOAA Research websites that rely on cloud services - including Amazon, Google and WordPress - are poised to disappear at midnight ET Saturday after a contract was targeted for "early termination." Labs may also feel the effects.
Story for @bloomberg.com (free link):
Story for @bloomberg.com (free link):
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
Join @abkothari.bsky.social, Dean of Simmons University Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences for a Simmons 125th Anniversary gathering in NYC.
🗓️ Weds, April 16
⌚ 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 The Cornell Club
☕ Refreshments will be served!
📩 RSVP: engage.simmons.edu/register/NYC...
🗓️ Weds, April 16
⌚ 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 The Cornell Club
☕ Refreshments will be served!
📩 RSVP: engage.simmons.edu/register/NYC...
engage.simmons.edu
April 1, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Join @abkothari.bsky.social, Dean of Simmons University Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences for a Simmons 125th Anniversary gathering in NYC.
🗓️ Weds, April 16
⌚ 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 The Cornell Club
☕ Refreshments will be served!
📩 RSVP: engage.simmons.edu/register/NYC...
🗓️ Weds, April 16
⌚ 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 The Cornell Club
☕ Refreshments will be served!
📩 RSVP: engage.simmons.edu/register/NYC...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
"A.I. is a parasite. It attaches itself to a robust learning ecosystem...parasite and the host can peacefully coexist as long as the parasite does not starve its host. The political problem with A.I.’s hype is that its most compelling use case is starving the host — fewer teachers, fewer degrees..."
Opinion | Actually, A.I. Is Pretty Mid (Gift Article)
A.I. is just what we need in the post-fact era: less research and more predicting what we want to hear.
www.nytimes.com
March 29, 2025 at 11:19 AM
"A.I. is a parasite. It attaches itself to a robust learning ecosystem...parasite and the host can peacefully coexist as long as the parasite does not starve its host. The political problem with A.I.’s hype is that its most compelling use case is starving the host — fewer teachers, fewer degrees..."
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
Signal is a great privacy tool, but it isn’t magic. And even if you’re not discussing war plans in your group chat, it’s a good idea to know the limits of encryption.
Read our piece on what Signal can—and can’t—do for you here: www.wired.com/story/encryp...
Read our piece on what Signal can—and can’t—do for you here: www.wired.com/story/encryp...
Encrypted Messaging Is Essential—But It Isn’t Magic
As recent events have shown, using an encrypted messaging app like WhatsApp or Signal is no privacy panacea.
www.wired.com
March 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Signal is a great privacy tool, but it isn’t magic. And even if you’re not discussing war plans in your group chat, it’s a good idea to know the limits of encryption.
Read our piece on what Signal can—and can’t—do for you here: www.wired.com/story/encryp...
Read our piece on what Signal can—and can’t—do for you here: www.wired.com/story/encryp...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
"Universities worldwide are quietly surrendering their autonomy to a handful of private data companies, creating what might be the most significant power shift in higher education’s history." www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?sto...
Rise of data empires signals the end of academic autonomy
When companies like Times Higher Education simultaneously control university ranking systems, provide strategic consulting and convene education minis...
www.universityworldnews.com
March 25, 2025 at 10:48 AM
"Universities worldwide are quietly surrendering their autonomy to a handful of private data companies, creating what might be the most significant power shift in higher education’s history." www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?sto...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
A new #mustread by @carolecadwalla.bsky.social: “The first victims of all new technology are women. But they’re never the last. If you want to understand what’s coming down the line in the future, you need to look at what’s already happening to women now.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
Stalked: how a relentless campaign of online abuse came to derail one woman’s life
A new BBC podcast recounts the ordeal endured by Hannah Mossman Moore, whose phone was bombarded by fake accounts and her personal data weaponised against her
www.theguardian.com
March 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
A new #mustread by @carolecadwalla.bsky.social: “The first victims of all new technology are women. But they’re never the last. If you want to understand what’s coming down the line in the future, you need to look at what’s already happening to women now.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
Closing of 538 is a loss for political data journalism. www.niemanlab.org/2025/03/five...
FiveThirtyEight is shutting down as part of broader cuts at ABC and Disney
Though Nate Silver left in 2023, FiveThirtyEight still offered election forecasts, a presidential approval tracker, and other tools.
www.niemanlab.org
March 6, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Closing of 538 is a loss for political data journalism. www.niemanlab.org/2025/03/five...
#journalists working on energy issues, check out the 2025 Energy Journalism Fellows (EJF) program from Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy. www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/applications...
Applications Open for 2025 Energy Journalism Fellows - Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA | CGEP
The program will be held on Columbia University’s campus in NYC from June 10-13, 2025.
www.energypolicy.columbia.edu
February 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
#journalists working on energy issues, check out the 2025 Energy Journalism Fellows (EJF) program from Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy. www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/applications...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
Department of Transportation orders all personnel to "identify and eliminate" every order, directive, rule, regulation, policy, notice, guidance document, funding arrangement, or program that even mentions climate change, diversity, or environmental justice
www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.go...
www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.go...
January 31, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Department of Transportation orders all personnel to "identify and eliminate" every order, directive, rule, regulation, policy, notice, guidance document, funding arrangement, or program that even mentions climate change, diversity, or environmental justice
www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.go...
www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.go...
New report with a survey of over 200 #journalists from 70+ countries across the Global South and emerging economies sharing how they are adopting #AI and their concerns about #journalism in the AI era. www.trust.org/resource/ai-...
Journalism in the AI Era: A TRF Insights survey
Our new report shines a spotlight on journalism in the AI era and provides a platform for the voices of journalists in the Global South and emerging economies.
www.trust.org
January 31, 2025 at 12:56 PM
New report with a survey of over 200 #journalists from 70+ countries across the Global South and emerging economies sharing how they are adopting #AI and their concerns about #journalism in the AI era. www.trust.org/resource/ai-...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
buckle up for this one. wild ride by @andrewdeck.bsky.social www.niemanlab.org/2025/01/insi...
Inside a network of AI-generated newsletters targeting “small town America”
Good Daily, which operates in 47 states and 355 towns and cities across the U.S., is run by one person.
www.niemanlab.org
January 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
buckle up for this one. wild ride by @andrewdeck.bsky.social www.niemanlab.org/2025/01/insi...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
OK YES that was an earthquake, says USGS -- right off York Harbor in Maine. More to come: earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/...
January 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
OK YES that was an earthquake, says USGS -- right off York Harbor in Maine. More to come: earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
Public Engagement with Science: Defining the Project, by @mjacquart.bsky.social and me, is now out! For an interdisciplinary audience, the book introduces resources and principles for effective public engagement with science. Open access, free PDF at this link. #scicomm #sciengage #philsci #science
Public Engagement with Science
Cambridge Core - Life Science Professional Development - Public Engagement with Science
doi.org
January 27, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Public Engagement with Science: Defining the Project, by @mjacquart.bsky.social and me, is now out! For an interdisciplinary audience, the book introduces resources and principles for effective public engagement with science. Open access, free PDF at this link. #scicomm #sciengage #philsci #science
We are #hiring for Joan M. Warburg Professor of International Relations. DM for more information. #AcademicSky #BlackAcademicSky simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmon...
Joan M. Warburg Professor of International Relations
Simmons University invites applications for its Warburg Chair in International Relations, which will begin July 1, 2025 (the start date is negotiable). This is a two—to three-year appointment as a fac...
simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
January 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
We are #hiring for Joan M. Warburg Professor of International Relations. DM for more information. #AcademicSky #BlackAcademicSky simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmon...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
A US lawsuit filed on behalf of LinkedIn Premium users accuses the social media platform of sharing their private messages with other companies to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. www.bbc.com/news/article...
LinkedIn accused of using private messages to train AI
The lawsuit alleges LinkedIn tried to conceal its actions but the firm says the claims are false.
www.bbc.com
January 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A US lawsuit filed on behalf of LinkedIn Premium users accuses the social media platform of sharing their private messages with other companies to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
A new analysis of disinformation targeting Latino communities during the 2024 US election presents more data points suggesting Meta’s decision to abandon independent fact-checking could not come at a more precarious moment.
Analysis of Spanish-Language Disinformation in the 2024 US Election Suggests Dismissing Fact-Checkers Threatens Democracy | TechPolicy.Press
Laura Zommer, Carlos Hernández-Echevarría and Justin Hendrix detail findings of a report by Factchequeado, Fundación Maldita.es, and Tech Policy Press.
www.techpolicy.press
January 16, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A new analysis of disinformation targeting Latino communities during the 2024 US election presents more data points suggesting Meta’s decision to abandon independent fact-checking could not come at a more precarious moment.
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
New summer institute for up-and-coming scholars across disciplines whose work investigates or intersects with disinformation: disinfoinstitute.org
The first iteration will be this June in San Diego. Applications are due January 31.
The first iteration will be this June in San Diego. Applications are due January 31.
Disinformation Summer Institute (DSI) - Disinformation Summer Institute
Disinformation Disinformation is false or misleading information created and spread to advance policy, political, economic or ideological goals. It is sometimes used by industries, governments, and ot...
disinfoinstitute.org
January 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
New summer institute for up-and-coming scholars across disciplines whose work investigates or intersects with disinformation: disinfoinstitute.org
The first iteration will be this June in San Diego. Applications are due January 31.
The first iteration will be this June in San Diego. Applications are due January 31.
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
ABC, NBC & CBS dedicated about 16 minutes of airtime last night to the California wildfires without once mentioning climate change.
Since the news failed do it's job, here's a short summary of the role of climate change and wildfire risk:
www.noaa.gov/noaa-wildfir...
Since the news failed do it's job, here's a short summary of the role of climate change and wildfire risk:
www.noaa.gov/noaa-wildfir...
Wildfire climate connection
Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States during the last ...
www.noaa.gov
January 8, 2025 at 8:03 PM
ABC, NBC & CBS dedicated about 16 minutes of airtime last night to the California wildfires without once mentioning climate change.
Since the news failed do it's job, here's a short summary of the role of climate change and wildfire risk:
www.noaa.gov/noaa-wildfir...
Since the news failed do it's job, here's a short summary of the role of climate change and wildfire risk:
www.noaa.gov/noaa-wildfir...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
While the press has focused on the ending of Meta's fact-checking program, not enough has focused on the removal of restrictions on certain types of speech previously deemed harmful on FB & IG, incl. criticism of vulnerable groups—immigrants, women and LGBTQ+ people. about.fb.com/news/2025/01...
More Speech and Fewer Mistakes | Meta
We're ending our third party fact checking program and moving to a Community Notes model.
about.fb.com
January 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
While the press has focused on the ending of Meta's fact-checking program, not enough has focused on the removal of restrictions on certain types of speech previously deemed harmful on FB & IG, incl. criticism of vulnerable groups—immigrants, women and LGBTQ+ people. about.fb.com/news/2025/01...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
While we’re banning books…
Finland is teaching children in school how to recognize fake news and propaganda as part of critical thinking and civic responsibility. Some of this will seem very familiar.
Be. Like. Finland.
Finland is teaching children in school how to recognize fake news and propaganda as part of critical thinking and civic responsibility. Some of this will seem very familiar.
Be. Like. Finland.
January 4, 2025 at 6:01 PM
While we’re banning books…
Finland is teaching children in school how to recognize fake news and propaganda as part of critical thinking and civic responsibility. Some of this will seem very familiar.
Be. Like. Finland.
Finland is teaching children in school how to recognize fake news and propaganda as part of critical thinking and civic responsibility. Some of this will seem very familiar.
Be. Like. Finland.
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
Please remember that President Carter appointed more minorities and women to the bench than all previous presidents combined. He was the first President to embrace the concept of bringing racial diversity to the federal bench. A key aspect of his legacy.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/poli...
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/poli...
Carter Names Record Number of Minorities to Federal Bench
www.washingtonpost.com
December 30, 2024 at 2:18 AM
Please remember that President Carter appointed more minorities and women to the bench than all previous presidents combined. He was the first President to embrace the concept of bringing racial diversity to the federal bench. A key aspect of his legacy.
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/poli...
www.washingtonpost.com/archive/poli...
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
This pleases me (gift):
"I had only one advantage: I’m a historian. One of the true gifts of studying the humanities is not the content we learn in school, but that we develop the skills to learn what we need to know when life takes unexpected turns. So like a proper nerd, I made a reading list."
"I had only one advantage: I’m a historian. One of the true gifts of studying the humanities is not the content we learn in school, but that we develop the skills to learn what we need to know when life takes unexpected turns. So like a proper nerd, I made a reading list."
On RFK Jr., vaccines and my son with autism and Down syndrome
Knowledge is the vaccine for ignorance and fear. But RFK Jr. just wants to let the fever burn.
www.startribune.com
December 19, 2024 at 2:06 AM
This pleases me (gift):
"I had only one advantage: I’m a historian. One of the true gifts of studying the humanities is not the content we learn in school, but that we develop the skills to learn what we need to know when life takes unexpected turns. So like a proper nerd, I made a reading list."
"I had only one advantage: I’m a historian. One of the true gifts of studying the humanities is not the content we learn in school, but that we develop the skills to learn what we need to know when life takes unexpected turns. So like a proper nerd, I made a reading list."
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
V excited to announce two new permanent, tenure-track jobs at my workplace @cfi-cambridge.bsky.social :Assistant professorships in Design and A.I. and Social Science of A.I. Pls share and repost
V excited to share two Assistant professorships (permanent, tenure track) at my work - @cfi-cambridge.bsky.social 1. A.I. and ethical design for folks who work in HCI, design engineering, design theory (it’s yours to shape).
www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/49542/
www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/49542/
Assistant Professorship in AI and Ethical Design - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge
Assistant Professorship in AI and Ethical Design in the Cambridge Institute for Technology and Humanity at the University of Cambridge.
www.jobs.cam.ac.uk
December 18, 2024 at 5:28 PM
V excited to announce two new permanent, tenure-track jobs at my workplace @cfi-cambridge.bsky.social :Assistant professorships in Design and A.I. and Social Science of A.I. Pls share and repost
Reposted by Ammina Kothari
Three areas dominated this year:
1) AI - 41 states passed 107 laws. Colorado passed a comprehensive AI bill (comprehensive bills failed in California & Connecticut). States also enacted a series of issue-specific bills (non-consensual sexual imagery, deepfakes, copyright protections).
4/
1) AI - 41 states passed 107 laws. Colorado passed a comprehensive AI bill (comprehensive bills failed in California & Connecticut). States also enacted a series of issue-specific bills (non-consensual sexual imagery, deepfakes, copyright protections).
4/
December 16, 2024 at 11:00 PM