Ben Waber
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bwaber.bsky.social
Ben Waber
@bwaber.bsky.social
530 followers 590 following 2.9K posts
MIT Researcher, he/him, Senior Visiting Researcher @ Ritsumeikan, Co-Founder of Humanyze, former Senior Researcher @ HBS, author of People Analytics. AI, management, law, corporate governance, psychology, anthropology, ethics, and similar topics
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bwaber.bsky.social
I got a ton of writing done today, and throughout the day I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/10)
A selfie of me on a green coach in front of a sea foam green wall. I’m a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I’m wearing glasses with thick black rims and a grey t-shirt with a stylized map of the Yamanote Line on it in green.
December 4, 2025 at 3:10 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
It's always an experience assembling new furniture, and at least the experience afforded me lots of time to listen to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/11)
A selfie of me in the middle of a partially assembled bed. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with thick black rims and a blue collared shirt.
December 3, 2025 at 2:40 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
Well the family is sick again, and while taking care of the household I listened to some talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/7)
A rippling Charles River, with some swampland on each bank followed by forest, on a cloudy day.
December 2, 2025 at 1:54 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
I've had a fairly relaxing Thanksgiving break, and after partaking of the seasonal feast I listened to books for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/5)
A selfie of me on a bridge above a mostly dry swamp, with a winding brook feeding into the larger Charles River beyond, on a bright, slightly cloudy day. Thick forest lines the banks of the swamp and river. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing a neon green LL Bean beanie, black sunglasses, and a black running jacket.
November 29, 2025 at 10:49 PM
bwaber.bsky.social
I took my youngest out for a bike ride through the woods, and earlier in the day I listened to talks and read books for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/4)
A selfie of me in a forest, with the ground coated with brown leaves. I’m a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I’m wearing black sunglasses and a black t-shirt.
November 27, 2025 at 4:26 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
I'm mostly recovered today, so I swapped some books at the library and listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/8)
A selfie of me in front of a painting mounted on a wood panel wall. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with thick black rims and a maroon and white MIT sweatshirt.
November 26, 2025 at 3:06 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
I still wasn't fully recovered from whatever I caught from my family, so while resting in bed all day I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/9)
A selfie of me in front of a brown background. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with thick black rims and a maroon t-shirt.
November 25, 2025 at 2:44 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
I was under the weather this weekend, and while recuperating I read some books and listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/7)
A selfie of me in a dimly lit home office with sea foam green walls. I’m a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I’m wearing glasses with thick black rims and a maroon and white MIT sweatshirt.
November 24, 2025 at 2:24 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
I headed over to Harvard for some meetings, and after taking in the atmosphere before they shellac Yale I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/5)
A selfie of me in front of Mellon Hall at HBS on a bright day. I’m a middle-aged white man with a red beard flecked with white. I’m wearing a neon green LL Bean beanie, black sunglasses, and a black New Balance running jacket over a dark blue running shirt.
November 22, 2025 at 2:57 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
Calls with Japan made it a late finish for me, but throughout the day I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/7)
A selfie of me in front of my white bookshelf, packed with books. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with a metal top rim and a dark blue collared shirt.
November 21, 2025 at 2:38 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
AI is going great
A chat with Gemini with the prompt "is the pool in the kobayashi maru still full" and the reply: The phrase "is the pool in the Kobayashi Maru still full" is a niche reference to a specific interpretation of a scene from the TV series Steins;Gate, not the well-known Star Trek simulation. In the Star Trek universe, the Kobayashi Maru is a fictional civilian fuel freighter and the name of a no-win training scenario, it does not have a "pool" in any literal or widely recognized sense within the scenario itself. The query appears to be a pop-culture reference, likely relating to the anime Steins;Gate, where a character (Kurisu) is briefly placed in a "pool of blood" for a dramatic effect during a time-travel plot point involving a "no-win" scenario. In the context of the Steins;Gate narrative, the scenario in question is resolved and the characters move to a new timeline where the events leading to the "pool" incident do not occur. Therefore, the "pool" is not a permanent fixture.
November 20, 2025 at 6:58 PM
bwaber.bsky.social
My whole family except for me was incapacitated with various maladies today, and while serving as their nurse for the day I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/8)
A selfie of me on a lawn dotted with trees and forest beyond on a sunny day. I’m a middle-aged white man with a red beard flecked with white. I’m wearing a grey heather beanie, black sunglasses, a peach t-shirt, and a grey winter coat with black faux fur lining around the top collar.
November 20, 2025 at 2:08 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
Man the lizard people aren't even trying to hide it anymore
A building with a green sign with yellow lettering that says: Human Ceremony Hall Sion.
November 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
bwaber.bsky.social
It was mostly a back-to-back zoom meeting day for me, and while taking a breather in between I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/6)
A selfie of me in front of my white bookshelf, which is packed with books. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with a metal top rim and a maroon t-shirt with MIT written in white across the chest.
November 19, 2025 at 2:37 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
Apparently I make a good dog pillow, and while trying not to disturb my good boy I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/6)
A selfie of me on a couch with my medium-sized black dog sleeping with his head laying on my chest. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with thick black rims and a blue t-shirt.
November 18, 2025 at 1:51 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
My jet lag didn't quite go away this weekend, but while recovering I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/4)
A clear brook winding through swampy ground feeding into the Charles River on a bright, sunny day, with dots of white clouds floating across the sky.
November 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
bwaber.bsky.social
I fought through my remaining jet lag to give an evening virtual talk followed by an enjoyable discussion with the folks at COACH A, and earlier I went for a short run and listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/7)
A selfie of me in front of a swamp dotted with bare trees, with forest beyond, on a sunny day. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing a black headband, black sunglasses, and a light aqua running hoodie over a blue shirt.
November 15, 2025 at 2:39 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
I had a great time on my panel with Katri Nousiainen at Harvard Law School where we discussed the intersection of technology policy and antitrust, particularly around quantum computing and AI. While shaking off jet lag the rest of the day I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/4)
A selfie of me in front of a sixties-era stone building with thick columns and windows that span multiple floors. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with thick black rims and a maroon button-up shirt.
November 14, 2025 at 2:52 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
I had a loooong trip back to the US, which gave me lots of time to listen to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/8)
A selfie of me in front of a window looking out onto a monorail track. I’m a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I’m wearing black sunglasses and a black shirt with the gold and blue Japan People Analytics Association logo on it.
November 13, 2025 at 2:12 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
I had a great last day in Japan, and before the HR Association Japan event I was went for a nice run and listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist!

Here's your reminder that you can get these playlists delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing here: academicrunplaylist.beehiiv.com (1/5)
A selfie of me in front of the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace, with the skyscrapers of Tokyo beyond. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing black sunglasses and a yellow and blue running shirt.
November 11, 2025 at 11:34 PM
bwaber.bsky.social
I mostly rested up at the onsen today, and while relaxing outside of the baths I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/4)
A selfie of me in a reclining chair in a dimly lit beige room. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with thick black rims and a muted green yukata with a button on the front.
November 9, 2025 at 12:47 PM
bwaber.bsky.social
A NEW PERSONAL RECORD! Today I hit 58 miles (~93 km), making an enjoyable loop from Setagaya-ku to Yokohama and then around the Imperial Palace and back. And you better believe that gave me lots of time to listen to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/10)
A selfie of me on a bridge above a wide river on a partly cloudy day. On the far bank is a huge Ferris wheel with a roller coaster snaking around its base, with some skyscrapers and other tall buildings beyond. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing a black headband, black sunglasses, and a light aqua running sweater over a purple running shirt. A selfie of me on the street as I gesture towards Tokyo Tower a block away.
November 8, 2025 at 11:28 PM
bwaber.bsky.social
I was all over town for meetings today, and in addition to spotting this apartment building instantiation of the worst Tetris strategy imaginable I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/5)
A six-story white apartment building with protruding brown wooden porch extensions that look like the Tetris L shape.
November 7, 2025 at 11:34 AM
bwaber.bsky.social
I was able to go out for a shorter run around Tokyo yesterday, and while taking in the sights I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/6)
A selfie of me in front of a large lawn with bushy trees dotting it in front of the skyscrapers of Shinjuku on a cloudy day. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing black sunglasses and a yellow and blue running shirt.
November 6, 2025 at 10:44 PM
bwaber.bsky.social
I'm back in Japan! I'm looking forward to catching up with friends and collaborators in person over the next week, and on the way over I listened to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist! (1/4)
A selfie of me in a seat in an airport lounge, holding a glass of water, with a black and white photo of a United plane flying against a grey sky in the background. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with thick black rims and a black sweatshirt with Boston written in red across the chest with a Murakami monster below.
November 5, 2025 at 10:58 PM