Christopher N. Dougherty
@christopherdougherty.ca
I research charities in Canada and the UK.
www.christopherdougherty.ca
www.christopherdougherty.ca
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Dangerous times...
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Dangerous times...
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Experimental evidence of the effects of large language models versus web search on depth of learning
Abstract. The effects of using large language models (LLMs) versus traditional web search on depth of learning are explored. A theory is proposed that when
academic.oup.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Waking up and checking the timeline before work
October 28, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Waking up and checking the timeline before work
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
I just saw someone use the abbreviation “AI;DR” and I’ll be laughing for a while.
October 6, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I just saw someone use the abbreviation “AI;DR” and I’ll be laughing for a while.
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
When speaking to Tommy Robinson at the far right demonstration in London today, Elon Musk wore a t-shirt saying "What would Orwell think?"
So let's dive in - what would George Orwell think about Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk? 🧵
So let's dive in - what would George Orwell think about Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk? 🧵
September 13, 2025 at 10:37 PM
When speaking to Tommy Robinson at the far right demonstration in London today, Elon Musk wore a t-shirt saying "What would Orwell think?"
So let's dive in - what would George Orwell think about Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk? 🧵
So let's dive in - what would George Orwell think about Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk? 🧵
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Um, she said, in her polite Canadian way.
Denmark summons US envoy over Greenland influence reports – DW – 08/27/2025
Denmark has summoned the US head of mission in Copenhagen over alleged covert US influence efforts in Greenland. US President Donald Trump had said he wanted the island — and even hinted at using forc...
www.dw.com
August 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Um, she said, in her polite Canadian way.
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
“Microsoft also warns against using the AI function for numerical calculations or in ‘high-stakes scenarios’ with legal, regulatory, and compliance implications, as COPILOT ‘can give incorrect responses.’” 🤷🏿♂️
Microsoft Excel adds Copilot AI to help fill in spreadsheet cells
Get ready for some AI spreadsheeting.
www.theverge.com
August 20, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Europe urgently needs to find and shut down all the ways by which foreign billionaires - like Trump's billionaire brigade - can influence elections here.
🔴 NEW: Foreign billionaires are using UK companies to pour millions into British politics — legally.
We found £6m+ in political donations from UK firms owned by foreign nationals — people who can’t vote in Britain.
New on Democracy for Sale (🧵)
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-h...
We found £6m+ in political donations from UK firms owned by foreign nationals — people who can’t vote in Britain.
New on Democracy for Sale (🧵)
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-h...
Revealed: How foreign billionaires pump millions into British politics
The Elon Musk-shaped hole in Starmer’s Election Bill
democracyforsale.substack.com
August 2, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Europe urgently needs to find and shut down all the ways by which foreign billionaires - like Trump's billionaire brigade - can influence elections here.
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
"I want the world to be simple," I said to the genie.
"How do you mean?"
"Good guys and bad guys, clear answers to all questions, everything is just one thing or another."
"I don't think a world like that would work... No, wait, I know how to do that."
And then he turned me back into a child.
"How do you mean?"
"Good guys and bad guys, clear answers to all questions, everything is just one thing or another."
"I don't think a world like that would work... No, wait, I know how to do that."
And then he turned me back into a child.
July 22, 2025 at 9:49 AM
"I want the world to be simple," I said to the genie.
"How do you mean?"
"Good guys and bad guys, clear answers to all questions, everything is just one thing or another."
"I don't think a world like that would work... No, wait, I know how to do that."
And then he turned me back into a child.
"How do you mean?"
"Good guys and bad guys, clear answers to all questions, everything is just one thing or another."
"I don't think a world like that would work... No, wait, I know how to do that."
And then he turned me back into a child.
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
www.dublinlive.ie/news/world-n...
He wasn’t just refused entry. They took blood samples and strip-searched him. They even threatened him with 5 years in prison for his phone password. All because he had a meme on his phone.
He wasn’t just refused entry. They took blood samples and strip-searched him. They even threatened him with 5 years in prison for his phone password. All because he had a meme on his phone.
Man 'refused entry into US' as border control catch him with bald JD Vance meme
A 21-year-old tourist has described the horrendous treatment he allegedly received after being denied entry to the USA due to a meme depicting JD Vance as bald being found on his phone
www.dublinlive.ie
June 24, 2025 at 10:25 PM
www.dublinlive.ie/news/world-n...
He wasn’t just refused entry. They took blood samples and strip-searched him. They even threatened him with 5 years in prison for his phone password. All because he had a meme on his phone.
He wasn’t just refused entry. They took blood samples and strip-searched him. They even threatened him with 5 years in prison for his phone password. All because he had a meme on his phone.
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
In a shocking twist, the stupid machine makes you stupid
"While LLMs offer immediate convenience, our findings highlight potential cognitive costs...LLM users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels. These results raise concerns about the long-term educational implications of LLM reliance." arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task
This study explores the neural and behavioral consequences of LLM-assisted essay writing. Participants were divided into three groups: LLM, Search Engine, and Brain-only (no tools). Each completed thr...
arxiv.org
June 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
In a shocking twist, the stupid machine makes you stupid
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Demonstrations are on the rise, and scientists are revealing which types work best
https://go.nature.com/4n4e5ev
https://go.nature.com/4n4e5ev
The science of protests: how to shape public opinion and swing votes
Demonstrations are on the rise, and scientists are revealing which types work best.
go.nature.com
June 17, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Demonstrations are on the rise, and scientists are revealing which types work best
https://go.nature.com/4n4e5ev
https://go.nature.com/4n4e5ev
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Do. Not. Travel. To. The. United. States.
NEW: The Trump admin has plans to send thousands of foreigners to Guantanamo beginning as early as this week, including citizens of close allies UK & France, with no intention of notifying their home governments in advance, per sources and documents
June 11, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Do. Not. Travel. To. The. United. States.
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
"It just really comes as a shock that such accomplished intellectuals, who’ve spent their entire careers pushing the upper bounds of human achievement, could be judgy about a machine that runs the entirety of human imagination through a shredder and glues together what comes out."
A Company Reminder for Everyone to Talk Nicely About the Giant Plagiarism Machine
Hey team. It’s your CEO. I know your time is valuable, so I’ll cut right to the chase: It’s come to my attention that some of you have been bad-mou...
buff.ly
May 21, 2025 at 1:40 AM
"It just really comes as a shock that such accomplished intellectuals, who’ve spent their entire careers pushing the upper bounds of human achievement, could be judgy about a machine that runs the entirety of human imagination through a shredder and glues together what comes out."
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
I don't 'refuse to use' AI, I just don't use AI; in the same way that I don't shoplift, or plagiarise other people's books - it requires no effort of will, it's just not something I would think of doing
Bizarrely framed article about the people (all women) who ‘refuse to use AI’. And a #philosophy professor who says “The moment to opt out of #AI has already passed”. Oh well. That’s that then. 🤷♂️ #AIEthics www.bbc.com/news/article...
The people refusing to use AI
Worried about the environment and the loss of skills, some people are resisting the rise of AI.
www.bbc.com
May 6, 2025 at 6:15 AM
I don't 'refuse to use' AI, I just don't use AI; in the same way that I don't shoplift, or plagiarise other people's books - it requires no effort of will, it's just not something I would think of doing
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
This statement about the transphobic Supreme Court ruling by the UK's Crab Museum (yes a museum about crabs) is better than 99% of the statements I've seen on the topic
www.crabmuseum.org/visit
🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀
www.crabmuseum.org/visit
🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀
April 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
This statement about the transphobic Supreme Court ruling by the UK's Crab Museum (yes a museum about crabs) is better than 99% of the statements I've seen on the topic
www.crabmuseum.org/visit
🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀
www.crabmuseum.org/visit
🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Good news: we are indeed living in precedented times.
Bad news: the precedents are all terrible.
Bad news: the precedents are all terrible.
April 3, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Good news: we are indeed living in precedented times.
Bad news: the precedents are all terrible.
Bad news: the precedents are all terrible.
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
While you’re committing to #BuyCanadian, please don’t forget that Shopify is a shockingly evil company 😡
In Canada, Shopify executives are heading up a group of tech executives pushing to bring DOGE to Canada, targeting foreign aid programs they don’t like to stir up anger over wasteful government spending.
www.disconnect.blog/p/doge-is-go...
www.disconnect.blog/p/doge-is-go...
March 20, 2025 at 2:22 AM
While you’re committing to #BuyCanadian, please don’t forget that Shopify is a shockingly evil company 😡
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Former head of Canadian intelligence says he worries more about Elon Musk and Twitter/X being used to destabilize Canada than covert CIA tactics:
ANALYSIS | The U.S. has covertly destabilized nations. With Canada, it's being done in public | CBC News
Former senior Canadian intelligence officials say Canada needs to be on the lookout for campaigns aimed at destabilizing the country amid U.S. President Donald Trump's escalating 51st state threats. T...
www.cbc.ca
March 12, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Former head of Canadian intelligence says he worries more about Elon Musk and Twitter/X being used to destabilize Canada than covert CIA tactics:
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
The next Canadian Prime Minister should appoint Trudeau as Ambassador to the United States.
March 7, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The next Canadian Prime Minister should appoint Trudeau as Ambassador to the United States.
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
The reason you fight back against bullies isn't that the fight back is pleasant or inherently good, it's because bullies are almost never expecting push back so they are usually relatively easy to defeat if you have a plan.
March 5, 2025 at 9:09 PM
The reason you fight back against bullies isn't that the fight back is pleasant or inherently good, it's because bullies are almost never expecting push back so they are usually relatively easy to defeat if you have a plan.
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
It's not doomscrolling, it's just harvesting cortisol
March 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
It's not doomscrolling, it's just harvesting cortisol
Reposted by Christopher N. Dougherty
Whichever one of you asked the Monkey's Paw to grant you the wish of "living in interesting times", PLEASE RETRACT YOUR WISH IMMEDIATELY.
March 4, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Whichever one of you asked the Monkey's Paw to grant you the wish of "living in interesting times", PLEASE RETRACT YOUR WISH IMMEDIATELY.