Dan Williams
@danwphilosophy.bsky.social
Philosopher. Interested in: Philosophy, Psychology, Evolution, Artificial Intelligence, Social Science, Politics.
I talked to Henry Shevlin about the philosophy, politics, and ethics of "Social AI" (AI companions, AI girl/boyfriends, grief bots, etc). www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzgo...
AI Sessions #4: The Social AI Revolution - Friendship, Romance, and the Future of Human Connection
YouTube video by Conspicuous Cognition
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I talked to Henry Shevlin about the philosophy, politics, and ethics of "Social AI" (AI companions, AI girl/boyfriends, grief bots, etc). www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzgo...
Reposted by Dan Williams
Still time to register for the 2025 Conference of the Australasian Society for Philosophy and Psychology, in-person in Melbourne Nov 24-25!
Check details and fab keynotes and program on the site👇
#philosophy #neuroskyence
sites.google.com/monash.edu/a...
Check details and fab keynotes and program on the site👇
#philosophy #neuroskyence
sites.google.com/monash.edu/a...
ASPP 2025 Melbourne
Australasian Society for Philosophy and Psychology 2025 Conference
Melbourne, November 24th - 25th, 2025
sites.google.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Still time to register for the 2025 Conference of the Australasian Society for Philosophy and Psychology, in-person in Melbourne Nov 24-25!
Check details and fab keynotes and program on the site👇
#philosophy #neuroskyence
sites.google.com/monash.edu/a...
Check details and fab keynotes and program on the site👇
#philosophy #neuroskyence
sites.google.com/monash.edu/a...
Reposted by Dan Williams
A big problem is that AI/ML models for dementia care are often limited by data unavailability and data drift when moving to the real world. This is even more important now with fast-paced technological innovations and precision medicine for dementia trials.
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
A big problem is that AI/ML models for dementia care are often limited by data unavailability and data drift when moving to the real world. This is even more important now with fast-paced technological innovations and precision medicine for dementia trials.
Reposted by Dan Williams
Very excited to be able to finally share our latest work, "Cloud computing for equitable, data-driven dementia medicine," just published in The Lancet Digital Health!
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
more info in thread: 🧵
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
more info in thread: 🧵
Cloud computing for equitable, data-driven dementia medicine
Dementia poses an increasing global health challenge, and the introduction of new
drugs with diverse activity profiles underscores the need for the rapid development
and deployment of tailored predict...
www.thelancet.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Very excited to be able to finally share our latest work, "Cloud computing for equitable, data-driven dementia medicine," just published in The Lancet Digital Health!
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
more info in thread: 🧵
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
more info in thread: 🧵
Reposted by Dan Williams
New conversation with Henry Shevlin and Andy Masley on AI and climate change, political tribalism, why so much AI discourse is so bad, the "stochastic parrot"/"glorified auto-complete" critique of ChatGPT, technological determinism, effective altruism, and more. www.youtube.com/watch?v=87CW...
AI Sessions #3: The Truth About AI and the Environment
YouTube video by Conspicuous Cognition
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New conversation with Henry Shevlin and Andy Masley on AI and climate change, political tribalism, why so much AI discourse is so bad, the "stochastic parrot"/"glorified auto-complete" critique of ChatGPT, technological determinism, effective altruism, and more. www.youtube.com/watch?v=87CW...
New conversation with Henry Shevlin and Andy Masley on AI and climate change, political tribalism, why so much AI discourse is so bad, the "stochastic parrot"/"glorified auto-complete" critique of ChatGPT, technological determinism, effective altruism, and more. www.youtube.com/watch?v=87CW...
AI Sessions #3: The Truth About AI and the Environment
YouTube video by Conspicuous Cognition
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New conversation with Henry Shevlin and Andy Masley on AI and climate change, political tribalism, why so much AI discourse is so bad, the "stochastic parrot"/"glorified auto-complete" critique of ChatGPT, technological determinism, effective altruism, and more. www.youtube.com/watch?v=87CW...
Reposted by Dan Williams
cc: everyone who panicked about Cambridge Analytica, micro-targeting, etc. There's no magic here.
"only about 5% of the variance in personality can be
predicted from digital footprints, and personality‐tailored messages show negligible effects on behavior... When design and evaluation flaws are controlled, the combined end‐to‐end effectiveness of psychological targeting approaches zero."
predicted from digital footprints, and personality‐tailored messages show negligible effects on behavior... When design and evaluation flaws are controlled, the combined end‐to‐end effectiveness of psychological targeting approaches zero."
The (In)Effectiveness of Psychological Targeting: A Meta‐Analytic Review
The use of psychological targeting—employing machine learning to predict consumer personality from digital footprints and subsequently tailoring persuasive messages—has emerged as a controversial yet...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:55 PM
cc: everyone who panicked about Cambridge Analytica, micro-targeting, etc. There's no magic here.
Reposted by Dan Williams
This week, we discuss the evolved logic of shame, guilt, and other self-conscious emotions with Daniel Sznycer
youtu.be/OkCBaBSvSzs?...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xyz24...
youtu.be/OkCBaBSvSzs?...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xyz24...
Shame, Pride, and Guilt with Daniel Sznycer
YouTube video by Evolutionary Psychology (The Podcast)
youtu.be
October 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
This week, we discuss the evolved logic of shame, guilt, and other self-conscious emotions with Daniel Sznycer
youtu.be/OkCBaBSvSzs?...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xyz24...
youtu.be/OkCBaBSvSzs?...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xyz24...
Reposted by Dan Williams
A great job, application due November 17th. Please spread and help me with the right hashtags
Assistant Professor Social Studies of Medicine
This is a joint post 65% Sociology, 35% HPS. The Departments of Sociology and History and Philosophy of Science are looking to recruit an Assistant Professor in the Social Studies of Medicine in a
www.cam.ac.uk
October 20, 2025 at 7:50 AM
A great job, application due November 17th. Please spread and help me with the right hashtags
Reposted by Dan Williams
Philosophers @danwphilosophy.bsky.social and Henry Shevlin just released a podcast on AI and consciousness, I enjoyed this one. This argument from Henry is close to my view.
October 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Philosophers @danwphilosophy.bsky.social and Henry Shevlin just released a podcast on AI and consciousness, I enjoyed this one. This argument from Henry is close to my view.
I recently talked to Henry Shevlin (Uni of Cambridge) about artificial intelligence and consciousness: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rvw...
AI Sessions #2: Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness - A Deep Dive
YouTube video by Conspicuous Cognition
www.youtube.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I recently talked to Henry Shevlin (Uni of Cambridge) about artificial intelligence and consciousness: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rvw...
I wrote about how advanced AI might gradually eat away at human interdependence, dissolving the glue that underpins human solidarity and cooperation. The risk here would not come from misaligned AI, but from how well-aligned AI threatens human alignment 👇 www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/superintel...
Superintelligence and the Decline of Human Interdependence
What happens to humanity when we no longer need each other?
www.conspicuouscognition.com
October 11, 2025 at 10:46 AM
I wrote about how advanced AI might gradually eat away at human interdependence, dissolving the glue that underpins human solidarity and cooperation. The risk here would not come from misaligned AI, but from how well-aligned AI threatens human alignment 👇 www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/superintel...
Reposted by Dan Williams
Consciousness science as a marketplace of rationalizations
my commentary on @smfleming.bsky.social and @matthiasmichel.bsky.social's thought-provoking BBS paper, and more generally about the field.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
my commentary on @smfleming.bsky.social and @matthiasmichel.bsky.social's thought-provoking BBS paper, and more generally about the field.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
October 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Consciousness science as a marketplace of rationalizations
my commentary on @smfleming.bsky.social and @matthiasmichel.bsky.social's thought-provoking BBS paper, and more generally about the field.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
my commentary on @smfleming.bsky.social and @matthiasmichel.bsky.social's thought-provoking BBS paper, and more generally about the field.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Dan Williams
Regrettably relevant research today
Disguised Repression: Targeting Opponents with Nonpolitical Crimes to Undermine Dissent
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Disguised Repression: Targeting Opponents with Nonpolitical Crimes to Undermine Dissent
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
October 9, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Regrettably relevant research today
Disguised Repression: Targeting Opponents with Nonpolitical Crimes to Undermine Dissent
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Disguised Repression: Targeting Opponents with Nonpolitical Crimes to Undermine Dissent
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Reposted by Dan Williams
Everything you ever wanted to know about why we behave the way we do on social media.
The three layers of strategic considerations shaping our online presence: presentation, competition, and coalition building.
The three layers of strategic considerations shaping our online presence: presentation, competition, and coalition building.
What are we really doing on social media?
The motives and strategies that shape our online presence
www.optimallyirrational.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Everything you ever wanted to know about why we behave the way we do on social media.
The three layers of strategic considerations shaping our online presence: presentation, competition, and coalition building.
The three layers of strategic considerations shaping our online presence: presentation, competition, and coalition building.
Reposted by Dan Williams
🚨✨ Publication alert: How do people in 6 countries (🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇦🇷 🇩🇰 🇯🇵 ) use AI 🤖 and think about it in the context of information, news, and institutions?
Our new @reutersinstitute.bsky.social survey research (n ≈ 12,000) with @richardfletcher.bsky.social & @rasmuskleis.bsky.social explores this.
Our new @reutersinstitute.bsky.social survey research (n ≈ 12,000) with @richardfletcher.bsky.social & @rasmuskleis.bsky.social explores this.
October 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
🚨✨ Publication alert: How do people in 6 countries (🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇦🇷 🇩🇰 🇯🇵 ) use AI 🤖 and think about it in the context of information, news, and institutions?
Our new @reutersinstitute.bsky.social survey research (n ≈ 12,000) with @richardfletcher.bsky.social & @rasmuskleis.bsky.social explores this.
Our new @reutersinstitute.bsky.social survey research (n ≈ 12,000) with @richardfletcher.bsky.social & @rasmuskleis.bsky.social explores this.
Reposted by Dan Williams
a new working paper: osf.io/vsr5b
I propose a three-stage model of cohortization where dynamics of cohort learning and political sorting serve as complementary engines of aggregate political change.
I apply this to the case of the killing of George Floyd & the BLM.
it's also my job market paper!
I propose a three-stage model of cohortization where dynamics of cohort learning and political sorting serve as complementary engines of aggregate political change.
I apply this to the case of the killing of George Floyd & the BLM.
it's also my job market paper!
September 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
a new working paper: osf.io/vsr5b
I propose a three-stage model of cohortization where dynamics of cohort learning and political sorting serve as complementary engines of aggregate political change.
I apply this to the case of the killing of George Floyd & the BLM.
it's also my job market paper!
I propose a three-stage model of cohortization where dynamics of cohort learning and political sorting serve as complementary engines of aggregate political change.
I apply this to the case of the killing of George Floyd & the BLM.
it's also my job market paper!
Reposted by Dan Williams
An imbalance of power erodes the quality of public debate. The dominant side faces fewer epistemic constraints on its arguments, while the dominated side has less incentive to produce strong arguments or to engage with the rules of knowledge institutions.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/power-bala...
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/power-bala...
Power balance and ideology
Why the cultural hegemony of the left erodes its epistemic standing
www.optimallyirrational.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:41 PM
An imbalance of power erodes the quality of public debate. The dominant side faces fewer epistemic constraints on its arguments, while the dominated side has less incentive to produce strong arguments or to engage with the rules of knowledge institutions.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/power-bala...
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/power-bala...
Reposted by Dan Williams
"I think a lot of our beliefs are pseudo-beliefs and that the goal is to make it difficult to tell the difference between real belief and fake belief, and that is why it's so hard for psychologists to tell the difference because that difficulty is by design."
This week we talk to Dan Williams about belief. Is it veridical or social or both or neither?
youtu.be/vBzPtPNbcz8
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ehzhx-...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
youtu.be/vBzPtPNbcz8
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ehzhx-...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Belief with Dan Williams
YouTube video by Evolutionary Psychology (The Podcast)
youtu.be
September 23, 2025 at 9:23 PM
"I think a lot of our beliefs are pseudo-beliefs and that the goal is to make it difficult to tell the difference between real belief and fake belief, and that is why it's so hard for psychologists to tell the difference because that difficulty is by design."
Reposted by Dan Williams
This week we talk to Dan Williams about belief. Is it veridical or social or both or neither?
youtu.be/vBzPtPNbcz8
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ehzhx-...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
youtu.be/vBzPtPNbcz8
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ehzhx-...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Belief with Dan Williams
YouTube video by Evolutionary Psychology (The Podcast)
youtu.be
September 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
This week we talk to Dan Williams about belief. Is it veridical or social or both or neither?
youtu.be/vBzPtPNbcz8
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ehzhx-...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
youtu.be/vBzPtPNbcz8
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ehzhx-...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Reposted by Dan Williams
Last week @rachelkleinfeld.bsky.social and I put out a provocation & set of suggestions on how influence has changed and why institutions (& funders) need to change their thinking on shaping public opinion and connecting w/audiences. The old way no longer works.
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
For Expertise to Matter, Nonpartisan Institutions Need New Communications Strategies
To avoid irrelevance when they are needed most, experts and nonpartisan analysts must rethink not just their channels of communication but also their theory of influence.
carnegieendowment.org
September 20, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Last week @rachelkleinfeld.bsky.social and I put out a provocation & set of suggestions on how influence has changed and why institutions (& funders) need to change their thinking on shaping public opinion and connecting w/audiences. The old way no longer works.
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
Reposted by Dan Williams
Public Philosophy in Brighton - this one's on 10th October.
September 19, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Public Philosophy in Brighton - this one's on 10th October.
Reposted by Dan Williams
A cautiously optimistic result on AI and disinformation.
A week before 2024 UK elections 13% of all voters used AI to ask about political topics. A randomized trial found this may be good: using AI led to similar gains in true knowledge as doing web research, regardless of model & prompt used.
A week before 2024 UK elections 13% of all voters used AI to ask about political topics. A randomized trial found this may be good: using AI led to similar gains in true knowledge as doing web research, regardless of model & prompt used.
September 18, 2025 at 8:15 PM
A cautiously optimistic result on AI and disinformation.
A week before 2024 UK elections 13% of all voters used AI to ask about political topics. A randomized trial found this may be good: using AI led to similar gains in true knowledge as doing web research, regardless of model & prompt used.
A week before 2024 UK elections 13% of all voters used AI to ask about political topics. A randomized trial found this may be good: using AI led to similar gains in true knowledge as doing web research, regardless of model & prompt used.
Is artificial intelligence just another technology or potentially a “superintelligent” alien species that might bring about human extinction? Henry Shevlin and I discuss this and many other issues: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/ai-session...
AI Sessions #1: AI - A Normal Technology or a Superintelligent Alien Species?
Is Artificial Intelligence Just Another Technology or Potentially Something Fundamentally Different and Extremely Dangerous?
www.conspicuouscognition.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Is artificial intelligence just another technology or potentially a “superintelligent” alien species that might bring about human extinction? Henry Shevlin and I discuss this and many other issues: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/ai-session...
Worth reading: www.noemamag.com/we-failed-th...
We Failed The Misinformation Fight. Now What? | NOEMA
Defending democracy in the digital age will require moving beyond the focus of fighting online misinformation.
www.noemamag.com
September 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Worth reading: www.noemamag.com/we-failed-th...