Fergus Kelly
@ferguskelly.bsky.social
Designer with ideas above his station. Mostly former. Lazy Sahel and Syria watcher. Battles a blowy, boggy, brambley Irish coastal garden
Why is the government using AI chatbots when they know they will *definitely* get things wrong? Who is accountable for the errors the machine will make?
Why is “saving money” more important than getting things right?
Why is “saving money” more important than getting things right?
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice? It has now retired its asylum chatbot Erin, but has infused Tara, the non-asylum immigration chatbot with AI. Read more here www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice?
“The public should not be used as guinea pigs, particularly vulnerable groups in a legal process which could be impacted by a chatbot giving an incorrect answer.”
www.dublininquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Why is the government using AI chatbots when they know they will *definitely* get things wrong? Who is accountable for the errors the machine will make?
Why is “saving money” more important than getting things right?
Why is “saving money” more important than getting things right?
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
I can’t begin to tell you how bad this chatbot is
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice? It has now retired its asylum chatbot Erin, but has infused Tara, the non-asylum immigration chatbot with AI. Read more here www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice?
“The public should not be used as guinea pigs, particularly vulnerable groups in a legal process which could be impacted by a chatbot giving an incorrect answer.”
www.dublininquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
I can’t begin to tell you how bad this chatbot is
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
The MoD meant to hide its shortlist for new arms factories. Instead, bad redactions exposed them all — including Grangemouth.
Read the full story 👉 www.theferret.scot/m...
Read the full story 👉 www.theferret.scot/m...
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The MoD meant to hide its shortlist for new arms factories. Instead, bad redactions exposed them all — including Grangemouth.
Read the full story 👉 www.theferret.scot/m...
Read the full story 👉 www.theferret.scot/m...
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
An Irish bomb disposal team recently took part in the world's largest EOD competition in Iceland. It was the first time an Irish team had taken part. They finished first out of 18 countries. Incredible achievement.
November 15, 2025 at 1:04 PM
An Irish bomb disposal team recently took part in the world's largest EOD competition in Iceland. It was the first time an Irish team had taken part. They finished first out of 18 countries. Incredible achievement.
Seems that circumstance has led to the coach finally realising that Mack Hansen is a great fit as a very attacking fullback after playing him as a roving right wing since forever? #IREvAUS
November 15, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Seems that circumstance has led to the coach finally realising that Mack Hansen is a great fit as a very attacking fullback after playing him as a roving right wing since forever? #IREvAUS
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
🧵On our revelations today about the BBC Coup and the Prescott Dossier.
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
'BBC Bias' Memo Was Authored by Lobbyist Tied to Pro-Trump Tech Giants
The leaked memo that fuelled Trump’s attack on the BBC was written by a lobbyist at a firm paid by US tech giants tied to the President
bylinetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 PM
🧵On our revelations today about the BBC Coup and the Prescott Dossier.
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
Is that a popping sound I can hear in the distance?
November 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Is that a popping sound I can hear in the distance?
This is well worth a read, insight into BBC News culture and Gibb/Grossman/Prescott
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
This is well worth a read, insight into BBC News culture and Gibb/Grossman/Prescott
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
BBC News now reporting that the BBC Board prevented them from getting out ahead of the trump edit non-story and to start defending themselves against accusations. Good to see them taking on the board
November 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
BBC News now reporting that the BBC Board prevented them from getting out ahead of the trump edit non-story and to start defending themselves against accusations. Good to see them taking on the board
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
November 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
This is absolutely nuts
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
Davie says
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 6:12 PM
This is absolutely nuts
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Trump wine and cider in government-run shops?
Socialism for me but not for thee?
Socialism for me but not for thee?
(Forbes) - The Trump Organization’s second-term push to monetize Donald Trump’s presidency has reached the aisles of military exchanges, as Coast Guard-run stores .. have stocked Trump-branded wine and cider. 🤡
@zacheverson.com
www.forbes.com/sites/zachev...
@zacheverson.com
www.forbes.com/sites/zachev...
November 7, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Trump wine and cider in government-run shops?
Socialism for me but not for thee?
Socialism for me but not for thee?
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
As an Irish person who was alive in 2008 I can confirm that private businesses only ask sovereign governments to guarantee their financing when business is going really, really well
BREAKING: OpenAI is requesting US government support to help guarantee financing for the massive investments in AI chips and data centers it needs for expansion, per Bloomberg.
November 6, 2025 at 7:14 PM
As an Irish person who was alive in 2008 I can confirm that private businesses only ask sovereign governments to guarantee their financing when business is going really, really well
I assume labour’s plan is to bring in consultants to coach them in how to better pretend to be authentic
“𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴.”
Wes Streeting says Mamdani’s victory in New York offers lessons in authenticity - but is Labour listening?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/labo...
Wes Streeting says Mamdani’s victory in New York offers lessons in authenticity - but is Labour listening?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/labo...
Labour’s authenticity problem: What Wes Streeting says it can learn from Mamdani | The News Agents
As Labour’s poll numbers slide, Health Secretary Wes Streeting says Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York offers lessons in authenticity - but is Labour listening?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I assume labour’s plan is to bring in consultants to coach them in how to better pretend to be authentic
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Journalism can be a thankless job but every now and then you get to ask the guy who threw his shoes at Bush what he thinks about Cheney's death and it's all worth it again
November 5, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Journalism can be a thankless job but every now and then you get to ask the guy who threw his shoes at Bush what he thinks about Cheney's death and it's all worth it again
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Polls don't close until 9 p.m., but here's a gift link to the results page for the NYC mayoral election to bookmark to watch once they do. (No needle for this one.)
New York City Mayoral Election Results 2025 (Gift Article)
Get live results and maps from the 2025 New York general election.
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Polls don't close until 9 p.m., but here's a gift link to the results page for the NYC mayoral election to bookmark to watch once they do. (No needle for this one.)
‘Parties of the left trying to shut down debate on immigration’ includes senior Gardai then?
November 4, 2025 at 1:18 PM
‘Parties of the left trying to shut down debate on immigration’ includes senior Gardai then?
“The Journal understands the minister was initially briefed on a possible fireworks element of the incident, but was told later in the day about the petrol as the investigation unfolded and the CCTV footage emerged.”
www.thejournal.ie/drogheda-ipa...
www.thejournal.ie/drogheda-ipa...
How false reports about fireworks downplayed the severity of arson attack at Drogheda Ipas centre
The confusion centred around fireworks first getting blamed for the suspected arson attack.
www.thejournal.ie
November 3, 2025 at 10:19 PM
“The Journal understands the minister was initially briefed on a possible fireworks element of the incident, but was told later in the day about the petrol as the investigation unfolded and the CCTV footage emerged.”
www.thejournal.ie/drogheda-ipa...
www.thejournal.ie/drogheda-ipa...
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
This is the kind of coverage that Teen Vogue just decided to stop doing.
dissatisfied by the New York Times coverage of Zohran Mamdani?
great news! I talked to the guy Thursday about his campaign’s success at bringing community together beyond this election, and contextualized how it’s potentially shifted youth engagement with politics by simply listening @teenvogue.com
great news! I talked to the guy Thursday about his campaign’s success at bringing community together beyond this election, and contextualized how it’s potentially shifted youth engagement with politics by simply listening @teenvogue.com
Zohran Mamdani's Establishment-Fighting Campaign Built Community for Young People
“What Mamdani has done is not only inspire and mobilize young people, but he has exposed the establishment and some of their calcified views of participation and inclusion.”
www.teenvogue.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This is the kind of coverage that Teen Vogue just decided to stop doing.
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
Fianna Farage is s-tier
"Bloody EU bureaucrats, innit!"
Fianna Farage.
Fianna Farage.
November 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Fianna Farage is s-tier
Have the regime hawks persuaded Trump that if the country is at war they don’t have to have elections and he can stay on as long as he likes?
NBC News - The Trump administration is planning to send US troops and intelligence officers into Mexico to target drug cartels. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nati...
Trump administration is planning new mission in Mexico against cartels, current and former U.S. officials say
The new operation would include U.S. troops on the ground in Mexico striking drug labs and cartel leaders, according to current and former U.S. officials, though a deployment is not imminent.
www.nbcnews.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Have the regime hawks persuaded Trump that if the country is at war they don’t have to have elections and he can stay on as long as he likes?