Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
@lessthanbri.bsky.social
💻 CS Professor | Exploring CompEd, HCI+UX, & Sociotechnical Impacts 👑 Programming Princess 🍭 Sugary Scholar 🎮 Pokémon Master 🦄 Pink Fluffy Unicorn Dancing on Rainbows 🎨 Crystalized Creative 🔮 Magical Girl Leaving Sparkles 💖 (Opinions = Mine)
I'm so excited about the theme for RESPECT this year - I hope you'll be able to join us! 💖
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
#respect2026 | ACM RESPECT Conference
The theme for #RESPECT2026 is Equity-focused CS Education: Honoring the Plurality of our Community. What does "Plurality" mean to you?
More conference details to come!
www.linkedin.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I'm so excited about the theme for RESPECT this year - I hope you'll be able to join us! 💖
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Save the date - join me and an AMAZING community of scholars at RESPECT 2026! 😍 🌟
I'll be chairing the Doctoral Consortium again this year, so if you have students who might be interested - start thinking about getting them to apply, and stay tuned! 👀
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
I'll be chairing the Doctoral Consortium again this year, so if you have students who might be interested - start thinking about getting them to apply, and stay tuned! 👀
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
#respect2026 | ACM RESPECT Conference
We're pleased to announce that the ACM Conference on Research in Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT) will take place June 8–11, 2026 in Chicago, IL. ...
www.linkedin.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Save the date - join me and an AMAZING community of scholars at RESPECT 2026! 😍 🌟
I'll be chairing the Doctoral Consortium again this year, so if you have students who might be interested - start thinking about getting them to apply, and stay tuned! 👀
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
I'll be chairing the Doctoral Consortium again this year, so if you have students who might be interested - start thinking about getting them to apply, and stay tuned! 👀
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
Too many students are asking themselves "what do I need to do to get an A?" instead of "what can I learn from this course?" But they're pulled in 20 different directions and distracted, so...
Also should not be lost on anyone that EVERYONE is exhausted: students and faculty.
Also should not be lost on anyone that EVERYONE is exhausted: students and faculty.
October 14, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Too many students are asking themselves "what do I need to do to get an A?" instead of "what can I learn from this course?" But they're pulled in 20 different directions and distracted, so...
Also should not be lost on anyone that EVERYONE is exhausted: students and faculty.
Also should not be lost on anyone that EVERYONE is exhausted: students and faculty.
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
all of Possible Futures is basically
September 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
all of Possible Futures is basically
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
Give folks their flowers
No, I mean right now. Go tell someone you loved their work right now. They're on social media just say it, it has never been easier
"They know how much people love--" no they don't go say it right now to a composer or artist or game dev or writer or anyone AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
No, I mean right now. Go tell someone you loved their work right now. They're on social media just say it, it has never been easier
"They know how much people love--" no they don't go say it right now to a composer or artist or game dev or writer or anyone AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
September 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Give folks their flowers
No, I mean right now. Go tell someone you loved their work right now. They're on social media just say it, it has never been easier
"They know how much people love--" no they don't go say it right now to a composer or artist or game dev or writer or anyone AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
No, I mean right now. Go tell someone you loved their work right now. They're on social media just say it, it has never been easier
"They know how much people love--" no they don't go say it right now to a composer or artist or game dev or writer or anyone AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
READING RAINBOW AHHHH!!! 📚🌈
What great news on a Monday.🥹
And Mychal seems like such a fabulous fit for this - how exciting! 🎉
What great news on a Monday.🥹
And Mychal seems like such a fabulous fit for this - how exciting! 🎉
🎶 Take a look, it's in a book 🎶
🥹 After nearly 20 years... Reading Rainbow is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course... new books! Make sure to follow the rainbow 📚🌈
#FollowTheRainbow
🥹 After nearly 20 years... Reading Rainbow is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course... new books! Make sure to follow the rainbow 📚🌈
#FollowTheRainbow
September 29, 2025 at 3:14 PM
READING RAINBOW AHHHH!!! 📚🌈
What great news on a Monday.🥹
And Mychal seems like such a fabulous fit for this - how exciting! 🎉
What great news on a Monday.🥹
And Mychal seems like such a fabulous fit for this - how exciting! 🎉
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
I want our young people to know that there is a path forward, that a better world is possible. I don't want them to give up, to become cynical. They deserve to be young and full of optimism. They are owed a world that supports and sustains optimism.
September 16, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I want our young people to know that there is a path forward, that a better world is possible. I don't want them to give up, to become cynical. They deserve to be young and full of optimism. They are owed a world that supports and sustains optimism.
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
Something I see often in defenders of "AI" in the classroom (especially those who discuss "responsible" uses) is that, in using LLMs and then "critiquing" its output, we can then teach students to become more AI literate.
This irks me to no end.
1/
This irks me to no end.
1/
September 8, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Something I see often in defenders of "AI" in the classroom (especially those who discuss "responsible" uses) is that, in using LLMs and then "critiquing" its output, we can then teach students to become more AI literate.
This irks me to no end.
1/
This irks me to no end.
1/
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
I know my position within the academy is different. I’m keenly aware. I know what the attacks on HE look like and that we are in no way suited to defend them. I’ve tried to hold my mule. But this? This makes me want to pop out so badly.
You don’t have an ethical responsibility to use A.I.
You don’t have an ethical responsibility to use A.I.
The University of Michigan is now claiming that students have an ‘ethical responsibility’ to use AI.
August 21, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I know my position within the academy is different. I’m keenly aware. I know what the attacks on HE look like and that we are in no way suited to defend them. I’ve tried to hold my mule. But this? This makes me want to pop out so badly.
You don’t have an ethical responsibility to use A.I.
You don’t have an ethical responsibility to use A.I.
A great read today!! 💖
"To resist is to live imaginatively, and to be imaginative is to be curious."
"To resist is to live imaginatively, and to be imaginative is to be curious."
NEW WRITING:
"What will you stay curious about, even when authoritarians try to shape your reality by telling you not to think, not to read, not to ask questions, not to dare consider the possibility that there’s more to life than this?" 🧪
"What will you stay curious about, even when authoritarians try to shape your reality by telling you not to think, not to read, not to ask questions, not to dare consider the possibility that there’s more to life than this?" 🧪
Feed Your Head
Even now, especially now, your curiosity is powerful.
news.chanda.science
August 15, 2025 at 7:41 PM
A great read today!! 💖
"To resist is to live imaginatively, and to be imaginative is to be curious."
"To resist is to live imaginatively, and to be imaginative is to be curious."
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
my daughter came home from her first day of 10th grade and said that her history teacher told her that if she refuses to use AI for assignments, she has to cite her sources.
i asked how she’d cite it if she used AI, and she said, that’s not required.
i’m still internally fuming up about this.
i asked how she’d cite it if she used AI, and she said, that’s not required.
i’m still internally fuming up about this.
August 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
my daughter came home from her first day of 10th grade and said that her history teacher told her that if she refuses to use AI for assignments, she has to cite her sources.
i asked how she’d cite it if she used AI, and she said, that’s not required.
i’m still internally fuming up about this.
i asked how she’d cite it if she used AI, and she said, that’s not required.
i’m still internally fuming up about this.
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
writing is thinking, drawing is thinking, telling stories is thinking.
i understand the earnest impulse to get rid of "the boring stuff", but even the boring stuff is thinking.
depriving yourself of time to think about things is sad, but depriving kids of time to think about things is just cruel.
i understand the earnest impulse to get rid of "the boring stuff", but even the boring stuff is thinking.
depriving yourself of time to think about things is sad, but depriving kids of time to think about things is just cruel.
"A.i." doesn't empower anyone. It strips them of belief in themselves and the power of their own minds and hands and abilities and stories.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
August 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
writing is thinking, drawing is thinking, telling stories is thinking.
i understand the earnest impulse to get rid of "the boring stuff", but even the boring stuff is thinking.
depriving yourself of time to think about things is sad, but depriving kids of time to think about things is just cruel.
i understand the earnest impulse to get rid of "the boring stuff", but even the boring stuff is thinking.
depriving yourself of time to think about things is sad, but depriving kids of time to think about things is just cruel.
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
Also, no one starts off knowing how to draw well.
YOU HAVE TO DRAW BADLY FIRST TO GET BETTER.
You have to draw daily, badly, before you ever get better.
And its fun, sometimes, and painful, sometimes.
Why are we teaching our students that none of this matters because "the machine will do it"
YOU HAVE TO DRAW BADLY FIRST TO GET BETTER.
You have to draw daily, badly, before you ever get better.
And its fun, sometimes, and painful, sometimes.
Why are we teaching our students that none of this matters because "the machine will do it"
"A.i." doesn't empower anyone. It strips them of belief in themselves and the power of their own minds and hands and abilities and stories.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
EVERY KID CAN DRAW. EVERY KID CAN TELL STORIES AND MAKE COMICS.
Fuck "A.i." for telling kids lies and making them less-than.
August 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Also, no one starts off knowing how to draw well.
YOU HAVE TO DRAW BADLY FIRST TO GET BETTER.
You have to draw daily, badly, before you ever get better.
And its fun, sometimes, and painful, sometimes.
Why are we teaching our students that none of this matters because "the machine will do it"
YOU HAVE TO DRAW BADLY FIRST TO GET BETTER.
You have to draw daily, badly, before you ever get better.
And its fun, sometimes, and painful, sometimes.
Why are we teaching our students that none of this matters because "the machine will do it"
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
What gets me here is that "hallucination" implies a discrete error. But in fact the system is doing exactly the same thing it does when it gives a correct answer. The distinction between right and wrong is entirely down to the user's critical wherewithal - the very thing being corrupted
Fed up with "hallucinating" as a euphemism for "wrong"
July 30, 2025 at 8:38 AM
What gets me here is that "hallucination" implies a discrete error. But in fact the system is doing exactly the same thing it does when it gives a correct answer. The distinction between right and wrong is entirely down to the user's critical wherewithal - the very thing being corrupted
Are you in Human Factors/Psychology and Looking for a new position? Come work with us at Michigan Tech!! 💛🐺🖤
Short summary for this job posting is at the following LinkedIn post: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Short summary for this job posting is at the following LinkedIn post: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Are you in Human Factors/Psychology and Looking for a new position? | Briana Bettin
Are you in Human Factors/Psychology and Looking for a new position? Come work with us at Michigan Tech!! 💛🐺🖤
The Department of Psychology and Human Factors at Michigan Technological University invit...
www.linkedin.com
July 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Are you in Human Factors/Psychology and Looking for a new position? Come work with us at Michigan Tech!! 💛🐺🖤
Short summary for this job posting is at the following LinkedIn post: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Short summary for this job posting is at the following LinkedIn post: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
"These are the times to grow our souls. Each of us is called upon to embrace the conviction that despite the powers and principalities bent on commodifying all our human relationships, we have the power within us to create the world anew." - Grace Lee Boggs
Building something new is possible. Never forget that.
July 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
"These are the times to grow our souls. Each of us is called upon to embrace the conviction that despite the powers and principalities bent on commodifying all our human relationships, we have the power within us to create the world anew." - Grace Lee Boggs
My adviser's retirement party was filled with SO much care and joy - it was wonderful to be part of. AND I got to make art for it! 💖
The weather has been lovely. In the last 48 hours I saw baby ducklings, a turtle, and deer. I can hear the birds singing happily. 💝
What has brought you joy lately?
The weather has been lovely. In the last 48 hours I saw baby ducklings, a turtle, and deer. I can hear the birds singing happily. 💝
What has brought you joy lately?
We need joy more than ever to sustain us for the long haul. I'm SO happy for my folks whose NSF grants were reinstated this week.
Also happy to report I can now properly roll my "R's," thanks to the rising 4th grader who helped me w/my Spanish last week.
What's your praise report?
Also happy to report I can now properly roll my "R's," thanks to the rising 4th grader who helped me w/my Spanish last week.
What's your praise report?
Yes actually now is a great time to share good news
Now is a great time to celebrate the good news of strangers
To be the kind of people who are happy for other people to have good things happen to them
Yes indeed
Now is a great time to celebrate the good news of strangers
To be the kind of people who are happy for other people to have good things happen to them
Yes indeed
July 3, 2025 at 11:18 PM
My adviser's retirement party was filled with SO much care and joy - it was wonderful to be part of. AND I got to make art for it! 💖
The weather has been lovely. In the last 48 hours I saw baby ducklings, a turtle, and deer. I can hear the birds singing happily. 💝
What has brought you joy lately?
The weather has been lovely. In the last 48 hours I saw baby ducklings, a turtle, and deer. I can hear the birds singing happily. 💝
What has brought you joy lately?
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
Good things are still possible. In spite of every horrible thing.
June 15, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Good things are still possible. In spite of every horrible thing.
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
I like an unoptimized life. I like to meander. love to dilly dally. to wander. a bitch loves to peruse. I don’t need you to make things faster, I’m trying to slow down
June 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I like an unoptimized life. I like to meander. love to dilly dally. to wander. a bitch loves to peruse. I don’t need you to make things faster, I’m trying to slow down
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
My plans for a major retail emporium are being threatend by wholesalers who won't let me steal the stock.
May 24, 2025 at 8:33 AM
My plans for a major retail emporium are being threatend by wholesalers who won't let me steal the stock.
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
i think that people are confusing "the LLM contains ground truths about the world" with "the LLM contains contingent truths about language which are a low-dimensional map of certain known ground truths about the world."
people getting out over their skis insisting that universal truths exist inside LLMs need to be reminded that these "truths," insofar as they exist (they kind of don't) are not compressible.
not only is the map not the territory, a territory is not a map.
not only is the map not the territory, a territory is not a map.
May 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
i think that people are confusing "the LLM contains ground truths about the world" with "the LLM contains contingent truths about language which are a low-dimensional map of certain known ground truths about the world."
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
*stares in Octavia Butler*
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
At the PEN America Literary Gala, event co-chair @jodipicoult.bsky.social — author of Nineteen Minutes, the most frequently banned book in our 2023-2024 report — spoke about the acceleration of book bannings in the US and the need for writers, artists, publishers and booksellers to stand together.
May 18, 2025 at 2:08 AM
*stares in Octavia Butler*
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
'It's happening anyway' is so frustrating to run up against.
"What will this make you complicit in?" is a question I'm holding with every collaboration now.
"What will this make you complicit in?" is a question I'm holding with every collaboration now.
May 15, 2025 at 3:15 PM
'It's happening anyway' is so frustrating to run up against.
"What will this make you complicit in?" is a question I'm holding with every collaboration now.
"What will this make you complicit in?" is a question I'm holding with every collaboration now.
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
May 11, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Briana Bettin, PhD ✨
Let's add: Dr Brandeis Marshall, Aerica Shimizu Banks, Dr Emily Bender, Dr Sasha Luccioni, Dr Ruha Benjamin, Dr Sasha Costanza-Chock, Adrienne Williams, Tawana Petty
It important to know the names of women researchers who've been studying, speaking & writing about dangers of AI.
Dr Timnit Gebru,
Dr Rumman Chowdhury, Dr Safiya Noble,
Dr Seeta Peña Gangadharan,
Dr Buolamwini
And many many more in/outside academia.
Free link: archive.ph/2023.11.22-1...
👑
Dr Timnit Gebru,
Dr Rumman Chowdhury, Dr Safiya Noble,
Dr Seeta Peña Gangadharan,
Dr Buolamwini
And many many more in/outside academia.
Free link: archive.ph/2023.11.22-1...
👑
These Women Tried to Warn Us About AI
Rumman Chowdhury, Timnit Gebru, Safiya Noble, Seeta Peña Gangadharan, and Joy Buolamwini open up about their artificial intelligence fears
www.rollingstone.com
May 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Let's add: Dr Brandeis Marshall, Aerica Shimizu Banks, Dr Emily Bender, Dr Sasha Luccioni, Dr Ruha Benjamin, Dr Sasha Costanza-Chock, Adrienne Williams, Tawana Petty