Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
@mfbieger.bsky.social
Writer. Data scientist/soft eng. Researcher of planetary atmospherics, AI ethics. Generally found thinking about the climate/ancient Greeks/policy/culture. 🇩🇪, live(d): 🇺🇸🇨🇳🇬🇧
michellebieger.github.io
michellebieger.github.io
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
“Even the term 'Artificial Intelligence' … is widely misused, with conceptual unclarity coopted to advance industry agendas and undermine scholarly discussions. It is our task to demystify and to challenge 'AI' in our teaching, research & engagement with society.” openletter.earth/open-letter-...
Open Letter: Stop the Uncritical Adoption of AI Technologies in Academia
openletter.earth
June 28, 2025 at 7:08 PM
“Even the term 'Artificial Intelligence' … is widely misused, with conceptual unclarity coopted to advance industry agendas and undermine scholarly discussions. It is our task to demystify and to challenge 'AI' in our teaching, research & engagement with society.” openletter.earth/open-letter-...
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Climate Action Tracker: The climate is warming and sea levels rising way faster than governments are acting
RELEASE: The climate is warming and sea levels rising way faster than governments are acting
Only six of the countries the Climate Action Tracker analyses (1) have submitted their new 2035 climate targets in time for the Paris Agreement's 10 February 2025 deadline, and only one — the UK — is proposing actions at home that are 1.5°C-aligned.
climateactiontracker.org
February 7, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Climate Action Tracker: The climate is warming and sea levels rising way faster than governments are acting
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Researchers found 15 people in Kansas City who had changed their mind about climate change, and asked them why. Fascinating!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 19, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Researchers found 15 people in Kansas City who had changed their mind about climate change, and asked them why. Fascinating!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
As someone who coruns an independent media organization with a paywall…I regret to inform you that they do work and if you want independent journalism to exist you are going to have to subscribe to some publications. Doesn’t have to be all of them! You can rotate, which I do!
December 18, 2024 at 2:29 AM
As someone who coruns an independent media organization with a paywall…I regret to inform you that they do work and if you want independent journalism to exist you are going to have to subscribe to some publications. Doesn’t have to be all of them! You can rotate, which I do!
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Today, the UK government announced a proposal to change copyright law - for the benefit of AI companies - that would cause huge, irreversible harm to creators.
More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):
1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇
1/10
More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):
1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇
1/10
December 17, 2024 at 6:19 PM
Today, the UK government announced a proposal to change copyright law - for the benefit of AI companies - that would cause huge, irreversible harm to creators.
More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):
1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇
1/10
More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):
1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇
1/10
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
we are not paying enough attention to commercially available phone-cracking and spyware being sold to any government who will buy it
Very scary report out of Serbia: Cellebrite is now being used by cops to unlock the phones of journalists they take into custody, and to then infect those phones with tracking malware
www.404media.co/cellebrite-u...
www.404media.co/cellebrite-u...
Cellebrite Unlocked This Journalist’s Phone. Cops Then Infected it With Malware
A new report from Amnesty International reveals multiple cases where Serbian authorities used Cellebrite devices to access targets' mobile phones before loading them with spyware.
www.404media.co
December 16, 2024 at 5:11 PM
we are not paying enough attention to commercially available phone-cracking and spyware being sold to any government who will buy it
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
More than 60 countries held elections this year. Many researchers and journalists claimed AI misinformation would destabilize democracies. What impact did AI really have?
We analyzed every instance of political AI use this year collected by WIRED. New essay w/@random_walker: 🧵
We analyzed every instance of political AI use this year collected by WIRED. New essay w/@random_walker: 🧵
December 16, 2024 at 3:02 PM
More than 60 countries held elections this year. Many researchers and journalists claimed AI misinformation would destabilize democracies. What impact did AI really have?
We analyzed every instance of political AI use this year collected by WIRED. New essay w/@random_walker: 🧵
We analyzed every instance of political AI use this year collected by WIRED. New essay w/@random_walker: 🧵
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
I made a new gif for a new site tracking JWST observations of exoplanets (still a work in progress): jlothringer.github.io/Dashboard.html
What an exciting ~3 years it has been! ✨🔭✨
What an exciting ~3 years it has been! ✨🔭✨
December 16, 2024 at 3:16 PM
I made a new gif for a new site tracking JWST observations of exoplanets (still a work in progress): jlothringer.github.io/Dashboard.html
What an exciting ~3 years it has been! ✨🔭✨
What an exciting ~3 years it has been! ✨🔭✨
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Going through my father's old papers and scanning them in.
Here's a PDF draft of a plasma physics textbook that he wrote in the early 1960s, but for some reason never published.
I would be happy if someone got some benefit from it.
drive.google.com/file/d/1V2F4...
Here's a PDF draft of a plasma physics textbook that he wrote in the early 1960s, but for some reason never published.
I would be happy if someone got some benefit from it.
drive.google.com/file/d/1V2F4...
December 16, 2024 at 7:23 PM
Going through my father's old papers and scanning them in.
Here's a PDF draft of a plasma physics textbook that he wrote in the early 1960s, but for some reason never published.
I would be happy if someone got some benefit from it.
drive.google.com/file/d/1V2F4...
Here's a PDF draft of a plasma physics textbook that he wrote in the early 1960s, but for some reason never published.
I would be happy if someone got some benefit from it.
drive.google.com/file/d/1V2F4...
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Here's my slides from my #AGU24 talk earlier today.
Lots of folks in the session already took care of the meteorological and climatological side of #Helene, so I spent a good time talking about the emotional side.
Buckle in folks, here comes a thread.
drive.google.com/file/d/1nhzL...
Lots of folks in the session already took care of the meteorological and climatological side of #Helene, so I spent a good time talking about the emotional side.
Buckle in folks, here comes a thread.
drive.google.com/file/d/1nhzL...
a cartoon of perry the platypus wearing a hat and belt
ALT: a cartoon of perry the platypus wearing a hat and belt
media.tenor.com
December 10, 2024 at 10:23 PM
Here's my slides from my #AGU24 talk earlier today.
Lots of folks in the session already took care of the meteorological and climatological side of #Helene, so I spent a good time talking about the emotional side.
Buckle in folks, here comes a thread.
drive.google.com/file/d/1nhzL...
Lots of folks in the session already took care of the meteorological and climatological side of #Helene, so I spent a good time talking about the emotional side.
Buckle in folks, here comes a thread.
drive.google.com/file/d/1nhzL...
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
One thing that lacks attention: all of this is only possible because Romanian president declassified findings of their intelligence agencies and did so at an unprecedented scope and pace.
Declassification and transparency seem like one of the most effective ways of fighting a foreign influence.
Declassification and transparency seem like one of the most effective ways of fighting a foreign influence.
Romania annuls election after alleged Russian meddling
https://www.ft.com/content/2248c05d-5536-4525-b0d2-330fc6140401
https://www.ft.com/content/2248c05d-5536-4525-b0d2-330fc6140401
Romania annuls election after alleged Russian meddling
Top court orders rerun of presidential vote
www.ft.com
December 6, 2024 at 6:29 PM
One thing that lacks attention: all of this is only possible because Romanian president declassified findings of their intelligence agencies and did so at an unprecedented scope and pace.
Declassification and transparency seem like one of the most effective ways of fighting a foreign influence.
Declassification and transparency seem like one of the most effective ways of fighting a foreign influence.
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Black Friday Deal Alert!
Enjoy our current atmospheric CO₂ because we'll never see it this low again!
Enjoy our current atmospheric CO₂ because we'll never see it this low again!
November 29, 2024 at 5:47 PM
Black Friday Deal Alert!
Enjoy our current atmospheric CO₂ because we'll never see it this low again!
Enjoy our current atmospheric CO₂ because we'll never see it this low again!
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
This is gaining momentum - publishers are now starting to see more web traffic come from
BlueSky than other platforms (and not that horrid shit place).
Keep sharing your news source URLs here, both traditional and independent media.
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/bl...
BlueSky than other platforms (and not that horrid shit place).
Keep sharing your news source URLs here, both traditional and independent media.
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/bl...
November 29, 2024 at 10:26 PM
This is gaining momentum - publishers are now starting to see more web traffic come from
BlueSky than other platforms (and not that horrid shit place).
Keep sharing your news source URLs here, both traditional and independent media.
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/bl...
BlueSky than other platforms (and not that horrid shit place).
Keep sharing your news source URLs here, both traditional and independent media.
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/bl...
After a week of ~illness 🤒🤧 I've done a LOT of scrolling. To reinvigorate my brains and introduce myself to this app, I'm going to post 7 pieces of both past & recent (mostly journalistic) writing that I've loved
November 29, 2024 at 8:26 PM
After a week of ~illness 🤒🤧 I've done a LOT of scrolling. To reinvigorate my brains and introduce myself to this app, I'm going to post 7 pieces of both past & recent (mostly journalistic) writing that I've loved
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
1. Here's why I'll never use AI to assist my research or writing:
A. I don't want to know exactly what I'm looking for.
I mean that when I start researching a topic, I want to remain open to its contradictions and paradoxes, and to the unexpected paths that might lead off it. 🧵
A. I don't want to know exactly what I'm looking for.
I mean that when I start researching a topic, I want to remain open to its contradictions and paradoxes, and to the unexpected paths that might lead off it. 🧵
November 26, 2024 at 7:05 AM
1. Here's why I'll never use AI to assist my research or writing:
A. I don't want to know exactly what I'm looking for.
I mean that when I start researching a topic, I want to remain open to its contradictions and paradoxes, and to the unexpected paths that might lead off it. 🧵
A. I don't want to know exactly what I'm looking for.
I mean that when I start researching a topic, I want to remain open to its contradictions and paradoxes, and to the unexpected paths that might lead off it. 🧵
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Looks like the people who use @hf.co haven't reacted well to the original backlash - there are now six new large datasets of Bluesky posts uploaded onto the site, including one with 20x the amount of data as the original dataset that caused the issue
huggingface.co/datasets?sor...
huggingface.co/datasets?sor...
November 28, 2024 at 8:12 PM
Looks like the people who use @hf.co haven't reacted well to the original backlash - there are now six new large datasets of Bluesky posts uploaded onto the site, including one with 20x the amount of data as the original dataset that caused the issue
huggingface.co/datasets?sor...
huggingface.co/datasets?sor...
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
The least surprising headline tonight.
- Facebook just lost dismissal motion of FTC lawsuit to break it up
- FTC also has show cause to ban Meta from collecting minors’ data
- Zuckerberg is personally named in massive Delaware suit
- last week SCOTUS rejected Meta’s appeal for Cambridge cover-up
- Facebook just lost dismissal motion of FTC lawsuit to break it up
- FTC also has show cause to ban Meta from collecting minors’ data
- Zuckerberg is personally named in massive Delaware suit
- last week SCOTUS rejected Meta’s appeal for Cambridge cover-up
November 28, 2024 at 5:56 AM
The least surprising headline tonight.
- Facebook just lost dismissal motion of FTC lawsuit to break it up
- FTC also has show cause to ban Meta from collecting minors’ data
- Zuckerberg is personally named in massive Delaware suit
- last week SCOTUS rejected Meta’s appeal for Cambridge cover-up
- Facebook just lost dismissal motion of FTC lawsuit to break it up
- FTC also has show cause to ban Meta from collecting minors’ data
- Zuckerberg is personally named in massive Delaware suit
- last week SCOTUS rejected Meta’s appeal for Cambridge cover-up
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Some interest in social media research ethics this week. A while back, we looked at over 500 social media research papers so that you don't have to. Only 28 papers mentioned consent, so don't be surprised that researchers aren't seeking permission to use your Bluesky data. tnhh.org/research/pub...
tnhh.org
November 28, 2024 at 8:26 AM
Some interest in social media research ethics this week. A while back, we looked at over 500 social media research papers so that you don't have to. Only 28 papers mentioned consent, so don't be surprised that researchers aren't seeking permission to use your Bluesky data. tnhh.org/research/pub...
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
In report led by @waqasejaz.bsky.social we document "platform ambivalence"–people rely on platforms for info, while also remaining sceptical, many concerns are widespread, even as people also appreciate a range of personal and societal benefits reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/what-do-peop... 1/5
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism | Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk
November 28, 2024 at 7:34 AM
In report led by @waqasejaz.bsky.social we document "platform ambivalence"–people rely on platforms for info, while also remaining sceptical, many concerns are widespread, even as people also appreciate a range of personal and societal benefits reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/what-do-peop... 1/5
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
the internet sucks in part because no one makes their own personal websites anymore aftermath.site/website-musk...
For Love of God, Make Your Own Website - Aftermath
The internet felt like a limitless expanse of free expression. Now I usually end up at the same three or four websites.
aftermath.site
November 27, 2024 at 5:15 PM
the internet sucks in part because no one makes their own personal websites anymore aftermath.site/website-musk...
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
By hiding the true costs of AI (data, energy, human labor), it's really easy to make AI seem magic.
Can you imagine if Open AI had to disclose exactly how many millions of hours of human feedback they gathered? ChatGPT would seem a lot less *magical* then 🦄
Can you imagine if Open AI had to disclose exactly how many millions of hours of human feedback they gathered? ChatGPT would seem a lot less *magical* then 🦄
October 22, 2023 at 2:27 PM
By hiding the true costs of AI (data, energy, human labor), it's really easy to make AI seem magic.
Can you imagine if Open AI had to disclose exactly how many millions of hours of human feedback they gathered? ChatGPT would seem a lot less *magical* then 🦄
Can you imagine if Open AI had to disclose exactly how many millions of hours of human feedback they gathered? ChatGPT would seem a lot less *magical* then 🦄
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
People are often surprised when I tell them this: both Twitter and Facebook/insta/threads are now specifically engineered to downgrade, hide, suppress real journalism. If this platform is different, that's a huge change
Traffic from Bluesky to @bostonglobe.com is already 3x that of Threads, and we are seeing 4.5x the conversions to paying digital subscribers.
November 27, 2024 at 6:22 AM
People are often surprised when I tell them this: both Twitter and Facebook/insta/threads are now specifically engineered to downgrade, hide, suppress real journalism. If this platform is different, that's a huge change
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Mars not having a QBO makes it an interesting lab for examining comparisons of other oscillations on Mars and Earth, like the Semi-annual oscillation or annular modes. As I always say, studying one #climate helps us understand all climates.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1k9kj4L-Ym...
authors.elsevier.com/a/1k9kj4L-Ym...
authors.elsevier.com
November 26, 2024 at 7:28 PM
Mars not having a QBO makes it an interesting lab for examining comparisons of other oscillations on Mars and Earth, like the Semi-annual oscillation or annular modes. As I always say, studying one #climate helps us understand all climates.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1k9kj4L-Ym...
authors.elsevier.com/a/1k9kj4L-Ym...
Reposted by Michelle F. Bieger, PhD
Or, he could read the tons of research on this by scholars, media, etc.
That says, I’m going to need academics to do a better job communicating with the public. Some do. Many don’t. Folks can’t remain in the ivory tower speaking only to each other. Public facing work is vital, esp now.
That says, I’m going to need academics to do a better job communicating with the public. Some do. Many don’t. Folks can’t remain in the ivory tower speaking only to each other. Public facing work is vital, esp now.
News --> James Carville is commissioning pollsters to do a deep dive on how people get their news, in hopes that Dems will overhaul how they communicate with voters, particularly working class ones.
It's a good idea. Carville explains it on our podcast:
newrepublic.com/article/1888...
It's a good idea. Carville explains it on our podcast:
newrepublic.com/article/1888...
Why Did Trump Win? James Carville Has Discovered an Unsettling Answer.
The veteran strategist explains how Trump’s victory revealed a major problem in the way Democrats communicate with voters—and unveils his idea for a new way forward.
newrepublic.com
November 26, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Or, he could read the tons of research on this by scholars, media, etc.
That says, I’m going to need academics to do a better job communicating with the public. Some do. Many don’t. Folks can’t remain in the ivory tower speaking only to each other. Public facing work is vital, esp now.
That says, I’m going to need academics to do a better job communicating with the public. Some do. Many don’t. Folks can’t remain in the ivory tower speaking only to each other. Public facing work is vital, esp now.