Renee Moodie
@reneemoodie.bsky.social
Thought leadership writer & editor ⭐ Human-centred Gen AI & leadership ⭐ Clear thinker, tech tinkerer, hand-holder ⭐ Journalist-for-life ⭐ Pronouns: she/her
I’ve tried using a small language model (that you download to your machine) and found the whole thing underwhelming. My experiment is in my latest blog post: safehands.co.za/gen-ai-that-...)
November 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
I’ve tried using a small language model (that you download to your machine) and found the whole thing underwhelming. My experiment is in my latest blog post: safehands.co.za/gen-ai-that-...)
Accepted wisdom on prompting AI is to give it context. Here’s a trick though - if you are writing social media posts, don’t tell the AI tool what the platform is. That way you get vanilla text you can play with rather than a formula. #PromptingTips
October 30, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Accepted wisdom on prompting AI is to give it context. Here’s a trick though - if you are writing social media posts, don’t tell the AI tool what the platform is. That way you get vanilla text you can play with rather than a formula. #PromptingTips
I have a list of perfect songs. Not necessarily favourite or emotional songs. Just songs where nothing could be changed, where you get a shiver down your spine when you hear them. If I had to pick one it would be Prince’s Purple Rain. Yours? (Long list in blog post: tinyurl.com/bdh2zrn6)
October 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM
I have a list of perfect songs. Not necessarily favourite or emotional songs. Just songs where nothing could be changed, where you get a shiver down your spine when you hear them. If I had to pick one it would be Prince’s Purple Rain. Yours? (Long list in blog post: tinyurl.com/bdh2zrn6)
AI and climate change? I’ve done research: individual use of Gen AI is not a big deal. But all the stuff that underpins our digital lives is; needs to be tackled at systemic level. Hat tip to @hannahritchie.bsky.social and @andymasley.bsky.social. Latest blog post: tinyurl.com/xawbbdvb
October 16, 2025 at 12:03 PM
AI and climate change? I’ve done research: individual use of Gen AI is not a big deal. But all the stuff that underpins our digital lives is; needs to be tackled at systemic level. Hat tip to @hannahritchie.bsky.social and @andymasley.bsky.social. Latest blog post: tinyurl.com/xawbbdvb
You know that thing that says ancient mapmakers used to put the words “here be dragons” to indicate unknown territory. It’s a myth, according to @dmgeo.bsky.social. A reminder to check the things you think you know. (More on dragons here: safehands.co.za/here-be-drag...)
October 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
You know that thing that says ancient mapmakers used to put the words “here be dragons” to indicate unknown territory. It’s a myth, according to @dmgeo.bsky.social. A reminder to check the things you think you know. (More on dragons here: safehands.co.za/here-be-drag...)
We all have Information overload – social media, news, WhatsApp messages. How to cope? It’s all about making choices, about deciding to use AI (and all tech, actually) in ways that help you with important work, but that don’t take over. Blog post: tinyurl.com/377pzpte
October 2, 2025 at 12:03 PM
We all have Information overload – social media, news, WhatsApp messages. How to cope? It’s all about making choices, about deciding to use AI (and all tech, actually) in ways that help you with important work, but that don’t take over. Blog post: tinyurl.com/377pzpte
Where do you stand on eavesdropping? Not hovering with your ear to a door. I mean wandering around with your ears open, listening. You get to hear fragments of dialogue which is, to me, one of life’s small pleasures. Latest blog post on my latest overheard snippet: tinyurl.com/424p7nmu
September 25, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Where do you stand on eavesdropping? Not hovering with your ear to a door. I mean wandering around with your ears open, listening. You get to hear fragments of dialogue which is, to me, one of life’s small pleasures. Latest blog post on my latest overheard snippet: tinyurl.com/424p7nmu
My latest advice on the subject of Gen AI. Don’t trust it. (In fact, trust nothing in the virtual world). Assume it’s all nonsense. If there’s a bit of information that you actually need, then do some verification and checking. That’s it really. See blog post: tinyurl.com/35tp5ap8
September 18, 2025 at 12:01 PM
My latest advice on the subject of Gen AI. Don’t trust it. (In fact, trust nothing in the virtual world). Assume it’s all nonsense. If there’s a bit of information that you actually need, then do some verification and checking. That’s it really. See blog post: tinyurl.com/35tp5ap8
Team sports at school are good for later leadership skills? Sure - but what about children who are terrible at sport? Does that doom them to a life of failure? Nope - but making them do sport makes them hate exercise. My latest blog post: safehands.co.za/how-to-get-o...
September 11, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Team sports at school are good for later leadership skills? Sure - but what about children who are terrible at sport? Does that doom them to a life of failure? Nope - but making them do sport makes them hate exercise. My latest blog post: safehands.co.za/how-to-get-o...
Who are you talking to when you engage with generative AI? Not a human being. But the data that gen AI was trained on was made by humans. So gen AI will reflect the biases inherent in all that material. To overcome that, try feminist prompting! How to do that: tinyurl.com/zp63s9s8
September 4, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Who are you talking to when you engage with generative AI? Not a human being. But the data that gen AI was trained on was made by humans. So gen AI will reflect the biases inherent in all that material. To overcome that, try feminist prompting! How to do that: tinyurl.com/zp63s9s8
Last week, Anne Taylor and I ran a webinar about Gen AI for the Eastern Cape branch of the Professional Editor’s Guild. It was the first time we’d done this kind of thing as a duo and welcome prep for the AI training we know we’re going to be doing over the next while. #LearningCurve #SensibleAI
August 28, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Last week, Anne Taylor and I ran a webinar about Gen AI for the Eastern Cape branch of the Professional Editor’s Guild. It was the first time we’d done this kind of thing as a duo and welcome prep for the AI training we know we’re going to be doing over the next while. #LearningCurve #SensibleAI
What to do when you have a blog post to write and a shortage of time? Ask for help is my suggestion… someone else can write a guest post and give you a breather. The guest post that saved my bacon: safehands.co.za/how-an-award...
August 21, 2025 at 12:01 PM
What to do when you have a blog post to write and a shortage of time? Ask for help is my suggestion… someone else can write a guest post and give you a breather. The guest post that saved my bacon: safehands.co.za/how-an-award...
Agentic AI can reason and get things done. But is that what we want: Having the virtual equivalent of butlers and manservants taking all the friction out of our lives? See my blog post: tinyurl.com/mtd5nf6h
August 7, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Agentic AI can reason and get things done. But is that what we want: Having the virtual equivalent of butlers and manservants taking all the friction out of our lives? See my blog post: tinyurl.com/mtd5nf6h
On July 9 a dream came true - I went on @bushradio.bsky.social about a book project. The most fun I've had in a long time! The project? A history of SA through the eyes of people born in 1962. I need people to interview - DM me if you were born in ‘62! Blog post: tinyurl.com/3e4vzvjn
July 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
On July 9 a dream came true - I went on @bushradio.bsky.social about a book project. The most fun I've had in a long time! The project? A history of SA through the eyes of people born in 1962. I need people to interview - DM me if you were born in ‘62! Blog post: tinyurl.com/3e4vzvjn
May I introduce you to a weed? My messy pavement has masses of Oxalis and its pretty yellow flowers. Am I going to pull it out? No. Weeds have rights too. #LongLiveWeeds (Blog post with everyday uses of AI, including identifying weeds, is here: tinyurl.com/3e6jxr6d)
July 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM
May I introduce you to a weed? My messy pavement has masses of Oxalis and its pretty yellow flowers. Am I going to pull it out? No. Weeds have rights too. #LongLiveWeeds (Blog post with everyday uses of AI, including identifying weeds, is here: tinyurl.com/3e6jxr6d)
Question: When did you realise you were a grown-up? For me, it was the 3am realisation that I was always going to be on call for the very small human being I had just given birth to. That meant be responsible, no excuses. And you?
Blog post: safehands.co.za/what-does-be...
Blog post: safehands.co.za/what-does-be...
July 17, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Question: When did you realise you were a grown-up? For me, it was the 3am realisation that I was always going to be on call for the very small human being I had just given birth to. That meant be responsible, no excuses. And you?
Blog post: safehands.co.za/what-does-be...
Blog post: safehands.co.za/what-does-be...
Feeling stuck? Me too. Getting my creative mojo back after burnout & family stuff has been tough. So I’ve made a "closed list" of just 6 things. And I’ll only add more when I’ve finished one of those six things. #StartingOver safehands.co.za/how-to-get-o...
July 3, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Feeling stuck? Me too. Getting my creative mojo back after burnout & family stuff has been tough. So I’ve made a "closed list" of just 6 things. And I’ll only add more when I’ve finished one of those six things. #StartingOver safehands.co.za/how-to-get-o...
Where do hope and science intersect? In the fight against TB. I was recently part of a training team, in a room with early-career researchers working on a better TB vaccine. I came away optimistic and in awe of the young people who are our future. My blog post: tinyurl.com/3adwbv59
June 19, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Where do hope and science intersect? In the fight against TB. I was recently part of a training team, in a room with early-career researchers working on a better TB vaccine. I came away optimistic and in awe of the young people who are our future. My blog post: tinyurl.com/3adwbv59
My latest post explores Terry Pratchett's small gods concept - like Anoia (Goddess of Stuck Drawers). Our family pantheon includes a God of Parking and a Goddess of the Sea. Yours? Maybe a goddess of finding the scissors? Read the post here; tinyurl.com/yvp2d9d9
June 5, 2025 at 12:02 PM
My latest post explores Terry Pratchett's small gods concept - like Anoia (Goddess of Stuck Drawers). Our family pantheon includes a God of Parking and a Goddess of the Sea. Yours? Maybe a goddess of finding the scissors? Read the post here; tinyurl.com/yvp2d9d9
I want AI to serve people – not replace them. My mission is to help thoughtful humans learn to work with AI in ways that are useful, ethical and clear. Find out more about Safe Hands AI Training.: safehands.co.za/ai-training/
May 29, 2025 at 12:02 PM
I want AI to serve people – not replace them. My mission is to help thoughtful humans learn to work with AI in ways that are useful, ethical and clear. Find out more about Safe Hands AI Training.: safehands.co.za/ai-training/
I’m writing a book about South Africa (1962-2024) through the eyes of people born in 1962. Were YOU born in SA in 1962? Or know someone who was? I need 10 diverse life stories that span apartheid to democracy. Help me make this happen! Form: forms.gle/Szoc9WKKDu7m...
May 22, 2025 at 12:02 PM
I’m writing a book about South Africa (1962-2024) through the eyes of people born in 1962. Were YOU born in SA in 1962? Or know someone who was? I need 10 diverse life stories that span apartheid to democracy. Help me make this happen! Form: forms.gle/Szoc9WKKDu7m...
AI for personal/prof support is rising. Good idea? It depends. Coaching yes; therapy no. For coaching, define your custom instructions for best results (via JulieScotland & Tara Armbruster at Gravi AI). Learn how to build a coach here: tinyurl.com/55xbn6t2
May 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
AI for personal/prof support is rising. Good idea? It depends. Coaching yes; therapy no. For coaching, define your custom instructions for best results (via JulieScotland & Tara Armbruster at Gravi AI). Learn how to build a coach here: tinyurl.com/55xbn6t2
After a holiday-packed April in SA, a full work week is so hard. Here, then, some frivolity: my blog spotlights essential SA street sights: random bricks, Checkers 60/60s, battered bakkies, minibus taxis, and – always – smiling faces. #MzansiLife Blog link: tinyurl.com/294aav3b
May 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM
After a holiday-packed April in SA, a full work week is so hard. Here, then, some frivolity: my blog spotlights essential SA street sights: random bricks, Checkers 60/60s, battered bakkies, minibus taxis, and – always – smiling faces. #MzansiLife Blog link: tinyurl.com/294aav3b
Fed up with AI hype? After a year of filtering, these are my essential reads:
Mollick's One Useful Thing
Benedict Evans' Newsletter
Marcus on AI
Zero to Unicorn
Idea Kitchen
More detail in this blog post: safehands.co.za/navigating-a...
Mollick's One Useful Thing
Benedict Evans' Newsletter
Marcus on AI
Zero to Unicorn
Idea Kitchen
More detail in this blog post: safehands.co.za/navigating-a...
April 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Fed up with AI hype? After a year of filtering, these are my essential reads:
Mollick's One Useful Thing
Benedict Evans' Newsletter
Marcus on AI
Zero to Unicorn
Idea Kitchen
More detail in this blog post: safehands.co.za/navigating-a...
Mollick's One Useful Thing
Benedict Evans' Newsletter
Marcus on AI
Zero to Unicorn
Idea Kitchen
More detail in this blog post: safehands.co.za/navigating-a...
After 30 years of marriage, I've learned what makes it work: facing challenges together without blame, shared interests. Respect differences and don't sweat the small stuff. The real secret? Marry your best friend. My blog post: safehands.co.za/how-to-stay-...
(Picture: Denny Müller, Unsplash)
(Picture: Denny Müller, Unsplash)
April 24, 2025 at 10:26 AM
After 30 years of marriage, I've learned what makes it work: facing challenges together without blame, shared interests. Respect differences and don't sweat the small stuff. The real secret? Marry your best friend. My blog post: safehands.co.za/how-to-stay-...
(Picture: Denny Müller, Unsplash)
(Picture: Denny Müller, Unsplash)