Rob Pickering
@rob.pickering.org
Hills and lakes for fun.
Also dangerous with SIP, WebRTC, BGP, Javascript, ML & chainsaws.
Know too much about how the Interwebs work.
@robinjpickering on less advanced platforms
www.pickering.org for semi-professional opinions
Also dangerous with SIP, WebRTC, BGP, Javascript, ML & chainsaws.
Know too much about how the Interwebs work.
@robinjpickering on less advanced platforms
www.pickering.org for semi-professional opinions
Forget age, why don't we gate voting on passing a critical reasoning test.
July 18, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Forget age, why don't we gate voting on passing a critical reasoning test.
Reposted by Rob Pickering
🚨 We've extended the RTC.ON call for speakers!
You asked and we listened – CFP is open for 2 more weeks! 🔥
Got a great story to tell? See what we're looking for and apply 👇
You asked and we listened – CFP is open for 2 more weeks! 🔥
Got a great story to tell? See what we're looking for and apply 👇
May 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
🚨 We've extended the RTC.ON call for speakers!
You asked and we listened – CFP is open for 2 more weeks! 🔥
Got a great story to tell? See what we're looking for and apply 👇
You asked and we listened – CFP is open for 2 more weeks! 🔥
Got a great story to tell? See what we're looking for and apply 👇
Reposted by Rob Pickering
Co-op narrowly avoided an even worse cyber attack zurl.co/6bORQ
Co-op narrowly avoided an even worse cyber attack, BBC learns
The revelation - from the criminals responsible - explains why the Co-op is getting back to business faster than M&S.
zurl.co
May 15, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Co-op narrowly avoided an even worse cyber attack zurl.co/6bORQ
Energy Costs of Voice AI
www.pickering.org/energy-costs...
www.pickering.org/energy-costs...
Energy Costs of Voice AI
Someone asked me yesterday:
Is Voice AI going to burn the planet?
Profligate use of AI certainly contributes to emissions, especially if we don't put data centres in the right places, but I've worke...
www.pickering.org
May 15, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Energy Costs of Voice AI
www.pickering.org/energy-costs...
www.pickering.org/energy-costs...
100% AI generated. This really isn't hard.
April 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
100% AI generated. This really isn't hard.
The view from the top deck at "the most scenic bus stop in the UK", but are there any better? #LakeDistrict
April 8, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The view from the top deck at "the most scenic bus stop in the UK", but are there any better? #LakeDistrict
Getting out for a walk is an incredible way to leave all the doom behind for a few hours and today was incredibly beautiful.
March 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Getting out for a walk is an incredible way to leave all the doom behind for a few hours and today was incredibly beautiful.
A cautionary tale about trying to get an AI agent to present a slide deck at FOSDEM this year:
www.pickering.org/ai-presentat...
Lessons learnt, but was it a good idea badly executed, or just a straight bad idea?
www.pickering.org/ai-presentat...
Lessons learnt, but was it a good idea badly executed, or just a straight bad idea?
February 12, 2025 at 12:19 PM
A cautionary tale about trying to get an AI agent to present a slide deck at FOSDEM this year:
www.pickering.org/ai-presentat...
Lessons learnt, but was it a good idea badly executed, or just a straight bad idea?
www.pickering.org/ai-presentat...
Lessons learnt, but was it a good idea badly executed, or just a straight bad idea?
This looks super interesting.
I suppose we could choose the current trajectory of unmanaged decline instead though.
youtu.be/RdLEjTowMIs
I suppose we could choose the current trajectory of unmanaged decline instead though.
youtu.be/RdLEjTowMIs
The LFG Bill: Launch
YouTube video by Looking For Growth
youtu.be
January 16, 2025 at 12:19 PM
This looks super interesting.
I suppose we could choose the current trajectory of unmanaged decline instead though.
youtu.be/RdLEjTowMIs
I suppose we could choose the current trajectory of unmanaged decline instead though.
youtu.be/RdLEjTowMIs
Coming to the end of another wonderful day.
January 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Coming to the end of another wonderful day.
Another stunning day again today, could get used to the yellow thing in the sky.
January 2, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Another stunning day again today, could get used to the yellow thing in the sky.
This bothers me.
It is completely wrong to say that using a neural network is always unethical, any more than using a steam engine, a car or electricity were somehow inherently immoral when they were invented.
Just makes no sense.
It is completely wrong to say that using a neural network is always unethical, any more than using a steam engine, a car or electricity were somehow inherently immoral when they were invented.
Just makes no sense.
January 1, 2025 at 8:42 PM
This bothers me.
It is completely wrong to say that using a neural network is always unethical, any more than using a steam engine, a car or electricity were somehow inherently immoral when they were invented.
Just makes no sense.
It is completely wrong to say that using a neural network is always unethical, any more than using a steam engine, a car or electricity were somehow inherently immoral when they were invented.
Just makes no sense.
What a day today.
Storm over, I was enticed out by a rainbow...
Storm over, I was enticed out by a rainbow...
January 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
What a day today.
Storm over, I was enticed out by a rainbow...
Storm over, I was enticed out by a rainbow...
Reposted by Rob Pickering
Joining Bluesky this year, I found a creative and supportive community. Stunning photos and thoughtful conversations make this space special. As 2025 approaches, I wish you all a fantastic, healthy, and Happy New Year. Let’s keep building this together.
December 30, 2024 at 8:54 PM
Joining Bluesky this year, I found a creative and supportive community. Stunning photos and thoughtful conversations make this space special. As 2025 approaches, I wish you all a fantastic, healthy, and Happy New Year. Let’s keep building this together.
First serious post here...
What does the AI and the value of knowledge work, what can we expect government to do, and how should we respond individually...
www.pickering.org/ai-and-the-p...
TL;DR Don't worry about P(doom), P(bad_things) is much more likely, and possibly influenceable.
What does the AI and the value of knowledge work, what can we expect government to do, and how should we respond individually...
www.pickering.org/ai-and-the-p...
TL;DR Don't worry about P(doom), P(bad_things) is much more likely, and possibly influenceable.
AI and the value of knowledge work
This tweet was probably pretty controversial back in mid 2021 but, with suitable qualification, the number of informed people that would now argue with it must be pretty small. I've been thinking quit...
www.pickering.org
December 27, 2024 at 12:34 PM
First serious post here...
What does the AI and the value of knowledge work, what can we expect government to do, and how should we respond individually...
www.pickering.org/ai-and-the-p...
TL;DR Don't worry about P(doom), P(bad_things) is much more likely, and possibly influenceable.
What does the AI and the value of knowledge work, what can we expect government to do, and how should we respond individually...
www.pickering.org/ai-and-the-p...
TL;DR Don't worry about P(doom), P(bad_things) is much more likely, and possibly influenceable.
Make a Christmas card using an LLM they said...
www.pickering.org/happy-christ...
www.pickering.org/happy-christ...
Happy Christmas!
Make a Christmas Card using an LLM they said...
Add a Christmas Tree in place of the radar dome on this boat
ChatGPT said:
Here's the image of a boat with a festive Christmas tree replacing the ...
www.pickering.org
December 21, 2024 at 2:11 PM
Make a Christmas card using an LLM they said...
www.pickering.org/happy-christ...
www.pickering.org/happy-christ...
Reposted by Rob Pickering
We're Bay Search & Rescue and we're new to Bluesky.
Our main base is at Flookburgh in Cumbria and we operate all around Morecambe Bay.
We have charity shops in Grange-over-Sands, Milnthorpe and Kendal which are all staffed by our amazing volunteers.
Please repost to help us meet new people.
Our main base is at Flookburgh in Cumbria and we operate all around Morecambe Bay.
We have charity shops in Grange-over-Sands, Milnthorpe and Kendal which are all staffed by our amazing volunteers.
Please repost to help us meet new people.
December 13, 2024 at 4:00 PM
We're Bay Search & Rescue and we're new to Bluesky.
Our main base is at Flookburgh in Cumbria and we operate all around Morecambe Bay.
We have charity shops in Grange-over-Sands, Milnthorpe and Kendal which are all staffed by our amazing volunteers.
Please repost to help us meet new people.
Our main base is at Flookburgh in Cumbria and we operate all around Morecambe Bay.
We have charity shops in Grange-over-Sands, Milnthorpe and Kendal which are all staffed by our amazing volunteers.
Please repost to help us meet new people.
I'm used to views with the tops of hills disappearing into the murk, but it is grim down south today.
They've lost the tops of their buildings.
They've lost the tops of their buildings.
December 12, 2024 at 4:41 PM
I'm used to views with the tops of hills disappearing into the murk, but it is grim down south today.
They've lost the tops of their buildings.
They've lost the tops of their buildings.
Serious platform.
bsky.app/profile/mode...
bsky.app/profile/mode...
bsky.app
November 27, 2024 at 8:10 AM
Serious platform.
bsky.app/profile/mode...
bsky.app/profile/mode...
Reposted by Rob Pickering
1/ We're experiencing a huge influx of users, and with that, a predictable uptick in harmful content posted to the network.
As a result, for some very high-severity policy areas like child safety, we recently made some short-term moderation choices to prioritize recall over precision.
As a result, for some very high-severity policy areas like child safety, we recently made some short-term moderation choices to prioritize recall over precision.
November 26, 2024 at 12:08 AM
1/ We're experiencing a huge influx of users, and with that, a predictable uptick in harmful content posted to the network.
As a result, for some very high-severity policy areas like child safety, we recently made some short-term moderation choices to prioritize recall over precision.
As a result, for some very high-severity policy areas like child safety, we recently made some short-term moderation choices to prioritize recall over precision.
Organisations: you can verify the authenticity of your account here by registering your domain name as your handle.
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
This applies to everyone who has control of a domain name and wants to verify their identity and associate it with that web presence. It is secure and free.
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
This applies to everyone who has control of a domain name and wants to verify their identity and associate it with that web presence. It is secure and free.
November 23, 2024 at 10:51 AM
Organisations: you can verify the authenticity of your account here by registering your domain name as your handle.
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
This applies to everyone who has control of a domain name and wants to verify their identity and associate it with that web presence. It is secure and free.
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
This applies to everyone who has control of a domain name and wants to verify their identity and associate it with that web presence. It is secure and free.
Reposted by Rob Pickering
So many people sharing their stories about @krisnova.net makes me happy she lives on
I made this to remember her and I’m sure some of the stories will resonate with others
If you never met her you missed out
I made this to remember her and I’m sure some of the stories will resonate with others
If you never met her you missed out
Remembering Kris Nóva
YouTube video by Justin Garrison
youtu.be
November 16, 2024 at 9:19 PM
So many people sharing their stories about @krisnova.net makes me happy she lives on
I made this to remember her and I’m sure some of the stories will resonate with others
If you never met her you missed out
I made this to remember her and I’m sure some of the stories will resonate with others
If you never met her you missed out
This place really does fill me with the same hope and wonder as the early Internet. I've been here 24hrs and blown away that 52nd Speaker of the US House of Representatives just liked my whimsical skeet about UK telephone boxes.
November 16, 2024 at 9:24 PM
This place really does fill me with the same hope and wonder as the early Internet. I've been here 24hrs and blown away that 52nd Speaker of the US House of Representatives just liked my whimsical skeet about UK telephone boxes.