Shakeel
@shakeelhashim.com
Writing about AI policy at Transformer. Supporting AI journalism with grants at Tarbell. Prev: AI safety and EA comms; journalist at The Economist, Protocol, Finimize. London.
https://transformernews.ai
https://transformernews.ai
It certainly seems that he'll be able to shape AI policy more than his predecessor, Feryal Clark, did.
But he's got an uphill battle ahead, navigating copyright, turf wars with Ed Miliband, and the general complexity of the topic.
But he's got an uphill battle ahead, navigating copyright, turf wars with Ed Miliband, and the general complexity of the topic.
October 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
It certainly seems that he'll be able to shape AI policy more than his predecessor, Feryal Clark, did.
But he's got an uphill battle ahead, navigating copyright, turf wars with Ed Miliband, and the general complexity of the topic.
But he's got an uphill battle ahead, navigating copyright, turf wars with Ed Miliband, and the general complexity of the topic.
Kanishka Narayan, the UK's new minister for AI, is a rare example of a politician who actually *gets* his brief.
In a new profile for @transformernews.ai, @alys.bsky.social notes that he takes AI risks pretty seriously, too.
In a new profile for @transformernews.ai, @alys.bsky.social notes that he takes AI risks pretty seriously, too.
October 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Kanishka Narayan, the UK's new minister for AI, is a rare example of a politician who actually *gets* his brief.
In a new profile for @transformernews.ai, @alys.bsky.social notes that he takes AI risks pretty seriously, too.
In a new profile for @transformernews.ai, @alys.bsky.social notes that he takes AI risks pretty seriously, too.
Our aim is to be the definitive source for coverage of transformative AI — one dedicated to explaining what’s happening in AI and why it matters.
We think this is a really important mission. The world needs more journalism that takes AI seriously. We hope to provide it.
We think this is a really important mission. The world needs more journalism that takes AI seriously. We hope to provide it.
September 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Our aim is to be the definitive source for coverage of transformative AI — one dedicated to explaining what’s happening in AI and why it matters.
We think this is a really important mission. The world needs more journalism that takes AI seriously. We hope to provide it.
We think this is a really important mission. The world needs more journalism that takes AI seriously. We hope to provide it.
Hugging Face still has a ton of porn hosted on its website which can be accessed without logging in or verifying your age.
Not entirely sure how that's compliant with the UK Online Safety Act ... which even 4Chan's taken action to comply with today!
Not entirely sure how that's compliant with the UK Online Safety Act ... which even 4Chan's taken action to comply with today!
July 25, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Hugging Face still has a ton of porn hosted on its website which can be accessed without logging in or verifying your age.
Not entirely sure how that's compliant with the UK Online Safety Act ... which even 4Chan's taken action to comply with today!
Not entirely sure how that's compliant with the UK Online Safety Act ... which even 4Chan's taken action to comply with today!
Hugging Face likes to portray itself as AI's "good guy".
Last yr execs incl. @mmitchell.bsky.social & @sashamtl.bsky.social wrote a Teen Vogue piece about stopping deepfake porn.
They wrote that “responsibility [for it] lies with society as a whole.”
If only the company took responsibility itself
Last yr execs incl. @mmitchell.bsky.social & @sashamtl.bsky.social wrote a Teen Vogue piece about stopping deepfake porn.
They wrote that “responsibility [for it] lies with society as a whole.”
If only the company took responsibility itself
July 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Hugging Face likes to portray itself as AI's "good guy".
Last yr execs incl. @mmitchell.bsky.social & @sashamtl.bsky.social wrote a Teen Vogue piece about stopping deepfake porn.
They wrote that “responsibility [for it] lies with society as a whole.”
If only the company took responsibility itself
Last yr execs incl. @mmitchell.bsky.social & @sashamtl.bsky.social wrote a Teen Vogue piece about stopping deepfake porn.
They wrote that “responsibility [for it] lies with society as a whole.”
If only the company took responsibility itself
Transformer found that many of these models are uploaded by a few prolific users.
While Hugging Face removed *some* of those users' uploads, it didn't ban the users' accounts — and today we've found that they're hosting lots of *other* models intended to generate deepfake porn.
While Hugging Face removed *some* of those users' uploads, it didn't ban the users' accounts — and today we've found that they're hosting lots of *other* models intended to generate deepfake porn.
July 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Transformer found that many of these models are uploaded by a few prolific users.
While Hugging Face removed *some* of those users' uploads, it didn't ban the users' accounts — and today we've found that they're hosting lots of *other* models intended to generate deepfake porn.
While Hugging Face removed *some* of those users' uploads, it didn't ban the users' accounts — and today we've found that they're hosting lots of *other* models intended to generate deepfake porn.
We sent the list of models we found to Hugging Face.
The company removed some, but not all, of the models we shared with them.
They left up a video model that references a film released when the actress was 15, for instance.
The company removed some, but not all, of the models we shared with them.
They left up a video model that references a film released when the actress was 15, for instance.
July 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
We sent the list of models we found to Hugging Face.
The company removed some, but not all, of the models we shared with them.
They left up a video model that references a film released when the actress was 15, for instance.
The company removed some, but not all, of the models we shared with them.
They left up a video model that references a film released when the actress was 15, for instance.
And in a Transformer investigation yesterday, we found that many of those models were still online, including at least one instance where a model was explicitly aimed at creating sexual content featuring a teenage-looking likeness of an actress.
July 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
And in a Transformer investigation yesterday, we found that many of those models were still online, including at least one instance where a model was explicitly aimed at creating sexual content featuring a teenage-looking likeness of an actress.
Here's a story about Hugging Face, deepfake pornography, and irresponsible content moderation.
Last week, 404 Media found that Hugging Face hosted 1000s of nonconsensual AI models of real people, many clearly intended to be used to create sexual content.
Last week, 404 Media found that Hugging Face hosted 1000s of nonconsensual AI models of real people, many clearly intended to be used to create sexual content.
July 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Here's a story about Hugging Face, deepfake pornography, and irresponsible content moderation.
Last week, 404 Media found that Hugging Face hosted 1000s of nonconsensual AI models of real people, many clearly intended to be used to create sexual content.
Last week, 404 Media found that Hugging Face hosted 1000s of nonconsensual AI models of real people, many clearly intended to be used to create sexual content.
Unlike CivitAI, Hugging Face is a major and "respectable" AI company, and it portrays itself as having better ethical standards than other companies.
July 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Unlike CivitAI, Hugging Face is a major and "respectable" AI company, and it portrays itself as having better ethical standards than other companies.
This was ridiculously easy for us to find. Yet Hugging Face haven't taken it down. When asked for comment, Hugging Face head of comms Brigitte Tousignant just told us to report the content.
July 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This was ridiculously easy for us to find. Yet Hugging Face haven't taken it down. When asked for comment, Hugging Face head of comms Brigitte Tousignant just told us to report the content.
Elsewhere on Hugging Face are dozens of other models explicitly designed to generate pornographic images of female celebrities.
These have explicit filenames, and are stored in a folder that also contains models designed to generate photos of them in different sexual positions.
These have explicit filenames, and are stored in a folder that also contains models designed to generate photos of them in different sexual positions.
July 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Elsewhere on Hugging Face are dozens of other models explicitly designed to generate pornographic images of female celebrities.
These have explicit filenames, and are stored in a folder that also contains models designed to generate photos of them in different sexual positions.
These have explicit filenames, and are stored in a folder that also contains models designed to generate photos of them in different sexual positions.
And we found a video model that references a movie where the actress being 15 years old, stored in a folder alongside explicitly pornographic models.
July 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
And we found a video model that references a movie where the actress being 15 years old, stored in a folder alongside explicitly pornographic models.
We found at least one instance where a model is explicitly aimed at creating sexual content featuring a teenage-looking likeness of an actress.
July 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
We found at least one instance where a model is explicitly aimed at creating sexual content featuring a teenage-looking likeness of an actress.
Hugging Face portrays itself as the "ethical" AI company.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
July 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Hugging Face portrays itself as the "ethical" AI company.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
So why is it hosting tools to make deepfake porn of teenage celebrities?
Following on from @404media.co's report last week, Transformer found that the company hosts some *really* shocking stuff.
What makes Transformer really unique is that we take seriously the possibility of transformative AI systems emerging in the near future.
My Nieman Lab piece from last year expands on how I think about this: www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/the-...
My Nieman Lab piece from last year expands on how I think about this: www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/the-...
April 1, 2025 at 12:05 PM
What makes Transformer really unique is that we take seriously the possibility of transformative AI systems emerging in the near future.
My Nieman Lab piece from last year expands on how I think about this: www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/the-...
My Nieman Lab piece from last year expands on how I think about this: www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/the-...
And here are the key details for the reporter role:
April 1, 2025 at 12:05 PM
And here are the key details for the reporter role:
Here are the key details for the managing editor role:
April 1, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Here are the key details for the managing editor role:
🚨 Transformer is hiring!
We're looking for a managing editor and a reporter to help grow our coverage of transformative AI systems into the world’s leading publication for AI decision-makers.
Details and links below 👇
We're looking for a managing editor and a reporter to help grow our coverage of transformative AI systems into the world’s leading publication for AI decision-makers.
Details and links below 👇
April 1, 2025 at 12:05 PM
🚨 Transformer is hiring!
We're looking for a managing editor and a reporter to help grow our coverage of transformative AI systems into the world’s leading publication for AI decision-makers.
Details and links below 👇
We're looking for a managing editor and a reporter to help grow our coverage of transformative AI systems into the world’s leading publication for AI decision-makers.
Details and links below 👇
66 other good things: essayant.com/2025/01/19/6...
January 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
66 other good things: essayant.com/2025/01/19/6...
Books: essayant.com/2024/12/31/b...
January 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Books: essayant.com/2024/12/31/b...
Theatre: essayant.com/2025/01/05/b...
January 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Theatre: essayant.com/2025/01/05/b...
Films: essayant.com/2025/01/05/b...
January 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Films: essayant.com/2025/01/05/b...
Downloaded Xiaohongshu but it’s not letting me pose my questions 😔
January 16, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Downloaded Xiaohongshu but it’s not letting me pose my questions 😔
I've made some predictions for AI progress in 2025 using Sage's excellent tool.
I encourage everyone — especially sceptics of AI progress — to make your own predictions! You've got until tomorrow to do so.
theaidigest.org/2025-ai-fore...
I encourage everyone — especially sceptics of AI progress — to make your own predictions! You've got until tomorrow to do so.
theaidigest.org/2025-ai-fore...
December 30, 2024 at 3:37 PM
I've made some predictions for AI progress in 2025 using Sage's excellent tool.
I encourage everyone — especially sceptics of AI progress — to make your own predictions! You've got until tomorrow to do so.
theaidigest.org/2025-ai-fore...
I encourage everyone — especially sceptics of AI progress — to make your own predictions! You've got until tomorrow to do so.
theaidigest.org/2025-ai-fore...