Chris
@songschris.bsky.social
Service designer, consultant, songwriter, fairly nerdy.
Reposted by Chris
This will not go well.
What this will do is push teenagers, already more digitally literate than lawmakers, into using increasingly sketchy methods to avoid age checks.
Let me tell you how I know... 🧵
1/
What this will do is push teenagers, already more digitally literate than lawmakers, into using increasingly sketchy methods to avoid age checks.
Let me tell you how I know... 🧵
1/
December 15, 2025 at 11:36 AM
This will not go well.
What this will do is push teenagers, already more digitally literate than lawmakers, into using increasingly sketchy methods to avoid age checks.
Let me tell you how I know... 🧵
1/
What this will do is push teenagers, already more digitally literate than lawmakers, into using increasingly sketchy methods to avoid age checks.
Let me tell you how I know... 🧵
1/
Reposted by Chris
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
December 9, 2025 at 8:36 PM
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Reposted by Chris
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Chris
One of the things I worked on at GOV.UK was making sure that scheduled publications didn’t happen too early and that caching isn’t prevent people seeing newly published material immediately.
If you’re ‘outside’ the proposition, you don’t get to use those features.
If you’re ‘outside’ the proposition, you don’t get to use those features.
I think public bodies should be using better publishing platforms than Wordpress, especially if they are handling sensitive information like the OBR.
I think GDS should create a set of standards for publishing outside of the GOV.UK proposition.
www.tpximpact.com/knowledge-hu...
I think GDS should create a set of standards for publishing outside of the GOV.UK proposition.
www.tpximpact.com/knowledge-hu...
Websites beyond the GOV.UK proposition - TPXimpact
Departments are creating websites outside the main GOV.UK proposition, risking user trust. We explore why new GDS guidance on domains and branding is now essential.
www.tpximpact.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:16 PM
One of the things I worked on at GOV.UK was making sure that scheduled publications didn’t happen too early and that caching isn’t prevent people seeing newly published material immediately.
If you’re ‘outside’ the proposition, you don’t get to use those features.
If you’re ‘outside’ the proposition, you don’t get to use those features.
Reposted by Chris
OMG. this is art
This They Might Be Giants TONIGHT SHOW performance of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from 1990 remains firmly lodged in my noggin thanks to the Tonight Show Band's full commitment and Doc Severinsen's incredible trumpeting... It took an already great song and made it transcendent.
December 1, 2025 at 3:02 PM
OMG. this is art
Reposted by Chris
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
If I ever name a political party, I'm going to call it "where's the party?"
November 30, 2025 at 5:55 PM
If I ever name a political party, I'm going to call it "where's the party?"
Reposted by Chris
User needs first
Service design second
Operating model third
Technology fourth
This order is still reversed way too often.
Service design second
Operating model third
Technology fourth
This order is still reversed way too often.
November 26, 2025 at 11:36 AM
User needs first
Service design second
Operating model third
Technology fourth
This order is still reversed way too often.
Service design second
Operating model third
Technology fourth
This order is still reversed way too often.
My timeline is now all about food and cooking. This is a good thing. Happy #Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it.
November 28, 2025 at 7:48 AM
My timeline is now all about food and cooking. This is a good thing. Happy #Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it.
Reposted by Chris
With a dementia-afflicted mom, I absolutely loved this.
Thanks, Ben! ❤️
Thanks, Ben! ❤️
This is true. It is the best email I got this year.
November 26, 2025 at 10:27 PM
With a dementia-afflicted mom, I absolutely loved this.
Thanks, Ben! ❤️
Thanks, Ben! ❤️
Reposted by Chris
Resharing this picture of @loudowne.bsky.social on stage at the SDN #serviceDesign Conference 2023 in Berlin.
I just shared it with a colleague when discussing what design is and what not.
So much of my work includes activities listed like:
A conversation
An email
Costing up delivery
Getting money
I just shared it with a colleague when discussing what design is and what not.
So much of my work includes activities listed like:
A conversation
An email
Costing up delivery
Getting money
November 25, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Resharing this picture of @loudowne.bsky.social on stage at the SDN #serviceDesign Conference 2023 in Berlin.
I just shared it with a colleague when discussing what design is and what not.
So much of my work includes activities listed like:
A conversation
An email
Costing up delivery
Getting money
I just shared it with a colleague when discussing what design is and what not.
So much of my work includes activities listed like:
A conversation
An email
Costing up delivery
Getting money
Reposted by Chris
Large language mistake
Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia... great read from @benjaminjriley.bsky.social
Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia... great read from @benjaminjriley.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Large language mistake
Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia... great read from @benjaminjriley.bsky.social
Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia... great read from @benjaminjriley.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris
Reposted by Chris
Reposted by Chris
I wrote a few words about Mani for The Sunday Times - I didn’t know it would be behind a paywall, so here it is if you would like to read it:
(1/7)
(1/7)
November 23, 2025 at 7:57 AM
I wrote a few words about Mani for The Sunday Times - I didn’t know it would be behind a paywall, so here it is if you would like to read it:
(1/7)
(1/7)
Reposted by Chris
“Sell the innovation, not the product.
The best — maybe the only? — real, direct measure of “innovation” is change in human behaviour.”
Slack's founder, Stewart Butterfield, exemplifies delivering fantastic UX.
https://medium.com/@stewart/we-dont-sell-saddles-here-4c59524d650d
The best — maybe the only? — real, direct measure of “innovation” is change in human behaviour.”
Slack's founder, Stewart Butterfield, exemplifies delivering fantastic UX.
https://medium.com/@stewart/we-dont-sell-saddles-here-4c59524d650d
We Don’t Sell Saddles Here
The memo below was sent to the team at Tiny Speck, the makers of Slack, on July 31st, 2013. It had been a little under seven months since…
medium.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM
“Sell the innovation, not the product.
The best — maybe the only? — real, direct measure of “innovation” is change in human behaviour.”
Slack's founder, Stewart Butterfield, exemplifies delivering fantastic UX.
https://medium.com/@stewart/we-dont-sell-saddles-here-4c59524d650d
The best — maybe the only? — real, direct measure of “innovation” is change in human behaviour.”
Slack's founder, Stewart Butterfield, exemplifies delivering fantastic UX.
https://medium.com/@stewart/we-dont-sell-saddles-here-4c59524d650d
Reposted by Chris
⭐ New blog: I've been doing some writing about Service Design recently... In this post, I explain how importance of the shift from product to a "service mindset" …
Thanks to Mica Moore (not on BSky) who contributed to this and provided feedback.
benholliday.com/2025/11/18/f...
#ServiceDesign
Thanks to Mica Moore (not on BSky) who contributed to this and provided feedback.
benholliday.com/2025/11/18/f...
#ServiceDesign
From product to a service mindset
Exploring the need for a service mindset in product-focused organisations.
benholliday.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:37 AM
⭐ New blog: I've been doing some writing about Service Design recently... In this post, I explain how importance of the shift from product to a "service mindset" …
Thanks to Mica Moore (not on BSky) who contributed to this and provided feedback.
benholliday.com/2025/11/18/f...
#ServiceDesign
Thanks to Mica Moore (not on BSky) who contributed to this and provided feedback.
benholliday.com/2025/11/18/f...
#ServiceDesign
Reposted by Chris
Broken record mode
You can’t do any service transformation work without working with operations colleagues.
Issuing laws and publishing policy papers is pointless if you don’t talk about and workshop these documents with the people who are supposed to follow them.
These are the best moments, too.
You can’t do any service transformation work without working with operations colleagues.
Issuing laws and publishing policy papers is pointless if you don’t talk about and workshop these documents with the people who are supposed to follow them.
These are the best moments, too.
Yesterday, I co-ran the second local #ServiceStandard workshop.
After visiting the State of Brandenburg and 2 of its services recently, we checked in for 3 hours with members of various service teams in Hamburg.
We looked at ID card renewal, social services, and notifying of a change of address.
After visiting the State of Brandenburg and 2 of its services recently, we checked in for 3 hours with members of various service teams in Hamburg.
We looked at ID card renewal, social services, and notifying of a change of address.
November 19, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Broken record mode
You can’t do any service transformation work without working with operations colleagues.
Issuing laws and publishing policy papers is pointless if you don’t talk about and workshop these documents with the people who are supposed to follow them.
These are the best moments, too.
You can’t do any service transformation work without working with operations colleagues.
Issuing laws and publishing policy papers is pointless if you don’t talk about and workshop these documents with the people who are supposed to follow them.
These are the best moments, too.
Send pictures of cats, dogs, squirrels. It's going to be a long day/week/month.
November 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Send pictures of cats, dogs, squirrels. It's going to be a long day/week/month.
Reposted by Chris
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
Reposted by Chris
@richardpope.org does a great job of showing that it's often senior leadership misunderstandings and desire for "big bang comms" that damage good work already in progress (this time on digital ID).
www.rpp.works/ways-of-doin...
www.rpp.works/ways-of-doin...
www.rpp.works
November 9, 2025 at 7:50 PM
@richardpope.org does a great job of showing that it's often senior leadership misunderstandings and desire for "big bang comms" that damage good work already in progress (this time on digital ID).
www.rpp.works/ways-of-doin...
www.rpp.works/ways-of-doin...
Reposted by Chris
@bryce.lol has a v good piece here on why AI may not be the hit companies are looking for.
Reasons include: hidden extra costs; issues with legacy systems/data quality; and problems moving from single use case software to more comprehensive AI agents.
Reasons include: hidden extra costs; issues with legacy systems/data quality; and problems moving from single use case software to more comprehensive AI agents.
AI’s awfully exciting until companies want to use it: Rightmove edition
‘Hello, I need the biggest business transformation project you have. No, that’s too big . . .’
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:56 PM
@bryce.lol has a v good piece here on why AI may not be the hit companies are looking for.
Reasons include: hidden extra costs; issues with legacy systems/data quality; and problems moving from single use case software to more comprehensive AI agents.
Reasons include: hidden extra costs; issues with legacy systems/data quality; and problems moving from single use case software to more comprehensive AI agents.
Reposted by Chris
LLMs are now widely used in social science as stand-ins for humans—assuming they can produce realistic, human-like text
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
Computational Turing Test Reveals Systematic Differences Between Human and AI Language
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in the social sciences to simulate human behavior, based on the assumption that they can generate realistic, human-like text. Yet this assumption rem...
arxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
LLMs are now widely used in social science as stand-ins for humans—assuming they can produce realistic, human-like text
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
Reposted by Chris
This is what I was trying to explain in my 2024 IAC talk, which I don't know if I ever posted online,
If you read what the people building these things describe doing, they are building a model of the Shannon Information of a subset of past uses of language.
If you read what the people building these things describe doing, they are building a model of the Shannon Information of a subset of past uses of language.
lol i think i wrote down somewhere recently "the information it disgorges is only ever incidentally accurate"
November 2, 2025 at 10:56 PM
This is what I was trying to explain in my 2024 IAC talk, which I don't know if I ever posted online,
If you read what the people building these things describe doing, they are building a model of the Shannon Information of a subset of past uses of language.
If you read what the people building these things describe doing, they are building a model of the Shannon Information of a subset of past uses of language.