Chris Stokel-Walker
@stokel.bsky.social
Tech journalist and author, who increasingly also talks on TV and radio. Interested in the sparks that happen when the online and offline worlds collide
@stokel on the other place. Buy my book: How AI Ate the World!
@stokel on the other place. Buy my book: How AI Ate the World!
VPNs are obviously the first line of defence against things like the Online Safety Act. But how else can you stay safe on the web? My story for BBC Science Focus www.sciencefocus.com/future-techn...
7 ways to keep your personal data safe, according to cybersecurity experts | BBC Science Focus Magazine
The Online Safety Act has thrust VPNs into the spotlight, but what are the best ways to protect your identity online without relying on one?
www.sciencefocus.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:43 AM
VPNs are obviously the first line of defence against things like the Online Safety Act. But how else can you stay safe on the web? My story for BBC Science Focus www.sciencefocus.com/future-techn...
New episode of Crashed is a corker, with Alex Hudson outlining plans for Project 2029 arriving in the UK (and yes, it's as horrifying as you think). Listen now:
Apple: t.co/CnWfXl9u0G
Spotify: t.co/CnWfXl9u0G
Apple: t.co/CnWfXl9u0G
Spotify: t.co/CnWfXl9u0G
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crashed/id1846834434?i=1000736553940
t.co
November 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
New episode of Crashed is a corker, with Alex Hudson outlining plans for Project 2029 arriving in the UK (and yes, it's as horrifying as you think). Listen now:
Apple: t.co/CnWfXl9u0G
Spotify: t.co/CnWfXl9u0G
Apple: t.co/CnWfXl9u0G
Spotify: t.co/CnWfXl9u0G
Tech lobbying in the EU has hit its highest-ever level, outspending finance, pharma and automotive lobbying - combined. My latest for @nikkei.com Digital Governance looks at what impact that has on everyday Europeans www.nikkei.com/prime/digita...
米テックのEU「ロビー活動費」過去最高に メタがけん引 - 日経デジタルガバナンス
巨大テック企業はお金に困っていない――。ブリュッセルに本拠を置く非営利団体「Corporate Europe Observatory」とドイツの「LobbyControl」がこのほどまとめたリポート分析で、改めてそれが明らかになった。2023年、巨大テック企業は欧州でのロビー活動に1億1300万ユーロ（約200億円）を費やしたが、この数字はわずか2年間で33%増加し、25年には過去最高の1億51
www.nikkei.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Tech lobbying in the EU has hit its highest-ever level, outspending finance, pharma and automotive lobbying - combined. My latest for @nikkei.com Digital Governance looks at what impact that has on everyday Europeans www.nikkei.com/prime/digita...
I'm on BBC Radio 1 for an hour from 8-9pm answering questions about AI and the environment for Life Hacks - give it a listen
November 12, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I'm on BBC Radio 1 for an hour from 8-9pm answering questions about AI and the environment for Life Hacks - give it a listen
A partner's touch can help aid healing of wounds, a new study shows - but perhaps only if combined with an oxytocin spray. My latest for @newscientist.com www.newscientist.com/article/2504...
Sex could help wounds heal faster by reducing stress
Mild wounds healed faster if people took a spray containing the "love hormone" oxytocin and set aside time to praise their partner – but they cleared up even quicker if these individuals were also int...
www.newscientist.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
A partner's touch can help aid healing of wounds, a new study shows - but perhaps only if combined with an oxytocin spray. My latest for @newscientist.com www.newscientist.com/article/2504...
Dog cloning! It's the latest crazy trend out of Hollywood - but how does it work, and what are the ethics behind it? For @standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy I spoke to those involved, and those who absolutely don't want to be www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/wa...
Want to clone your dear departed canine best friend? That’ll be £38,000
Paris Hilton did it, as has NFL star Tom Brady. But is there a catch to cloning pets? Asks Chris Stokel-Walker
www.standard.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Dog cloning! It's the latest crazy trend out of Hollywood - but how does it work, and what are the ethics behind it? For @standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy I spoke to those involved, and those who absolutely don't want to be www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/wa...
Australia's head of national security (?!) is using Copilot to write his speeches for him, an FOI in Australia following up my one in the UK has revealed. God help us www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/12/a...
How Australia's national security chief used AI to write speeches and 'personnel communications'
As the government pushes public servants to use AI, this is the first time that FOI has been used to reveal how the government staff are already using the technology.
www.crikey.com.au
November 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Australia's head of national security (?!) is using Copilot to write his speeches for him, an FOI in Australia following up my one in the UK has revealed. God help us www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/12/a...
Amazing scenes
A Russian company presented the country's first (per TASS) humanoid robot equipped with AI today; it didn't go very well. (The soundtrack is spot-on though)
November 11, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Amazing scenes
The AI industry is likely to miss its 2030 net zero targets, according to a new report I covered for @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
AI power use forecast finds the industry far off track to net zero
Several large tech firms that are active in AI have set goals to hit net zero by 2030, but a new forecast of the energy and water required to run large data centres shows they’re unlikely to meet thos...
www.newscientist.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The AI industry is likely to miss its 2030 net zero targets, according to a new report I covered for @newscientist.com
www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
That @jjaron.bsky.social asked me to dig into the eye-popping claims made by the team behind Kosmos, an AI scientist claiming novel discoveries. The reality is... more complicated, the team agreed. By me for @newscientist.com www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
AI scientist claimed to do six months of research in just a few hours
Could an AI scientist help researchers come up with breakthroughs by analysing data and searching the existing scientific literature? That's the claim of the inventors of Kosmos, but not everyone is c...
www.newscientist.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
That @jjaron.bsky.social asked me to dig into the eye-popping claims made by the team behind Kosmos, an AI scientist claiming novel discoveries. The reality is... more complicated, the team agreed. By me for @newscientist.com www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
Reposted by Chris Stokel-Walker
The train derailment in Cumbria earlier this week was a wakeup call for safety. It rarely happens, but even one incident is a concern. For Professional Engineering, I explored engineering solutions to the problem www.imeche.org/news/news-ar...
Climate change could make derailments more likely – here’s how engineers are tackling the issue
www.imeche.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The train derailment in Cumbria earlier this week was a wakeup call for safety. It rarely happens, but even one incident is a concern. For Professional Engineering, I explored engineering solutions to the problem www.imeche.org/news/news-ar...
Reposted by Chris Stokel-Walker
What does the restructuring of the Microsoft-OpenAI agreement tell us about both companies' forecasts about AGI timelines? My latest for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91434937/mic...
What you can learn about the potential for AGI from the new Microsoft-OpenAI deal
The restructured arrangement between the Big Tech powerhouses looks like a win for Microsoft.
www.fastcompany.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:14 PM
What does the restructuring of the Microsoft-OpenAI agreement tell us about both companies' forecasts about AGI timelines? My latest for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91434937/mic...
What does the restructuring of the Microsoft-OpenAI agreement tell us about both companies' forecasts about AGI timelines? My latest for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91434937/mic...
What you can learn about the potential for AGI from the new Microsoft-OpenAI deal
The restructured arrangement between the Big Tech powerhouses looks like a win for Microsoft.
www.fastcompany.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:14 PM
What does the restructuring of the Microsoft-OpenAI agreement tell us about both companies' forecasts about AGI timelines? My latest for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91434937/mic...
The train derailment in Cumbria earlier this week was a wakeup call for safety. It rarely happens, but even one incident is a concern. For Professional Engineering, I explored engineering solutions to the problem www.imeche.org/news/news-ar...
Climate change could make derailments more likely – here’s how engineers are tackling the issue
www.imeche.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The train derailment in Cumbria earlier this week was a wakeup call for safety. It rarely happens, but even one incident is a concern. For Professional Engineering, I explored engineering solutions to the problem www.imeche.org/news/news-ar...
Reposted by Chris Stokel-Walker
Europe has its eyes on developing a digital Euro - but to what end? My latest for @nikkei.com Digital Governance www.nikkei.com/prime/digita...
欧州デジタルユーロ構想 背中押す「対トランプ地政学」 - 日経デジタルガバナンス
（写真はロイター）欧州の人々のお金の支払い方法が大きく変わるかもしれない。欧州中央銀行（ECB）が2029年の発行を目指す方針を示した「デジタルユーロ」が実現すればの話だ。ECBは、従来の銀行やクレジットカード会社を介さない、欧州全域のデジタル決済システムの開発を目指しているという。NIKKEI Digital Governanceは海外在住のジャーナリストによるリポートをお届けしています。今回は...
www.nikkei.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Europe has its eyes on developing a digital Euro - but to what end? My latest for @nikkei.com Digital Governance www.nikkei.com/prime/digita...
Reposted by Chris Stokel-Walker
Everyone talks about rank and file workers being a risk for their unauthorised AI usage, but few talk about the real issue: bosses who think they know better than their company policies. My latest for @leaddev.com leaddev.com/ai/why-your-...
Why your boss is the biggest AI risk
Execs have been quick to caution developers about the risks of AI, but don't seem to be taking their own advice.
leaddev.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Everyone talks about rank and file workers being a risk for their unauthorised AI usage, but few talk about the real issue: bosses who think they know better than their company policies. My latest for @leaddev.com leaddev.com/ai/why-your-...
@peteetchells.bsky.social Hello! Have sent you a DM on here
November 6, 2025 at 6:11 PM
@peteetchells.bsky.social Hello! Have sent you a DM on here
Everyone talks about rank and file workers being a risk for their unauthorised AI usage, but few talk about the real issue: bosses who think they know better than their company policies. My latest for @leaddev.com leaddev.com/ai/why-your-...
Why your boss is the biggest AI risk
Execs have been quick to caution developers about the risks of AI, but don't seem to be taking their own advice.
leaddev.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Everyone talks about rank and file workers being a risk for their unauthorised AI usage, but few talk about the real issue: bosses who think they know better than their company policies. My latest for @leaddev.com leaddev.com/ai/why-your-...
Reposted by Chris Stokel-Walker
Does TikTok makes journalism better or worse? @stokel.bsky.social has strong views in the latest episode of Crashed, available on all good podcast platforms
November 6, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Does TikTok makes journalism better or worse? @stokel.bsky.social has strong views in the latest episode of Crashed, available on all good podcast platforms
Europe has its eyes on developing a digital Euro - but to what end? My latest for @nikkei.com Digital Governance www.nikkei.com/prime/digita...
欧州デジタルユーロ構想 背中押す「対トランプ地政学」 - 日経デジタルガバナンス
（写真はロイター）欧州の人々のお金の支払い方法が大きく変わるかもしれない。欧州中央銀行（ECB）が2029年の発行を目指す方針を示した「デジタルユーロ」が実現すればの話だ。ECBは、従来の銀行やクレジットカード会社を介さない、欧州全域のデジタル決済システムの開発を目指しているという。NIKKEI Digital Governanceは海外在住のジャーナリストによるリポートをお届けしています。今回は...
www.nikkei.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Europe has its eyes on developing a digital Euro - but to what end? My latest for @nikkei.com Digital Governance www.nikkei.com/prime/digita...
I recently spent some time in Estonia to look at how the tech sector is responding to an increasingly belligerent Russian state on their border. My latest for @inc.com www.inc.com/chris-stokel...
As Russia Tests NATO’s Limits, Estonia’s Tech Scene Heats Up
Estonia's tech sector is adapting fast to the risks of Russian incursions into NATO countries.
www.inc.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I recently spent some time in Estonia to look at how the tech sector is responding to an increasingly belligerent Russian state on their border. My latest for @inc.com www.inc.com/chris-stokel...
Reposted by Chris Stokel-Walker
In Germany, most restaurants and hotels gain glowing reviews. It's not because of a higher quality of service, but because businessowners are weaponising reporting systems to threaten to take down bad reviews alleging defamation. By me for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91420303/goo...
Think you can trust Google reviews in Germany? Think again
The flurry of five-star reviews for that restaurant, bar or tourist attraction might not be telling the whole story.
www.fastcompany.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
In Germany, most restaurants and hotels gain glowing reviews. It's not because of a higher quality of service, but because businessowners are weaponising reporting systems to threaten to take down bad reviews alleging defamation. By me for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91420303/goo...
In Germany, most restaurants and hotels gain glowing reviews. It's not because of a higher quality of service, but because businessowners are weaponising reporting systems to threaten to take down bad reviews alleging defamation. By me for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91420303/goo...
Think you can trust Google reviews in Germany? Think again
The flurry of five-star reviews for that restaurant, bar or tourist attraction might not be telling the whole story.
www.fastcompany.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
In Germany, most restaurants and hotels gain glowing reviews. It's not because of a higher quality of service, but because businessowners are weaponising reporting systems to threaten to take down bad reviews alleging defamation. By me for @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/91420303/goo...
AI is having an impact on mental health, with more people presenting at hospital and doctor front doors saying they've made unhealthy connections with chatbots. For @bmj.com I dug into the issue www.bmj.com/content/391/...
AI driven psychosis and suicide are on the rise, but what happens if we turn the chatbots off?
Cases are emerging of harm or suicide resulting from people’s dependent relationships with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. Are these warning signs of a larger hidden problem? And, if so, what should regu...
www.bmj.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:07 AM
AI is having an impact on mental health, with more people presenting at hospital and doctor front doors saying they've made unhealthy connections with chatbots. For @bmj.com I dug into the issue www.bmj.com/content/391/...
One of the joys of doing stories for @newscientist.com is that I can find these amazing papers and report on them. Today, a 16-year-old who made a robotic hand out of Lego. It's sick www.newscientist.com/article/2501...
Teenager builds advanced robot hand entirely from Lego pieces
A four-fingered robotic hand built from Lego Mindstorms pieces can push, pull and grip with almost as much force as a leading 3D-printed hand
www.newscientist.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:06 AM
One of the joys of doing stories for @newscientist.com is that I can find these amazing papers and report on them. Today, a 16-year-old who made a robotic hand out of Lego. It's sick www.newscientist.com/article/2501...