Ian McCarthy
@toffeeman68.bsky.social
Professor. Interested in operations, innovation, entrepreneurship, change, social media, creative consumers, education, footie, and bullshit.
You can freely access my articles and presentations here: https://itdependsblog.blogspot.com/p/home.html?m=1
You can freely access my articles and presentations here: https://itdependsblog.blogspot.com/p/home.html?m=1
Pinned
Ian McCarthy
@toffeeman68.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Check out the articles that coined the term 'botshit,' i.e., nonsensical AI-generated content that’s trusted and "used" by humans:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
hbr.org/2024/07/the-...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
hbr.org/2024/07/the-...
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
October 24, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
"... chatbots can produce coherent-sounding but inaccurate or fabricated content, referred to as hallucinations. When humans uncritically use this untruthful content, it becomes what we call botshit."
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0007681324000272?via%3Dihub
#pkmastery […]
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0007681324000272?via%3Dihub
#pkmastery […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
"... chatbots can produce coherent-sounding but inaccurate or fabricated content, referred to as hallucinations. When humans uncritically use this untruthful content, it becomes what we call botshit."
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0007681324000272?via%3Dihub
#pkmastery […]
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0007681324000272?via%3Dihub
#pkmastery […]
A useful chatbot guide for teens (and others) in Science News Magazine by Kathryn Hulick.
www.snexplores.org/article/5-th...
www.snexplores.org/article/5-th...
5 things to remember when talking to a chatbot
When using ChatGPT or other chatbots, remember your voice matters and watch out for flattery and hallucinations. And for important advice, ask real people.
www.snexplores.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM
A useful chatbot guide for teens (and others) in Science News Magazine by Kathryn Hulick.
www.snexplores.org/article/5-th...
www.snexplores.org/article/5-th...
The journal-based Matthew effect is where prestigious institutions publish in prestigious journals, increasing the prestige of both, but does not generate a citation impact advantage for the journal.
Redirecting
doi.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The journal-based Matthew effect is where prestigious institutions publish in prestigious journals, increasing the prestige of both, but does not generate a citation impact advantage for the journal.
I am trying to quickly access a pdf version of this article, if you have access could you send me a pdf of it please:
hbr.org/2023/06/mana...
I would contact the authors, but their affiliations are not listed🫤
hbr.org/2023/06/mana...
I would contact the authors, but their affiliations are not listed🫤
Managing the Risks of Generative AI
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has become widely popular, but its adoption by businesses comes with a degree of ethical risk. Organizations must prioritize the responsible use of generative A...
hbr.org
November 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
I am trying to quickly access a pdf version of this article, if you have access could you send me a pdf of it please:
hbr.org/2023/06/mana...
I would contact the authors, but their affiliations are not listed🫤
hbr.org/2023/06/mana...
I would contact the authors, but their affiliations are not listed🫤
A French data scientist and lawyer catalogued at least 490 court filings in the past six months that contained #botshit i.e., when AI makes up incorrect stuff and humans then uncritically "use" it in their work.
apnews.com/article/arti...
For botshit see: doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
apnews.com/article/arti...
For botshit see: doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
Mistake-filled legal briefs show the limits of relying on AI tools at work
Judges around the world are seeing error-riddled legal briefs that were generated with the help of artificial intelligence.
apnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:50 AM
A French data scientist and lawyer catalogued at least 490 court filings in the past six months that contained #botshit i.e., when AI makes up incorrect stuff and humans then uncritically "use" it in their work.
apnews.com/article/arti...
For botshit see: doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
apnews.com/article/arti...
For botshit see: doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
My first 10K.
Google Scholar is Strava for academics. We track citations instead of steps, and flex h-indices instead of pace.
Both platforms are games that can be gamified.
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
Google Scholar is Strava for academics. We track citations instead of steps, and flex h-indices instead of pace.
Both platforms are games that can be gamified.
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
October 27, 2025 at 7:35 PM
My first 10K.
Google Scholar is Strava for academics. We track citations instead of steps, and flex h-indices instead of pace.
Both platforms are games that can be gamified.
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
Google Scholar is Strava for academics. We track citations instead of steps, and flex h-indices instead of pace.
Both platforms are games that can be gamified.
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
October 24, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
Yes. This a great example of the cost of "botshit" ie when AI makes stuff up and humans uncritically use it
See:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
An open access version: dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
See:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
An open access version: dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
Redirecting
doi.org
October 7, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Yes. This a great example of the cost of "botshit" ie when AI makes stuff up and humans uncritically use it
See:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
An open access version: dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
See:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
An open access version: dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
This message by Adam Grant is central to the topics and language in some of my recent articles:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
doi.org/10.1177/0033...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
doi.org/10.1177/0033...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
October 13, 2025 at 6:01 AM
This message by Adam Grant is central to the topics and language in some of my recent articles:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
doi.org/10.1177/0033...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
doi.org/10.1177/0033...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
A funny take on the classic illusion.
We use the original to explain how such trickery of the mind underlies the power of deepfakes:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
We use the original to explain how such trickery of the mind underlies the power of deepfakes:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
September 28, 2025 at 8:42 AM
A funny take on the classic illusion.
We use the original to explain how such trickery of the mind underlies the power of deepfakes:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
We use the original to explain how such trickery of the mind underlies the power of deepfakes:
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
2/2 Kate Niederhoffer et al. on #workslop --content that appears polished but lacks real substance, offloading cognitive labor onto coworkers
hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity
Despite a surge in generative AI use across workplaces, most companies are seeing little measurable ROI. One possible reason is because AI tools are being used to produce “workslop”—content that appea...
hbr.org
September 24, 2025 at 8:17 AM
2/2 Kate Niederhoffer et al. on #workslop --content that appears polished but lacks real substance, offloading cognitive labor onto coworkers
hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
Poor-quality #genAI content is damaging more than we realize.
See:
1/2 @toffeeman68.bsky.social et al. on #botshit --Chatbot generated content that is not grounded in truth and is then uncritically used by a human in communication and decision making
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
See:
1/2 @toffeeman68.bsky.social et al. on #botshit --Chatbot generated content that is not grounded in truth and is then uncritically used by a human in communication and decision making
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Beware of botshit: How to manage the epistemic risks of generative chatbots
Advances in large language model (LLM) technology enable chatbots to generate and analyze content for our work. Generative chatbots do this work by pr…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 24, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Poor-quality #genAI content is damaging more than we realize.
See:
1/2 @toffeeman68.bsky.social et al. on #botshit --Chatbot generated content that is not grounded in truth and is then uncritically used by a human in communication and decision making
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
See:
1/2 @toffeeman68.bsky.social et al. on #botshit --Chatbot generated content that is not grounded in truth and is then uncritically used by a human in communication and decision making
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I wonder if media voters are still less biased than captain voters and coach voters, and that coaches are less biased than captains.
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
September 23, 2025 at 5:59 AM
I wonder if media voters are still less biased than captain voters and coach voters, and that coaches are less biased than captains.
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Using the "honeycomb model" to understand the functionalities and affordances of different metaverse realms.
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
September 18, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Using the "honeycomb model" to understand the functionalities and affordances of different metaverse realms.
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
BEWARE OF BOTSHIT: HOW TO MANAGE THE EPISTEMIC RISKSOF GENERATIVE CHATBOTS
BEWARE OF BOTSHIT: HOW TO MANAGE THE EPISTEMIC RISKSOF GENERATIVE CHATBOTS
Really interesting discussion paper on the premise of ‘botshit’: the AI version of bullshit. I can’t do this paper justice – it’s 16 pages, so I can only cover a few extracts. Recommend reading the…
buff.ly
September 1, 2025 at 1:56 AM
BEWARE OF BOTSHIT: HOW TO MANAGE THE EPISTEMIC RISKSOF GENERATIVE CHATBOTS
September 6, 2025 at 6:03 AM
The research-practice gap.
Learn why and how to use social media as a boundary-spanning technology to bridge this gap without sacrificing rigour for relevance.
Via publisher: doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
Open access preprint: ssrn.com/abstract=410...
Learn why and how to use social media as a boundary-spanning technology to bridge this gap without sacrificing rigour for relevance.
Via publisher: doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
Open access preprint: ssrn.com/abstract=410...
September 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The research-practice gap.
Learn why and how to use social media as a boundary-spanning technology to bridge this gap without sacrificing rigour for relevance.
Via publisher: doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
Open access preprint: ssrn.com/abstract=410...
Learn why and how to use social media as a boundary-spanning technology to bridge this gap without sacrificing rigour for relevance.
Via publisher: doi.org/10.1016/j.bu...
Open access preprint: ssrn.com/abstract=410...
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
Über „Bullshit“ und „Botshit“ - Umgang mit wenig reflektierter Nutzung von Chatbot Resultaten für die Entscheidungsfindung in Organisationen. Eine empfehlenswerte Präsentation von Hannigan, McCarthy & Spicer: chttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yvWL910BPKHJPrVgNq7tV11-rfISqFVI/edit#slide=id.p1
December 30, 2023 at 8:34 AM
Über „Bullshit“ und „Botshit“ - Umgang mit wenig reflektierter Nutzung von Chatbot Resultaten für die Entscheidungsfindung in Organisationen. Eine empfehlenswerte Präsentation von Hannigan, McCarthy & Spicer: chttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yvWL910BPKHJPrVgNq7tV11-rfISqFVI/edit#slide=id.p1
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
Thanks Ian! Really nice article about the generative bullshit from LLMs
August 3, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Thanks Ian! Really nice article about the generative bullshit from LLMs
The #gamification and #nudging of academic research.
August 11, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The #gamification and #nudging of academic research.
Input please🙏
I am developing an MBA level course on ‘digital platforms’. What are your favorite learning materials (as a student or instructor) on this topic?
I am interested in: Syllabi, Articles (academic & journalistic), Cases, Podcasts, Videos, Simulations & Exercises
I am developing an MBA level course on ‘digital platforms’. What are your favorite learning materials (as a student or instructor) on this topic?
I am interested in: Syllabi, Articles (academic & journalistic), Cases, Podcasts, Videos, Simulations & Exercises
August 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Input please🙏
I am developing an MBA level course on ‘digital platforms’. What are your favorite learning materials (as a student or instructor) on this topic?
I am interested in: Syllabi, Articles (academic & journalistic), Cases, Podcasts, Videos, Simulations & Exercises
I am developing an MBA level course on ‘digital platforms’. What are your favorite learning materials (as a student or instructor) on this topic?
I am interested in: Syllabi, Articles (academic & journalistic), Cases, Podcasts, Videos, Simulations & Exercises
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
Botshit Gone Wild
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
Botshit Gone Wild
The downsides of generative AI are growing like wildfire
open.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Botshit Gone Wild
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
Reposted by Ian McCarthy
"LLMs are great at mimicry and bad at facts, making them a beguiling and amoral technology for bullshitting" -- Hannigan et al. 2024 'Beware of botshit' safetyinsights.org/2025/08/05/a... #ai #llm #Tech
AI, bullshitting and botshit
“LLMs are great at mimicry and bad at facts, making them a beguiling and amoral technology for bullshitting” From a paper about ‘botshit’ – summary in a couple of week…
safetyinsights.org
August 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
"LLMs are great at mimicry and bad at facts, making them a beguiling and amoral technology for bullshitting" -- Hannigan et al. 2024 'Beware of botshit' safetyinsights.org/2025/08/05/a... #ai #llm #Tech