Yann Sweeney
@yanniscaus.bsky.social
Editor at Nature. Handling AI, computing & robotics. views my own
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
October 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
Wow, incredible. Huge win for the No Azure for Apartheid organizers.
Microsoft will no longer allow Israel to use its cloud services to enable its mass surveillance of occupied Palestinians – "the first known case of a US technology company withdrawing services provided to the Israeli military since the beginning of its war on Gaza"
Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its technology in mass surveillance of Palestinians
Exclusive: Tech firm ends military unit’s access to AI and data services after Guardian reveals secret spy project
www.theguardian.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Wow, incredible. Huge win for the No Azure for Apartheid organizers.
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
trying this with GPT-5 and charting new frontiers in gaslighting
August 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
trying this with GPT-5 and charting new frontiers in gaslighting
Early indications point to that word being "consciousness". Deep. From www-cdn.anthropic.com/4263b940cabb...
July 15, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Early indications point to that word being "consciousness". Deep. From www-cdn.anthropic.com/4263b940cabb...
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
Join the team and help us expose injustice and spark change 💥
£52-59k depending on experience
One year contract, with the potential to extend
London (hybrid working)
Deadline: July 21
£52-59k depending on experience
One year contract, with the potential to extend
London (hybrid working)
Deadline: July 21
July 9, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Join the team and help us expose injustice and spark change 💥
£52-59k depending on experience
One year contract, with the potential to extend
London (hybrid working)
Deadline: July 21
£52-59k depending on experience
One year contract, with the potential to extend
London (hybrid working)
Deadline: July 21
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
Putting to one side whether these tools will be safe/effective the idea that "saving 90s seconds" on each GP appointment is same as adding 2000 doctors to general practice is such naive utilitarian* logic
www.gov.uk/government/n...
* or Gradgrindian, if I remember Dickens' Hard Times correctly?
www.gov.uk/government/n...
* or Gradgrindian, if I remember Dickens' Hard Times correctly?
July 3, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Putting to one side whether these tools will be safe/effective the idea that "saving 90s seconds" on each GP appointment is same as adding 2000 doctors to general practice is such naive utilitarian* logic
www.gov.uk/government/n...
* or Gradgrindian, if I remember Dickens' Hard Times correctly?
www.gov.uk/government/n...
* or Gradgrindian, if I remember Dickens' Hard Times correctly?
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
New paper hot off the press www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
Computer-vision research powers surveillance technology - Nature
An analysis of research papers and citing patents indicates the extensive ties between computer-vision research and surveillance.
www.nature.com
June 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
New paper hot off the press www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
# avoid the nightmare bicycle
March 3, 2025 at 10:31 PM
# avoid the nightmare bicycle
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
NEW: Official advisers CCC say UK shld cut emissions 87% by 2040
⚖️Net cost of net-zero 73% less than thought
💷Total cost to 2050 = £108bn (~£4bn/yr, 0.2% GDP)
🏡🚗H’hold energy/fuel bills to fall £1,400
🔌Electrification is key
THREAD + charts
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/10
⚖️Net cost of net-zero 73% less than thought
💷Total cost to 2050 = £108bn (~£4bn/yr, 0.2% GDP)
🏡🚗H’hold energy/fuel bills to fall £1,400
🔌Electrification is key
THREAD + charts
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/10
February 26, 2025 at 10:27 AM
NEW: Official advisers CCC say UK shld cut emissions 87% by 2040
⚖️Net cost of net-zero 73% less than thought
💷Total cost to 2050 = £108bn (~£4bn/yr, 0.2% GDP)
🏡🚗H’hold energy/fuel bills to fall £1,400
🔌Electrification is key
THREAD + charts
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/10
⚖️Net cost of net-zero 73% less than thought
💷Total cost to 2050 = £108bn (~£4bn/yr, 0.2% GDP)
🏡🚗H’hold energy/fuel bills to fall £1,400
🔌Electrification is key
THREAD + charts
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/10
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
Stand by this: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
February 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Stand by this: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
My copy of Silicon Valley Engineer, August 1989. Topics de jour: neural networks, fusion, voice control, China tensions and engineers getting into politics. Plus ça change.
February 20, 2025 at 10:09 AM
My copy of Silicon Valley Engineer, August 1989. Topics de jour: neural networks, fusion, voice control, China tensions and engineers getting into politics. Plus ça change.
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
One of the biggest areas of AI hype right now is the notion that it will hyperaccelerate scientific progress. I understand why people think this — AI is already accelerating scientific _production_. 🧵
February 10, 2025 at 12:04 PM
One of the biggest areas of AI hype right now is the notion that it will hyperaccelerate scientific progress. I understand why people think this — AI is already accelerating scientific _production_. 🧵
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
This is really nice piece by @peterbihr.com -it reintroduces to ppl to the terms "above/below the API", relating it to AI.
It's essentially raising where this API lands within orgs, to place more people below it. Maybe good for the top, deffo not the rest.
thewavingcat.com/2025/01/ai-m...
It's essentially raising where this API lands within orgs, to place more people below it. Maybe good for the top, deffo not the rest.
thewavingcat.com/2025/01/ai-m...
AI makes Line Go Up, but…
AI has a tendency to make the Line Go Up. It also has a tendency to make Money Go Up. But that doesn’t mean that everyone’s happy, and for a good reason: The value capture around AI ten…
thewavingcat.com
January 26, 2025 at 12:17 PM
This is really nice piece by @peterbihr.com -it reintroduces to ppl to the terms "above/below the API", relating it to AI.
It's essentially raising where this API lands within orgs, to place more people below it. Maybe good for the top, deffo not the rest.
thewavingcat.com/2025/01/ai-m...
It's essentially raising where this API lands within orgs, to place more people below it. Maybe good for the top, deffo not the rest.
thewavingcat.com/2025/01/ai-m...
A lot has happened since I was on the Foundation for Science and Technology podcast last week, talking all things AI
soundcloud.com/user-3518993... 🧪
soundcloud.com/user-3518993... 🧪
Opportunities and regulation of AI - Yann Sweeney
In this podcast, we are in conversation with Yann Sweeney, Senior Editor for Computing and Robotics at Nature. We discuss recent developments in AI, how the UK and other countries are pursuing the opp
soundcloud.com
January 27, 2025 at 5:10 PM
A lot has happened since I was on the Foundation for Science and Technology podcast last week, talking all things AI
soundcloud.com/user-3518993... 🧪
soundcloud.com/user-3518993... 🧪
"OpenAI says that although o1 fared better than GPT-4 on its internal tests of hallucinations, anecdotally its testers said the model hallucinated more, in particular coming up with detailed bad answers that were thus more convincing."
This article might mark the most times ‘bullshit’ or ‘bullshitters’ has ever featured in a @nature.com story. Some of the latest research ideas to curb AI hallucinations/ confabulations/ bullshit, though it can’t be avoided entirely.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
AI hallucinations can’t be stopped — but these techniques can limit their damage
Developers have tricks to stop artificial intelligence from making things up, but large language models are still struggling to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
www.nature.com
January 23, 2025 at 10:24 AM
"OpenAI says that although o1 fared better than GPT-4 on its internal tests of hallucinations, anecdotally its testers said the model hallucinated more, in particular coming up with detailed bad answers that were thus more convincing."
A straightforward ethical conundrum for academics. If you’d rather not worry about your research ending up onboard a killer drone over Gaza or in surveillance tech securing Fortress Europe from climate migrants, then don’t take those military euros.
This has been fascinating to report. Europe's security is militarily threatened, but the state R&D machines of the Cold War are much diminished. Now the Commission & EU govts want to harness potential "dual-use" research in academia. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Will Europe ramp up defence research? War prompts major rethink
Nations consider increasing universities’ involvement in military research.
www.nature.com
January 17, 2025 at 12:56 AM
A straightforward ethical conundrum for academics. If you’d rather not worry about your research ending up onboard a killer drone over Gaza or in surveillance tech securing Fortress Europe from climate migrants, then don’t take those military euros.
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
This might be the first time after 10 years that boosted trees are not the best default choice when working with data in tables.
Instead a pre-trained neural network is, the new TabPFN, as we just published in Nature 🎉
Instead a pre-trained neural network is, the new TabPFN, as we just published in Nature 🎉
January 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
This might be the first time after 10 years that boosted trees are not the best default choice when working with data in tables.
Instead a pre-trained neural network is, the new TabPFN, as we just published in Nature 🎉
Instead a pre-trained neural network is, the new TabPFN, as we just published in Nature 🎉
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
Relevant to AI climate impact: "Power consumed by U.S. data centers has grown by 50% since last year, & it is expected to grow that much again by the end of 2025, ... Data centers are expected to consume as much as 17% of all U.S. electricity by 2030 — more than quadruple what they consume now."
Biden plan would encourage AI data centers on federal lands
Worries the U.S. will lose the AI arms race fuels an eleventh-hour Biden administration effort to allow massive data centers and power plants on public land.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Relevant to AI climate impact: "Power consumed by U.S. data centers has grown by 50% since last year, & it is expected to grow that much again by the end of 2025, ... Data centers are expected to consume as much as 17% of all U.S. electricity by 2030 — more than quadruple what they consume now."
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
Want a job in robotics in New York? faunarobotics.com
January 7, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Want a job in robotics in New York? faunarobotics.com
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
Gently floating home after a mesmerising performance from One Leg One Eye @firedrawnear.bsky.social at the Trades Club #HebdenBridge tonight.
If you can get a ticket for the current tour, don't hesitate 𓆙
If you can get a ticket for the current tour, don't hesitate 𓆙
December 4, 2024 at 12:37 AM
Gently floating home after a mesmerising performance from One Leg One Eye @firedrawnear.bsky.social at the Trades Club #HebdenBridge tonight.
If you can get a ticket for the current tour, don't hesitate 𓆙
If you can get a ticket for the current tour, don't hesitate 𓆙
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
“Denied by AI,” the multi-part STAT News investigation of how #UnitedHealthcare used an opaque algorithmic system to deny care to people who needed it is a #mustread www.statnews.com/2023/03/13/m...
December 6, 2024 at 5:42 AM
“Denied by AI,” the multi-part STAT News investigation of how #UnitedHealthcare used an opaque algorithmic system to deny care to people who needed it is a #mustread www.statnews.com/2023/03/13/m...
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
"In this essay for my assignment, I will comprehensively compare and contrast various sorting algorithms including bubble sort, selection sort and insertion sort. As a running example, let us sort this array of US soft drinks sales figures, lead by the crisp and refreshingly flavoured Coca Cola"
OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar says the startup is weighing up an ads model, but plans to be "thoughtful"; sources say OpenAI has hired ad talent from Meta and Google (Financial Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
December 2, 2024 at 4:43 PM
"In this essay for my assignment, I will comprehensively compare and contrast various sorting algorithms including bubble sort, selection sort and insertion sort. As a running example, let us sort this array of US soft drinks sales figures, lead by the crisp and refreshingly flavoured Coca Cola"
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
📢NEW: 'Open' AI systems aren't open. The vague term, combined w frothy AI hype is (mis)shaping policy & practice, assuming 'open source' AI democratizes access & addresses power concentration. It doesn't.
@smw.bsky.social, @davidthewid.bsky.social & I correct the record👇
nature.com/articles/s41...
@smw.bsky.social, @davidthewid.bsky.social & I correct the record👇
nature.com/articles/s41...
Why ‘open’ AI systems are actually closed, and why this matters - Nature
A review of the literature on artificial intelligence systems to examine openness reveals that open AI systems are actually closed, as they are highly dependent on the resources of a few large corpora...
nature.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:23 PM
📢NEW: 'Open' AI systems aren't open. The vague term, combined w frothy AI hype is (mis)shaping policy & practice, assuming 'open source' AI democratizes access & addresses power concentration. It doesn't.
@smw.bsky.social, @davidthewid.bsky.social & I correct the record👇
nature.com/articles/s41...
@smw.bsky.social, @davidthewid.bsky.social & I correct the record👇
nature.com/articles/s41...
sorry to be a buzzkill www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Why ‘open’ AI systems are actually closed, and why this matters - Nature
A review of the literature on artificial intelligence systems to examine openness reveals that open AI systems are actually closed, as they are highly dependent on the resources of a few large corpora...
www.nature.com
December 2, 2024 at 5:47 PM
sorry to be a buzzkill www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Yann Sweeney
Come work with us - Nature is looking for its next systems neuroscience editor 👇
a great opportunity to join the Nature team: we're looking for a neuroscience editor, ideally with a strong record in systems neuro: springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SpringerNatu...
Associate or Senior Editor, Nature
Job Title: Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Locations: New York or Berlin (Hybrid working model) Application Deadline: December 15th, 2024 About Springer Nature Group Springer Nature opens the doors...
springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com
November 26, 2024 at 1:42 PM
Come work with us - Nature is looking for its next systems neuroscience editor 👇