Reposted by Alys KeyHarriet Marsden @harriet1marsden.bsky.social · 29/09/2026I'm SO late to this (*sends apologetic glance to my inbox full of unread newsletters*) but this was a 10/10 read 032
Reposted by Alys KeyThe Londoner @the-londoner.bsky.social · 01/10/2026We're giving away free subscriptions to 16-25 year olds! But there are only about 50 left. Know a young Londoner who would love to access in-depth journalism about the capital? Send them the link below. 🔗 www.the-londoner.co.uk/postcode-lot...the-londoner.co.ukClaim your free membershipPostcode Lottery is funding a free one-year membership of The Londoner for readers aged 16 to 25, as part of their commitment to strengthening communities and supporting local journalism. Verify your ... 003
Reposted by Alys KeyThe Londoner @the-londoner.bsky.social · 26/09/2026In April 2025, the businesses of Gabriel’s Wharf were told 2026 would be their last year of trading. Since then, the relationship between tenants and landlords has fallen apart. So why is a community non-profit bulldozing this artsy South Bank market? www.the-londoner.co.uk/gabriels-wha...the-londoner.co.ukWhy is a community non-profit bulldozing this artsy South Bank market?How things fell apart between a social enterprise landlord and the businesses of Gabriel’s Wharf 132
Reposted by Alys KeyThe Londoner @the-londoner.bsky.social · 19/09/2026It's the most sought-after spot for a London food business. So who gets to stay in Borough Market? And who should have to go? www.the-londoner.co.uk/bread-ahead-...the-londoner.co.ukLondon’s most-hyped bakery faces off against London’s most-hyped marketWho is ‘too successful’ to sell their wares at Borough Market? 131
Reposted by Alys KeyJames O'Malley @jamesomalley.co.uk · 10/09/2026The Guardian’s data centre reporting is needlessly hysterical (FREE TO READ!) takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/the-guardi...takes.jamesomalley.co.ukThe Guardian’s data centre reporting is needlessly hystericalLess talk, more context. 83715
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Some news from me: I've joined @millmedia.bsky.social as editor of @londonermag.bsky.social I'll be editing, commissioning and writing great stories from across the capital. If there's something you think we should be digging into, get in touch editor@the-londoner.co.uk 1122
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 31/08/2026My theory about where people will accept increasing automation (as long as the branding is good), as seen through the lens of Blank Street Coffee uk20.substack.com/p/a-blank-st...uk20.substack.comA Blank Street theory of automationEveryday robotics will be about branding and little luxuries 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 04/08/2026I wrote a short history of a now defunct government department. "Perhaps the legacy of DSIT will be made or lost in whether the machinery of government can repeat its occasional magic tricks of empowering capable people to deliver projects quickly." uk20.substack.com/p/a-short-hi...uk20.substack.com 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 08/05/2026Wrote this week about the rollout of digital planning tools and the possible significance for startups, planning pros, and the general public. uk20.substack.com/p/best-laid-...uk20.substack.comBest laid plansNew planning tools are rolling out to local authorities. It's a big test of AI for government. 020
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 22/04/2026It's all the rage again now thanks to Chris Evans in Knives Outmedia.tenor.coma man in a white sweater is looking out a windowALT: a man in a white sweater is looking out a window 010
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 22/04/2026Bluesky is "the best place for crunchy policy debates". That's according to @georgeeaton.bsky.social in the first edition of a new interview series I'm editing for the Centre for British Progress. Out today! britishprogress.substack.com/p/pen-portra...britishprogress.substack.comPen Portrait: George Eaton on food, film, and the discourseAn interview with the journalist and Arguably co-founder 144
Reposted by Alys KeyNick Hilton @nickfthilton.bsky.social · 19/03/2026My little pod, The Ned Ludd Radio Hour, will be weekly for the next couple of months. This week's episode is with @alys.bsky.social talking about London's anti-AI protests and whether the movement is ever going to go global...open.spotify.comInside the Anti-AI Protests 021
Reposted by Alys Keysarcastic parrot @monkchips.com · 13/03/2026fun piece by @alys.bsky.social about "Londonmaxxing" I was doing it before it was cool. 🤣uk20.substack.comThe long life of LondonmaxxingThe cringedom, the power, and the glory 032
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 22/11/2025This week, I spoke to @cesifoti.bsky.social about knowledge, the perpetual rebuilding of a Japanese shrine, and how he would turn $1bn into a sustainable national innovation strategy uk20.substack.com/p/cesar-hida...uk20.substack.comMapping the geography of knowledge with César HidalgoThe author explains what policy-makers can learn from the 'rules of knowledge' 020
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 11/11/2025uk20.substack.com/p/the-ai-cli...uk20.substack.comThe AI clinical scribe that's a word-of-mouth hitAn interview with Heidi AI’s chief medical officer, Dr Hannah Allen 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 11/11/2025This week I interviewed the chief medical officer of Heidi AI about how usage of the app spread quickly through NHS clinicians. Bottom-up adoption is often seen as a good thing in AI. Can it work in a medical setting? 110
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 19/08/2025I put together a bunch of recommendations from cool people that should see you through to the end of the summer uk20.substack.com/p/the-uk-20-...uk20.substack.comThe UK 2.0 summer reading listBooks on technology and politics, history and the future, and everything in-between 010
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 04/08/2025Yaccarino was the only one of those Lindas I knew. Not sure whether to be proud or ashamed #OnlyConnect 020
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 04/08/2025The news is out: UK 2.0 is going independent. But I need your help! Rebooting this newsletter about UK tech policy, progress and growth means rebuilding the mailing list from scratch. Sign up via the link below and please share it with anyone who might be interested. uk20.substack.com 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 17/07/2025How do you explain this to people who challenge it? I generally say the output is still not as good writing-wise, but often people who aren't writers by trade aren't convinced by that - in terms of the writing THEY do, genai has matched or even surpassed it. 110
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 27/06/2025In which I implore you to please be nice to the machines digitalfrontier.com/articles/pol... 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 25/06/2025This was pretty good. Intriguing, innovative sentence-making. The denouement felt a bit unimaginative. 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 20/06/2025This was a sweet read. It also made me think a lot about the role podcasts can play in our lives as a stand-in for conversation with friends. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/m...nytimes.comWhere Have All My Deep Male Friendships Gone? 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 17/06/2025Thinking about the sweet dog who I used to see sitting calmly outside the stationery shop in Brussels today. The owners had a little sign saying "le chien de la papeterie" so people would know she wasn't lost. 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 16/06/2025I wrote about my favourite session at SXSW London: a solo talk from Mubi founder Efe Çakarel. He spoke about algorithms, AI dubbing and the future of cinemas digitalfrontier.com/articles/mub... 000
Reposted by Alys KeyCentre for British Progress @britishprogress.org · 03/04/2025💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage. It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇 britishprogress.org/articles/red... 75336
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 18/02/2025A COMPLETE UNKNOWN - Good fun, mostly avoids the biopic boredom curse (though my pet peeve of concert scenes that rely on dozens of reaction shots did come up a few times). I'm not a Dylan aficionado but it got me more interested in the music. Timmy was good, Norton great.media.tenor.coma poster for a complete unknown shows a man and a woman playing guitarsALT: a poster for a complete unknown shows a man and a woman playing guitars 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 12/02/2025My full interview with Cory Doctorow, including why he won't join Bluesky despite trusting the team implicitly digitalfrontier.com/articles/cor... 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 10/02/2025THE BRUTALIST - Much like TÀR, I liked this but can see why others might not. Engaged me for the whole runtime and left me thinking it over for days. Found some parts too overt and others too subtextual, but when the balance is right it's brilliant. Looks beautiful, too.media.tenor.coma statue of liberty is hanging upside down in a blue skyALT: a statue of liberty is hanging upside down in a blue sky 100
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 03/02/2025We need to reinforce a bit of strictness on the buzzing here. You can't come in to stop the timer then turn and ask your teammates "what do you think"? #OnlyConnect 010
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 27/01/2025Feel sad for whoever wrote that video game round, cut off so abruptly. Sounded like it was going to be interesting. #UniversityChallenge 040
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 25/01/2025EMILIA PEREZ - better than the first 20 minutes made it out to be. Critiques certainly justified but an interesting idea. Found myself wanting to know more about Rita despite all the time we spend with her.media.tenor.coma woman wearing a red jacket and a white shirt that says uce on itALT: a woman wearing a red jacket and a white shirt that says uce on it 130
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 25/01/2025DUNE: PART TWO - saw this back in March and enjoyed it just as much as the first one, occasional Life of Brian-ness notwithstanding.media.tenor.coma man is standing in the middle of a crowd of people in a dark room .ALT: a man is standing in the middle of a crowd of people in a dark room . 120
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 25/01/2025This year I've only seen 1/10 Best Picture nominees. Hoping I can rectify that by the time of the awards, keeping track on this thread🧵 100
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 24/01/2025The idea of carrying around a "drunk nose" to swap to when you've been on the sauce is hilarious and very moving at the same time 020
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 22/01/2025I spoke to Cory Doctorow yesterday (full interview coming soon) and we had an interesting chat on his thoughts about Bluesky. He goes into it at length here and it's worth taking a minute to think about. pluralistic.net/2025/01/20/c... 010
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 21/01/2025This Sunday is the annual parade commemorating Charles I. It's put on by the English Civil War society and is a bizarre and brilliant thing to go and see if you want to do something different with your weekend. I went last year. 000
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 16/01/2025This was a great read from @lydmorrish.bsky.social about all the work that goes into archiving our internet digitalfrontier.com/articles/way... with a beautiful illustration by Karina Cao! 141
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 06/01/2025Amol has such an easy demeanour that it feels so much more dramatic when he has to tell them off for rules infractions. Like the nice teacher who only reprimands when it's really serious. #UniversityChallenge 050
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 03/01/2025Elizabeth Line has a RIBA award but no way to clean the ghostly outlines of passengers off its walls apparently 020
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 03/01/2025Any suggestions for a bakery to find Galette des Rois in London this weekend? Been to Miel before, have got Jolene and Eric's on the list. Any others? 020
Reposted by Alys KeySimon Hunt @simon-hunt.bsky.social · 18/11/2024New around here? Interested in tech? I've compiled a list of 50 or so UK technology journo accounts. Let me know if you'd like to be added! go.bsky.app/5s9g2Rn 104219
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 19/12/2024Why do we dislike art that we previously rated highly when we realise it's made by AI? @stokel.bsky.social investigates, feat. some uncanny AI-made imitations of Henry Moore sculptures digitalfrontier.com/articles/hum... 021
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 12/12/2024Our attempt to make a Christmas-themed Elphaba at last night's bake-off challenge. ELFaba, if you will. 010
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 06/12/2024I'm bidding to host a session at the first ever SXSW London, all about how tech can play a part in finding solutions to the UK housing crisis. Please check it out and vote for it! sxswlondon.awardsplatform.com/entry/vote/l... 010
Alys Key @alys.bsky.social · 04/12/2024Granola, the AI note-taking app, has established a dedicated and evangelical user base in just a few months since launch. I sat down with co-founder Chris Pedregal to learn more digitalfrontier.com/articles/gra... 000