iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The more honest explanation is that Altman and others are deliberately externalising their costs so the public pays for what their business should.

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Bhaskar Mitra | ভাস্কর মিত্র @bmitra.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Last week I presented a keynote at #SIGIR2026 titled "Emancipatory Information Retrieval: Towards Critical IR Theories and Practices". Slides: bhaskar-mitra.github.io/files/emanci... I went in nervously excited but several people appreciated talking openly about this topic. A quick thread. 🧵 1/

Photo of the stage at the beginning of the keynote address. The title slide of the keynote is being projected on a large screen in the background. Present on stage: Me (as keynote speaker) and Hannah Bast (SIGIR'26 PC Chair and session chair for the keynote). Also, in the background on stage are large lit-up letters spelling out "SIGIR 2026".

Photo credit: Johanne Trippas

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Im no fan of the Labour Party of the UK, but how many “left leaning” folk, male and female, are decrying Marie-France van Heel’s excellent sartorial choices is damning. She’s from what little I know an admirable person who should be treated with respect.

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JEDI Workshop @jedi-workshop.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Worried about corporate and authoritarian capture of our IR platforms? Do you wish IR platforms could support our pursuit for justice, emancipation, and democracy? If you are at #SIGIR2026, join us at the JEDI workshop on Friday. Let's work together to make it real! jedi.inertial.science/sigir2026/

jedi.inertial.science

JEDI workshop @ SIGIR 2026

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Minnie Rahman @minnierahman.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

As we are coming up to the anniversary of the Grenfell Tower Fire, I am reflecting on the hardest job I've ever done and nothing will ever be harder. Words can't express what it was like to coordinate this, support the Grenfell community, and watch the defendants receive it. www.testimonyweek.co.uk

testimonyweek.co.uk

Grenfell Testimony Week

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Alarmingly this isn’t the only AIEd booster paper that’s been retracted recently. As Ben rightly points out, this stuff will likely stick as convenient affirmation for uncritical thinkers. AIEd is always complex so be skeptical of putative clear cut breakthrough outcomes.

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Rapido Trains UK @rapidotrains.co.uk · 28/04/2026

We have finally announced a pretty little Peckett, but not the one many of you were expecting! Our latest announcement is a charming little loco for the 009 Narrow Lines range: The Peckett & Sons Cranmore Class 0-4-0ST! buff.ly/RHPe4WD

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Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Florence Lawrence (1886 –1938) was a Canadian-American stage performer and film actress. She also invented the first automobile "signaling arm", a predecessor of the modern turn signal, along with the first mechanical brake signal, but was not able to patent her inventions. #CelebratingWomen

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Internet Archive @archive.org · 22/04/2026

Andrew Deck of Nieman Lab ( @andrewdeck.bsky.social @niemanlab.org ) broke the story in February on publishers blocking the Wayback Machine. In a new interview on Marketplace, he challenges the narrative that web archives are responsible for AI scraping. Listen: www.marketplace.org/episode/2026...

“I think it's important to say that in our conversations with news publishers, a lot of them were taking this action preemptively out of a fear of proxy scraping rather than direct evidence that it has happened to them already. None of the publishers were able to point to a particular AI company or other kinds of direct evidence that their content had already been scraped by the Wayback Machine.”

“News sites are blocking access to Internet Archive's Wayback Machine”
Marketplace Tech, April 21, 2026

Andrew Deck
Nieman Lab

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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

This is a FRAUDULENT paper, AI-generated. My name was used as an author and I had nothing to do with it, never saw it until today e-pubmed.co.uk/journals/dig... The "Editors" Angelo Rossi Mori, David Mensah, and Zarnie Khadjesari and this "Journal" should be reported.

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

The Guardian is covering (Australian) Federal Court guidance for AI use; there are other issues: checking AI output in sensitive settings can outweigh the labour savings ; and AI is prone to commonplace rather than technical understandings, leading to major errors www.theguardian.com/law/2026/apr...

theguardian.com

Australian federal court warns lawyers over ‘unacceptable’ use of AI

New guidance to legal profession ‘embraces’ use of technology but flags penalties for lawyers who ‘mislead the court’ with AI-generated errors

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

At #chi2026 : one thing I’m noticing is how often presenters try to go fast rather than pare down their presentation. To channel my colleague @danachatter.bsky.social : take three key messages and focus on them. Don’t try to compress by speed!

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

At ACM SIGCHI ; already met many colleagues and at the same time…just how big this conference is these days!

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Hillary Monahan @hillarymonahan.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

You do not know how you will react to being sexually assaulted until it happens to you so stop theory crafting your reaction, please.

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

The Australian Human Rights Commissions' report on the status of trans and gender diverse people in Australia is sobering reading. The details of some of the submissions made to them by hate activists in the report are invidious and reveal malicious hostility humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub...

humanrights.gov.au

Equal Identities Report

A human rights review of trans and gender diverse experiences in Australia

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Prof Erica Borgstrom @ericaborgstrom.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

My inaugural lecture is coming up - June 3rd! Talking about my research and lessons about the end of life and loss. Free to attend (in person in Milton Keynes or online), plus opportunity to hear my wonderful colleague @remembermyhat.bsky.social too! Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reimaginin...

eventbrite.co.uk

Reimagining Sexuality, Ageing, and Death: Inaugural Lectures

Dive into fresh takes on ageing, queer joy, and what it means to rethink death in this thought-provoking lecture.

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Amy J. Ko @amyko.phd · 28/03/2026

Today I’m grateful for 27 years of support from the National Science Foundation, funding my education, research, and service to the world. All my grants are now terminated or non-renewed, as I believe too strongly in the American dream of equal opportunity. Until we meet again, federal funding.

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

A stunning example of how using ChatGPT does not give you expert advice, nor make you an expert. The Krafton CEO has totally wrecked the company, its finances and reputation.

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BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

the stink of gender resentment coming off Silicon Valley has been obvious for a while. these men hate women because they hate being told no.

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RMIT School of Computing Technologies @rmitcomputing.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

The A/Dean of ITI Dana McKay, Prof. George Buchanan and their PhD student Bingyi Han of Uni. of Melbourne won a best paper on the ethical issues of AI in education. @acm-sigchi.bsky.social

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RMIT School of Computing Technologies @rmitcomputing.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

We're delighted that researchers from our Interaction, Technology and Information Discipline have won best paper and honourable mention recognition at ACM SIGCHI. Zhidian Lin, a first-year PhD student gained a mention for her work on affective XR systems.

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Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

My post on the gender pay gap across occupations: Men have a higher average salary in 98% of all occupations where one gender earns at least $100,000 average salary thepoint.com.au/news/260307-...

thepoint.com.au

Gender pay gap narrows, yet men out-earn women in almost every occupation

Earlier this week the Finance Minister and Minister for Women, Senator Katy Gallagher released the latest data of the gender pay gap by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.

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Dr Mary McAuliffe @drmarymcauliffe.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Probably the largest protest I’ve seen in UCD - in solidarity with the UCD medical student who suffered horrific #GBV I’m proud to see so many of my students here.

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

By any fair understanding of what is reported, Adelaide University is trying to duck out of a presentation by a UN rapporteur on what is going on in Gaza. Apparently facts and expert opinion are an unwelcome aspect of free speech. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

theguardian.com

Adelaide University cancels literary festival event with UN Gaza investigator Francesca Albanese

Festival organisers criticise the university for last-minute booking cancellation of event headlined by special rapporteur for Palestinian territories

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

I might just manage to avoid falling for this, but I wouldn’t bet on my chances! Looks very nice indeed!

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CILIP @cilip.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Read what #CILIPScotland colleague Kirsten MacQuarrie has to say on feminist librarianship and the lack of male peers: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a job well-valued, in every sense, will not be in want of male colleagues."⤵️

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Women’s History Association of Ireland @whaireland.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Just a week to go to get those abstracts in. We are really looking forward to putting the programme together for our conference in Limerick - happening 29 & 30 May 2026.

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Dr Kevin Guyan @kevinguyan.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

New research maps the campaign to erase trans people from UK data 🔢 This peer-reviewed article offers the first detailed account of how UK campaign groups have sought to define sex as strictly biological across the census, policing, healthcare and digital ID. doi.org/10.1080/0958...

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Rapido Trains UK @rapidotrains.co.uk · 17/01/2026

We recently received some wonderful colour production samples of the OO Gauge GNR 8-Ton Van. Delivery of these vans is expected at some point in Q1 of this year. Keep an eye on the newsletter for more info!

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Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.blacksky.app · 15/01/2026

are you displeased with today’s AI safety evaluation landscape and curious about what greater conceptual clarity, methodological soundness, and rigour in AI evaluation could look like? if so, consider coming to Dublin to pursue a PhD with me apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a... pls repost

$About the PhD: Audits and evaluation of AI systems — and the broader context that AI systems operate in — have become central to conceptualising, quantifying, measuring and understanding the operations, failures, limitations, underlying assumptions, and downstream societal implications of AI systems. Existing AI audit and evaluation efforts are fractured, done in a siloed and ad-hoc manner, and with little deliberation and reflection around conceptual rigour and methodological validity. This PhD is for a candidate that is passionate about exploring what a conceptually cogent, methodologically sound, and well-founded AI evaluation and safety research might look like. This requires grappling with questions such as: What does it mean to represent “ground truth” in proxies, synthetic data, or computational simulation? How do we reliably measure abstract and complex phenomena? What are the epistemological or methodological implications of quantification and measurement approaches we choose to employ? Particularly, what underlying presuppositions, values, or perspectives do they entail? How do we ensure the lived experiences of impacted communities play a critical role in the development and justification of measurement metrics and proxies? Through exploration of these questions, the candidate is expected to engage with core concepts in the philosophy of science, history of science, Black feminist epistemologies, and similar schools of thought to develop an in-depth understanding of existing practices with the aim of applying it to advance shared standards and best practice in AI evaluation. The candidate is expected to integrate empirical (for example, through analysis or evaluation of existing benchmarks) or practical (for example, by executing evaluation of AI systems) components into the overall work.$

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NBC News @nbcnews.com · 14/01/2026

Claudette Colvin, whose 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus helped spark the modern civil rights movement, has died. She was 86.

nbcnews.to

Claudette Colvin, who refused to move seats on a bus at start of civil rights movement, dies at 86

Colvin, at age 15, was arrested nine months before Rosa Parks gained international fame for also refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus.

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Institute of Historical Research Wohl Library @ihrlibrary.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Join us for this online training session, hosted by the IHR Library and Digital Team, which will bring together a panel of historians, librarians and subject specialists to discuss the History of Emotions. Everyone is welcome.

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Delighted to see the discovery of Roman villa site in Port Talbot ; this is already a very significant find, but more may be to come www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.com

Newly discovered ‘Port Talbot Pompeii’ may have been Roman centre for agriculture

Academics say the villa, found in Welsh deer park, shows the area was not on fringes of Roman empire

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

The cavil, gutless and bigoted Adelaide Writers Festival board have put out a total fauxpology regarding their banning of a Palestinian author on the basis of her identity. If they think claiming kt was bad comms they’re deluded;they mustn’t know it wasn’t www.adelaidefestival.com.au/news/2025/ad...

adelaidefestival.com.au

Adelaide Festival Board Statement - 13 January 2026

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Dylan McConnell @dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

PSA: @readingsbooks.bsky.social is offering a 10% discount for recent books of authors who have chosen to withdraw from the 2026 Adelaide Writers' Week: www.readings.com.au/collections/...

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Dictionary of Irish Biography @dib.ie · 09/01/2026

#NollaignamBan During WWII Kay McNulty was one of the women who devised processing routines for the ENIAC machine, establishing how artificial intelligence developed. At the public launch in 1946 the women programmers were relegated to the role of hostesses. www.dib.ie/biography/mc...

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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Congratulations to Kate Halsey and @mjrsangster.bsky.social, winners of the BSECS Digital Prize, sponsored by Adam Matthew Digital. #bsecs2026 @bsecs.bsky.social

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George Buchanan @georgerbuchanan.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

If anyone is a pg research student in history ; the IHR courses are excellent…

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Shooti @bambooshooti.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

#ResistanceRoots Lynn Conway was born on this day in 1938 in Mount Vernon, N.Y. She was a computer scientist, electrical engineer and prominent transgender rights activist whose work at IBM and Xerox PARC fundamentally reshaped the architecture of modern computing and the semiconductor industry. /1

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Chad Loder @chadloder.dev · 31/12/2025

This guy? www.thecrimson.com/article/1991...

But members of the class continued to express concern over comments made by Associate Professor of History James Hankins during his
History 10a lecture on Tuesday.
During the lecture, which centered on the age of chivalry and courtly love, Hankins allegedly said
"'Feminists have invented sexual harassment and date rape in order to gain dominance in our society,'' according to an unidentified member of the class.

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Robin Moira White @robinmoirawhite.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

I cannot see the slightest justification for allowing anti-trans hate group ‘Sex matters’ to comment on this story. If you agree with me, a complaint to the BBC only takes a few moments. www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....

www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org

Unacceptable waits for adult gender clinic appointments, report finds - BBC News

Some patients will wait up to 15 years for an appointment, unless improvements are made, the report says.

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