iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I've been selected as a Methods Fellow at Cambridge Digital Humanities, and I'm running a workshop on exactly that. No coding needed. Mon 26 Oct, 13:00–17:00, CDH, Cambridge. Free, in person only, places limited. Please pass it on :) www.cdh.cam.ac.uk/events/42046/

cdh.cam.ac.uk

Too Many; Didn’t Read? Classifying Large Datasets with LLMs - CDH

Convenor: Raphael Hernandes, CDH Methods Fellow 2026-27 This workshop covers how to use large language models (LLMs) to classify datasets and extract information at scale, and on knowing when the resu...

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

A lot of research stalls at the same point: thousands of posts, letters or survey answers, and a question that needs every one of them labelled. Language models can do the labelling at scale. Without proper validation, there's no way to know whether to trust what comes back.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Quick question: is it safe to go back to using em dashes (—) without being labelled as AI? Has the dust settled? I miss them.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

I was interviewed for the University of Cambridge (@cam.ac.uk) website! :) We discussed the European Press Prize nomination, my life in Cambridge, and my current PhD research. (There are also some pictures of me, which is kind of a rare thing to find) www.cam.ac.uk/this-cambrid...

cam.ac.uk

The researcher analysing far-right rhetoric on Facebook

Raphael Hernandes, a PhD student at Cambridge Digital Humanities and Selwyn College, is a researcher and data journalist specialising in AI, journalism, and society.

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Reposted by Raphael Hernandes

University of Cambridge @cam.ac.uk · 16/04/2026

Congratulations to @hernandesraph.bsky.social, a Cambridge PhD student nominated today for the European Press Prize 🏆 Raphael is a PhD student at @camdighum.bsky.social and @selwyn1882.bsky.social and is a data journalist specialising in AI, journalism and society. www.cam.ac.uk/stories/this...

cam.ac.uk

The researcher analysing far-right rhetoric on Facebook

Raphael Hernandes, a PhD student at Cambridge Digital Humanities and Selwyn College, is a researcher and data journalist specialising in AI, journalism, and society.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

The methodology behind the classification is directly connected to key parts of my research at Cambridge. Same fundamental challenge: using AI to label politically sensitive content at scale, with enough safeguards to trust the output.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

These models will always tell you something. The question is whether you should believe it. Performance is uneven, as it might handle some categories well and falter on others. So a lot of the work is mapping where the trust holds, then calibrating what you can actually claim from the output.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Worth saying plainly: generative AI is not the story. The story is what the data revealed about the communities that fed the riots. AI was the method that made the analysis possible within journalism’s timelines.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

We analyzed thousands of text posts using generative AI to classify themes —anti-establishment sentiment, anti-immigration rhetoric, nativism, conspiracy, misinformation— validated against human reviewers.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

The nominated work is an investigation at @theguardian.com into far-right Facebook groups linked to the 2024 UK summer riots. We traced the social media activity of people charged with online offenses in connection with the unrest, mapping a network of groups with hundreds of thousands of members.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

A nomination for the European Press Prize, in the innovation category, suggests the bet was not entirely reckless.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

I spent the last few years betting that switching my main activity from journalism to academia would make me a better journalist. I gave up a career, moved countries, and put everything into studying the bridge between AI and journalism, and how AI could be applied responsibly to reporting.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Glad to have contributed with the teams at the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy and NetLab. Huge congrats to everyone involved. Here is the link: netlab-eco-ufrj.github.io/transparency...

netlab-eco-ufrj.github.io

Data Not Found — Social Media Data Transparency for Information Integrity

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

We need regulation to ensure meaningful transparency. Free, open access through APIs and interfaces, no artificial distinctions between ad categories, standardised protocols across jurisdictions. The report's 12 recommendations spell this out.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Without transparency, researchers can't track disinformation, regulators can't enforce the law, and a USD 650 billion advertising market runs on metrics no one outside the platforms can verify.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Access depends on where you are. The same companies offer more data in markets where regulation compels them to. In Brazil, with no dedicated framework, they offer the least.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

The Social Media Data Transparency Index assessed data access across 15 major platforms in the EU, the UK, and Brazil. Transparency is the exception. 10 of 15 platforms were rated, at best, deficient for user-generated content. For advertising data, 7 failed basic standards.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

It's becoming increasingly difficult to do independent work on how platforms shape public life, as it gets harder to see what goes on inside them. This report helps quantify that problem.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

In the past few years, both as a data journalist and a researcher studying online platforms, I've watched the data disappear. APIs paywalled, transparency tools discontinued, access requests denied without explanation.

Hand holding a printed copy of the "Data Not Found: Social Media Data Transparency for Information Integrity" report, a purple booklet dated April 2026, at its launch event.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

This is a symptom of far-right ideas becoming mainstream in the UK.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

We analyzed thousands of posts to show how extreme anti-immigration, and often conspiratorial and even violent, thinking is gaining traction among demographics not usually associated with this kind of content online. www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

theguardian.com

Inside the everyday Facebook networks where far-right ideas grow

The Guardian spent a year studying an online community trading in anti-immigration sentiment and misinformation. Experts say such spaces can play a role in radicalisation

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Reposted by Raphael Hernandes

Elena Morresi @elenamorresi.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

@hernandesraph.bsky.social , @porcelinad.bsky.social and I spent the better part of a year watching and analysing how far right ideology is shared in open Facebook groups: here is what we found: www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int... with immense help from Pablo Gutiérrez, Garry Blight, Lydia McMullan

theguardian.com

Inside the everyday Facebook networks where far-right ideas grow

The Guardian spent a year studying an online community trading in anti-immigration sentiment and misinformation. Experts say such spaces can play a role in radicalisation

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

- AI will fix the NHS and solve a bunch of govt problems. - How? - 🤷 Idk, but it feels like we should have a clearer idea by now... www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

theguardian.com

OpenAI signs deal with UK to find government uses for its models

Wide-ranging agreement with artificial intelligence firm behind ChatGPT comes after similar UK deal with Google

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

New paper out! :) While there is some great reporting about AI out there, we know that news coverage about this topic is often far from ideal. In this study, we explore the issues journalists face when writing about AI, the tools they use, and potential solutions to improve the content produced.

Screenshot of an academic article titled "AI, journalism, and critical AI literacy: exploring journalists’ perspectives on AI and responsible reporting" by Tomasz Hollanek, Dorian Peters, Eleanor Drage, and Raphael Hernandes, published in AI & Society. The abstract summarizes findings from workshops with journalists and experts, discussing AI literacy needs and proposing educational resources. Keywords include AI, journalism, and AI ethics.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

(On a not-completely-unrelated note: feel free to DM me any tips for dealing with a receding hairline!)

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

I plan to continue exploring AI and journalism topics, as Large Language Models increasingly mediate news consumption and synthetic media threaten the information landscape. I'm weirdly glad that I’ll be stressing about this for the next couple of years.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

My journey at the University of Cambridge continues! I'm excited to share that I'm heading back to school again, this time as a PhD student @camdighum.bsky.social, starting in October. My work will be supported by the generous Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarship.

Scenic view of King's College Chapel, Cambridge, partially framed by lush greenery and trees on a sunny day, with people punting in the middle of the image.

Screenshot of a Certificate of Confirmation of Admission from the University of Cambridge, indicating admission of Raphael Henrique Hernandes Vicenti into a PhD (Probationary) in Digital Humanities, full-time, commencing on 01 October 2025 at Selwyn College

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Reposted by Raphael Hernandes

Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

A new Coke ad proudly features a quote from a J.G. Ballard book, only he didn’t write the words and it’s not his book. www.404media.co/ai-powered-c...

404media.co

AI-Powered Coca-Cola Ad Celebrating Authors Gets Basic Facts Wrong

A new Coke ad proudly features a quote from a J.G. Ballard book, only he didn’t write the words and it’s not his book.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Either way, it skews the reading. Since we’re still accountable for the final product, in some instances, being transparent about use cases at a global level, such as a public-facing company policy, rather than flagging usage as it happens, might be preferable.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

There’s also the issue of perception. A disclaimer like “this headline was written by AI” might be perceived in wildly different ways ---some might dismiss it as garbage, others might assume it’s better than anything a biased human could write.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

As AI becomes more pervasive and embedded in different parts of the workflow, we risk cluttering content and distracting the reader. In some cases, it might feel like disclosing that a text was written in Microsoft Word.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

→ When we talk about AI applied to journalism, transparency is often cited as a must. I agree with that, of course. However, we also need to be strategic about how we apply it. Total transparency along with every single use sounds good in theory but can be impractical, and even counterproductive.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

And that is particularly hard to navigate in a world of under-resourced media where fly-by reporters end up doing a lot of this work. Still, the balance is off.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

I'm under no illusion: a lot of this is awfully boring for most readers. It’s easier to get excited about the new tool than the technical and philosophical discussions around it.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

We need more reporting that explores tech’s impacts, limitations, and provide broader context.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

→ There’s some amazing journalism about AI out there, but overall, we’re doing a bad job. Research shows that coverage is heavily shaped by industry actors in multiple countries. The result? A lot of product launches and how-to pieces that often lack critical perspective.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

I was really proud to speak at an event by The Alan Turing Institute last week about AI and journalism. A couple of points I made:

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Next week, I'll speak about AI and Journalism at The Alan Turing Institute! If you're interested, details below: -> How AI is shaping journalism and journalism is shaping AI Friday 11 April 2025, 17:00| In-person @ The Royal Institution, London Register: www.turing.ac.uk/events/how-a...

turing.ac.uk

How AI is shaping journalism and journalism is shaping AI

Please note, this is an in-person event which will take place at The Royal Institution of Great Britain 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

I have just found out that electric travel kettles exist and found it amusing. I can understand having a small kettle, but what about the "travel" bit? Is it in case you travel somewhere where there is electricity, but no proper way to prepare tea?

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

I was really glad to host a panel at the Oxford China Forum on AI, mental health, and companionship. Exciting topic, in an area with a lot of potential and a lot of concerns ---personally, I'm on the fence about a lot of this stuff and enjoy hearing about it.

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Raphael Hernandes @hernandesraph.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

The article explores how Germany’s Green Party is shifting focus away from climate action in its election campaign, responding to political pressures and attacks from the far right while trying to appeal to a broader voter base.

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