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Ust Oldfield

@ustdoes.tech
236 followers 202 following 1.1K posts

Father to little O, little P, little A, and little F | Chief Data Officer, tech enthusiast and data geek by day | Dad by night and weekends | He/Him

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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 12h
Anthropic have non-cancellable obligations of $500bn yet they have $4.6bn of cancellable income. How on earth do they expect an IPO valuation of $2tn?! Is its existential risk to humanity the risk it presents to the market?
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 14h
Kids are loss making, they keep leaving their sandboxes, and they’re non-deterministic in everything they do. The logic holds. Also applies to cats.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 29/09/2026
“Please invest, my profit margin is very sick. *cough* And my product may kill us all *cough*” giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Anthropic warns of ‘existential risks to humanity’ in IPO prospectus
giftarticle.ft.com
Anthropic warns of ‘existential risks to humanity’ in IPO prospectus
Long-awaited S1 filing reports Claude maker lost $8bn last year on $4.6bn in revenue
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 29/09/2026
The government has an opportunity to use the tax and welfare systems to encourage the development of new companies and innovations. Will it? Absolutely not.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 28/09/2026
I’m sure that the Chinese would want to buy American weapons. To buy the blueprints is a lot easier than traditional espionage routes. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Trump asked Xi Jinping if China would like to buy US weapons, American ambassador says
David Perdue’s remarks come after a Taiwanese minister spoke of the ‘severe’ military threat posed by Beijing to the self-ruled island
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 24/09/2026
Basically, we have become European in our attitude to work. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Why your holiday is good news for the UK
giftarticle.ft.com
Why your holiday is good news for the UK
For once we should thank the Office for National Statistics for its productivity reporting
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 22/09/2026
Never trust someone who pairs brown shoes with a blue suit.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 22/09/2026
I hate everything about this article. It could have been a message: retired people enjoy holidaying. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Meet the pensioners spending the kids' inheritance
The phenomenon sees retirees spend all their money on enjoying life to the full.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 21/09/2026
Guys, the EU AI Act already exists
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 21/09/2026
Just ruined Little O’s day by beating him in cards. I feel terrible, he feels even worse. Happy Monday!
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 17/09/2026
Moral of the story: don’t be nice, be kind. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Ed Sheeran's persona as music's Mr Nice Guy worsened the biggest crisis of his career
Sheeran tries to stay away from politics and controversy, but that stance has come in for criticism.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 16/09/2026
Proof that to be a bank requires more than just banking technology.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 15/09/2026
Literally nothing in the plot line is remotely rational. It’s a wild ride (and not the good kind). Society is doomed if these people are in charge.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 15/09/2026
God bless SoftBank and all who have contributed to the unhinged shareholder presentations. The golden goose is coming home to roost - as I’m using it for inspiration for a conference session.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 14/09/2026
One of @timharford.ft.com’s best columns. I particularly enjoyed the “all YouTube is Baby Shark” theory. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Is the modern economy a bit too . . .  samey?
giftarticle.ft.com
Is the modern economy a bit too . . .  samey?
The less willing we are to take a risk, the more safe options we are likely to be offered
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 10/09/2026
Come on household tax assessments www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Chancellor urged to fix £100k childcare ‘cliff edge’ that prompts parents to cut work
Threshold pushes some to reduce hours or stop working to avoid losing entitlement, report warns
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 08/09/2026
UPS is an awful logistics company
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 08/09/2026
Time to designate Palantir a Critical Third Party. One may argue “what does energy supply have to do with financial stability?” To which my answer is: everything.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 08/09/2026
Why does the discourse around the black clad thugs keep resolving to “illegal immigration”? These thugs have a problem with any kind of immigration - and their “concerns” should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 07/09/2026
I was reading this excellent article this morning giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Rerun or sequel? Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor on end times fascism And Little O was asking me questions about the images in the article, so now he knows when to speak up against fascists.
giftarticle.ft.com
Rerun or sequel? Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor on end times fascism
How nationalists, theocrats and tech titans turned their backs on a shared future
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 04/09/2026
Superb pub crawl stamina
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 04/09/2026
Training exercises are there to stop boredom. This is only going to exacerbate the retention and recruitment problem that the army already has. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
British army told to stop non-essential training exercises to save money
Units in the UK not preparing to be deployed have been told to cut back on training exercises due to cost pressures.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 03/09/2026
I feel like we need to start giving political donations the anti-money laundering treatment.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 02/09/2026
This is so fucking stupid. The UK economy is vulnerable to externalities because it is embedded in the global economy. Just like Labour wasn’t responsible for the GFC, the Tories aren’t responsible for… [checks notes] bond markets. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Andy Burnham blames Tory legacy for leaving UK economy vulnerable
In first PMQs clash with Kemi Badenoch, prime minister rejects comparison to Liz Truss’s government
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 01/09/2026
I have never forgiven Helch for ruining the Chalfont Viaduct. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
theguardian.com
Prolific UK graffiti artist Helch dies
Artist rose to prominence in 2018 by painting his eponymous tag in public spots across southern England
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 31/08/2026
Ah mate… www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
More public control is only way to grow UK economy, Burnham to tell MPs
Exclusive: Prime minister wants to ‘bring back hope’ by tackling cost of living as MPs call for electoral reform
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 31/08/2026
Just explained insurance to Little O and he now wants to insure his things against being broken by Little P. He isn’t getting a favourable premium.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 27/08/2026
What’s that you want - a French police procedural but as a Databricks app, powered by a Genie agent? Luckily for you, here’s one I made earlier youtu.be/KpJiX9zA59U
youtu.be
Le Greffier Demo
YouTube video by Ust Oldfield
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 26/08/2026
I hate Rob Armstrong so much - ever since reading this article www.ft.com/content/fa24... I can’t stop thinking about the Armstrong aesthetic. And now I need a new wardrobe to complete the aesthetic. Damn you, Rob! Damn you and your well-dressed aesthetic.
ft.com
Rob Armstrong’s guide to wearing colour
Primary brights are everywhere this season. Here’s how to make your wardrobe pop
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 26/08/2026
No notes
What a week, hub?

Captain, it’s Wednesday
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 26/08/2026
Is the concept of a welfare state the “fraud”, or is it the funding model? If it’s the funding model, I can get behind the need for reform. What I can’t get behind, however, is poor communication.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 26/08/2026
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Insurers pile into deals allowing banks to offload default risk SRTs have the air of hot potato about them.
giftarticle.ft.com
Insurers pile into deals allowing banks to offload default risk
Market for synthetic risk transfers has boomed in recent years, with insurers now offering banks unfunded structures
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 25/08/2026
Why doesn’t the Post Office do AML checks when Open Banking makes this easy? Why aren’t the banks performing AML checks when there’s transactions coming through from the post office and then going out to crypto?
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 24/08/2026
There’s a Databricks community challenge to build an app that has Genie at its core - so, naturally, I’m building a French detective themed murder mystery game.
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Reposted by Ust Oldfield
John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 24/08/2026
The LAN-Yard would actually make a good industrial-era type name for a place you work on networked computers.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 24/08/2026
I love a good guffaw, and @jayrayner1.bsky.social gave me several in this review. Thank you, Jay! giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... ‘Claridge’s has either given up, lost its mind or both’ — Jay Rayner reviews Dante, Mayfair
giftarticle.ft.com
‘Claridge’s has either given up, lost its mind or both’ — Jay Rayner reviews Dante, Mayfair
London’s grandest hotel has installed an expensive, oddly lifeless offshoot of the NYC favourite
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 19/08/2026
Woohoo!! 🎉 giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... US government debt hits $40tn as borrowing rises at historic rate
giftarticle.ft.com
US government debt hits $40tn as borrowing rises at historic rate
Public spending surges despite Donald Trump’s vow to stabilise America’s public finances
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 19/08/2026
Very interesting episode on the Prophet Mohammed (very tempting to make a terrible pun). podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
The Story of Money
Business Podcast · Updated weekly · FT columnist Gillian Tett and FT Alphaville editor Robin Wigglesworth dig into the ideas, personalities and institutions that have shaped the history of finance. H...
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 19/08/2026
If Reform were serious about reform, they would propose a negative income tax as a replacement for universal credit (and the personal allowance and the state pension).
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 17/08/2026
Monopolies are bad. Exploiting a captive market is bad. Demand-led pricing works when there are alternatives. Other than bottled water, there isn’t an alternative to using water to clean yourself or to drink. Only going to exacerbate poverty. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Water companies in England and Wales explore ‘surge pricing’ during drought
Suppliers could factor water scarcity into charges as part of Ofwat proposal to reduce consumption
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 16/08/2026
How is it that Hawkins has large tunnels underneath the town without any structural support? And how were they constructed without the military knowing about it?
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 14/08/2026
Why is Paddington the angel of death? What turned Paddington into a reaper of souls? Was it the love of marmalade, his friendly demeanour, or something else? What did Count Binface do to deserve being killed? Was Count Binface secretly a Lib Dem and did disappointing Ed Davey lead to his demise?
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 13/08/2026
What history? Whose history? What do we even mean by “history”?
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 13/08/2026
With Burnham’s push for decentralisation, I hope that municipal bonds replace the PWLB. At which point I look forward to a massive splurge on infrastructure. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
The canal that shaped American finance
Podcast Episode · The Story of Money · 29 July · 41min
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 12/08/2026
Was a bit shite
Partial solar eclipse
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 08/08/2026
You could just make train tickets cheaper… www.theguardian.com/money/2026/a...
theguardian.com
Train operators to crack down on ‘donutters’ and other digital ticket cheats
South Western and GTR announce fightback after move away from paper tickets increases fare dodging
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 08/08/2026
This is a con. Just tastes of banana
Image of
innocent®
smoothie cherries, strawberries & apples
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 06/08/2026
“Oh no my AI model accessed the internet and hacked another firm” I get that they all want to look “cool”, but it’s now got to the pathetic stage of the bandwagon. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Meta says AI model accessed the internet and hacked another firm
Meta is the latest company to disclose an AI agent breach, raising cyber-security concerns.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 05/08/2026
I maintain the position that humanoid robots are the suboptimal configuration for robots.
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Ust Oldfield @ustdoes.tech · 05/08/2026
Call me old fashioned but I don’t think that anyone convicted of anything should be eligible to hold public office.
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