Dr Alex Bowyer
@alexbfree.bsky.social
Passionate about improving people’s lives through healthier relationships with technology & data. PhD #MyData.
Also: indie films, board games, improv, nature walks, travel, photography, local life/community & a little politics.
#forevereuropean #ND
Also: indie films, board games, improv, nature walks, travel, photography, local life/community & a little politics.
#forevereuropean #ND
Reposted by Dr Alex Bowyer
This week Open AI walked back a call for the govt to backstop financing for its trillion dollar investments in data centers. This was only the tip of the iceberg; a slow bailout for AI firms is already underway. Read more from @ambakak.bsky.social and I in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/you-...
Opinion | You May Already Be Bailing Out the AI Business
Washington is treating the industry as if it’s too big to fail, even as the market sends lukewarm signals.
www.wsj.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:56 PM
This week Open AI walked back a call for the govt to backstop financing for its trillion dollar investments in data centers. This was only the tip of the iceberg; a slow bailout for AI firms is already underway. Read more from @ambakak.bsky.social and I in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/you-...
Reposted by Dr Alex Bowyer
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
Reposted by Dr Alex Bowyer
"The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy"
Defend the BBC before it’s gone – an open letter
The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:25 PM
"The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy"
Reposted by Dr Alex Bowyer
The NPR Network is your trusted source for reliable, accessible and fact-checked information. And now you can make sure we show up in your Google results.
How to make NPR and your local station your preferred news source on Google
The NPR Network is your trusted source for reliable, accessible and fact-checked information. And now you can make sure we show up in your Google results.
n.pr
October 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The NPR Network is your trusted source for reliable, accessible and fact-checked information. And now you can make sure we show up in your Google results.
Reposted by Dr Alex Bowyer
📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms).
It’s also concerning. 1/
It’s also concerning. 1/
PSA: we're aware that Signal is down for some people. This appears to be related to a major AWS outage. Stand by.
October 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms).
It’s also concerning. 1/
It’s also concerning. 1/
There can only be one reason they are doing this IMHO - to spy on you and collect more data for insight gathering, profiling and targeting. #surveillanceeconomy
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI releases web browser to rival Google
ChatGPT Atlas was unveiled as the company seeks new ways to corral users to its online offerings.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 8:29 AM
There can only be one reason they are doing this IMHO - to spy on you and collect more data for insight gathering, profiling and targeting. #surveillanceeconomy
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It's disturbing how much of an integral part of internet life / infrastructure Amazon AWS is becoming...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5...
Snapchat and Duolingo among major apps down in Amazon Web Services outage - live updates
Many of the world's biggest apps including Snapchat, Duolingo and Roblox have gone down, in what appears to be an issue affecting Amazon Web Services.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM
It's disturbing how much of an integral part of internet life / infrastructure Amazon AWS is becoming...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5...
Can't decide if i love or hate this idea..
"Shake to summarise" - shake your phone to use LLMs to summarise the current website
handy tool? gimmick? dumbing down of society? 🤔
www.neowin.net/news/mozilla...
blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/s...
"Shake to summarise" - shake your phone to use LLMs to summarise the current website
handy tool? gimmick? dumbing down of society? 🤔
www.neowin.net/news/mozilla...
blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/s...
Mozilla Firefox feature gets special mention in TIME's Best Inventions of 2025
Firefox has landed a spot in TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2025, thanks to a new feature that remains exclusive to iOS users.
www.neowin.net
October 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Can't decide if i love or hate this idea..
"Shake to summarise" - shake your phone to use LLMs to summarise the current website
handy tool? gimmick? dumbing down of society? 🤔
www.neowin.net/news/mozilla...
blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/s...
"Shake to summarise" - shake your phone to use LLMs to summarise the current website
handy tool? gimmick? dumbing down of society? 🤔
www.neowin.net/news/mozilla...
blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/s...
First video killed the radio star, and then YouTube and TikTok killed the music video star...
I know there are other music video channels, but it's kind of sad to see this dying out.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I know there are other music video channels, but it's kind of sad to see this dying out.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
MTV to axe its music TV channels in the UK
The broadcaster will stop showing music videos in December, but its main channel will remain on air.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 1:49 PM
First video killed the radio star, and then YouTube and TikTok killed the music video star...
I know there are other music video channels, but it's kind of sad to see this dying out.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I know there are other music video channels, but it's kind of sad to see this dying out.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bit of a disturbing trend, I really hope it's not a canary in the coal mine for other countries, God help the world if so - was kind of hoping the younger generation would be the ones to save us from the rise of the far right #politics
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
In Spain, what once seemed impossible is now widespread: the young are turning to the far right | María Ramírez
Migration is barely mentioned – instead, failed policies on housing, wages and employment are driving young voters into the arms of Vox, says María Ramírez, deputy managing editor of elDiario.es
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Bit of a disturbing trend, I really hope it's not a canary in the coal mine for other countries, God help the world if so - was kind of hoping the younger generation would be the ones to save us from the rise of the far right #politics
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Not a huge surprise that Snapchat is going to start charging for storage.
I wonder if users are aware they do have an option to request copies of their data under #gdpr if they don’t want to pay?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I wonder if users are aware they do have an option to request copies of their data under #gdpr if they don’t want to pay?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Snapchat to start charging users for Memories storage
It has not said how much the storage plans will cost UK users, only that they were part of a
www.bbc.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Not a huge surprise that Snapchat is going to start charging for storage.
I wonder if users are aware they do have an option to request copies of their data under #gdpr if they don’t want to pay?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I wonder if users are aware they do have an option to request copies of their data under #gdpr if they don’t want to pay?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Inspiring words from James Felton Keith at #mydata2025
Employers (and the public should start fighting for the fact that) personal data is labour, it is work that deserves recompense. People understand that companies owe them something for proving their data but can’t receive it.
Employers (and the public should start fighting for the fact that) personal data is labour, it is work that deserves recompense. People understand that companies owe them something for proving their data but can’t receive it.
September 25, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Inspiring words from James Felton Keith at #mydata2025
Employers (and the public should start fighting for the fact that) personal data is labour, it is work that deserves recompense. People understand that companies owe them something for proving their data but can’t receive it.
Employers (and the public should start fighting for the fact that) personal data is labour, it is work that deserves recompense. People understand that companies owe them something for proving their data but can’t receive it.
Fascinating workshop on death and digital legacy by @cubicgarden.com at #mydata2025.. letters of wishes can be machine readable and even automated according to #mydata principles - but you have to keep a human in the process as an approver.
September 25, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Fascinating workshop on death and digital legacy by @cubicgarden.com at #mydata2025.. letters of wishes can be machine readable and even automated according to #mydata principles - but you have to keep a human in the process as an approver.
A call to arms from Malik Lakoubay at @radxchange.bsky.social - independent news media are at existential risk from AI. Trusted data intermediaries such as Syft offer a solution.
#mydata2025
(1/2)
#mydata2025
(1/2)
September 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
A call to arms from Malik Lakoubay at @radxchange.bsky.social - independent news media are at existential risk from AI. Trusted data intermediaries such as Syft offer a solution.
#mydata2025
(1/2)
#mydata2025
(1/2)
A couple of great insights from ex-MP, ex-chair DCMS select committee Damian Collins at #mydata2025
“Powered by data shouldn’t mean working in the interests of the platform against the interests of the individual citizen or gig worker”
“AI must not become a scapegoat to remove company liabilities”
“Powered by data shouldn’t mean working in the interests of the platform against the interests of the individual citizen or gig worker”
“AI must not become a scapegoat to remove company liabilities”
September 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
A couple of great insights from ex-MP, ex-chair DCMS select committee Damian Collins at #mydata2025
“Powered by data shouldn’t mean working in the interests of the platform against the interests of the individual citizen or gig worker”
“AI must not become a scapegoat to remove company liabilities”
“Powered by data shouldn’t mean working in the interests of the platform against the interests of the individual citizen or gig worker”
“AI must not become a scapegoat to remove company liabilities”
Excellent overview of the opportunity and risk of personal agents by Jogi Poikola at #mydata2025
Great set of principles too, drawn from the history of #mydata and #VRM thinking
#personalagents #ai
(1/2)
Great set of principles too, drawn from the history of #mydata and #VRM thinking
#personalagents #ai
(1/2)
September 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Excellent overview of the opportunity and risk of personal agents by Jogi Poikola at #mydata2025
Great set of principles too, drawn from the history of #mydata and #VRM thinking
#personalagents #ai
(1/2)
Great set of principles too, drawn from the history of #mydata and #VRM thinking
#personalagents #ai
(1/2)
#mydata2025 founder Jogi reminding us of 1999 prediction by John Hagel III & Marc Singer
“Buyers are losing patience, and you’re losing their trust. It’s only a matter of time before they hire agents to represent them in many of their commercial transactions.”
That time is now.
#personalagents
“Buyers are losing patience, and you’re losing their trust. It’s only a matter of time before they hire agents to represent them in many of their commercial transactions.”
That time is now.
#personalagents
September 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
#mydata2025 founder Jogi reminding us of 1999 prediction by John Hagel III & Marc Singer
“Buyers are losing patience, and you’re losing their trust. It’s only a matter of time before they hire agents to represent them in many of their commercial transactions.”
That time is now.
#personalagents
“Buyers are losing patience, and you’re losing their trust. It’s only a matter of time before they hire agents to represent them in many of their commercial transactions.”
That time is now.
#personalagents
Eric Pol opening the #mydata2025 conference at Aalto University in Finland:
“We are not here to tweak the status quo, we are here to leap past it and shape the human-centric future”
#mydata
“We are not here to tweak the status quo, we are here to leap past it and shape the human-centric future”
#mydata
September 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Eric Pol opening the #mydata2025 conference at Aalto University in Finland:
“We are not here to tweak the status quo, we are here to leap past it and shape the human-centric future”
#mydata
“We are not here to tweak the status quo, we are here to leap past it and shape the human-centric future”
#mydata
Just arrived in Helsinki for the international #MyData2025 conference - about 14 hours later than planned due to flight delays ✈️
Looking forward to 3.5 days of discussions with cool people on the future of human-centric data!
conference.mydata.org
@mydataorg.bsky.social
Looking forward to 3.5 days of discussions with cool people on the future of human-centric data!
conference.mydata.org
@mydataorg.bsky.social
MyData 2025 conference
The world's premier conference on people and data.
conference.mydata.org
September 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Just arrived in Helsinki for the international #MyData2025 conference - about 14 hours later than planned due to flight delays ✈️
Looking forward to 3.5 days of discussions with cool people on the future of human-centric data!
conference.mydata.org
@mydataorg.bsky.social
Looking forward to 3.5 days of discussions with cool people on the future of human-centric data!
conference.mydata.org
@mydataorg.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Alex Bowyer
What the seeker shouts at the start of hide & seek in five languages...
*Ready or not, here I come (English)
*I’m searching (Polish)
*Whoever didn't hide is a donkey (Croatian)
*Who’s ready, good, who isn’t, I don't care (Italian)
*The one who isn't ready, I will take him with the shovel (Romanian)
*Ready or not, here I come (English)
*I’m searching (Polish)
*Whoever didn't hide is a donkey (Croatian)
*Who’s ready, good, who isn’t, I don't care (Italian)
*The one who isn't ready, I will take him with the shovel (Romanian)
September 22, 2025 at 3:21 PM
What the seeker shouts at the start of hide & seek in five languages...
*Ready or not, here I come (English)
*I’m searching (Polish)
*Whoever didn't hide is a donkey (Croatian)
*Who’s ready, good, who isn’t, I don't care (Italian)
*The one who isn't ready, I will take him with the shovel (Romanian)
*Ready or not, here I come (English)
*I’m searching (Polish)
*Whoever didn't hide is a donkey (Croatian)
*Who’s ready, good, who isn’t, I don't care (Italian)
*The one who isn't ready, I will take him with the shovel (Romanian)
Does anyone else feel a disproportionate pang of sadness at the WHSmith name disappearing from UK high streets?
(I think it’s because I have many fond memories of browsing for magazines and CD singles here and Woolworths as a young teen)
(I think it’s because I have many fond memories of browsing for magazines and CD singles here and Woolworths as a young teen)
September 16, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Does anyone else feel a disproportionate pang of sadness at the WHSmith name disappearing from UK high streets?
(I think it’s because I have many fond memories of browsing for magazines and CD singles here and Woolworths as a young teen)
(I think it’s because I have many fond memories of browsing for magazines and CD singles here and Woolworths as a young teen)
How does a designer make a mistake like this? I'm thinking they must have used AI...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Great North Run medals show Sunderland instead of Newcastle
Medals given to participants use an image of Sunderland, which has no connection to the event.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
How does a designer make a mistake like this? I'm thinking they must have used AI...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Nice to see some practical advice on how businesses can break down silos... princetheba.com/breaking-dow...
Breaking Down Silos: The Importance of Cross-Functional Analysis - Prince the BA
"Discover the power of cross-functional analysis in breaking down silos & fostering collaboration within your organization. Don't miss this must-read blog post!"
princetheba.com
September 5, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Nice to see some practical advice on how businesses can break down silos... princetheba.com/breaking-dow...
Speaking of #enshittification (last repost) am I right in understanding that the new #Spotify T&Cs forbid you from using the service while travelling or holidaying overseas?!?!?
September 5, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Speaking of #enshittification (last repost) am I right in understanding that the new #Spotify T&Cs forbid you from using the service while travelling or holidaying overseas?!?!?
Reposted by Dr Alex Bowyer
Slang & Trending:
'Enshittification' - When a digital platform is made worse for users, in order to increase profits www.merriam-webster.com/slang/enshit...
'Enshittification' - When a digital platform is made worse for users, in order to increase profits www.merriam-webster.com/slang/enshit...
enshittification
Enshittification is an informal word used to criticize the degradation in the quality and experience of online platforms over time, due to an increase in advertisements, costs, or features. It can als...
www.merriam-webster.com
September 4, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Slang & Trending:
'Enshittification' - When a digital platform is made worse for users, in order to increase profits www.merriam-webster.com/slang/enshit...
'Enshittification' - When a digital platform is made worse for users, in order to increase profits www.merriam-webster.com/slang/enshit...