Byron John | Tech, Psychology, Productivity
@byronjohn.com
I share articles from around the web about tech, business and psychology. And any combination of the three! Sign up for my free Digital Citizens newsletter at: byronjohn.com
To read the full post - or even better if you'd like to subscribe - visit buff.ly/4wOcS0Y The next edition is out Tuesday AM 👍 (7/7)
January 12, 2026 at 6:59 PM
To read the full post - or even better if you'd like to subscribe - visit buff.ly/4wOcS0Y The next edition is out Tuesday AM 👍 (7/7)
Europe has lost the internet: Belgium’s cybersecurity chief stated in an interview with the Financial Times that Europe has effectively “lost the internet”. He argues that key digital infrastructure and data flows are controlled elsewhere, leaving European governments and citizens exposed. (6/7)
January 12, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Europe has lost the internet: Belgium’s cybersecurity chief stated in an interview with the Financial Times that Europe has effectively “lost the internet”. He argues that key digital infrastructure and data flows are controlled elsewhere, leaving European governments and citizens exposed. (6/7)
YouTube flooded with AI slop: between 21% - 33% of YouTube’s feed may consist of low quality AI-Generated videos, described as ‘AI slop’. This forms part of a wider trend of increasing amounts of AI content being published on the web. (5/7)
January 12, 2026 at 6:59 PM
YouTube flooded with AI slop: between 21% - 33% of YouTube’s feed may consist of low quality AI-Generated videos, described as ‘AI slop’. This forms part of a wider trend of increasing amounts of AI content being published on the web. (5/7)
ACCA end remote exams: The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has announced it will stop offering remote exams from March 2026 due to widespread cheating, made possible by AI tools. This decision follows an ongoing struggle to police remote assessments effectively. (4/7)
January 12, 2026 at 6:59 PM
ACCA end remote exams: The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has announced it will stop offering remote exams from March 2026 due to widespread cheating, made possible by AI tools. This decision follows an ongoing struggle to police remote assessments effectively. (4/7)
Grok AI blacklash: Elon Musk's Grok AI is facing international backlash and potential legal repercussions after its chatbot, Grok, was found to be able to generate indecent images of minors. Concerns have been raised before about Grok’s ability to generate images, seemingly without safeguards. (3/7)
January 12, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Grok AI blacklash: Elon Musk's Grok AI is facing international backlash and potential legal repercussions after its chatbot, Grok, was found to be able to generate indecent images of minors. Concerns have been raised before about Grok’s ability to generate images, seemingly without safeguards. (3/7)
Data leak reveals espionage: A data leak by Chinese cyber security firm, Knownsec, revealed a plethora of digital espionage tools being to covertly gather data from numerous targets across the globe. The Chinese foreign ministry has denied any involvement.(2/7)
January 12, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Data leak reveals espionage: A data leak by Chinese cyber security firm, Knownsec, revealed a plethora of digital espionage tools being to covertly gather data from numerous targets across the globe. The Chinese foreign ministry has denied any involvement.(2/7)
My weekly newsletter with tech news & analysis is out every Tuesday. Here's a recap of last week's edition. buff.ly/GKUZLct 🧵 (1/7)
Digital Citizens (Week 02 | 2026): Digital espionage and rogue AI
State-linked cyber weapons, rogue AI-generated content and digital exam misconduct: this week’s Digital Citizens unpacks how 2026’s tech shocks are already reshaping our focus, trust, and mental…
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 6:59 PM
My weekly newsletter with tech news & analysis is out every Tuesday. Here's a recap of last week's edition. buff.ly/GKUZLct 🧵 (1/7)
It seems #AI is going to continue to be a hot topic this year. So I'll kick off the week by sharing his piece I wrote a couple of weeks ago about Claude Agent Skills. Are they a productivity booster or a backdoor for cyber threats? (while also making us dumber)
Claude Skills: Productivity Game-Changer or Cognitive (and Cyber) Threat?
Anthropic’s Claude generative AI model now has Agent Skills, virtual folders with instructions for specialised tasks. While this could boost productivity by automating repetitive tasks, it raises…
www.byronjohn.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:59 PM
It seems #AI is going to continue to be a hot topic this year. So I'll kick off the week by sharing his piece I wrote a couple of weeks ago about Claude Agent Skills. Are they a productivity booster or a backdoor for cyber threats? (while also making us dumber)
In light of the fact Uber drivers in the UK are striking on Monday 12th Jan about the new pricing policy, this research seems quite pertinent.
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-06...
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-06...
New Oxford research reveals Uber’s algorithmic pricing leaves drivers
A new study from researchers in the University of Oxford’s Department of Computer Science has found that Uber’s use of dynamic pricing has led to higher fares for passengers and lower earnings for
www.ox.ac.uk
January 9, 2026 at 3:26 PM
In light of the fact Uber drivers in the UK are striking on Monday 12th Jan about the new pricing policy, this research seems quite pertinent.
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-06...
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-06...
Umm… sounds like good news… ! We get an extra 3 years (2030) until #AI Achieves super intelligence and starts to take over the world. Cool! 👏😆
www.lesswrong.com/posts/YABG5J...
www.lesswrong.com/posts/YABG5J...
AI Futures Timelines and Takeoff Model: Dec 2025 Update — LessWrong
We’ve significantly upgraded our timelines and takeoff models! It predicts when AIs will reach key capability milestones: for example, Automated Code…
www.lesswrong.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Umm… sounds like good news… ! We get an extra 3 years (2030) until #AI Achieves super intelligence and starts to take over the world. Cool! 👏😆
www.lesswrong.com/posts/YABG5J...
www.lesswrong.com/posts/YABG5J...
A public use of cyber capabilities by the US against a foreign nation. Illustrates the point that modern wars aren’t just fought on the battlefield, but also in cyberspace. #cybersecurity
securityaffairs.com/186509/intel...
securityaffairs.com/186509/intel...
What is happening to the Internet in Venezuela?
In light of the tragic events that occurred in Venezuela, what is happening to the Internet in the country, and how are users accessing it?
securityaffairs.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:03 PM
A public use of cyber capabilities by the US against a foreign nation. Illustrates the point that modern wars aren’t just fought on the battlefield, but also in cyberspace. #cybersecurity
securityaffairs.com/186509/intel...
securityaffairs.com/186509/intel...
Some important lessons on AI implementation from a Tech Director, with pro’s and con’s. Curious to know if the changes have been effective, i.e. did AI actually help the company meet its strategic objectives?
www.raconteur.net/technology/w...
www.raconteur.net/technology/w...
What firms can learn from Travelopia’s big AI experiment - Raconteur
The company's tech director gave two developers one job: experiment with AI. What they learned has transformed how the business operates
www.raconteur.net
January 5, 2026 at 7:32 AM
Some important lessons on AI implementation from a Tech Director, with pro’s and con’s. Curious to know if the changes have been effective, i.e. did AI actually help the company meet its strategic objectives?
www.raconteur.net/technology/w...
www.raconteur.net/technology/w...
Sound advice there on how to avoid spyware on your mobile phone. User education on how to avoid scams in the first place is key. #cybersecurity #spyware
www.wired.com/story/how-to...
www.wired.com/story/how-to...
How to Protect Your iPhone or Android Device From Spyware
Being targeted by sophisticated spyware is relatively rare, but experts say that everyone needs to stay vigilant as this dangerous malware continues to proliferate worldwide.
www.wired.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Sound advice there on how to avoid spyware on your mobile phone. User education on how to avoid scams in the first place is key. #cybersecurity #spyware
www.wired.com/story/how-to...
www.wired.com/story/how-to...
Thought provoking comparison! Is relying on AI to think for us effectively reversing the Enlightenment? Intriguing idea and also a little concerning…
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Our king, priest and feudal lord – how AI is taking us back to the dark ages | Joseph de Weck
Since the Enlightenment, we’ve been making our own decisions. But now AI may be about to change that, says Joseph de Weck, a fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Thought provoking comparison! Is relying on AI to think for us effectively reversing the Enlightenment? Intriguing idea and also a little concerning…
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This isn’t the first time I’ve read something similar… using AI to find information leads to “shallower” knowledge. I’ll say this this probably because we’re not actively engaged in learning, building (or ‘constructing’) our knowledge for deeper understanding.
www.sciencealert.com/using-ai-to-...
www.sciencealert.com/using-ai-to-...
Using AI to Find Information Could Diminish Your Knowledge, Study Finds
Since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022, millions of people have started using large language models to access knowledge.
www.sciencealert.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:45 AM
This isn’t the first time I’ve read something similar… using AI to find information leads to “shallower” knowledge. I’ll say this this probably because we’re not actively engaged in learning, building (or ‘constructing’) our knowledge for deeper understanding.
www.sciencealert.com/using-ai-to-...
www.sciencealert.com/using-ai-to-...
Oh no!! 😱 Just checked… and I do several of those things! Might have to make a New Year’s Resolution to avoid in my professional emails…. lol! Xx
Https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg118dqj2no
Https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg118dqj2no
Can I just check - are my emails holding me back at work?! Xx
What impact is my email etiquette having on how I'm perceived, evaluated and promoted at work?
www.bbc.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Oh no!! 😱 Just checked… and I do several of those things! Might have to make a New Year’s Resolution to avoid in my professional emails…. lol! Xx
Https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg118dqj2no
Https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg118dqj2no
Picture the scene: you sit down for a meeting with your boss and an AI bot shows up instead… yikes! 😱
Great article though. I completely agree: machines will keep getting better at what they do, but let’s not lose our uniquely human qualities.
www.raconteur.net/talent-cultu...
Great article though. I completely agree: machines will keep getting better at what they do, but let’s not lose our uniquely human qualities.
www.raconteur.net/talent-cultu...
AI is eroding leadership credibility, survey shows - Raconteur
The skills that leaders will most need in the AI era are the ones most threatened when AI begins to mediate core managerial interactions
www.raconteur.net
December 8, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Picture the scene: you sit down for a meeting with your boss and an AI bot shows up instead… yikes! 😱
Great article though. I completely agree: machines will keep getting better at what they do, but let’s not lose our uniquely human qualities.
www.raconteur.net/talent-cultu...
Great article though. I completely agree: machines will keep getting better at what they do, but let’s not lose our uniquely human qualities.
www.raconteur.net/talent-cultu...
Great advice on how to stay safe online! Not just for teens either - applies to every one of us who lives our lives online!
What would you do if your phone was lost of stolen? Would you be able to get your data & accounts back? Food for thought!
www.wired.com/story/digita...
What would you do if your phone was lost of stolen? Would you be able to get your data & accounts back? Food for thought!
www.wired.com/story/digita...
The WIRED Guide to Digital Opsec for Teens
Practicing good “operations security” is essential to staying safe online. Here's a complete guide for teenagers (and anyone else) who wants to button up their digital lives.
www.wired.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Great advice on how to stay safe online! Not just for teens either - applies to every one of us who lives our lives online!
What would you do if your phone was lost of stolen? Would you be able to get your data & accounts back? Food for thought!
www.wired.com/story/digita...
What would you do if your phone was lost of stolen? Would you be able to get your data & accounts back? Food for thought!
www.wired.com/story/digita...
When you’ve spent as long as I have formatting and re-formatting spreadsheets, anything that can help quicken up that kind of task is welcome. Enter Claude Skills! Concerning to learn it poses a ransomeware risk though…
cybernews.com/ai-news/clau...
cybernews.com/ai-news/clau...
Claude Skills feature exposes new ransomware risk
Businesses are being warned that productivity tools in Claude Skills, launched by Anthropic in October, can be weaponized to deploy ransomware.
cybernews.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:46 AM
When you’ve spent as long as I have formatting and re-formatting spreadsheets, anything that can help quicken up that kind of task is welcome. Enter Claude Skills! Concerning to learn it poses a ransomeware risk though…
cybernews.com/ai-news/clau...
cybernews.com/ai-news/clau...
I guess it was to be expected that AI would eventually make its way into kids toys. Almost like an inevitable progression of the technology. I probably have would have loved it! Feels a little dystopian though…
www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/t...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/t...
AI-powered children’s toys are here, but are they safe? | CNN Business
Teddy bears and stuffed plushies have long been a mainstay in toy collections. But today they don’t talk back in a child’s imagination — they talk through built-in AI chatbots.
www.cnn.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:25 AM
I guess it was to be expected that AI would eventually make its way into kids toys. Almost like an inevitable progression of the technology. I probably have would have loved it! Feels a little dystopian though…
www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/t...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/t...
Excited to be joining a new community - and re-learning how to share & communicate in a civil, respectful space. I have faith in you Humanity! You can do this!
a young boy is using a laptop computer .
ALT: a young boy is using a laptop computer .
media.tenor.com
November 16, 2024 at 8:19 AM
Excited to be joining a new community - and re-learning how to share & communicate in a civil, respectful space. I have faith in you Humanity! You can do this!