Dennis Nigbur
@dennisnigbur.bsky.social
Social psychology professional, amateur mandolin player, football fan. Posting in a personal capacity.
Even in the wind and rain, a visit to Canterbury Cathedral for our Canterbury Christ Church University carol service is something really special. We can be grateful for this.
December 5, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Even in the wind and rain, a visit to Canterbury Cathedral for our Canterbury Christ Church University carol service is something really special. We can be grateful for this.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Again: the Purpose of LLM- type "AI" bullshit engines is not to tell you the truth or to lie to you, but to tell you something you are statistically determined to be more likely to accept, irrespective of facts— which makes them perfect for accelerating dis- & misinformation & persuasive propaganda…
AI dialogues shifted political support by 2 to 3 points in trials, eclipsing standard ads. Roughly one-third of this effect persisted for a month. However, models optimized for persuasion proved more factually error-prone.
#MLSky
#MLSky
AI chatbots can persuade voters to change their minds
Conversations with AI can sway people’s political views. Concerningly, a chatbot’s facts are not always accurate, especially when it supports right-wing positions.
www.nature.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Again: the Purpose of LLM- type "AI" bullshit engines is not to tell you the truth or to lie to you, but to tell you something you are statistically determined to be more likely to accept, irrespective of facts— which makes them perfect for accelerating dis- & misinformation & persuasive propaganda…
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
The right try and distract us by constantly talking about immigration.
Cost of Living, the NHS, the climate crisis - let's keep them on the agenda.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Cost of Living, the NHS, the climate crisis - let's keep them on the agenda.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
December 4, 2025 at 11:13 PM
The right try and distract us by constantly talking about immigration.
Cost of Living, the NHS, the climate crisis - let's keep them on the agenda.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Cost of Living, the NHS, the climate crisis - let's keep them on the agenda.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
All of the companies that make the software I use are increasing their prices, to account for an "investment" in AI.
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
December 4, 2025 at 8:41 AM
All of the companies that make the software I use are increasing their prices, to account for an "investment" in AI.
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Recently I've read a number of books and articles expressing net-nostalgia, about how better everything was online in the 90s. For those who missed it, let me explain how literature searches worked back then. Thread 👇
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Recently I've read a number of books and articles expressing net-nostalgia, about how better everything was online in the 90s. For those who missed it, let me explain how literature searches worked back then. Thread 👇
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
24hr tracking your children via phone apps 👎
Scheduled chats on a payphone 👍
Getting them to call home on a ham radio frequency 👊
Scheduled chats on a payphone 👍
Getting them to call home on a ham radio frequency 👊
Back when I was in uni, the dorm rooms had phones,
but long-distance phone calls still cost significant money;
we called occasionally or when there was news,
and my parents called their parents weekly to catch up.
Roommate used ham radio to call his dad instead of phone :-)
but long-distance phone calls still cost significant money;
we called occasionally or when there was news,
and my parents called their parents weekly to catch up.
Roommate used ham radio to call his dad instead of phone :-)
December 2, 2025 at 7:16 PM
24hr tracking your children via phone apps 👎
Scheduled chats on a payphone 👍
Getting them to call home on a ham radio frequency 👊
Scheduled chats on a payphone 👍
Getting them to call home on a ham radio frequency 👊
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
It’s infuriating to me that I need to evaluate media to determine whether it’s AI generated now. The great “time saver” technology wastes incalculable time and energy for people who want to retain their grasp on reality
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
It’s infuriating to me that I need to evaluate media to determine whether it’s AI generated now. The great “time saver” technology wastes incalculable time and energy for people who want to retain their grasp on reality
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
this does not shock me in the slightest
A study by Dayforce shows 87% of executives use AI for work, compared to 57% of managers and just 27% of employees.
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
Execs are embracing AI more than their employees are, new research suggests
Research from HR software company Dayforce suggests that executives are leaning into AI far more than their employees.
www.businessinsider.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
this does not shock me in the slightest
The recently cleaned and restored walls of Canterbury Cathedral and a Christmas market in the precincts. What could be more uplifting?
November 29, 2025 at 7:43 PM
The recently cleaned and restored walls of Canterbury Cathedral and a Christmas market in the precincts. What could be more uplifting?
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
Which is why the extreme right's waffle about values has nothing to do with Christianity.
November 26, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Which is why the extreme right's waffle about values has nothing to do with Christianity.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Every late ballot counts! You have until Wednesday to post them.
November 24, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Every late ballot counts! You have until Wednesday to post them.
Surely that's a mandolin?
November 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Surely that's a mandolin?
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
"Taxation is essential for practical action in our economy because we no longer live in simple communities where need is obvious and our neighbour is familiar"
Sue explores how and why, as Christians, we should challenge narratives about tax.
Sue explores how and why, as Christians, we should challenge narratives about tax.
November 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
"Taxation is essential for practical action in our economy because we no longer live in simple communities where need is obvious and our neighbour is familiar"
Sue explores how and why, as Christians, we should challenge narratives about tax.
Sue explores how and why, as Christians, we should challenge narratives about tax.
This is what happens when you allow your flag to get hijacked by racists.
Why do people think England flags have been raised on lampposts?
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
November 22, 2025 at 9:34 PM
This is what happens when you allow your flag to get hijacked by racists.
I've been a regular user of @wikipedia.org for many years and became a regular donor about a year ago. It makes sense to support those who provide such a valuable service, and it feels good to invest in what you believe in.
How does a website with no corporate advertising and no paywall stay online?
Only 2% of readers give, but this small group makes all the difference. This grassroots support keeps Wikipedia independent and free.
If you can, donate today ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/give/
Only 2% of readers give, but this small group makes all the difference. This grassroots support keeps Wikipedia independent and free.
If you can, donate today ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/give/
November 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I've been a regular user of @wikipedia.org for many years and became a regular donor about a year ago. It makes sense to support those who provide such a valuable service, and it feels good to invest in what you believe in.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
"Compared with other European countries, the UK received the fifth largest number of asylum seekers in the year ending March 2025, and the seventeenth largest intake when measured per head of population" - Home Office data
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
November 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
"Compared with other European countries, the UK received the fifth largest number of asylum seekers in the year ending March 2025, and the seventeenth largest intake when measured per head of population" - Home Office data
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
My blog from mid-March 2020 argued that we shouldn't have delayed lockdown & that the stated reason (that the public wouldn't comply with lockdown) had no basis in behavioural science & that people would likely be more resilient dontpaniccorrectingmythsaboutthecrowd.blogspot.com/2020/03/coro...
November 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
My blog from mid-March 2020 argued that we shouldn't have delayed lockdown & that the stated reason (that the public wouldn't comply with lockdown) had no basis in behavioural science & that people would likely be more resilient dontpaniccorrectingmythsaboutthecrowd.blogspot.com/2020/03/coro...
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Boris Johnson's inept handling of Covid demonstrates why electorates living in normal times should vote for governments as if they were living in times of emergency.
Never presume you can vote for unserious people on the assumption that they will never have to make serious decisions.
Never presume you can vote for unserious people on the assumption that they will never have to make serious decisions.
November 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Boris Johnson's inept handling of Covid demonstrates why electorates living in normal times should vote for governments as if they were living in times of emergency.
Never presume you can vote for unserious people on the assumption that they will never have to make serious decisions.
Never presume you can vote for unserious people on the assumption that they will never have to make serious decisions.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Study finds nearly two-thirds of AI-generated citations are fabricated or contain errors
Study finds nearly two-thirds of AI-generated citations are fabricated or contain errors
A recent study warns researchers that AI models frequently invent scientific sources. These "hallucinated" citations and other errors are most common when the topic is obscure, undermining the tool's reliability for academic work.
www.psypost.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Study finds nearly two-thirds of AI-generated citations are fabricated or contain errors
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
1/ How does the COVID Inquiry's Module 2 report align with what we said in @independentsage.bsky.social at the time? A 🧵on Transparency, Early & Decisive Action, Scientific Advice, Integration of Social & Economic Harms, Communication and Behavioural Science, Governance, Data and Preparedness
November 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
1/ How does the COVID Inquiry's Module 2 report align with what we said in @independentsage.bsky.social at the time? A 🧵on Transparency, Early & Decisive Action, Scientific Advice, Integration of Social & Economic Harms, Communication and Behavioural Science, Governance, Data and Preparedness
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Students using AI couldn’t remember anything they’d written minutes earlier while students who used their brains could recite their essays almost verbatim
The connection was severed. Thought from word. Effort from understanding
open.substack.com/pub/thehuman...
The connection was severed. Thought from word. Effort from understanding
open.substack.com/pub/thehuman...
The Well Where Truth Hides
A college student in Boston submitted his essay.
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Students using AI couldn’t remember anything they’d written minutes earlier while students who used their brains could recite their essays almost verbatim
The connection was severed. Thought from word. Effort from understanding
open.substack.com/pub/thehuman...
The connection was severed. Thought from word. Effort from understanding
open.substack.com/pub/thehuman...
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
"data centers already accounted for 22% of Ireland's total electricity consumption in 2024. In the Dublin/Meath area, where a third of Ireland's population lives, 48% of the electricity was used by data centers in 2023." @abeba.bsky.social & @krisshrishak.bsky.social
✍🏼 www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
✍🏼 www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
November 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"data centers already accounted for 22% of Ireland's total electricity consumption in 2024. In the Dublin/Meath area, where a third of Ireland's population lives, 48% of the electricity was used by data centers in 2023." @abeba.bsky.social & @krisshrishak.bsky.social
✍🏼 www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
✍🏼 www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Mahmood is doing that evil thing of taking ONE very, very extreme example and presenting it as if it is indicative of the entire cohort of asylum seekers rather than the wild exception that it is.
The RW press have and will lap that sort of thing up. Meanwhile the flames of hate burn hotter.
The RW press have and will lap that sort of thing up. Meanwhile the flames of hate burn hotter.
November 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Mahmood is doing that evil thing of taking ONE very, very extreme example and presenting it as if it is indicative of the entire cohort of asylum seekers rather than the wild exception that it is.
The RW press have and will lap that sort of thing up. Meanwhile the flames of hate burn hotter.
The RW press have and will lap that sort of thing up. Meanwhile the flames of hate burn hotter.