Chris Riley
@mchrisriley.com
"A blend of tech insights, dad humor, and existential musings... Bonus points if you can explain data portability over bourbon."
http://mchrisriley.com (... of course)
http://mchrisriley.com (... of course)
Pinned
Chris Riley
@mchrisriley.com
· Nov 11
Hi everybody! For anyone finding me on a starter pack, I'm a tech policy wonk, trained in computer science and law, living+working in WA, USA but focused just as much on Europe + UK. I've built my career around internet openness and governance. These days, I focus on getting data portability right.
This is an incredible conversation, touching on several distinct and worthy issues -- not just AI, but even more so science and how we approach it, the pervasive confusion of correlation and causation, and a bit of current politics/events at the end. Well worth a read.
"Maybe there will be artificial sentience. But I don’t think any sane person thinks large-language models are that. They don’t have inner autonomous agency. They’re a tool that you either use or you don’t. They're not intelligent machines that have lived experiences in the world." - Jessica Riskin
The Power of Life
My conversation with science historian Jessica Riskin
buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:54 PM
This is an incredible conversation, touching on several distinct and worthy issues -- not just AI, but even more so science and how we approach it, the pervasive confusion of correlation and causation, and a bit of current politics/events at the end. Well worth a read.
This is a very sad, but of course not surprising, development.
America withdraws from the Freedom Online Coalition (among many other intl orgs) putting itself firmly on the side of lack of freedom online www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United
www.whitehouse.gov
January 8, 2026 at 4:48 AM
This is a very sad, but of course not surprising, development.
I'm sure literally no one involved in making this happen will care, but I shudder to think of the child psychologist reaction to this Universal Basic Investment proposal: www.axios.com/2025/12/21/t...
Making every kid aware of, and competing over, money seems like a fast way to ruin childhood.
Making every kid aware of, and competing over, money seems like a fast way to ruin childhood.
The solve for America's aging crisis: Universal Basic Investment
The goal: Give the next generation a financial leg up, plus a living lesson in compound interest.
www.axios.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I'm sure literally no one involved in making this happen will care, but I shudder to think of the child psychologist reaction to this Universal Basic Investment proposal: www.axios.com/2025/12/21/t...
Making every kid aware of, and competing over, money seems like a fast way to ruin childhood.
Making every kid aware of, and competing over, money seems like a fast way to ruin childhood.
Breaking recommendation algorithms with my highly specific tastes, 2025 edition. Had a lot of long car rides with kids in the first half of the year...
December 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Breaking recommendation algorithms with my highly specific tastes, 2025 edition. Had a lot of long car rides with kids in the first half of the year...
As a practicing Christian, I genuinely believe God engages with the present world in mysterious ways, and if we but listen quietly and humbly, He will speak to us.
... but not like that.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/o...
(See also, by me: mchrisriley.medium.com/interlude-co...)
... but not like that.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/o...
(See also, by me: mchrisriley.medium.com/interlude-co...)
When you see only one set of footprints in the sand, it was then when you were texting with a bot.
Opinion | Jesus Bot Is Always on Demand (for a Small Monthly Fee)
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
As a practicing Christian, I genuinely believe God engages with the present world in mysterious ways, and if we but listen quietly and humbly, He will speak to us.
... but not like that.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/o...
(See also, by me: mchrisriley.medium.com/interlude-co...)
... but not like that.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/o...
(See also, by me: mchrisriley.medium.com/interlude-co...)
Here, read this instead: mchrisriley.medium.com/chapter-6-me...
Chapter 6: Memories in the Mind and the Machine
Deckard: Remember when you were six? You and your brother snuck into an empty building through a basement window. You were going to play…
mchrisriley.medium.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Here, read this instead: mchrisriley.medium.com/chapter-6-me...
Reposted by Chris Riley
All of Bluesky this morning:
a person holding a bag with a note that says dead dove do not eat
Alt: a person holding a bag with a note that says dead dove do not eat
media.tenor.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
All of Bluesky this morning:
The comments on this post are illuminating.
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 21, 2025 at 6:27 AM
The comments on this post are illuminating.
Reposted by Chris Riley
This is, of course, a fascinating thread from Kate asking why Google is effectively cannibalizing its own market for both digital ads on third party properties and search ads, by effectively taking away the incentive to click through to third party sites. I have a theory as to why they're doing it.
So this ad revenue metric is indicative of such a fascinating and weird set of business decisions by Google to inexplicably kill of SEO-- and I honestly don't get how they think this is going to pay off for them in the long run.
🧵
1/
🧵
1/
Stereogum says Google's switch to AI Overviews reduced its ad revenue by *70 percent* www.theverge.com/entertainmen...
November 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
This is, of course, a fascinating thread from Kate asking why Google is effectively cannibalizing its own market for both digital ads on third party properties and search ads, by effectively taking away the incentive to click through to third party sites. I have a theory as to why they're doing it.
Today is @dansinker.com 's birthday. If you're not already signed up for his emails, you should! dansinker.com/follow/ And maybe buy some stickers or something. I love my "TRYING" sticker, it is the anchor sticker on my laptop, the first one I put on.
follow my stuff | dansinker.com
dansinker.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Today is @dansinker.com 's birthday. If you're not already signed up for his emails, you should! dansinker.com/follow/ And maybe buy some stickers or something. I love my "TRYING" sticker, it is the anchor sticker on my laptop, the first one I put on.
Where will things progress now? Will law enforcement in NYC face thrown slices of pizza? Hot dogs in Chicago? Sushi in LA or SF? Teriyaki in Seattle? Only time will tell.
🚨🚨🚨 The jury has reached a verdict. Sean Dunn, aka the DC Sandwich Guy, has been found NOT GUILTY of assault.
November 6, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Where will things progress now? Will law enforcement in NYC face thrown slices of pizza? Hot dogs in Chicago? Sushi in LA or SF? Teriyaki in Seattle? Only time will tell.
I'm going to say it: I like working with an AI copyeditor. Generally, I hate independent editing, because all of my words are precious butterflies and how dare you (even when you're right). But with AI, I have absolutely zero compunction to say "Ha ha, fuck you, NO" and put the original back in.
October 27, 2025 at 4:15 AM
I'm going to say it: I like working with an AI copyeditor. Generally, I hate independent editing, because all of my words are precious butterflies and how dare you (even when you're right). But with AI, I have absolutely zero compunction to say "Ha ha, fuck you, NO" and put the original back in.
AI has no place in beer.
Today's edition of "sentences I never thought I'd have to say", but thanks to @404media.co apparently we do? www.404media.co/what-happene...
Today's edition of "sentences I never thought I'd have to say", but thanks to @404media.co apparently we do? www.404media.co/what-happene...
What Happened When AI Came for Craft Beer
A prominent beer competition introduced an AI-judging tool without warning. The judges and some members of the wider brewing industry were pissed.
www.404media.co
October 13, 2025 at 3:29 PM
AI has no place in beer.
Today's edition of "sentences I never thought I'd have to say", but thanks to @404media.co apparently we do? www.404media.co/what-happene...
Today's edition of "sentences I never thought I'd have to say", but thanks to @404media.co apparently we do? www.404media.co/what-happene...
The longevity cult is going to be ALL OVER the naked mole rats. For science, I guess.
Hat tip @404media.co of course, because they are the best.
Hat tip @404media.co of course, because they are the best.
October 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
The longevity cult is going to be ALL OVER the naked mole rats. For science, I guess.
Hat tip @404media.co of course, because they are the best.
Hat tip @404media.co of course, because they are the best.
I really enjoyed this piece on AI + consciousness, a topic I've been thinking about a lot lately. It covers some of the key thinkers + dimensions of the problem, and touches on why it matters: the future possibility of moral welfare, + the risk of it distracting from more pressing concerns.
"The human brain is simply not wired to treat AI like any other technology," Webb Wright writes. "For some users, the system is alive."
The Alien Intelligence in Your Pocket
Are you sure that chatbot isn’t alive?
bit.ly
October 2, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I really enjoyed this piece on AI + consciousness, a topic I've been thinking about a lot lately. It covers some of the key thinkers + dimensions of the problem, and touches on why it matters: the future possibility of moral welfare, + the risk of it distracting from more pressing concerns.
Reposted by Chris Riley
I somehow had missed this news, but this is huge and wonderful news in the midst of so much bad stuff. Alaa being freed is great...
British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah freed from prison www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah freed from prison
Writer, who has served six years for sharing a Facebook post, was given a presidential pardon
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:01 AM
I somehow had missed this news, but this is huge and wonderful news in the midst of so much bad stuff. Alaa being freed is great...
cool cool apnews.com/article/unga...
A massive telecom threat was stopped right as world leaders gathered at UN headquarters in New York
The U.S. Secret Service has dismantled a massive hidden telecom network in New York. Investigators say the system could have crippled cell towers and jammed 911 calls.
apnews.com
September 24, 2025 at 3:40 AM
cool cool apnews.com/article/unga...
Reposted by Chris Riley
Governing AI starts with user control
To keep AI open, competitive, & user-centred, we need real data portability — no more platform lock-in, writes @mchrisriley.com, Data Transfer Initiative, in a new blog:
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/governi...
To keep AI open, competitive, & user-centred, we need real data portability — no more platform lock-in, writes @mchrisriley.com, Data Transfer Initiative, in a new blog:
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/governi...
September 15, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Governing AI starts with user control
To keep AI open, competitive, & user-centred, we need real data portability — no more platform lock-in, writes @mchrisriley.com, Data Transfer Initiative, in a new blog:
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/governi...
To keep AI open, competitive, & user-centred, we need real data portability — no more platform lock-in, writes @mchrisriley.com, Data Transfer Initiative, in a new blog:
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/governi...
👀
And don't miss the closing line of their announcement: "If you would like to bring your memory details over from a different AI tool or export your memory from Claude for backup or migration, you can follow these instructions." (link goes to: support.anthropic.com/en/articles/... )
And don't miss the closing line of their announcement: "If you would like to bring your memory details over from a different AI tool or export your memory from Claude for backup or migration, you can follow these instructions." (link goes to: support.anthropic.com/en/articles/... )
Anthropic’s Claude AI can now automatically ‘remember’ past chats
Anthropic’s Claude AI can now automatically ‘remember’ past chats
Anthropic is launching incognito chats, too.
buff.ly
September 11, 2025 at 9:59 PM
👀
And don't miss the closing line of their announcement: "If you would like to bring your memory details over from a different AI tool or export your memory from Claude for backup or migration, you can follow these instructions." (link goes to: support.anthropic.com/en/articles/... )
And don't miss the closing line of their announcement: "If you would like to bring your memory details over from a different AI tool or export your memory from Claude for backup or migration, you can follow these instructions." (link goes to: support.anthropic.com/en/articles/... )
... wow
Today, Sen. Ted Cruz proposed the "Strengthening Artificial intelligence Normalization and Diffusion By Oversight and eXperimentation Act," or SANDBOX Act. The bill would create a mechanism for AI developers to seek to waive or modify federal regulatory requirements for a period of up to ten years.
US Senator Ted Cruz Proposes SANDBOX Act to Waive Federal Regulations for AI Developers | TechPolicy.Press
The proposed legislation would create a mechanism for AI developers to seek to waive or modify regulatory requirements for a period of up to ten years.
www.techpolicy.press
September 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
... wow
Reposted by Chris Riley
Chris Riley offers a set of principles for personal AI data transfers, and proposes that technologists begin to immediately develop AI data transfer tools, starting with a concrete and yet valuable data model: generative AI conversation histories.
We Need to Control Personal AI Data So Personal AI Cannot Control Us | TechPolicy.Press
The need for collective work on data models and transfer tools will grow more complex and more important, writes Chris Riley.
www.techpolicy.press
August 18, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Chris Riley offers a set of principles for personal AI data transfers, and proposes that technologists begin to immediately develop AI data transfer tools, starting with a concrete and yet valuable data model: generative AI conversation histories.
"think harder" not smarter apparently...
August 8, 2025 at 2:17 PM
"think harder" not smarter apparently...
just this headline is disturbing me. maybe i should go back to bed...
Revisited one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time and found it disturbingly relevant to what’s happening in the US
Brazil is as prescient as ever
40 years later and newly restored in 4K.
www.theverge.com
August 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
just this headline is disturbing me. maybe i should go back to bed...
