Hugh Wallace
@tumshie.me
Tech / gov / design / occasional snark. Usually found queuing for coffee ☕️ Digital for public good ✊
CIO @rds-scotland.bsky.social
Chair @cfgsocial.bsky.social
✍️ Sign up to my newsletter: https://tumshie.ghost.io
CIO @rds-scotland.bsky.social
Chair @cfgsocial.bsky.social
✍️ Sign up to my newsletter: https://tumshie.ghost.io
I goddam love Zadie Smith. Such a warm, topical, nuanced conversation. With a bonus pug interruption. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
EP.263 - ZADIE SMITH
Podcast Episode · THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST · 02/11/2025 · 1h 14m
podcasts.apple.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I goddam love Zadie Smith. Such a warm, topical, nuanced conversation. With a bonus pug interruption. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
People like real things!
I wrote about the important stuff that's missing from the new wave of AI tools.
tumshie.ghost.io/people-like-...
I wrote about the important stuff that's missing from the new wave of AI tools.
tumshie.ghost.io/people-like-...
People like real things
Thoughts on trust, authenticity and bubbles in response to the launch of Sora, OpenAI’s new video-sharing app.
tumshie.ghost.io
October 31, 2025 at 1:42 PM
People like real things!
I wrote about the important stuff that's missing from the new wave of AI tools.
tumshie.ghost.io/people-like-...
I wrote about the important stuff that's missing from the new wave of AI tools.
tumshie.ghost.io/people-like-...
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
👻 Halloweeknotes. More accurately, mooOOOoonthnotes. 🎃 neilojwilliams.net/autumnotes-o... #weeknotes #weeknote #blog @weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
Autumnotes: October 2025 | Neil Williams
These notes are a tool I use for reflecting, remembering (to counter my SDAM), networking within my profession, and public accountability. Read more here. Work, work, work Films, films, films Working ...
neilojwilliams.net
October 31, 2025 at 10:43 AM
👻 Halloweeknotes. More accurately, mooOOOoonthnotes. 🎃 neilojwilliams.net/autumnotes-o... #weeknotes #weeknote #blog @weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
Surprised it was a film review that flipped me to becoming a paid subscriber, but there you go.
Happy to support+pay for Panic World and Garbage Day as IMO there’s nobody reporting on the state of the Internet/world better than @ryanhatesthis.bsky.social, @grantirving.bsky.social et al right now.
Happy to support+pay for Panic World and Garbage Day as IMO there’s nobody reporting on the state of the Internet/world better than @ryanhatesthis.bsky.social, @grantirving.bsky.social et al right now.
BONUS: How Eddington and Weapons hold a mirror up to our Panic World
Podcast Episode · Panic World · 24/09/2025 · Bonus · 40m
podcasts.apple.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Surprised it was a film review that flipped me to becoming a paid subscriber, but there you go.
Happy to support+pay for Panic World and Garbage Day as IMO there’s nobody reporting on the state of the Internet/world better than @ryanhatesthis.bsky.social, @grantirving.bsky.social et al right now.
Happy to support+pay for Panic World and Garbage Day as IMO there’s nobody reporting on the state of the Internet/world better than @ryanhatesthis.bsky.social, @grantirving.bsky.social et al right now.
Massive Attack on Spotify: “The band cited a ‘moral and ethical burden’ placed on artists by revenue from their work ultimately funding lethal technologies”
Massive Attack remove music from Spotify to protest against CEO Daniel Ek’s investment in AI military
The band cited a ‘moral and ethical burden’ placed on artists by revenue from their work ultimately funding lethal technologies
www.theguardian.com
September 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Massive Attack on Spotify: “The band cited a ‘moral and ethical burden’ placed on artists by revenue from their work ultimately funding lethal technologies”
“If I'm so empowered, why am I such a coward?”
Still completely awestruck by last night’s Self Esteem gig in Edinburgh, honestly one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Standing (screaming) ovation at the end fully justified.
Still completely awestruck by last night’s Self Esteem gig in Edinburgh, honestly one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Standing (screaming) ovation at the end fully justified.
September 17, 2025 at 7:52 AM
“If I'm so empowered, why am I such a coward?”
Still completely awestruck by last night’s Self Esteem gig in Edinburgh, honestly one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Standing (screaming) ovation at the end fully justified.
Still completely awestruck by last night’s Self Esteem gig in Edinburgh, honestly one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Standing (screaming) ovation at the end fully justified.
Love this New York Times visualisation of tennis courts turning into pickleball courts. Such a simple way of communicating behaviour change on a pretty massive scale. 🎾🎾🎾
[sidenote: where's the pickleball emoji?]
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
[sidenote: where's the pickleball emoji?]
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
September 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Love this New York Times visualisation of tennis courts turning into pickleball courts. Such a simple way of communicating behaviour change on a pretty massive scale. 🎾🎾🎾
[sidenote: where's the pickleball emoji?]
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
[sidenote: where's the pickleball emoji?]
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
Let no one say I'm above retweeting praise research.mysociety.org/html/ai-fram...
August 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Let no one say I'm above retweeting praise research.mysociety.org/html/ai-fram...
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
This is good. Next let's do 'core funding for supporting and rolling out what works'
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/in-prai...
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/in-prai...
In praise of ‘boring innovation’
The boring innovations that shaped our society and how dull can change the world
www.nesta.org.uk
August 27, 2025 at 3:42 PM
This is good. Next let's do 'core funding for supporting and rolling out what works'
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/in-prai...
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/in-prai...
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
I think a lot of people in tech are probably feeling something close to despair about what to do about LLMs, since it’s clear that those with power are not going to relent with their advocacy, and they have enough uses that they’ve gained critical mass, yet the harms & risks are so wildly egregious…
August 26, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I think a lot of people in tech are probably feeling something close to despair about what to do about LLMs, since it’s clear that those with power are not going to relent with their advocacy, and they have enough uses that they’ve gained critical mass, yet the harms & risks are so wildly egregious…
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
Hello. I wrote a nice long essay about AI and this very strange moment where we're constantly told we're living in the dawn of a strange new future but the only thing that's actually clear is that everyone feels pretty unmoored and uncertain. I hope you'll read it
AI Is a Mass-Delusion Event
Three years in, one of AI’s enduring impacts is to make people feel like they’re losing it.
www.theatlantic.com
August 18, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Hello. I wrote a nice long essay about AI and this very strange moment where we're constantly told we're living in the dawn of a strange new future but the only thing that's actually clear is that everyone feels pretty unmoored and uncertain. I hope you'll read it
Niche Scottish indie post (#3): the new Pictish Trail single is very, very good. youtu.be/Qx6IKWPi3Zw?...
Hold It
YouTube video by Pictish Trail - Topic
youtu.be
August 15, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Niche Scottish indie post (#3): the new Pictish Trail single is very, very good. youtu.be/Qx6IKWPi3Zw?...
Took the opportunity to pop into a fab #edbookfest event with a panel made up of @edinburghminute.bsky.social @greatergovanhill.com and @neiltosh.bsky.social - some excellent discussion of online advertising, facing up to the threat of AI, and how to fund + make local news cut through.
August 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Took the opportunity to pop into a fab #edbookfest event with a panel made up of @edinburghminute.bsky.social @greatergovanhill.com and @neiltosh.bsky.social - some excellent discussion of online advertising, facing up to the threat of AI, and how to fund + make local news cut through.
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
In from the cold
Integrating the GovTech ecosystem with the wider ones
digitalpolicy.substack.com
August 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
"The problem with AI isn't that it can do your job. It can't. The problem with AI is that your MBA-brained boss's boss doesn't know how your job works and thinks AI can do your job at fractions of a penny on the dollar, and hears the siren song of 'maximize shareholder value'."
MBA-brain is real.
MBA-brain is real.
July 3, 2025 at 6:57 AM
"The problem with AI isn't that it can do your job. It can't. The problem with AI is that your MBA-brained boss's boss doesn't know how your job works and thinks AI can do your job at fractions of a penny on the dollar, and hears the siren song of 'maximize shareholder value'."
MBA-brain is real.
MBA-brain is real.
New Kae Tempest album is unfeasibly good - urgent, angry, insightful, uplifting. Absolutely on top of their game. www.kaetempest.com
Kae Tempest | Official Site
Kae Tempest is a recording artist, lyricist, performer, author, playwright, and poet. They have released four critically acclaimed studio albums.
www.kaetempest.com
July 5, 2025 at 1:17 PM
New Kae Tempest album is unfeasibly good - urgent, angry, insightful, uplifting. Absolutely on top of their game. www.kaetempest.com
Knackered as I pull into Edinburgh at midnight, but elated after an amazing #CampDigital. Kudos to fellow presenters @jukes.ie @herahussain.bsky.social @sharonodea.com @blangry.bsky.social @acuity.design + the superb efforts of @catcutmore.bsky.social @shaungomm.bsky.social & all @nexerdigital.com
July 3, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Knackered as I pull into Edinburgh at midnight, but elated after an amazing #CampDigital. Kudos to fellow presenters @jukes.ie @herahussain.bsky.social @sharonodea.com @blangry.bsky.social @acuity.design + the superb efforts of @catcutmore.bsky.social @shaungomm.bsky.social & all @nexerdigital.com
Fab to have made it to Manchester for #CampDigital tomorrow, here’s the venue looking windswept and interesting. Hope to catch some @bsky.app folk in there.
July 2, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Fab to have made it to Manchester for #CampDigital tomorrow, here’s the venue looking windswept and interesting. Hope to catch some @bsky.app folk in there.
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
‘R&D is a long-term source of prosperity, and an area of UK competitive advantage… but to maximise the impact on UK productivity, innovation policy needs to link more strongly with industrial strategy for a services based economy.’ Me in CityAM ahead of the SR
www.cityam.com/dont-forget-...
www.cityam.com/dont-forget-...
Don't forget the arts when it comes to R&D spending
The UK's creative economy is worth more than our life sciences, aerospace and automotive industries combined
www.cityam.com
June 3, 2025 at 6:23 AM
‘R&D is a long-term source of prosperity, and an area of UK competitive advantage… but to maximise the impact on UK productivity, innovation policy needs to link more strongly with industrial strategy for a services based economy.’ Me in CityAM ahead of the SR
www.cityam.com/dont-forget-...
www.cityam.com/dont-forget-...
First thing I’ve written on AI in a while, drawing some clunky parallels with desktop publishing and leaning heavily on the fine work of @bcmerchant.bsky.social and @anildash.com
Appetite for disruption?
Contrasting the seismic digital transformation of the publishing industry with the vague promise of AI. With some slop thrown in.
tumshie.ghost.io
May 30, 2025 at 9:55 AM
First thing I’ve written on AI in a while, drawing some clunky parallels with desktop publishing and leaning heavily on the fine work of @bcmerchant.bsky.social and @anildash.com
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
Just got off the planning call for this *online* event with @karenhao.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social hosted by @datasociety.bsky.social and moderated by @tamigraph.bsky.social -- and SOO EXCITED! This one is going to be amazing.
datasociety.net/events/chall...
datasociety.net/events/chall...
Challenging AI Hype and Tech Industry Power
datasociety.net
May 29, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Just got off the planning call for this *online* event with @karenhao.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social hosted by @datasociety.bsky.social and moderated by @tamigraph.bsky.social -- and SOO EXCITED! This one is going to be amazing.
datasociety.net/events/chall...
datasociety.net/events/chall...
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
Register for Hallway Track 12 The Thing About COBOL today at 1pm ET!
Chat with Marianne Belloti, @histoftech.bsky.social, and @clivethompson.bsky.social in depth about the programming language people love to hate.
Free, Monday 2 June.
www.verylittlegravitas.com/hallwaytrack
Chat with Marianne Belloti, @histoftech.bsky.social, and @clivethompson.bsky.social in depth about the programming language people love to hate.
Free, Monday 2 June.
www.verylittlegravitas.com/hallwaytrack
May 29, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Register for Hallway Track 12 The Thing About COBOL today at 1pm ET!
Chat with Marianne Belloti, @histoftech.bsky.social, and @clivethompson.bsky.social in depth about the programming language people love to hate.
Free, Monday 2 June.
www.verylittlegravitas.com/hallwaytrack
Chat with Marianne Belloti, @histoftech.bsky.social, and @clivethompson.bsky.social in depth about the programming language people love to hate.
Free, Monday 2 June.
www.verylittlegravitas.com/hallwaytrack
Counting down to the Hidden Glen 10k in the blissful Scottish weather (aka it’s pretty much pissing down)
April 27, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Counting down to the Hidden Glen 10k in the blissful Scottish weather (aka it’s pretty much pissing down)
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
🌍 Drowning in digital noise?
In his #CampDigital talk, Research Data Scotland CIO @tumshie.me will share insights on how to cut through the hype, question trends and trust your instincts.
A must for digital decision-makers!
Book to join us at:
tinyurl.com/mw4bcyb9
#Digital #TechEvents
In his #CampDigital talk, Research Data Scotland CIO @tumshie.me will share insights on how to cut through the hype, question trends and trust your instincts.
A must for digital decision-makers!
Book to join us at:
tinyurl.com/mw4bcyb9
#Digital #TechEvents
April 24, 2025 at 10:37 AM
🌍 Drowning in digital noise?
In his #CampDigital talk, Research Data Scotland CIO @tumshie.me will share insights on how to cut through the hype, question trends and trust your instincts.
A must for digital decision-makers!
Book to join us at:
tinyurl.com/mw4bcyb9
#Digital #TechEvents
In his #CampDigital talk, Research Data Scotland CIO @tumshie.me will share insights on how to cut through the hype, question trends and trust your instincts.
A must for digital decision-makers!
Book to join us at:
tinyurl.com/mw4bcyb9
#Digital #TechEvents
Reposted by Hugh Wallace
Are you a UK-based technologist interested in joining a body that acts in solidarity against the excesses of extractive platform capitalism? Fill out this survey, and help design the Society for Hopeful Technologists www.careful.industries/blog/2025-4-...
Survey: Society for Hopeful Technologists — Careful Industries
Are you a UK-based technologist interested in joining a body that acts in solidarity against the excesses of extractive platform capitalism? Complete this survey to help shape the Society for Hopef...
www.careful.industries
April 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Are you a UK-based technologist interested in joining a body that acts in solidarity against the excesses of extractive platform capitalism? Fill out this survey, and help design the Society for Hopeful Technologists www.careful.industries/blog/2025-4-...