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Ben O'Loughlin

@benoloughlin.bsky.social

2.8K followers 320 following 190 posts

Prof. of IR. Director, New Political Communication Unit, Royal Holloway | Co-Editor: Media, War and Conflict journal | Co-author: Strategic Narratives | Book series editor: AI Politics

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · Apr 24

Invitation to potential authors - AI Politics: new book series by @intellectbooks.bsky.social / @uchicagopress.bsky.social edited by @andrewhoskins.bsky.social & I. View the full call here>>
www.intellectbooks.com/asset/2536/a...

www.intellectbooks.com

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 13h

If #AI develops values, will it realise some people don't value it, so it will commit suicide? James Meek in the LRB: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
h/t @profmiskimmon.bsky.social

James Meek · Computers that want things

For all the fluency and synthetic friendliness of public-facing AI chatbots like ChatGPT, it seems important to remember...

www.lrb.co.uk

Reposted by Ben O'Loughlin

Andrew W Neal @andrewwneal.bsky.social · 1d

Hear me now! Well, soon...

BISA - British International Studies Association @mybisa.bsky.social · 1d

'Why do countries publish national security strategies? New insights from AI and global data' a new International Studies and Emerging Technologies working group event 💻

w/ Andrew W Neal on 22 October 🎉

find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/SvGk50X7FJw

Why do countries publish national security strategies? New insights from AI and global data- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) | BISA

- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) Working Group

ow.ly

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Reposted by Ben O'Loughlin

Louise Amoore @amoorelouise.bsky.social · 1d

Our article on the politics of AI prompts is out now @econsocjournal.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... 1/n

Politics of the prompt: Government in the age of generative AI

This paper addresses the politics of the technique of prompting in machine learning, at a time when bureaucratic and democratic government is undergoing transformation. Drawing on the case of the U...

www.tandfonline.com

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 1d

My polcomm class today said emojis are what the previous generation used. They have a different comms toolkit. They are kissing bricks. A genuinely hilarious hour.

Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 6d

The insightful @andreamedrado.bsky.social is launching the Critical AI Centre @exeter.ac.uk - join for the launch debate here, Oct 8 2pm GMT: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-critic...

The Critical AI Centre Launch Roundtable

Join us in person or online for a discussion with leading voices on AI marking the launch of CrAIC

www.eventbrite.com

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 8d

Want to do a PhD in social media and politics? We have a studentship here:

Andreu Casas @andreucasas.bsky.social · 9d

🚨Hiring a fully funded (3.5 years) PhD for the @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social to research social media and politics. Candidates should have quantitative/computational skills and/or be interested in content curation/moderation. UK home candidates only unfortunately. www.royalholloway.ac.uk/media/hquftp...

www.royalholloway.ac.uk

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 9d

Generative AI might end up being worthless — and that could be a good thing, by Fenwick McKelvey: theconversation.com/generative-a...

Generative AI might end up being worthless — and that could be a good thing

GenAI does some neat, helpful things, but it’s not yet the engine of a new economy — and it might not ever be.

theconversation.com

Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 12d

Upcoming conference, Shifting Allegiances, Story-Telling, and the #Narrative of Values in the Black Sea Region.
Date and Location: 1-3 May 2026, Batumi, Georgia.
Organized by: Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University.
Info here: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-j...

www.jiscmail.ac.uk

Reposted by Ben O'Loughlin

London Social Media Observatory @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social · 12d

⚠️ For us, accessing platform data is central in enhancing online political safety research, particularly its credibility, validity and ethical standards!

📑 In fact, we have already produced a report on this topic!

➡️ osf.io/preprints/so...

🧵[2/3]

OSF

osf.io

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 12d

Our PhD student @katosborne5.bsky.social published a first book review! 🎉 The politics of preventing violent extremism: liberal democracy, civil society and countering radicalization, by Charlotte Heath-Kelly & Sadi Shanaah: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
cc co-supe @lizzypearson.bsky.social

The politics of preventing violent extremism: liberal democracy, civil society and countering radicalization

Published in Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression (Ahead of Print, 2025)

www.tandfonline.com

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 13d

New special issue: Can the European Union (EU) strive for Strategic Autonomy in an age of intensifying Sino-American competition? A mixed picture is found, led by @luissimonn.bsky.social and Daniel Fiott. Opening article here:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Player and playground: Europe in US–China competition

The intensifying great power competition between the United States and China is having a profound effect on global order and Europe’s place in the world. Sino-American competition affects multiple ...

www.tandfonline.com

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Reposted by Ben O'Loughlin

Denali @denali.bsky.social · 14d

EAT THEIR FRAMES

An image of cookie monster utterly obliterating a plate of cookies

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 14d

New by @profmiskimmon.bsky.social and I: Our thoughts on how political leaders use ambiguity. Not all #narratives are clear and simple, for good reasons. [message if you want a copy]
www.emerald.com/books/edited...

Living with Shade: Ambiguity Does Not Mean Only Darkness in World Politics

In these challenging times, in the face of a new cadre of determined global leaders, war in Europe, and greater centrifugal forces in world politics, it is

www.emerald.com

Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 22d

anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
h/t @johana.bsky.social

I Am An AI Hater

I am an AI hater. This is considered rude, but I do not care, because I am a hater.

anthonymoser.github.io

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Reposted by Ben O'Loughlin

PIR at Royal Holloway @rhulpir.bsky.social · 22d

📣 Congratulations to @andreucasas.bsky.social on winning a Future Leaders Fellowship from @ukri.org! As part of the project, Andreu launches the London Social Media Observatory @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social, a multidisciplinary research centre for cutting-edge research on social media and politics!

Andreu Casas @andreucasas.bsky.social · 22d

🚨Very honored to receive the Future Leaders Fellowship from @ukri.org I’ll use this 2.3 million £ investment to create the London Social Media Observatory, for cutting-edge research on social media and politics, and novel computational tools for social science research. www.ukri.org/news/ukri-an...

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 22d

Odd.

Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 22d

Is this your ethos in life?

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Reposted by Ben O'Loughlin

profmiskimmon.bsky.social @profmiskimmon.bsky.social · 22d

Great to see papers emerging from our new journal special issue, "What Matters? The Politics of Narrating War", I edited with @adamblerner.bsky.social and @benoloughlin.bsky.social

New special issue out: What Matters? The Politics of Narrating War — newpolcom

Media, War and Conflict has published a new special issue, What Matters? The Politics of Narrating War, edited by Adam B. Lerner, Alister Miskimmon and Ben O’Loughlin. This follows our workshop at Un...

www.newpolcom.rhul.ac.uk

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 22d

We have a rather exciting new development at our university…

London Social Media Observatory @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social · 22d

📣 We’re launching the London Social Media Observatory! 🎉

➡️ We are a new multidisciplinary research centre, directed by @andreucasas.bsky.social & funded by the @ukri.org Future Leaders Fellowship

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 23d

This is very good, on how vampires are subverting then sucking the life out of liberalism. By Sarah Banet-Weiser and @jillybkay.bsky.social:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

Through the looking glass: Feminism and reactionary politics in the digital hall of mirrors - Sarah Banet-Weiser, Jilly Boyce Kay, 2025

In recent years, the ‘mirror’ has emerged as a key metaphor for theorizing contemporary digital culture, with its disorienting communicative architectures and b...

journals.sagepub.com

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 27d

Will AI twins or avatars of human representatives make better decisions and create better governance? Or just a straight parliament of non-corruptible bots? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Albania puts AI-created ‘minister’ in charge of public procurement

Edi Rama, PM, says digital assistant Diella will make Albania ‘a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption’

www.theguardian.com

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 28d

This AI workshop is losing will and needing coffee.

Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · 29d

At the University of Valencia to explore AI and agency in politics, convened by Marco Guglielmo:

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Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · Sep 8

UK Ambassador to the US Mandleson on making a deal: 'at its core will be new agreements that ... ensure that British and American ingenuity continues to lead the world'.
h/t @profmiskimmon.bsky.social
#narrative #identity #order #interests #wildhorses 🐎 www.ditchley.com/sites/defaul...

www.ditchley.com

Ben O'Loughlin @benoloughlin.bsky.social · Sep 8

Our video: What is AI Politics - our book series and a thing out there in the world? @andrewhoskins.bsky.social and I mull it over:
Watch: ow.ly/EQFC50WQin8
CFP: ow.ly/M43J50WQin7
Thanks to James @intellectbooks.bsky.social and do consider writing a book on this!

In Conversation with Andrew Hoskins and Ben O'Loughlin

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

ow.ly

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