Charis Pollard
@charispollard.bsky.social
Live in the north east with my wife and dog. Massive geek
I watched Little Shop of Horrors too young. Literally had debilitating nightmares for YEARS. Proper scared to go to sleep things.
Still slightly traumatised and don’t like horror films…
Still slightly traumatised and don’t like horror films…
Name 1 movie from your childhood you were way too young to watch.
December 29, 2025 at 7:17 AM
I watched Little Shop of Horrors too young. Literally had debilitating nightmares for YEARS. Proper scared to go to sleep things.
Still slightly traumatised and don’t like horror films…
Still slightly traumatised and don’t like horror films…
THIS! Also true in healthcare (my field). In those contexts the input into the learning algorithm is STRICTLY controlled and outputs validated before it’s deployed. It’s totally different to eg ChatGPT but gets called the same
This is the issue I have, is that essentially ALL of the legitimate uses of machine learning function nothing like an LLM, but they're still getting called AI because that's the buzzword. Training a computer to identify coral reefs and track their bleaching from satellite photos is a good use, 1/2
December 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
THIS! Also true in healthcare (my field). In those contexts the input into the learning algorithm is STRICTLY controlled and outputs validated before it’s deployed. It’s totally different to eg ChatGPT but gets called the same
I watched Wicked For Good last night and I have Thoughts.
Firstly, I loved it and I was weeping for pretty much the second half. Emotionally for me, it hit all the marks.
Politically it is super bleak and depressing though… (which possibly also hits all the marks!)
Firstly, I loved it and I was weeping for pretty much the second half. Emotionally for me, it hit all the marks.
Politically it is super bleak and depressing though… (which possibly also hits all the marks!)
December 10, 2025 at 10:28 AM
I watched Wicked For Good last night and I have Thoughts.
Firstly, I loved it and I was weeping for pretty much the second half. Emotionally for me, it hit all the marks.
Politically it is super bleak and depressing though… (which possibly also hits all the marks!)
Firstly, I loved it and I was weeping for pretty much the second half. Emotionally for me, it hit all the marks.
Politically it is super bleak and depressing though… (which possibly also hits all the marks!)
I think a lot of people could relatively genuinely say they haven’t said anything racist ‘with malice’ (not sure garage is one but…) - however that doesn’t mean they haven’t been racist or that they shouldn’t learn and do better.
Especially if they want to hold high office…
Especially if they want to hold high office…
Nigel Farage denies saying anything racist ‘with malice’ as he attacks BBC
Nigel Farage denies saying anything racist ‘with malice’ as he attacks BBC
Reform UK leader launches tirade against broadcaster in latest effort to address claims of abuse from school contemporaries
*
UK politics live – latest updates
Nigel Farage has denied saying anything racist “with malice” in his latest attempt to address allegations of abuse made by numerous of his contemporaries at school.
The Reform leader declined to call his accusers liars, but lost his cool as he turned his fire on the BBC for questioning him about alleged antisemitic comments. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I think a lot of people could relatively genuinely say they haven’t said anything racist ‘with malice’ (not sure garage is one but…) - however that doesn’t mean they haven’t been racist or that they shouldn’t learn and do better.
Especially if they want to hold high office…
Especially if they want to hold high office…
Bought the new Wiccan comic yesterday by @wyattkennedy.bsky.social and Andy Pereira and my goodness it’s perfect! Billy and Teddy are my favourites and done so so wonderfully here. Can’t wait for the rest of the miniseries
December 4, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Bought the new Wiccan comic yesterday by @wyattkennedy.bsky.social and Andy Pereira and my goodness it’s perfect! Billy and Teddy are my favourites and done so so wonderfully here. Can’t wait for the rest of the miniseries
Without getting in to the rights and wrongs of the card itself, the concept of actually managing to join up different government IT systems at all, let alone ‘beautifully’ feels very far fetched.
It’s been decades and there still isn’t a single health record!
It’s been decades and there still isn’t a single health record!
Imagine being able to log into a single app to view your exam results, your driving license, your health record, your council tax information, beautifully joined up behind the scenes instead of needing to remember different credentials.
We live in a digital age and need to adapt.
We live in a digital age and need to adapt.
Liberal Democrats cannot support mandatory digital IDs. People shouldn't be criminalised just because they don't want to hand over their private data.
September 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Without getting in to the rights and wrongs of the card itself, the concept of actually managing to join up different government IT systems at all, let alone ‘beautifully’ feels very far fetched.
It’s been decades and there still isn’t a single health record!
It’s been decades and there still isn’t a single health record!
Wow, I LOVED @ryannorth.ca Fantastic Four out today. Just a proper FF comic. Family, love, science at the extremes. Doesn’t hurt it looks a million dollars too. Had me nearly crying too….
June 25, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Wow, I LOVED @ryannorth.ca Fantastic Four out today. Just a proper FF comic. Family, love, science at the extremes. Doesn’t hurt it looks a million dollars too. Had me nearly crying too….
I am increasingly worried about AI and the use of it to ‘answer questions’ - which it Does Not Do.
Someone at work asked it a specific question and it returned an entirely wrong answer. Someone else used it to draft a contract (which thankfully I’m checking).
Someone at work asked it a specific question and it returned an entirely wrong answer. Someone else used it to draft a contract (which thankfully I’m checking).
June 19, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I am increasingly worried about AI and the use of it to ‘answer questions’ - which it Does Not Do.
Someone at work asked it a specific question and it returned an entirely wrong answer. Someone else used it to draft a contract (which thankfully I’m checking).
Someone at work asked it a specific question and it returned an entirely wrong answer. Someone else used it to draft a contract (which thankfully I’m checking).
Reposted by Charis Pollard
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
Saw Robert Webb on a street near where I used to live. He was pushing a buggy and when I recognised him I also saw the absolute fear in his eyes that I was about to say something and delay him/upset his child.
I did a minuscule nod and walked by.
I did a minuscule nod and walked by.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
June 13, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Saw Robert Webb on a street near where I used to live. He was pushing a buggy and when I recognised him I also saw the absolute fear in his eyes that I was about to say something and delay him/upset his child.
I did a minuscule nod and walked by.
I did a minuscule nod and walked by.
Reposted by Charis Pollard
If your business model doesn’t work without breaking the law, then you’re not in business.
You’re in organized crime.
You’re in organized crime.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
May 26, 2025 at 9:09 PM
If your business model doesn’t work without breaking the law, then you’re not in business.
You’re in organized crime.
You’re in organized crime.
To get political, the more I reflect on the ‘island of strangers’ stuff, the worse I find it. Apart from the obvious, it implies that people from other lands can never be other than strangers. And that what makes people communities instead of strangers is background rather than social structures
May 14, 2025 at 11:39 AM
To get political, the more I reflect on the ‘island of strangers’ stuff, the worse I find it. Apart from the obvious, it implies that people from other lands can never be other than strangers. And that what makes people communities instead of strangers is background rather than social structures
Unpopular opinion - it’s too hot
24°C here today and I’m sweaty in the office and when I went out for a walk it was too hot for even that exercise. Mostly because (unusually) today there’s no breeze.
Yes I live in the north and so am not accustomed to heat. Still.
24°C here today and I’m sweaty in the office and when I went out for a walk it was too hot for even that exercise. Mostly because (unusually) today there’s no breeze.
Yes I live in the north and so am not accustomed to heat. Still.
April 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Unpopular opinion - it’s too hot
24°C here today and I’m sweaty in the office and when I went out for a walk it was too hot for even that exercise. Mostly because (unusually) today there’s no breeze.
Yes I live in the north and so am not accustomed to heat. Still.
24°C here today and I’m sweaty in the office and when I went out for a walk it was too hot for even that exercise. Mostly because (unusually) today there’s no breeze.
Yes I live in the north and so am not accustomed to heat. Still.
April 25, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Have been on holiday with sketch wifi for a couple of weeks. We went cruising in Norway and it was magical
March 30, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Have been on holiday with sketch wifi for a couple of weeks. We went cruising in Norway and it was magical
We have seen Neptune and are now officially in the Arctic Circle!
March 18, 2025 at 2:12 PM
We have seen Neptune and are now officially in the Arctic Circle!
Walking laps of the ship before dinner is stunning, but also a lesson in taking gravity for granted. The ship is pitching so going up and down over waves and that makes you feel squishes at times and at other like I’m literally about to float away. Uncanny and exhilarating
March 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Walking laps of the ship before dinner is stunning, but also a lesson in taking gravity for granted. The ship is pitching so going up and down over waves and that makes you feel squishes at times and at other like I’m literally about to float away. Uncanny and exhilarating
Found an exceptional brandy that they’re selling here for the bargain price of £145 A MEASURE 🤯
March 16, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Found an exceptional brandy that they’re selling here for the bargain price of £145 A MEASURE 🤯
This boat is very fancy! Ship. Whatever. We’re spending all day today in the North Sea so will explore boat facilities…
March 16, 2025 at 7:10 AM
This boat is very fancy! Ship. Whatever. We’re spending all day today in the North Sea so will explore boat facilities…
First day of the holiday! Only setting sail this afternoon so plenty of time to finish the packing…
March 15, 2025 at 7:16 AM
First day of the holiday! Only setting sail this afternoon so plenty of time to finish the packing…
This is what baffles me about a lot of use of AI. Typing the question into a search engine takes the same time and is more reliable…
AI search engines are wrong 60% of the time (with Google's Gemini being the absolute worst) www.cjr.org/tow_center/w...
March 13, 2025 at 4:35 PM
This is what baffles me about a lot of use of AI. Typing the question into a search engine takes the same time and is more reliable…
You know how sometimes you get an idea for a paint scheme and you can’t rest until you’ve made it happen… that’s me and Lhykis.
My craftworld is white with purple accents and Phoenix Lords don’t have to match but I like have nods. And that green purple beetle effect was just amazing in my head
My craftworld is white with purple accents and Phoenix Lords don’t have to match but I like have nods. And that green purple beetle effect was just amazing in my head
March 11, 2025 at 9:45 PM
You know how sometimes you get an idea for a paint scheme and you can’t rest until you’ve made it happen… that’s me and Lhykis.
My craftworld is white with purple accents and Phoenix Lords don’t have to match but I like have nods. And that green purple beetle effect was just amazing in my head
My craftworld is white with purple accents and Phoenix Lords don’t have to match but I like have nods. And that green purple beetle effect was just amazing in my head
Day three of migraines… hopefully the last day and at least the magic tablets have been magic.
Definitely linked to work stress and they put a genuine ceiling on my work ambitions. More promotion would mean more stress and more migraines. Good thing I’m not ambitious and don’t want to be CEO!
Definitely linked to work stress and they put a genuine ceiling on my work ambitions. More promotion would mean more stress and more migraines. Good thing I’m not ambitious and don’t want to be CEO!
March 3, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Day three of migraines… hopefully the last day and at least the magic tablets have been magic.
Definitely linked to work stress and they put a genuine ceiling on my work ambitions. More promotion would mean more stress and more migraines. Good thing I’m not ambitious and don’t want to be CEO!
Definitely linked to work stress and they put a genuine ceiling on my work ambitions. More promotion would mean more stress and more migraines. Good thing I’m not ambitious and don’t want to be CEO!
Today in agility we started doing weaves! The early stages are nothing to look at (so no video) but so excited to see this fluffy butt weaving eventually
March 1, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Today in agility we started doing weaves! The early stages are nothing to look at (so no video) but so excited to see this fluffy butt weaving eventually
When you have a really cool idea for a painting scheme AND a method of achieving it in mind and it’s still the morning and you have to actually work before testing it out
a close up of a man with a beard wearing a black jacket and a blue shirt .
ALT: a close up of a man with a beard wearing a black jacket and a blue shirt .
media.tenor.com
February 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
When you have a really cool idea for a painting scheme AND a method of achieving it in mind and it’s still the morning and you have to actually work before testing it out