Felix M. Simon
@felixsimon.bsky.social
Research Fellow in AI and News, Reuters Institute, Oxford University | Research Associate & PhD, Oxford Internet Institute | Junior Research Fellow, Corpus Christi College | AI, news, (mis)info, democracy | My views etc…
https://www.felixsimon.net/
https://www.felixsimon.net/
See for example a quick Google search across four outlets. Hardly representative, sure, but not exactly evidence of news not paying attention (and if you spend any time on BlueSky the discourse there is pretty lively on this issue).
February 3, 2026 at 10:30 AM
See for example a quick Google search across four outlets. Hardly representative, sure, but not exactly evidence of news not paying attention (and if you spend any time on BlueSky the discourse there is pretty lively on this issue).
While I look forward to reading the new International AI Safety Report, this response by Yoshua Bengio strikes me as a bit strange. It's not exactly that mainstream media aren't covering AI's power issues. Maybe it's more that despite this, nothing seems to happen that puts a check on this power?
February 3, 2026 at 10:30 AM
While I look forward to reading the new International AI Safety Report, this response by Yoshua Bengio strikes me as a bit strange. It's not exactly that mainstream media aren't covering AI's power issues. Maybe it's more that despite this, nothing seems to happen that puts a check on this power?
First day back in the office
Weather: Appropriately English ✅
Tea: On to my third cup ✅
Email response status: Loading 🪫
Weather: Appropriately English ✅
Tea: On to my third cup ✅
Email response status: Loading 🪫
January 8, 2026 at 10:24 AM
First day back in the office
Weather: Appropriately English ✅
Tea: On to my third cup ✅
Email response status: Loading 🪫
Weather: Appropriately English ✅
Tea: On to my third cup ✅
Email response status: Loading 🪫
Across eight countries, only about one in three respondents thinks the news media do a good job in explaining how AI can be used to tackle climate change (35%), investigate its impact (36%), provide balanced coverage of risks and benefits (35%), and highlight solutions (35%).
January 5, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Across eight countries, only about one in three respondents thinks the news media do a good job in explaining how AI can be used to tackle climate change (35%), investigate its impact (36%), provide balanced coverage of risks and benefits (35%), and highlight solutions (35%).
Welcome 2026! I’ve decided to start the year with a quick look at climate change and AI. As everyone I know was talking about AI in 2025, it seemed like climate change had fallen by the wayside, despite the urgency of the threat of a rapidly warming planet.
January 5, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Welcome 2026! I’ve decided to start the year with a quick look at climate change and AI. As everyone I know was talking about AI in 2025, it seemed like climate change had fallen by the wayside, despite the urgency of the threat of a rapidly warming planet.
I really ran out of time this year so instead of trying to get through my remaining Christmas cards I've decided to throw my hands into the air and keep it digital. A very happy Christmas and a good start into 2026 to you all 🎄✨
December 22, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I really ran out of time this year so instead of trying to get through my remaining Christmas cards I've decided to throw my hands into the air and keep it digital. A very happy Christmas and a good start into 2026 to you all 🎄✨
I closed my conference agenda this year with the Ditchley Summit on The Role of the New Fourth Estate in Renewing Democracy. Some reflections in the thread below.
[Under the Ditchley rule I cannot say who said what and the below are purely my own views]
[Under the Ditchley rule I cannot say who said what and the below are purely my own views]
December 20, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I closed my conference agenda this year with the Ditchley Summit on The Role of the New Fourth Estate in Renewing Democracy. Some reflections in the thread below.
[Under the Ditchley rule I cannot say who said what and the below are purely my own views]
[Under the Ditchley rule I cannot say who said what and the below are purely my own views]
Many, many thanks to to all attendees for their great contributions. Daniel Patiño Quintana deserves a special mention for the terrific layout and graphic design.
➡️ Find the full report here as a PDF: buff.ly/Ol8Xd7P
➡️ Find the full report here as a PDF: buff.ly/Ol8Xd7P
December 17, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Many, many thanks to to all attendees for their great contributions. Daniel Patiño Quintana deserves a special mention for the terrific layout and graphic design.
➡️ Find the full report here as a PDF: buff.ly/Ol8Xd7P
➡️ Find the full report here as a PDF: buff.ly/Ol8Xd7P
And some of the questions we were left with:
December 17, 2025 at 5:24 PM
And some of the questions we were left with:
It turned out to be a day of lively discussions. Our report (which should not be read as a piece of research!) summarises the main themes that emerged during the symposium and outlines a list of open questions to address in future research and discussions.
Some key takeaways:
Some key takeaways:
December 17, 2025 at 5:24 PM
It turned out to be a day of lively discussions. Our report (which should not be read as a piece of research!) summarises the main themes that emerged during the symposium and outlines a list of open questions to address in future research and discussions.
Some key takeaways:
Some key takeaways:
Funded by the Balliol Interdisciplinary Institute and supported by Amy Ross Arguedas as our rapporteur and Michelle Disser we had a great group of academics and expert practitioners in the room – with a few panellists to stimulate the discussion which was otherwise free-flowing.
December 17, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Funded by the Balliol Interdisciplinary Institute and supported by Amy Ross Arguedas as our rapporteur and Michelle Disser we had a great group of academics and expert practitioners in the room – with a few panellists to stimulate the discussion which was otherwise free-flowing.
🚨 📖 Final output for this year: I am thrilled to present the summary report from our summer symposium "Reckoning with AI Agents", co-authored with @amyrossarguedas.bsky.social and Linda Eggert.
➡ buff.ly/Ol8Xd7P
➡ buff.ly/Ol8Xd7P
December 17, 2025 at 5:24 PM
🚨 📖 Final output for this year: I am thrilled to present the summary report from our summer symposium "Reckoning with AI Agents", co-authored with @amyrossarguedas.bsky.social and Linda Eggert.
➡ buff.ly/Ol8Xd7P
➡ buff.ly/Ol8Xd7P
These Strange New Minds, @summerfieldlab.bsky.social, 2025, Viking
December 16, 2025 at 1:54 PM
These Strange New Minds, @summerfieldlab.bsky.social, 2025, Viking
How Progress Ends, @carlbfrey.bsky.social, 2025, @princetonupress.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 1:54 PM
How Progress Ends, @carlbfrey.bsky.social, 2025, @princetonupress.bsky.social
AI, Automation, and War, Anthony King, 2025, @princetonupress.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 1:54 PM
AI, Automation, and War, Anthony King, 2025, @princetonupress.bsky.social
Shame & A Man’s Place, Annie Ernaux, 2023, @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Shame & A Man’s Place, Annie Ernaux, 2023, @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social
On Truth in Politics, @michael-p-lynch.bsky.social, 2025, @princetonupress.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 1:53 PM
On Truth in Politics, @michael-p-lynch.bsky.social, 2025, @princetonupress.bsky.social
Got @michelledisser.bsky.social on to it. Happy Christmas 🎄😅
December 12, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Got @michelledisser.bsky.social on to it. Happy Christmas 🎄😅
As you can see in the new chart for the newsletter when I broke this down by age a striking 40% of those aged 18-24 say they have used AI for getting information in the last week, versus just 15% of those 55 and older. I’d be surprised if this figure hadn’t risen further by this time next year.
December 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
As you can see in the new chart for the newsletter when I broke this down by age a striking 40% of those aged 18-24 say they have used AI for getting information in the last week, versus just 15% of those 55 and older. I’d be surprised if this figure hadn’t risen further by this time next year.
In our lastest AI newsletter, led by @marinaadami.bsky.social , I took a closer look at how younger people across countries use generative AI for information.
December 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
In our lastest AI newsletter, led by @marinaadami.bsky.social , I took a closer look at how younger people across countries use generative AI for information.
Which brings me to the final point: News media can’t rely on a bubble burst to solve their problems. Competition for attention and advertising will intensify regardless. To cite the final paragraph:
December 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Which brings me to the final point: News media can’t rely on a bubble burst to solve their problems. Competition for attention and advertising will intensify regardless. To cite the final paragraph:
Our survey data also shows more people expect positive than negative impacts from AI integration in search and social media.
December 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Our survey data also shows more people expect positive than negative impacts from AI integration in search and social media.
My Nieman Lab prediction for 2026: The AI bubble may pop but people’s use of AI for information won’t and it's better if we start taking this seriously.
December 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
My Nieman Lab prediction for 2026: The AI bubble may pop but people’s use of AI for information won’t and it's better if we start taking this seriously.
Interesting new report by colleagues at the LSE on children’s views and rights in the Global South on AI.
Source: buff.ly/1pmcqa0
Source: buff.ly/1pmcqa0
December 3, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Interesting new report by colleagues at the LSE on children’s views and rights in the Global South on AI.
Source: buff.ly/1pmcqa0
Source: buff.ly/1pmcqa0
Although this is a single‑organisation case study, we think there are some “no‑regret” principles that can be useful to other organisations:
November 7, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Although this is a single‑organisation case study, we think there are some “no‑regret” principles that can be useful to other organisations: