Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
@karlyburch.bsky.social
lecturer in sociology, feminist & anticolonial STS, agrifood, nuclear, AI, robotics, co-design, social theory, sustainability, livable futures
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
Peace Action Wellington completely opposes the opening of a US FBI office in Aotearoa New Zealand. The decision by the NZ government to allow a foreign country’s police force to operate here is terrifying.
July 31, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Peace Action Wellington completely opposes the opening of a US FBI office in Aotearoa New Zealand. The decision by the NZ government to allow a foreign country’s police force to operate here is terrifying.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
Fascinating. Microsoft emailed me to say it was raising the price of Microsoft 365, but when i went to cancel it offered me me the old price — without all the AI bullshit.
It’s forcing AI on everyone and making them pay more for it, then only telling them they don’t have to if they try to cancel.
It’s forcing AI on everyone and making them pay more for it, then only telling them they don’t have to if they try to cancel.
July 19, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Fascinating. Microsoft emailed me to say it was raising the price of Microsoft 365, but when i went to cancel it offered me me the old price — without all the AI bullshit.
It’s forcing AI on everyone and making them pay more for it, then only telling them they don’t have to if they try to cancel.
It’s forcing AI on everyone and making them pay more for it, then only telling them they don’t have to if they try to cancel.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
Something needs to change. We need to build an antinuclear movement like we had in the 1980s. We need to galvanize, inspire, and educate in a new way. Here it is: www.nucleartimes.com.
Nuclear Times - The Time Has Come
www.nucleartimes.com
July 18, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Something needs to change. We need to build an antinuclear movement like we had in the 1980s. We need to galvanize, inspire, and educate in a new way. Here it is: www.nucleartimes.com.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
I suspect that fact that the vast majority of LLM users don’t seem to have received this (really very simple!) message is because the AI companies have a vested interest in us not understanding it. “ChatGPT is smart, it just makes mistakes sometimes” is much more marketable than the truth.
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 11:36 AM
I suspect that fact that the vast majority of LLM users don’t seem to have received this (really very simple!) message is because the AI companies have a vested interest in us not understanding it. “ChatGPT is smart, it just makes mistakes sometimes” is much more marketable than the truth.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
ICAN condemns the United States’ illegal military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
By joining Israel’s strikes, the US is violating international law and putting global non-proliferation efforts at risk.
By joining Israel’s strikes, the US is violating international law and putting global non-proliferation efforts at risk.
June 22, 2025 at 7:26 AM
ICAN condemns the United States’ illegal military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
By joining Israel’s strikes, the US is violating international law and putting global non-proliferation efforts at risk.
By joining Israel’s strikes, the US is violating international law and putting global non-proliferation efforts at risk.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
LAST STRETCH! If you haven't done your submission yet, let us do one for you.... comment RSB below or go to tinyurl.com/KillTheRSB and enter your deets, we will do your submission for you. If you've already done yours PLEASE SHARE this.
June 22, 2025 at 5:08 AM
LAST STRETCH! If you haven't done your submission yet, let us do one for you.... comment RSB below or go to tinyurl.com/KillTheRSB and enter your deets, we will do your submission for you. If you've already done yours PLEASE SHARE this.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
Yesterday the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites. A review of what we know so far and how the world reacted:
thebulletin.org/2025/06/unit...
thebulletin.org/2025/06/unit...
United States attacks Iranian nuclear facilities, raising the possibility of Iranian retaliation, sprint for nuclear weapons
The United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, an intervention that came just days after President Donald Trump suggested he would wait two weeks before deciding whether to take mil...
thebulletin.org
June 22, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Yesterday the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites. A review of what we know so far and how the world reacted:
thebulletin.org/2025/06/unit...
thebulletin.org/2025/06/unit...
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
“The prospect of radiation release, the erosion of non-proliferation norms, and the emboldening of nuclear-armed states to act without accountability – the deadly logic of nuclear deterrence playing out in real time.” - Gem Romuld, the Australian director of ICAN
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Australia urged to press US to ‘act responsibly’ as threat of nuclear disaster rises amid Israel-Iran conflict
Nobel prize-winning anti-nuclear group calls for ‘urgent de-escalation and a return to diplomacy’
www.theguardian.com
June 21, 2025 at 11:53 AM
“The prospect of radiation release, the erosion of non-proliferation norms, and the emboldening of nuclear-armed states to act without accountability – the deadly logic of nuclear deterrence playing out in real time.” - Gem Romuld, the Australian director of ICAN
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
A man who presided over a military parade on his birthday one week ago and still hasn’t called the governor of the state where 2 lawmakers were assassinated, also one week ago. A personalist dictator in all but name. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
June 22, 2025 at 12:53 AM
A man who presided over a military parade on his birthday one week ago and still hasn’t called the governor of the state where 2 lawmakers were assassinated, also one week ago. A personalist dictator in all but name. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
Yesterday, Bulletin nuclear affairs editor François Diaz-Maurin assessed the risks associated with such attacks.
thebulletin.org/2025/06/the-...
Yesterday, Bulletin nuclear affairs editor François Diaz-Maurin assessed the risks associated with such attacks.
thebulletin.org/2025/06/the-...
The radiation risks of Iran’s nuclear program, with or without a strike on Fordow
Israel’s attacks create significant risks at Iran's nuclear sites. What could go wrong?
thebulletin.org
June 22, 2025 at 2:07 AM
On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
Yesterday, Bulletin nuclear affairs editor François Diaz-Maurin assessed the risks associated with such attacks.
thebulletin.org/2025/06/the-...
Yesterday, Bulletin nuclear affairs editor François Diaz-Maurin assessed the risks associated with such attacks.
thebulletin.org/2025/06/the-...
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
So, the President of the Signal Foundation (ie those who run Signal) @meredithmeredith.bsky.social is more badass than I knew.
📣 Introducing Meredith Whittaker, who will be speaking at our upcoming talk on Signal, Surveillance and the Future of AI.
June 17, 2025 at 11:03 PM
So, the President of the Signal Foundation (ie those who run Signal) @meredithmeredith.bsky.social is more badass than I knew.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
The terror theater is changing venues because of inconvenience to patrons
“Effective today, please hold on all work site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels,” he wrote in the message.
Trump Shifts Deportation Focus, Pausing Raids on Farms, Hotels and Eateries
www.nytimes.com
June 14, 2025 at 2:53 AM
The terror theater is changing venues because of inconvenience to patrons
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
I’ve made my submission. Don’t forget to make yours. The consultation for the Regulatory Standards Bill closes on Monday, the 23rd at 1pm rather than the more common 11:59pm. #nzpol www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...
Regulatory Standards Bill - New Zealand Parliament
Public submissions are now being invited on this Bill
www.parliament.nz
June 11, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I’ve made my submission. Don’t forget to make yours. The consultation for the Regulatory Standards Bill closes on Monday, the 23rd at 1pm rather than the more common 11:59pm. #nzpol www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
Meanwhile, academics can't use an image they are analyzing in an article without fear of being taken to court.
March 15, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Meanwhile, academics can't use an image they are analyzing in an article without fear of being taken to court.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
This is what revisionist history looks like, in real time. And this also is why it might appear that archaeologists and historians have to dig deep to discover the existence of powerful women and marginalized groups -- because their legacies are so often erased.
NASA workers were told to "drop everything" and spend their time scrubbing mentions of women in leadership, indigenous people, and environmental justice from the web: www.404media.co/nasa-dei-dro...
Workers at NASA Told to ‘Drop Everything’ to Scrub Mentions of Indigenous People, Women from Its Websites
"This is a drop everything and reprioritize your day request," a directive "per NASA HQ direction" stated.
www.404media.co
February 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
This is what revisionist history looks like, in real time. And this also is why it might appear that archaeologists and historians have to dig deep to discover the existence of powerful women and marginalized groups -- because their legacies are so often erased.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
About 75% of immigrant farm workers did not show up for work this week in Bakersfield, California, as the threat of Trump’s immigration raids looms.
Trump’s Immigration Threats Are Already Wrecking the Food Industry
Immigrant farm workers are too scared to show up to work.
newrepublic.com
January 24, 2025 at 4:18 AM
About 75% of immigrant farm workers did not show up for work this week in Bakersfield, California, as the threat of Trump’s immigration raids looms.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
The AfD/Musk-supporting terrorist who attacked the German Christmas market planned his atrocity in full view on TwitterX over the course of a year. He was reported multiple times, but TwitterX did nothing to take him down or report him to authorities.
December 21, 2024 at 10:08 AM
The AfD/Musk-supporting terrorist who attacked the German Christmas market planned his atrocity in full view on TwitterX over the course of a year. He was reported multiple times, but TwitterX did nothing to take him down or report him to authorities.
“A healthy and thriving society is about more than simply GDP and long-term societal benefits stem from diverse research areas, including humanities and social sciences.” www.royalsociety.org.nz/early-career...
Early Career Researcher Forum: Marsden Fund changes
The Early Career Researcher Forum Committee of the Royal Society Te Apārangi has responded to recent changes to refocus the Marsden Fund.
www.royalsociety.org.nz
December 22, 2024 at 1:16 AM
“A healthy and thriving society is about more than simply GDP and long-term societal benefits stem from diverse research areas, including humanities and social sciences.” www.royalsociety.org.nz/early-career...
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
Another example for #NZ’s science minister (Collins) how investigator-driven research that might seem trivial (a study of lizard saliva) can ultimately have high economic value, but is not directly commercialisable. Commercialisation usually comes long after the research, by quite different workers.
People sometimes make fun of science that sounds stupid and random.
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Breaking News: The FDA approved use of the weight loss drug Zepbound for a common form of sleep apnea. It is the first drug authorized to treat the disorder.
December 21, 2024 at 8:02 AM
Another example for #NZ’s science minister (Collins) how investigator-driven research that might seem trivial (a study of lizard saliva) can ultimately have high economic value, but is not directly commercialisable. Commercialisation usually comes long after the research, by quite different workers.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
To every guy who came into the comments on my Gisele Pelicot article to yell “not all men” at me and demand I give due deference to the good guys… It’s time to be quiet.
Investigation uncovered more than 70,000 users in Telegram group chats admitting to raping women & sharing tips to sedate them 🧵
Investigation uncovered more than 70,000 users in Telegram group chats admitting to raping women & sharing tips to sedate them 🧵
Telegram ‘rape chat groups’ with up to 70,000 members uncovered
Users from multiple countries have been sharing tips on how to sedate and sexually assault women, German investigation finds
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 21, 2024 at 8:18 AM
To every guy who came into the comments on my Gisele Pelicot article to yell “not all men” at me and demand I give due deference to the good guys… It’s time to be quiet.
Investigation uncovered more than 70,000 users in Telegram group chats admitting to raping women & sharing tips to sedate them 🧵
Investigation uncovered more than 70,000 users in Telegram group chats admitting to raping women & sharing tips to sedate them 🧵
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
You can add your name to the petition mentioned in the article here: www.aitrainingstatement.org
December 19, 2024 at 3:30 PM
You can add your name to the petition mentioned in the article here: www.aitrainingstatement.org
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
Aaron Swartz died because rapacious capitalists insisted that sharing knowledge and ideas — not for profit but to enrich society — was theft. Now we have a whole Silicon Valley industry devoted to undoing artistic copyright, and for what? Fake emails and shitty advertising copy.
‘Impossible’ to create AI tools like ChatGPT without copyrighted material, OpenAI says
‘Impossible’ to create AI tools like ChatGPT without copyrighted material, OpenAI says
Pressure grows on artificial intelligence firms over the content used to train their productsBusiness live – latest updatesThe developer OpenAI has said it would be impossible to create tools like its groundbreaking chatbot ChatGPT without access to copyrighted material, as pressure grows on artificial intelligence firms over the content used to train their products.Chatbots such as ChatGPT and image generators like Stable Diffusion are “trained” on a vast trove of data taken from the internet, with much of it covered by copyright – a legal protection against someone’s work being used without permission. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2024 at 7:31 PM
Aaron Swartz died because rapacious capitalists insisted that sharing knowledge and ideas — not for profit but to enrich society — was theft. Now we have a whole Silicon Valley industry devoted to undoing artistic copyright, and for what? Fake emails and shitty advertising copy.
Reposted by Dr Karly Burch (she/her)
And funding opportunities for the social sciences and humanities have been cut from the Horizon Europe programme. 🤬
December 19, 2024 at 12:08 AM
And funding opportunities for the social sciences and humanities have been cut from the Horizon Europe programme. 🤬