Robert Bateman
@robertjbateman.bsky.social
• I post about privacy, data protection, security, AI • Regular updates on big tech shenanigans • Views absolutely represent those of my employer (me) • Consultancy and training services •
me trying to use normal fucking email without divulging confidential information to copilot
a statue of a woman is surrounded by a grid of blue lights
ALT: a statue of a woman is surrounded by a grid of blue lights
media.tenor.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:19 AM
me trying to use normal fucking email without divulging confidential information to copilot
Sam says a lack of compute means he must make an impossible choice:
Whether to use his LLM to i) cure cancer or ii) give free education to everyone.
Similarly, I can't achieve BOTH an Olympic gold AND a platinum album.
Don't ask me whether I can achieve either.
www.linkedin.com/posts/axelco...
Whether to use his LLM to i) cure cancer or ii) give free education to everyone.
Similarly, I can't achieve BOTH an Olympic gold AND a platinum album.
Don't ask me whether I can achieve either.
www.linkedin.com/posts/axelco...
#ai #genai #llm #openai #nvidia | Axel C. | 71 comments
OpenAI's Sam Altman on painful tradeoffs due to "compute constraints" that hamper the AI industry ✨
➠ "to cure cancer"; versus
➠ "offer free education to everybody on Earth"
What if lack of (Nvidi...
www.linkedin.com
September 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Sam says a lack of compute means he must make an impossible choice:
Whether to use his LLM to i) cure cancer or ii) give free education to everyone.
Similarly, I can't achieve BOTH an Olympic gold AND a platinum album.
Don't ask me whether I can achieve either.
www.linkedin.com/posts/axelco...
Whether to use his LLM to i) cure cancer or ii) give free education to everyone.
Similarly, I can't achieve BOTH an Olympic gold AND a platinum album.
Don't ask me whether I can achieve either.
www.linkedin.com/posts/axelco...
Even OpenAI's best models still suck at quoting their training data or external sources.
GPT 4o can be useful to help interpret legal provisions pasted into the chat
Ask it to draw upon anything outside of the chat and it breaks down.
The first quote is wrong and the latter two are just made up.
GPT 4o can be useful to help interpret legal provisions pasted into the chat
Ask it to draw upon anything outside of the chat and it breaks down.
The first quote is wrong and the latter two are just made up.
July 17, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Even OpenAI's best models still suck at quoting their training data or external sources.
GPT 4o can be useful to help interpret legal provisions pasted into the chat
Ask it to draw upon anything outside of the chat and it breaks down.
The first quote is wrong and the latter two are just made up.
GPT 4o can be useful to help interpret legal provisions pasted into the chat
Ask it to draw upon anything outside of the chat and it breaks down.
The first quote is wrong and the latter two are just made up.
Any bets on whose companies are up next for a major three-letter-agency audit?
The fact that this seems not just plausible but inevitable is both terrifying and kind of funny.
The fact that this seems not just plausible but inevitable is both terrifying and kind of funny.
June 6, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Any bets on whose companies are up next for a major three-letter-agency audit?
The fact that this seems not just plausible but inevitable is both terrifying and kind of funny.
The fact that this seems not just plausible but inevitable is both terrifying and kind of funny.
Google plans to offer Gemini to US children under 13 without verifiable parental consent (parents can opt out if they use Family Link).
As @epicprivacy.bsky.social notes, this seems like a blatant COPPA violation. I don't think Google would have had the gall to do this when Khan headed the FTC.
As @epicprivacy.bsky.social notes, this seems like a blatant COPPA violation. I don't think Google would have had the gall to do this when Khan headed the FTC.
May 23, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Google plans to offer Gemini to US children under 13 without verifiable parental consent (parents can opt out if they use Family Link).
As @epicprivacy.bsky.social notes, this seems like a blatant COPPA violation. I don't think Google would have had the gall to do this when Khan headed the FTC.
As @epicprivacy.bsky.social notes, this seems like a blatant COPPA violation. I don't think Google would have had the gall to do this when Khan headed the FTC.
Reposted by Robert Bateman
Signal’s new Windows update prevents the system from capturing screenshots of chats
Signal's new Windows update prevents the system from capturing screenshots of chats | TechCrunch
Signal said today that it is updating its Windows app to prevent the system from capturing screenshots, thereby protecting the content that is on display.
techcrunch.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Signal’s new Windows update prevents the system from capturing screenshots of chats
I guess basically all US regulation relates to China now. Or "woke" stuff.
Don't get me wrong—doing business with Chinese companies can present real risks to human rights and security
But for a few years we had tech enforcement (from the DoJ and FTC at least) that wasn't quite so nakedly political
Don't get me wrong—doing business with Chinese companies can present real risks to human rights and security
But for a few years we had tech enforcement (from the DoJ and FTC at least) that wasn't quite so nakedly political
The US is reviewing Benchmark’s investment into Chinese AI startup Manus
The US is reviewing Benchmark’s investment into Chinese AI startup Manus | TechCrunch
Manus AI is one of the hottest AI agent startups around, recently raising $75 million at a half-billion dollar valuation in a round led by Benchmark. But
techcrunch.com
May 9, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I guess basically all US regulation relates to China now. Or "woke" stuff.
Don't get me wrong—doing business with Chinese companies can present real risks to human rights and security
But for a few years we had tech enforcement (from the DoJ and FTC at least) that wasn't quite so nakedly political
Don't get me wrong—doing business with Chinese companies can present real risks to human rights and security
But for a few years we had tech enforcement (from the DoJ and FTC at least) that wasn't quite so nakedly political
This is beyond terrible. A speculative fiction novel with this plot would be so cartoonish and trite as to be unreadable. And I've enjoyed some pretty hackneyed novels.
States are the next big target for extortion after universities and law firms for both Trump and DOGE.
www.metacurity.com/trump-eo-giv...
www.metacurity.com/trump-eo-giv...
May 9, 2025 at 8:51 PM
This is beyond terrible. A speculative fiction novel with this plot would be so cartoonish and trite as to be unreadable. And I've enjoyed some pretty hackneyed novels.
Reposted by Robert Bateman
This is what happens when lobbyists ask for “clarity” in a regulation.
California's once pithy (and strict) definition of "automated decisionmaking technology" is on its way to becoming War and Peace.
"Replace or substantially facilitate [humans]" becomes "replace or substantially replace" (?)—and the billable hours will rack up when figuring out all those exemptions.
"Replace or substantially facilitate [humans]" becomes "replace or substantially replace" (?)—and the billable hours will rack up when figuring out all those exemptions.
May 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
This is what happens when lobbyists ask for “clarity” in a regulation.
California's once pithy (and strict) definition of "automated decisionmaking technology" is on its way to becoming War and Peace.
"Replace or substantially facilitate [humans]" becomes "replace or substantially replace" (?)—and the billable hours will rack up when figuring out all those exemptions.
"Replace or substantially facilitate [humans]" becomes "replace or substantially replace" (?)—and the billable hours will rack up when figuring out all those exemptions.
May 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
California's once pithy (and strict) definition of "automated decisionmaking technology" is on its way to becoming War and Peace.
"Replace or substantially facilitate [humans]" becomes "replace or substantially replace" (?)—and the billable hours will rack up when figuring out all those exemptions.
"Replace or substantially facilitate [humans]" becomes "replace or substantially replace" (?)—and the billable hours will rack up when figuring out all those exemptions.
Which one?
Court clash between Meta and NSO ends in $168m defeat for spyware firm
Court clash between Meta and NSO ends in $168m defeat for spyware firm
Damages awarded after earlier ruling found NSO unlawfully exploited a bug in WhatsApp to spy on users
www.theguardian.com
May 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Which one?
Here's a post I wrote back when GPT could barely strong a limerick together.
Note that it is positively *littered* with em-dashes.
Have people forgotten that Large Language Models are trained on stuff *we wrote*?
Note that it is positively *littered* with em-dashes.
Have people forgotten that Large Language Models are trained on stuff *we wrote*?
May 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Here's a post I wrote back when GPT could barely strong a limerick together.
Note that it is positively *littered* with em-dashes.
Have people forgotten that Large Language Models are trained on stuff *we wrote*?
Note that it is positively *littered* with em-dashes.
Have people forgotten that Large Language Models are trained on stuff *we wrote*?
May 1, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Surely these functions should be nowhere near each other, rather than combined into a single field...
April 14, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Surely these functions should be nowhere near each other, rather than combined into a single field...
The UK government has more plans for the ICO.
From its recent paper "New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth"
www.gov.uk/government/p...
From its recent paper "New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth"
www.gov.uk/government/p...
April 11, 2025 at 11:32 AM
The UK government has more plans for the ICO.
From its recent paper "New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth"
www.gov.uk/government/p...
From its recent paper "New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth"
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Microsoft's "Copilot Gaming Experience" is a generative AI version of Quake 2, trained on gameplay data, that generates as you "play" it.
Let's just say there is a LONG way to go before this is anything other than research a project.
copilot.microsoft.com/wham?feature...
Let's just say there is a LONG way to go before this is anything other than research a project.
copilot.microsoft.com/wham?feature...
Microsoft Copilot: Your AI companion
Microsoft Copilot is your companion to inform, entertain, and inspire. Get advice, feedback, and straightforward answers. Try Copilot now.
copilot.microsoft.com
April 8, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Microsoft's "Copilot Gaming Experience" is a generative AI version of Quake 2, trained on gameplay data, that generates as you "play" it.
Let's just say there is a LONG way to go before this is anything other than research a project.
copilot.microsoft.com/wham?feature...
Let's just say there is a LONG way to go before this is anything other than research a project.
copilot.microsoft.com/wham?feature...
Help me Bluesky
Quite recently (NOT years ago) Max Schrems suggested that bringing a "Schrems III" against the EU-US DPF would be too expensive.
It was in an interview or panel or something and has not been widely reported.
WHERE DID I SEE THIS I need it.
Quite recently (NOT years ago) Max Schrems suggested that bringing a "Schrems III" against the EU-US DPF would be too expensive.
It was in an interview or panel or something and has not been widely reported.
WHERE DID I SEE THIS I need it.
April 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Help me Bluesky
Quite recently (NOT years ago) Max Schrems suggested that bringing a "Schrems III" against the EU-US DPF would be too expensive.
It was in an interview or panel or something and has not been widely reported.
WHERE DID I SEE THIS I need it.
Quite recently (NOT years ago) Max Schrems suggested that bringing a "Schrems III" against the EU-US DPF would be too expensive.
It was in an interview or panel or something and has not been widely reported.
WHERE DID I SEE THIS I need it.
Genuine question—if Ghibli style 4o images violate copyright law, could these people asserting this while sharing such images for commercial purposes be liable under copyright law?
I expect either "no", "it depends", or my preferred answer on AI and copyright—we'll see what the courts say.
I expect either "no", "it depends", or my preferred answer on AI and copyright—we'll see what the courts say.
March 30, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Genuine question—if Ghibli style 4o images violate copyright law, could these people asserting this while sharing such images for commercial purposes be liable under copyright law?
I expect either "no", "it depends", or my preferred answer on AI and copyright—we'll see what the courts say.
I expect either "no", "it depends", or my preferred answer on AI and copyright—we'll see what the courts say.
A bad idea in the worst possible circumstances. How can ANY Democrat think it's a good idea to team up with Trump on free expression?
Cool cool. @durbin.senate.gov, @amyklobuchar.com @klobuchar.senate.gov @whitehouse.senate.gov are looking to team up with MAGA to give Donald Trump the power to censor anything he wants on the Internet.
Do they not recognize what will happen?
Do they not recognize what will happen?
NEW: As early as next week, Senators plan to introduce the first bipartisan bill to repeal Section 230, the landmark internet law
I spoke with congressional aides to get the details of the ambitious effort, which internet experts described as akin to extortion
www.theinformation.com/articles/exc...
I spoke with congressional aides to get the details of the ambitious effort, which internet experts described as akin to extortion
www.theinformation.com/articles/exc...
March 21, 2025 at 4:40 PM
A bad idea in the worst possible circumstances. How can ANY Democrat think it's a good idea to team up with Trump on free expression?
The AI Act should not distract us from the powerful and firmly established human rights protections that are already in place.
On the use of facial recognition: "Regardless of real-time or post-event usage, data protection rules remain applicable," Thomas REGNIER said.
"The Commission is closely monitoring the situation," and "will not hesitate to take action, where appropriate"
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
March 20, 2025 at 6:38 PM
The AI Act should not distract us from the powerful and firmly established human rights protections that are already in place.
Reposted by Robert Bateman
FTC removes posts critical of Big Tech from its website
FTC removes posts critical of Big Tech from its website | TechCrunch
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has removed over 300 blog posts published during the agency's leadership under former chair Lina Khan, Wired reports.
buff.ly
March 20, 2025 at 4:42 AM
FTC removes posts critical of Big Tech from its website
It's painfully obvious when someone has only ever used generative AI to write little poems and answer simple questions. They usually think AI will save the world.
Doing anything decent with it requires tight parameters, close supervision, and enough domain knowledge to know when it's bullshitting.
Doing anything decent with it requires tight parameters, close supervision, and enough domain knowledge to know when it's bullshitting.
A big part of the problem is stupid people have been convinced by rich people that AI is God, when AI is closer to an automatic dog food dispenser.
March 19, 2025 at 7:33 PM
It's painfully obvious when someone has only ever used generative AI to write little poems and answer simple questions. They usually think AI will save the world.
Doing anything decent with it requires tight parameters, close supervision, and enough domain knowledge to know when it's bullshitting.
Doing anything decent with it requires tight parameters, close supervision, and enough domain knowledge to know when it's bullshitting.
It's hard hard to overstate the significance of Bedoya's enforcement of consumer rights law against privacy violations.
The FTC did an astonishing amount of work during Khan's term.
It's not surprising that Trump is forcing him out.
Tech firms can now go back to doing whatever they want.
The FTC did an astonishing amount of work during Khan's term.
It's not surprising that Trump is forcing him out.
Tech firms can now go back to doing whatever they want.
The president is trying to illegally fire me. Who does this help? Does it help you? Or does it help the billionaires over the president’s shoulder at the inauguration?
March 19, 2025 at 6:25 PM
It's hard hard to overstate the significance of Bedoya's enforcement of consumer rights law against privacy violations.
The FTC did an astonishing amount of work during Khan's term.
It's not surprising that Trump is forcing him out.
Tech firms can now go back to doing whatever they want.
The FTC did an astonishing amount of work during Khan's term.
It's not surprising that Trump is forcing him out.
Tech firms can now go back to doing whatever they want.
Well it looks like the Washington Post's new editorial policy is working out just fine.
America's pain is "brief". It will usher in a new "Golden Age".
But the government isn't explaining these two entirely true things "very well".
See? They criticised Trump.
America's pain is "brief". It will usher in a new "Golden Age".
But the government isn't explaining these two entirely true things "very well".
See? They criticised Trump.
President Donald Trump’s economic plan is causing brief pain while the nation advances to a new “Golden Age.”
But officials have been much less clear about what that destination will look like.
But officials have been much less clear about what that destination will look like.
Trump has a plan to remake the economy. But he’s not explaining it very well.
President Donald Trump’s economic plan is causing brief pain while the nation advances to a new “Golden Age.” But officials have been much less clear about what that destination will look like.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Well it looks like the Washington Post's new editorial policy is working out just fine.
America's pain is "brief". It will usher in a new "Golden Age".
But the government isn't explaining these two entirely true things "very well".
See? They criticised Trump.
America's pain is "brief". It will usher in a new "Golden Age".
But the government isn't explaining these two entirely true things "very well".
See? They criticised Trump.
The GPAI stuff is a weak spot for me. My AI Act training focuses on deployers and smaller providers
Is the CoP really voluntary as the article says? If technically "yes"—is it de facto mandatory?
Obviously lobbyists will lobby, but can anyone get me up to speed on Meta etc's specific complaints?
Is the CoP really voluntary as the article says? If technically "yes"—is it de facto mandatory?
Obviously lobbyists will lobby, but can anyone get me up to speed on Meta etc's specific complaints?
the most powerful & wealthiest corporations whose business models relies on theft, rights infringements, environmental destruction, aggressive data collection & surveillance say that the regulatory guardrails developed to tame them are a “step in the wrong direction”
www.politico.eu/article/goog...
www.politico.eu/article/goog...
EU rules for advanced AI are step in wrong direction, Google says
Google and Meta are leading the charge against a “code of practice” governing tools like Gemini, ChatGPT and Llama.
www.politico.eu
March 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The GPAI stuff is a weak spot for me. My AI Act training focuses on deployers and smaller providers
Is the CoP really voluntary as the article says? If technically "yes"—is it de facto mandatory?
Obviously lobbyists will lobby, but can anyone get me up to speed on Meta etc's specific complaints?
Is the CoP really voluntary as the article says? If technically "yes"—is it de facto mandatory?
Obviously lobbyists will lobby, but can anyone get me up to speed on Meta etc's specific complaints?