Dr Abeba Birhane
@abeba.blacksky.app
Founder & PI @aial.ie. Assistant Professor of AI, School of Computer Science & Statistics, @tcddublin.bsky.social
AI accountability, AI audits & evaluation. Cognitive scientist by training. Ethiopian in Ireland. She/her
AI accountability, AI audits & evaluation. Cognitive scientist by training. Ethiopian in Ireland. She/her
Pinned
Dr Abeba Birhane
@abeba.blacksky.app
· Jun 25
Computer-vision research powers surveillance technology - Nature
An analysis of research papers and citing patents indicates the extensive ties between computer-vision research and surveillance.
www.nature.com
New paper hot off the press www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
i appreciate people trying to place my work as an important piece in the current ai landscape but it is inaccurate to describe my work as ai safety. i do proper, rigorous scientific research
October 14, 2026 at 9:59 PM
i appreciate people trying to place my work as an important piece in the current ai landscape but it is inaccurate to describe my work as ai safety. i do proper, rigorous scientific research
i've had a terrible and trying day and now this "how's responsible when i robot commits sexual offence" bs is sending me
October 14, 2026 at 9:49 PM
i've had a terrible and trying day and now this "how's responsible when i robot commits sexual offence" bs is sending me
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Sally Rooney books can't be sold in UK due to support for Palestine Action, publisher says
Sally Rooney books can't be sold in UK due to support for Palestine Action, publisher says
'To sell a writer's work and not be able to pass on earnings is an unconscionable situation,' publisher Faber said of the decision.
www.lemonde.fr
October 14, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Sally Rooney books can't be sold in UK due to support for Palestine Action, publisher says
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Join us for a participatory conversation with @alixdunn.com and @ifeoma.bsky.social about AI in schools.
Happening this Thursday, 9am PT / 12pm ET / 4pm GMT! Join us: luma.com/ifeoma
Happening this Thursday, 9am PT / 12pm ET / 4pm GMT! Join us: luma.com/ifeoma
AI in Schools: Learnings on Local Action with Ifeoma Ozoma · Zoom · Luma
When Ifeoma Ozoma discovered that New Mexico schools were requiring young kids to read to an AI avatar named Amira—and that “she” was recording their voices to…
luma.com
October 14, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Join us for a participatory conversation with @alixdunn.com and @ifeoma.bsky.social about AI in schools.
Happening this Thursday, 9am PT / 12pm ET / 4pm GMT! Join us: luma.com/ifeoma
Happening this Thursday, 9am PT / 12pm ET / 4pm GMT! Join us: luma.com/ifeoma
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Same here in Canada
clearly, the Irish government is completely out of touch with the Irish public.
I've said this before and I'll say it again, expect this to backfire. I see it with my own students who are becoming more and more skeptical of AI every year
I've said this before and I'll say it again, expect this to backfire. I see it with my own students who are becoming more and more skeptical of AI every year
October 14, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Same here in Canada
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
The Irish State has been doing Open Government Partnership with zero input allowed from civil society groups for 12 years now, and OGP's *entire reason to exist* is the exact opposite of that. So this is my surprised face, I guess?
"Today's AI summit brings together businesses, governments and civil society together" Minister Peter Burke TD
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
October 14, 2026 at 6:20 PM
The Irish State has been doing Open Government Partnership with zero input allowed from civil society groups for 12 years now, and OGP's *entire reason to exist* is the exact opposite of that. So this is my surprised face, I guess?
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
No, Michael Collins, we do not want your fuel protesters joining our industrial action 🤢
October 14, 2026 at 5:08 PM
No, Michael Collins, we do not want your fuel protesters joining our industrial action 🤢
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Actual Cancel Culture of a significant cultural figure [unlike where far right extremists engage in hate speech & are held accountable]. It’s extremism like this, & the disinterest of the current UK Labour govt in stopping the shift to the far right, that’s deeply worrying.
Irish author Sally Rooney’s books will no longer be supplied in the UK by her publisher after UK anti-terror legislation left it unable to pass on earnings from sales of her work
👉 www.thenational.scot/news/2...
👉 www.thenational.scot/news/2...
October 14, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Actual Cancel Culture of a significant cultural figure [unlike where far right extremists engage in hate speech & are held accountable]. It’s extremism like this, & the disinterest of the current UK Labour govt in stopping the shift to the far right, that’s deeply worrying.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Watching this unfold is like watching the Irish government and tech leadership in their own form of AI psychosis or emperors new clothes. Completely divorced from what the general public, civil society orgs, arts & cultural orgs are saying / shouting.
"Today's AI summit brings together businesses, governments and civil society together" Minister Peter Burke TD
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
October 14, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Watching this unfold is like watching the Irish government and tech leadership in their own form of AI psychosis or emperors new clothes. Completely divorced from what the general public, civil society orgs, arts & cultural orgs are saying / shouting.
had some back and forth to coordinate schedules with a major media outlet today. just before i agree to do the interview, they tell me the topic is "benefits of ai". I wish people would do the due diligence of understanding my work. it certainly would have saved us unnecessarily liaison
October 14, 2026 at 3:19 PM
had some back and forth to coordinate schedules with a major media outlet today. just before i agree to do the interview, they tell me the topic is "benefits of ai". I wish people would do the due diligence of understanding my work. it certainly would have saved us unnecessarily liaison
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
James Lawless wanted €300m in the budget for "AI upskilling" and got €150m. Malcolm Byrne and Naoise Ó Cearúil chair the committee on AI as if they're lobbyists. Niamh Smyth put this shindig together and is so proud she called it "my AI summit". why is FF – even more than FG – so down bad for AI?
"We consider ourselves to be the silicon valley of Europe.
We have established a gateway between Europe and US.
It's not time to slow down or stop. It is time to accelerate AI"
Minister James Lawless TD (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)
#AISUMMITIE
We have established a gateway between Europe and US.
It's not time to slow down or stop. It is time to accelerate AI"
Minister James Lawless TD (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)
#AISUMMITIE
October 14, 2026 at 2:47 PM
James Lawless wanted €300m in the budget for "AI upskilling" and got €150m. Malcolm Byrne and Naoise Ó Cearúil chair the committee on AI as if they're lobbyists. Niamh Smyth put this shindig together and is so proud she called it "my AI summit". why is FF – even more than FG – so down bad for AI?
"The businesses are crying for AI transformation but what will win at the end of the day is trustworthy AI." Niall Twomey, Fenergo
#AISUMMITIE
#AISUMMITIE
October 14, 2026 at 2:21 PM
"The businesses are crying for AI transformation but what will win at the end of the day is trustworthy AI." Niall Twomey, Fenergo
#AISUMMITIE
#AISUMMITIE
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Well if Stripe wants me to let some over-connected bag of algebra choose gifts for people I like then I'm definitely going to be buying them all in person at actual shops, possibly using cash.
"Thanks to AI agents, your Christmas shopping is about to get a lot easier" Eileen O’Mara, Stripe ##AISUMMITIE
October 14, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Well if Stripe wants me to let some over-connected bag of algebra choose gifts for people I like then I'm definitely going to be buying them all in person at actual shops, possibly using cash.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
This is a really poor take. Many sites - including some of the biggest - are blocking agents. Consumer AI really isn’t the hit they think it is.
"Thanks to AI agents, your Christmas shopping is about to get a lot easier" Eileen O’Mara, Stripe ##AISUMMITIE
October 14, 2026 at 1:44 PM
This is a really poor take. Many sites - including some of the biggest - are blocking agents. Consumer AI really isn’t the hit they think it is.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
A discourse analysis of this thread would be fun! A comparison to similar conference discussions would be *chef’s kiss*!!
"Today's AI summit brings together businesses, governments and civil society together" Minister Peter Burke TD
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
October 14, 2026 at 1:39 PM
A discourse analysis of this thread would be fun! A comparison to similar conference discussions would be *chef’s kiss*!!
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
We can regulate ourselves and find nothing wrong
#AIPsychosis
#AISlop #LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
#AIPsychosis
#AISlop #LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
"Industry self-regulation is a good step." Brad Smith, Microsoft
October 14, 2026 at 1:34 PM
We can regulate ourselves and find nothing wrong
#AIPsychosis
#AISlop #LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
#AIPsychosis
#AISlop #LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
DARVO
It's not me, it's YOU
It's your insecurities, not your job, the environment, the tech & documentation debt,, your energy bills and lack of potable water
😡😡😡
#AIPsychosis
#AISlop #LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
It's not me, it's YOU
It's your insecurities, not your job, the environment, the tech & documentation debt,, your energy bills and lack of potable water
😡😡😡
#AIPsychosis
#AISlop #LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
Talks about the importance of accelerating tech adoption and ensuring people don't miss out.
Makes analogies with the fear of electricity historically to the fear of technology now.
"Don't let your insecurities hold you back"
"AGI will feel much more like human."
Friar, OpenAI
Makes analogies with the fear of electricity historically to the fear of technology now.
"Don't let your insecurities hold you back"
"AGI will feel much more like human."
Friar, OpenAI
October 14, 2026 at 1:32 PM
DARVO
It's not me, it's YOU
It's your insecurities, not your job, the environment, the tech & documentation debt,, your energy bills and lack of potable water
😡😡😡
#AIPsychosis
#AISlop #LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
It's not me, it's YOU
It's your insecurities, not your job, the environment, the tech & documentation debt,, your energy bills and lack of potable water
😡😡😡
#AIPsychosis
#AISlop #LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
We're not a gateway between Europe and the US, we're a back door the US is using to push their own agenda in Europe
"We consider ourselves to be the silicon valley of Europe.
We have established a gateway between Europe and US.
It's not time to slow down or stop. It is time to accelerate AI"
Minister James Lawless TD (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)
#AISUMMITIE
We have established a gateway between Europe and US.
It's not time to slow down or stop. It is time to accelerate AI"
Minister James Lawless TD (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)
#AISUMMITIE
October 14, 2026 at 1:31 PM
We're not a gateway between Europe and the US, we're a back door the US is using to push their own agenda in Europe
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
I'm not sure I'd want to be associated with Silicon Valley in 2026 anymore than I'd want to be associated with Deutsche Bank in 1945.
"We consider ourselves to be the silicon valley of Europe.
We have established a gateway between Europe and US.
It's not time to slow down or stop. It is time to accelerate AI"
Minister James Lawless TD (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)
#AISUMMITIE
We have established a gateway between Europe and US.
It's not time to slow down or stop. It is time to accelerate AI"
Minister James Lawless TD (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)
#AISUMMITIE
October 14, 2026 at 1:29 PM
I'm not sure I'd want to be associated with Silicon Valley in 2026 anymore than I'd want to be associated with Deutsche Bank in 1945.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
The whole of the education service in ireland is on strike today. Yet we have the Minister for Further and Higher Ed at an AI conference comparing ireland to the Dark Empire. Am hello, Corporate Capture much !!!
#speirgorm #strike
bsky.app/profile/abeb...
#speirgorm #strike
bsky.app/profile/abeb...
"We consider ourselves to be the silicon valley of Europe.
We have established a gateway between Europe and US.
It's not time to slow down or stop. It is time to accelerate AI"
Minister James Lawless TD (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)
#AISUMMITIE
We have established a gateway between Europe and US.
It's not time to slow down or stop. It is time to accelerate AI"
Minister James Lawless TD (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)
#AISUMMITIE
October 14, 2026 at 1:23 PM
The whole of the education service in ireland is on strike today. Yet we have the Minister for Further and Higher Ed at an AI conference comparing ireland to the Dark Empire. Am hello, Corporate Capture much !!!
#speirgorm #strike
bsky.app/profile/abeb...
#speirgorm #strike
bsky.app/profile/abeb...
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Because what would the actual people most impacted by AI have to add to this cozy discussion by govts and companies? This AI 'summit' is an absolute disgrace and I hope the opposition and civil society groups torpedo the govt for this
"Today's AI summit brings together businesses, governments and civil society together" Minister Peter Burke TD
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
October 14, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Because what would the actual people most impacted by AI have to add to this cozy discussion by govts and companies? This AI 'summit' is an absolute disgrace and I hope the opposition and civil society groups torpedo the govt for this
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Really? You 'need a PR campaign for tech?'
This #AISlop and #DataCenters are being forced in us, in every area of our lives.
I'm sure you mean propaganda, to undermine human rights, environmental laws, GDPR and sovereign nations
#LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
This #AISlop and #DataCenters are being forced in us, in every area of our lives.
I'm sure you mean propaganda, to undermine human rights, environmental laws, GDPR and sovereign nations
#LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
"We need a PR campaign for tech. We have to be more ruthless about prioritising AI in Europe. We have to be stronger about our priorities in Europe. We need to make Europe a place where investment funds are welcome. " Jarek Kutylowski, DeepL
#AISUMMITIE
#AISUMMITIE
October 14, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Really? You 'need a PR campaign for tech?'
This #AISlop and #DataCenters are being forced in us, in every area of our lives.
I'm sure you mean propaganda, to undermine human rights, environmental laws, GDPR and sovereign nations
#LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
This #AISlop and #DataCenters are being forced in us, in every area of our lives.
I'm sure you mean propaganda, to undermine human rights, environmental laws, GDPR and sovereign nations
#LineGoUp #SpéirGorm #AISummitIE
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
While the Minister is waxing lyrical about #AI, I am unable to teach my students about it because his government failed to put in place a public sector pay agreement, or to fully implement the terms of the previous two agreements. 🤨 #PublicSectorStrike #IFUT #HigherEducation
"On my Ministry, we will catch the wave (of AI) and bring everyone along with us.
Change is not something we should fear but something we embrace.
We are equipping people with the skills to use AI with confidence." Minister Lawless TD #AISUMMITIE
Change is not something we should fear but something we embrace.
We are equipping people with the skills to use AI with confidence." Minister Lawless TD #AISUMMITIE
October 14, 2026 at 12:47 PM
While the Minister is waxing lyrical about #AI, I am unable to teach my students about it because his government failed to put in place a public sector pay agreement, or to fully implement the terms of the previous two agreements. 🤨 #PublicSectorStrike #IFUT #HigherEducation
yes, and solidarity with everyone on industrial strike today 👏🏾
Half of civil society is on strike!
October 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM
yes, and solidarity with everyone on industrial strike today 👏🏾
"Today's AI summit brings together businesses, governments and civil society together" Minister Peter Burke TD
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
October 14, 2026 at 11:10 AM
"Today's AI summit brings together businesses, governments and civil society together" Minister Peter Burke TD
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE
(fact: there are no civil society representatives, not in the list of speakers) #AISummitIE