Michael Cruickshank
@cruickshank.bsky.social
Geospatial analyst, OSINT investigator, and journalist. Investigating the intersection of climate resilience and human systems, and sometimes writing fiction. From 🇦🇺, now in 🇪🇺.
📍Berlin, Germany
https://www.michaelcruickshank.me/
📍Berlin, Germany
https://www.michaelcruickshank.me/
Classic case of what happens when a user forgets to append "Make no mistakes" to their prompt.
The U.S. military swung into action to intercept a Chinese ship after an “entirely false” AI-generated intelligence report inaccurately identified what the vessel was carrying
It also “almost started a war,” a source told CNN.
It also “almost started a war,” a source told CNN.
Exclusive: US military had close call after using AI for false intelligence report, sources say | CNN Politics
The episode shows the risks of using this new, relatively poorly understood technology in the middle of the Iran war
www.cnn.com
September 18, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Classic case of what happens when a user forgets to append "Make no mistakes" to their prompt.
For some reason, one of the rogue unreleased GPT-6 Astra agents decided to adopt Anarcho-Primitivism. Clearly, the threat of a misaligned Kaczynski Maximiser needs to be taken seriously.
alignment.openai.com/misalignment...
alignment.openai.com/misalignment...
September 16, 2026 at 11:10 PM
For some reason, one of the rogue unreleased GPT-6 Astra agents decided to adopt Anarcho-Primitivism. Clearly, the threat of a misaligned Kaczynski Maximiser needs to be taken seriously.
alignment.openai.com/misalignment...
alignment.openai.com/misalignment...
It is an insult to the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya that these were coloured brown and not green.
Libyan authorities have announced the seizure of over 100,000 Gaddafi ecstasy tablets
September 12, 2026 at 8:17 PM
It is an insult to the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya that these were coloured brown and not green.
Reposted by Michael Cruickshank
My rough estimate is that around ~9 autonomous AI hacking incidents remain undisclosed/unknown. At least based on the scarce data points we have. techletters.substack.com/p/9-autonomo...
September 12, 2026 at 5:14 PM
My rough estimate is that around ~9 autonomous AI hacking incidents remain undisclosed/unknown. At least based on the scarce data points we have. techletters.substack.com/p/9-autonomo...
Fun fact, I ate at this Pizza Hut a few weeks after the Revolution, and we were basically the only tourists at the Giza Necropolis.
I was going to say, I know the pyramids are for the dead but this would make a great cover shot.
www.reddit.com/r/pics/comme...
www.reddit.com/r/pics/comme...
From the pics community on Reddit: Pyramids of Giza as seen from a nearby Pizza Hut a quarter mile away.
Explore this post and more from the pics community
www.reddit.com
September 12, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Fun fact, I ate at this Pizza Hut a few weeks after the Revolution, and we were basically the only tourists at the Giza Necropolis.
I still can't get over the fact that someone fat-fingered a doomsday message from the alert system in Hawaii, including the line "this is not a drill". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Ha...
September 10, 2026 at 10:12 AM
I still can't get over the fact that someone fat-fingered a doomsday message from the alert system in Hawaii, including the line "this is not a drill". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Ha...
Wouldn't this be illegal under GDPR?
Apple quietly dropped a ton of detail about the Apple Watch’s new always-on don’t-call-it-transcription feature and it is FASCINATING. support.apple.com/en-us/148354
September 9, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Wouldn't this be illegal under GDPR?
These guys are incredibly bad at simple trolley problems.
If:
1) your P(doom) is >10%
2) your logic for pushing forward the tech (and working for Anthropic) is to get ahead of less responsible actors
3) you admit you are neither on-track nor have a plan
Why on Earth would you keep working there?
If:
1) your P(doom) is >10%
2) your logic for pushing forward the tech (and working for Anthropic) is to get ahead of less responsible actors
3) you admit you are neither on-track nor have a plan
Why on Earth would you keep working there?
September 9, 2026 at 7:33 AM
These guys are incredibly bad at simple trolley problems.
If:
1) your P(doom) is >10%
2) your logic for pushing forward the tech (and working for Anthropic) is to get ahead of less responsible actors
3) you admit you are neither on-track nor have a plan
Why on Earth would you keep working there?
If:
1) your P(doom) is >10%
2) your logic for pushing forward the tech (and working for Anthropic) is to get ahead of less responsible actors
3) you admit you are neither on-track nor have a plan
Why on Earth would you keep working there?
Footnotes are, in my opinion, one of the most criminally under-utilised literary devices in fiction. In my novel 'Backscatter ', for instance, I use them for dry humour in what is otherwise a relatively dark and serious text.
September 7, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Footnotes are, in my opinion, one of the most criminally under-utilised literary devices in fiction. In my novel 'Backscatter ', for instance, I use them for dry humour in what is otherwise a relatively dark and serious text.
It also correctly points out that a magical aristocracy that runs on enslaved demons would create a vindictive and authoritarian government abusing its subjects on multiple metaphysical planes.
(incidentally, the far superior series of 'young adult books about being a British magician' is Jonathan Stroud's Bartimeaus books, and as a bonus the author isn't an aspiring genocidaire.)
September 6, 2026 at 11:49 PM
It also correctly points out that a magical aristocracy that runs on enslaved demons would create a vindictive and authoritarian government abusing its subjects on multiple metaphysical planes.
Fresh on the heels of losing a war to Iran, the Peace President is trying to annex the Moon.
Honestly, it might be a useful distraction from more earthly pursuits with higher death tolls.
Honestly, it might be a useful distraction from more earthly pursuits with higher death tolls.
September 6, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Fresh on the heels of losing a war to Iran, the Peace President is trying to annex the Moon.
Honestly, it might be a useful distraction from more earthly pursuits with higher death tolls.
Honestly, it might be a useful distraction from more earthly pursuits with higher death tolls.
The good news: Lots of apparent tactical voting for the Greens, which will likely prevent the AfD from securing a majority government in Sachsen-Anhalt.
The bad news: Approximately one in every two people in the Bundesland is a fascist.
The bad news: Approximately one in every two people in the Bundesland is a fascist.
Germany, Infratest dimap exit poll:
Saxony-Anhalt regional parliament election
AfD (ESN): 44.5% (+23.5)
CDU (EPP): 18.5% (-18.5)
LINKE (LEFT): 9.5% (-1.5)
GRÜNE (Greens/EFA): 9% (+3)
SPD (S&D): 8%
...
+/- vs. last election
Fieldwork: 06 September 2026
➤ europeelects.eu/germany
Saxony-Anhalt regional parliament election
AfD (ESN): 44.5% (+23.5)
CDU (EPP): 18.5% (-18.5)
LINKE (LEFT): 9.5% (-1.5)
GRÜNE (Greens/EFA): 9% (+3)
SPD (S&D): 8%
...
+/- vs. last election
Fieldwork: 06 September 2026
➤ europeelects.eu/germany
September 6, 2026 at 4:08 PM
The good news: Lots of apparent tactical voting for the Greens, which will likely prevent the AfD from securing a majority government in Sachsen-Anhalt.
The bad news: Approximately one in every two people in the Bundesland is a fascist.
The bad news: Approximately one in every two people in the Bundesland is a fascist.
Got some more painting done rather than doom out about the Sachsen-Anhalt elections.
September 6, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Got some more painting done rather than doom out about the Sachsen-Anhalt elections.
Seconded - divisive purity tests (such as if a user has an account on certain platforms) with zero discernment, nuance or long-term thinking are a race to the bottom that will only see fascists win.
Some people here on Bluesky have a problem with those of us who continue to use X for research, investigation and intel gathering, professionally. Tough!
If you put me on one of your stupid moderation lists ('Uses X screenshots' etc) you get reprted and blocked. Grow the f'ck up!
If you put me on one of your stupid moderation lists ('Uses X screenshots' etc) you get reprted and blocked. Grow the f'ck up!
September 6, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Seconded - divisive purity tests (such as if a user has an account on certain platforms) with zero discernment, nuance or long-term thinking are a race to the bottom that will only see fascists win.
Big day for EU spaceflight, with Germany's Isar Aerospace becoming the country's first private company to successfully reach orbit.
Congrats to all involved!
Congrats to all involved!
Liftoff: German company Isar Aerospace launched their Spectrum launcher, lifting off from Andøya Spaceport in Norway. 👏🚀
September 5, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Big day for EU spaceflight, with Germany's Isar Aerospace becoming the country's first private company to successfully reach orbit.
Congrats to all involved!
Congrats to all involved!
There is likely a one-to-one Venn Diagram overlap between the attendees here and the so-called 'Global March Against Chemtrails and Geoengineering'.
They do have hilarious stickers, though...
They do have hilarious stickers, though...
September 5, 2026 at 7:39 AM
There is likely a one-to-one Venn Diagram overlap between the attendees here and the so-called 'Global March Against Chemtrails and Geoengineering'.
They do have hilarious stickers, though...
They do have hilarious stickers, though...
The German drone (Dornier DAR) from the 80s that inspired an Israeli drone (Harop) that was reverse-engineered by the Iranians (Shahed), copypasted by the Russians (Geran), who had their homework stolen by the Americans (LUCAS), has now come full circle, with a Deutschahed entering mass production.
September 3, 2026 at 9:49 PM
The German drone (Dornier DAR) from the 80s that inspired an Israeli drone (Harop) that was reverse-engineered by the Iranians (Shahed), copypasted by the Russians (Geran), who had their homework stolen by the Americans (LUCAS), has now come full circle, with a Deutschahed entering mass production.
"As long as men die, liberty can never perish."
Francis Fukuyama keeps the winning streak alive.
September 3, 2026 at 5:53 AM
"As long as men die, liberty can never perish."
The decline of the US is also extremely visible in its slide decks. Compare the image below, with extremely strong vibes, to the corporate powerpoint slop of today, and tell me this isn't an empire in terminal decline.
"SOVIET MILITARY CAPABILITIES S-100-18-85 BOX 1 OF 2," slide 13 of 40 [gallery]
![[no alt text added yet! reply with yours!] id:295 db:ec67f](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mvejzgalfypof3mz3f7kllnu/bafkreido7e4bsr4bqry6mz6fif5npltric2qbfbl2pjiwaagqrxraagj4u)
September 2, 2026 at 7:07 AM
The decline of the US is also extremely visible in its slide decks. Compare the image below, with extremely strong vibes, to the corporate powerpoint slop of today, and tell me this isn't an empire in terminal decline.
With Russische Haus in Berlin being closed down as part of the retaliation, pour one out for anyone still using the 'Sputnik-57' co-working space.
#BREAKING The German government believes that Russia is responsible for the failed attack with an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport last month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt says
September 1, 2026 at 4:04 PM
With Russische Haus in Berlin being closed down as part of the retaliation, pour one out for anyone still using the 'Sputnik-57' co-working space.
Looks like there was an attack on a substation connected to a major lignite coal plant in Brandenburg (near Berlin) today. Lines were damaged, and several rockets armed with explosives were found nearby.
www.maz-online.de/brandenburg/...
www.maz-online.de/brandenburg/...
Beschuss mit Raketen: Versuchter Anschlag auf Umspannwerk bei Jänschwalde
Nach Informationen der „Märkischen Allgemeinen Zeitung“ wurde eine wichtige Anlage nahe des Kohlekraftwerks mehrfach beschossen. Einsatzkräfte sollen vor Ort weitere Raketen entschärft haben. Der Netz...
www.maz-online.de
September 1, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Looks like there was an attack on a substation connected to a major lignite coal plant in Brandenburg (near Berlin) today. Lines were damaged, and several rockets armed with explosives were found nearby.
www.maz-online.de/brandenburg/...
www.maz-online.de/brandenburg/...
Imagery from @vantortech.bsky.social 's open data program shows that beyond the Chinese border point, the downstream Nepali town and hydroelectric dam have been annihilated as well.
August 27, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Imagery from @vantortech.bsky.social 's open data program shows that beyond the Chinese border point, the downstream Nepali town and hydroelectric dam have been annihilated as well.
Aerial photos from Chinese media better show how the entire border installation has been scoured from the face of the Earth. The amount of energy carried by the debris flow must have been gargantuan, and the human cost will be enormous.
August 27, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Aerial photos from Chinese media better show how the entire border installation has been scoured from the face of the Earth. The amount of energy carried by the debris flow must have been gargantuan, and the human cost will be enormous.
Sentinel-2 timelapse showing the Gyirong Port (古隆口岸) border crossing area between Nepal and China. The buildings of the border crossing, bridges and downstream villages have all completely disappeared.
August 27, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Sentinel-2 timelapse showing the Gyirong Port (古隆口岸) border crossing area between Nepal and China. The buildings of the border crossing, bridges and downstream villages have all completely disappeared.
Before and after imagery of the glacial outburst flood catastrophe in Nepal. (Imagery via Planet)
August 27, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Before and after imagery of the glacial outburst flood catastrophe in Nepal. (Imagery via Planet)