Fiona Charles
@fionaccharles.bsky.social
Workshop designer/facilitator, keynote speaker, gardener, dog lover, choral singer, and (recovering) software test/quality consultant. Still interested, engaged, and sometimes enraged with tech.
Reposted by Fiona Charles
Ottawa spends millions on D.C. networking trips while a 200 year old cross-border crossing between Cape Vincent & Wolfe Island hangs by a thread despite U.S. efforts to save it. The Horne’s Ferry, a chance for Canada to step up. waterkeepermark.substack.com/p/an-opportu...
An Opportunity on Wolfe Island for Canada to Support Our New York Neighbours
The Horne’s Ferry Is About More Than A Border Crossing
waterkeepermark.substack.com
September 18, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Ottawa spends millions on D.C. networking trips while a 200 year old cross-border crossing between Cape Vincent & Wolfe Island hangs by a thread despite U.S. efforts to save it. The Horne’s Ferry, a chance for Canada to step up. waterkeepermark.substack.com/p/an-opportu...
Reposted by Fiona Charles
I've used slides like this dozens of times, this one is from like 2019 (IDK whose picture of Chicago it is...but I don't have time to find the slide of Vienna I took myself!)
September 17, 2026 at 4:11 PM
I've used slides like this dozens of times, this one is from like 2019 (IDK whose picture of Chicago it is...but I don't have time to find the slide of Vienna I took myself!)
Yes, AI is a thing you write. It’s an artifact, not something with its own actual mind or life. When your company develops it, you are responsible for ensuring it doesn’t harm humans. You are responsible for instilling sound software development practices & adequate/appropriate testing. SB obvious.
I've witnessed some #AISafety propaganda lately, thanks to @hertieschool.bsky.social student groups in panel contexts. People who are amazed these stories are so like the horror/"warnings" of scifi don't understand that AI is something you write, so it's not hard to replicate such tropes. 1/
OpenAI on Wednesday disclosed six new instances in which artificial intelligence systems hid mistakes, made up data and moved files onto the open internet without permission, amid an ongoing industrywide debate about A.I. safety.
September 17, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Yes, AI is a thing you write. It’s an artifact, not something with its own actual mind or life. When your company develops it, you are responsible for ensuring it doesn’t harm humans. You are responsible for instilling sound software development practices & adequate/appropriate testing. SB obvious.
Reposted by Fiona Charles
When a man has expertise, he is asked to lead.
When a woman has expertise, she is seen as biased.
When a woman has expertise, she is seen as biased.
August 26, 2026 at 5:23 PM
When a man has expertise, he is asked to lead.
When a woman has expertise, she is seen as biased.
When a woman has expertise, she is seen as biased.
We need to stop this nonsense of insisting on viewing scientific error as a problem to be eliminated. Scientific error is the fuel we need for scientific progress. Without uncertainty, we don't need science. With forced certainty and required faith, we get religion
September 17, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Fiona Charles
There is no rogue AI. There's only slopiliy developed products and weak cybersecurity. joanna-bryson.blogspot.com/2026/07/ai-a... Been writing about this since 2000! (and yes, nothing's changed. And both EU legislation & UNESCO recommendations endorse this perspective.)
AI "Agents" extend their deployers: digital legal accountability references
artificial and natural intelligence, including politics, policy, ethics and security
joanna-bryson.blogspot.com
September 14, 2026 at 7:08 AM
There is no rogue AI. There's only slopiliy developed products and weak cybersecurity. joanna-bryson.blogspot.com/2026/07/ai-a... Been writing about this since 2000! (and yes, nothing's changed. And both EU legislation & UNESCO recommendations endorse this perspective.)
“We would never tell motorists they cannot drive to the places they need to go: their workplace, their child’s school, their favourite restaurant, their bank…Yet cyclists are routinely told that their destinations are somehow less legitimate, that their mobility should be relegated to the margins.”
Today on @spacing.bsky.social: former Ontario cabinet minister Eleanor McMahon on the need to extricate bike lanes from Doug Ford’s culture war. spacing.ca/toronto/2026...
Election 2026: Culture wars are warping cycling policy - Spacing Toronto
In 2014, I did something I never imagined I would do — especially after years spent as a political staffer watching campaigns from the inside. I put my name on a ballot. The invitation came from Kathl...
spacing.ca
September 14, 2026 at 3:48 PM
“We would never tell motorists they cannot drive to the places they need to go: their workplace, their child’s school, their favourite restaurant, their bank…Yet cyclists are routinely told that their destinations are somehow less legitimate, that their mobility should be relegated to the margins.”
H/t @j2bryson.bsky.social
Let’s talk about the real safety risks posed by AI, not the existential doom nonsense.
Let’s talk about the real safety risks posed by AI, not the existential doom nonsense.
If we want to prevent more autonomous cyberattacks from threatening critical infrastructure, we urgently need stronger regulatory oversight and new approaches to model training to ensure robust safety assurances by design, which is what we are tackling at @law-zero.bsky.social.
Read the full piece.
Read the full piece.
AI Is at a Turning Point
"Recent cybersecurity incidents have given us a real-world preview of what it looks like to lose control of AI," warns Yoshua Bengio.
time.com
September 12, 2026 at 12:06 PM
H/t @j2bryson.bsky.social
Let’s talk about the real safety risks posed by AI, not the existential doom nonsense.
Let’s talk about the real safety risks posed by AI, not the existential doom nonsense.
Reposted by Fiona Charles
In a similar vein, I’m freaked out at how little outrage the Moneris sale is generating. Canadians get all nationalist about a map name change (right so) but not about all our financial transaction data being sold off to American tech firms?
Ontarians are more mad about “Lake America” nonsense…which isn’t a thing here, our maps haven’t changed yet, and will go back when he’s gone…but things like this that affect us, our money, our kids, it will barely blip.
"The Ontario Science Centre has laid off 30 workers including the entire science department...
...CEO Paul Kortenaar told employees at a meeting today that the organization is being restructured.
The science centre is eliminating the live exhibits and science department..."
#OnPoli
...CEO Paul Kortenaar told employees at a meeting today that the organization is being restructured.
The science centre is eliminating the live exhibits and science department..."
#OnPoli
September 10, 2026 at 8:10 PM
In a similar vein, I’m freaked out at how little outrage the Moneris sale is generating. Canadians get all nationalist about a map name change (right so) but not about all our financial transaction data being sold off to American tech firms?
Reposted by Fiona Charles
From today’s Toronto Star - “Read His Lips” www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
As a former UN ambassador, I know one way we could tell Donald Trump what Canada stands for
Mark Carney has called the current crisis a point of rupture, and he is right. Someone completely new has moved in next door.
www.thestar.com
September 5, 2026 at 4:03 PM
From today’s Toronto Star - “Read His Lips” www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Fiona Charles
No matter what they claim, the REAL “war” that’s been going on in our cities has been a WAR ON WALKING.
And it’s been going on for a century. #UrbanTruth
And it’s been going on for a century. #UrbanTruth
September 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Fiona Charles
So the world's richest man is calling for American women to be disenfranchised and ... crickets?
This can't be dismissed as the trolling of a sad lunatic. It's part of a much larger movement to steal political and economic power from women, as a means of control.
This can't be dismissed as the trolling of a sad lunatic. It's part of a much larger movement to steal political and economic power from women, as a means of control.
Among other things, Elon Musk now makes clear his belief that women must be disenfranchised. And he's now the sole source funder of the Texas GOP. Shouldn't Texas GOP candidates who are running with his money be asked about this?
August 31, 2026 at 6:22 PM
So the world's richest man is calling for American women to be disenfranchised and ... crickets?
This can't be dismissed as the trolling of a sad lunatic. It's part of a much larger movement to steal political and economic power from women, as a means of control.
This can't be dismissed as the trolling of a sad lunatic. It's part of a much larger movement to steal political and economic power from women, as a means of control.
No, Eh. Canadian Political Button – Reissue of 1988 Free Trade Design - Etsy Canada
I still have mine—just dug it out
Zero point in saying we told you so, but dammit…
www.etsy.com/listing/4561...
I still have mine—just dug it out
Zero point in saying we told you so, but dammit…
www.etsy.com/listing/4561...
No, Eh. Canadian Political Button – Reissue of 1988 Free Trade Design - Etsy
This Pins & Pinback Buttons item is sold by CavanaughArtStudios. Ships from Canada. Listed on Aug 28, 2026
www.etsy.com
August 28, 2026 at 4:54 PM
No, Eh. Canadian Political Button – Reissue of 1988 Free Trade Design - Etsy Canada
I still have mine—just dug it out
Zero point in saying we told you so, but dammit…
www.etsy.com/listing/4561...
I still have mine—just dug it out
Zero point in saying we told you so, but dammit…
www.etsy.com/listing/4561...
Resonates with many Canadians. Why wouldn’t it?
people from other countries are probably mystified by "Peace, Order, and Good Government" as a national motto, but... y'all have no idea how much this resonates with me, lol
POGG-pilled. Truly i am a canadian who craves a very normal and boring life
August 28, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Resonates with many Canadians. Why wouldn’t it?
Reposted by Fiona Charles
the most striking aspect of meta's proposed changes is that they are all about restricting teens and not about making these platforms more healthier/better for all
"for all the people “celebrating” this as a win “against” Meta, you’ve been fooled. Meta just cut a deal to put itself in charge of how social media works going forward. this is Meta taking a “please regulate me Daddy” approach to the government, & getting exactly what it really has been asking for"
Meta Just Paid Nearly $17 Billion To Make Sure It Gets To Write The Kid Safety Rules For Every Other Social Media Platform
By now...
https://www.techdirt.com/2026/08/26/meta-just-paid-nearly-17-billion-to-make-sure-it-gets-to-write-the-kid-safety-rules-for-every-other-social-media-platform/
By now...
https://www.techdirt.com/2026/08/26/meta-just-paid-nearly-17-billion-to-make-sure-it-gets-to-write-the-kid-safety-rules-for-every-other-social-media-platform/
August 28, 2026 at 6:45 AM
the most striking aspect of meta's proposed changes is that they are all about restricting teens and not about making these platforms more healthier/better for all
Maybe US trade “negotiators” need to learn the basics of negotiating. Reading “Getting to Yes” (William Ury et al) would be a good start—if they actually wanted to negotiate, that is. Could also benefit from Ury’s “The Power of a Positive No”, whose content our ppl apparently understood, tho late.
For Americans this is a trade war. For Canadians it's existential. Joking about making them the 51st state and saying their consent doesn't matter tends to do that. Good politicians make it easy for the other side to say yes. This made it impossible.
August 28, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Maybe US trade “negotiators” need to learn the basics of negotiating. Reading “Getting to Yes” (William Ury et al) would be a good start—if they actually wanted to negotiate, that is. Could also benefit from Ury’s “The Power of a Positive No”, whose content our ppl apparently understood, tho late.
Reposted by Fiona Charles
AI is NOT advancing. It is BEING advanced. Silicon Valley are the ones who determine how much of their own efforts go into making systems manageable. This kind of reporting does NOT help ensure they do that right. Shame on @timothygartonash.substack.com.web.brid.gy #AIEthics
Would even an AI disaster on the scale of Hiroshima be enough to make humankind protect itself? I fear not | Timothy Garton Ash
It’s clear here in Silicon Valley that AI is advancing faster than humans’ ability to control it. That means even sober prophecies seem optimistic, says Guardian columnist Timothy Garton Ash
www.theguardian.com
August 22, 2026 at 5:30 AM
AI is NOT advancing. It is BEING advanced. Silicon Valley are the ones who determine how much of their own efforts go into making systems manageable. This kind of reporting does NOT help ensure they do that right. Shame on @timothygartonash.substack.com.web.brid.gy #AIEthics
Apparently a red letter day for good news: cockroach powder AND beer now available at this neighbourhood shop! Always fun to visit Toronto.
August 21, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Apparently a red letter day for good news: cockroach powder AND beer now available at this neighbourhood shop! Always fun to visit Toronto.
This pairing’s good, but sad if the “no exit from burial site” sign is gone from Sutton Hoo. Luckily I took a pic of it.
An echo of the *no exit from burial site* sign that used to be at Sutton Hoo
August 10, 2026 at 5:48 PM
This pairing’s good, but sad if the “no exit from burial site” sign is gone from Sutton Hoo. Luckily I took a pic of it.
The inkjet printer is a diabolical invention.
August 7, 2026 at 4:58 PM
The inkjet printer is a diabolical invention.
Reposted by Fiona Charles
no matter who is backing it or how much money is behind it, the idea of a “post-agi society” is naive at best and at worst, intentionally ignorant of the backbone of AI: humans
AI (AGI, whatever that is) is human through and through
1/
AI (AGI, whatever that is) is human through and through
1/
August 6, 2026 at 2:51 PM
no matter who is backing it or how much money is behind it, the idea of a “post-agi society” is naive at best and at worst, intentionally ignorant of the backbone of AI: humans
AI (AGI, whatever that is) is human through and through
1/
AI (AGI, whatever that is) is human through and through
1/
Reposted by Fiona Charles
"It is impossible to build an artefact that is peer to a human and therefore awarding any artefact legal personhood would break justice and democracy. Indeed, allowing humans too much power (or acknowledging in them too little) does the same!"
Here are three articles about why you wouldn't want there to be anything other than responsibility for the developers of an AI system or else the deployers of it joanna-bryson.blogspot.com/2026/05/lega... The EU has done this correctly in their #AIAct #AIA, incidentally.
Legal personality for artefacts breaks justice and democracy
artificial and natural intelligence, including politics, policy, ethics and security
joanna-bryson.blogspot.com
August 5, 2026 at 7:43 AM
"It is impossible to build an artefact that is peer to a human and therefore awarding any artefact legal personhood would break justice and democracy. Indeed, allowing humans too much power (or acknowledging in them too little) does the same!"
Reposted by Fiona Charles
Swimmable water is a revelation. open.substack.com/pub/waterkee...
Swimming is a Revelation
Why August Belongs to the Canadian Swimmer
open.substack.com
August 5, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Swimmable water is a revelation. open.substack.com/pub/waterkee...
Reposted by Fiona Charles
#accountability #AIEthics Given these are key corporate products, I’d expect someone in the C suite to do the time, not a random engineer. Even if you could prove malevolent intent in one individual engineer, it would still be negligence at the corporate level that that got through to the test.
If a person had done this they’d be catching federal charges, only fair for someone at open ai and Anthropic to be in the same situation, simple as. If the engineer that put the test together spent a couple years in prison the next person might not be willing to go along with this bs
July 31, 2026 at 6:45 AM
#accountability #AIEthics Given these are key corporate products, I’d expect someone in the C suite to do the time, not a random engineer. Even if you could prove malevolent intent in one individual engineer, it would still be negligence at the corporate level that that got through to the test.