William Perrin
@willperrin.bsky.social
Trustee at Indigo Trust. Formerly CarnegieUK, Good Things Foundation, TPW, UK Civil Service (No10, Cabinet Office, DtI, DCMS). Defence, tech, online safety, rural, tractors, cats etc.
Reposted by William Perrin
I would love to ask a prominent BBC journalist to give me an example of an illegitimate concern. Is seems to me that it has become a question not of fact, logic, or ethics but of volume. If a big enough proportion of a village was anxious about Bigfoot or Chemtrails, BBC would cover it in a way...
September 17, 2026 at 12:15 PM
I would love to ask a prominent BBC journalist to give me an example of an illegitimate concern. Is seems to me that it has become a question not of fact, logic, or ethics but of volume. If a big enough proportion of a village was anxious about Bigfoot or Chemtrails, BBC would cover it in a way...
Reposted by William Perrin
Us for years: "tech companies should be more responsible"
Tech for years: "move fast and break things!"
Tech now: "someone please stop us"
Us now: "we've been asking you to be more responsible for years"
The media now: "why are you criticising these tech guys they are so scared and afraid?"
Tech for years: "move fast and break things!"
Tech now: "someone please stop us"
Us now: "we've been asking you to be more responsible for years"
The media now: "why are you criticising these tech guys they are so scared and afraid?"
September 17, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Us for years: "tech companies should be more responsible"
Tech for years: "move fast and break things!"
Tech now: "someone please stop us"
Us now: "we've been asking you to be more responsible for years"
The media now: "why are you criticising these tech guys they are so scared and afraid?"
Tech for years: "move fast and break things!"
Tech now: "someone please stop us"
Us now: "we've been asking you to be more responsible for years"
The media now: "why are you criticising these tech guys they are so scared and afraid?"
Reposted by William Perrin
Here's a positive message from Oxford University Hospitals about shorter referral times. How do we get this sort of thing to people who get their information (and thence their opinions and votes) from Daily Mail headlines and Reform? They won't read press releases.
www.ouh.nhs.uk/news/article...
www.ouh.nhs.uk/news/article...
Service redesign more than halves waiting list for specialist care in six months - Oxford University Hospitals
www.ouh.nhs.uk
September 17, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Here's a positive message from Oxford University Hospitals about shorter referral times. How do we get this sort of thing to people who get their information (and thence their opinions and votes) from Daily Mail headlines and Reform? They won't read press releases.
www.ouh.nhs.uk/news/article...
www.ouh.nhs.uk/news/article...
Reposted by William Perrin
These guys are all nerds who read scifi, the positive case is surely "It will turn us into the Culture and life will be brilliant". But they keep insisting that actually they are building the Terminator and they're scared too but there's nothing they can do to stop it.
September 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM
These guys are all nerds who read scifi, the positive case is surely "It will turn us into the Culture and life will be brilliant". But they keep insisting that actually they are building the Terminator and they're scared too but there's nothing they can do to stop it.
Reposted by William Perrin
i also think that pricing is optimistic considering currently ~$200 p/m of tokens has an actual cost of ~$2000.
the moment they actually price it as if it were a real product usage would just fall off a cliff.
it wouldn't stop llm usage but i reckon more places would roll their own.
the moment they actually price it as if it were a real product usage would just fall off a cliff.
it wouldn't stop llm usage but i reckon more places would roll their own.
September 17, 2026 at 2:15 PM
i also think that pricing is optimistic considering currently ~$200 p/m of tokens has an actual cost of ~$2000.
the moment they actually price it as if it were a real product usage would just fall off a cliff.
it wouldn't stop llm usage but i reckon more places would roll their own.
the moment they actually price it as if it were a real product usage would just fall off a cliff.
it wouldn't stop llm usage but i reckon more places would roll their own.
Reposted by William Perrin
There are lots of big (& good!) ideas on 'rewiring the state' - but we can't assume the tech underpinning it will just work & we need to bring the public in
A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate - and democratic
Delighted to write for @futuregovforum.bsky.social with @jenitennison.com
A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate - and democratic
Delighted to write for @futuregovforum.bsky.social with @jenitennison.com
A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate – and democratic
By Gavin Freeguard and Jeni Tennison
futuregovforum.substack.com
September 17, 2026 at 11:54 AM
There are lots of big (& good!) ideas on 'rewiring the state' - but we can't assume the tech underpinning it will just work & we need to bring the public in
A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate - and democratic
Delighted to write for @futuregovforum.bsky.social with @jenitennison.com
A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate - and democratic
Delighted to write for @futuregovforum.bsky.social with @jenitennison.com
Reposted by William Perrin
Productivity: less puzzling than it used to be. Still quite puzzling though.
blog.ons.gov.uk/2026/09/17/m...
blog.ons.gov.uk/2026/09/17/m...
September 17, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Productivity: less puzzling than it used to be. Still quite puzzling though.
blog.ons.gov.uk/2026/09/17/m...
blog.ons.gov.uk/2026/09/17/m...
Reposted by William Perrin
One of the key problems with AI is that the AI bros and their behemoth companies have absolutely no governance or guardrails. It's not that the AI is conscious or going rogue or whatever. It's that it's run by feckless arseholes. www.ft.com/content/2c34...
September 17, 2026 at 9:24 AM
One of the key problems with AI is that the AI bros and their behemoth companies have absolutely no governance or guardrails. It's not that the AI is conscious or going rogue or whatever. It's that it's run by feckless arseholes. www.ft.com/content/2c34...
Reposted by William Perrin
I cannot stress enough how much of this “concerning behavior” is just “someone told it to do something and then walked away after giving it very broad permissions”
It’s like saying the unwatched bot on a lit burner is exhibiting concerning behavior after you walk away.
It’s like saying the unwatched bot on a lit burner is exhibiting concerning behavior after you walk away.
"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."
OpenAI Discloses Six New Incidents of ‘Concerning' A.I. Behavior (Gift Article)
The artificial intelligence company also released a framework for reporting when its systems go wrong.
www.nytimes.com
September 17, 2026 at 6:49 AM
I cannot stress enough how much of this “concerning behavior” is just “someone told it to do something and then walked away after giving it very broad permissions”
It’s like saying the unwatched bot on a lit burner is exhibiting concerning behavior after you walk away.
It’s like saying the unwatched bot on a lit burner is exhibiting concerning behavior after you walk away.
Reposted by William Perrin
The government needs to learn there is no way of housing asylum seekers that will please a large section of the population, and even less so the hard right
They should house people in the most practical way while focusing on processing claims fairly and efficiently, and maybe talk about it less
They should house people in the most practical way while focusing on processing claims fairly and efficiently, and maybe talk about it less
September 16, 2026 at 8:25 AM
The government needs to learn there is no way of housing asylum seekers that will please a large section of the population, and even less so the hard right
They should house people in the most practical way while focusing on processing claims fairly and efficiently, and maybe talk about it less
They should house people in the most practical way while focusing on processing claims fairly and efficiently, and maybe talk about it less
Reposted by William Perrin
First the furore was about hotels, so successive governments vowed to close them
To do that the Tories and now Labour turned to costly and impractical large sites, which lead to Piddington situations, and increasing HMOs which have come under violent attack
inews.co.uk/news/vigilan...
To do that the Tories and now Labour turned to costly and impractical large sites, which lead to Piddington situations, and increasing HMOs which have come under violent attack
inews.co.uk/news/vigilan...
How far-right vigilantes are targeting asylum seekers as HMO attacks rise
Experts said the targeting of asylum seekers in houses 'represented a new escalation of anti-migrant harassment and violence'
inews.co.uk
September 16, 2026 at 8:27 AM
First the furore was about hotels, so successive governments vowed to close them
To do that the Tories and now Labour turned to costly and impractical large sites, which lead to Piddington situations, and increasing HMOs which have come under violent attack
inews.co.uk/news/vigilan...
To do that the Tories and now Labour turned to costly and impractical large sites, which lead to Piddington situations, and increasing HMOs which have come under violent attack
inews.co.uk/news/vigilan...
Reposted by William Perrin
“Musk has twice exceeded 200 monthly posts about British politics and culture wars, though the volume waxes and wanes with the news cycle…”
Elon Musk and his chaos machine in the U.K. He’s so so dangerous. Gift link. www.wsj.com/world/uk/elo...
Elon Musk Trains His Political Chaos Machine on the U.K.
Using his social-media megaphone to roil the waters, Musk is promoting a new anti-immigration party.
www.wsj.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:42 PM
“Musk has twice exceeded 200 monthly posts about British politics and culture wars, though the volume waxes and wanes with the news cycle…”
Reposted by William Perrin
The councillor who chairs Piddington Parish Council, near Bicester, says that yesterday’s stunt referendum – in which the village voted to leave the UK in protest against an asylum centre – was “an example of democracy in operation”. Tim McNally himself gained his role without a contested election.
September 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM
The councillor who chairs Piddington Parish Council, near Bicester, says that yesterday’s stunt referendum – in which the village voted to leave the UK in protest against an asylum centre – was “an example of democracy in operation”. Tim McNally himself gained his role without a contested election.
Reposted by William Perrin
Thrilled to announce I’m Ed Sheeran’s new support act 💚
For tickets: www.seetickets.com/tour/rosie-h...
For tickets: www.seetickets.com/tour/rosie-h...
September 16, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Thrilled to announce I’m Ed Sheeran’s new support act 💚
For tickets: www.seetickets.com/tour/rosie-h...
For tickets: www.seetickets.com/tour/rosie-h...
Reposted by William Perrin
Staffers from the America First Policy Institute have flooded the Census Bureau, and may be using Census data to undermine the upcoming midterms. "A Census employee who spoke to WIRED says that there has historically been 'nothing close' to what AFPI is doing at the bureau. #MidTerms
The Census Bureau Is Overrun With Staffers From a MAGA Think Tank
The US Census is home to vast troves of sensitive data on nearly every person living in the country, which is used for apportioning and drawing congressional districts as well as allocating federal fu...
www.wired.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Staffers from the America First Policy Institute have flooded the Census Bureau, and may be using Census data to undermine the upcoming midterms. "A Census employee who spoke to WIRED says that there has historically been 'nothing close' to what AFPI is doing at the bureau. #MidTerms
Reposted by William Perrin
Will it feature any of the people he sent to GTMO or subjected to extraordinary rendition?
George W. Bush’s new book of paintings of political prisoners will be out in March
George W. Bush’s new book of paintings of political prisoners will be out in March
www.chicagotribune.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Will it feature any of the people he sent to GTMO or subjected to extraordinary rendition?
Reposted by William Perrin
Some UQs are “urgent” and need a quick response, but some are just topical and need to be discussed before the next Departmental
Questions session, so having more clarity on the criteria for urgency would be helpful, especially given the growth in UQs. 👇🏻
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/are-the...
Questions session, so having more clarity on the criteria for urgency would be helpful, especially given the growth in UQs. 👇🏻
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/are-the...
Are there too many Urgent Questions in the House of Commons?
Urgent Questions have grown substantially since 2010 and are now a routine feature of House of Commons business. In this blog, Ruxandra Serban analyses the scale of that growth, which departments face...
www.hansardsociety.org.uk
September 16, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Some UQs are “urgent” and need a quick response, but some are just topical and need to be discussed before the next Departmental
Questions session, so having more clarity on the criteria for urgency would be helpful, especially given the growth in UQs. 👇🏻
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/are-the...
Questions session, so having more clarity on the criteria for urgency would be helpful, especially given the growth in UQs. 👇🏻
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/are-the...
Reposted by William Perrin
Yeah, woke up thinking this. The #AILaunch is likely to be a politically staged event where some number of companies claim they are so deficient at #devops (expressed by Anthropic as "so overworked") that they couldn't prevent an industrial "accident," one they may claim is sentient. #giftArticle
Opinion | The AI frontier can pace itself
Dario Amodei’s proposal has the unmistakable whiff of rent-seeking.
wapo.st
September 16, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Yeah, woke up thinking this. The #AILaunch is likely to be a politically staged event where some number of companies claim they are so deficient at #devops (expressed by Anthropic as "so overworked") that they couldn't prevent an industrial "accident," one they may claim is sentient. #giftArticle
Reposted by William Perrin
Classic Mastermind: 1977: Episode 6 (1977) — Specialist subjects are George Orwell, the history of costume, Rome and the Common Market.
Classic Mastermind: 1977: Episode 6
www.bbc.co.uk
September 15, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Classic Mastermind: 1977: Episode 6 (1977) — Specialist subjects are George Orwell, the history of costume, Rome and the Common Market.
Reposted by William Perrin
instead you were treated with some baseless Skynet type hysteria by 20-something tech employees high on their own farts, followed by this weird cosplay where the AI industry pretends it can ethically self-regulate
September 14, 2026 at 6:16 PM
instead you were treated with some baseless Skynet type hysteria by 20-something tech employees high on their own farts, followed by this weird cosplay where the AI industry pretends it can ethically self-regulate
Reposted by William Perrin
Source: Supreme Court weighs allowing Republican congressional candidates to appear on November ballot as “Donald J. Trump.”
September 14, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Source: Supreme Court weighs allowing Republican congressional candidates to appear on November ballot as “Donald J. Trump.”
Reposted by William Perrin
Think Reform fucked it with their donations. They're so outrageous, so obviously obscene, that they've managed to accidentally create a consensus for tougher action on political funding.
September 14, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Think Reform fucked it with their donations. They're so outrageous, so obviously obscene, that they've managed to accidentally create a consensus for tougher action on political funding.
Reposted by William Perrin
“The oligarch didn’t pay for our wedding, just the reception”
Bettina Trump, wife of Trump Jr., posts a lengthy Instagram caption responding to @propublica.org’s reporting that a Russian oligarch paid for over $170,000 of her wedding.
September 14, 2026 at 3:41 PM
“The oligarch didn’t pay for our wedding, just the reception”
Reposted by William Perrin
my high level point here is: there's a fundamental contradiction between the valuations and the narratives underlying them on one hand, and the prospect of any kind of "slowdown" on the other... and that the valuations are probably more likely to win out over any rational consideration (see:TSLA)
September 14, 2026 at 2:54 PM
my high level point here is: there's a fundamental contradiction between the valuations and the narratives underlying them on one hand, and the prospect of any kind of "slowdown" on the other... and that the valuations are probably more likely to win out over any rational consideration (see:TSLA)
Reposted by William Perrin
Lots here for my @wmau.bsky.social friends. Also those in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Yemen, Somalia and Caribbean
🌍 54 million historical weather observations from 95 countries have been unlocked & made freely available online.
📚 With records dating back to 1837, the project enabled the discovery of an HMS Terror logbook & an international weather station network
Read ⤵️
www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/ho...
📚 With records dating back to 1837, the project enabled the discovery of an HMS Terror logbook & an international weather station network
Read ⤵️
www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/ho...
How 54 million historical weather records are being made globally accessible
For more than a century, the Met Office's National Meteorological Archive has held a treasure trove of historical weather data, some of it dating back to 1837. Now, thanks to a major project, tens of ...
www.metoffice.gov.uk
September 14, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Lots here for my @wmau.bsky.social friends. Also those in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Yemen, Somalia and Caribbean