Melinda Grimsley
@mgrimsley.bsky.social
Mom, fellowships advisor (🔴WKU), erstwhile historian of “what do we do with poor people?” in 19c Irish context (☘️ND), country person (🌱KY)
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
As a robotics researcher, learning scientist, and author who has followed Realbotix for years, I'm compelled to do a Bluesky thread on this whole pivot that Realbotix is now trying, turning from humanoid sex robots to classroom "education" robots. Buckle up. nysfocus.com/2026/07/14/n... 🧵
Rural NY School To Launch Humanoid Robot Teacher
Plans to deploy a "lifelike" robot and avatar teaching assistant at Salamanca High School have sparked debate over the role of technology in schools.
nysfocus.com
July 15, 2026 at 11:08 PM
As a robotics researcher, learning scientist, and author who has followed Realbotix for years, I'm compelled to do a Bluesky thread on this whole pivot that Realbotix is now trying, turning from humanoid sex robots to classroom "education" robots. Buckle up. nysfocus.com/2026/07/14/n... 🧵
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
To be a historian is to speak ill of the dead and the rest of you should take more history classes and join us.
July 12, 2026 at 11:56 AM
To be a historian is to speak ill of the dead and the rest of you should take more history classes and join us.
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
I had to sit through an ed tech product pitch today so for all my #academicsky followers and comrades, here's what Turnitin is currently selling (stick around for what's on their product roadmap) so you can prepare yourselves to strenuously reject it. 🧵
May 21, 2026 at 11:18 PM
I had to sit through an ed tech product pitch today so for all my #academicsky followers and comrades, here's what Turnitin is currently selling (stick around for what's on their product roadmap) so you can prepare yourselves to strenuously reject it. 🧵
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
Shout out to the top 5 kings in the world, Martin Luther, Larry, Don, Stephen and Americans don't have a motherfuckin'.
October 17, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Shout out to the top 5 kings in the world, Martin Luther, Larry, Don, Stephen and Americans don't have a motherfuckin'.
Cannot, will not accept this.
We live in a rural area against lots of dark woods. I kid you not, the back yard and edge of the woods is full of faint lightning bugs right now….in March!!
March 26, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Cannot, will not accept this.
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
Secret tricks to get much better results out of the very dreadful 'Google search' these days, plus other search engines for specific things. Statospherically useful for researchers. open.substack.com/pub/cardcata...
Google Has a Secret Reference Desk. Here's How to Use It.
40 Google features to find exactly what you need, the alternative search engines that do things Google won't, and the reference desk framework underneath all of it.
open.substack.com
March 22, 2026 at 7:13 AM
Secret tricks to get much better results out of the very dreadful 'Google search' these days, plus other search engines for specific things. Statospherically useful for researchers. open.substack.com/pub/cardcata...
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
A war that isn't a war, documented with videos that may or may not be real, funded by elected leaders who are neither for nor against it, is the most dystopian thing that's happened in my lifetime
Maybe I'm kirking out but the unreality of this war is wild. People posting that thousands of Kurds are fighting the regime for the CIA, while the Kurds say it isn't happening. Every video of a missile attack I just have to assume is AI whether it is real or not.
March 5, 2026 at 12:59 AM
A war that isn't a war, documented with videos that may or may not be real, funded by elected leaders who are neither for nor against it, is the most dystopian thing that's happened in my lifetime
What harm could come from a summary?
March 4, 2026 at 7:50 PM
What harm could come from a summary?
Best race ever.
The 2026 Barkley Marathons is over. There are no finishers. #BM100
February 16, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Best race ever.
Maybe it's the tired working mom in me, but a guilt-free day off to lie around waiting for the procedure, followed by an incredible nap and takeout is a legit vacation. No downsides!
February 12, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Maybe it's the tired working mom in me, but a guilt-free day off to lie around waiting for the procedure, followed by an incredible nap and takeout is a legit vacation. No downsides!
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
Buy Stickers. Fuck A.I.
nobodyssweetheart.bigcartel.com
nobodyssweetheart.bigcartel.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Buy Stickers. Fuck A.I.
nobodyssweetheart.bigcartel.com
nobodyssweetheart.bigcartel.com
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
Like seriously, rewatch the Ring ad. It's worth outlawing and then breaking up Amazon. This is surveillance state technology the worst authoritarian dictatorships of the past always dreamed of.
February 9, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Like seriously, rewatch the Ring ad. It's worth outlawing and then breaking up Amazon. This is surveillance state technology the worst authoritarian dictatorships of the past always dreamed of.
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
The Sermon on the Mount, by Beryl Lewis, before 1965, 📸 by @ScottStrazzante
February 9, 2026 at 2:16 AM
The Sermon on the Mount, by Beryl Lewis, before 1965, 📸 by @ScottStrazzante
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
Every American needs to watch this:
February 5, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Every American needs to watch this:
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
Striking paper from researchers at Anthropic using a randomised control trial to look at the effects of AI use on skills acquisition.
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
February 4, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Striking paper from researchers at Anthropic using a randomised control trial to look at the effects of AI use on skills acquisition.
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
So which politician is calling for the dismantling of the probably illegal database that ice & this government is collecting biometric data of protesters?
January 25, 2026 at 5:42 PM
So which politician is calling for the dismantling of the probably illegal database that ice & this government is collecting biometric data of protesters?
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
I watched a bunch of AI sessions at the WEF so you wouldn’t have to.
But you should read this.
But you should read this.
"You have to use it. You have to trust it.": Forced Adoption of AI is The Subtext of Davos
Authoritarianism is the AI Bailout; But If AI Doesn't Need a Bailout, Does it Need Authoritarianism?
theamericanvandal.substack.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:01 PM
I watched a bunch of AI sessions at the WEF so you wouldn’t have to.
But you should read this.
But you should read this.
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
Today is one of those days where I’m struck anew by how *bad* the internet has gotten. It’s almost unusable. Clouds, apps, advertising — nothing is where it should be and it’s nigh impossible sometimes to do basic tasks online.
January 6, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Today is one of those days where I’m struck anew by how *bad* the internet has gotten. It’s almost unusable. Clouds, apps, advertising — nothing is where it should be and it’s nigh impossible sometimes to do basic tasks online.
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
This is unbearably funny
Joke of the day from Moscow: Russia tried to unveil its first humanoid AI robot, Aidol. Key word: tried. The robot collapsed during its debut, forcing organizers to cut the presentation short. Their rushed attempt to lift the prop only made things worse.
November 12, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This is unbearably funny
Reposted by Melinda Grimsley
If I could offer students one bit of…advice: be brutally traditional about what is printed on your degree.
If you are first-gen or in any way non traditional, this goes double. Let rich kids get degrees in AI. You get something called “English”.
If you are first-gen or in any way non traditional, this goes double. Let rich kids get degrees in AI. You get something called “English”.
The danger is that degrees are regarded as worthless as nobody believes students have acquired any skills any more, at least not ones they couldn't have hot from just going into an office job from school.
In about three years the entire university pivot to AI curricula and schools and programs is going to be so deeply embarrassing. We will all pretend it never happened and I will be standing there, looking at people with a mirror in my eyes. This is all so embarrassing.
October 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
If I could offer students one bit of…advice: be brutally traditional about what is printed on your degree.
If you are first-gen or in any way non traditional, this goes double. Let rich kids get degrees in AI. You get something called “English”.
If you are first-gen or in any way non traditional, this goes double. Let rich kids get degrees in AI. You get something called “English”.
One of my ancestors is named Millard Fillmore Balee and now I know I need to read this dense biography and meet this person.
I've seen many things on the New York City subway but this morning I sat across from someone reading a dense biography of Millard Fillmore and I just have many questions.
May 22, 2025 at 11:43 PM
One of my ancestors is named Millard Fillmore Balee and now I know I need to read this dense biography and meet this person.
This is not exactly the case according to local reporting. Cuts, yes. Fully staffed last night, also yes. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
May 17, 2025 at 9:53 PM
This is not exactly the case according to local reporting. Cuts, yes. Fully staffed last night, also yes. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...