Michael Szollosy
@michaelszollosy.bsky.social
Canadian living in the UK. Researching social impacts of robotics and other cultural artefacts. I also do a little ice hockey coaching.
My second post on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, this time talking about the character played by Christoph Waltz, and how his inclusion makes this a specifically 21st-century version of the story.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
‘I will be the eagle that feasts on your liver!’
More first thoughts on del Toro's Frankenstein
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:51 PM
My second post on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, this time talking about the character played by Christoph Waltz, and how his inclusion makes this a specifically 21st-century version of the story.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
November 15, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
Will the @telegraphnews.bsky.social be investigated whether it engages in systemic bias?
And if proven, will heads roll there as well as the BBC?
Or can the (far-) right now as free as it likes to spread misinformation?
And if proven, will heads roll there as well as the BBC?
Or can the (far-) right now as free as it likes to spread misinformation?
November 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Will the @telegraphnews.bsky.social be investigated whether it engages in systemic bias?
And if proven, will heads roll there as well as the BBC?
Or can the (far-) right now as free as it likes to spread misinformation?
And if proven, will heads roll there as well as the BBC?
Or can the (far-) right now as free as it likes to spread misinformation?
Paranoid fantasies about imaginary (often transnational) monsters and evil organisations have long featured in our politics. Check out my latest Subset, looking at some of this history.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
The Paranoid Style: Monsters in our Politics
Politics has long had to wrestle with conspiracy theories and the fear of shadowy transnational organisations
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Paranoid fantasies about imaginary (often transnational) monsters and evil organisations have long featured in our politics. Check out my latest Subset, looking at some of this history.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
I’ve been seeing a lot of pretty outlandish conspiracy theories about the World Economic Forum on social media for a long time now. Unfortunately, they’re simultaneously completely misinformed and quite boring. But that’s why they’re so dangerous.
michaelszollosy.substack.com/p/21st-centu...
michaelszollosy.substack.com/p/21st-centu...
21st Century Monsters: The WEF
Not all monsters wear a cape. And some are more politically useful than others.
open.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I’ve been seeing a lot of pretty outlandish conspiracy theories about the World Economic Forum on social media for a long time now. Unfortunately, they’re simultaneously completely misinformed and quite boring. But that’s why they’re so dangerous.
michaelszollosy.substack.com/p/21st-centu...
michaelszollosy.substack.com/p/21st-centu...
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
Really important piece
October 29, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Really important piece
Another post in my series looking at art, AI and what it means to be human. This one tries to figure out what, if anything, is special about art. And if nothing is ‘special’ about art, what does that do to how we see ourselves and our unique place in the world?
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
Art in the Age of AI Reproduction
How do we tell the difference between what's 'AI' and what's 'human'? And what happens when those criteria starts to fall apart?
open.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Another post in my series looking at art, AI and what it means to be human. This one tries to figure out what, if anything, is special about art. And if nothing is ‘special’ about art, what does that do to how we see ourselves and our unique place in the world?
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
In my last Substack post, I was talking about how maybe we’re not as emotionally intelligent as we think.
And I can’t help but think that the attack on empathy might be related to this.
And then this study lands in my inbox.
theconversation.com/empathy-is-u...
And I can’t help but think that the attack on empathy might be related to this.
And then this study lands in my inbox.
theconversation.com/empathy-is-u...
Empathy is under attack — but it remains vital for leadership and connection
For decades, empathy was unequivocally viewed as an asset, but today, some view it as a liability. Two experts in management explain why it’s so important for leaders.
theconversation.com
September 25, 2025 at 7:56 PM
In my last Substack post, I was talking about how maybe we’re not as emotionally intelligent as we think.
And I can’t help but think that the attack on empathy might be related to this.
And then this study lands in my inbox.
theconversation.com/empathy-is-u...
And I can’t help but think that the attack on empathy might be related to this.
And then this study lands in my inbox.
theconversation.com/empathy-is-u...
A study says that AI poetry is indistinguishable from human poetry. I look at what this means in my Substack.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
Further notes from the Waste Land
A study says AI poetry is indistinguishable from human poetry - what does that mean?
open.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:22 PM
A study says that AI poetry is indistinguishable from human poetry. I look at what this means in my Substack.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
Can AI write a modernist masterpiece?
I don’t think that’s the right question. Read my latest post and the first in a series looking at our relationship with AI.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
I don’t think that’s the right question. Read my latest post and the first in a series looking at our relationship with AI.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
T. S. Eliot v ChatGPT: A Case Study
Can AI write a masterpiece? That's not really the point.
open.substack.com
September 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Can AI write a modernist masterpiece?
I don’t think that’s the right question. Read my latest post and the first in a series looking at our relationship with AI.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
I don’t think that’s the right question. Read my latest post and the first in a series looking at our relationship with AI.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
I didn't know that this was an actual thing, but now that I do, it explains a lot.
Something all animal lovers should be aware of:
theconversation.com/cats-can-get...
Something all animal lovers should be aware of:
theconversation.com/cats-can-get...
Cats can get dementia too – here are the eight signs to look out for
Feline dementia is thought to affect almost half of cats over the age of 15.
theconversation.com
September 10, 2025 at 11:46 AM
I didn't know that this was an actual thing, but now that I do, it explains a lot.
Something all animal lovers should be aware of:
theconversation.com/cats-can-get...
Something all animal lovers should be aware of:
theconversation.com/cats-can-get...
Well said! It's why you need to go EVERYWHERE to even begin to understand the country.
(Which also makes the ubiquity of 'nostre pizze' on so many menus even more tragic, so much more sad. A capitulation to the inevitable march of global capitalism...)
(Which also makes the ubiquity of 'nostre pizze' on so many menus even more tragic, so much more sad. A capitulation to the inevitable march of global capitalism...)
In Italy, food isn’t “cuisine” - it’s geography. A menu tells you where you are: risotto in Lombardy, seafood in Puglia, truffles in Umbria. Eating locally isn’t a trend; it’s an unwritten cultural rule that shapes everyday life.
September 4, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Well said! It's why you need to go EVERYWHERE to even begin to understand the country.
(Which also makes the ubiquity of 'nostre pizze' on so many menus even more tragic, so much more sad. A capitulation to the inevitable march of global capitalism...)
(Which also makes the ubiquity of 'nostre pizze' on so many menus even more tragic, so much more sad. A capitulation to the inevitable march of global capitalism...)
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
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THIS is one of the biggest problems of our time . . .
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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THIS is one of the biggest problems of our time . . .
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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September 2, 2025 at 7:13 AM
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THIS is one of the biggest problems of our time . . .
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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THIS is one of the biggest problems of our time . . .
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
.
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
“We reject the far right’s racist lies about ‘protecting’ women and girls. They are not defenders of women – they exploit violence against women to fuel hate and division,”
AMEN
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
AMEN
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Prominent UK women tell rightwingers: stop linking immigration to sexual abuse
Exclusive: Open letter says politicians are exploiting violence against women ‘to fuel hate and division’
www.theguardian.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:52 AM
“We reject the far right’s racist lies about ‘protecting’ women and girls. They are not defenders of women – they exploit violence against women to fuel hate and division,”
AMEN
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
AMEN
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
J'essaie. Je m'essaierai.
I am trying. Some reflections on writing .
open.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A quick review of the new Mission: Impossible movie got a little more involved when I realised that there was a reason that the AI wasn't really 'AI' and what that says about AI more generally. Also, did anyone else notice the Pulp Fiction connection?
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
First thoughts: Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Artificial Intelligence is the Final Boss in Tom Cruise's epic blockbuster... or is it? Plus, a special Easter egg? definitely not.
open.substack.com
July 4, 2025 at 12:07 PM
A quick review of the new Mission: Impossible movie got a little more involved when I realised that there was a reason that the AI wasn't really 'AI' and what that says about AI more generally. Also, did anyone else notice the Pulp Fiction connection?
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
More interesting research presented in @theconversation.com on misogyny and manifestos.
theconversation.com/i-analyzed-m...
theconversation.com/i-analyzed-m...
I analyzed more than 100 extremist manifestos: Misogyny was the common thread
Gender identity–driven violence is the most common ideological theme across ‘lone-actor’ extremist manifestos in a recent study.
theconversation.com
July 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
More interesting research presented in @theconversation.com on misogyny and manifestos.
theconversation.com/i-analyzed-m...
theconversation.com/i-analyzed-m...
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
A government ban on Hungary’s Pride parade backfired Saturday as over 100,000 people marched through Budapest, far more than usual
PM Viktor Orban warned people to stay away, threatening “clear legal consequences.” But the warnings only turned a modest event into a mass rally against his government
PM Viktor Orban warned people to stay away, threatening “clear legal consequences.” But the warnings only turned a modest event into a mass rally against his government
June 28, 2025 at 10:46 PM
A government ban on Hungary’s Pride parade backfired Saturday as over 100,000 people marched through Budapest, far more than usual
PM Viktor Orban warned people to stay away, threatening “clear legal consequences.” But the warnings only turned a modest event into a mass rally against his government
PM Viktor Orban warned people to stay away, threatening “clear legal consequences.” But the warnings only turned a modest event into a mass rally against his government
My newest post looking at the question of why we are afraid of robots from a different angle.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
Why are we afraid of robots? Containers and the Uncanny Valley
Looking at the long-described phenomenon from a different (Freudian) perspective.
open.substack.com
June 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM
My newest post looking at the question of why we are afraid of robots from a different angle.
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
open.substack.com/pub/michaels...
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
Much as I would not dare to predict the consequences of this war, I do think we can summarize it thusly so far:
A smart and evil man manipulated a stupid and evil man into a war against a fanatical and evil regime.
A smart and evil man manipulated a stupid and evil man into a war against a fanatical and evil regime.
June 22, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Much as I would not dare to predict the consequences of this war, I do think we can summarize it thusly so far:
A smart and evil man manipulated a stupid and evil man into a war against a fanatical and evil regime.
A smart and evil man manipulated a stupid and evil man into a war against a fanatical and evil regime.
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
This is precisely what happened. The same effort, over and over again, with Democrats and Republicans. But America was finally weak enough to simply ignore and its president idiotic enough to go along with it.
Netanyahu has spent the better part of two decades trying to strong arm the United States into an unprovoked war against Iran and finally found a president stupid enough to do it for him. Unbelievable.
June 22, 2025 at 7:19 AM
This is precisely what happened. The same effort, over and over again, with Democrats and Republicans. But America was finally weak enough to simply ignore and its president idiotic enough to go along with it.
Reposted by Michael Szollosy
"Trump has spent the last five months vowing that the Ukraine-Russia war would never have happened if he was president, vowing that the Israel-Gaza war would never have happened if he was president. And yet the reality is that not only has he not avoided war, but he’s plunged us into a new one."
Trump plunges the US into a new war
In fewer than six months in office, the self-proclaimed anti-war president has engrossed the US into a new war in the Middle East
plus.briantylercohen.com
June 22, 2025 at 1:20 AM
"Trump has spent the last five months vowing that the Ukraine-Russia war would never have happened if he was president, vowing that the Israel-Gaza war would never have happened if he was president. And yet the reality is that not only has he not avoided war, but he’s plunged us into a new one."
Lest anyone thought these battles were over (and maybe too many did, before the pandemic): a good summary of the new challenges, and the research exposing them.
theconversation.com/misogyny-has...
theconversation.com/misogyny-has...
Misogyny has become a political strategy — here’s how the pandemic helped make it happen
Online misogyny isn’t just fringe — it’s baked into the architecture of the internet itself and, increasingly, serves as a powerful political tool.
theconversation.com
June 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Lest anyone thought these battles were over (and maybe too many did, before the pandemic): a good summary of the new challenges, and the research exposing them.
theconversation.com/misogyny-has...
theconversation.com/misogyny-has...