David Wells
@davidwellsct.bsky.social
Global security consultant focused on terrorism, counter-terrorism & technology (particularly AI): Former head of research & analysis at UN CTED: Ex UK/Aus intelligence
Reposted by David Wells
looking more and more like sam altman just asked chat gpt for a business plan
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates on.ft.com/4ij0yh8
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates
A burning platform
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:54 AM
looking more and more like sam altman just asked chat gpt for a business plan
Reposted by David Wells
A fascinating discussion with @milleridriss.bsky.social on ABC Radio National Breakfast this morning. If you enjoy this discussion, see Cynthia speak in-person at Gleebooks in Sydney this Friday (28 Nov)! Listen here:
'It's a major predictor': New book explores link between misogyny and violent extremism - ABC listen
Gender, misogyny and extremist violence are inextricably linked, according to a new book by renowned extremism expert Cynthia Miller-Idriss. She's currently visiting Australia to promote her book Man…
www.abc.net.au
November 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
A fascinating discussion with @milleridriss.bsky.social on ABC Radio National Breakfast this morning. If you enjoy this discussion, see Cynthia speak in-person at Gleebooks in Sydney this Friday (28 Nov)! Listen here:
Reposted by David Wells
Warner Music Drops Lawsuit Against Suno, Only to Cut Deal With Same AI Tech It Tried to Shut Down
www.ibtimes.co.uk/warner-music...
www.ibtimes.co.uk/warner-music...
Warner Music Drops Lawsuit Against Suno, Only to Cut Deal With the Same AI Tech It Tried to Shut Down
Warner Music Group has dropped its lawsuit against Suno and instead struck a partnership that gives artists full control over how their work is used in the AI platform's new licensed models launching ...
www.ibtimes.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Warner Music Drops Lawsuit Against Suno, Only to Cut Deal With Same AI Tech It Tried to Shut Down
www.ibtimes.co.uk/warner-music...
www.ibtimes.co.uk/warner-music...
Reposted by David Wells
"It is against the TOS to be talked into suicide by our LLM" is possibly the most evil tech bro thing I've ever read
Additionally, OpenAI argues its not liable because Raine, by using ChatGPT for self-harm, broke its terms of service
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 AM
"It is against the TOS to be talked into suicide by our LLM" is possibly the most evil tech bro thing I've ever read
Reposted by David Wells
Scam ads on Meta in UK likely worth more than all online news advertising. Meta probably made more than £600m from fraudulent UK advertising in 2024 pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/sc...
Scam ads on Meta in UK likely worth more than all online news advertising
Meta likely made more than £600m from fraudulent UK advertising in 2024.
pressgazette.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Scam ads on Meta in UK likely worth more than all online news advertising. Meta probably made more than £600m from fraudulent UK advertising in 2024 pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/sc...
Reposted by David Wells
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
Reposted by David Wells
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by David Wells
Seeing how much of the right-wing on Twitter is just bot farms, kinda lays bare how much hate and hatred is a project that needs to be constantly maintained, a fire that needs to be fed all the time lest it go out for a moment, so much time, effort, and resources to keep people angry and hateful.
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Seeing how much of the right-wing on Twitter is just bot farms, kinda lays bare how much hate and hatred is a project that needs to be constantly maintained, a fire that needs to be fed all the time lest it go out for a moment, so much time, effort, and resources to keep people angry and hateful.
Reposted by David Wells
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by David Wells
Bracing analysis of the rise of the far-right in Germany: "there are widespread right-wing extremist networks within the security services, the police, and the armed forces. Europe-wide networks of fascists are operating unhindered. Something is brewing. If we don't react now, it will be too late."
»Wir haben vor der AfD gewarnt, als sie am Horizont auftauchte. Keine Reaktion. Im Gegenteil – ihre Vertreter:innen saßen in jeder Talkshow, bevor die AfD auch nur ein einziges Landtagsmandat hatte. Mit dem Erfolg, dass sie nun eine einflussreiche Partei ist.« www.blaetter.de/ausgabe/2024...
Rechtsextremismus: Wir haben Euch gewarnt
Ein brennendes Haus in Solingen. Eine vierköpfige Familie stirbt in den Flammen. Brandstiftung. Die Schlagzeilen sind nicht von 1993, sondern von jetzt. Schon wieder.
www.blaetter.de
November 25, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Bracing analysis of the rise of the far-right in Germany: "there are widespread right-wing extremist networks within the security services, the police, and the armed forces. Europe-wide networks of fascists are operating unhindered. Something is brewing. If we don't react now, it will be too late."
Reposted by David Wells
I wrote about our interview with Roblox's CEO and how platforms got too big to feel shame www.platformer.news/roblox-ceo-i...
November 25, 2025 at 2:51 AM
I wrote about our interview with Roblox's CEO and how platforms got too big to feel shame www.platformer.news/roblox-ceo-i...
Reposted by David Wells
Not main point (see my other post) but depressing that Phillips happily regurgitates entirely fictional numbers invented by far-right trolls on X and attributes them to "experts" {and Times is happy to print this slop]
archive.ph/RlXPj#select...
archive.ph/RlXPj#select...
November 25, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Not main point (see my other post) but depressing that Phillips happily regurgitates entirely fictional numbers invented by far-right trolls on X and attributes them to "experts" {and Times is happy to print this slop]
archive.ph/RlXPj#select...
archive.ph/RlXPj#select...
Reposted by David Wells
Billboard got access to Suno’s investment pitch deck.
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
November 24, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Billboard got access to Suno’s investment pitch deck.
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
Reposted by David Wells
Dozens of high-engagement accounts on X, including some pro and anti-Trump users, have been accused of misleading users following the roll-out of a new transparency feature that shows user locations.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How X's new location feature exposed big US politics accounts
Dozens of pro-Trump accounts are being accused of misleading followers after the social media site began showing user locations.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Dozens of high-engagement accounts on X, including some pro and anti-Trump users, have been accused of misleading users following the roll-out of a new transparency feature that shows user locations.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by David Wells
ISD is looking for a Hungarian-speaking research consultant to support a new project focused on the April 2026 Hungarian parliamentary elections.
Think you'd be a good fit? More details below!
Deadline: 4 Dec 2025
https://isdglobal.recruitee.com/o/consultant-research-analyst-hungarian
Think you'd be a good fit? More details below!
Deadline: 4 Dec 2025
https://isdglobal.recruitee.com/o/consultant-research-analyst-hungarian
Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) - Consultant Research Analyst (Hungarian)
ISD is a think and do tank that works globally to safeguard public safety, national security, human rights and democracy in the digital age. Combining research and analysis with government advisory wo
isdglobal.recruitee.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:04 PM
ISD is looking for a Hungarian-speaking research consultant to support a new project focused on the April 2026 Hungarian parliamentary elections.
Think you'd be a good fit? More details below!
Deadline: 4 Dec 2025
https://isdglobal.recruitee.com/o/consultant-research-analyst-hungarian
Think you'd be a good fit? More details below!
Deadline: 4 Dec 2025
https://isdglobal.recruitee.com/o/consultant-research-analyst-hungarian
Reposted by David Wells
The company essentially turned a dial that made ChatGPT more appealing and made people use it more, but sent some of them into delusional spirals.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
November 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The company essentially turned a dial that made ChatGPT more appealing and made people use it more, but sent some of them into delusional spirals.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
Reposted by David Wells
This feels like one of those stories you're going to look at a year from now and say to yourself, "Why didn't I move more of my portfolio into cash?" **
** (This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or any other advice.)
🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
** (This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or any other advice.)
🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
AI Meets Aggressive Accounting at Meta’s Gigantic New Data Center
Favorable treatment off the balance sheet hinges on some convenient assumptions.
www.wsj.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
This feels like one of those stories you're going to look at a year from now and say to yourself, "Why didn't I move more of my portfolio into cash?" **
** (This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or any other advice.)
🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
** (This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or any other advice.)
🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
Reposted by David Wells
Just a jaw-dropping paragraph in Trevor Phillips's column for The Times.
This is a policy that, by his own account, has left parents of a particular race too frightened to walk their children to school.
And that's the example he chooses of the "vigour" we "need".
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
This is a policy that, by his own account, has left parents of a particular race too frightened to walk their children to school.
And that's the example he chooses of the "vigour" we "need".
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
November 24, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Just a jaw-dropping paragraph in Trevor Phillips's column for The Times.
This is a policy that, by his own account, has left parents of a particular race too frightened to walk their children to school.
And that's the example he chooses of the "vigour" we "need".
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
This is a policy that, by his own account, has left parents of a particular race too frightened to walk their children to school.
And that's the example he chooses of the "vigour" we "need".
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Reposted by David Wells
Trevor Phillips proposes banning "remittances" (ie: imposing currency/exchange controls on international cash transfers by foreign nationals from Britain). He says this would disincentivise immigration, in a Times piece saying the Home Secretary needs to go [much] further
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Trevor Phillips proposes banning "remittances" (ie: imposing currency/exchange controls on international cash transfers by foreign nationals from Britain). He says this would disincentivise immigration, in a Times piece saying the Home Secretary needs to go [much] further
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
Reposted by David Wells
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
That MAGA Account Might Be a Troll From Pakistan
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
Reposted by David Wells
Trevor Philips in the Times, calling for a Trump/Miller-style of random deportations based on skin colour.
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Trevor Philips in the Times, calling for a Trump/Miller-style of random deportations based on skin colour.
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
Reposted by David Wells
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
Reposted by David Wells
"It seems like a marvel of financial engineering: Meta is building a $27 billion data center in Louisiana, financed with debt, and neither the data center nor the debt will be on its own balance sheet."
AI Meets Aggressive Accounting at Meta’s Gigantic New Data Center
Favorable treatment off the balance sheet hinges on some convenient assumptions.
www.wsj.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
"It seems like a marvel of financial engineering: Meta is building a $27 billion data center in Louisiana, financed with debt, and neither the data center nor the debt will be on its own balance sheet."
Reposted by David Wells
RIP Jimmy Cliff
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM
RIP Jimmy Cliff
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Reposted by David Wells
And what does this say about all the social media research based on Twitter/X, which has helped fuel the moral panic about the role of social media in contemporary politics?
The location ID on twitter revealing that 99% of the horrible shit on that website is just posted by people in India honestly soothed me a lot. Its literally all just fake.
November 24, 2025 at 12:50 PM
And what does this say about all the social media research based on Twitter/X, which has helped fuel the moral panic about the role of social media in contemporary politics?