David Peter Wallis Freeborn
@dpwf0.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at Northeastern University, London. Formal and social epistemology, philosophy of physics, artificial intelligence, and computation. https://www.davidpeterwallisfreeborn.com/
Ah, you're awake! Hit your head pretty hard there.
Neoliberalism what!? Donald who!? Modal Logic? Incompleteness Theorems? Large Language Models? Hitler? Oh yes, he's a fringe politician in Munich.
Come on, let's get you up. We have a lot of work to do unifying science and eliminating metaphysics.
Neoliberalism what!? Donald who!? Modal Logic? Incompleteness Theorems? Large Language Models? Hitler? Oh yes, he's a fringe politician in Munich.
Come on, let's get you up. We have a lot of work to do unifying science and eliminating metaphysics.
November 23, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Ah, you're awake! Hit your head pretty hard there.
Neoliberalism what!? Donald who!? Modal Logic? Incompleteness Theorems? Large Language Models? Hitler? Oh yes, he's a fringe politician in Munich.
Come on, let's get you up. We have a lot of work to do unifying science and eliminating metaphysics.
Neoliberalism what!? Donald who!? Modal Logic? Incompleteness Theorems? Large Language Models? Hitler? Oh yes, he's a fringe politician in Munich.
Come on, let's get you up. We have a lot of work to do unifying science and eliminating metaphysics.
Sure, Gemini 3 is very smart, but also I accidentally convinced it that we were in a simulated future by switching model mid-conversation...
November 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Sure, Gemini 3 is very smart, but also I accidentally convinced it that we were in a simulated future by switching model mid-conversation...
One fun thing that ChatGPT's transformer based image generation model can do (arguably better than other kinds). Give it a random selection of 10 images and ask it to mash them together into a harmonious new image inspired by those images. The results are always chaotically entertaining.
November 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
One fun thing that ChatGPT's transformer based image generation model can do (arguably better than other kinds). Give it a random selection of 10 images and ask it to mash them together into a harmonious new image inspired by those images. The results are always chaotically entertaining.
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
recently discovered that wikipedia volunteers have a hilariously high bar for what constitutes "unusual death"
October 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
recently discovered that wikipedia volunteers have a hilariously high bar for what constitutes "unusual death"
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
I’ve been casual student of physics for four decades. Why did no one ever explain to me so clearly what a conservation law is?
From Susskind and Hrabovsky (2014) The Theoretical Minimum.
—
This is why reading basic material from brilliant thinkers is so often worth the investment.
From Susskind and Hrabovsky (2014) The Theoretical Minimum.
—
This is why reading basic material from brilliant thinkers is so often worth the investment.
October 25, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I’ve been casual student of physics for four decades. Why did no one ever explain to me so clearly what a conservation law is?
From Susskind and Hrabovsky (2014) The Theoretical Minimum.
—
This is why reading basic material from brilliant thinkers is so often worth the investment.
From Susskind and Hrabovsky (2014) The Theoretical Minimum.
—
This is why reading basic material from brilliant thinkers is so often worth the investment.
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
Humanity’s quest for a theory of everything drives much of science, but can we ever truly know the universe? | https://bit.ly/47gHJqU
Philosopher of science JB Manchak argues that even with all possible perspectives, it’s impossible to grasp the full structure of spacetime from within.
#philsci 🧪
Philosopher of science JB Manchak argues that even with all possible perspectives, it’s impossible to grasp the full structure of spacetime from within.
#philsci 🧪
The universe is unknowable from within it | JB Manchak
bit.ly
October 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Humanity’s quest for a theory of everything drives much of science, but can we ever truly know the universe? | https://bit.ly/47gHJqU
Philosopher of science JB Manchak argues that even with all possible perspectives, it’s impossible to grasp the full structure of spacetime from within.
#philsci 🧪
Philosopher of science JB Manchak argues that even with all possible perspectives, it’s impossible to grasp the full structure of spacetime from within.
#philsci 🧪
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
Personally I think we should use AI to raise prices on video games which should hopefully free up our time to work out what exact provisos should exist for trans girls in youth sports teams in the coming middle eastern peace settlement.
What is the scariest thing to talk about on BlueSky? I think Bernie slipped to third but I’m torn between Israel and AI for first place.
October 25, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Personally I think we should use AI to raise prices on video games which should hopefully free up our time to work out what exact provisos should exist for trans girls in youth sports teams in the coming middle eastern peace settlement.
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
1. We ( @jbakcoleman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @jevinwest.bsky.social, and I) have a new preprint up on the arXiv.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
1. We ( @jbakcoleman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @jevinwest.bsky.social, and I) have a new preprint up on the arXiv.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
The next talk in this series is on Wednesday (8th Oct, 3pm).
It features @alicehelliwell.bsky.social from NU London and Amaritpal Singh Saini from News UK, speaking about 'The Power and Potential of Generative AI'. All welcome!
Register here (in person or online): www.fdmgroup.com/us/understan...
It features @alicehelliwell.bsky.social from NU London and Amaritpal Singh Saini from News UK, speaking about 'The Power and Potential of Generative AI'. All welcome!
Register here (in person or online): www.fdmgroup.com/us/understan...
October 6, 2025 at 11:14 AM
The next talk in this series is on Wednesday (8th Oct, 3pm).
It features @alicehelliwell.bsky.social from NU London and Amaritpal Singh Saini from News UK, speaking about 'The Power and Potential of Generative AI'. All welcome!
Register here (in person or online): www.fdmgroup.com/us/understan...
It features @alicehelliwell.bsky.social from NU London and Amaritpal Singh Saini from News UK, speaking about 'The Power and Potential of Generative AI'. All welcome!
Register here (in person or online): www.fdmgroup.com/us/understan...
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
The Computational Philosophy Lab at Northeastern University London has teamed up with FDM to deliver a series of lectures on Understanding AI. Come along, in person or online! Speakers are Alice Helliwell, David Freeborn, Ioannis Votsis, and Brian Ball.
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
Understanding AI Beyond the Hype | FDM Group
Understanding AI Beyond the Hype | FDM Group
www.fdmgroup.com
October 1, 2025 at 9:57 AM
The Computational Philosophy Lab at Northeastern University London has teamed up with FDM to deliver a series of lectures on Understanding AI. Come along, in person or online! Speakers are Alice Helliwell, David Freeborn, Ioannis Votsis, and Brian Ball.
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
NU London Philosopher David Freeborn (@dpwf0.bsky.social) presents work by the Computational Philosophy Lab at the Ethics and AI conference at Warsaw University of Technology. Read more about the lab's work here: cpl.sites.northeastern.edu
September 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
NU London Philosopher David Freeborn (@dpwf0.bsky.social) presents work by the Computational Philosophy Lab at the Ethics and AI conference at Warsaw University of Technology. Read more about the lab's work here: cpl.sites.northeastern.edu
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
The first talk in this series is next week (Wednesday 1st October), featuring David Freeborn @dpwf0.bsky.social from NU London and Gillian Magee from AstraZeneca, speaking about AI Ethics in Action: Mapping Responsible AI. Register below to attend in person or online!
We're pleased to announce an exciting new lecture series in October, in collaboration with FDM. They feature an academic from NU London's Computational Philosophy Lab, paired up with industry specialists. Sign up to attend in person (near London Bridge) or online.
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
Understanding AI Beyond the Hype | FDM Group
Understanding AI Beyond the Hype | FDM Group
www.fdmgroup.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The first talk in this series is next week (Wednesday 1st October), featuring David Freeborn @dpwf0.bsky.social from NU London and Gillian Magee from AstraZeneca, speaking about AI Ethics in Action: Mapping Responsible AI. Register below to attend in person or online!
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
We're pleased to announce an exciting new lecture series in October, in collaboration with FDM. They feature an academic from NU London's Computational Philosophy Lab, paired up with industry specialists. Sign up to attend in person (near London Bridge) or online.
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
Understanding AI Beyond the Hype | FDM Group
Understanding AI Beyond the Hype | FDM Group
www.fdmgroup.com
September 19, 2025 at 8:37 AM
We're pleased to announce an exciting new lecture series in October, in collaboration with FDM. They feature an academic from NU London's Computational Philosophy Lab, paired up with industry specialists. Sign up to attend in person (near London Bridge) or online.
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
www.fdmgroup.com/understandin...
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
Don't miss NU London philosophers Christoph Schuringa @schuringa.bsky.social and Naomi Goulder at How the Light Gets In festival this weekend at Kenwood House. They are both on a panel with Timothy Williamson and @nigelwarburton.bsky.social, on Sunday 21st.
howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/lo...
howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/lo...
HowTheLightgetsIn London 2025
howthelightgetsin.org
September 19, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Don't miss NU London philosophers Christoph Schuringa @schuringa.bsky.social and Naomi Goulder at How the Light Gets In festival this weekend at Kenwood House. They are both on a panel with Timothy Williamson and @nigelwarburton.bsky.social, on Sunday 21st.
howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/lo...
howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/lo...
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
one of the wildest bits of discourse, is the idea that we can just ban ai
we cannot ban ai. code is speech and you can run these models on a 4080. there's no putting this genie back in the bottle.
we cannot ban ai. code is speech and you can run these models on a 4080. there's no putting this genie back in the bottle.
August 27, 2025 at 4:10 AM
one of the wildest bits of discourse, is the idea that we can just ban ai
we cannot ban ai. code is speech and you can run these models on a 4080. there's no putting this genie back in the bottle.
we cannot ban ai. code is speech and you can run these models on a 4080. there's no putting this genie back in the bottle.
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
More coverage of NU London philosopher Christoph Schuringa's recent book. Read below!
Adam Knowles reviews A Social History of Analytic Philosophy in Radical Philosophy @radical-philosophy.bsky.social
www.radicalphilosophy.com/reviews/mark...
www.radicalphilosophy.com/reviews/mark...
Adam Knowles · Marketplace of dull ideas (2025)
www.radicalphilosophy.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:11 PM
More coverage of NU London philosopher Christoph Schuringa's recent book. Read below!
Now officially published here:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
August 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Now officially published here:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
It's quite funny that fairly early in its history philosophy invented writing well (Plato) and reasoning well (Aristotle) and made it clear you can only do one; subsequently clarifying that we'll typically do neither.
August 21, 2025 at 5:27 AM
It's quite funny that fairly early in its history philosophy invented writing well (Plato) and reasoning well (Aristotle) and made it clear you can only do one; subsequently clarifying that we'll typically do neither.
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
TIL the original paper describing CRISPR, by Francisco Mojica, was rejected by 4 journals and took 2 years to be published
![CRISPR as a microbial immune system
In 2003, Mojica wrote the first paper suggesting that CRISPR was an innate microbial immune system. The paper was rejected by a series of high-profile journals, including Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Molecular Microbiology and Nucleic Acids Research, before finally being accepted by Journal of Molecular Evolution in February, 2005.[3][4]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:73aicoale2mqwrap63rdzwep/bafkreibu3dburfn527r3sbu2ov6y7gebv6zopaznagnfytjtsn6y4k7cs4@jpeg)
August 17, 2025 at 4:00 AM
TIL the original paper describing CRISPR, by Francisco Mojica, was rejected by 4 journals and took 2 years to be published
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
July 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
My new paper has been accepted at Synthese!
I tackle an ongoing problem with the learning of compositional communication in conventional signaing games.
I build two new models to show that structured receivers can learn and retain compositional information.
philpapers.org/rec/FRECUI-2
I tackle an ongoing problem with the learning of compositional communication in conventional signaing games.
I build two new models to show that structured receivers can learn and retain compositional information.
philpapers.org/rec/FRECUI-2
July 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
My new paper has been accepted at Synthese!
I tackle an ongoing problem with the learning of compositional communication in conventional signaing games.
I build two new models to show that structured receivers can learn and retain compositional information.
philpapers.org/rec/FRECUI-2
I tackle an ongoing problem with the learning of compositional communication in conventional signaing games.
I build two new models to show that structured receivers can learn and retain compositional information.
philpapers.org/rec/FRECUI-2
The distribution of the Red-billed chough is absolutely bizarre.
July 9, 2025 at 12:16 PM
The distribution of the Red-billed chough is absolutely bizarre.
Sometimes I look at my bibliographies and think... I bet these papers have never been cited together before.
July 4, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Sometimes I look at my bibliographies and think... I bet these papers have never been cited together before.
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
July 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by David Peter Wallis Freeborn
In our latest paper, we discovered a surprising result: training LLMs with self-play reinforcement learning on zero-sum games (like poker) significantly improves performance on math and reasoning benchmarks, zero-shot. Whaaat? How does this work?
We're excited about self-play unlocking continuously improving agents. RL selects CoT patterns from LLMs. Games=perfect testing grounds.
SPIRAL: models learn via self-competition. Kuhn Poker → +8.7% math, +18.1 Minerva Math! 🃏
Paper: huggingface.co/papers/2506....
Code: github.com/spiral-rl/spiral
SPIRAL: models learn via self-competition. Kuhn Poker → +8.7% math, +18.1 Minerva Math! 🃏
Paper: huggingface.co/papers/2506....
Code: github.com/spiral-rl/spiral
July 1, 2025 at 8:23 PM
In our latest paper, we discovered a surprising result: training LLMs with self-play reinforcement learning on zero-sum games (like poker) significantly improves performance on math and reasoning benchmarks, zero-shot. Whaaat? How does this work?