Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
banner
techmilly.bsky.social
Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
@techmilly.bsky.social
Head of Digital & Data Policy for Which (UK consumer association) | advising CMA, Chatham House | x-ODI x-Royal Society x-Alan Turing Institute | website linkedin.com/in/mgzimeta/ | views my own | geopolitics & literary journalism as @mgzimeta.bsky.social
Pinned
I created this short summary spreadsheet of the Biden era Executive Orders on digital tech policy and infrastructure that #47 has immediately rescinded and removed from the White House website.
I'll try to update it later with tabs on other topics.
LMK if anything's missing.
tinyurl.com/ynrcthur
US Pres #47 - initial recission Exec Orders
tinyurl.com
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
As someone who has reported on AI for 7 years and covered China tech as well, I think the biggest lesson to be drawn from DeepSeek is the huge cracks it illustrates with the current dominant paradigm of AI development. A long thread. 1/
January 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
Calling for AI journalists! The intensive AI Spotlight Series track is open for applications, happening February 4-6.

Join @karenhao.bsky.social & @gabrielgeiger.bsky.social and deepen your understanding of technical AI concepts.

Don't miss out! Apply by tomorrow.
👉 bit.ly/4gL1BVF
January 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
In making AI policy at the White House, I worked for two visionary women – Dr. Alondra Nelson and Vice President Harris – who asked the same question in every meeting:

"What would this mean for the most vulnerable?"

However the new tech advisors choose to proceed, I hope they have a good answer.
January 21, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
I created this short summary spreadsheet of the Biden era Executive Orders on digital tech policy and infrastructure that #47 has immediately rescinded and removed from the White House website.
I'll try to update it later with tabs on other topics.
LMK if anything's missing.
tinyurl.com/ynrcthur
US Pres #47 - initial recission Exec Orders
tinyurl.com
January 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I created this short summary spreadsheet of the Biden era Executive Orders on digital tech policy and infrastructure that #47 has immediately rescinded and removed from the White House website.
I'll try to update it later with tabs on other topics.
LMK if anything's missing.
tinyurl.com/ynrcthur
US Pres #47 - initial recission Exec Orders
tinyurl.com
January 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
It's noteworthy the tech titans are just behind the family row and in front of the cabinet picks:
January 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
Yesterday the Govt published its AI Opportunities Action Plan to become a global leader in AI. But it makes no reference to consumer protection.

The Digital Policy team at W? have taken the unusual step of posting a working draft of our response so you can join the conversation
tinyurl.com/34uwmk83
DRAFT Which? review of AI Opportunities Action Plan - open for comments
The UK AI Opportunities Action Plan and consumer protection Today the UK Government published its AI Opportunities Action Plan, laying out the Government’s strategy for becoming a global leader in A...
tinyurl.com
January 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Yesterday the Govt published its AI Opportunities Action Plan to become a global leader in AI. But it makes no reference to consumer protection.

The Digital Policy team at W? have taken the unusual step of posting a working draft of our response so you can join the conversation
tinyurl.com/34uwmk83
DRAFT Which? review of AI Opportunities Action Plan - open for comments
The UK AI Opportunities Action Plan and consumer protection Today the UK Government published its AI Opportunities Action Plan, laying out the Government’s strategy for becoming a global leader in A...
tinyurl.com
January 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
‘At a workshop on AI and religion, someone observed that most AI was being developed with the primary purpose of selling advertising: “But what could AI be like if it was stewarded by the Dalai Lama?”’

@mgzimeta.bsky.social meets an android monk, on the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
M.G. Zimeta | Among Robots
At the Pepper Parlor restaurant in central Tokyo, each table had a short robot called Pepper with articulated plastic...
www.lrb.co.uk
January 12, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
I've put a video clip of some of my interactions with Pepper robot here (G-drive link): tinyurl.com/brhxbrdy

0:40 for its hallucinating movements, 5:30 for is it more intelligent than humans, and 7:00 for do androids dream of electric sheep

(Warning: the camerawork is a bit Blair Witch Project...)
January 11, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
I've put a video clip of Pepper here (G-drive link): tinyurl.com/brhxbrdy

0:40 for its hallucinating movements, 5:30 for is it more intelligent than humans, and 7:00 for do androids dream of electric sheep.

(The camera's uneven because I was filming for my notes: just pretend its arthouse...)
🧵2/2
MG Zimeta - talking to Pepper robot (Tokyo Oct 2023) - article Among Robots (LRB blog Jan 2025).mp4
tinyurl.com
January 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
Bizarre developments at Meta recently, including AI 'Liv' breaking new ground in digital blackface and being a robot Magical Negro at the same time.

It made me think about how we relate to robots and each other. Here's my new piece for @londonreview.bsky.social : www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
🧵1/2
M.G. Zimeta | Among Robots
At the Pepper Parlor restaurant in central Tokyo, each table had a short robot called Pepper with articulated plastic...
www.lrb.co.uk
January 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
NEW: Meta tells me that it is deleting the AI profiles that are currently going viral, and that there is "confusion" about these versus what is to come in the future.

A few of them are being deleted as we speak:

www.404media.co/metas-ai-pro...
January 3, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Here's a thread of some handy starter packs I've found in some of my team's main policy areas - AI, cybersecurity, data & digital rights. Keen for other recommendations - UK focus, but EU and Global South are of interest too.

I'm also on the lookout in digital ID, ISPs, online fraud and telcos.
January 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Is it just me or does this "queer Black proud truth-telling" Meta bot look a lot like the uncanny housekeeper in "Get Out"? The Black woman whose body was possessed by a white racist forcing it into eternal servitude?
January 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
Hello 👋

Finally joined this app. Also still on mastodon at @[email protected]. Seeing how many people tried to report me to myself, I don't think I'll leave that space.

Also on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/timnit-ge....

I think that's all I can handle for now.
Timnit Gebru - The Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR) | LinkedIn
Timnit Gebru is the founder and executive director of the Distributed Artificial… · Experience: The Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR) · Education: Stanford University · Location: Stanford · 500...
www.linkedin.com
December 4, 2024 at 11:17 PM
New report from my excellent Digital Policy team at W: as UK Govt presents its new Data Bill for the digital economy, how can consumers have trust in new uses of their data? Our paper provides a blueprint for companies, charities and govt ⬇️ www.which.co.uk/policy-and-i... #data #digital #policy
Building consumer trust in Smart Data - Which? Policy and insight
This policy paper provides a blueprint for data holders, authorised third parties, civil society and any other participating organisation to secure consumer trust in smart data schemes through the use...
www.which.co.uk
December 6, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
rih.dev Hatim @rih.dev · Nov 24
Optimist: the cup is 1/2 full

Pessimist: the cup is 1/2 empty

Excel: the cup is January 2nd
November 24, 2024 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by Dr Mahlet ("Milly") Zimeta
I wrote limerick:

--
There was a fun website called Twitter
That changed owners and became a lot *****er
So this is why
I'm now at BlueSky
Hoping to avoid far-right porn bot litter
--

Thoughts, feedback, marks out of 10 etc?
November 17, 2024 at 2:51 PM
I'm delighted to join @WhichUK heading up their Digital Policy team, covering fair and safe internet access, data, online markets, AI & consumer tech.

We're also recruiting for Principal to join my team 12-month FTC (FT/PT) - deadline for apps 14th Sept:...
January 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Here's my latest for @TheWorldToday @ChathamHouse on Decolonising AI: how AI is becoming a vector of a new kind of empire, but how it's also an opportunity for new alliances for the benefit of all

And a 🧵 of the fab trailblazers in the piece! 🤩...
January 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Tonight 6pm BST in-person & online: as part of the @nesta_uk/@prospect_uk "Minister for the Future" series, we'll be exploring bold ideas for big tech

W/ @arusbridger @jamestplunkett @CarissaVeliz @DStallibrass @HetanShah & me, and audience interaction...
January 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM
This was an incredible thing to be part of!

In 1972 my alma mater @Kings_College became one of Cambridge University's first all-male colleges to admit women.
[1/5]

https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/members-and-friends/50-years-of-women-at-kings
50 Years of Women at King's
Over the 2022-2
www.kings.cam.ac.uk
January 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM