Mark Vanderbeeken
@vanderbeeken.bsky.social
International customer insight, market research and digital innovation expert. And some more.
x.com/vanderbeeken
@vanderbeeken@mastodon.online
vanderbeeken.eu
All posts are personal
x.com/vanderbeeken
@vanderbeeken@mastodon.online
vanderbeeken.eu
All posts are personal
"As machines get better at acting like humans, humans are changing how they act. They’re altering the way they write, the way they hire and the way they interact with strangers, all to avoid being taken for—or taken by—AI."
@issielapowsky.bsky.social
@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
@issielapowsky.bsky.social
@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
On the Internet, Nobody Knows You’re a Human
Deepfakes and chatbots are now good enough that many web users don’t trust they are interacting with real people.
www.bloomberg.com
December 15, 2025 at 12:27 PM
"As machines get better at acting like humans, humans are changing how they act. They’re altering the way they write, the way they hire and the way they interact with strangers, all to avoid being taken for—or taken by—AI."
@issielapowsky.bsky.social
@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
@issielapowsky.bsky.social
@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
We eat plastic. We breathe plastic. And plastic is in our blood and our body cells. Even in the placenta of women. And plastic particles may be carcinogenic.
Great and very solid video reporting by Ségolène Dujardin on
@artefr.bsky.social l
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN15...
Great and very solid video reporting by Ségolène Dujardin on
@artefr.bsky.social l
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN15...
Homo Plasticus - ARTE
YouTube video by ARTE.tv Documentary
www.youtube.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
We eat plastic. We breathe plastic. And plastic is in our blood and our body cells. Even in the placenta of women. And plastic particles may be carcinogenic.
Great and very solid video reporting by Ségolène Dujardin on
@artefr.bsky.social l
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN15...
Great and very solid video reporting by Ségolène Dujardin on
@artefr.bsky.social l
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN15...
New social media platforms for the very young: Lemon8 (Chinese), RedStar (Chinese), Coverstar (USA) and Yope (USA). The Financial Times wrote about it as well today. Of course no European platform.
www.ft.com/content/c901...
www.ft.com/content/c901...
December 14, 2025 at 11:13 AM
New social media platforms for the very young: Lemon8 (Chinese), RedStar (Chinese), Coverstar (USA) and Yope (USA). The Financial Times wrote about it as well today. Of course no European platform.
www.ft.com/content/c901...
www.ft.com/content/c901...
"One of the reasons so much is being spent on AI is to try to transform it into a technology of consumer captivity. Something that keeps people there."
Tim Wu @superwuster.bsky.social interview on @vprotegenlicht.bsky.social
Tim Wu @superwuster.bsky.social interview on @vprotegenlicht.bsky.social
December 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM
"One of the reasons so much is being spent on AI is to try to transform it into a technology of consumer captivity. Something that keeps people there."
Tim Wu @superwuster.bsky.social interview on @vprotegenlicht.bsky.social
Tim Wu @superwuster.bsky.social interview on @vprotegenlicht.bsky.social
“Experts believe universities are unable to align their academic practices fast enough to meet AI-driven industry demands.
The current system, where a student commits three to five years to learn computer science and then looks for a job, is not sustainable.”
The current system, where a student commits three to five years to learn computer science and then looks for a job, is not sustainable.”
Entry-level hiring at big tech companies has dropped by more than 50% over the last three years. We spoke with recent grads about about navigating the AI-fueled jobpocalypse
https://restofworld.org/2025/engineering-graduates-ai-job-losses
https://restofworld.org/2025/engineering-graduates-ai-job-losses
“Everyone is so panicked”: Entry-level tech workers describe the AI-fueled jobpocalypse
Engineering graduates face shrinking opportunities and rising pressure to upskill beyond their curriculum.
restofworld.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:25 PM
“Experts believe universities are unable to align their academic practices fast enough to meet AI-driven industry demands.
The current system, where a student commits three to five years to learn computer science and then looks for a job, is not sustainable.”
The current system, where a student commits three to five years to learn computer science and then looks for a job, is not sustainable.”
European news sites on social media
(8 countries, 56 selected media)
- X dominates as microblogging platform, but a crisis is looming: some major news European outlets have archived their X accounts over the last year, for reasons of disinformation...
[1/6]
(8 countries, 56 selected media)
- X dominates as microblogging platform, but a crisis is looming: some major news European outlets have archived their X accounts over the last year, for reasons of disinformation...
[1/6]
December 11, 2025 at 10:05 AM
European news sites on social media
(8 countries, 56 selected media)
- X dominates as microblogging platform, but a crisis is looming: some major news European outlets have archived their X accounts over the last year, for reasons of disinformation...
[1/6]
(8 countries, 56 selected media)
- X dominates as microblogging platform, but a crisis is looming: some major news European outlets have archived their X accounts over the last year, for reasons of disinformation...
[1/6]
Intervista audio molto interessante con il capo delle forze armate italiane. Ottima analisi. Molti dei problemi che sottolinea sono di natura culturale, non tecnologica.
[La "A" di STEAM]
www.affarinternazionali.it/la-guerra-in...
@iaionline.bsky.social @nathalietocci.bsky.social
[La "A" di STEAM]
www.affarinternazionali.it/la-guerra-in...
@iaionline.bsky.social @nathalietocci.bsky.social
La guerra in Ucraina, l'esercito italiano e la difesa europea - Affarinternazionali
Il Generale Carmine Masiello, Capo di Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito italiano, è intervenuto a Spazio Transnazionale, la trasmissione di Radio Radicale condotta
www.affarinternazionali.it
December 9, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Intervista audio molto interessante con il capo delle forze armate italiane. Ottima analisi. Molti dei problemi che sottolinea sono di natura culturale, non tecnologica.
[La "A" di STEAM]
www.affarinternazionali.it/la-guerra-in...
@iaionline.bsky.social @nathalietocci.bsky.social
[La "A" di STEAM]
www.affarinternazionali.it/la-guerra-in...
@iaionline.bsky.social @nathalietocci.bsky.social
The social media accounts of European media (numbers of key media in 9 countries) are utterly dominated by X and Instagram. Mastodon and Bluesky barely count.
(in 1000 of followers)
(in 1000 of followers)
December 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The social media accounts of European media (numbers of key media in 9 countries) are utterly dominated by X and Instagram. Mastodon and Bluesky barely count.
(in 1000 of followers)
(in 1000 of followers)
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
*How come there are such swell Popes lately when the general political-class is such a mess
December 8, 2025 at 10:04 AM
*How come there are such swell Popes lately when the general political-class is such a mess
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
Europe is under siege
Europe is under siege
Menaced by Russia and China, abandoned by America.
www.noahpinion.blog
December 7, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Europe is under siege
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
Richard Thaler on Why People are Much More Irrational than Economists Believe • Yascha Mounk and Richard Thaler discuss where economics goes wrong.
Richard Thaler on Why People are Much More Irrational than Economists Believe
Yascha Mounk and Richard Thaler discuss where economics goes wrong.
yaschamounk.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Richard Thaler on Why People are Much More Irrational than Economists Believe • Yascha Mounk and Richard Thaler discuss where economics goes wrong.
Excellent survey questions in this survey of citizens in 9 EU countries. The results provide surprising insights that deviate from what we commonly hear and read.
La dernière enquête barométrique « Eurobazooka » menée par Cluster 17 pour le Grand Continent dévoile les peurs et les désirs d’un continent dans la bascule.
10 points et 30 graphiques pour résumer notre grande enquête d’opinion de fin d’année.
legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/12/0...
10 points et 30 graphiques pour résumer notre grande enquête d’opinion de fin d’année.
legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/12/0...
Ce que les Européens veulent vraiment : le dernier Eurobazooka | Le Grand Continent
Alors que le premier quart du XXIe siècle touche à sa fin, marqué par la guerre et les révolutions technologiques, la dernière enquête barométrique menée par Cluster 17 pour le Grand Continent dévoile...
legrandcontinent.eu
December 4, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Excellent survey questions in this survey of citizens in 9 EU countries. The results provide surprising insights that deviate from what we commonly hear and read.
"Every company talks about “customer-centricity,” but surveillance pricing reveals the tension between serving customers better and extracting maximum value from them."
@rgmcgrath.bsky.social
www.fastcompany.com/91451686/dyn...
@rgmcgrath.bsky.social
www.fastcompany.com/91451686/dyn...
Why dynamic pricing is becoming the rule, not the exception
Is the era of fixed prices over?
www.fastcompany.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:06 AM
"Every company talks about “customer-centricity,” but surveillance pricing reveals the tension between serving customers better and extracting maximum value from them."
@rgmcgrath.bsky.social
www.fastcompany.com/91451686/dyn...
@rgmcgrath.bsky.social
www.fastcompany.com/91451686/dyn...
"OK. We've got one more" [13:50]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNmc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNmc...
David Byrne: Tiny Desk Concert
YouTube video by NPR Music
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:57 AM
"OK. We've got one more" [13:50]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNmc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNmc...
Deliberative democracy experiments are striking a nerve and could become scalable.
I wrote a short article on the second wave of deliberative democracy
www.linkedin.com/pulse/second...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/second...
The second wave of deliberative democracy, that could become scalable
We are inundated with negative stories about the decline of democracy, the public decision-making system that requires us to come to collectively agreed-upon solutions on what our societies and govern...
www.linkedin.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Deliberative democracy experiments are striking a nerve and could become scalable.
I wrote a short article on the second wave of deliberative democracy
www.linkedin.com/pulse/second...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/second...
The second wave of deliberative democracy, that could become scalable
We are inundated with negative stories about the decline of democracy, the public decision-making system that requires us to come to collectively agreed-upon solutions on what our societies and govern...
www.linkedin.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I wrote a short article on the second wave of deliberative democracy
www.linkedin.com/pulse/second...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/second...
Innovative citizen participation experiments in the news:
- Belgium
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
www.buergerdialog.be/en/
- NL (use transl. engine)
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.burgerberaadklimaat.nl
- USA
medium.com/jigsaw/we-th...
wethepeople-250.org
#deliberativedemocracy #citizensassemblies
- Belgium
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
www.buergerdialog.be/en/
- NL (use transl. engine)
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.burgerberaadklimaat.nl
- USA
medium.com/jigsaw/we-th...
wethepeople-250.org
#deliberativedemocracy #citizensassemblies
Democracy Is in Trouble. This Region Is Turning to Its People.
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Innovative citizen participation experiments in the news:
- Belgium
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
www.buergerdialog.be/en/
- NL (use transl. engine)
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.burgerberaadklimaat.nl
- USA
medium.com/jigsaw/we-th...
wethepeople-250.org
#deliberativedemocracy #citizensassemblies
- Belgium
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
www.buergerdialog.be/en/
- NL (use transl. engine)
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.burgerberaadklimaat.nl
- USA
medium.com/jigsaw/we-th...
wethepeople-250.org
#deliberativedemocracy #citizensassemblies
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
Great journalism by New York Times on algorithmic price discrimination ↘️ www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...
Video: Opinion | Goodbye, Price Tags. Hello, Dynamic Pricing.
Shopping has always been a game. And now it’s being rigged against you.
www.nytimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Great journalism by New York Times on algorithmic price discrimination ↘️ www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...
Elisabeth Costa of the Behavioural Insights Team: “One of the joys of human interaction and qualitative research is that people can surprise you — give you new insights on mental models or hidden barriers. You’re unlikely to be surprised by a synthetic participant.”
www.ft.com/content/1298...
www.ft.com/content/1298...
The AI Shift: Is AI about to break polling?
Online surveys are susceptible to bogus respondents and synthetic samples warrant scepticism
www.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Elisabeth Costa of the Behavioural Insights Team: “One of the joys of human interaction and qualitative research is that people can surprise you — give you new insights on mental models or hidden barriers. You’re unlikely to be surprised by a synthetic participant.”
www.ft.com/content/1298...
www.ft.com/content/1298...
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
Can large language models stand in for human participants?
Many social scientists seem to think so, and are already using "silicon samples" in research.
One problem: depending on the analytic decisions made, you can basically get these samples to show any effect you want.
THREAD 🧵
Many social scientists seem to think so, and are already using "silicon samples" in research.
One problem: depending on the analytic decisions made, you can basically get these samples to show any effect you want.
THREAD 🧵
The threat of analytic flexibility in using large language models to simulate human data: A call to attention
Social scientists are now using large language models to create "silicon samples" - synthetic datasets intended to stand in for human respondents, aimed at revolutionising human subjects research. How...
arxiv.org
September 18, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Can large language models stand in for human participants?
Many social scientists seem to think so, and are already using "silicon samples" in research.
One problem: depending on the analytic decisions made, you can basically get these samples to show any effect you want.
THREAD 🧵
Many social scientists seem to think so, and are already using "silicon samples" in research.
One problem: depending on the analytic decisions made, you can basically get these samples to show any effect you want.
THREAD 🧵
Pervasive video recording has real impact (independent of tech and AI).
GenZ and GenAlpha who don't dance at concerts because friends might judge them on IG videos.
People who don't go to political protests as they don't know where videos by sidewalk recorders end up.
@carissaveliz.bsky.social
GenZ and GenAlpha who don't dance at concerts because friends might judge them on IG videos.
People who don't go to political protests as they don't know where videos by sidewalk recorders end up.
@carissaveliz.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Pervasive video recording has real impact (independent of tech and AI).
GenZ and GenAlpha who don't dance at concerts because friends might judge them on IG videos.
People who don't go to political protests as they don't know where videos by sidewalk recorders end up.
@carissaveliz.bsky.social
GenZ and GenAlpha who don't dance at concerts because friends might judge them on IG videos.
People who don't go to political protests as they don't know where videos by sidewalk recorders end up.
@carissaveliz.bsky.social
Published also in English and without paywall.
en.ilsole24ore.com/art/wide-fie...
en.ilsole24ore.com/art/wide-fie...
November 22, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Published also in English and without paywall.
en.ilsole24ore.com/art/wide-fie...
en.ilsole24ore.com/art/wide-fie...
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
Drumrolls, please! I’m thrilled to share the cover for my forthcoming #book from @doubledaybooks.bsky.social
(Penguin Random House), #PROPHECY. This is the best book I’ve written: the boldest, the most innovative, the most personal. I have poured my soul into it like never before. 1/
(Penguin Random House), #PROPHECY. This is the best book I’ve written: the boldest, the most innovative, the most personal. I have poured my soul into it like never before. 1/
November 17, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Drumrolls, please! I’m thrilled to share the cover for my forthcoming #book from @doubledaybooks.bsky.social
(Penguin Random House), #PROPHECY. This is the best book I’ve written: the boldest, the most innovative, the most personal. I have poured my soul into it like never before. 1/
(Penguin Random House), #PROPHECY. This is the best book I’ve written: the boldest, the most innovative, the most personal. I have poured my soul into it like never before. 1/
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
Can I quietly ask we stop talking about what "AI" *could* do in education and identify instead what's actually happening with AI in education? I'll start...
November 15, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Can I quietly ask we stop talking about what "AI" *could* do in education and identify instead what's actually happening with AI in education? I'll start...