Zeerak Talat زیرک ظلعت (they/them)
@zeerak.bsky.social
Thinking about content moderation, equity, machine learning, and natural language processing.
Now: Chancellor's Fellow (~Asst. Prof) @technomoralfutures.bsky.social @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social
Past: MBZUAI, SFU, Uni of. {Sheffield, CPH}
Now: Chancellor's Fellow (~Asst. Prof) @technomoralfutures.bsky.social @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social
Past: MBZUAI, SFU, Uni of. {Sheffield, CPH}
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک ظلعت (they/them)
Anders Breivik's fairy godmother.
The fact that she is still in paid employment after inspiring him to mass murder a load of kids is pretty disgusting.
The fact that she is still in paid employment after inspiring him to mass murder a load of kids is pretty disgusting.
November 25, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Anders Breivik's fairy godmother.
The fact that she is still in paid employment after inspiring him to mass murder a load of kids is pretty disgusting.
The fact that she is still in paid employment after inspiring him to mass murder a load of kids is pretty disgusting.
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک ظلعت (they/them)
She has always been utterly grim.
Apart from Israel, she was a big Wakefield supporter. She published loads of stuff denying climate change. And thoroughly opposed gay rights.
It's always been incredibly disappointing she continues to have a job and audience
Apart from Israel, she was a big Wakefield supporter. She published loads of stuff denying climate change. And thoroughly opposed gay rights.
It's always been incredibly disappointing she continues to have a job and audience
November 25, 2025 at 6:09 AM
She has always been utterly grim.
Apart from Israel, she was a big Wakefield supporter. She published loads of stuff denying climate change. And thoroughly opposed gay rights.
It's always been incredibly disappointing she continues to have a job and audience
Apart from Israel, she was a big Wakefield supporter. She published loads of stuff denying climate change. And thoroughly opposed gay rights.
It's always been incredibly disappointing she continues to have a job and audience
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک ظلعت (they/them)
Local (separate from individual, which are also important) actions have the potential to inspire broader action, esp. among institutions. So:
-Demand better options/behavior from our vendors
-Judicious vs. regular AI use
-Host communities of learning
-Host local models
-Seek community input!
-Demand better options/behavior from our vendors
-Judicious vs. regular AI use
-Host communities of learning
-Host local models
-Seek community input!
November 19, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Local (separate from individual, which are also important) actions have the potential to inspire broader action, esp. among institutions. So:
-Demand better options/behavior from our vendors
-Judicious vs. regular AI use
-Host communities of learning
-Host local models
-Seek community input!
-Demand better options/behavior from our vendors
-Judicious vs. regular AI use
-Host communities of learning
-Host local models
-Seek community input!
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک ظلعت (they/them)
(Public) library usage is actually pretty strong, thanks in part to our ability to adapt to changing tech landscape! I think the real challenge is how do we spin up in-house expertise though, since we've outsourced a lot of our tech.
Most lib'ns are not technologists, and reskilling is hard.
Most lib'ns are not technologists, and reskilling is hard.
November 19, 2025 at 10:51 PM
(Public) library usage is actually pretty strong, thanks in part to our ability to adapt to changing tech landscape! I think the real challenge is how do we spin up in-house expertise though, since we've outsourced a lot of our tech.
Most lib'ns are not technologists, and reskilling is hard.
Most lib'ns are not technologists, and reskilling is hard.
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک ظلعت (they/them)
A: To be fair, libraries have a strong track record of coexisting and even using our ostensible replacements (google and search, e-books and print media, wikipedia and reference questions, zoom and public meeting spaces), so *existentially* I'm not nervous. Not about THAT, anyhow.
But/And...
But/And...
November 19, 2025 at 10:51 PM
A: To be fair, libraries have a strong track record of coexisting and even using our ostensible replacements (google and search, e-books and print media, wikipedia and reference questions, zoom and public meeting spaces), so *existentially* I'm not nervous. Not about THAT, anyhow.
But/And...
But/And...
Love that point! I think the issues still stand. A lot of content moderation labour is done in the global south, emissions have more immediate and deadly consequences there too. The local (even in broader sense) harm reduction is great, but perhaps we should structurally be contesting AI as a thing.
November 20, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Love that point! I think the issues still stand. A lot of content moderation labour is done in the global south, emissions have more immediate and deadly consequences there too. The local (even in broader sense) harm reduction is great, but perhaps we should structurally be contesting AI as a thing.
So it’s funny b/c I’m less concerned about building that expertise. Between a lot of the tech being pretty intuitive to most (in my experience) and the ability of libraries to host events w/ speakers who know the tech, this seems surmountable though the q of duplicating efforts comes up then.
November 20, 2025 at 1:20 AM
So it’s funny b/c I’m less concerned about building that expertise. Between a lot of the tech being pretty intuitive to most (in my experience) and the ability of libraries to host events w/ speakers who know the tech, this seems surmountable though the q of duplicating efforts comes up then.
Thanks so much for responding, and thanks for a really interesting session!
I wonder if there might also be a question of who uses the public library and how that changes. The hyper individualised/solitary life that AI engenders might be sold to people who wouldn’t be primary library users anyway
I wonder if there might also be a question of who uses the public library and how that changes. The hyper individualised/solitary life that AI engenders might be sold to people who wouldn’t be primary library users anyway
November 20, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Thanks so much for responding, and thanks for a really interesting session!
I wonder if there might also be a question of who uses the public library and how that changes. The hyper individualised/solitary life that AI engenders might be sold to people who wouldn’t be primary library users anyway
I wonder if there might also be a question of who uses the public library and how that changes. The hyper individualised/solitary life that AI engenders might be sold to people who wouldn’t be primary library users anyway
Hah that would be amazing! <3
October 27, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Hah that would be amazing! <3