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Ben O’Loughlin

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Ben O'Loughlin is professor of international relations at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is director of the New Political… more

H-index: 26
Political science 40%
Communication & Media Studies 32%
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
How will advanced AI systems impact democracy?
@summerfieldlab.bsky.social et al.
'AI may provide an opportunity to update the social contract underlying rep. democracy, by expanding the role of citizen input... including the design of democratic institutions and processes'
arxiv.org/abs/2409.06729
How will advanced AI systems impact democracy?
Advanced AI systems capable of generating humanlike text and multimodal content are now widely available. In this paper, we discuss the impacts that generative artificial intelligence may have on demo...
arxiv.org
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
If #AI develops values, will it realise some people don't value it, so it will commit suicide? James Meek in the LRB: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
h/t @profmiskimmon.bsky.social
James Meek · Computers that want things
For all the fluency and synthetic friendliness of public-facing AI chatbots like ChatGPT, it seems important to remember...
www.lrb.co.uk
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by Louise Amoore — Reposted by Ben O’Loughlin, Margot C. Finn, John Hogan , and 1 more

amoorelouise.bsky.social
Our article on the politics of AI prompts is out now @econsocjournal.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... 1/n
Politics of the prompt: Government in the age of generative AI
This paper addresses the politics of the technique of prompting in machine learning, at a time when bureaucratic and democratic government is undergoing transformation. Drawing on the case of the U...
www.tandfonline.com
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
My polcomm class today said emojis are what the previous generation used. They have a different comms toolkit. They are kissing bricks. A genuinely hilarious hour.

Reposted by Ben O’Loughlin

mybisa.bsky.social
'Why do countries publish national security strategies? New insights from AI and global data' a new International Studies and Emerging Technologies working group event 💻

w/ Andrew W Neal on 22 October 🎉

find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/SvGk50X7FJw
Why do countries publish national security strategies? New insights from AI and global data- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) | BISA
- International Studies and Emerging Technologies Working Group (ISET) Working Group
ow.ly

by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
The insightful @andreamedrado.bsky.social is launching the Critical AI Centre @exeter.ac.uk - join for the launch debate here, Oct 8 2pm GMT: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-critic...
The Critical AI Centre Launch Roundtable
Join us in person or online for a discussion with leading voices on AI marking the launch of CrAIC
www.eventbrite.com
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
Want to do a PhD in social media and politics? We have a studentship here:
andreucasas.bsky.social
Andreu Casas @andreucasas.bsky.social · 16d
🚨Hiring a fully funded (3.5 years) PhD for the @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social to research social media and politics. Candidates should have quantitative/computational skills and/or be interested in content curation/moderation. UK home candidates only unfortunately. www.royalholloway.ac.uk/media/hquftp...
www.royalholloway.ac.uk
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by Andreu Casas — Reposted by Ben O’Loughlin, Chris Hanretty, Christopher Barrie

andreucasas.bsky.social
🚨Hiring a fully funded (3.5 years) PhD for the @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social to research social media and politics. Candidates should have quantitative/computational skills and/or be interested in content curation/moderation. UK home candidates only unfortunately. www.royalholloway.ac.uk/media/hquftp...
www.royalholloway.ac.uk
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
Generative AI might end up being worthless — and that could be a good thing, by Fenwick McKelvey: theconversation.com/generative-a...
Generative AI might end up being worthless — and that could be a good thing
GenAI does some neat, helpful things, but it’s not yet the engine of a new economy — and it might not ever be.
theconversation.com

by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
Upcoming conference, Shifting Allegiances, Story-Telling, and the #Narrative of Values in the Black Sea Region.
Date and Location: 1-3 May 2026, Batumi, Georgia.
Organized by: Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University.
Info here: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-j...
www.jiscmail.ac.uk

Reposted by Ben O’Loughlin

ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social
⚠️ For us, accessing platform data is central in enhancing online political safety research, particularly its credibility, validity and ethical standards!

📑 In fact, we have already produced a report on this topic!

➡️ osf.io/preprints/so...

🧵[2/3]
OSF
osf.io
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
Our PhD student @katosborne5.bsky.social published a first book review! 🎉 The politics of preventing violent extremism: liberal democracy, civil society and countering radicalization, by Charlotte Heath-Kelly & Sadi Shanaah: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
cc co-supe @lizzypearson.bsky.social
The politics of preventing violent extremism: liberal democracy, civil society and countering radicalization
Published in Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression (Ahead of Print, 2025)
www.tandfonline.com
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by Ben O’Loughlin — Reposted by Antje Wiener

benoloughlin.bsky.social
New special issue: Can the European Union (EU) strive for Strategic Autonomy in an age of intensifying Sino-American competition? A mixed picture is found, led by @luissimonn.bsky.social and Daniel Fiott. Opening article here:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Player and playground: Europe in US–China competition
The intensifying great power competition between the United States and China is having a profound effect on global order and Europe’s place in the world. Sino-American competition affects multiple ...
www.tandfonline.com
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Reposted by Ben O’Loughlin

denali.bsky.social
EAT THEIR FRAMES
An image of cookie monster utterly obliterating a plate of cookies
6 27

by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
New by @profmiskimmon.bsky.social and I: Our thoughts on how political leaders use ambiguity. Not all #narratives are clear and simple, for good reasons. [message if you want a copy]
www.emerald.com/books/edited...
Living with Shade: Ambiguity Does Not Mean Only Darkness in World Politics
In these challenging times, in the face of a new cadre of determined global leaders, war in Europe, and greater centrifugal forces in world politics, it is
www.emerald.com
1

by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
h/t @johana.bsky.social
I Am An AI Hater
I am an AI hater. This is considered rude, but I do not care, because I am a hater.
anthonymoser.github.io
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
Odd.

by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
Is this your ethos in life?
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
We have a rather exciting new development at our university…
ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social
London Social Media Observatory @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social · 29d
📣 We’re launching the London Social Media Observatory! 🎉

➡️ We are a new multidisciplinary research centre, directed by @andreucasas.bsky.social & funded by the @ukri.org Future Leaders Fellowship

🧵 [1/4]
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Reposted by Ben O’Loughlin

profmiskimmon.bsky.social
Great to see papers emerging from our new journal special issue, "What Matters? The Politics of Narrating War", I edited with @adamblerner.bsky.social and @benoloughlin.bsky.social
New special issue out: What Matters? The Politics of Narrating War — newpolcom
Media, War and Conflict has published a new special issue, What Matters? The Politics of Narrating War, edited by Adam B. Lerner, Alister Miskimmon and Ben O’Loughlin. This follows our workshop at Un...
www.newpolcom.rhul.ac.uk
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by Andreu Casas — Reposted by Ben O’Loughlin, Chris Hanretty

andreucasas.bsky.social
🚨Very honored to receive the Future Leaders Fellowship from @ukri.org I’ll use this 2.3 million £ investment to create the London Social Media Observatory, for cutting-edge research on social media and politics, and novel computational tools for social science research. www.ukri.org/news/ukri-an...
5 2 14

Reposted by Ben O’Loughlin

ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social
📣 We’re launching the London Social Media Observatory! 🎉

➡️ We are a new multidisciplinary research centre, directed by @andreucasas.bsky.social & funded by the @ukri.org Future Leaders Fellowship

🧵 [1/4]
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
This is very good, on how vampires are subverting then sucking the life out of liberalism. By Sarah Banet-Weiser and @jillybkay.bsky.social:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Through the looking glass: Feminism and reactionary politics in the digital hall of mirrors - Sarah Banet-Weiser, Jilly Boyce Kay, 2025
In recent years, the ‘mirror’ has emerged as a key metaphor for theorizing contemporary digital culture, with its disorienting communicative architectures and b...
journals.sagepub.com
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
Will AI twins or avatars of human representatives make better decisions and create better governance? Or just a straight parliament of non-corruptible bots? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Albania puts AI-created ‘minister’ in charge of public procurement
Edi Rama, PM, says digital assistant Diella will make Albania ‘a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption’
www.theguardian.com
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
This AI workshop is losing will and needing coffee.
3

by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
At the University of Valencia to explore AI and agency in politics, convened by Marco Guglielmo:
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
UK Ambassador to the US Mandleson on making a deal: 'at its core will be new agreements that ... ensure that British and American ingenuity continues to lead the world'.
h/t @profmiskimmon.bsky.social
#narrative #identity #order #interests #wildhorses 🐎 www.ditchley.com/sites/defaul...
www.ditchley.com

by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
Our video: What is AI Politics - our book series and a thing out there in the world? @andrewhoskins.bsky.social and I mull it over:
Watch: ow.ly/EQFC50WQin8
CFP: ow.ly/M43J50WQin7
Thanks to James @intellectbooks.bsky.social and do consider writing a book on this!
In Conversation with Andrew Hoskins and Ben O'Loughlin
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
ow.ly
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by Ben O’Loughlin

benoloughlin.bsky.social
Funded PhD in Politics or Sociology, Aston University. On the symbolic representation of women politician’s parental status in the media. A plus: experience studying gender and politics and/or media analysis. Deadline 15 Sept. Ad under Law & Social Sciences tab here: www.aston.ac.uk/postgraduate...
PhD opportunities
www.aston.ac.uk
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Reposted by Ben O’Loughlin

intellectbooks.bsky.social
James Campbell is joined by Andrew Hoskins and Ben O'Loughlin.

They discuss their new book series, AI Politics, which will interrogate and shape debate on the artificial intelligence.

Watch👉ow.ly/EQFC50WQin8

CFP👉ow.ly/M43J50WQin7

@benoloughlin.bsky.social @andrewhoskins.bsky.social
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