This is a thread of major media outlets falsely anthropomorphising the "Grok" chatbot program and in doing so, actively and directly removing responsibility and accountability from individual people working at X who created a child pornography generator (Elon Musk, Nikita Bier etc) #1: Reuters

Born in Riddrie on this day in December 1934, Alasdair Gray became one of Scotland’s most visionary writers and artists, his words and images continue to shape our civic life. We honour his enduring legacy & are proud to continue to champion his legacy and creative spirit ❤️

Patreon supporters, a new Book Shambles from the @latitudefestival.bsky.social is out for you now! @robinince.bsky.social and @bechillcomedian.bsky.social chat to Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell. Subscribe at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Over the last five years, the number of independent bookstores in the U.S. jumped by 70%. In 2025 alone, 422 new bookstores opened, according to the American Booksellers Association. You love to see it. 📚💙

Indie bookstores are making a shocking, triumphant comeback

Since 2020, the number of independent bookstores in the U.S. grew by 70%.

fastcompany.com

We fail to acknowledge how much the media / politicians drive public concern rather than reflect it; this happened with Brexit too. I’d love to see a chart tracking increased negative media coverage of the trans community with people seeing them as a threat. I’ve no doubt the former came first.

Alexis Conran@alexisconran.com · 8mo ago

Fascinating from Tom’s piece

Oh my god. It’s actually finally happened. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Spending time in these last couple of weeks collating press summaries for a few of our biggest campaigns of the year - and it’s so lovely to be able to stop and reflect on these, and the other titles I’ve worked on across 2025. >>

97% is “no clear consensus”?! Come off it, Liz.

Photographer Christopher Anderson on the Vanity Fair photoshoot

🚨 The UK government just published a breakdown of the responses to its consultation on AI & copyright: - 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is) 🧵 1/2

If you love science and comedy and @robinince.bsky.social, now is a great time to discover @cosmicshambles.com and everything they have to offer. And if you're in the vicinity of London, UK, check out their amazing holiday event, "Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People"

This is a very sad moment - Robin is a joy on air, a brilliant mind, and a deeply kind and thoughtful human being. A huge loss to the BBC.

Me, in The Guardian today: "This is a moment that requires bravery in standing up for what is right. Organisations that value trans people should know not just that the law is on their side – but so, also, are many people who will step up to defend them if they have the courage to take a stand."

The WI and Girlguiding have been pressured to exclude trans women – yet the law is clear as mud | Jess O’Thomson

Since the supreme court decision, organisations have faced lobbying and legal threats. But trans people are protected by discrimination law too, says Jess O’Thomson of the Good Law Project

theguardian.com

“I question the energy that is being dedicated to harming vulnerable people and children rather than tackling the much bigger and very real risks facing women and girls.” A Brownie parent tackles Girlguiding banning trans girls: “It is an attack on children.” www.independent.co.uk/voices/girlg...

Those who back banning trans girls from Girlguiding need to look at Brownie Law

...which clearly states: ‘A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself’ – something that seems to have been forgotten in making the decision to ban trans girls from Girlguiding. There are many risk...

independent.co.uk

Listened to a podcast recently about the rise of 'sludge' - the incorporation of inconvenience (long waits, AI chatbots etc) into customer service, designed to make customers give up before they can claim what's they're owed. Having had a parcel misdelivered by FedEx, I'm REALLY feeling it today.

An empty train is sitting on a platform, at least 15 people clustered around the closed doors of each of the four carriages. God love the middle aged man who walks up, in front of all of us, and presses the unlit Door Open button “just in case”…

Heading back north after a flying visit to London, to speak at the @publicitycircle.bsky.social Junior Publicists’ Training Day. A brilliantly engaged audience, with some great questions thrown my way! A good reminder both of what great work the PPC does, and how much talent there is coming up.

Feeling emotional today.

Publishers Weekly@publisherswkly.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The winner of the 2025 National Book Award for Nonfiction is ‘One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This’ by Omar El Akkad. #NBAwards

Some lovely news. Somewhere Bobby and Robert are celebrating! Congratulations to everyone shortlisted and thank you to the judges and Nero and to @canongate.co.uk and my agent Clare Conville and to every bookseller, librarian and reader for giving my story space.

Every time I think this government can’t sink lower, they prove me wrong. It’s almost impressive.

Oh this is such sad news. Knights Of have been such a force for good in this industry - we need more companies like them, not fewer. www.thebookseller.com/news/indepen...

Independent children's publisher Knights Of set to close

Award-winning inclusive children’s publisher Knights Of is set to close, The Bookseller understands, with accountancy firm Hart Shaw instructed to place the company in liquidation, pending a vote of t...

thebookseller.com

Worth bearing in mind this recent news, while considering Nigel Newton’s latest comments in the Guardian. Looks like Bloomsbury are going to be leaning hard into AI in the future: bsky.app/profile/publ...

Publishers Weekly@publisherswkly.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Effective February 6, 2026, Underwood will join Bloomsbury’s board of directors and report to chief executive Nigel Newton, who praised his “AI expertise.” Underwood comes to the U.K. publisher from Guardian Media Group, where he holds the same title.

Have I mentioned recently how much I adore this book? A love story spanning decades, it left me in tears at the end (not a common occurrence) - and I was far from the only one to have that response. Lily lands in the UK tomorrow - do catch her on tour if you can: buythebook.online/heart-the-lo...

Canongate@canongate.co.uk · 10mo ago

"You knew I'd write a book about you someday..." Happy Publication Day to @lilyking.bsky.social and her instant NYT bestseller, Heart the Lover! An achingly beautiful novel of desire, friendship, loss and the lasting impact of first love. Pick up your copy today: buythebook.online/heart-the-lo...

There was a story literally last week about a teenager who killed themself after encouragement from Chat GPT. These are empty words. As ever, it’s profit above everything.

Dr Abeba Birhane@abeba.blacksky.app · 10mo ago

i don't have the words to emphasise how seriously bad things are gonna get

Some days, the algorithm really is your friend:

"Le Carré meets the Durrells" "Imagine the Slow Horses had parents who were also spies..." "Agatha Christie meets the Cambridge Five" To be clear, none of these lines are from me - they're from some of the MANY quotes we've already had in for Alex's novel. Now boasting a stunning cover to match.

Canongate@canongate.co.uk · 10mo ago

Excited to reveal the cover for A Stranger in Corfu - a spy novel with a difference! Following former MI6 agents, who are living in enforced retirement in Corfu when their pasts come back to haunt them, it’s a vivid reimagining of a true slice of British Intelligence history, told with huge skill.

The Sudan Solidarity Collective supports organizations led by Sudanese civilians: including emergency response rooms, mutual aid, labor and farmers’ unions. Please give what you can and/or share.

Nisrin Elamin@nisrinelamin.bsky.social · 10mo ago

The Sudan Solidarity Collective is doing a big fundraising push to support our partners in El Fashir to support food distribution, evacuation and medications. Please help us boost our support. Please share and donate 👇🏾 . sudansolidarity.com

Can’t decide what to buy on Prime Day? Try: absolutely nothing, and then go support indie bookstores instead 📚