Read it again in our book club recently and totally agree. Amazing rhythmic prose and one of the geekiest classics ever. Works well in the audiobook too. Also one of those books that you shouldn't worry about skipping liberally when needed - its a short story wrapped up in a *lot* of fab meandering
Vibe coding is lots of fun.
So too is asking how does “one person cosplaying as a product team” translate into AI-assisted delivery for public services?
I've written a very long thing about all of that. But here's a shorter thing to whet your appetite.
AI agents will join up government before government joins up government. This may be a mixed blessing.
Blog post. with some reflections about my recent agentic adventures:
loosemore.com/2026/02/25/a...
Some of us @transformgovtalks.bsky.social & some great govt policy people are planning @policycamp.bsky.social - a new unconference for people who want to make govt policymaking even better
Help shape it - here's a short survey!
Microsoft Form: bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
Google Form: bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Make things open it makes them better
As a supplier to government these days I would venture that it's a 'brave' strategy to ship a service that will make your all your clients so utterly livid
Graph of improving capability for chemistry/biology
Some pretty crazy staff in the AI Security Institute AI trends report.
For Chemistry & Biology it says frontier models now outperform PhD-level experts on open-ended questions, protocol generation, and lab-based troubleshooting
Said cheesy cover ❤️
Listen to Don't you want me again by Blap on #SoundCloud
on.soundcloud.com/kRThUprkIxGQ...
Performed it together with an indulgently cheesy Human League cover at Leicester's tiny gear concert Wednesday night www.instagram.com/p/DSZ-6KkiBB...
Signing off work for the year and actually feeling Christmassy. Here's my little festive musical contribution to the season
on.soundcloud.com/GdTywHE9mhZu... 😁 🎄
I'm jealous!
Whoever invented drums with headphones deserves a BIG medal
Is myCSP no longer a thing then? It looks different and I can't log in and civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk doesn't work with login details either. I'm pretty confused 🤷♂️
I made it into a festive track last year, if you're feeling seasonal 😉
on.soundcloud.com/vLU8AEEk0vAM...
And, in the unlikely chance anyone is interested, there's a YouTube clip of the performance too. Well I had fun anyway ;) youtu.be/xTG4rk16qGg
Another jazz sample track I played is here: the Toureg / Shelf Lives /Alice Coltrane mashup no one (knew they) wanted
on.soundcloud.com/2Jyi9tDwItae...
First time playing music in public in a long, long time last night at the Tiny Gear Concert in Leicester - the theme was jazz samples. Lots of fun and such a warm bunch of folks
I’m on the lookout for a new contract (preferably inside).
I’ve got over a decade of experience working in the public sector, mostly in agile delivery management. Two weeks notice.
Not got DMs here but Signal is zuz.1337, or LinkedIn is good.
Thx :)
But this rapid tech change will have big implications and there appears to be little space outside of the political/media bear-pit to work these through, or how to mould policy, delivery and industry to our collective future advantage. So on balance I rather like Lucy's proposal and wish it well
Working in AI right now is like having one foot in the future. The speed of technology change makes the notion of civil service led 15-year strategy processes feel rather quaint. I worry that a big set piece strategy process would add to the noise and lethargy rather than practically help.
And before long the Government Digital Service had revolutionised the way in which longer-term public service design and delivery questions were framed, and did it with a mantra of 'The Strategy is Delivery'
I still mourn the loss of the practice of strategy and scenario work that pretty much ended with the decline of the PM's Strategy Unit and similar teams across government. But then again in 2010 my new Secretary of State asked, reasonably, along the lines of 'I set the strategy so what do you do?'
Enjoyed Lucy's lecture just now at @blavatnikschool.bsky.social on how to create the process to create a longer-term National Strategy for the UK
🚨 6PM, WED 24 September 🚨
Join us at the MoJ or online
* Dr Moira Nicolson & Holly Marquez "Failing Forward: Why Planning for AI Disasters Unlocks Breakthrough Innovation"
* Ben Sauer "Always Be Creating Clarity: Daily habits for strategic storytelling"
luma.com/sm09nslz
Please share! Thanks 🙏
And 'Frenchie' restaurant. Mmmm. Reminds me I need to go back to Paris maps.app.goo.gl/fzgLX5pJCbim...
Some years back when we were doing gov data stuff with the Etalab crew we hung out around the lovely Rue Montorgueil food market and local area, I think the 'Experimental' cocktail bar on Rue Saint Saveur was where we ended up. Who knows if it's still the same but I really liked this area of Paris
Where I have some thoughts on digital improvements that can follow from The Elections Strategy. I think the "digital notices" thing could be a really interesting pattern in legislation
