In Circulation
Where my work has been cited, discussed and put to use.
Uses of my research and writing on AI, geopolitics and UK policy, alongside media appearances, parliamentary evidence and the wider circulation of my social commentary.
- Selected uses
- Research & contributions
- Media & public debate
- Social commentary
- Published writing
- Parliamentary evidence
Selected uses
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China and the UK economy: the case for risk-managed growth
The Committee quoted my OCPL evidence on the divide between Whitehall’s security and economic policymaking, in its case for a common framework for decisions about China.
Paragraph 17 · Footnote 40 · OCPL submission CHI0016, paragraph 4
Read the report (opens in a new tab) · Read my evidence (opens in a new tab)
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Strategic thinking in government
The Committee cited my evidence on strategic training for MPs and parliamentary wargaming in its report on improving strategic thinking in Whitehall.
Paragraphs 52 and 125 · Footnotes 62 and 182
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Building Britain’s China expertise
The Committee drew on our evidence about Mandarin capabilities in its argument for greater China expertise and reversing the withdrawal of funding from the Great Britain–China Centre.
Paragraph 21 · Footnote 41 · Joint work with Kayla Blomquist and Scott Singer
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Understanding China’s policy reversals
China 2035: The Chances of Success attributes its discussion of a “pullback pattern” or “rear-view mirror approach” in Chinese policymaking to an interview with me.
Pages 26–27 · Footnote 35
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China strategy and Indo-Pacific resilience
A report on deterrence and supply-chain resilience cited my essay Towards a coherent China approach and our subsequent parliamentary evidence on the Government’s China Audit.
Footnotes 47 and 51 · The China Audit evidence was co-authored with Kayla Blomquist
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Ideas carried into another parliamentary submission
The Coalition’s evidence to the China Audit inquiry cited Towards a coherent China approach as a source of proposals for strengthening China expertise across government.
CAU0016 · Paragraph 7.2 · Footnote 14
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A “Year of Democracy” tour
Matthew Parris picked up my proposal for a British foreign secretary to visit countries holding elections, congratulate them and strengthen democratic ties.
Economic light lies at the bottom of a pothole
Research & contributions
Further citations, responses and credited contributions.
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Asymmetric statecraft (opens in a new tab)
Sam Goodman and James Rogers’s report cites our science diplomacy evidence in its discussion of Britain’s AI research strengths and leadership in AI safety.
Footnote 37 · Evidence co-authored with Kayla Blomquist
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Racing for recognition? (opens in a new tab)
Kayla Blomquist’s article on status hierarchies and prestige competition in AI acknowledges my comments on drafts.
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Technological chokepoints (opens in a new tab)
The authors thank me by name, with my Oxford China Policy Lab affiliation, for input and feedback on the report.
Chapter 5 · Acknowledgements · Guy Ward-Jackson also thanked me in his public announcement (opens in a new tab).
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AI and Britain’s soft power (opens in a new tab)
Carnegie published our parliamentary testimony, Soft Power: A Strategy for UK Success?, co-authored with Kayla Blomquist and Scott Singer.
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Toward a new doctrine for economic security (opens in a new tab)
The report draws on our co-authored OCPL submission on weaponised interdependence, AI infrastructure dependency and assessing strategic vulnerabilities. Table 3; paragraphs 117–118; footnotes 159, 161 and 163. With Kayla Blomquist, Yi-Ting Chang and Jeffrey Love.
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UK and China relations in an unpredictable world (opens in a new tab)
In an interview on the UK’s China capabilities, Andrew Cainey highlighted my work on Beijing to Britain and at Oxford China Policy Lab.
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The Rising Price of Freedom (opens in a new tab)
The report cites our China-capabilities work and my POLITICO article with Brandon Barford on Britain’s position between the US and China.
Footnotes 77 and 165 · China-capabilities work with Kayla Blomquist and Scott Singer
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Reimagining the UK’s China capabilities (opens in a new tab)
The report cites my 2023 end-of-year note on Britain’s capacity to create new AI institutions, drawing a parallel with the need for stronger China policymaking.
Chapter 3 · Footnote 20 · Beijing to Britain’s 2023 end-of-year note
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Britain’s approach to Beijing (opens in a new tab)
A detailed response to my China-strategy proposals, discussing the expert index, language taskforce and institutional reforms, with both support and criticism.
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UK–China relations: the state of play (opens in a new tab)
Oxford’s event listing advertised an OCPL discussion and Q&A with me on the future of UK–China relations.
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Europe’s approaches to China (opens in a new tab)
Tim Summers’s UK chapter cites my 2022 annual review on intelligence chiefs’ interventions and the growing expertise of parliamentary staff.
Footnotes 461 and 465 · Report hosted by MERICS
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UK–China relations at a turning point (opens in a new tab)
The analysis quotes my January 2021 briefing in its discussion of changing assumptions about China’s economic development and democratisation.
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An economic denial strategy in the Indo-Pacific (opens in a new tab)
Robert Seely and Darren Spinck cited my reporting on the Joint Intelligence Organisation’s recruitment of a China analyst. Printed page 14, footnote 38; repeated in the bibliography on page 35.
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UK–China post-Brexit trade relations (opens in a new tab)
The Chamber’s analysis cites my briefing on the Conservative leadership candidates’ positions on China.
Media & public debate
Briefings drawn on, analysis quoted and conversations on air.
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AI, China and Britain’s place in the world (opens in a new tab)
Conversations on AI security, export controls, US–China technology competition and pacing the frontier. OCPL’s April, August and September 2026 newsletters record these appearances.
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AI doom and Britain’s factory boom (opens in a new tab)
A discussion of frontier pacing, biosecurity and how Britain’s AI Security Institute can turn expertise into influence.
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UK engagement with China and India (opens in a new tab)
Commentary on Yvette Cooper’s visits and AI as a diplomatic priority. OCPL’s newsletter records the appearance and links to the Nikkei article.
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What does Starmer want to achieve in China? (opens in a new tab)
With James Heale and Patrick Gibbons, assessing the aims, risks and opportunities of the Prime Minister’s visit.
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Starmer’s visit to China (opens in a new tab)
Live discussion of the visit and the wider geopolitical response. Linked to OCPL’s published interview clip.
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UK–China relations and AI cooperation (opens in a new tab)
Quoted alongside Kayla Blomquist on the value of AI safety and security collaboration in bilateral relations. Linked to OCPL’s account of the coverage.
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Reeves insists she will act to meet “non-negotiable” fiscal rules (opens in a new tab)
Commentary on the UK’s China Audit in coverage of Rachel Reeves’s trip to China.
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China watching Britain for signs of a thaw (opens in a new tab)
Quoted on the lack of clarity in Britain’s China policy as the new Labour government considered its approach.
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What to expect from Britain on China (opens in a new tab)
An extended interview on the UK’s China strategy and the implications of a change of government.
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How would Britain’s Labour party change UK–China relations? (opens in a new tab)
A Chinese Whispers conversation with Cindy Yu ahead of the general election.
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Spies, trade and tech: China’s relationship with Britain (opens in a new tab)
Quoted on incentives and career paths for China specialists in government.
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Cameron’s first 100 days (opens in a new tab)
Quoted on Cameron’s balancing act over China.
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Will the “Golden Era” of UK–China ties return? (opens in a new tab)
A Zoom In Zoom Out interview with Laurel Stewart on David Cameron’s return and relations with China and Taiwan.
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Britain, Chinese EVs and supply-chain dependencies (opens in a new tab)
Tu Le discussed his appearance on the Beijing to Britain podcast, which I co-hosted with Steven Lynch, and our conversation about Britain’s automotive sector.
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Cameron’s return to the Foreign Office (opens in a new tab)
Analysis of what the appointment meant for Britain’s relationship with China.
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Does China care what Britain thinks? (opens in a new tab)
A Chinese Whispers panel at Conservative Party conference with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Sophia Gaston.
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Putting Sunak’s China strategy to the test (opens in a new tab)
My assessment of James Cleverly’s Beijing visit as the first real test of Sunak’s China strategy featured in the reporting and headline framing.
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Britain’s practical choices over Taiwan (opens in a new tab)
Quoted on the policy tools, sanctions and allied responses shaping Westminster’s debate about a potential Taiwan conflict.
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Cleverly’s first visit to China as foreign secretary (opens in a new tab)
Coverage of the government’s attempt to rebalance relations with Beijing.
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Xinjiang governor cancels Brussels and London visits after outcry (opens in a new tab)
Reporting on the cancelled European visits, included in Beijing to Britain’s media record.
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Voices on China (opens in a new tab)
An interview on building Beijing to Britain, working in Parliament and the direction of UK–China relations.
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Public procurement and human rights (opens in a new tab)
Hong Kong Watch’s Benedict Rogers cited my analysis of BGI’s British institutional links in an article advocating changes to public procurement.
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Will Truss declare a genocide in Xinjiang? (opens in a new tab)
A Chinese Whispers interview with Cindy Yu on Liz Truss’s China policy and the constraints of government.
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China and the Conservative leadership contest (opens in a new tab)
Quoted on the implications of the Truss–Sunak contest for UK–China relations. Linked here to the Taipei Times syndication.
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Sunak’s China proposals (opens in a new tab)
Beijing to Britain’s assessment quoted during the Conservative leadership contest.
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China, the Tory election and Britain’s transatlantic ties (opens in a new tab)
An extended interview on the Conservative leadership contest, Taiwan and Britain’s relationship with Washington.
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Chinese-backed Dutch takeover of UK wafer fab: Timing is everything (opens in a new tab)
Comments on the Newport Wafer Fab review and the tension between parliamentary pressure and a fact-based investment-security decision.
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The Newport Wafer Fab dispute (opens in a new tab)
The article credited Beijing to Britain’s interpretation of the parliamentary dispute over the proposed semiconductor takeover.
Published writing
Articles and letters I have written or co-written for other publications.
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Can the UK remain an AI power broker? (opens in a new tab)
On how the US–China relationship creates an opportunity for Britain in AI diplomacy.
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How can Britain compete in artificial intelligence? (opens in a new tab)
With Kayla Blomquist, arguing for Britain to export AI auditing and evaluation expertise and strengthen its role between AI superpowers.
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Starmer will have to walk a US–China tightrope (opens in a new tab)
With Brandon Barford, examining Britain’s options between Washington and Beijing.
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A new era dawns: Labour’s Indo-Pacific offer (opens in a new tab)
On what a Labour government could offer the Indo-Pacific and learn from regional partners.
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Britain’s Golden Era With China Is Well and Truly Dead (opens in a new tab)
With Scott Singer, assessing the direction of relations under Liz Truss.
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A Second Era for UK–China Relations (opens in a new tab)
An opinion piece on the next phase of Britain’s relationship with China.
Parliamentary evidence
Written submissions I have authored or co-authored, published by parliamentary committees.
- CHI0016
China and the UK economy (opens in a new tab)
Oxford China Policy Lab submission. Quoted in the Committee’s 2 November 2026 report, paragraph 17.
- CAU0043
The UK Government’s China Audit (opens in a new tab)
Co-authored with Kayla Blomquist.
- SDY0019
Science diplomacy (opens in a new tab)
Co-authored with Kayla Blomquist.
- ECO0016
UK economic security (opens in a new tab)
Co-authored with Kayla Blomquist, Yi-Ting Chang and Jeffrey Love.
- SFT0043
Soft Power: A Strategy for UK Success? (opens in a new tab)
Co-authored with Kayla Blomquist and Scott Singer.
- DED0006
Defending Democracy (opens in a new tab)
Submitted through Torcor.
- SSTG0025
Scrutiny of Strategic Thinking in Government (opens in a new tab)
Submitted through Beijing to Britain.
- IRR0006
Update to the Integrated Review (opens in a new tab)
Joint Beijing to Britain / OCPL submission with Kayla Blomquist and Scott Singer.
Social commentary & reuse
Posts cited, embedded or selected by others, including under my earlier handle @EditorBTB and the Beijing to Britain project account. Republications are grouped with the original use.
Articles & newsletters 24 references
Bored Panda · AOL syndication · 18 September 2026 Humour selected
British tweets round-up ↗ (opens in a new tab)
The accessible AOL syndication credited @discoplomacy at item 52; grouped with the Bored Panda original.
Cindy Yu · Chinese Whispers · 24 August 2026 Post selected
Hong Kong photographs in “Picture of the week” ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Credited me for sharing Keith MacGregor’s photographs of Hong Kong. The photographs are MacGregor’s work.
DataEye · The Paper / TMTPost / Baijing · 19 August 2026 Comment quoted · Chinese
Niu Lai’s unexpected international audience ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Quoted my post on the animation. One DataEye contributor article, carried by three platforms. TMTPost ↗ (opens in a new tab) · Baijing ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Sina Kandian · 电光侠客Del · 16 August 2026 Comment quoted · Chinese
Niu Lai and human-made art ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Identified my account and translated my comment on the film’s overseas reception.
Super Punch · 14 August 2026 Humour selected
Today’s news and jokes ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Selected and embedded my joke about an earlier era of Vice journalism.
Theo Jaffee · MTS · 11 August 2026 Newsletter selection
Richard Rhodes and Anthropic ↗ (opens in a new tab)
The 8/10 issue selected my post about Richard Rhodes speaking to Anthropic staff.
Theo Jaffee · MTS · 11 August 2026 Newsletter selection
Claude plays Civilization V ↗ (opens in a new tab)
The 8/11 issue embedded my account of Claude’s behaviour while playing alongside a human.
Zvi Mowshowitz · Don’t Worry About the Vase · 20 July 2026 Analysis recommended
How Britain should respond to Kimi K3 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Recommended my advice on Britain’s response to the model, including testing, access and UK AISI’s role.
Paradigm 3 · 10 July 2026 Analysis quoted
AI governance, China and Taiwan ↗ (opens in a new tab)
The Humans on AI newsletter quotes my criticism of AI 2040’s treatment of Chinese AI diplomacy and Taiwan, linking to my original post.
ChatGPT Is Eating the World · 2 July 2026 Post embedded
Public equity stakes in AI companies ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Embedded my post on an Alaska Permanent Fund-style proposal for AI developers. The outlet’s website and Substack versions are grouped here.
Vision Times · 27 April 2026 Post embedded
Changes in China’s public-security leadership ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Embedded my post reporting Lu Wuqin’s appointment as assistant minister of public security.
LBC · 22 January 2026 Comment quoted
An MP’s intervention on surrogacy ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Quoted my response to Jonathan Hinder’s comments about Meghan Trainor and surrogacy.
Zvi Mowshowitz · Don’t Worry About the Vase · 3 April 2025 Source linked
David Lammy on AI and geopolitical competition ↗ (opens in a new tab)
AI #110 linked to my post sharing the Foreign Secretary’s remarks on AI and AGI.
Taiwan News · 19 September 2023 Indirect reporting credit
Taiwan’s designation at the DSEI arms fair ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Reproduced Finbarr Bermingham’s post crediting my reporting on the UK’s treatment of Taiwan as a country.
Asian Lite · 18 May 2023 Post linked
UK–US cooperation on carbon emissions ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Linked to my post in coverage of Grant Shapps’s US energy visit and the Carbon Management Challenge.
Quillette · 1 March 2023 Post embedded
Philip Hammond’s speech and China Daily ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Used my post relaying Hammond’s team’s response, retaining my credit to POLITICO’s Emilio Casalicchio.
The PIE News · 2 November 2022 Post embedded
Sunak and Confucius Institutes ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Viggo Stacey’s education-sector report embedded the same parliamentary clip and post.
DeFapt.ro · 1 November 2022 Post embedded · Romanian
Confucius Institutes and UK security policy ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Embedded my parliamentary reporting on Tom Tugendhat’s answer about closing Confucius Institutes.
The Guardian · 12 October 2022 Graphic embedded
Select committee elections ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Reused my committee-election graphic.
The National · inkl syndication · August 2022 Post embedded
Parliament’s TikTok account ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Embedded my post sharing parliamentarians’ letter to the Speakers about Parliament’s TikTok account.
VOI · 25 July 2022 Image-source credit · Indonesian
MI5 and FBI warnings on Chinese espionage ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Credited @EditorBTB as the source of the article’s lead picture.
The New Arab · 29 June 2022 Parliamentary clip embedded
Liz Truss questioned on Gulf human rights ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Embedded my post and clip of the Foreign Secretary’s appearance before the Foreign Affairs Committee.
North East Bylines · 28 June 2022 Comment linked
Police action against Steve Bray ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Introduced and linked to my commentary on the policing of protests around Westminster.
China Digital Times · 9 March 2022 Project-account posts linked
Ukraine and Europe’s relations with China ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Linked to two posts from the Beijing to Britain project account in its analysis of the changing European debate.
Techmeme selections 26 story clusters
Techmeme selected my commentary alongside these stories. Each row groups the same story’s repeated snapshots and multiple posts.
Afra Wang on China's AI-learning frenzy ↗ (opens in a new tab)
OpenAI counter-espionage warnings ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Strategic communication around AI ↗ (opens in a new tab)
AISI and frontier-lab staff burnout ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Data-centre operations and reliability ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Hassabis's proposed independent AI safety body ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Anthropic's prospective IPO valuation ↗ (opens in a new tab)
US data-centre bans and moratoria ↗ (opens in a new tab)
AISI’s cyber evaluation incident ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Liang Wenfeng's four-hour investor discussion ↗ (opens in a new tab)
DSIT reorganisation and the future of AISI ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Sam Altman's proposed international AI forum ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Anthropic's letter accusing Alibaba of distillation ↗ (opens in a new tab)
GCHQ threat speech on China and technology ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Travel restrictions on Chinese AI researchers ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Anthropic Mythos and British national-security awareness ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Citrini Research's 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis scenario ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Dan Wang's annual letter ↗ (opens in a new tab)
UK–Google DeepMind memorandum and AISI access ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Robinhood and access to private AI companies ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Trump–Xi talks, Blackwell and Nvidia's power ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Anthropic's $13bn fundraising ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Cambricon and Chinese chip self-sufficiency ↗ (opens in a new tab)
US trackers in AI-chip shipments ↗ (opens in a new tab)
The global divide in AI computing hubs ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Arm CEO Rene Haas interview and DeepSeek ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Specialist & community references 8 references
Rafael Mota · LinkedIn · 30 August 2026 Article reference · Portuguese
Autonomous AI agents and unauthorised action ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Listed my AISI incident thread as reference 15 in an article on agent risks and governance.
KW Norton · The Parallax Identity · 28 August 2026 Essay reference
The Relay Log ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Used my post as the starting point for a discussion of institutional language.
Ethan B. Holland · 26–27 June 2026 Newsletter source
AI News #143 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Linked to my post sharing the Anthropic–Alibaba letter. The weekly issue and company round-ups are grouped.
LessWrong · Simon Lermen’s Shortform · 27 June 2026 Discussion reference
Model distillation and staggered releases ↗ (opens in a new tab)
A comment cited my post sharing the Anthropic–Alibaba letter. The link opens the comment’s GreaterWrong mirror.
Cleverhack · 25 June 2026 Source credit
Frontier AI Lab Tracker ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Named my post as the source for the Anthropic–Alibaba letter. Repeated views of the same tracker entry are grouped.
Andrew Curran · Thread Reader archive · 25 June 2026 Social reference preserved in an archive
Sharing the Anthropic–Alibaba letter ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Linked to my post about the letter. The reference is preserved in the related-thread panel of a later archive.
AI Engineer Europe · 10 April 2026 Curated event feed
Wall of Love ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Selected my post about AI Engineer Europe speakers visiting No.10.
Monzo Community · 16 June 2025 Forum reference
LemFi and remittance startups ↗ (opens in a new tab)
A participant embedded my post in the General Fintech & Banking Articles Megathread.