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Tom Barraclough

@tombcgh

Thinking out loud about tech, music, other. Tech policy at https://brainbox.institute and digital regulatory infrastructure at https://syncopatelab.com

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23.07.2023
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Latest posts by Tom Barraclough @tombcgh

Apple really missed a trick with Apple Intelligence and the Shortcuts app. Imagine the power and utility of an LLM-driven system to generate working shortcuts sequences. Explainable traceable no code apps run on-device for everyday tasks. Instead I’m using home-made MCP and Claude code to workaround

17.10.2025 02:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Sovereign AI for New Zealand | Version: 3 Deploy documents as digital infrastructure

What do people mean when they talk about β€œSovereign AI”? Since starting as a skeptic, I’ve found it useful to think about these things - and it’s timely to share this paper in response to the NZ Government’s AI Strategy. Let me know what you think.

docref.org/brainbox/sov...

08.07.2025 05:48 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Such an interesting read! Such an important topic! What will you do if you lose internet in an emergency??

04.07.2025 02:00 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Budget 2026 for bulk download as structured data!! Launching my campaign now and thinking of everyone right clicking on these PDFs.

22.05.2025 02:15 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
DocRef deployed in New Zealand public sector for digital regulatory review Syncopate Lab is excited to share the first public implementation of its DocRef digital infrastructure, in a proof of concept supported through the reusable components stream of the New Zealand Govern...

Syncopate's DocRef system has been deployed by the New Zealand public sector for the API Guidelines review. We've also shared some AI-generated annotation sets to provide a curated view for users and launched the DocRef blog. This is a significant milestone! www.syncopatelab.com/post/docref-...

10.03.2025 22:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Residential Tenancies Act 1986 | Version: 0160 Deploy documents as digital infrastructure

Just a diff on today's latest changes to the Residential Tenancy Act 1986 if you want a curated view:

docref.org/nz/rta/0160/...

30.01.2025 03:53 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
The World Wide Web project

Have you ever seen the first web-page ever? info.cern.ch/hypertext/WW...

18.01.2025 23:41 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I’m self hosting an old iPod music collection from about 2015 pre-streaming. Feels so fresh and clean! Setting it up was a real journey which wound up being supported a LOT by LLMs (particularly Claude) - planning to write something up on my new site soon.

03.01.2025 23:45 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Internet infrastructure in a changing climate: new research to improve resilience for Aotearoa New Zealand Ellen StricklandAs we wind down the final days of 2024, I wanted to share a bit about an exciting new research project getting underway for next year. The project focuses on growing the resilience of ...

Last work task of the year is a lovely one: sharing that my 2025 plans include leading an exciting new research project on internet infrastructure resilience and climate change www.brainbox.institute/post/interne...

19.12.2024 00:28 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

β€œWhere should we put the criteria for categorising artificial intelligence systems that could have a significant impact on society as a whole?”

β€œPut it in Annex XIII.”

docref.org/eu/ai/32024r...

09.12.2024 19:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

β€œHere’s our regulation on the most advanced technology in human history. We thought we’d use Roman numerals to number some of the key document elements.”

09.12.2024 19:12 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Delegated Regulation on data access provided for in the Digital Services Act | Version: 0 Deploy documents as digital infrastructure

Researcher access to platform data: @rebekahtromble.bsky.social, with support from the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, has kindly shared a DocRef annotation set to support responses to the delegated regulation under the DSA. Consultation closes 10 December: docref.org/eu/ares(2024...

04.12.2024 00:33 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Machine readability is a key requirement for a lot of transparency materials under the DSA, but when it comes to risk assessment and audit reports (the most complex documents) they may as well be finger paintings. Is there any scope to add machine readability requirements to current/future reports?

01.12.2024 20:47 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

bsky.app/profile/tomb...

29.11.2024 09:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I’ve added PDFs to Google Pinpoint, a prototype for collaborative highlighting and linking.

It’s heavily oriented toward Gemini… I think DocRef.org is better!

H/t to @alhohlfeld.bsky.social and @olivermmarsh.bsky.social for tracker and PDFs

journaliststudio.google.com/pinpoint/sea...

29.11.2024 09:10 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

I want to convert all the DSA risk assessments and audit reports to formats that can be annotated, tagged, shared and given pinpoint links to specific paragraphs and blocks. Like or repost if you’d find that useful. Reach out if you want to collaborate on seeking project funding.

29.11.2024 07:58 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

Collecting the #DSA risk and audit reports here:

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Still many lines to fill, curious to see which ones come next

25.11.2024 16:01 πŸ‘ 23 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 10

Great response to our webinar on rules as code and digital regulatory infrastructure! Webinar recording and slides available here: www.syncopatelab.com/post/webinar...

21.11.2024 04:13 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Starting in 30m!

20.11.2024 22:31 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

#RulesAsCode starter pack, reply if you're doing this and not on it!
bsky.app/starter-pack...

18.11.2024 02:58 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 0

Really good interest so far!

17.11.2024 21:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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DocRef User Guide | Version: 1 Deploy documents as digital infrastructure

User guide with key linking, tagging, collaboration, versioning and annotation features here: docref.org/docref/userg...

16.11.2024 01:21 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Artificial Intelligence Act | Version: 32024R1689 Deploy documents as digital infrastructure

The COP has extensive referencing back to the EU AI Act (though no hyperlinks). The EU AI Act has already been published on DocRef, available here: docref.org/eu/ai/32024r...

16.11.2024 01:20 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation | Version: 1 Deploy documents as digital infrastructure

The COP is modelled on the Strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation (although with nicer formatting...) available here: docref.org/eu/scpd/1/en/

16.11.2024 01:20 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ€– Draft Code of Practice on General-Purpose AI Systems (EU): I'm thinking about publishing this on DocRef with additional links back to the EU AI Act. Let me know if that'd be useful! Example links follow (EU COP on Disinformation, and EU AI Act).

16.11.2024 01:19 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

The draft code of practice on general purpose AI mentions a feedback form available via Futurium. I can’t track it down, please share a link with me if you have one πŸ™

16.11.2024 00:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Digital regulatory infrastructure and rules as code in New Zealand Β· Zoom Β· Luma Government agencies around the world are under pressure to do more with less. They're also expected to produce better outcomes from more complex regulation,…

We’re running a webinar next week to talk about the future we see for digital regulatory infrastructure, incl our tools and approaches for #rulesascode. We’ll also be touching on recent publications from the NZ Ministry for Regulation and PCO on publishing + stewardship. Join us!

lu.ma/65rdychb

14.11.2024 03:35 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 3
Three new docs on platform regulation and information integrity Public policy produces a flood of documentation - from legislation, to regulations, to discussion documents and other proposals. The best public policy is built on effective and targeted consultation....

Using DocRef, we’ve published the OECD Council on Information Integrity’s draft recommendation as well as the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation.

Consultations closing this month, including on DSA researcher access regs. Access these instruments and more:

www.syncopatelab.com/post/three-n...

12.11.2024 08:59 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Welcome new followers! ICYMI, we’re digitising legal instruments to make them easier to work with. See thread below for the draft DSA regulation on researcher access to data. We’ll be sharing more resources soon!

07.11.2024 20:42 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Periodic reminder that I made a #trustandsafety starter pack. Let me know about new arrivals who should be added to this list!

23.10.2024 16:27 πŸ‘ 92 πŸ” 35 πŸ’¬ 14 πŸ“Œ 9