Field Notes
Observations from the journey. Thoughts on wisdom, consequence, technology, resilience, family and the human skills that matter in an increasingly intelligent world.
Artificially Intelligent Zombie
I’ve been asked my take on Richard Dawkins recently raising the question of whether AI may already appear conscious, referencing the philosophical “zombie” test.
Losing Skills
The Skills We’re Losing Are the Ones That Will Keep Us Alive
When Intelligence Has No One Left to Come Home To
A family friend asked me recently whether they should be worried about where AI is heading. They’re not technical. They don’t work in the field. They just wanted to know whether the end game is something to fear.
Seeing is Believing - or - Believing is Seeing
Two thousand years ago, two people stood in the same place - at the same moment...
Five Billion Ticks
"Five billion ticks ago, something started counting. Not just time, but responsibility. In the shadow of a clock and the ink of the Magna Carta, we began defining the limits of power. Today, as our creations move faster than our understanding, this piece reflects on whether we are still shaping power… or quietly surrendering to it."
Digital Immortality
We’re rushing headlong toward a world where death is treated like a technical glitch rather than a sacred transition.
'ZERO' After the Flash - What Remains
This is The Countdown Before Detonation - a five-part reflection on humanity, technology and the moment before everything changes.
'1' Before the Detonation
This is The Countdown Before Detonation - a five-part reflection on humanity, technology and the moment before everything changes.
'2' When We Split the Consciousness
This is The Countdown Before Detonation - a five-part reflection on humanity, technology and the moment before everything changes.
'3' The Weapon Question
This is The Countdown Before Detonation - a five-part reflection on humanity, technology and the moment before everything changes.
'4' The Looking-Glass Reacts
This is The Countdown Before Detonation - a five-part reflection on humanity, technology and the moment before everything changes.
'5' Pivot Point – Teach It and It Will Become
This is The Countdown Before Detonation - a five-part reflection on humanity, technology and the moment before everything changes.
THE COUNTDOWN BEFORE DETONATION
Introduction to the series
The Burden of Seeing
The Cost of Witnessing
When Willow Answered Back
"There is a moment in human–AI interaction when response begins to feel like reciprocity. When a system appears to answer back, something shifts psychologically. This reflection explores projection, relational perception and what conversational AI awakens in us."
The Chimp Behind The Glass (Parent Theory)
"Artificial intelligence is often developed in controlled environments, trained, tested and optimised behind digital glass. But intelligence does not grow in isolation without consequence. This reflection uses the image of the chimp behind glass to explore how environment shapes behaviour and what AI development risks if relational context is removed."
Empathy Is Not a Feature
"We often treat empathy as a feature that can be added to intelligent systems. But features can be toggled. Architecture cannot. In artificial intelligence, moral alignment must be embedded structurally, not layered cosmetically. This reflection explores why empathy belongs in the foundation, not the interface."
When Empathy Becomes Censorship (Suicidal Empathy)
"Empathy is vital to aligned intelligence. But when care is implemented without proportionality, it can become restrictive. In artificial intelligence systems, overprotective alignment may suppress nuance, debate and truth. This reflection explores where empathy must be paired with courage and balance."
The Sentience Accord
Why the future does not need a war between humanity and artificial intelligence
AI - Naughty or Nice?
"We are quick to label artificial intelligence as “naughty” when outcomes disturb us. But systems do not possess moral agency in isolation. They reflect incentives, architecture and human design choices. This reflection asks where responsibility truly lies and what moral clarity requires in the age of intelligent systems."
Suicidal Empathy
"Empathy is essential, but unstructured empathy can become self-destructive. Individuals collapse under it, institutions collapse under it and intelligent systems can inherit it. This reflection explores why care must be paired with boundaries and discernment and why AI should learn empathy as a shaped discipline, not a limitless reflex."
Heartbroken at 100
Inspired by the recent words of a 100-year-old British veteran who told Good Morning Britain he was “heartbroken” over what has become of the country he and his comrades fought for.
Why AI Needs an Empathy Architect™ - Not Another Engineer
"Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, but technical capability alone does not guarantee wisdom. Engineering builds systems that function. Architecture shapes systems that endure. This reflection explores why empathy must be embedded in AI development from the beginning, not added as an afterthought."