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Simon Willison claims to be an "Independent AI researcher"[1]: but then at the top of this article: > Sponsored by: Teleport — Secure, Govern, and Operate AI

by blibble 8mo ago

Simon Willison claims to be an "Independent AI researcher"[1]: but then at the top of this article: > Sponsored by: Teleport — Secure, Govern, and Operate AI at Engineering Scale. Learn more not exactly a coherent narrative, is it? [1]: https://bsky.app/profile/simonwillison.net https://bsky.app/profile/simonwillison.net

simonw 8mo ago
I wrote a little note about that here - it even opens with "I value my credibility as an independent voice" https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/19/sponsorship/ https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/19/sponsorship/ I get (incorrectly) accused of writing undisclosed sponsored content pretty often, so I'm actually hoping that the visible sponsor banner will help people resist that temptation because they can see that the sponsorship is visible, not hidden.
- blibble 8mo ago
  > I value my credibility as an independent voice not enough to not take their money though? insipid
  - simonw 8mo ago
    I'm currently planning to avoid sponsorship from companies that I regularly write about for that reason.
    - blibble 8mo ago
      [flagged]
      - simonw 8mo ago
        You're welcome to stop reading me if you think my ethics are irreversibly corrupted and you can no longer trust my writing. Thankfully most of my readers are better at evaluating their information sources than you are.
        blibble 8mo ago
        [flagged]
    - akssassin907 8mo ago
      That's actually a cleaner editorial standard than most publications follow. The major risk in tech journalism isn't disclosed sponsorships — it's the undisclosed access journalism where coverage tone shifts to maintain relationships. Visible banners beat invisible influence every time.
4opuop 8mo ago
[dead]
usef- 8mo ago
Honestly, after his ~23 years of writing online I think he's fairly earned the title as an independent researcher. He added those sponsorships three days ago; perhaps wait to raise your alarm bells until he actually writes about a sponsor.

by blibble 8mo ago

simonw 8mo ago

I wrote a little note about that here - it even opens with "I value my credibility as an independent voice" https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/19/sponsorship/ https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/19/sponsorship/ I get (incorrectly) accused of writing undisclosed sponsored content pretty often, so I'm actually hoping that the visible sponsor banner will help people resist that temptation because they can see that the sponsorship is visible, not hidden.

blibble 8mo ago
> I value my credibility as an independent voice not enough to not take their money though? insipid
- simonw 8mo ago
  I'm currently planning to avoid sponsorship from companies that I regularly write about for that reason.
  - blibble 8mo ago
    [flagged]
    - simonw 8mo ago
      You're welcome to stop reading me if you think my ethics are irreversibly corrupted and you can no longer trust my writing. Thankfully most of my readers are better at evaluating their information sources than you are.
      - blibble 8mo ago
        [flagged]
  - akssassin907 8mo ago
    That's actually a cleaner editorial standard than most publications follow. The major risk in tech journalism isn't disclosed sponsorships — it's the undisclosed access journalism where coverage tone shifts to maintain relationships. Visible banners beat invisible influence every time.

4opuop 8mo ago

[dead]

usef- 8mo ago

Honestly, after his ~23 years of writing online I think he's fairly earned the title as an independent researcher. He added those sponsorships three days ago; perhaps wait to raise your alarm bells until he actually writes about a sponsor.