Monthly Archives: November 2025

Can you really talk to the dead using AI? We tried out ‘deathbots’ so you don’t have to

Can you really talk to the dead using AI? We tried out ‘deathbots’ so you don’t have to

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to preserve the voices and stories of the dead. From text-based chatbots that mimic loved ones to voice avatars that let you “speak” with the deceased, a growing digital afterlife industry promises to make memory interactive, and, in some cases, eternal. In our research, recently published in Memory, Mind & […] … learn more→

University still pays off – even in lower-wage Britain

University still pays off – even in lower-wage Britain

In the upcoming budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to raise the minimum wage to £12.70 an hour: £26,416 annually for a full-time job. This means that the gap between salaries for minimum wage jobs and those for professional jobs that require a degree is shrinking fast. Some smaller law firms are already paying newly […] … learn more→

Could a ‘grey swan’ event bring down the AI revolution? Here are 3 risks we should be preparing for

Could a ‘grey swan’ event bring down the AI revolution? Here are 3 risks we should be preparing for

The term “black swan” refers to a shocking event on nobody’s radar until it actually happens. This has become a byword in risk analysis since a book called The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb was published in 2007. A frequently cited example is the 9/11 attacks. Fewer people have heard of “grey swans”. Derived from Taleb’s work, grey swans […] … learn more→

Design and technology’s practical and creative skills should see it revived in the school curriculum

Design and technology’s practical and creative skills should see it revived in the school curriculum

Studying design and technology (D&T) at school gives children the opportunity to get up from behind a desk and learn practical skills. It’s the only subject in the national curriculum in which children can develop and create tangible solutions to real problems. They can get an insight into whether they might enjoy careers in design, […] … learn more→

How AI is challenging the credibility of some online courses

How AI is challenging the credibility of some online courses

Distance learning far precedes the digital age. Before online courses, people relied on print materials (and later radio and other technologies) to support formal education when the teacher and learner were physically separated. Today, there are varied ways of supporting distance learning with digital communication. With “asynchronous” online courses, teaching does not occur live. Students access […] … learn more→

The ‘doorman fallacy’: why careless adoption of AI backfires so easily

The ‘doorman fallacy’: why careless adoption of AI backfires so easily

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming commonplace, despite statistics showing that only approximately 7% to 13% (depending on size) of companies have incorporated AI into their regular business workflows. Adoption in specific business functions is far higher, with up to 78% of companies reporting use of AI tools in at least one business area. And more than 90% of […] … learn more→

All government shutdowns disrupt science − in 2025, the consequences extend far beyond a lapse in funding

All government shutdowns disrupt science − in 2025, the consequences extend far beyond a lapse in funding

U.S. science always suffers during government shutdowns. Funding lapses send government scientists home without pay. Federal agencies suspend new grant opportunities, place expert review panels on hold, and stop collecting and analyzing critical public datasets that tell us about the economy, the environment and public health. In 2025, the stakes are higher than in past shutdowns. This shutdown arrives at a time of massive upheaval to […] … learn more→

Research aims vs. objectives – what’s the difference?

Research aims vs. objectives – what’s the difference?

You’re finally sitting down to write your research proposal and you’ve hit that section where you need to outline your aims and objectives. You stare at the page. Aren’t these basically the same thing? Can’t you just write “My aim is to…” and then copy-paste it under “My objective is to…” and call it a […] … learn more→

What’s the No. 1 MBA? Why business deans invest in rankings, knowing they miss a lot

What’s the No. 1 MBA? Why business deans invest in rankings, knowing they miss a lot

When Harvard Business School tumbled to sixth place in the U.S. News MBA rankings in 2020, the reaction was swift. Critics questioned the methodology, picking up on earlier critiques of rankings. Some ranking skeptics continue to point to low response rates — for example, in 2025, U.S. News disclosed that approximately only half of the ranked schools participated in peer assessment surveys, which […] … learn more→