AI has already transformed industries and the way the world works. And its development has been so rapid that it can be hard to keep up. This means that those responsible for dealing with AI’s impact on issues such as safety, privacy and ethics must be equally speedy. But regulating such a fast-moving and complex […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
Regulating AI seems like an impossible task, but ethically and economically, it’s a vital one
Harvard fights to keep enrolling international students – 4 essential reads about their broader impact
A federal judge in Boston on May 23, 2025, temporarily blocked a Trump administration order that would have revoked Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students. The directive from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and resulting lawsuit from Harvard have escalated the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and the Ivy League institution. It’s also the latest step […] … learn more→
Digital writing: a challenge for teaching?
Acquiring written language is a complex process that spans an entire school year. And the omnipresence of digital tools requires rethinking how we learn, as screens require a different way of processing information. From notebooks to computers or smartphones, the logic is no longer the same. Here are some ideas for reflection. “Writing is not […] … learn more→
Can you upload a human mind into a computer? A neuroscientist ponders what’s possible
The concept, cool yet maybe a little creepy, is known as mind uploading. Think of it as a way to create a copy of your brain, a transmission of your mind and consciousness into a computer. There you would live digitally, perhaps forever. You’d have an awareness of yourself, you’d retain your memories and still […] … learn more→
Who really benefits from smart tech at home? ‘Optimising’ family life can reinforce gender roles
Have you heard of the “male technologist” mindset? It may sound familiar, and you may even know such people personally. Design researchers Turkka Keinonen and Nils Ehrenberg have defined the male technologist as someone who is obsessed with concerns about energy, efficiency and reducing labour. This archetype became apparent in my PhD research when I interviewed 12 […] … learn more→
Teacher -researchers in search of lost time: a look at the academic malaise
As higher education transforms, administrative burdens are increasing and the race for publications is accelerating. How do academics experience their work today? This is what the major survey “Teachers-researchers: a great sick body” (Enseignants-rechercheurs: un grand corps malade) , published in May 2025 by Le Bord de l’eau, sheds light on. We invite you to read an […] … learn more→
Most of us will leave behind a large ‘digital legacy’ when we die. Here’s how to plan what happens to it
Imagine you are planning the funeral music for a loved one who has died. You can’t remember their favourite song, so you try to login to their Spotify account. Then you realise the account login is inaccessible, and with it has gone their personal history of Spotify playlists, annual “wrapped” analytics, and liked songs curated […] … learn more→
Freeze branding: the new body modification technique causes serious and irreversible harm
If you’re a fan of the TV show Yellowstone, you’ll know the deal – you earn your place on the ranch by being branded. On the show, this means having a red-hot iron pressed into your flesh, leaving a permanent scar of loyalty to Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and its patriarch, John Dutton. In life imitating art, […] … learn more→
‘Perfect bodies and perfect lives’: how selfie-editing tools are distorting how young people see themselves
Like many of her peers, Abigail (21) takes a lot of selfies, tweaks them with purpose-made apps, and posts them on social media. But, she says, the selfie-editing apps do more than they were designed for: You look at that idealised version of yourself and you just want it – you just want it to […] … learn more→
Anti-environmentalism is on the rise but it’s full of contradictions
Anti-environmentalism is gaining ground. Attacks on the net zero goal and hostility to conservation measures and anti-pollution targets are becoming more common. And, as recent election results have shown, these tactics are reshaping politics in Britain and across the west. Anti-environmentalism is a rejection of both environmental initiatives and activism. But despite its sudden rise and bold rhetoric, it is […] … learn more→
