Online shopping often involves endless options and fleeting discounts. A single search for running shoes can yield hundreds of results across multiple platforms, each promising the “best deal.” The holiday season brings excitement, but it also brings a blend of decision fatigue and logistical nightmares. What if there were a tool capable of hunting for […] … learn more→
When AI goes shopping: AI agents promise to lighten your purchasing load − if they can earn your trust
Polarization, brain rot and brat – the 2024 words of the year point to the power, perils and ephemeral nature of digital life
Ever since the American Dialect Society selected a Word of the Year at its conference in 1990, over half a dozen English dictionaries have anointed an annual word or phrase that’s meant to encapsulate the zeitgeist of the prior year. In 2003, the publisher of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary began bestowing a crown. On Dec. 9, 2024, it selected […] … learn more→
Artificial Intelligence: Beyond the Hype, a Technological Bubble Ready to Burst?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is often presented as the next revolution that will change our lives. Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, generative AI has generated real excitement worldwide. In 2023, NVidia, a key player in the manufacture of chips used to train AI models, exceeded $1 trillion in market valuation. In France, a €900 million investment […] … learn more→
People who are good at reading have different brains
The number of people who read for fun appears to be steadily dropping. Fifty percent of UK adults say they don’t read regularly (up from 42% in 2015) and almost one in four young people aged 16-24 say they’ve never been readers, according to research by The Reading Agency. But what are the implications? Will people’s […] … learn more→
China restricted young people from video games. But kids are evading the bans and getting into trouble
In late November, Australia’s federal parliament passed landmark legislation banning under-16s from accessing social media. Details remain vague: we don’t have a complete list of which platforms will fall under the legislation, or how the ban will look in practice. However, the government has signalled that trials of age assurance technologies will be central to its enforcement […] … learn more→
Crowdfunding can give a chance to minority but important research
It is not easy for the culture of patronage from the Anglo-Saxon world to be transferred directly to the Latin world. To begin with, because, from the point of view of the citizen, there is little custom and limited knowledge on the subject. In fact, the initial opinion is usually contrary, based on the fact […] … learn more→
Should we give students awards at school?
It’s almost the end of the school year. And that means it’s “awards season” for school students. Before the holidays, students, teachers and families will gather for speech days where awards will be handed out for academic performance, citizenship, leadership and extracurricular achievements in sport, art and music. Schools bill these awards as a way […] … learn more→
The stars are not where we see them
When we contemplate the beauty of the night sky, we are not aware that these bright stars are not actually in those positions. Due to a physical phenomenon related to the propagation of light, what we observe are virtual positions, displaced with respect to their real locations in the universe. Knowing the precise location of celestial objects […] … learn more→
New solutions allow Seniors to age in place
As our population continues to age, more seniors are expressing a desire to remain in the comfort of their own homes rather than transitioning to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. This growing trend, known as aging in place, has sparked significant innovation in healthcare technology, home modification, and support services that enable older adults […] … learn more→
‘Atomic habits’: how building small habits can change our lives
Could a cyclist’s seat pad determine his performance? Enough to win a Tour and exponentially improve his sporting results? The answer is yes, if this tiny change is combined with many others, such as redesigning the seats, applying alcohol to the wheels to increase their traction, using tights with electrical heating systems to maintain ideal […] … learn more→