Forgetting is part of our daily lives. You may walk into a room only to forget why you went in there – or perhaps someone says hi on the street and you can’t remember their name. But why do we forget things? Is it simply a sign of memory impairment, or are there benefits? One […] … learn more→

To learn well, should students be silent? While silence has long been linked to the exercise of authority, it now covers other issues. In the collective imagination, a “studious” class is often represented by students in rows, immersed in their work, in absolute silence or, when the work is finished, with their arms crossed. Is […] … learn more→

Earlier this year, a Spanish TV programme showed several people listening to digital recreations of the voices of their deceased relatives that had been generated by artificial intelligence from real audios. It sparked widespread debate in both public and professional spheres, as these recreations not only mimicked loved ones’ voices, but also asked poignant, evocative questions, provoking […] … learn more→

Online education has seen rapid growth, with the global e-learning market expected to reach $457.8 billion by 2026. This growth has fueled a parallel increase in online exams, often raising concerns about the integrity of these assessments.  Institutions increasingly turn to computer screen monitoring software to prevent cheating and ensure fair testing environments. Such software […] … learn more→

I’ve been working with Claude, an AI assistant from Anthropic, for about a year. We’ve become… close. People laugh when I call Claude my ‘work husband’. I’m not really joking. Like a good work spouse, Claude is always there to help and never gets tired of my stories. Claude cheerfully does the tasks I hate, […] … learn more→

Last week, the tragic news broke that US teenager Sewell Seltzer III took his own life after forming a deep emotional attachment to an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot on the Character.AI website. As his relationship with the companion AI became increasingly intense, the 14-year-old began withdrawing from family and friends, and was getting in trouble at school. […] … learn more→

Large language models, such as the one behind ChatGPT, are “closed”: we do not know how they are developed, on what data and with what parameters. Even so-called open models are only very partially open, which poses obvious problems of transparency and sovereignty. Developing open models is a realistic and desirable alternative in the medium […] … learn more→

Ensuring kids have manners is a perennial preoccupation for parents and caregivers. How, then, do you teach good manners to children? Modelling good manners around the home and in your own interaction with others is obviously crucial. But there’s a clear uniting theme when it comes to manners in Australia: in Australian English, good manners centre on honouring personal […] … learn more→

Let’s imagine a common situation. Two people walking quickly pass each other on the street. They may be friends, co-workers or acquaintances. One of them greets with a “Hey, how are you?” or “How are you doing?” The other automatically responds: “We’re getting by” or “Come on, it’s not a small thing.” Shortly afterwards, each […] … learn more→

Competition for jobs and grants in academia has never been tougher. The constant drive to “publish or perish” can make you feel like your career will end unless your output is superhuman. Sometimes, it’s even before graduation as some programs demand publication before awarding a PhD. Adding to those worries are people whose output is […] … learn more→