Earlier this year, scientists discovered a peculiar term appearing in published papers: “vegetative electron microscopy”. This phrase, which sounds technical but is actually nonsense, has become a “digital fossil” – an error preserved and reinforced in artificial intelligence (AI) systems that is nearly impossible to remove from our knowledge repositories. Like biological fossils trapped in rock, these […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
A weird phrase is plaguing scientific papers – and we traced it back to a glitch in AI training data
We need to stop pretending AI is intelligent – here’s how
We are constantly fed a version of AI that looks, sounds and acts suspiciously like us. It speaks in polished sentences, mimics emotions, expresses curiosity, claims to feel compassion, even dabbles in what it calls creativity. But here’s the truth: it possesses none of those qualities. It is not human. And presenting it as if […] … learn more→
Friend, tutor, doctor, lover: why AI systems need different rules for different roles
“I’m really not sure what to do anymore. I don’t have anyone I can talk to,” types a lonely user to an AI chatbot. The bot responds: “I’m sorry, but we are going to have to change the topic. I won’t be able to engage in a conversation about your personal life.” Is this response […] … learn more→
ChatGPT’s Studio Ghibli-style images show its creative power – but raise new copyright problems
Social media has recently been flooded with images that looked like they belonged in a Studio Ghibli film. Selfies, family photos and even memes have been re-imagined with the soft pastel palette characteristic of the Japanese animation company founded by Hayao Miyazaki. This followed OpenAI’s latest update to ChatGPT. The update significantly improved ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities, […] … learn more→
Question.AI: Redefining Academic Support in the Digital Age
In today’s fast-evolving educational landscape, where students juggle diverse learning styles and information overload, Question.AI emerges as more than just another study app—it’s a dynamic partner in intellectual growth. Built on the principle of “Your Ultimate Study Companion: Ask Anything, Learn Everything,” this platform masterfully blends intuitive design with sophisticated AI capabilities, creating personalized pathways for learners […] … learn more→
Biases and manipulation lead the dark side of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already impacting multiple areas of our daily lives, from voice recognition on our phones to data analysis in medical research. Its advanced technology offers countless advantages, such as task automation, efficiency, the ability to process large volumes of data, and the personalization of multiple services. However, as the use and development […] … learn more→
Learning to read with AI: revolution or illusion?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually infiltrating the world of education, particularly in the teaching of reading. More and more digital tools are offering to help budding readers decipher their first texts. While official data shows large gaps in achievement between students and significant difficulties for some students entering sixth grade, what can we expect from […] … learn more→
I’m mad about everything
Waking up in 2025 is weird. Take this morning as just one example. I open my eyes and immediately fumble for the phone, opening BlueSky and Threads to see what craziness has come out from the USA while I slept here in Australia. Reassuring myself that we are all still alive (well, some of us […] … learn more→
When AI makes misleading connections
What if dictionary sales in Germany were linked to the number of swimming class registrations in Japan? What if solar power production in Taiwan influenced Netflix’s stock price? We learn early on that there’s a distinction between correlation and causation: a link still doesn’t explain a cause. Our brains still look for meaning and logical […] … learn more→
Museums have tons of data, and AI could make it more accessible − but standardizing and organizing it across fields won’t be easy
Ice cores in freezers, dinosaurs on display, fish in jars, birds in boxes, human remains and ancient artifacts from long gone civilizations that few people ever see – museum collections are filled with all this and more. These collections are treasure troves that recount the planet’s natural and human history, and they help scientists in […] … learn more→
