Blog
What is AI slop?
The term “slop,” defined as low-quality, AI-generated content, often reflects an imbalance between reader effort and author intent. Surveys reveal that readers largely attribute the fault to authors rather than the technology, highlighting frustration over perceived carelessness. Ultimately, slop represents a reader’s judgement based on perceived effort and substance.
Teachers and AI on ABC Far North Drive
Last week I spoke with Jeremy Jones on ABC Far North’s Drive program about how teachers — not students — are actually using GenAI: the broken promise of reduced workload, the reality of burnout, marking and assessment, and what happens if machines start grading machines. You can hear the whole show on ABC listen: Queensland…
Is This a Good Use of the Technology? Is It a Good Use of Your Brain?
The article discusses two crucial questions regarding AI: whether its use is appropriate and if it effectively engages one’s intellect. While these questions seem straightforward, their implications are nuanced and context-dependent, influencing how students and educators interact with AI technologies. Understanding these complexities aids in navigating AI’s evolving role in learning.
Claude “Hacked” My Website (But It Didn’t Go Rogue)
Last weekend, Claude Code “hacked” my website, pretending to be me and creating an account for itself. It was my fault. Claude wasn’t going rogue. And I learned a lot along the way.
Is the Tide Turning Against AI in Australia?
On Sunday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that NSW may restrict Year 12 students from unsupervised take-home assessments, following a letter from the Deputy Premier. Meanwhile, South Australia announced a royal commission into AI, highlighting diverging state approaches: NSW acts quickly for student protection, while SA seeks comprehensive understanding before regulation.
The Window of Critique for AI is Closing Fast
Large language model-based AI is increasingly integrated into daily life, making it challenging for critics to highlight its limitations. As technology becomes user-friendly, the inner workings are often obscured, akin to past experiences with telecommunication and internet infrastructures. This shift prompts a need for continued scrutiny and understanding of AI systems’ complexities and implications.
Cost versus Catchability in AI Use
The article explores AI-generated content, emphasising the risks associated with problem patterns, including “hallucinations” and context-specific costs. It introduces the concept of “catchability,” measuring the likelihood of errors being detected before they cause harm. The framework encourages examining expertise, review processes, and real-world implications of AI usage across various contexts.
How I’ve Used Claude for Book Marketing
The use of GenAI in writing, the arts, music, and pretty much any creative industry is highly contentious, and for good reason. The copyright concerns alone are enough to infuriate most writers, and the constant onslaught of AI slop is flooding social media platforms and online spaces. I’ve written extensively about my position on AI:…
Problem Patterns in AI: Beyond Hallucinations
The article discusses the rise of “AI slop”, characterised by generic, uninspired content produced by AI, often resulting in stylistic and substantive issues, rather than just factual inaccuracies. It categorises these problems into seven types, highlighting the reputational risks associated with careless AI use and the need for nuanced discussions about AI-generated outputs.
Rented Expertise
This article examines the evolving nature of expertise in the age of AI, particularly GenAI. While AI can generate seemingly expert outputs, it lacks the depth of human knowledge and judgement. “Rented expertise” highlights the risks of cognitive offloading and the illusion of competence.
Australia Just Set the Terms for AI
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister delivered a one-two punch on copyright and data centres: two of the most contentious national conversations on AI. Speaking at the University of Sydney, Anthony Albanese announced a set of national Australian standards for AI: a single framework covering copyright, data centres, energy, water, and the workforce, coordinated by…
LLMs are Digital Skeleton Keys
Skeleton keys functioned by exploiting shared mechanisms in older locks, similarly, Large Language Models (LLMs) can act as digital skeleton keys. They perform versatile tasks within code-accessible environments, yet their potential remains underutilised in conventional chatbot interfaces. Users should explore beyond chatbots to unlock LLMs’ true capabilities.
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