Category: AI
-
OpenAI is Coming for Writers
There’s something brewing at OpenAI, and it’s not their often promised AGI. While Altman seduces investors with the speculative promises of Artificial General Intelligence and ever more powerful versions of GPT, a very real play is being made for much more concrete territory. Over the past few months, a number of product releases and updates…
-
It’s Uncomfortable on the Fence but at Least the View Is Nice
I often get asked to explain, or more accurately, defend my position on AI in education. I actually quite like sitting up here on the fence with a good view of both the pros and the cons. I’ve also got a lot of respect for people on either side of the fence: the critics who…
-
AI and the Art of Paper Folding
The post reflects on metaphors used to discuss artificial intelligence, particularly introducing an origami analogy. It emphasises that AI outputs are intricately shaped by the training data like origami models are formed from a single sheet of paper. This analogy reveals insights into AI’s limitations, creativity, and the nature of its outputs.
-
What is Bluesky and Why Are Thousands of Educators Signing Up?
I kind of missed out on Twitter. By the time the platform was picking up speed, drawing millions of users into the network of short-form content and high speed, frantic exchanges of news (and cat pics), I’d already resigned myself to being a long-form writer. I’ve had a blog for over fifteen years, and have…
-
Synthetic Sycophants: Why ‘Yes-Bots’ are a Problem for Education
A student is working late on their chemistry homework, struggling with atomic structure. They turn to an AI assistant with a misconception: “I think atoms have fixed electron paths, like planets orbiting the sun.” The AI responds with polite agreement and an authoritative explanation supporting this incorrect model. When challenged, the AI even apologises for…
-
Hacking the Future: A Developer’s DIY Approach to AR Glasses
Innovation often springs from frustration with the status quo. For developer Miroslav Kotalík, the limitations of existing augmented reality (AR) glasses kickstarted a journey to create something better. After I saw a post about Kotalík’s impressive DIY AR glasses, which he has called “Zero”, I reached out to him on X and asked if he’d…
-
The Near Future of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education: Part Two
This post continues the exploration of emerging technologies affecting education, particularly focusing on offline AI, wearable technologies, and AI agents. The author emphasizes the accessibility and privacy benefits of running AI locally while discussing innovative advancements such as augmented reality glasses and autonomous AI agents, urging educators to adapt to these changes proactively.
-
Celebrating Half a Million Reads 🎉
The blog has hit over 500,000 views! This article reviews popular posts on AI’s implications in education, expresses gratitude to readers, and shares insights on predictions made since June 2022.
-
AI and the Myth of Personalised Learning
“Personalised learning” is one of those educational terms used so often that it is hard to pin down exactly what it means. It has been applied to everything from one-to-one in-person tutoring to online project-based learning and, of course, AI platforms. Many schools use the term, and the intentions behind it are valid: students do…
-
Claude Computer Use: The Next ChatGPT Moment
In May 2022, I made the decision to step out of the classroom and apply for a PhD, broadly focused on digital texts. I grabbed a few articles, like Bradley Robinson’s on automated writing technologies, and began reading up on these “large language model things”, like OpenAI’s Generative Pre-trained Transformer. Back then, people accessed GPT…