1,192 research outputs found
AI, Curiosity, and the Future of Humanity: Digitally Curious & Somewhere on Earth Unite for a Groundbreaking Tech Podcast Crossover
No full textIn this special edition of Somewhere on Earth, host Gareth Mitchell teams up with Andrew Grill, the “Actionable Futurist” behind the Digitally Curious podcast, for a thought-provoking deep dive into how artificial intelligence is reshaping our lives, work, and creativity. Joined by digital culture pioneer and SOEP Studio Expert Ghislaine Boddington, the trio explore what it really means to live — and stay human — in an AI-driven world. From the boardroom to the everyday, they unpack the shift from AI hype to real-world application, the rise of digital empathy, and how curiosity remains our greatest tool for navigating the future. Tune in for sharp insights, global perspectives, and authentic conversation — because being digitally curious has never mattered more.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ghislaine Boddington
Biometrics – do we have a choice in who has this data and how they use it?
No full textBiometrics – do we have a choice in who has this data and how they use it?
This week we dive deep into the world of biometrics, with a particular focus on facial recognition technology. What is the current state of facial recognition, and why are legal experts and privacy advocates so concerned? Additionally, we’ll explore the realm of health data; is there a necessary compromise between collecting our biometric information for improved health outcomes and safeguarding our privacy? Or can we find a way to achieve both? Joining us is Dr. Stephanie Hare, the author of Technology is Not Neutral: A Short Guide to Technology Ethics.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ghislaine Boddington.
More on this week's stories:
Dr. Stephanie Har
Weddings Reimagined: VR vows, smart rings & the rise of intimacy tech | Bridechilla x Somewhere on Earth
No full textBridechilla x Somewhere on Earth - Episode 2
What happens when Bridechilla meets Somewhere on Earth? Tech, tradition, and a touch of tulle collide in the second of two special crossover episodes, exploring how technology is transforming weddings around the world.
In Episode 2, hosts Gareth Mitchell and Leah Haslage dive into intimacy tech, virtual reality ceremonies and even hologram guests with award-winning body-tech pioneer and regular Somewhere on Earth studio expert Professor Ghislaine Boddington. You’ll hear how today’s weddings are blending real-world love with digital innovation - from heartbeat-sharing smart rings to 360° livestreamed vows, and NFT wedding certificates in the metaverse.
Plus, a special field report from India with Somewhere on Earth studio expert Chhavi Sachdev, revealing how the wedding tech boom is revolutionizing big fat Indian weddings.
The show is presented by Leah Haslage and Gareth Mitchell
The construction of Karen Karnak: The multi-author-function
No full textThis thesis is situated within the comparatively recent developments of Web 2.0 and the emergence of interactive WikiMedia, and explores the mode of authorship within a Read/Write culture compared to that of a Read/Only tradition. The hypothesis of this study is that the role of the audience has become merged with the author, and as such, represents new functions and attributes, distinct from a more conventional concept of authorship, in which the roles of audience and author are more separate. Read/Write and participatory culture, as defined by this study, is focused on collaboration, and includes the influences of D.I.Y. culture, Open-Source practices and the production of text by multiple authors. Multi-authorship presents a re-thinking of several concepts which support the notion of the individual author, since the focus of multi-authorship is not on attribution and ownership of a finished text, but on the continued malleability of a text. Modes of multi-authorship, demonstrated in the use of the pseudonyms Alan Smithee and Karen Eliot, represent declarative authors whose names signify multiple origins, whilst concurrently indicating a distinct body of work. The function of these names form an important context to this study, since primary research involves the construction of an experimental mode of multi-authorship utilising WikiMedia technology and the interaction of thirty nine participants, who are invited to create a body of work under the collective pseudonym Karen Karnak. The data generated by this experiment is analysed using aspects of Michel Foucault's author-function to identify and determine power structures inherent in the WikiMedia context. The interplay of power structures, including concepts such as identity, ownership and the body of work, affect the resulting mode of authorship and contribute to the construction of Karen Karnak, suggesting further areas of research into the emerging multi-author
Are teachers keeping up with their pupils when it comes to AI in the classroom?
No full textAre teachers keeping up with their pupils when it comes to AI in the classroom?
A recent survey in the United States showed that more than 70% of students report using AI for their school assignments, even in the face of institutional restrictions on tools like ChatGPT. This finding comes from a study conducted by The Harker School, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. The data shows that pupils are engaging with these LLMs more often than adults, suggesting that younger users are adapting to AI technologies quicker. But that begs the question are educators keeping pace with these developments? In a special edition about AI and the future of education Gareth and Ghislaine are joined by Mutlu Cukurova, a Professor of Learning and Artificial Intelligence at University College London. We also hear more tech for Good from CES in Las Vegas. The BeeKee Box is a classroom in a box that can be used where there is no connectivity.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ghislaine Boddington
35,000 AI Deepfake Models Found Online – The Shocking Rise of Non-Consensual Porn
No full textThe Disturbing Reality of AI-Generated AbuseA new study reveals nearly 35,000 publicly downloadable AI models capable of generating deepfake pornography—often targeting women and celebrities. These "model variants" can be tweaked to create millions of non-consensual intimate images, fuelling a growing crisis in digital exploitation. Researchers identified 35,000 deepfake model variants in public repositories, with each model being used to generate countless AI-generated explicit images of real people. While 35,000 models may seem small compared to the vast internet, each one represents a potential weapon for harassment. Experts warn that without stricter regulation, deepfake abuse could spiral further out of control. The study was led by Will Hawkins from the Oxford Internet Institute. He joins Gareth and Ghislaine on the show.
MySQL at 30: The Unsung Hero Powering Facebook, the Web & Your Data - The Database That Quietly Runs the InternetYou’ve probably never heard of it—but your data lives on MySQL. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, this open-source database is the invisible backbone of Facebook, countless websites, and nearly every major online service. It’s an open-source success story, which relies on simplicity and speed and it’s easy to set up. We spoke with Peter Zaitsev, who joined MySQL in 2002 and later co-founded Percona, a leading database consultancy. Next time you log into Facebook or book a flight, remember - there’s a 30-year-old database working behind the scenes. Not bad for a tech "underdog."
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ghislaine Boddington
AI submissions are avoiding detection at a well-respected university in the UK
No full textAI submissions are avoiding detection at a well-respected university in the UK
As exam results roll in for pupils across the Northern Hemisphere, a study conducted at the University of Reading showed that 94 percent of the AI-generated exam submissions went unnoticed. On average, these artificial responses received higher grades than those from real students. Dr Peter Scarfe who led the study, is on the show.
Wireless monitoring of audience reactions
How can a producer ensure a film’s success - apparently by researching how the audience members react to their production. A brand new facility at Bristol University in the UK will be able to monitor heart rate, blinking and brain activity to see when people become bored whilst watching a film. Professor Iain Gilchrist explains how the tech could also help to improve teaching.
The show is presented by Gareth Mitchell with expert commentary from Ghislaine Boddington
Professor Gareth Loudon discusses the importance of considering the 'Five W's' prior to engaging with your enquiry. Trafododd yr Athro Gareth Loudon bwysigrwydd ystyried y 'Pump W' cyn ymgysylltu â'ch ymholiad.
No full textProfessor Gareth Loudon discussed the importance of considering the 'Five W's' prior to engaging with your enquiry.
Trafododd yr Athro Gareth Loudon bwysigrwydd ystyried y 'Pump W' cyn ymgysylltu â'ch ymholiad. </p
Mock-up example of Cliniface 3D facial ‘Hereditary Angioedema treatment and monitoring report’ Parental consent was obtained from the parent (Gareth Baynam) of the child whose image is appearing in Fig 3 who is also the corresponding author.
No full textMock-up example of Cliniface 3D facial ‘Hereditary Angioedema treatment and monitoring report’ Parental consent was obtained from the parent (Gareth Baynam) of the child whose image is appearing in Fig 3 who is also the corresponding author.</p
Through the Lens of Color: An Interview with Gareth Doherty, Author of Paradoxes of Green: Landscapes of a City-State
No full textThis interview by Mark Tirpak with Gareth Doherty of Harvard University Graduate School of Design, focuses on his Paradoxes of Green: Landscapes of a City-State (University of California Press, 2017). With Paradoxes of Green (2017) and via the interview, Doherty recounts some of the findings of his ethnographic fieldwork in the Kingdom of Bahrain and describes tensions arising from differing conceptions of what ‘green’ means or signifies within this growing and predominantly arid region. An argument that Doherty makes in Paradoxes of Green (2017) is that color and form are interlinked, and that color deserves deeper consideration by policy-makers and other formal shapers of cities. The interview draws from Paradoxes of Green (2017) to discuss some of Doherty’s findings as well as his latest work on the intersections between landscape architecture and anthropology
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