Future Tense

In an engaging discussion, Professors Neil Selwyn, Phillip Dawson, Rupert Wegerif, and Dragan Gasevic tackle education's evolving landscape in the wake of generative AI. They explore the initial panic in academia, the challenges of assessing student abilities when AI can produce work, and the push for critical thinking through dialogue. The experts propose that AI can act as a learning partner rather than a shortcut, while also warning against over-reliance. They emphasize the need for robust evidence on integrating AI in education, focusing on promoting deep learning over mere outputs.

Henry Farrell is a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University, discussing how social media distorts group beliefs and shapes political behavior. John Tasioulas, a philosopher and ethicist from Oxford, warns about AI's potential to undermine democratic values, emphasizing the need for participatory governance in tech. Additionally, Marcus Beard introduces "slopaganda," highlighting how low-quality, AI-generated political content can fragment media consumption and threaten shared democratic discourse.

Join experts Michael Milford, a robotics director at Queensland University of Technology, Milad Haghani, an urban resilience associate professor, and sociolinguist Abdesalam Soudi from the University of Pittsburgh. They dive into the current state and commercial uses of autonomous vehicles, touching on Tesla’s camera-based approach versus LiDAR systems. They discuss the social language of driving, how contextual cues can confuse AI, and consumer reluctance towards driver-assist technologies, revealing the complexities of acceptance and regulation in the evolving landscape of self-driving cars.

In this conversation, Dr. James Cohen, an expert on online language practices, delves into 'algospeak,' a creative linguistic response to content moderation. Philip Seargeant, a senior lecturer in Applied Linguistics, critiques the flawed idea of a universal language and discusses the limitations of AI translation. Dr. Sali Tagliamonte reveals how teenage women are at the forefront of language change, driving innovation through social media. Together, they explore the interplay between technology and language, highlighting its dynamic evolution.

Dr. Annette Kroen, a Senior Research Fellow specializing in urban challenges, teams up with Dylan Reid, an urbanist and co-founder of Spacing Magazine. They unpack the critical shortage of amenities in new suburbs, highlighting the risk of social isolation. Reid critiques the disconnected design of residential areas that lack main streets, weakening community ties. The duo emphasizes the need for walkable neighborhoods and accessible services to create livable environments, making a case for smart density that protects green space while enhancing urban resilience.

Professor Peter Dawson leads digital heritage at the University of Calgary, and Adam Lowe heads the Factum Foundation in Madrid. They explore the urgent preservation of Herschel Island's cultural legacy amid climate change. The duo discusses creating 'digital twins' using high-tech tools like lidar to capture heritage sites in stunning detail. They also delve into the importance of recording ancient artifacts, merging digital and physical restoration, and utilizing AI to explore cultural narratives, ensuring future generations can connect with their history.

Professor Martin Brueckner critiques the misconception that Australia is swiftly decarbonizing, emphasizing rising emissions from fossil fuel exports. Alison Reeve discusses the challenges facing green hydrogen development, including investment hesitance and competing technologies. Madoc Sheehan highlights crucial resource constraints and water needs for hydrogen production. Meanwhile, Professor Matthew Hill presents innovative membrane technologies for hydrogen storage, paving the way for potentially safer and cost-effective transport solutions.

Nick Bisley, a Professor of international relations at La Trobe University, introduces the concept of 'scrambalisation,' discussing how politics is reshaping globalisation. Ariel Kastner, from the World Economic Forum, shares insights from the Global Cooperation Barometer, revealing a decline in cooperation since 2020 but highlights progress in health and green technology collaboration. They explore the impact of U.S. trade policies on global dynamics and the multi-faceted nature of today's globalisation, emphasizing the exchange of ideas and cultural pluralism.

Join Sanjay Patnaik, Director at the Brookings Institute, Peter Bridgewater, Honorary Professor at ANU, and Anna Trugman from UC Santa Barbara as they delve into the EU's new carbon border tax and its potential impacts on global trade. They discuss the International Maritime Organisation's carbon levy for shipping and its challenges. The discussion also highlights China's Great Green Wall project and innovative techniques to measure tree stress, emphasizing the crucial role forests play in climate change mitigation and resilience.

S. J. Beard, a Senior Research Associate at Cambridge University and author of "Existential Hope," delves into the balance between existential hope and fear, particularly in the face of threats like climate change and AI. He emphasizes the power of community and collective responsibility in addressing these issues. In contrast, Neil Selwyn, Professor at Monash University and author of "Digital Degrowth," critiques current digital trends and advocates for decoupling technology from consumer capitalism to foster sustainability and shared values.