There’s a lot of debate in academic circles about what to call ChatGPT, the new Bing, Bard, and the set of new technologies that operate on similar principles. “AI” or “Generative AI” are the terms preferred by industry. These terms are rightly criticized by many scholars in the fields of communications, science and technology studies,Continue reading “What’s in a name? AI, LLMs, Chatbots and what we hope our words will accomplish”
Teaching and Learning with Primary Sources in the age of Generative AI
The following is a (more or less verbatim) transcript of a keynote address I gave earlier today to the Dartmouth College Teaching with Primary Sources Symposium. My thanks to Morgan Swan and Laura Barrett of the Dartmouth College Library for hosting me and giving me the opportunity to gather some initial thoughts about this thoroughlyContinue reading “Teaching and Learning with Primary Sources in the age of Generative AI”
Briefly Noted for December 7, 2022
Must read: Timothy Burke’s recent blogging on the implications of new AI technologies (ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) for teaching and learning and creative practice. Amidst all this worry about students using AIs to write their papers and exams, a suggestion that maybe we should just talk to them instead: The case for oral exams. Lastly, whyContinue reading “Briefly Noted for December 7, 2022”
Briefly noted for November 29, 2022
Check out these amazing WPA-style posters created by the Department of Energy to mark the infrastructure achievements made possible under the 2009 stimulus bill. I hope this time around, the government doesn’t wait 10 years to start selling the infrastructure and climate bills that passed earlier this year. Two takes on this year’s tech industryContinue reading “Briefly noted for November 29, 2022”
Briefly noted for November 23, 2022
It looks like the theme of this week’s Briefly Noted post is Substack. I didn’t intend it, but each of the following is taken from the platform: Substack is launching a new “letters” feature to support epistolary blogging. Like most things Substack, I love the idea, but I hate the paywall, and I worry aboutContinue reading “Briefly noted for November 23, 2022”
Briefly Noted for November 16, 2022
Ryan Cordell posted his remarks from the 30 Years of Digital Humanities at UVA conference. He makes some great points about the importance of collaboration in digital humanities. One thing he says, that I’ve often thought myself, is how bad the standard DH curriculum is at teaching collaboration to students. It’s very hard to teachContinue reading “Briefly Noted for November 16, 2022”
How Humanists Should Use Mastodon
I’m brand new to Mastodon. Many of us are. This might suggest that we shouldn’t have opinions. But I think the opposite is true. If Mastodon is truly a decentralized platform, if it’s truly designed to support distinctive communities and their distinctive needs, then we, as a community of humanists, should decide how we’re goingContinue reading “How Humanists Should Use Mastodon”
Briefly Noted for November 9, 2022
Taylor Swift told us in the Folklore studio movie that the 5th track on each of her albums holds a special meaning for her. It wasn’t exactly a secret, but the film confirmed it. The tracks include some of her best: “All Too Well”, “Dear John”, “Tolerate It.” Here’s a Spotify playlist of Swift’s 5thContinue reading “Briefly Noted for November 9, 2022”
Briefly Noted for November 7, 2022
With news that the new owner of Twitter has decided to sell verified accounts, I’ve decided to keep @foundhistory to prevent anyone from impersonating me (though Lord knows who would want to). You won’t see me tweeting for the reasons I laid out last week, but I figure if I’m keeping the account, I mightContinue reading “Briefly Noted for November 7, 2022”
Briefly Noted for November 3, 2022
Nearly 200 years ago, the United States promised to seat a delegate from the Cherokee Nation in Congress as part of the treaty that forcibly removed the tribe from Georgia to Oklahoma. There’s a renewed movement to make good on that promise. The United States should meet its treaty obligations. It’s not just a matterContinue reading “Briefly Noted for November 3, 2022”
