Inside Google DeepMind: The Philosopher Wrestling with AI Ethics
Since 2017, Iason Gabriel has worked as a philosopher at Google DeepMind, grappling with the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. In a revealing interview with Robert P Baird, Gabriel discusses the tension between building safe technology and respecting human autonomy. 'Your natural inclination is to always want to build the safest technology that takes no risks with people. But in a way that isn't giving people credit for the risks they want to take themselves,' he says. As commercial and geopolitical pressures mount, the piece questions whether ethicists can truly make a difference.
David Sedaris on His Duolingo Obsession: Walking 10 Miles a Day for Language Learning
David Sedaris writes about his compulsion to learn languages via Duolingo, which turned him into 'the person whom, since the turn of this latest century, I have most hated: one who moves about while staring down at a device.' Combining his need to top the leaderboard with his daily step count, he found himself walking 10 miles a day while reciting sentences in Japanese, German, Spanish, and French. His humorous essay explores the addictive nature of the app and his inability to stop.
Trump's Campaign to Erase US History from National Parks
America's national parks are considered sacred lands, but many visitors may not realise that US history is central to the experience at most of the 433 parks, historic sites, and monuments. Over the past year and a half, critics say the Trump administration has been removing and altering signs on public lands to reconstruct a preferred version of US history. Amy Qin and Flávio Pessoa investigate this as part of the Deleted data series, revealing a 'sanitised view of America' being imposed on these sites.
The Surprising Conflict and Chaos in Taylor Swift's Love Songs
Taylor Swift is often seen as a romantic, but BD McClay argues that her love songs are troubled by strife, ghosts, and delusion. Ahead of her wedding, McClay strips away the gossip to examine what Swift has been telling us through her songwriting for 20 years. The piece highlights how songs about commitment are filled with conflict and chaos, challenging the perception of Swift as a simple romantic.
Erin Brockovich Takes on AI Datacentres
Three decades after winning a $333m settlement over contaminated water, Erin Brockovich has a new target: AI datacentres. In an interview with Zoe Williams, she says, 'We're up against forces that have all the money in the world.' She notes that councils, after hearing community responses, are trying to hit pause on datacentre developments, only to be sued by developers for over $100m. Brockovich is campaigning against the environmental impact of these facilities.
Can Ball Pits and Bingo Save British Nightlife?
While most hospitality venues struggle, Britain has seen a surge in 'competitive socialising' at experiential bars offering axe-throwing, darts, immersive theatre, and adult-sized ball pits. Ammar Kalia visited seven such bars in one week to explore the trend. Dressed in a prison jumpsuit and drinking a daiquiri, he investigates whether this blend of booze and activities can revive British nightlife.
