Digital world by

A Guardian article, looking at how the online world pressures exposes them to misogyny and other forms of extremism.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-01 15:23:23 UTC

This Guardian article centres around the counterintuitive assertion by the German artist Mario Klingemann that, “Humans are not original.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:46:47 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE We only reinvent, make connections between things we have seen… machines can create from scratch”. Questions to explore include, what does ‘creative’ actually mean? Is it something that has to come from scratch? Is it possible to create something ‘original’?

KEY TERMS Originality

A Conversation article, which applies philosophical thinking to determine whether Google’s LaMDA AI tool really is sentient.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:46:59 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What are the details of the LaMDA case? Why did one Google engineer (Blake Lemoine) believe that LaMDA was sentient? What approach was used to test this belief - and why is the general consensus that LaMDA isn’t sentient? Explore the story further via these articles from Vox and Wired. Overall, what do students feel are the implications of AI becoming sentient?

KEY TERMS “Think”, Desires and emotions, Interpretations, Evidence, Physical perspective, Thought experiment, Prove

A Guardian article, arguing that we should start thinking now about the moral guidelines we apply to artificial intelligence.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:47:06 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Why was Blake Lemoine convinced Google’s LaMDA device was sentient, and why was he mocked for this belief? Why does the article argue that his error was a “good mistake”? Why does it argue that we need to start thinking about our ethical treatment of AI now (ie before it exists)? Overall, how do we “pass on a capacious moral culture to our descendants” in terms of the way we use technology?

KEY TERMS Good mistake, Deeply woven, Conceptual vocabularies, Capacious moral culture, Real evidence, Openness and willingness

A Wired article, pointing out that if we want to understand the nature and purpose of robotics, we must stop comparing them to humans.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:47:12 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How does reframing the way we perceive an issue change our understanding of it?

KEY TERMS Human replacement, Envision

A Guardian article, in which two art experts try to distinguish between human art, and art created by AI.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:47:23 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Cut and paste the images, and give them to the students. Can they tell which is AI art, and which are works painted by an important artist? Then read through what the critics say. How do they try to tell them apart? How successful are they in distinguishing them? What does this indicate about the sophistication of AI art? Overall, can AI technology reproduce the emotional depth that characterizes great art? What are the implications if it can - does it mean the end of human art?

KEY TERMS Emotional depth, Authenticating, Genuine, Deficiencies, Spontaneous and creative, Obvious

A BBC article, reporting on how scientists have used AI to help them discover a new antibiotic that will treat a deadly superbug.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:47:39 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How significant is the discovery made by scientists from McMaster University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology? How was AI used to assist their work? Why will AI be so important in supporting scientists who work on finding treatments for hospital ‘superbugs’? Overall, do students agree that “the tools of artificial intelligence can be a revolutionary force in science and medicine”?

KEY TERMS Revolutionary force, Precision, Enhances the rate

A BBC article, considering the insight we can gain about the threat posed by AI via watching sci-fi movies.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:47:46 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What are the four different ‘disaster scenarios’ portrayed by different sci-fi movies? Which ones (if any) seem the most likely to occur? Why do you think that movies tend to offer a dystopian vision of AI and technology? To wrap up: To what extent can we draw on fictional art sources to inform us about the real-world?

KEY TERMS Disaster scenarios, Apocalyptic warning, Predictions, Feverish and outlandish stories

A Vox article, asserting far from being objective, AI can reinforce systematic racism.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:47:53 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What is AI & what is an algorithm? What is AI bias, and how does it get into an AI system? Have I encountered AI bias? Who is hurt most by AI bias? After you have answered your question, swap your ideas with other groups. Then look at the final question - Is there any solution? Whose approach - Sam Altman, Sasha Luccioni, and Timnit Gebru - do you think would be the most effective in dealing with this issue? To wrap up: “Understanding that AI systems are affected by bias is the first step in reducing AI automated discrimination.” Do you agree?

KEY TERMS AI bias, Discrimination, Unfair preferences, Accountability, Transparency

A Guardian article, examining how AI is impacting on democracy in both positive and negative ways.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:47:58 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How is AI affecting the way we interact with democracy?

KEY TERMS Truth and trust, Information ecosystems, Verified information, Facilitate dialogue, Incentives, Distrusted information

A Conversation article, looking at 25 years of Google - and how we managed life before it existed.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:48:05 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Before Google, how was information about the world accessed, and what were the limitations with these methods? Why was Google so successful when it was launched in 1998? How is Google adapting to the rise of AI? What does the article mean when it refers to “the tensions between public access and increasingly powerful commercial entities”? To wrap up: Is it becoming more or less challenging to access information about the world?

KEY TERMS Open access to information, Human search engine, Complex, Revolution, Tension

A BBC article, exploring the way AI is bringing back to life actors and performers who died long ago.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:48:13 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Why are actors concerned about the threat to creativity posed by AI algorithms? Why does the digital cloning of James Dean for the film Back to Eden represent such a “significant shift in what is possible”? What ‘uncomfortable questions’ does the cloning of actors prompt? To wrap up: Who should be in charge of the creative decisions made by actors and performers? Should their rights end after they have died?

KEY TERMS Digital clone, Immortality, Uncomfortable questions, Source material, Deadbots, Rights of the dead

A DW article, exploring how AI technology could help predict whether we’ll develop cancer - and the implications that would bring with it.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:48:23 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How are healthcare AI tools driving a new approach in medicine called ‘predictive medicine’? Would students want to know if they were going to develop a serious medical condition later on in life? What data and privacy concerns does the new technology bring? Students can also check out this related LA Times article, on how ‘Dr ChatGPT’ is now outdoing ‘Dr Google’. To wrap up: “The more we can make accurate scientific predictions, the better our ability to offer effective healthcare.” Do you agree?

KEY TERMS AI algorithms, Predictive medicine, Co-pilot, Data privacy, Patient consent, Misinformation, Taken advantage of

A Big Think article, which argues that given students are allowed to use calculators for mathematics, they should also be allowed to use ChatGPT to write.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:48:28 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE “Education often treats students like robots instead of humans… maybe we should leave the robotic work to AI.” Do you agree?

KEY TERMS Strong evidence, Rigid, New calculator, Change, Fear of change, Robotic work

A BBC article, looking at the legitimacy of new products that claim to be ‘AI-powered’.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:48:33 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What examples does the article give of products that have been given the ‘AI makeover’? Why is there so much pressure on manufacturers to include AI within product descriptions? What are the implications of there not being a universally accepted definition of AI, and how are some manufacturers taking advantage of this? To wrap up: How do we distinguish technology that positively impacts the world from that which makes spurious claims about the benefits it brings?

KEY TERMS Special power, AI makeover, Explanation, Universally accepted definition, Ambiguous, Vagueness, Evidence

A Guardian article, in which artist Ai Weiwei claims that AI poses no threat to human creativity.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:48:38 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Do you agree with Ai Weiwei that AI poses no threat to our ability to create art?

KEY TERMS Messages, Metaphorical caves, Inner worlds

A Project Syndicate article, which explores whether AI-tools can replace human therapists.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:48:43 UTC

A Time Magazine article by Cathy O’Neil, in which she discusses the way big tech weaponizes and exploits our sense of shame.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:49:46 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How does O’Neil link online algorithms (and therefore mathematics!) to shame and vulnerability? What are social media data scientists interested in, and how does their work create segregated groups of people? What is the difference now about the way we hold different opinions? Overall, how does the article make students rethink their start question, and how should this inform our behaviour? Students can also view an interview with O’Neil in Salon.

KEY TERMS Shame, Vulnerability, Critically observe

A Conversation article, looking at how the inherent biases in algorithms can affect the way we look for information.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:49:54 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Use it to explore questions such as: How are algorithmic biases exacerbating this? How do we ensure that what we find on the Internet is based on validated, rather than misinformation? What role does education (and, dare we say it, TOK) have in this area?

KEY TERMS Health literacy, Algorithmic biases, Validated information vs. misinformation

A Big Think article, looking at the ethical and technical complexity of coding.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:51:06 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What role does coding play in the moral development of the epistemic community?

KEY TERMS Complex, Irresponsible.

A Conversation article, asserting that the real danger of AI is our tendency to anthropomorphize it.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:51:26 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Where do many of our fears about machine sentience come from, and why does Nir Eisikovits argue they are unfounded? Why is the Turing test less useful than was once thought? What responsibilities does Eisikovits feel tech companies have in terms of rolling out new products - and are they fulfilling these? Students can also explore this Conversation article, about ChatGPT and its level of intelligence. Overall, how does our propensity to anthropomorphize things undermine our ability to use technology sensibly? How can we overcome this problem?

KEY TERMS Sentient, Anthropomorphize, Psychological vulnerabilities, Evidence of sentience, Responsibly

A DW video, showing how virtual reality is being used to demonstrate to people what it’s like to live with Long Covid.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:52:26 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How is VR being used to demonstrate what it’s like to live with Long Covid? What are the motives behind this project? What medical insights does it provide us with that we wouldn’t have otherwise? Overall, do we only truly understand a medical condition when we have experienced it for ourselves?

KEY TERMS Emulate, Simulation, Glimpse

A Conversation article, looking at why some people are asserting that Bitcoin is similar to a religion.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:52:42 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What is the ‘dirty secret’ of religious studies, and how does this impinge on how we understand the nature of religion? What links does the article make to rationalism? How do we use categorizations as a way of setting up ‘comparative frameworks’? Finally, do you think Bitcoin is a religion - and how would you justify your opinion?

KEY TERMS True religion, Political interests, Irrational, Comparative framework, Salvation

A Smithsonian article, which explores how whilst the technology of deep fake videos is new, the intention to mislead viewers has always driven image-makers.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:53:38 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How can misleading photos evoke “that pathway to the future we aspire to”?

Key terms Malicious, Trust, Objective

A New Humanist article, looking at how deep fakes are at the centre of the new disinformation wars.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:53:44 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How are deep fakes changing over time, and how does this link to current events in Ukraine? What are the limits of technological solutions to the problem - and how might the theory of knowledge course play a role? Overall, what responsibility do each of us have in helping to protect our information ecosystem?

Key terms Disinformation wars, Deceptive synthetic media, Visceral reaction, Information ecosystem

An Atlantic article that explores the increasing extent to which the Internet is an unreliable depository of knowledge, as ‘content drift’ and ‘link rot’ become endemic.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:56:16 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Why did the Internet develop in the way it did, and what implications has this had on the way we use it to understand the world? What is the relationship between knowledge, and the receptacles to contain it? What are the consequences of online content being so transient (see the useful terms ‘content drift’ and ‘link rot’)? How serious do students think all of this is in terms of our ability to understand the world? They can also compare the issues identified by Zittrain with the ones featured in this article.

Key terms Magic, Desirable content, Centralized control, Humanity’s knowledge, Preservation, Sourcing, Content drift, Link rot, Transience, Mutable, Truth

An Atlantic article, looking at different cultural approaches to Internet privacy, and how these have been affected by the pandemic.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 09:56:21 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE First of all, find out how the current crisis is affecting the way we are using the Internet, and the control that is now being applied to ensure that misinformation is controlled. Next, link that to the way the Internet has traditionally been overseen - in both the West (ie the USA), and China. Then decide whether this supports the assertion made at the beginning of the article that, “In the debate over freedom versus control of the global network, China was largely correct, and the U.S. was wrong.”

Key terms Freedom, Censorship, Harmful information, Collaboration, Sharing data, Digital liberty

This New Statesman article looks at the way we try to digitally ‘hoard’ experiences, by taking photos or making videos of events, and the effect this may have on our relationship with reality.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:10:54 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Do students feel the need to record events as they experience them? Do they need to feature in these images (ie in selfies)? What are the implications on the extent to which we draw on our memory in order to produce knowledge?

A Conversation article, which looks at the problem of ‘epistemic exhaustion’, what causes it, and strategies to deal with it.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:11:02 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What problems stem from the endless flow of information that bombards us everyday? What strategies should we use to avoid these? Does having a name for something enable us to understand it more effectively - or can we ever be led astray by terminology?

Key terms Epistemic exhaustion, Uncertainty, Polarization, Misinformation, Causal feedback loop

A Conversation article, considering epistemic pluralism, epistemic dependency, and where knowledge comes from in the first place.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:11:26 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What are identity-protective cognition, and cultural cognition, and how do they shape the way we view the world? Why does the article argue that these two effects are not reduced by intelligence, access to information, or education? How does intellectual freedom contribute to epistemic pluralism? What possible solution does Julia Galef offer us? Overall, offer students this quote: “There are many forces pulling our collective understandings of the world apart; with some effort, however, we can try to reestablish our common ground.” What form should this effort take? Do you agree that it is possible to reach this ‘common ground’?

Key terms Objective fact, Truth, Polarization, Epistemic pluralism, Epistemic dependence, Beliefs, Epistemic authority

A fun Big Think article, considering Cunningham’s Law: the best way to gather valid knowledge is not to ask a question; it’s to post a wrong answer.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:11:31 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What personal experience changed the way Jonny Thompson sought information? Does this amount to trolling? How can applying Cunningham’s Law help us make life choices? Overall, does Cunningham’s Law prove that ‘feigning idiocy’ sometimes brings cognitive benefits?

Key terms Correct, Torrent of erudition, Cunningham’s Law, Socratic trolling, Coaching, Feigning idiocy

A Conversation article, considering whether misinformation is not just factually wrong, but ethically wrong as well.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:11:36 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What is epistemic humility, and how might this help us to approach the world objectively? What are WK Clifford’s two main points about belief, and how do they lead us to the conclusion that believing in something with insufficient evidence is ethically unacceptable? Do you agree that “developing and nurturing critical thinking is an ethical responsibility”? Overall, do students believe that we’re on a moral mission as TOK teachers and learners?

Key terms Disinformation and misinformation, Epistemology, Truth, Responsibility, Ethically wrong, Epistemic humility, Insufficient evidence

A Big Think article, looking at the rise of thanabots - ChatGPT-driven chatbots allowing us to communicate with deceased people.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:12:38 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What do thanabots do, and how do they work? Why does it seem very likely that there will be high demand for thanabots? What ethical issues does the rise of thanabots raise (hint: use the word ‘consent’ in your response)? What are the potential benefits and downsides of thanabots? To wrap up: “Death may not be as final as it once was”. Do you agree that this represents the most significant impact of AI technology?

KEY TERMS Digitally resurrect, Empathy, Personalized, Thanatology, Consent, Final

A Sky News video and article, looking at the debut of the world’s first AI newsreader, in Kuwait.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:13:56 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Who is ‘Fedha’, and what are students opinions of ‘her’? Is this the answer to approaching the world in an objective way? Compare Fedha to the ideas in this article - which point of view do students agree with? Overall, do events and issues going on in the world require a ‘human touch’ in order to communicate them effectively, or is emotion always an enemy to objectivity?

KEY TERMS New and innovative, Represents

A (hilarious) Guardian article, exploring a range of AI-generated news websites, and assessing their accuracy.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:14:03 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What sites did Matthew Cantor investigate in order to write the article? What characteristics did the sites have that undermined their credibility? What dangers does Cantor identify about the way these sites convey information (hint: refer to the ‘AI wild west’)? Overall, how should the problems associated with AI-generated journalism inform the way we construct our knowledge about the world?

KEY TERMS False information, Cycle of fake news, Glimpses of true humanity, Trust, AI wild west

This Salon article considers the nature of memes and how they have developed over time.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:16:55 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Use this as to consider ‘memes’, a phenomenon that is one of the defining features of today’s society. How have memes developed over time (since Richard Dawkins coined them in his book, The Selfish Gene)? Why have they become such a powerful cultural trait - and one of the key ways in which we communicate ideas? Do they help, or hinder the way we express our ideas and knowledge?

Key terms Memes

A Recode/Vox article, looking at the way in which users of social media are subject to ‘microtargeting’, particularly when it comes to political information.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:17:11 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Students can build up an understanding of what microtargeting is, and how it can influence the way we establish our understanding of politics. Then think about ways in which limiting microtargeting has attracted both praise, and criticism. Finally analyse what the article says at the end: do you agree that there is a much bigger issue that needs addressing, namely the ‘organic’ spread of fake news, memes, and disinformation? You can also link this story to the one on algorithms.

Key terms Microtargeting, political vs. issue ads, Fake news, Memes, Disinformation, Organic spread

An MIT news article, contending that allowing social media users to moderate content can help prevent the spread of misinformation.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:18:12 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What has a recent MIT study investigated in terms of the way social media is moderated? How did they carry out this research? What were their findings? Overall, who should have the power to decide where the line should be between permitting misinformation and ensuring freedom of speech?

Key terms Misinformation, Passenger seat, Accuracy of content, Assessments, Decentralized, Scrutiny, Flag vs. engagement, Power

A Forbes article, looking at a US family’s decision to sue Google following the death of a motorist who was following their maps.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:20:04 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What happened to Philip Paxson in 2022, and why has his family decided that Google is responsible? Should digital map providers be more accountable for problems associated with their platforms than other tech companies - particularly when they have sought to monetize them? Why is it significant that Google is being investigated for illegally bundling its products, and allowing them to be used by third-party apps? In general, should more be done to control the influence of social media platforms (students could tie this into recent media reports about TikTok encouraging social ‘frenzies’)? To wrap up: How important is it to understand the purpose behind social media platforms when using them to provide us with objective knowledge about the world?

KEY TERMS Negligence, Illegally bundled, Control

A Big Think article, which looks at how video games have changed us as story-tellers, via an analysis of The Last Of Us.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:21:02 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE According to Adam Frank, why does The Last Of Us game deserve to be regarded as ‘high art’? How effectively has it been adapted for television? Why does he assert that the game is “brilliant and compelling, but you cannot say that it’s fun”? Overall, how can “technological and artistic development [in this case, video games] can reshape the way we satisfy our ancient need for stories”? Answer with reference to video games - and other forms of art.

Key terms Depict the world through narratives, New dimensions in storytelling, High art, Compelling, Emotional resonance

A Big Think article, looking at how some video games - such as The Last of Us II - qualify as great art because they give us a profound insight into the human condition.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:21:14 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE This is a useful article to prompt a discussion of both great art in general, and whether (some) video games belong in this category. Focus on the paragraph in which the writer talks about the way TLOU2 “shifts the experience of perspective in a story”. What effect does that have on us as knowers? How does that mirror what goes on when we participate in other art forms? Do you agree that this is what characterizes ‘true art’?

Key terms Perspective, Transcendence, Reframing, True art

A Big Think article, examining the way social media leaves us “isolated, scared and tribal” rather than connecting and uniting us.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:42:34 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE This is a rather negative take on the effect of social media, and how it functions like an echo-chamber to increase our ‘digital tribalism’, rather than break it down. How and why does it do this? What steps can (and/or should) we take to avoid being manipulated by social media? What are the consequences of these effects - in particular, on the decisions and judgements we make related to politics? You can also check out Obama’s latest thoughts on the effect of social media on our ability to make informed decisions.

Key terms Manipulated, Digital tribe, Control

A Vox video, posing the question, are we ever authentically ourselves on social media?

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:42:54 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Do students agree that “Authenticity is a fluid, ever-evolving social construct that cannot be clearly mediated”? Is everything we do online a performance for others? How would they answer the final question in the article, “Why are we so willing to document ourselves to prove what we already know?” Overall, how can we distinguish between real and fake on social media?

Key terms Authentic, Real, Fake, Truth, Performing

A BBC article, considering whether photo and video manipulation on social media should be regulated by the authorities.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:43:01 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What do apps such as FaceTune and Perfect365 allow us to do? Why do some people argue that these are “unhealthy” - and how have some countries (such as France and Norway) responded to them? What are the counterarguments offered by tech firms and influencers? Which side of the argument do students belong on? Overall, does the use of digitally manipulated imagery undermine our ability to understand the world objectively? What ethical obligations (if any) should be applied to the way we use social media?

KEY TERMS Face-altering filters, Photo manipulation, Unhealthy, Unrealistic, Transparency, Distorted perceptions

A Wired article, looking at whether it is possible to ‘vaccinate’ people against fake news.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:43:14 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What personal motivation does Sander van der Linden have for devoting himself to the prevention of misinformation? How do ‘psychological vaccines’ work - and what examples does the article give of them? Why does success in this field depend on the cooperation of social media companies (the “guardians of the online flow of information”), and how easy is it to gain this? To wrap up: In what ways is the TOK course a ‘vaccine against brainwashing’?

KEY TERMS Controlled exposure, Misinformation, Indoctrination, Cognitive immunizing agent, psychological vaccine, psychological vaccine

A Vox article, looking at the way misinformation proliferates during major crises - focusing on the Israel-Hamas war.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:43:19 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What reasons does the author of the article give for people ‘flocking’ to social media during times of crisis? Why is it difficult for journalists to verify or confirm reports posted on social media? What are the implications of many social media platforms choosing ‘engagement over reliability’? What four tips does the article offer, and how effective do you think these are? Students can also explore this article, which looks at the case of two children who were killed in the conflict - and whose deaths social media users falsely insisted had been faked. To wrap up: How do we balance our natural sense of outrage at what’s going on in the world with a responsibility to ensure we don’t fuel online misinformation about events?

KEY TERMS Trust, Verification, Misinformation, False confirmations, Engagement vs. reliability, SIFT

An FT article, considering what we can learn about large-scale tragedies (such as the Israel-Hamas war) from the work of George Orwell.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:43:24 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What event is prompting Simon Kuper to reflect on the difficulties of accessing the truth about the world? What ‘heuristic’ has he arrived at? Which two ‘knowledge heroes’ does Kuper use to help him interpret events and issues objectively? What is it about Orwell that made him so reliable (hint: use the word ‘apostate’ in your answer)? To wrap up: Does focusing on the views of ‘apostates’ give us more chance of accessing the truth about the world?

KEY TERMS Truth, Identity, Heuristic, Empathy across ethnic divides, Apostates

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A Euronews story about the world’s first AI influencer, Aitana López, who earns €10,000 per month for her ‘work’.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:43:29 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Who is Aitana López, and why/how was she created? What are your impressions of her - specifically, would you be persuaded to buy products, services, and places she is promoting? What are the ethical implications of online influencers becoming artificially-created? To wrap up: Where is the line between authenticity and fakeness within the online influencer industry? Does this question matter?

KEY TERMS Reality, Story, Vision of the brands, Blank canvas

A Conversation article, which explores how we become more objective when we use social media with someone from an opposing perspective.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:43:35 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What example does the article open with of how different perspectives lead us to either accept or reject online information? Why does misinformation matter, and what examples does the article give of how it manifests itself? What are the difficulties of researching the way people process online information, and how has the author of the article tried to overcome these? How does To wrap up: “Understanding that different perspectives determine the way we process information is the first step in overcoming the challenge of online misinformation.” Do you agree?

KEY TERMS Fact check, Perspective, Cultural identity, Political polarization, Bringing together people, Contentiousness, Experimental situations

An NPR article, looking at how social media algorithms 'flatten' culture by making decisions for us.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 10:43:40 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Why does the article argue that “machine-guided curation” makes us docile consumers? Why does writer Kyle Chayka say social media platforms should do more to offer us more surprises and challenges? In what way can social media success clash with cultural achievement? To wrap up: Why should we try to break free of our algorithmic ecosystems?

KEY TERMS Predict, Algorithmic recommendations, Machine-guided curation, Docile consumers, Cultural vs. algorithmic ecosystems, Passive consumption

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-07 00:33:45 UTC

A CNN article, looking at the decision by several major news agencies to ‘kill’ the latest photo of Kate Middleton and her children because of suspicions that the image was manipulated.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-14 14:35:15 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Why did several news agencies ‘kill’ the image of Kate Middleton and her children, released to mark Mothers’ Day? What does this indicate about the “stringent” rules followed by photo agencies and news organizations concerning image-use, and why do they have these rules? How is AI making verification of images increasingly difficult to follow? Why has this story fuelled online speculation about what is going on? To wrap up: How should we decide which images to trust to tell us the truth about the world?

KEY TERMS Manipulation concerns, Evidence, Inconsistency, Stringent rules, Trust, Rumors, Speculation

A Future Perfect article, exploring the decision by Google to suspend its Gemini image generator, following complaints about the ethnicity of the historical characters it creates.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-14 14:37:21 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What problem faces programmers when they design AI image generators? How does the way you understand the meaning of bias determine the way you approach this conundrum? How could Google have avoided this problem in the first place? You can also explore this issue here (it’s everywhere in the media!) To wrap up: Why is it important that AI developers develop their philosophical abilities alongside their technical abilities in order to avoid violating ethical norms?

KEY TERMS Pushing bias, Racially diverse, Overcompensate, Philosophical problem, Conundrum, Responsible AI, Values, Historical depictions vs. dream worlds

A long Guardian article, looking at the work of Sefton Delmer, who successfully countered Nazi disinformation, and found ways of breaking into other people’s ‘echo chambers’.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-14 14:44:58 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Who was Sefton Delmer, and why does his work resonate with those looking to counter disinformation today? How did his approach differ from anti-propaganda information produced by organizations such as the BBC? How did he change his tactics with the station, Soldatensender Calais? What does the article mean when it says, “The real antidote to [disinformation] is not plying them with facts. It’s helping to fix the underlying lack of agency”? To wrap up: “You can’t shove “the truth” down people’s throats if they don’t want to hear it, but you can inspire them to have the motivation to care about facts in the first place.” How does the work of Sefton Delmer help us to learn how to do that?

KEY TERMS Disinformation, Alternative reality, Truth, Roles, Grievance narratives, Social tribe, Values

A Chicago Booth Review article, exploring studies suggesting an inverse relationship between automation and religiosity in society.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-04-12 07:25:50 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How (and why) did Joshua Conrad Jackson and Adam Waytz investigate the relationship between AI and robotics and religious beliefs? How does the impact of AI on religion differ from the impact of science on religion? How convinced are you by the effectiveness of the research methodology? What point is made at the end about the role of religion in defining morality? To wrap up: Can AI replace religion?

KEY TERMS Disenchantment, Instrumental value, Defining morality, Trust

A Conversation article, exploring the effect of AI versions of deceased loved-ones on our mental health.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-04-12 08:04:22 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Do AI ghostbots help or hinder us when it comes to the grieving process?

KEY TERMS Grieving process, Ghostbots, Complicated grief, Traumatise, Fabricates information, Interpreted, New and meaningful ways of remembering

A Vox article, investigating the work of Elon Musk’s Neuralink company “to achieve a symbiosis with artificial intelligence.”

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-04-12 10:02:01 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What is Elon Musk’s end goal for his brain chip company, Neuralink - and why is he starting with technology that will help paralyzed people? What are the ethical and physical risks of these aims? What other companies and organizations are working on the same technology - and how do they compare to Neuralink? To wrap up: Is there a danger of our ‘final privacy frontier’ being breached? Should steps be taken to prevent that from happening?

KEY TERMS Clinical trial, Risks, Symbiosis, Ethical risks, Final privacy frontier, Brainjacking

An FT* article, arguing that banning TikTok will not manage to fix social media’s ‘collective trap’

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-04-12 10:02:52 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Why have a group of economists termed social media the ‘collective trap’? What evidence is there that social media is making us more unhappy - and do you find this convincing (you can check out this other FT article to help you with this)? What other ‘collective traps’ exist in society - and how many affect you? To wrap up: How should we balance our individual liberties with the need to protect people from harmful influences?

*We're proud to work in partnership with the FT, to promote their free FT for Schools programme. Follow this link to sign up your school, and access this and other articles.

KEY TERMS Collective trap, Evidence, Digital detox, Individual freedom

A Guardian article, exploring the extent to which poorly-paid workers in Africa are shaping the emergence of ‘AI-ese’.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-05-02 12:54:57 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE In what way do global inequalities determine the way AI language models develop?

KEY TERMS AI-ese, Robotic writing, Delve, Feedback

A Vox article, examining whether the rise of AI represents a revolution, and what effects it will have on liberal democracy.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-05-02 12:56:11 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Will AI undermine or strengthen our ability to ensure political and social progress?

KEY TERMS Revolution, Societal change, Disruptive, Cultural disorientation

A Smithsonian article, reporting on a New Orleans museum, which has just introduced an AI-powered exhibit allowing visitors to talk to World War II veterans.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-05-02 13:10:08 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What is the ‘Voices from the Front’ show, being held at New Orleans' National WWII Museum? Why is this project of particular importance now? How would you use AI to increase our engagement with the past? Think of some ways AI could be used to connect with events and people from the past. To wrap up: “AI provides us with the means of authentically connecting with the past.” Do you agree with this statement? Justify your answer!

KEY TERMS Interactive, Continue telling their stories, Personal accounts, Authentically connect

A Conversation article, offering seven steps for working out whether a knowledge claim is actually advocating a conspiracy theory.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-06-05 11:46:09 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How easy is it to answer this question: “What would it take for you to believe your perception was wrong?” How will your response to this question affect your ability to distinguish theories based on valid evidence from ones based on conspiracies?

KEY TERMS Misleading narratives, Evidence, Allegation, Tangled webs, Motive, Red flags, Transparent, Supernatural

A Wired article, looking at how the decision by Google to add AI tools to its search engine represents a “change in the world order”.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-06-05 12:08:38 UTC

A uniquely human activity?

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-06-10 13:33:36 UTC

A mini-lesson based on a Tech Republic article, highlighting the practical, artistic, legal and moral questions that have accompanied the rise of AI-generated art.

theory_of_knowledge — 2026-06-08 10:12:11 UTC

Check out our key concepts here, which will help you to apply a critical thinking lens to this topic, and articulate your ideas about it. These concepts are highlighted.