I just signed a petition calling for Norwegian universities to use research expertise on AI when deciding how to implement it, rather than having decisions be made mostly administratively. , If you are a researcher in Norway, please read it and sign it if you agree – and share with anyone else who might be interested. The petition was written by three researchers at UiT: Maria Danielsen (a philosopher who completed her PhD in 2025 on AI and ethics, including discussions of art and working life), Knut Ørke (Norwegian as a second language), and Holger Pötzsch (a professor of media studies with many years of research on digital media, video games, disruption, and working life, among other topics). This is not about preventing researchers from exploring AI methods in their research. It is about not uncritically accepting the hype that everyone must use AI everywhere without critical reflection. It is about not introducing Copilot as the default option in word processors, or training PhD candidates to believe they will fall behind if they do not use AI when writing articles, without proper academic discussion. Changes like these should be knowledge-based and discussed academically, not merely decided administratively, because they alter the epistemological foundations of research. Maria wrote to me a couple of months ago because she had read my opinion piece in Aftenposten in which I called for a strong brake on the use of language models in knowledge work. She was part of a committee tasked with developing UiT’s AI strategy and was concerned because there was so much hype and so few members of the committee with actual expertise in AI. I fully support the petition. There are probably some good uses for AI in research, but the uncritical, hype-driven insistence that we must simply adopt it everywhere is highly risky. There are many researchers in Norway with strong expertise in AI, language, ethics, working life, and culture. We must make use of this expertise. This is also partly about respect for research in the humanities, social sciences, psychology, and law. Introducing AI at universities and university colleges is not merely a technical issue, and perhaps not even primarily a technical one. It concerns much more: philosophy of science, methodological reflection, epistemology, writing, publishing, the working environment, and more. […]
Lisa
Oh, I hope the wedding turns out to be a hopeful experience, Jill (rather than a pressing on the tender bruise).
I followed the trackbacks and was so glad I did: after keeping a writers resource site for four years I’m just now keeping a blog and finding it both worthwhile and very scary. I’ve had a newsgroup for a few years now, but somehow the blog seems much more out there and exposed.
Anyway, thanks for sparking such thoughtful, brave conversations.
Lisa
Anonymous
nice
Jason
As I was reading Steve’s trackback post, a thought occurred to me. It’s been digging around in my head for the last few hours, so I figure I’d toss it out there.
I wonder if blogs could serve as a projection of abstract desires. For example, there are the typical Amazon Wishlists which project material desire, a realm of experience that is ok to share– but then with powerful and/or painful experiences, the “tell me a story” nature of the blog seems to encourage that this kind of thing– but maybe it can only be shared obliquely.
The casual reader will probably skim through the entries, not noticing anything. I’d have to say that the generic blog is lighthearted, making the most out of bad situations and embracing the good times. Living the maxims and ideals that are found in leadership and how-to manuals that seem to be so popular.
But perhaps only the author and/or the careful long-time reader can identify that something is amiss by noting the subtle nuances in a blogger’s writing style or, in the online environment, a change in certain links on the blogroll. Or perhaps the addition of a more prominent way of contacting the author, as a way of saying, reach out.
Personally, I don’t buy the arguments that blogging is exhibitionism. Some people may do it for that reason, but I think a more solid case can be made by tracking the changes in blog desig, writing and linkage over time.
steve
Jason, that’s an interesting idea. One of the points I’ve been trying to develop in my own understanding of (and writing about) weblogging is the importance of time to writers AND readers, to the process in general. You’ve added a new dimension to those questions for me–thanks.
Jill
The “tell me a story” nature of the blog – oh, I love that, Jason. And I love how several people who’ve continued on from my hiding post have written of the ways in which their writing shifts – Steve’s Fed Ex story, Jason’s camgirls and opera, the poem Boynton quoted in a comment. Social story-telling…
And the wedding was lovely, for a long while, though I did need a couple of lengthy escapes to the ladies’ room (I guess men might not be able to do that, regaining your cool in a urinal sounds hard?) and an earlier getaway than I probably would have had otherwise. But no, it was lovely and they’re a beautiful couple. And hey, she had a horrible breakup two years ago. Now she’s found Mr Even Righter!
Timothy
Woa I love weddings. That’s where I met my lovely new girlfriend. Good luck.