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. […]
Eirik
Hi Jill,
Two of my “at work” favourites are in Vika – probably because I am criss-crossing Vika on my way to and from clients. Kaffe & Krem just below Vikaterassen and Bagel & Juice by Sjakk Matt. I would guess the best cafÈs would be bit further east, but my meandrings don’t take me there that often.
Kaffe & Krem has both wireless and wired access points, good cortado and friendly waiters. A bit on the cold side though.
e
Jill
Ooh, thank you! Sounds great 🙂
I’m very happy with the open wireless here at the University of Oslo.
jill/txt » Rubber Chicken in Oslo
[…] 5/”>After one cafÈ turned out to only have a kroner a minute minimum 30 mins wireless (Eirik, the waiter didn’t know anything about the wireless so may have misinformed me), and the next, wh […]
Jill
Update: the UiO wireless is NOT open, but the media departmnet has a separate open wireless thingy, which is very sensible and friendly of them.
chad
The best Cafe I have found here in Oslo is called QBA. It’s at Olaf Ryes Plass. It’s like 2 stopd away from Hausman’s Gate. Pretty central. They have excellent coffee and food. A great environent and free wireless internet for your labtop (as long as you buy something.) They also have computers provided, which do cost though. I always go there to do my school-work.