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. […]
Elin
Oh no! Do you think you lost it while you where in Boston? Silly advise perhaps, but try thinking of your last picture – what was it? What did you do after that?
Jill
D’you what, it’s found! In our travelling companion’s car. Yay! I’ll have it in a few days.
Now I just have to find my iPod, which I think is lurking somewhere behind a closet or under a pile of clothing in a half-packed suitcase…
Sigh.
Marius Watz
I’ll do you better: After having my iPod stolen last November I got a new one, this time with the inscription “Don’t steal this iPod” and my URL. On my way back from Mississippi a month ago I left it on a train seat going in to Amsterdam Centraal. Thinking that I’d definitely finally lost it and couldn’t really justify buying another 40 gig player I’d consigned myself to a music-less period.
3 days later I get an email from an honest gentleman in Houston, who not only has my iPod but wants to send it back to me. Sure enough, I get it back and it’s in its cradle right now, playing sweet tunes…
Marika
Glad you found it: I’m looking forward to seeing the progress on your home make-over 🙂 My very old camera was stolen (I’m sort of annoyed that I think a camera I had for 2,5 years is old – the digital curse). Of course I bought a better one (canon powershot s70), and my travel insurance made it a little less expensive.
Jill
Marius, I’m going to get my iPod inscribed instantly! And you lost it near Amsterdam and are getting it back from Houston? Cool!
And as for my home make-over, I can’t wait for it to be done!!
Darren
Glad you found it! I “lost” my Powershot A70 a few months ago to the local thief, who nipped it out of our car during supper. Unfortunately, even the replacement model for it is more than we can afford, what with my partner’s defense coming next month!