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. […]
Stephanie
Oh! I am so jealous! Just when we UmeÂns thought that spring was on its way, we get 5 straight days of snow and *cold* wind. Enjoy the sun for all of us here in the frozen, cold Artic!
Jill
Well, I expect you noticed my feet are still stockinged, and it did rain again this afternoon. But only for a little while 🙂
Spring can’t HELP but come along soon now!
Lars
Oh, for a bit of rain… not to mention that deliciously green grass peeking up between the stones there. It’s thirteen below zero here in Varanger(centigrade, but still sorta chilly) and still a good ten inches of snow on my lawn. Sigh.
I listen to the birds singing, and I know spring is already here. “Come mate with me, I’ve got a great voice and a neat and warm little nest all ready for you,” they chirp. A nice kind of spring if you’re allergic to pollen. I’m not.
Norman
Here just north of Sydney in Australia, autumn has arrived, but we still need to leave windows open of a night so that the house will cool down. At my daughter’s home nearby, they’re still using their outdoor swimming pool. Naturally, it’s not as warm here as it is in more northerly parts of Australia.
But climate isn’t everything. We’re unbelievably short on meiaeval fortifications, churches and the like, so don’t feel too badly.
Jill
Ah, I do long for warmth though. I love Australian summers. Possibly because they’re scarce, for me…
Noriko
Australian sun is….
jill/txt…