Kevin: Thoughts for the Year

As it’s the end of the year I’d thought I’d do a ‘thoughts of the year’ post – a list of things and events that were important to me. So, in no particular order:

The Murder of Charlie Kirk

Here, it’s not so much his murder, which was a tragedy, but the reaction of his detractors: from outright mocking to lying and taking what he said out context. I really have no words for the staggering level of vitriol, although I’m not sure if even vitriol is the right word.

Kelli Ballard: Will Artificial Intelligence Replace Journalism?

The dangers of incorporating AI into the news product.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the way of the world now. It is gaining use and popularity in just about every aspect of our lives. From medical advancements to entertainment, it is reshaping society even as it battles controversy and skepticism. For one thing, this emerging technology does not have enough oversight, and no one knows for sure what the long-term repercussions might be. For another, AI makes it easy to spread disinformation, further eroding the trust people have in the news. So, why are so many news outlets turning to artificial intelligence to deliver their information?

Dr Michael Johnston: The Johnston test for human intelligence

Philosophers love to dream up strange scenarios to get us thinking. They call these scenarios ‘thought experiments.’

In 1980, philosopher John Searle published his ‘Chinese room’ thought experiment. Searle asked his readers to imagine someone who understands no Chinese sitting alone in a room with a very large book.

The book contains instructions for manipulating Chinese symbols, to produce a plausible response to any statement or question written in Chinese.

Dr Eric Crampton: Tariffs, AI, and the certainty of volatility

I am always glad that I am not an economic forecaster.

Most people’s exposure to economists is radio or newspaper bits from bank economists making their best guesses about economic growth, the unemployment rate, or the track for interest rates.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive 4/2/25

Climate change minister froze out farm leaders – but (is he a closet greenie?) warmed to Greenpeace and WWF lobbyists

Your monitors of the Beehive website can tell you what ministers are up to so long as they post a press statement. They can’t tell you what ministers have been doing which they shouldn’t have been doing, if they keep quiet about it. And they can’t tell you what minister haven’t been doing that they should have been doing.

Joanne Nova: First hint of energy squeeze and Big Tech drops the wind and solar purity.....

First hint of energy squeeze and Big Tech drops the wind and solar purity, and launches into nuclear power

All those sustainable dreams, gone pfft

Google, Oracle, Microsoft were all raving fans of renewable energy, but all of them have given up trying to reach “net zero” with wind and solar power. In the rush to feed the baby AI gargoyle, instead of lining the streets with wind turbines and battery packs, they’re all suddenly buying, building and talking about nuclear power. For some reason, when running $100 billion dollar data centres, no one seems to want to use random electricity and turn them on and off when the wind stops. Probably because without electricity AI is a dumb rock.

Dr Michael Johnston: Knowledge is the foundation of critical thinking

New technology typically inspires both utopian dreams and dystopian fears. AI is a salient example of this optimism-pessimism dichotomy.

This week, the New Zealand Initiative released a new report, exploring the implications of AI for education. Welcome to the Machine analyses the risks utopian thinking about AI poses to education. But the report does not take a dystopian view. It also explores promising potential for teachers to use AI productively.

Dr Michael Johnston: Welcome to the machine - opportunities and risks of generative Artificial Intelligence for education

This report calls for a science-based approach to using artificial intelligence (AI) in classrooms. This will help schools get the most out of AI while reducing risks to teaching and learning.

Welcome to the Machine: Opportunities and Risks of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Education, written by Senior Fellow Dr Michael Johnston, will help educators and policymakers navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in education.

Paul Henry: "I think this country is deeply in the sh*t."

Infectiously funny, thoughtful and passionate Guest Speaker Paul Henry delivers his address at ACT's annual rally, Change Makers.

Mike's Minute: Is AI really the future?

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, one industry seemingly not hit is that of the pollster.

There are new numbers out this week on AI.

AI is changing the world, upending the world, taking your job, re-organising your life... or it might do none of that.

Robert MacCulloch: The Boy from Rotorua who Changed the World. How? We Don't Know Yet.

Forget fancy pants folks growing up in posh suburbs in the likes of London, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo or Dubai. People who change the world can come from anywhere, any background. Take local boy, Shane Legg, who was a student at Rotorua Lakes High School. He is incredibly low key and yet gave up his time to quietly meet up with me in London many years ago during which we discussed some of NZ's long-standing constraints.

Jon Miltimore: Why We Shouldn't Fear AI Destroying Hundreds of Millions of Jobs

Workers, entrepreneurs, and companies should explore ways to incorporate artificial intelligence into their workflows and businesses—and give the job displacement fears a rest.

I recently saw a quote on Facebook attributed to Sigmund Freud that I was going to share on social media.

“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful,” the quote read.