Ben Williamson
@benpatrickwill.bsky.social
Researching data, tech, futures, and biological sciences in education | Senior Lecturer and co-director at the Centre for Research in Digital Education | University of Edinburgh | Editor of Learning, Media and Technology @lmt-journal.bsky.social
Pinned
Knowledge infrastructure crisis: digital democratic deficits and alternative designs for education
The production and circulation of knowledge in education increasingly depends on large-scale digital infrastructures. In this article we provide a critical review of the transformation of the conte...
doi.org
New paper just out on how changing sociotechnical systems of knowledge production and access - platforms, the cloud, AI - pose profound challenges to educational practice and research doi.org/10.1080/0305...
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Funders ‘hold all the cards’ to reform publishing, say academics.
Paper urges structural changes to stop “drain” of research resources by for-profit publishers.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Paper urges structural changes to stop “drain” of research resources by for-profit publishers.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
December 3, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Funders ‘hold all the cards’ to reform publishing, say academics.
Paper urges structural changes to stop “drain” of research resources by for-profit publishers.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Paper urges structural changes to stop “drain” of research resources by for-profit publishers.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Reposted by Ben Williamson
What do The Matrix and educational AI have in common? Unfortunately way too much, as they promote very narrow ideas of what education should be.
Instead, Alberto Romele and I highlight better sci-fi inspirations in this new paper in Educational Theory:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Instead, Alberto Romele and I highlight better sci-fi inspirations in this new paper in Educational Theory:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
How to Imagine Educational AI: The Filling of a Pail or the Lighting of a Fire?
Recent advances in artificial intelligence (e.g., machine learning, generative AI) have led to increased interest in its application in educational settings. AI companies hope to revolutionize teachi...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:55 AM
What do The Matrix and educational AI have in common? Unfortunately way too much, as they promote very narrow ideas of what education should be.
Instead, Alberto Romele and I highlight better sci-fi inspirations in this new paper in Educational Theory:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Instead, Alberto Romele and I highlight better sci-fi inspirations in this new paper in Educational Theory:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
A *very* good paper on AI, education and sci-fi here:
"As we demonstrate by analyzing the paradigmatic ideas espoused by Salman Khan, educational AI is designed to optimize the acquisition of knowledge and largely ignores other aspects of teaching and learning, such as care, play, or curiosity."
"As we demonstrate by analyzing the paradigmatic ideas espoused by Salman Khan, educational AI is designed to optimize the acquisition of knowledge and largely ignores other aspects of teaching and learning, such as care, play, or curiosity."
What do The Matrix and educational AI have in common? Unfortunately way too much, as they promote very narrow ideas of what education should be.
Instead, Alberto Romele and I highlight better sci-fi inspirations in this new paper in Educational Theory:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Instead, Alberto Romele and I highlight better sci-fi inspirations in this new paper in Educational Theory:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
How to Imagine Educational AI: The Filling of a Pail or the Lighting of a Fire?
Recent advances in artificial intelligence (e.g., machine learning, generative AI) have led to increased interest in its application in educational settings. AI companies hope to revolutionize teachi...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A *very* good paper on AI, education and sci-fi here:
"As we demonstrate by analyzing the paradigmatic ideas espoused by Salman Khan, educational AI is designed to optimize the acquisition of knowledge and largely ignores other aspects of teaching and learning, such as care, play, or curiosity."
"As we demonstrate by analyzing the paradigmatic ideas espoused by Salman Khan, educational AI is designed to optimize the acquisition of knowledge and largely ignores other aspects of teaching and learning, such as care, play, or curiosity."
Reposted by Ben Williamson
If universities had collaborated and used the money they have spaffed on crappy third-party technology platforms, they could have built much better fit-for-purpose native Ed-tech systems using in-house expertise. That would have been proper “visionary leadership’.
December 3, 2025 at 10:20 AM
If universities had collaborated and used the money they have spaffed on crappy third-party technology platforms, they could have built much better fit-for-purpose native Ed-tech systems using in-house expertise. That would have been proper “visionary leadership’.
Reposted by Ben Williamson
'I am less inclined to call on the Government for a solution to the British Library’s ongoing issues since, despite repeated calls for action, the UK Government has largely ignored the similar crisis within UK Higher Education.' 1/3
Don’t rely on government to save the British Library - Impact of Social Sciences
Following a catastrophic hack British Library remains in crisis. Can it recover by refocusing on the people, skills and systems that enable it to function?
blogs.lse.ac.uk
December 3, 2025 at 9:34 AM
'I am less inclined to call on the Government for a solution to the British Library’s ongoing issues since, despite repeated calls for action, the UK Government has largely ignored the similar crisis within UK Higher Education.' 1/3
Reposted by Ben Williamson
“The math is brutal and the juxtaposition stark: millions for OpenAI while pink slips go out to longtime lecturers. The CSU isn’t investing in education—it’s outsourcing it, paying premium prices for a chatbot many students were already using for free.“
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself
Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education.
www.currentaffairs.org
December 3, 2025 at 2:58 AM
“The math is brutal and the juxtaposition stark: millions for OpenAI while pink slips go out to longtime lecturers. The CSU isn’t investing in education—it’s outsourcing it, paying premium prices for a chatbot many students were already using for free.“
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
Reposted by Ben Williamson
„CSU—US’s largest public uni system—went all-in with a $17mill partnership with OpenAI. . .CSU unveiled its grand technological gesture just as it proposed slashing $375mill from its budget. While admin cut ribbons on AI, they were cutting faculty positions, academic programs, student services.“
AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself
Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education.
www.currentaffairs.org
December 3, 2025 at 5:43 AM
„CSU—US’s largest public uni system—went all-in with a $17mill partnership with OpenAI. . .CSU unveiled its grand technological gesture just as it proposed slashing $375mill from its budget. While admin cut ribbons on AI, they were cutting faculty positions, academic programs, student services.“
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Re-upping this today, citing the concluding paragraph we wrote as I just responded to a frustrating survey about integrating GenAI into humanities education at my institution.
December 2, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Re-upping this today, citing the concluding paragraph we wrote as I just responded to a frustrating survey about integrating GenAI into humanities education at my institution.
Reposted by Ben Williamson
As students get wise to this, it’s hard to imagine anything other than this developing into a feedback loop of bot on bot action.
December 2, 2025 at 4:05 PM
As students get wise to this, it’s hard to imagine anything other than this developing into a feedback loop of bot on bot action.
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Excited to announce @leverhulmecal.bsky.social posts - we are looking for 7 interdisciplinary fellows to join our Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life, closing date 30 January 2026 (1/3) durham.taleo.net/careersectio...
Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life Fellows - Assistant Professor (Research) G7 - G8
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
durham.taleo.net
December 2, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Excited to announce @leverhulmecal.bsky.social posts - we are looking for 7 interdisciplinary fellows to join our Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life, closing date 30 January 2026 (1/3) durham.taleo.net/careersectio...
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Time for an AI Civil Rights Act AMA!
Check out details of the bill below, and fire away with any questions about what it does or how it works in the comments. Any serious comprehensive bill is going to be complex and complicated, to balance equities and close loopholes. Happy to answer any Qs.
Check out details of the bill below, and fire away with any questions about what it does or how it works in the comments. Any serious comprehensive bill is going to be complex and complicated, to balance equities and close loopholes. Happy to answer any Qs.
Y'all, tmrw is a BIG DAY for civil rights and tech. @markey.senate.gov, @repyvetteclarke.bsky.social, @jayapal.house.gov, @pressley.house.gov, & @repsummerlee.bsky.social are introducing the AI Civil Rights Act: the new gold standard AI bill endorsed by 85+ civil society orgs. Pull up a chair.
1/n
1/n
December 2, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Time for an AI Civil Rights Act AMA!
Check out details of the bill below, and fire away with any questions about what it does or how it works in the comments. Any serious comprehensive bill is going to be complex and complicated, to balance equities and close loopholes. Happy to answer any Qs.
Check out details of the bill below, and fire away with any questions about what it does or how it works in the comments. Any serious comprehensive bill is going to be complex and complicated, to balance equities and close loopholes. Happy to answer any Qs.
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Haidt is "stunned" that ChatGPT asked how it would threaten youth reveals that its plan would be what Haidt has argued in his books. The secret plan!
There should be some way to rescind the doctorate of any commentator on digital media who interprets ChatGPT output like this. I am not joking.
There should be some way to rescind the doctorate of any commentator on digital media who interprets ChatGPT output like this. I am not joking.
December 2, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Haidt is "stunned" that ChatGPT asked how it would threaten youth reveals that its plan would be what Haidt has argued in his books. The secret plan!
There should be some way to rescind the doctorate of any commentator on digital media who interprets ChatGPT output like this. I am not joking.
There should be some way to rescind the doctorate of any commentator on digital media who interprets ChatGPT output like this. I am not joking.
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Opinion: AI is already shaping the REF—the rules need to catch up.
Dynamic but uneven picture highlights the need for a coordinated, transparent approach, says Lawrie Phipps
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Dynamic but uneven picture highlights the need for a coordinated, transparent approach, says Lawrie Phipps
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
AI is already shaping the REF—the rules need to catch up - Research Professional News
Dynamic but uneven picture highlights the need for a coordinated, transparent approach, says Lawrie Phipps
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Opinion: AI is already shaping the REF—the rules need to catch up.
Dynamic but uneven picture highlights the need for a coordinated, transparent approach, says Lawrie Phipps
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Dynamic but uneven picture highlights the need for a coordinated, transparent approach, says Lawrie Phipps
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Many, many unpaid labour-hours will be required for the ICLR authors and organizers to sort this mess out, and the conference will be worse for it. A perfect case study on why AI productivity gains are largely a mirage.
November 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Many, many unpaid labour-hours will be required for the ICLR authors and organizers to sort this mess out, and the conference will be worse for it. A perfect case study on why AI productivity gains are largely a mirage.
Reposted by Ben Williamson
the single defining “new technology” of the 21st century is in fact nothing more than the subscription, an early modern innovation
November 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
the single defining “new technology” of the 21st century is in fact nothing more than the subscription, an early modern innovation
Reposted by Ben Williamson
"They're trying to change our habits, because all of the projections rely on people becoming truly dependent on the technology. Whether or not it's actually a good thing for society isn't considered to be a factor."
Analysis: OpenAI is a loss-making machine, how can it survive?
Don't call it a bubble! Loss-making monster OpenAI is on the hook for $1.4 trillion (with a T) in compute commitments. How can this go on?
www.windowscentral.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"They're trying to change our habits, because all of the projections rely on people becoming truly dependent on the technology. Whether or not it's actually a good thing for society isn't considered to be a factor."
Reposted by Ben Williamson
“Based on the available evidence, the skills that future graduates will most need in the AI era—creative thinking, the capacity to learn new things, flexible modes of analysis—are precisely those that are likely to be eroded by inserting AI into the educational process.”
“When you allow a machine to summarize your reading, to generate the ideas for your essay, and then to write that essay, you’re not learning how to read, think, or write.“
November 30, 2025 at 11:10 AM
“Based on the available evidence, the skills that future graduates will most need in the AI era—creative thinking, the capacity to learn new things, flexible modes of analysis—are precisely those that are likely to be eroded by inserting AI into the educational process.”
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Between diffusion models and LLMs, tech has inflated a trillion dollar bubble around automating activities that have immense social and cultural capital—writing, art, photography—but little actual capital. It’s harmful to education, culture, and society with minimal overall benefit
November 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Between diffusion models and LLMs, tech has inflated a trillion dollar bubble around automating activities that have immense social and cultural capital—writing, art, photography—but little actual capital. It’s harmful to education, culture, and society with minimal overall benefit
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Pleasantly surprised by the Economist’s take on the disparity between CEOs’ enthusiasm for AI and employees’ disinterest.
In other words, the big bosses fart around in the C-suite, probably with chatbots that are telling them how smart they are, while people who have to do the actual work are finding, "This does not help me."
![[Screenshot of text from article]
There could, however, be less benign explanations for AI’s adoption stagnation. One relates to power dynamics within firms. Almost everyone in senior management sings the praises of AI. In recent earnings calls, nearly two-thirds of executives at S&P 500 companies mentioned AI. At the same time, the people actually responsible for implementing AI may not be as forward-thinking, perhaps because they are worried about the tech putting them out of a job. A survey by Dayforce, a software firm, finds that while 87% of executives use AI on the job, just 57% of managers and 27% of employees do. Perhaps middle managers set up AI initiatives to satisfy their superiors’ demands, only to wind them down quietly at a later date.
Changing perceptions of AI’s usefulness could be another reason for the adoption stagnation. Evidence is mounting that the current generation of models is not able to transform the productivity of most firms. To the extent that existing users of AI come to believe that it has an unimpressive return, potential users may hold off on adopting](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jfersscjmut66kwgcgtqmeor/bafkreihk5zpyntkgxhhy73cmg3zdj6utwaaqprkmcs6q725ughlf6ntyla@jpeg)
November 30, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Pleasantly surprised by the Economist’s take on the disparity between CEOs’ enthusiasm for AI and employees’ disinterest.
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Why are students “flagging inappropriate content & otherwise helping guide product development”?
Not the first time I’ve heard of classrooms being used as labs that bypass the IRB process, but definitely the largest in scale. He may not mean it in “…a bad or irresponsible way”, but it’s both.
Not the first time I’ve heard of classrooms being used as labs that bypass the IRB process, but definitely the largest in scale. He may not mean it in “…a bad or irresponsible way”, but it’s both.
I think a lot about this quote from a VC saying the quiet part out loud. The quote is from Vauhini Vara's article, "How Chatbots and AI Are Already Transforming Kids' Classrooms" at www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
November 30, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Why are students “flagging inappropriate content & otherwise helping guide product development”?
Not the first time I’ve heard of classrooms being used as labs that bypass the IRB process, but definitely the largest in scale. He may not mean it in “…a bad or irresponsible way”, but it’s both.
Not the first time I’ve heard of classrooms being used as labs that bypass the IRB process, but definitely the largest in scale. He may not mean it in “…a bad or irresponsible way”, but it’s both.
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Look around. The case for more, not less, liberal arts education - actual, real education in reading, writing, thinking, arguing, analyzing, & synthesizing by doing the actual hard work for which there is no substitute - is stronger than it’s ever been at any point in human history.
November 30, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Look around. The case for more, not less, liberal arts education - actual, real education in reading, writing, thinking, arguing, analyzing, & synthesizing by doing the actual hard work for which there is no substitute - is stronger than it’s ever been at any point in human history.
Reposted by Ben Williamson
🔴 NEW: The University of Edinburgh has quietly paid more than £750,000 to a controversial consulting firm amid job cuts - staff say bosses ignored "repeated" questions about its role.
Read more about 'Nousferatu' 👉 www.theferret.scot/p...
Read more about 'Nousferatu' 👉 www.theferret.scot/p...
November 30, 2025 at 8:30 AM
🔴 NEW: The University of Edinburgh has quietly paid more than £750,000 to a controversial consulting firm amid job cuts - staff say bosses ignored "repeated" questions about its role.
Read more about 'Nousferatu' 👉 www.theferret.scot/p...
Read more about 'Nousferatu' 👉 www.theferret.scot/p...
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Reposted by Ben Williamson
Really makes one wonder why certain institutions seem determined to hop on the bandwagon.
Three years into the generative-AI wave, demand for the technology seems surprisingly flimsy
Investors expect AI use to soar. That’s not happening
Recent surveys point to flatlining business adoption
econ.st
November 30, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Really makes one wonder why certain institutions seem determined to hop on the bandwagon.