Nine To Noon for Thursday 25 May 2023

 

 

09:05 How AI falls short of the wonders of the human brain

"The False Promise of ChatGPT" was the headline of a recent New York Times op-ed, penned by three leading thinkers in the field of artificial intelligence. It was in response to the flurry of concern about the acceleration of artificial intelligence and the potential of a new AI chatbot, ChatGPT. But Dr Noam Chomsky, Dr Jeffrey Watumull and Dr Ian Roberts argue that rather than being at the precipice of machines surpassing the brain, there is still a massive chasm separating AI from the human brain. They say AI is not true intelligence, and programmes like ChatGPT cannot replicate how the brain works, particularly in how humans reason and use language. Kathryn speaks to one of the authors, Dr Jeffrey Watumull who is a director of artificial intelligence at the science and technology company Oceanit.

09:30 More university cuts as Victoria announces up to 250 jobs are at risk

Some universities are facing tough times with falling enrollments and job cuts looming. Victoria University announced yesterday it must cut spending by 33-million-dollars up to 110 academic positions and 150 general staff positions may go. Otago University is also cost cutting and told staff last month it is looking at several hundred staff cuts. Both universities have seen a drop in domestic enrolments and international student numbers have not recovered since the pandemic. Kathryn speaks to Chris Whelan the Executive director of Universities New Zealand and Dr Julie Douglas president of the Tertiary Education Union about what's happening in the university sector. 

09:45 UK: No Braverman speeding inquiry, Prince Harry loses fight for police protection

UK correspondent Matthew Parris joins Kathryn to talk about PM Rishi Sunak declining to investigate a speeding offence against his home secretary Suella Braverman, while his predecessor Boris Johnson is referred to police over a party he held at Chequers during the pandemic. Prince Harry has lost a legal challenge that he's being treated unfairly over his attempt to pay privately for UK police protection, and a couple who woke up one morning to find a Banksy on their house have just paid over £200,000 to have it removed.

10:05 Taking up the baton: British conductor Alice Farnham

British conductor Alice Farnham was once told by a male conductor that women couldn't do the job because their breasts get in the way. She's now been a conductor for three decades, and her newly published book both tells her story and explains the craft. Born in Norfolk, to a musical vicar, and music teacher mother, Alice Farnham she learned the trumpet and sang in choirs, winning a scholarship to Oxford University. She studied conducting in St Petersburg with the most famous conducting teachers in the world, Ilya Musin, and later founded a series of workshops for women conductors - so far 500 have been through.  Alice Farnham says she's doing her best to improve accessibility to a role which has for centuries been dominated by men. She speaks with Kathryn Ryan about her book In Good Hands.

10:35 Book review: Killing Moon by Jo Nesbo

Louise O'Brien reviews Killing Moon by Jo Nesbo, published by Penguin Random House

10:45 Around the motu: Kirsty Pickett in Te Anau

The hunting season is well underway in Southland/Fiordland. Kirsty talks to Kathryn about duck shooting, muttonbirds and the Wapiti ballot. Also Fiordland has featured prominently at the New Zealand Search and Rescue Awards. And Kirsty says locals will be affected by the impending closure of the H&J Smith department store in Invercargill, the Te Anau branch closed its doors after Covid.

 

11:05 Tech: AI in education, skills for an AI-powered future and in-game purchases

Technology expert Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh joins Kathryn to talk about the continued debate on how to handle the rise of artificial intelligence in the education sector, how people can develop their AI skills and how to handle in-game purchases.

Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh is Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering - Computer and Mathematical Sciences and  Director of Women in Technology at the Auckland University of Technology

11:25 Parenting: Inside the dyslexic mind

Retired psychologist Laughton King is focused on helping parents and teachers to understand children with learning difficulties. It's somewhat of a personal crusade, from his 70 plus years navigating education and a professional career as a dyslexic person. This included working children and parents in schools and homes for more than three decades. He knows first hand the struggles, misconceptions, frustrations  and psychological fallout from having a learning difficulty such as dyslexia. Laughton King writes of this in his new book Inside the Dyslexic Mind.

 

11:45 Screentime: Queen Charlotte, Brutal Lives, Millie Lies Low

Film and TV correspondent Laumata Lauano joins Kathryn to look at Netflix's Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte, the new season of Pacific drama Brutal Lives and a quirky Kiwi comedy, Millie Lies Low, that's coming to Neon.