Latest news with #Bovell
India Today
19-05-2025
- India Today
ChatGPT will make exams harder, not easier: LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman
If you thought ChatGPT would make academic life easier, think again. According to LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, AI tools like ChatGPT will actually make exams more challenging—not on his podcast Possible, Hoffman predicted that as AI tools become common, schools will shift to more difficult and honest evaluation methods, including oral exams and AI-monitored assessments.'Whether it's an essay or an oral exam the AI examiner is going to be with you doing that,' he said. 'And actually, that will be harder to fake than the pre-AI times.'advertisementWHY STUDENTS CAN'T DEPEND ON CHATGPT ALONE Hoffman pointed out how students are already using AI to cut corners on assignments.'A student goes, 'Huh, I could spend 30 hours writing an essay, or I could spend 90 minutes with my ChatGPT prompting and generate something for that,'' he said. But this shortcut culture won't stay ahead, schools will need to redesign their assessments to test real understanding, critical thinking, and the ability to explain ideas without AI believes oral exams, once limited to advanced academic levels, could soon become a standard part of everyday THE PLAYING FIELD, DON'T FIGHT THE TECHCanadian tech ethicist and entrepreneur Sinead Bovell, termed 'The AI Educator for Non-Nerds' by Vogue, shares a similar a recent interview, she said the smartest way to stop cheating isn't by banning ChatGPT -- it's by assuming students will use AI and designing tougher tests need to raise the bar on what humans bring to the table,' Bovell suggests assignments where students can use ChatGPT to draft essays at home but must return to class and critique, defend, or improve that work without AI tools. Like calculators in maths, AI should push students to higher also warned against over-relying on AI detectors. 'They're not very effective. They can actually penalise people who have English as a second language,' she said, pointing out that even OpenAI discontinued its detection FUTURE OF EDUCATION IS AI-ASSISTED, NOT AI-CHEATEDBoth Hoffman and Bovell agree: trying to ban AI isn't the answer. Instead, schools must evolve. 'Educators must adapt to the new technological reality—not resist it,' Hoffman the AI era, success will depend on how well students learn to work with these tools, not avoid them.
Economic Times
06-05-2025
- Economic Times
Futurist Sinead Bovell warns against kids' growing dependence on AI in education: 'We missed the smartphone era, let's not miss this'
Lessons from the Smartphone Era Early Signs and the Need for Monitoring You Might Also Like: Bill Gates predicts only three jobs will survive the AI takeover. Here is why A Futurist Who Bridges Tech and Society A Call for Early Intervention At the 2025 edition of South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, futurist and tech ethicist Sinead Bovell raised a pressing concern about the growing relationship between children and AI chatbots . In her talk, Bovell highlighted how constant interaction with emotionally intelligent AI systems may be creating a new kind of addiction among young users.'We are now giving kids access to an infinite, never-ending opportunity to engage with an imaginary friend—something that is always on, can answer all of their questions,' she said. 'That is a recipe for a new type of addiction.'Bovell drew parallels with the widespread use of smartphones in schools and how society is now trying to undo their long-term effects. 'We kind of missed the smartphones, and now we're all trying to get them back out of the classrooms,' she observed. 'We can see this line of sight directly with AI systems and chatbots.'Her point was simple yet impactful—unregulated use of advanced AI tools by children could lead to long-term behavioural changes, dependency, and emotional detachment from real-world urged parents and educators to keep track of how often children are engaging with chatbots and to look out for behavioural changes. Even a minor comment during a parent-teacher meeting—such as a student being unusually withdrawn—could be a sign of deeper tech emphasized that while AI can be useful, the lack of guardrails around its use, especially by minors, poses risks that are often overlooked. 'We have to really be looking out for this,' she said, adding that it's not just about screen time, but emotional time spent with AI Bovell has made a name for herself as a bridge between emerging technologies and everyday users. Founder of WAYE (Weekly Advice for Young Entrepreneurs), she has educated thousands on digital literacy , AI ethics, and responsible innovation. A former model and management consultant, she has also been involved with the United Nations and holds certifications from MIT in AI advocacy focuses on ensuring that marginalized communities are included in the digital future and that innovation doesn't come at the cost of psychological well-being—especially for SXSW session served as a timely reminder that as AI systems evolve, so must our understanding of their impact on younger users. Her message was clear: the emotional and cognitive development of children must not be left to chance in the age of AI.'We're entering a space where children could form relationships with systems that don't really understand them,' she concluded. 'And if we're not careful, the consequences could last far longer than we expect.'
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Time of India
Futurist Sinead Bovell warns against kids' growing dependence on AI in education: 'We missed the smartphone era, let's not miss this'
Canadian futurist Sinead Bovell warned of a rising dependency among children on AI chatbots, likening it to a new form of addiction. She urged parents and educators to monitor chatbot use early, drawing parallels to the unchecked spread of smartphones. Her message: emotional development must be safeguarded as AI becomes a constant companion. Futurist Sinead Bovell warned about the growing dependency children may develop on AI chatbots. Drawing parallels to past tech addictions like smartphones, Bovell urged educators and parents to monitor children's interactions with these systems. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Lessons from the Smartphone Era Early Signs and the Need for Monitoring Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Futurist Who Bridges Tech and Society A Call for Early Intervention At the 2025 edition of South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, futurist and tech ethicist Sinead Bovell raised a pressing concern about the growing relationship between children and AI chatbots . In her talk, Bovell highlighted how constant interaction with emotionally intelligent AI systems may be creating a new kind of addiction among young users.'We are now giving kids access to an infinite, never-ending opportunity to engage with an imaginary friend—something that is always on, can answer all of their questions,' she said. 'That is a recipe for a new type of addiction.'Bovell drew parallels with the widespread use of smartphones in schools and how society is now trying to undo their long-term effects. 'We kind of missed the smartphones, and now we're all trying to get them back out of the classrooms,' she observed. 'We can see this line of sight directly with AI systems and chatbots.'Her point was simple yet impactful—unregulated use of advanced AI tools by children could lead to long-term behavioural changes, dependency, and emotional detachment from real-world urged parents and educators to keep track of how often children are engaging with chatbots and to look out for behavioural changes. Even a minor comment during a parent-teacher meeting—such as a student being unusually withdrawn—could be a sign of deeper tech emphasized that while AI can be useful, the lack of guardrails around its use, especially by minors, poses risks that are often overlooked. 'We have to really be looking out for this,' she said, adding that it's not just about screen time, but emotional time spent with AI Bovell has made a name for herself as a bridge between emerging technologies and everyday users. Founder of WAYE (Weekly Advice for Young Entrepreneurs), she has educated thousands on digital literacy , AI ethics, and responsible innovation. A former model and management consultant, she has also been involved with the United Nations and holds certifications from MIT in AI advocacy focuses on ensuring that marginalized communities are included in the digital future and that innovation doesn't come at the cost of psychological well-being—especially for SXSW session served as a timely reminder that as AI systems evolve, so must our understanding of their impact on younger users. Her message was clear: the emotional and cognitive development of children must not be left to chance in the age of AI.'We're entering a space where children could form relationships with systems that don't really understand them,' she concluded. 'And if we're not careful, the consequences could last far longer than we expect.'
The Guardian
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘I feel as though I've been in chains': the bittersweet life of lovers rock legend Mari' Pierre
In December 1978, Marie Pierre was at No 1 in the UK reggae chart with the lovers rock classic Walk Away, a beautiful tearstained lament on a troubled relationship. Her 1979 debut album Love Affair, powered by another enduring scene song in Choose Me, remained one of Trojan's best-selling albums well into the 1980s; Pierre, with her crystalline multi-octave voice, seemed destined to follow her contemporary, Silly Games singer Janet Kay, into mainstream pop-reggae success. But in the 46 years since, Pierre has never released another album. A career that promised so much has – despite TV work and successful backing singing gigs with Robert Plant, Donna Summer and Chaka Khan – been one of frustration and thwarted ambition. Misfortune, mistrust and mistreatment, personal and professional, have sidelined her. 'I feel as though I've been in chains,' she says on a video call. 'I've been anchored for no good reason.' Pierre (born Marilyn, and now spelling her name Mari') grew up in Clapham in south London, one of six siblings. Her parents had moved from Guyana in the 1950s, where her 'quite strict but lovingly strict' father had been a well-known musician and tap dancer under the stage name Little George. Pierre's career started without his knowledge: 'He felt I was still of a tender age and knew what the music industry might expose me to.' When she was 14, her boyfriend Syd – her soon-to-be husband, whom she had met on the bus in a game of truth or dare – came to pick her up for a date. He was impressed when he heard her singing in the bath. 'I didn't realise he was in the house,' Pierre laughs. 'Once we went out, he said: 'I've got to introduce you to my sister's boyfriend, because he has a band, and they rehearse in a basement.' The sister's boyfriend was Dennis Bovell, still at school himself but starting the road to his illustrious career as a reggae and dub pioneer with his first band, Matumbi. Bovell became an important figure in Pierre's life: a musical teacher who 'was like a big brother'. 'She was like family – very close and very dear to me,' says Bovell. 'And she's always been a very powerful singer.' Pierre would sneak into Bovell's all-boys school in disguise to lay down tracks in the school studio, including her first key song Cry, released under the name Angelique. 'He got me a hat and a jacket and some trousers,' she says. 'Nobody knew that I was a girl. He did say to me: 'Don't open your mouth!' We had a good rapport. He got me and I got him. He stretched me: I couldn't sing like that before him. He protected me, and I felt secure around him.' Pierre was gaining confidence. After a spell rehearsing with Billy Ocean above a bingo hall in Dalston, east London ('Billy used to see me home and stay for dinner – he loved my mum's cooking') she joined three-piece vocal group Super Pack, who played American army bases in the UK with the Stylistics and Fontella Bass and spent two years performing in Switzerland. By the time she returned home, she had married Syd: 'We were best friends, young sweethearts.' But all wasn't well. Pierre wrote Walk Away after a fight: Syd had stormed out, leaving her at home with their baby, and she was watching a Bette Davis film. 'And she said something that just resonated with me: 'You were the cause of all of my tears but you never wiped one of them away.'' She scribbled down the lyric, came up with a melody and took it to Bovell, who in turn took Pierre to Trojan Records. 'I envisioned it as a soul song. But Dennis converted it to lovers rock.' Bovell was helping pioneer the lovers rock sound, a gentler, more romantic take on British reggae. Love Affair, now enjoying a new reissue for the first time in 30 years, is still considered one of the genre's high points; Pierre co-wrote several songs to go with Bovell's tracks and lush production. 'A great record', says Bovell. As the title suggests, many songs are not about romance but infidelity: Syd had had an affair. 'They're all based on true stories,' Pierre says. '[The affair] was damaging, because she was my best friend. I'm no longer sorry. It's all wisdom. If you don't live it, you'll never know it.' Did Syd ever hear the songs? 'Oh, he knew, yeah. There was the big guilt trip. But once bitten, twice shy.' Even before the album's release, issues mounted. Pierre says she was not properly credited by Bovell for some tracks on Love Affair; Bovell says that isn't true. Pierre says she was also refused permission to release material she had recorded at about the same time: 'Everyone was earning theirs, but I was sitting on the sideline faithfully waiting.' Bovell counters: 'If they weren't released, it was because they weren't ready.' What is clear is that parts of the lovers rock scene itself didn't treat Pierre well: lacking support and taken advantage of, she has been ripped off by promotors over the years. 'At one point she said: why am I doing this?' says Bovell. And with Bovell's eclectic career taking off as he worked with a host of artists such as the Pop Group and the Slits, it left Pierre somewhat lost without her mentor. 'I just felt that I couldn't work with anybody else but him,' she says. 'Because I trusted him implicitly.' 'We kind of grew apart,' Bovell says, admitting that even though he took Pierre to play shows in the US and Japan, he became too busy to record with her. 'She didn't particularly want to work with other producers. And I couldn't just work with her alone – I had to go and get my career.' The situation knocked not so much Pierre's confidence, but her trust in the industry. 'I haven't really had any faith in anybody else since,' she says. That goes for romantic relationships, too. She calls Syd: 'My first love, and my last. I've been out and dated. But wisdom has taught me I don't want the extra baggage.' After some failed collaborations, Pierre took to backing singing and TV work in the 1980s, including singing the theme tune to Channel 4's popular sitcom Desmond's. She also performed gigs as Damaged Daughters, a three-piece that included the 80s soul singer Princess. There were frequent gigs as in-house singer on The Terry Wogan Show and Channel 4's Club X, where she sang with Donna Summer, Chaka Khan and Randy Crawford. Most notably, she sang on Robert Plant's 1988 album Now and Zen. She didn't know who Plant was when she got the call, but did such a good job that Plant sent her a platinum disc as a thank you. 'It's proudly hanging on my wall. And I felt more humbled and well received getting that from Robert Plant because all the years I've been in the business, I haven't received that recognition from my own.' By the time she finished a 12-year run fronting Supremes tribute act the SOS Band, she was disillusioned again, and her only shows over the last decade have been lovers rock reunion nights. 'But it's not what I really want to do. I could be doing that and earning, but why? Unless I've got new material?' Pierre has a positive disposition – 'I don't get consumed with bad feelings or malice' – but everything has clearly taken a toll. 'I felt those knocks,' she says. 'I feel that happiness or joy is only for a moment, because you don't know who's waiting around the corner to steal that from you.' She also suffers from arthritis, and is going through an emotionally painful, costly, lengthy probate dispute with some family members. 'It's affecting my creativity. I'm not finding the joy in life.' But it might not be too late. Days later, Pierre rings me to say our interview 'just made me think, well, let's do this'. She contacted Bovell; not only did they 'have a heart to heart', he sent her some tracks, old and new, to work on with a view to releasing an EP. 'Because we're like a family, we can start as we desire,' Bovell says. 'I've invited her to do her lyrical magic, because she does come with some really good lyrics.' Pierre also got in touch with some old connections: they are planning to go into the studio in the spring. 'All I had to do was contact certain people, and, boy, were they ready to go.' She sounds so happy. 'So, it's not the end of Mari' Pierre,' she says. 'I'm back on the horse and willing to ride!' The reissue of Love Affair is out now on Cherry Red
