Tag Archives: adapt

Experts Call for Overhaul of A-levels and GCSEs to Adapt to Generative AI in Education

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Oral assessments, enhanced security protocols, and quicker evaluations are all on the agenda as Generated Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to redefine the future of student examinations.

As the 2025 exam season draws to a close, AI is already making waves following the announcement of GCSE results, with students primarily relying on conventional pen-and-paper methods for their exams.

With a transformation in exam preparation underway, students are increasingly turning to personalized AI tutors that generate study materials tailored to their specific needs, potentially leading to improved results.

“Thanks to AI, students can ask questions outside of class or at unconventional times without fear of judgment, which enhances their understanding.

“This trend really accelerated over the summer,” noted Sandra Leaton Gray, a professor of education futures at the University of London Institute of Education. “Students can discuss the marking criteria, upload their work, and run sample answers through the AI. They can even ask, ‘How can I enhance my answer?’ It’s like having an unending tutor.”

Some experts argue that as AI continues to evolve rapidly, a completely new exam format will be necessary to evaluate how effectively students are utilizing it. Dr. Thomas Lancaster, a computer scientist at Imperial College London specializing in generative AI and academic integrity, remarked, “This type of examination feels inevitable at this point.”

Lancaster cautioned that AI could facilitate new forms of cheating. “We need to enhance security measures in exams and provide more training to help identify banned devices,” he stated.

“Currently, communication devices can be as discreet as hidden earpieces, and AI-enabled smart glasses introduce even more hazards.”

Sir Ian Buckham, the chief regulator of the UK’s qualification authority, highlighted the risks AI poses to using extended writing assessments for evaluating student knowledge.

In a conversation with the Guardian, he expressed concerns about the qualifications associated with the expansion project, noting that students engaged in independent research could combine this with A-levels, which is equivalent to half of an A-level.

“I believe it holds significant importance, and universities have indicated they value it, too,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to take drastic actions, but I am concerned about how extensively AI will support students in this qualification.”

“Anyone advocating for a shift away from comprehensive testing systems that control AI usage will encounter a much more challenging situation.”

Rogoyski echoed these concerns, stating:

“Whether it’s AI or human, the exam format must change to emphasize assessing comprehension of the material. This could involve Vivas or discussions on the examined topics.”

He also cautioned that as students increasingly integrate technology into their daily lives, early indications of AI addiction are surfacing.

On the potential advantages of AI for the testing system, Jill Duffy, chairperson of the Qualifications Committee and CEO of OCR Awards, mentioned that the examination board is exploring ways in which AI could accelerate and enhance the quality of evaluations.

One possibility is that GCSE and A-level results may be delivered within a month instead of two. OCR is currently utilizing AI in its trials to convert handwritten responses into digital text, aiming to minimize delays due to illegible handwriting. If successful, this could mean that students receive university placements based on their qualifications, rather than predicted grades.

Duffy noted that increased use of Vivas and alternative forms of oral assessment are already prevalent in higher education. “If we see this happening there, could it start to be adopted in schools? It’s a possibility,” she said.

Lancaster concluded: “Overall, exams are here to stay in some form, but the nature of those exams may differ significantly from how they currently appear.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Harnessing AI: How Terrorist Organizations Like the Islamic State Fund and Adapt Their Operations

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Counterterrorism officials have long assessed their approach to the utilization of terrorist organizations alongside digital tools and social media platforms, often likening their efforts to a whac-a-mole scenario.

Groups like the Islamic State and neo-Nazi organizations such as The Base harness digital tools to covertly gather finances, obtain 3D-printed weaponry, and disseminate these resources among their followers.

Over time, thwarting attacks and preserving an upper hand over such terrorist factions has progressed as more open-source resources have become accessible.

Currently, with artificial intelligence rapidly evolving, and now freely available as an app, security agents are in a race against time.

A source acquainted with the U.S. government’s counterterrorism initiatives informed the Guardian that several security agencies are deeply worried about how AI enhances the operational efficiency of hostile groups. The FBI refrained from commenting on the situation.

“Our research accurately forecasted the trends we are witnessing. Terrorists are leveraging AI to expedite their existing strategies rather than reinventing their operational frameworks,” remarks Adam Hadley, the founder and executive director of Tech Against Terrorism, an online counter-terrorism watchdog. He references the UN Anti-Terrorism Commission Secretariat (CTED).

“Future dangers encompass the potential for terrorists to utilize AI for rapid app and website development, essentially amplifying threats associated with pre-existing technologies rather than introducing entirely new categories of risk.”

So far, groups like IS and affiliated organizations have started to amplify their recruitment propaganda across diverse media formats, utilizing AI technologies such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This poses a more immediate risk as numerous sectors of employment prepare for potential upheavals, benefiting some of the wealthiest individuals globally while complicating public safety issues.

“Consider breaking news from the Islamic State. Today, it can be converted into an audio format,” states Mustafa Ayad, executive director for Africa, the Middle East, and Asia at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. “We’ve observed supporters establishing groups to bolster their efforts, and we also have a photo array generated in the center.”

Ayad continues, aligning with Hadley’s insights: “Much of AI’s impact enables pre-existing methods. It also enhances their propaganda and distribution capabilities, which is critically significant.”

The Islamic State is not merely curious about AI; it actively acknowledges the potential benefits it offers, even providing encrypted channels with a “Guide to AI Tools and Risks” for its supporters. A recent propaganda magazine elaborates on the future of AI and the necessity for the group to incorporate it into their operations.

“It’s become crucial for everyone to understand the intricacies of AI, irrespective of their field,” the article states. “[AI] is evolving into more than just technology; it is becoming a driving force in warfare.” The writer even posits that AI services could serve as “digital advisors” and “research assistants” for any member of the organization.

Within the perpetually active chat rooms used for communication among followers and recruits, discussions are emerging on various ways AI could be utilized as a resource, though some remain cautious. One user queried whether it was safe to use ChatGPT for “explosives practices,” expressing uncertainty about whether authorities were monitoring the platform. Privacy concerns have surfaced as chatbots are increasingly utilized.

“Are there any alternatives?” an online participant asked among supporters in the same chat room. “Ensure safety.”

However, another participant discovered a method to evade attention during monitoring. By omitting schematics and instructions for creating a “basic blueprint for remote vehicle prototypes using ChatGPT,” they shifted focus. Truck ramming has emerged as a tactic in recent assaults, as well as for followers and operatives. In March, an IS-linked account released a video featuring AI-generated bomb-making tutorials utilizing avatars for crafting recipes from household materials.

Far-right entities are similarly drawn to AI. Advising followers on creating misinformation memes, such as graphic content featuring Adolf Hitler.

Ayad emphasized that some of these AI-powered tools are advantageous for terrorist groups in enhancing their operational security, enabling them to communicate securely without attracting undue scrutiny.

Terrorist organizations continually strive to maximize and adapt digital spaces for their advancement, with AI representing the latest example. Since June 2014, when IS first commanded global attention amid dramatic live-tweeted accounts of mass executions in Mosul, they have undergone significant cyber operations. Following the establishment of their so-called caliphate, there was an organized response by both government entities and Silicon Valley to mitigate online presences. Western intelligence agencies have increasingly focused on encrypted messaging applications, particularly where 3D-printed firearms can be located, for surveillance and policing efforts.

Nonetheless, recent reductions in comprehensive global counterterrorism initiatives, including some from U.S. agencies, have undermined these efforts.

“The more urgent weakness lies in the deteriorating counterterrorism infrastructure,” Hadley remarked. “Standards have considerably declined as platforms and governments divert focus from this critical domain.”

Hadley is advocating for improved “content moderation” concerning AI-enabled materials, pressing companies like Meta and OpenAI to “enhance current mechanisms such as hash sharing and traditional detection methods.”

“Our vulnerabilities do not stem from new AI capabilities, but rather from the reduced resilience against established terrorist activities online,” he concluded.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Farmers Worldwide Struggle to Adapt to Climate Change

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Climate change will lessen the availability of most staple crops, including corn

Jon Rehg/Shutterstock

Despite farmers’ best efforts to adapt, increasing global temperatures have the potential to significantly impact the world’s essential crops. Comprehensive analysis indicates that by the century’s end, for every degree of warming, global food supply may drop by nearly 121 kcal per person per day.

In a 3°C warming scenario—aligned with current trends—”It might mean skipping breakfast for everyone,” notes Andrew Hartgren from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Hartgren and his team gathered data on the yields of six major staple crops globally, which account for over two-thirds of the world’s calories. “This represents one of the largest datasets currently available for high-resolution crop yields,” he states. They also incorporated local weather information from 54 different countries.

The researchers utilized this data to forecast how various crops would respond to climate changes and how farmers might adapt. “We examined historical data on how farmers have reacted to weather fluctuations,” Hartgren explains. This approach enabled the team to assess how different agricultural strategies might mitigate losses, like crop variety adjustments, enhancing irrigation, or increasing fertilizer use.

Except for rice, which thrives under warmer nighttime conditions, higher temperatures generally lead to considerable yield reductions. For instance, global corn yields are anticipated to decline by about 12% to 28% by the century’s end, contingent upon whether greenhouse gas emissions are moderate or extremely high compared to projections without climate change.

These statistics illustrate how farmers adjust to rising temperatures and the implications of potentially beneficial effects of climate change, like elevated carbon dioxide levels fertilizing crops. Both factors are significant. Without adjustments, for example, crop losses could reach a third by the century’s end under extreme warming scenarios, yet this won’t mitigate the majority of losses. “In a warmer future, the corn belt will still be relevant,” Hartgren asserts.

Wolfram Schlenker of Harvard University emphasizes that agricultural adaptations seldom completely offset crop losses due to climate change, with previous studies from specific regions suggesting similar conclusions. “The major strength of their research is its global perspective, compiling data from numerous countries,” he remarks.

The global approach reveals some fascinating patterns. For example, researchers observed that the most significant projected crop losses are not concentrated in low-income nations but rather in comparatively affluent agricultural hubs like the Midwest and Europe. “They aren’t inherently better suited than poorer countries,” Schlenker notes.

Michael Roberts from the University of Hawaii Manoa states that these findings align with the conclusions of a smaller study. However, he highlights considerable uncertainties, such as the extent of future climate change and the complexities of global food systems’ responses.

“What’s alarming is our lack of knowledge,” Roberts adds. “There’s significant uncertainty, much of which is negative. Losses could range from non-existent to catastrophic, potentially causing massive famines. It’s a sobering thought for many.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Video Star: Energizing VJ Culture to Adapt Hollywood Films for Uganda

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oOn a recent Saturday afternoon in Kampala’s informal settlement in Uganda’s capital, a crowd of young men gathered on benches inside a dimly lit shed to enjoy the pirated version of the Hollywood comedy horror film “The Monkey.”

As the English action played out on the screen, a narrated translation in Bantu Luganda by VJ Junior, one of Uganda’s leading video jockeys, reverberated throughout the room.

By freely translating films and TV shows for local audiences, VJ Junior has become a key figure in the TV and film culture across rural and low-income areas of East Africa.

These VJs act as part narrators and part comedians, often simplifying scripts and placing them in relatable contexts. For instance, they might replace a character’s name with that of a local individual or swap out a Western concept for a Ugandan analogy.

Ugandans will view the film “The Monkey” in April at a video hall in Katwe, Kampala. Photo: Carlos Mureithi/The Guardian

In one notable scene, a father discusses his son’s absence, stating, “So I’m away because I have to carry all sorts of weird baggage and deal with it,” to which he adds, “It’s the bad… the evil… that I’ve inherited from my father, and I don’t want to share that with you.”

VJ Junior summarized this moment with: “The reason I didn’t want to be with you is that I am weighed down by burdens. I inherited mental anguish, demonic influences, curses, and more from my father.”

VJs have the ability to infuse humor, exaggeration, and distinctive sound effects into their translations, sometimes diverging significantly from the original script.

Having grown up in Kampala during the 1990s, VJ Junior, born Mary Smart Matobu, developed a passion for film and frequently enjoyed Hollywood movies translated by VJs.

VJ Junior shares that his role involves “helping people understand, entertain, and draw inspiration from films.” Photo: Carlos Mureithi/The Guardian

In 2006, he entered the field, inheriting a recording studio from his older brother, VJ Ronnie, and later moved to the U.S. to pursue filmmaking. He recalled that his debut as a VJ, while working on “Rambo III,” “lacked finesse,” but he enhanced his skills by studying iconic figures like KK The Best and VJ Jingo.

VJ Junior’s big break came in 2009 with the translation of “Promise,” a Filipino soap opera for local channel Bukedde TV. “It was a massive success and became a significant brand for me,” the 40-year-old noted. “People began to trust my work.”

rRonnie’s Entertainment, the bustling video store in Katwe, drew shoppers eager to browse shelves crammed with thousands of VJ DVDs. Employees were busy copying movies onto customers’ flash drives. A DVD would sell for 2,000 Ugandan shillings (£0.41), with the flash drive copy costing 1,000 shillings.

Shop owner Ronald Zentongo reported vending hundreds of films and television shows daily, revealing that blockbuster titles include Marvel films and series like “Prison Break” and “24.” “Customers eagerly anticipate VJ Junior’s translations.”

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The culture of Ugandan video jockeys emerged from the colonial practice where evangelists provided microphones to translate Christian films for local audiences. The 1980s saw the rise of video halls as VHS foreign films became more accessible. To bridge the language gap, video hall operators enlisted VJs to translate these films into local languages in real time.

With advancements in technology, VJs have transitioned from VHS to VCDs, and now to DVDs and flash drives. Numerous websites have popped up, allowing viewers to stream and download content via subscriptions.

The industry is also diversifying; some VJs are now dubbing Ugandan films and TV shows, with new VJs translating into languages beyond Luganda, the predominant language in the country.

A DVD being sold at Ronnie Entertainment. Photo: Carlos Mureithi/The Guardian

By adapting foreign films and series for Ugandan viewers, VJs foster a sense of belonging, as noted by Imokola John Baptist, a lecturer at Makerere University. His research suggests audiences feel valued, recognized, and acknowledged, though he cautions against over-translation that may obscure core themes and messages.

Video jockeys and their distributors often find themselves at odds with authorities over copyright infringements, facing the risk of police raids on video stores leading to confiscation of DVDs and copying equipment. VJ Junior expressed that copyright issues pose significant hurdles for his business, making it “incredibly challenging” to obtain dubbing rights for foreign films.

Describing the VJ’s contribution to Ugandan society as pivotal in “helping individuals to understand, entertain, and inspire,” VJ Junior stated he typically dubs around 10 films and TV episodes each week.

“Research is essential. You need to be informed, educated,” he remarks about the skills vital for his role. “The industry is expanding, and the demand is increasing.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Clownfish Will Endure and Adapt to Rising Ocean Temperatures

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To endure Rising ocean temperatures, clownfish adapt by decreasing their size.

Research has shown that various orange-striped fish shrink during heat waves off the coast of Papua New Guinea. These smaller fish are more likely to survive.

Climate change is causing heat waves to become more frequent and severe underwater. Elevated water temperatures can lead to the bleaching of the sea anemones that clownfish rely on, prompting them to adapt in order to survive.

During the severe heat wave of 2023, scientists tracked 134 colorful clownfish in Kimbe Bay, discovering that 101 of them exhibited significant reductions in length due to heat stress.

“We were genuinely surprised at first when we observed them shrinking completely,” remarked Morgan Bennett Smith, a research author at Boston University. The findings were published on Wednesday in the Journal of Science Advances.

Two clowns next to an anemone in Kimbe Bay off the coast of Papua New Guinea.
Morgan Bennett Smith / AP

Researchers are still unsure about how clownfish shrink, but one theory suggests they may be reabsorbing their own bone material. Smaller fish need less food, allowing Kakulfish to conserve energy during stressful conditions by becoming smaller.

Certain clownfish breeding pairs also exhibited synchronized contractions that improved their survival. The females maintained the social hierarchy and adjusted their size to remain larger than their partners, according to the researchers.

Additionally, other species are also shrinking in response to heat. For instance, marine iguanas reduce in size during El Niño events, which warm waters in the Galapagos. However, this coping mechanism has not been reported in reef fish until now.

“This is an additional strategy that fish employ to adapt to a changing environment,” said Simon Thorold, a marine ecologist at the Woods Hole Marine Facility who was not part of the research.

A kakuru fish next to anemone in Kimbe Bay off the coast of Papua New Guinea.
Morgan Bennett Smith / AP

This strategy may help fish withstand heat waves in the short term, but it remains uncertain how they will cope if such conditions persist over the coming years, Thorold noted.

The researchers found that these reductions in size were temporary. Clownfish were able to “catch up” and grow again once the environment became less stressful.

“These natural systems are severely stressed, but they exhibit remarkable resilience,” Versteeg states.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Cities are becoming uninhabitable due to extreme heat – how can we adapt?

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Humidity makes Shanghai’s heat even more unbearable

lukyeee1976/Getty Images

“My office was like a steamer on Monday morning,” Chinese influencer Bi Dao wrote in a social media post in August. He removed a drink from what appeared to be a cold water dispenser, and its temperature was 40.8°C (105°F). Bi, who lives in Hangzhou, a provincial city on China’s east coast, decided to walk around the city with a temperature gun and point it at things to find out exactly how much the temperature was rising. “The ground was 72.6 degrees Celsius, the seat of a shared bike was 56.5 degrees Celsius, the handrails of the subway station were 45 degrees Celsius, and even the bark of a tree was 38.7 degrees Celsius,” he wrote. He concluded his post by thanking Willis Carrier, who invented air conditioning.

Hangzhou is known for its beautiful lakes, large pagodas, and rolling green tea fields, but it’s not known for its heat. But Bi witnessed just one of the 60 “hot days” above 35 degrees Celsius that have scorched the city and its 12.5 million residents this year. It’s not just Hangzhou. Many cities around the world are feeling the heat. The situation has gotten so bad that more and more people are facing temperatures that are beyond what humans can tolerate.

Approximately 500,000 people die each year due to these conditions. This rate will inevitably rise as climate change increases the number and intensity of heat waves around the world. Cities are on the front lines of this ongoing crisis. And China’s vast, densely populated metropolises are leading the way. At the same time we can get a glimpse of the situation we are in…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Review of Kafka’s play: An admirable effort to adapt the unadaptable by Games

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If Franz Kafka were alive and commenting on the video game adaptation of his work, Playing Kafka, the big question might have been: “Where’s the sex?” This interactive version of The Trial has branching narratives, but it’s lacking in sexuality. It’s not hard to imagine the author and playtester being infuriated by the lack of sadomasochism or desire. Overall, the choices made in this literal and lightly interactive adaptation seem tuned to be appropriate for leaving it running on an iPad in a museum. The barrier to entry is low with simple binary choices and touchscreen controls, and there’s no imagery to frighten classroom visitors.

Playing Kafka, released just a few weeks before the 100th anniversary of Kafka’s death, is a collaboration between the Goethe-Institut and developer Charles Games (a studio, not an individual). It adapts Kafka’s unfinished novels The Trial and The Castle, along with lengthy, critical letters Kafka wrote to his father about their relationship.




Playing Kafka.
Photo: Charles Games

The Trial lost the most in translation, speeding through the text and stripping away the complexities of its protagonist, reducing him to a hollow, docile avatar. Video game mechanics can offer stories and experiences other media can’t, but in this case they’re not enough to make up for what the developers gave up. And Kafka’s letters to his father don’t gain emotional weight from formulaic dialogue and pattern-matching puzzles; his father probably would have loved them.

Bigger and deeper than any of Kafka’s plots is his world and the Kafkaesque sense of an anonymous institution that is indifferent and incomprehensible to its participants. This contrasts with the practice of good game design, which demands clear rules, victory conditions, and systems that work as you expect them to. In Kafka’s world, the court is unknowable. It’s outside the courthouse, in attics and tenements, in wallpaper and lamplight. There may be no courthouse, no rules, no meaning at all.

So Playing Kafka doesn’t suggest that you can achieve anything with the experience. It’s full of movement without progress, choices without consequences. It can be a boring video game for players and purists. The German character light is adapted to the system and language of a mobile game with a story choice.




A screenshot of playing the Kafka video game.
Photo: Charles Games

This is where The Castle works best: Kafka didn’t give the novel an ending, which may have relieved the developers of the pressure to reach a certain point; their version is free of burden and admirably silly and playful, a boring exercise in what is probably nothing.

Would Kafka approve? Of course not; he never wanted to publish it in the first place. But if Kafka’s adaptation doesn’t satisfy the author, it will trap him in a hell of his own making. Playing Kafka Playing Kafka would have been Kafka’s ultimate nightmare: lost in a maze of his own words, stumped by unclear (or non-existent) objectives, bewildered by dialogue options that offer no alternative, and ultimately unable to proceed after a glitch prevents his lawyer character from smashing through the floor. There’s something at least a little Kafkaesque about the idea.

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Source: www.theguardian.com