AI chatbots refuse to produce ‘controversial’ output − why that’s a free speech problem

AI chatbot makers’ restrictive use policies hinder people’s access to information.

Jacob Mchangama, Research Professor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University • conversation
April 18, 2024 • ~10 min

Bats may shed light on human speech evolution

The part of bats' brains that controls vocalizations has similarities to the part of the human brain that controls speech, researchers find.

Kara Manke-UC Berkeley • futurity
March 6, 2024 • ~7 min

Beta waves in the brain can predict stuttering in advance

Beta waves are brain waves tied to thought, actions, and reactions. New research finds that they can also predict when a person will stutter.

James Devitt-NYU • futurity
Feb. 19, 2024 • ~5 min

Freedom of thought is being threatened by states, big tech and even ourselves. Here’s what we can do to protect it

Corporate and political actors know more about how our minds work than we do. The right to free thought can no longer be our ‘forgotten freedom’

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Trinity College Dublin • conversation
Jan. 8, 2024 • ~34 min

Your mental dictionary is part of what makes you unique − here's how your brain stores and retrieves words

Most people can draw from tens of thousands of words in their memory within milliseconds. Studying this process can improve language disorder treatment and appreciation of the gift of communication.

Nichol Castro, Assistant Professor of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, University at Buffalo • conversation
Nov. 7, 2023 • ~8 min

Does AI have a right to free speech? Only if it supports our right to free thought

If we decide that AI helps us think freely, we may need to give it rights too.

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Trinity College Dublin • conversation
Sept. 27, 2023 • ~8 min

Gen X says ‘prize’ and ‘face’ differently in Southern accent

The Southern accent has shifted between white English speakers of Generation X and baby boomers, a study finds.

Katie Cowart-U. Georgia • futurity
Sept. 11, 2023 • ~5 min

Implant turns thoughts into words at high speed

An implant enabled a person with ALS to create words on a computer just by thinking of saying them, researchers report.

Juan Siliezar-Brown • futurity
Aug. 24, 2023 • ~8 min

Visual misinformation is widespread on Facebook – and often undercounted by researchers

The flood of misinformation on social media could actually be worse than many researchers have reported. The problem is that many studies analyzed only text, leaving visual misinformation uncounted.

Trevor Davis, Fellow, Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Columbia University • conversation
June 30, 2023 • ~6 min

Dobble: what is the psychology behind the game?

Dobble is a card game that originated in France in 2009. It involves observation, articulation and speed.

Helen Hodgetts, Reader in Applied Cognitive Psychology, Cardiff Metropolitan University • conversation
April 25, 2023 • ~6 min

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