Image by World Economic Forum, from Flickr
European Leaders Watch Themselves As AI Babies At Tirana Gathering
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
European leaders were greeted with a bizarre twist at the opening of the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania, on Friday: baby versions of themselves created by AI.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Video showed each leader-baby saying “Welcome to Albania” in their own language.
- Over 40 leaders attended the European Political Community summit.
- Edi Rama is known for eccentric gesture
A brief video presentation displayed each of the more than 40 leaders transforming into babies who uttered “Welcome to Albania” in their native languages.
Politico notes that the audience received mixed reactions because some people found it funny, while others looked uncertain about their response.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was seen laughing, clearly entertained. In her speech afterward, she thanked Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, adding that the experience made her “feel very young again.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen displayed both amusement and confusion during the event, as reported by Politico.
Not everyone was laughing, though. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan kept a straight face throughout most of the video, noted Politico.
The playful video seems to reflect the quirky style of Edi Rama, who is known for his offbeat sense of humor and background as a painter in France, as reported by Politico. Rama demonstrated his recent election victory by kneeling down to greet Meloni in person, as previously reported by The Times .
The baby video gained attention because of its unusual nature but the main reason for holding the meeting in Tirana was meant to focus on critical matters in regards to the Russia-Ukraine War.
Still, the unusual tone of the opening ceremony raised questions about whether such a lighthearted approach was appropriate given the gravity of the summit’s objectives.
With European leaders gathering to discuss escalating tensions and potential new sanctions over the war in Ukraine, the baby-themed video stood in stark contrast to the seriousness that has typically defined previous meetings on the conflict.
As Europe still experiences destabilisation as a result of the war, the choice to begin with humor may prompt reflection on how political communication is evolving in a dystopic direction.
Image by Freepik
University Student Calls Out Professor For Secretly Using AI Tools
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
A Northeastern University student demanded her tuition money back after finding her professor secretly used ChatGPT to generate lecture materials and notes.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Northeastern student demanded refund over professor’s use of ChatGPT in class.
- AI-generated notes included typos, odd images, and a ChatGPT citation.
- University rejected student’s $8,000 tuition refund request.
The New York Times first reported that a Northeastern University student submitted a formal complaint to request tuition reimbursement after discovering her professor used AI tools, including ChatGPT, to generate lecture notes, without disclosing this to the class
Ella Stapleton, a senior who graduated this year, said she became suspicious when she saw odd details in the class materials. The materials contained AI-generated typos, unusual images of people with extra limbs, and a direct reference to “ChatGPT” in the bibliography.
“He’s telling us not to use it, and then he’s using it himself,” Stapleton told The Times. The class syllabus had clearly banned the unauthorized use of AI. So Stapleton filed a formal complaint and asked for a refund of over $8,000, the cost of the class.
“Given the school’s cost and reputation, I expected a top-tier education,” she said to The Times. Northeastern later rejected her request, as reported by Fortune ..
The professor, Rick Arrowood, admitted to using several AI platforms—including ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, and Gamma. He told The Times, “In hindsight…I wish I would have looked at it more closely,” adding that teachers should be transparent about when and how they use AI.
Renata Nyul, the university’s Vice President for Communications, said Northeastern supports using AI in teaching, research, and operations. “The university provides an abundance of resources to support the appropriate use of AI,” she told Fortune.
One student, Marie from Southern New Hampshire University, found that her professor used ChatGPT to grade her essay and even asked the bot to generate “really nice feedback.” “From my perspective, the professor didn’t even read anything that I wrote,” Marie said to The Times.
Professors maintain that AI operates as an additional educational resource despite student frustration. Professors argue that the tool assists teachers with their workload.
For example, Dr. Shingirai Kwaramba from Virginia Commonwealth University views AI as an advanced calculator system. The tool enables him to dedicate more time to individual student support, as reported by The Times.
Teachers initially feared that ChatGPT and similar AI tools would enable students to cheat on their assignments. Students are now opposing what they perceive as unfair or excessive professorial use of the same tools because it diminishes the worth of their expensive educational experience.
