BY SEAN WALSH For competent plagiarists this could be the best of times In 1976 a New York court decided that George Harrison had committed “subconscious plagiarism” by passing off My Sweet Lord as his own work. It ruled that the Quiet Beatle’s paean to peace, love and understanding was more than coincidentally similar to the Chiffons’ 1963 hit He’s So Fine. The decision must … Continue reading He’s So Fine?
BY RICHARD TAYLOR For someone with zero classical education, the ideas of the French philosopher Voltaire, such as Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien, can seem rather abstruse. I know a little about Winston Churchill, such as his quote, ‘Perfection is the enemy of progress’. The ideas of both Voltaire and Churchill are relevant in the world of education as it grapples with the impact of artificial … Continue reading How Perfect is the Enemy of Good?
BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN There are certain draws to the idea of getting bathed, fed and massaged by a robot, as long as it can perform in Jolie and Loren modes. Having an AI maid or butler to feed the dogs, take out the trash, poop-a-scoop and pump up the car tyres – one that doesn’t grunt, require a salary or dare answer back – sounds … Continue reading Artificial Intelligence – Satanic Spawn?
BY STEWART SLATER Characters in disaster movies generally fall into one of two camps. The vast majority are blissfully unaware of what is about to happen and contentedly go about their business until it does. Thereafter, their fate generally depends on their behaviour in the opening scenes – these films inhabit a staunchly moral universe where karma is conveniently dispensed within their two-hour running time. … Continue reading The End of an Era
