- T3: Bron Eager's Newsletter
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- T3: Bron Eager's AI Newsletter: Latest AI News, Tools, Tips, and Tricks!
T3: Bron Eager's AI Newsletter: Latest AI News, Tools, Tips, and Tricks!
Hello AI Enthusiasts 👋
Last weeks I hinted that there was some exciting news on the horizon…
I’m happy to announce that in 2025 I’ll be joining RMIT University as a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship & Innovation 🥳 Super excited to be returning to my home town of Melbourne and the opportunity to advance work on AI with new colleagues.
Additionally, after months in pre-production, you can now pre-order your copy of ‘AI-Powered Scholar’ on Amazon 📓 🥳
Given all the moving plans, wrapping up teaching for the year, and researching where I’m going to find the best coffee in Melbourne (recommendations are most welcome) I’ve struggled to find time to write this month’s blog post (apologies!). As such, this issue of the newsletter is focused on sharing some AI gems I’ve come across in my AI travels. A note of thanks to everyone who sends me great content and recommendations to share with readers!
In this blog post, AI/Education legend Ethan Mollick walks us through a detailed yet easily understandable explanation of how large language models (LLMs) work, including:
How do LLMs use ‘prediction’ to generate text?
What is ‘training data’ and how does it inform the text LLMs generate?
What’s going on with ‘memory’ and use of our data?
👉 🔗 https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/thinking-like-an-ai
Relatedly, see Simon Willison’s blog post ‘ChatGPT will happily write you a thinly disguised horoscrope’ to learn more about how ChatGPT’s memory function works.
This AI-clone technology from Google might be a game changer for academics who are camera shy (myself included!). In this video, learn how to create an AI clone of yourself. Is this the future of online lecture content generation?
AI gets a lot of hype for being able to write essays, but how good is it really? In this recent article published in The Conversation, AI is put to the test.
👉 🔗 https://theconversation.com/i-got-generative-ai-to-attempt-an-undergraduate-law-exam-it-struggled-with-complex-questions-240021
🤖 Write and edit text within ChatGPT (i.e. no more cutting and pasting back and forth to Word documents!)
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, have released ‘Canvas’. A feature available to paid users that lets you edit text. Using it feels similar to having an AI-powered assistant working alongside you in a Word document. Pretty cool! Some neat features include rewriting your text to suit different reading ages, allowing you to quickly transform dense academic text into a first draft suitable for general audiences.
The LSE Impact Blog recently published this post exploring whether artificial intelligence can handle the routine work of checking statistics and methods in academic review, enabling editors and reviewers to dedicate their attention to aspects that demand human judgment and insight.
Looking for a book to soak up during the December/January break? Pre-order your copy of ‘AI-Powered Scholar’ and set yourself up with the foundational skills to thrive amidst AI in 2025. Copies begin shipping late December 🥳
(Note. for some reason, the cover image isn’t yet appearing on Amazon 🤷♀️ The publishers are working on having it fixed, but until then, be assured that the design is pretty and pink!)
A practical and comprehensive guide on using AI tools to streamline and optimise the academic writing and research process. Through a series of step-by-step instructions and practical tips, this book provides readers with the knowledge and tools they need to leverage the power of AI to produce high-quality academic publications. The text covers the historical context of AI development, techniques for communicating with AI systems, and strategies for transforming AI into helpful research assistants. Readers will discover the art of prompt engineering and learn practical applications for using AI to ideate research projects, conduct literature searches, and accelerate academic writing. Emphasis is placed on the responsible use of AI, positioning it as an extension of human capabilities rather than a replacement. Through real-world examples, complex AI concepts are demystified, and key challenges and limitations are addressed head-on.
Whether you're a university student or a tenured professor, this book is your indispensable companion to beginning your path towards becoming an AI-powered scholar.
And… That’s a Wrap!
Thanks for coming along on my AI journey in this latest edition of the newsletter.
Take care of yourself and chat soon,
Bron