The AI Reality Check
This month we share resources that explore AI through a questioning lens — public skepticism, concerns with research integrity, and how these tools shape the way we think. It’s a good reminder that curiosity goes hand-in-hand with asking challenging questions.
What’s Making Us Curious?
Not So Fast
“A recent Pew research study shows that the United States is one of the most AI-pessimistic countries in the world. In “The People vs. AI,” TIME magazine forefronted the voices of nine AI skeptics highlighting many different viewpoints and ideological contentions with AI, and it's worth a read. ”
— Amanda
A Game of Cat and Mouse
“With the exponential growth of AI, I’ve been hearing more and more about bots and other AI-driven tools being able to imitate human responses to online surveys. This article explores how social science researchers are trying to deal with this issue, with mixed results. Though we don’t often field large online surveys like those described in the article, this is definitely an issue we want to keep an eye on.”
— Katie
An AI Vibecheck
“I’ve been following Kyla Scanlon, a Gen Z economist and NYT bestselling author (In This Economy?). I first found her in an interview with Ezra Klein, where she talks about AI among other things (her perspective was so interesting to me, I listened twice). I appreciate her critical stance that warns that AI systems are far from neutral, actively shaping how people perceive reality and promoting a kind of ‘cognitive passivity’”
— Stephanie
What’s New At Kera?
In March, Katie shared some tips and tricks about qualitative data analysis in a guest lecture for museum studies students at George Washington University. It is always fun to talk through the ins and outs of dealing with qualitative data’s inherent complexity and nuance.
We recently completed two large projects–a yearlong study of the onsite experience at the United States Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC and analysis of data from a public history workforce survey with the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). You can check out summaries for both of these projects on our website now, and see the results of the AASLH survey in their report here.
Moment of Wonder
“I love historic homes, especially off-the-beaten-path ones. At a small historic house in a town in Maine, I came across a basket on the floor containing a 3-ring binder — hundreds of letters associated with the family who once lived there, all transcribed by one volunteer. I randomly chose one letter to read and wow, it was a good one! In the 1805 letter from Nathan Ellis to Miss Polly Perkins, he confronts her about rumors she was being courted by a Mr. Shaw. The jealousy and hurt are palpable, yet restrained — a sign of the times. This tiny, intimate glimpse into people’s lives 200 years ago was exhilarating, like stumbling into a real-life Jane Austen story."
— Stephanie
