1. ELLRA https://ellra.org/ is the Early Language Learning Research Association and it’s holding its ‘1st Anniversary Web Festival’ at 12:30 UK time each day next week, starting Monday 1^st July. Programme and registration here https://ellra.org/event/ellra-first-anniversary-web-festival

2. Here’s the first of three pieces from Lance Eaton on AI and plagiarism, AI Plagiarism Considerations Part 1: AI Plagiarism Detectors https://aiedusimplified.substack.com/p/ai-plagiarism-considerations-part

“AI plagiarism checkers – they’re not our friends,” says Lance …

3. And on the very same topic: Researchers fool university markers with AI-generated exam papers https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/jun/26/researchers-fool-university-markers-with-ai-generated-exam-papers

4. I increasingly often use the AI-generated ‘Customers say’ summary reviews on Amazon, for example for earphones: Customers like the sound quality, design, and magnetic feature of the headphones. They mention they’re great at noise cancelling, feel solid, and are long-lasting. Some are happy with the great value, comfort, and great headphones. However, some customers differ on functionality. Read or listen to this one from The New York Times describing a similar approach (about which I feel less happy) to restaurant reviews, The Chef Is Human. The Reviewer Isn’t. https://tinyurl.com/2t4nwewn A new study showed people real restaurant reviews and ones produced by A.I. They couldn’t tell the difference.

5. And, finally, here’s the latestGranta podcast, with Andrew O’Hagan who’s just published his new novel, Caledonian Road https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/andrew-ohagan-the-granta-podcast/id382612249?i=1000657774876

I thought I’d already mentioned Andrew’s own podcast on the sinking of the Argentinian warship, General Belgrano, The Belgrano Diary, but it seems not! Here we go, then https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-belgrano-diary/id1736951748?i=1000650695004

From the blurb for The Belgrano Diary: It investigates the bloodiest and most controversial military action of the Falklands War: a story of government cover-ups and conspiracies; of whistleblowers, crusading politicians and journalists fighting for the story. And caught in the middle of it all, a young officer whose account of what happened contradicted (Margaret) Thatcher’s in every crucial detail.