Bytes of Ingenuity

Episode overviewIn this episode, host Nick Newsom talks to Vincent Couronne, co-founder of Les Surligneurs and treasurer of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network. Vincent shares highlights from the Global Fact 11 Summit in Sarajevo, where the strained relationship between fact-checkers and platforms was a hot topic. The discussion covers disinformation trends during the European Union elections, noting the shift from targeting the electoral process to undermining trust in EU institutions by exploiting local issues. Vincent addresses the evolving nature of disinformation with AI-generated content, which, while still limited in spread, fosters doubt about information authenticity. Les Surligneurs' "legal checking" methdology is showcased. This focuses on verifying legal claims with impartial experts. Vincent highlights how AI tools are helping accelerate the formation of fact-checking units in conflict prone areas. Finally, Vincent discusses the future of fact-checking, emphasising collaboration with researchers and media literacy organisations01:17 - Takeaways from GlobalFact 1103:54 - Disinformation around the EU elections09:38 - Challenges of AI and deepfakes14:00 - Helping journalists know what the legal consensus is around issues20:00 - Augmenting legal checking using AI25:10 - EU AI Act and disinformation27:21 - The relationship between platforms and fact-checkers33:56 - Is the Digital Services Act muscular enough on disinformation?37:47 - Fighting accusations fact-checkers being part of ‘censorship industrial complex’Further reading Le Parlement Européen : deux lieux de travail pour une institution. Les Surligneurs, 2024European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organisations. European Fact-Checking Standards NetworkTackling disinformation: the EU digital services act explained. Siren Associates, 2023.The DSA, disinformation and the European elections: solutions through recommender systems?. DSA Observatory, 2024.The People Who Turn Lies into Reality, with Renée DiResta. Chatter podcast, Lawfare, 2024.The Stanford Internet Observatory is being dismantled. Platformer, 2024.No embargo in sight: Meta lets pro-Russia propaganda ads flood the EU. AI Forensics, 2024.How CrowdTangle predicted the future. Platformer, 2024.For a full transcript

In this episode of Bytes of Ingenuity, host Nick Newsom is joined by Paul Barakat Diab and Elie Nahas, co-founders of the e-learning company Augmental. The learning platform they’ve developed turns traditional teacher-centric models of education on their head, using AI to personalise students’ learning paths. By tailoring course material to each student’s abilities and learning stye, this adaptive learning model helps students stay engaged and achieve better results. In this episode we discuss how personalisation enhances learning outcomes, how AI ed-tech platforms help teachers, and the need for holistic change within public education. We also learn about the story of Augmental and how the company has navigated Lebanon’s financial collapse and grown.Episode Overview  1:10 - Augmental's origin story and evolution 4:46 - How personalisation enhances learning outcomes 7:56 - Accelerating course creation 12:48 - From navigating Lebanon's financial and economic collapse to future growth 24:03 - The need holistic change to equip students with 21st century skills 25:48 - Freeing teachers up to focus more on students 28:19 - Trends to watch in education and ed-tech 31:10 - Meeting students where they're at 32:12 - On bridging digital divides over looking to the metaverse Further reading Innovation and New Directions: Searching for Novel Paths in Arab Education Reform Evolve Or die: How A Modern Student Information System Can Elevate Education Institutions  

In this episode of Bytes of Ingenuity, host Nick Newsom explores the transformative power of Large Language Models (LLMs) in the legal realm with computer science professor and AI expert, Amer Mouawad. As LLMs capture the public's imagination, this discussion delves into how they can revolutionize legal research and elevate legal practice. Amer reveals how LLMs can provide relevant suggestions and efficient assistance to legal professionals, saving them valuable time. The episode also highlights exciting legal AI tools in development, including those that simplify legal jargon for citizens and fact-check public statements for legality. Addressing concerns about data confidentiality, Amer emphasizes the importance of offline LLM hosting to ensure confidentiality. Additionally, he critiques the politicisation of AI development, advocating for open-source models and collaboration between diverse experts to create tools that serve the public good. 01:20 - What are LLMs and how do they work?02:15 - Grounding LLMs in legal context05:33 - Legal AI and the future of legal practice 10:56 - Confidentiality and data protection13:59 - The impact on labour and education17:22 - Democratizing legal expertise19:04 - Legal fact-checking and misinformation20:34 - Digital literacy, AI safety and open-source models25:00 - The role of the state and data availability29:04 -The state of AI in the Middle East33:19 - Blending theory and practicesFurther readingAI's transformative potential for the legal sectorOn removing bias from legal LLMsLegal checking: putting law back at the heart of public debate Read a full transcript of the episode here.

Welcome to Bytes of Ingenuity, a podcast where we take a look at innovative approaches to solving today’s toughest challenges. Whether diving deep on a particular issue - from social protection to AI election interference - or exploring how disruptive technologies are changing the world as we know it, we’ll bring you a range of critical perspectives on the latest trends in governance, security, information integrity, justice and rights. Bringing you this podcast is Siren Analytics, a full-service digital transformation agency headquartered in Beirut. The podcast will bring a regional perspective to topics of global importance. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, entrepreneur or development professional, subscribe to Bytes of Ingenuity for insights and expert analysis to stay ahead in today's evolving digital world!