I spoke with Kara Swisher about why chatbots aren’t just competing for our time—they are becoming objects of emotional attachment. Our conversation explored the appeal and risks of friction-free relationships and the importance of boredom and vulnerability in our development. We even got into the allure and dangers of grieftech—creating an avatar of you for future generations or creating a chatbot of someone you have lost! Talking with Kara is an adventure! piped.video/watch?v=6yYvWFj8…

I recently spoke with @kzernike about how the history of biotechnology informs our moment of reckoning with “rogue” AI. What do AI companies have to learn from biotech’s spirit of Asilomar? Kate is the author of the brilliant book The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science, which explored sexism in science through the microcosm of MIT’s confrontation with Professor of Biology Nancy Hopkins. nytimes.com/2026/09/23/us/as…

Postdoctoral Associate, AI in Education: help lead research on how AI is affecting US education systems. Work closely with Parag Pathak (@prof_parag) and partner schools. blueprintlabs.mit.edu/career…

Postdoctoral Associate, Charter Schools: help lead the Charter School Research Collaborative and conduct research on charter schools nationwide. Work closely with Josh Angrist (@metrics52) and Parag Pathak (@prof_parag). blueprintlabs.mit.edu/career…

Most AI-and-work research centers high-income economies. But ~85% of workers are in low- and middle-income countries. On the sidelines of #UNGA81, J-PAL + @schmidtsciences hosted a fireside chat to ask: what can actually be done, and by whom?

Can AI chatbots improve outcomes for farmers? 🌱 Our new Evidence to Policy case study in J-PAL’s #EvaluatingSocialPrograms online course walks through a practical framework for evaluating AI tools to reach farmers at scale. bit.ly/4y9wGKN

Blueprint Labs is hiring two Postdoctoral Associates on our Education Team. Previous Blueprint postdocs have gone on to tenure-track positions in academia. Apply by 10/31 to be considered on our main timeline. Details below 🧵 #EconTwitter

“We respond as though we’ve been spoken to by a person,” @MITPSTS professor @STurkle told @nytimes reporter Jancee Dunn. “We’re biologically evolved for that.” nytimes.com/2026/09/25/well/…

Immodestly, I'm quoted in an NYT article on the resonances of the recombinant DNA regulation/AI regulation moment. Thanks for talking with me @kzernike and for highlighting the @JHistoryBiology special issue on Asilomar! nytimes.com/2026/09/23/us/as…

This was an excellent event, great arguments, great questions. (That’s me in the corner)

Jim Walsh, senior research associate with @MIT_SSP, spoke with @NPR's @Indira_L during @hereandnow about the prospects for peace with Iran. wbur.org/hereandnow/2026/09/…

Thank you for having me on @UnsiloedPodcast!

“There was a thought that AI was coming...and that actually it was going to be incredibly important from the perspective of doing the most good,” @MITphilosophy prof Brian Hedden says. fortune.com/2026/09/23/effec… @FortuneMagazine

A @Bloomberg story on Gen Z workplace culture and behaviors in India cites research co-authored by @MITEcon prof @davidautor. “Foundational expertise may be a prerequisite for extracting durable skill from AI-assisted practice,” the research concluded. bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…

.@MITEcon professor Jon Gruber is a guest on @GBH's "The Curiosity Desk" podcast, where he discusses interest rates with host Edgar Henwick. wgbh.org/podcasts/the-curios…

"There's a zillion people that are trying to come up with these guided learning environments and Socratic tutors and stuff like that," @mit_cmsw prof @bjfr told @boston25. Schools are grappling with AI-enabled cheating and related guidance. boston25news.com/news/end-ho…

In this week's newsletter, learn about the special sauce that keeps SHASS vital at 75, discover the mystery of the Chinese tea chest label, celebrate @MIT_CIS's 75th, and more. mailchi.mp/mit/shass-weekly-… @HistoryMit @MITanthropology @MITEcon

The Center is honored to announce our most distinguished fellows: global economic leader @MarcosTroyjo and veteran diplomat Richard M Mills Jr. As Robert E Wilhelm Fellows, they will produce research and engage with @MIT faculty and students on the complex economic, diplomatic and geopolitical challenges shaping the international order. Read more here: cis.mit.edu/news/global-econ… @evlieb @MIT_SHASS @GlobalMIT @MIT_SSP @MITPoliSci

.@HistoryMit professor Chris Capozzola spoke with @Telegraph about the importance of family connections in American politics. “Seeing a familiar name helps voters rapidly decipher the political approach of the candidate,” Capozzola says. telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/…

"It's the illusion of learning," according to @mit_cmsw professor and @EducationArcade director @eklopfer. He spoke with @washingtonpost about AI and its impact on student performance. washingtonpost.com/education…