Artificial Intelligence

For centuries, we have tended to associate consciousness with the most sophisticated things our brains can do: thought, reason, language, memory. But Antonio Damasio argues that we should be looking somewhere much more ancient, and much more humble: Hunger. Thirst. Warmth. Cold. Pleasure. Pain.His argument is that consciousness begins with a living organism sensing the condition of its own body. At some point in the history of life, being alive began to feel like something.

Our hosts sit down with Andrea Brandley, senior education analyst at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, to discuss how Utah's education system compares and how to improve it.

Environmental groups petitioned against Project Jupiter, alleging a lack of due process. The state's Supreme Court paused a well water permit and proposed air quality permit for the project.

Our hosts discuss an Iran war powers resolution's narrow failure, Sen. Mitch McConnell's disappearance, Sen. Lindsey Graham's death, and Utah's bid for a nuclear facility.

The proposed Stratos data center project was a recurring topic during the debate between incumbent Rep. Celeste Maloy and former state Rep. Phil Lyman.

Another water rights application for the massive Stratos Project was withdrawn, but county voters won't get to decide the project's fate. Meanwhile, Iron County is pausing data center applications.

Two schools backed out of using AI to read graduates' names, while another is moving forward. In other news, Utah is officially under a state of emergency for drought.

Data centers, like the massive Stratos Project in Box Elder County, have faced backlash over negative effects on water, air, wildlife, and more. A study could pin down what those effects would be.

One application was withdrawn on May 5 after receiving nearly 4,000 formal complaints. Now, the protest period for an application from a separate entity has begun.

There is no denying it: A.I. has changed higher education, and teachers are trying to catch up — to figure out how to live in this new world, and how to make learning meaningful.Stephen Aguilar studies how emerging technologies shape teaching, learning, and motivation. He’s also co-leading work at the USC center for generative A.I. and society, which just released a new report examining how students and teachers are actually using artificial intelligence in real classrooms.