AI mediation tool may help reduce culture war rifts, say researchers
Artificial intelligence could help reduce some of the most contentious culture war divisions through a mediation process, researchers claim,Experts say a system that can create group statements that reflect majority and minority views is able to help people find common ground,Prof Chris Summerfield, a co-author of the research from the University of Oxford, who worked at Google DeepMind at the time the study was conducted, said the AI tool could have multiple purposes,“What I would like to see it used for is to give political leaders in the UK a better sense of what people in the UK really think,” he said, noting surveys gave only limited insights, while forums known as citizens’ assemblies were often costly, logistically challenging and restricted in size,Writing in the journal Science, Summerfield and colleagues from Google DeepMind report how they built the “Habermas Machine” – an AI system named after the German philosopher Jürgen Habermas.
The system works by taking written views of individuals within a group and using them to generate a set of group statements designed to be acceptable to all,Group members can then rate these statements, a process that not only trains the system but allows the statement with the greatest endorsement to be selected,Participants can also feed critiques of this initial group statement back into the Habermas Machine to result in a second collection of AI-generated statements that can again be ranked, and a final revised text selected,The team used the system in a series of experiments involving a total of more than 5,000 participants in the UK, many of whom were recruited through an online platform,In each experiment, the researchers asked participants to respond to topics, ranging from the role of monkeys in medical research to religious teaching in public education.
In one experiment, involving about 75 groups of six participants, the researchers found the initial group statement from the Habermas Machine was preferred by participants 56% of the time over a group statement produced by human mediators.The AI-based efforts were also rated as higher quality, clearer and more informative among other traits.Another series of experiments found the full two-step process with the Habermas Machine boosted the level of group agreement relative to participants’ initial views before the AI-mediation began.Overall, the researchers found agreement increased by eight percentage points on average, equivalent to four people out of 100 switching their view on a topic where opinions were originally evenly split.However the researchers stress it was not the case that participants always came off the fence, or switched opinion, to back the majority view.
The team found similar results when they used the Habermas Machine in a virtual citizens’ assembly in which 200 participants, representative of the UK population, were asked to deliberate on questions relating to topics ranging from Brexit to universal childcare.The researchers say further analysis, looking at the way the AI system represents the texts it is given numerically, shed light on how it generates group statements.“What [the Habermas Machine] seems to be doing is broadly respecting the view of the majority in each of our little groups, but kind of trying to write a piece of text that doesn’t make the minority feel deeply disenfranchised – so it sort of acknowledges the minority view,” said Summerfield.However the Habermas Machine itself has proved controversial, with other researchers noting the system does not help with translating democratic deliberations into policy.Dr Melanie Garson, an expert in conflict resolution at UCL, added while she was a tech optimist, one concern was that some minorities might be too small to influence such group statements, yet could be disproportionately affected by the result.
She also noted that the Habermas Machine does not offer participants the chance to explain their feelings, and hence develop empathy with those of a different view.Fundamentally, she said, when using technology, context is key.“[For example] how much value does this deliver in the perception that mediation is more than just finding agreement?” Garson said.“Sometimes, if it’s in the context of an ongoing relationship, it’s about teaching behaviours.”
Rugby’s 20-minute red card to be trialled in upcoming Autumn Nations Series
The 20-minute red card will be employed during next month’s autumn internationals – the first time they will be used in the northern hemisphere – despite opposition to its permanent introduction from Ireland and France.Six Nations Rugby – which oversees the 21 fixtures during the Autumn Nations Series – has announced that the law will be trialled throughout November, including England’s four matches against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan.The 20-minute red card, which allows a team to replace a player who has been shown a red card after 20 minutes in the sin-bin, has been trialled in the Rugby Championship. It is understood there will be a consultation period before a final submission to World Rugby’s council next month to determine if a global trial is introduced.As was the case during the Rugby Championship, referees can still show permanent red cards for deliberate and dangerous foul play which is significant because some trials have taken place where all sendings off were met with a 20-minute red card
America’s Cup 2024: New Zealand double up to take 6-2 lead over Great Britain – as it happened
The last two legs were just a continued masterclass from New Zealand. They nearly doubled their lead by shifting slightly to take advantage of the wind.Some applause from the boss but they still know that they have work to do. They are one win away from retaining the America’s Cup.You can hear the disappointment in Ben Ainslie’s voice but he reminds his team it is not over yet
Britain on brink of defeat in America’s Cup after losing two more races to NZ
It is match point in the America’s Cup. Ineos Britannia will need to beat Emirates Team New Zealand in all of the five remaining races if they are finally to win the Auld Mug for Great Britain.After the fifth day of racing, Ineos trail 6-2 in the best-of-13 series, which means that if the New Zealanders win one more race the challenge will be over. Ineos Britannia’s skipper, Ben Ainslie, has overcome worse odds before now, but you’d be brave to back him to do it again given the manner of New Zealand’s performances in the seventh and eighth races on Friday.“It’s still not over yet, we’ll keep fighting,” Ainslie said
‘I was a tired, grumpy old man’: Ben Stokes says sorry to England teammates
Ben Stokes has admitted he behaved like “a grumpy old man” as England slid to defeat in the second Test in Multan, bowled out for just 144 on a disintegrating surface to lose by 152 runs in a game where his side were “up against it from the toss”.The captain’s tantrum came on Thursday, when as Pakistan’s second innings neared its conclusion two straightforward opportunities to dismiss Salman Agha were put down. The batter went on to score more than 50 runs after his let-offs to take the game out of England’s reach.“In these subcontinent conditions, catches don’t come along that often,” Stokes said. “I actually apologised to the group last night because it’s the first time in my captaincy that I’ve let my emotions about the game and how it was unfolding show with my body language
First he urged women to put family first. Now Harrison Butker’s the latest angry rich guy with a Pac | Arwa Mahdawi
In a segment last week, Laura Ingraham could barely contain her glee when she announced that Harrison Butker had decided to venture into politics: a “move sure to drive the liberals crazy”.Butker, for those who aren’t aware, is a kicker with the Kansas City Chiefs – who are famous in non-sporty circles for being the team that Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, plays for. As well as being the highest-paid kicker in the NFL and the owner of a very impressive beard, Butker is what a polite person might call “traditional” and a more direct person might call “Taliban-adjacent”. He essentially thinks women should stay at home making sandwiches for their husbands and looking after their kids. In May, the athlete caused a stir when gave a commencement speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic private liberal arts school, espousing these views
Pakistan beat England by 152 runs to level series: second Test, day four – as it happened
Simon Burnton’s piece has landed so that’s my cue to get outta here.Congrats to Pakistan and their spin-twins who “humbled” England’s batters. A thoroughly entertaining Test comes to a swift end which means it’s all to play for when they meet for the decider in Rawalpindi next Thursday.We’ll be back to bring you all the action and hope you’ll join us then.Thanks to everyone who contributed across the Test
Bella Freud’s Marks & Spencer collection sells out in a day
This couple has re-created the sights and smells of a Senegalese market in Brooklyn: ‘Experiences keep people coming back’
Retail sales growth slows in Great Britain despite tech spending lift
Companies House to stop fraudsters joining up under fake names like ‘Darth Vader’
New ‘buy now, pay later’ rules to protect UK shoppers from 2026
ECB cuts interest rates to support flagging eurozone economy