Blog on Dr. Frank Herrmann

StarTalk: Is AI hiding its full power?

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:18:14 +0000

If you want a clear, engaging overview of how we got from early digital computers to AI everywhere, this episode is a great pick. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly interview Geoffrey Hinton, one of the founders of modern AI.

Hinton explains the key shift from rule-based programming (“if X, then Y”) to systems that learn from data, inspired by how brains work. You’ll get a useful history of computer science and a simple breakdown of artificial neural networks, including what terms like “deep learning” really mean. The episode uses an easy example of layered processing (edges → beak → bird’s head) to show how machines recognise patterns.

Can we build AI without losing control over it?

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 20:40:22 +0000

In his prescient talk from 2016 – way before LLMs hit the scene and public conscious – Sam Harris explored the potential risks of developing superintelligent AGI (artificial general intelligence). There is no need to be all doom and gloom about this issue, of course, but we should definitely err on the side of caution and carefully consider how we wish to press on with AI development. This is a must-see TED talk for our curriculum on „science and technology“.

Requiem for the American Dream

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 22:11:39 +0000

As part of our discussions in Q1 („The US then and now“), you may find Noam Chomsky’s take on the American Dream enlightening. Take brief notes (including specific details, dates, names, etc.) on each of the sections explored, as they may serve you in your A-Level exams as additional arguments to make your discussions more meaningful and insightful.

Here Comes the Sun

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:33:05 +0000

As the UK election approaches, a recent comment on The Guardian seems worth sharing. Zadie Smith’s evocative reflection, “Here comes the sun,” delves into the hope and trepidation surrounding the possibility of rebirth after 14 years under Conservative rule. You may remember Zadie Smith’s short story „The Embassy of Cambodia“ from your English class.

Smith’s narrative is not just a nostalgic trip down memory lane but a potent reminder of what a socially just society once looked like and could potentially be again. She contrasts her past experiences of free education and healthcare with the current state of public services, painting a stark picture of the decline. Her metaphorical journey from an “Ancient Mariner” to a Rip Van Winkle highlights the dramatic changes she observed after returning to a Britain she barely recognised.

UK Immigration Policy Since 1945: A Tightening Noose

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:55:01 +0000

The immigration policy of the United Kingdom has undergone significant changes since the end of World War II in 1945. Initially, the doors were relatively open, particularly to citizens of the former British Empire, but over the decades, a series of legislative acts have progressively tightened the UK’s stance on immigration. This tightening has often been at the expense of citizens from former colonies who sought to enter the UK, reflecting a journey from a policy of inclusion to one of restriction and selectivity.

Windrush

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 12:27:36 +0000

The Windrush scandal, named after the HMT Empire Windrush, which brought one of the first groups of Caribbean migrants to the United Kingdom in 1948, is a dark chapter in UK immigration history. It came to light in 2018, revealing that hundreds of Commonwealth citizens, many from the Caribbean, had been wrongly detained, denied legal rights, threatened with deportation, and, in some cases, wrongly deported from the UK by the Home Office. Despite living and working in the UK for decades, many of these individuals lacked the necessary documentation to prove their legal status under tightened UK immigration policies.

Cotton Capital

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 10:47:54 +0000

This series of The Guardian explores its own slavery legacy. It’s an excellent resource for getting to grips with the legacy of slavery and how much Great Britain benefited from its colonial past. Individual articles shed light on different aspects, such as the industrial revolution, the growth of the textile industry in England’s North, and the involvement of the Crown. While the UK may be the first to point out that it abolished slavery prior to the US, it conveniently forgets that it had been doing it a fair bit longer, more systematically, and benefitted much more. There are lots of articles and podcasts on a variety of topics to choose from – so „fill yer boots!“.

Farewell …

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 17:06:12 +0000

… Queen Elizabeth II. Many British people mourn their loss and some businesses and government agencies scramble to find novel ways to mark the solemn occasion (e.g. supermarket chain Morrisons turned down the volume of their self-checkout scanners).

Nobody’s death is trivial and, of course, as we look back on someone’s life, we focus on the highlights and the good they have done. That’s as it should be and there is a lot of that going on in the press and the media in general. There are re-runs of documentaries on all streaming platforms and TV stations in which we hear of the achievements of the „hard-working old lady“ and her „steadying influence“. However, we must be wary of blind nostalgia and, in due course, evaluate the former monarch’s role in the history of her incredibly long reign. Some first attempts at this have already been published and may be worth your while.

Jonathan Pie: „Boris Johnson is a liar“

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 18:16:45 +0000

The inimitable Jonathan Pie has been at it again! Check out his video on the „Partygate“ controversy plaguing the British Prime Minister (and the nation). If you don’t know him, Jonathan Pie is a fictional character portrayed by the British actor Tom Walker. His usual modus operandi is that of a serious reporter who goes off on a rant after a serious news segment. I cherish his refreshingly blunt takes on current affairs. He helped me stay sane during the years leading up to Brexit by providing a voice to my outrage.

An apology has to be meaningful

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 20:33:57 +0000

Annalisa Barbieri explores „how to say sorry (and how not to)“ in this excellent relationships column of The Guardian in March 2022. Although there are many types of apologies, and clearly nobody says „sorry“ more often than a Brit, we need to explore how to get them „right“. Why proper apologies matter is not just relevant to the cultural studies aspects in our classroom – it might just be the thing that saves your relationship! So, give this column a good read! Link: The Guardian.

Jamaica needs more than royal regrets over slavery

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 19:46:54 +0000

Lisa Hanna’s comment shows how Britain’s colonial past ist still very relevant today. „Prince William condemns slavery, but the monarchy benefited from it. The journey to justice must include reparations“ (Hanna, 2022, lede). This is some additional recommended reading for my students to enliven our classroom discussions. Link: https://www.theguardian.com

Featured image: The Duchess of Cambridge with the writer at Norman Manley international airport in Kingston, Jamaica. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA (photo url via The Guardian website).

Buddhify

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 11:11:46 +0000

Feeling stressed, anxious, worried or just in need for some gentle relaxation? Give buddhify a try. This guided meditation app is absolutely brilliant. There is no need for an expensive subscription to get you going, but there is an option for an annual membership, which unlocks additional features. Use the wheel to choose your current activity/state of mind and get going.

Photo by Andre Taissin on Unsplash