Samanta Varela, Ph. D.

A.I. Is Homogenizing Our Thoughts Recent studies suggest that tools such as ChatGPT make our brains less active and our writing less original.

Older technologies have aided and perhaps enfeebled writers. “But with A.I. we’re so thoroughly able to outsource our thinking that it makes us more average, too,” Kyle Chayka writes.

Putting ChatGPT on the Couch When I played doctor with the chatbot, the simulated patient confessed problems that are real—and that should worry all of us.

A psychotherapist decided to treat ChatGPT as if it were his patient. The experience left him “alternately gratified and horrified,” and, above all, unable to pull himself away.

8 Claves de la millonaria inversión de CloudHQ en México para fortalecer la infraestructura de IA La primera etapa de este proyecto representa una inversión previa de 250 millones de dólares.

🏢 Empresas | 🌟 CloudHQ destinará $4,800M a 6 centros de datos en Querétaro. 7,200 empleos en el sector de IA 📈
www.eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/8-c...

Volume 7, Issue 1 of the Occasional Paper Series #SICA_OPS is published!

This volume compiles research and practitioner insights focused on policy responses and governance challenges during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.

Read it here: www.sicaaspa.org/view-all-iss...

The Unseen Health Dangers of Floodwaters Even if the water looks safe, it could be filled with sewage and other hazards.

Beyond the risk of drowning, floodwaters are often full of sewage, medical waste, industrial chemicals and more. And even after the storm is over, many hazards can remain. Here's what to know.

CDMX activa Alerta Roja por intensas lluvias y granizo: afectaciones y cierres en transporte La tarde de este domingo en la mayoría de las alcaldías de la CDMX enfrentan lluvias y caída de granizo, con encharcamientos y cierres parciales en el

🔴 Política | CDMX activa Alerta Roja por intensas lluvias y granizo: afectaciones y cierres en transporte.

www.eleconomista.com.mx/politica/cdm...

A child typing on a laptop. A headline reads: "A.I.-Driven Education: Coming to a School Near You" Photo by Desiree Rios for The New York Times

At Alpha School in Austin, Texas, students spend just two hours a day on academics, led by artificial intelligence tools. The remaining hours rely on A.I. and an adult “guide” to develop other skills. New Alpha schools are set to open in about a dozen cities this fall. nyti.ms/3UuHfGC

Can you overcome an allergy? Treatment is improving, even for the most dangerous

For common allergens, such as pollen and dust mites, immunotherapy—in the form of drops, shots or tablets—is now highly effective for most people. Progress has been slower for food allergies, but that is changing

Kerr County Flood Relief Fund The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund supports relief and rebuilding efforts after the flood of July 4, 2025. Your generosity helps our neighbors recover. The Community Foundation - a 501(c)(3) public charity serving the Texas Hill Country - will direct funds to vetted organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery efforts as well as flood assistance. The Fund will support the communities of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort. All donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your gift.

betoorourke on IG: As we pray for our fellow Texans who have been impacted by this devastating flooding, please make a donation to support the ongoing recovery and relief efforts: 1) The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill. Country's Kerr County Flood Relief Fund is at cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/ fund?funit_id=4201 2) The Central & South Texas chapter of the American Red Cross is at redcross.org/local/ texas/central-and-south-texas.html Be sure to put "Guadalupe River/Kerr County Flood" or "TX Hill Country Chapter" in the memo/ designation field. 3) The Austin American-Statesman and Austin Monthly both have running lists of where you can donate in and near Austin.

🚨 As Central Texas continues to process the flooding devastation and loss of life and property, please consider donating to the vetted organizations listed in the screenshots as well as those listed in the Austin American Statesman.

👉🏽 www.statesman.com/story/news/s...

Bit Chat, la nueva app de mensajería del creador de Twitter que funciona sin internet

📱¿Necesitamos una nueva app de mensajería? Parecería que no, pues ya tenemos varias opciones como WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, etc. Sin embargo, eso podría cambiar con Bit Chat, el nuevo experimento de Jack Dorsey. @animalmx.bsky.social te cuenta más detalles.

Hill Country flooding: Here’s how to give and receive help Catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country has killed 32 people, including 18 children, with seven victims still unidentified. Rescue crews are searching for 27 missing girls from Camp Mystic. Mo...

Here's how you can help those impacted by the catastrophic flooding in Texas Hill Country, along with safety tips for dealing with flood warnings and what to do when you encounter flood waters.

🤖 At #ASPA2025, Dr. Samanta Varela Castro reflected on robots as socio-technical actors in public space.
How do form, movement & interface shape public trust?

Tensions between street-level bureaucracy & spatial organizing raise key questions on ethics, design & discretion.
#HRI #PublicAdmin

Tell Us: How Are You Using A.I. at Work? Has A.I. become a part of your daily work routines? We want to know.

Has A.I. become a part of your daily work routines, or helped you with a breakthrough? We want to know what it assists you with and if it has failed you in some way. Let us know in this form.

Estados Unidos refuerza la protección del pangolín: El mamífero más traficado del mundo Estados Unidos decidió este lunes reforzar la protección federal de todas las especies de pangolines, los únicos mamíferos de piel escamosa y los que

#ArteEIdeas | Estados Unidos decidió este lunes reforzar la protección federal de todas las especies de pangolines, los únicos mamíferos de piel escamosa y los que sufren más tráfico ilegal en el mundo. 🇺🇸🦔

Smaller water districts were hit hardest by L.A. firestorms, UCLA report finds The January firestorms damaged water systems in large areas of Altadena and Pacific Palisades. In a new report, UCLA researchers examine the toll on 11 community water systems.

When fires swept through Altadena and Pacific Palisades, they didn’t just destroy homes — they hit water systems too. Small utilities are struggling to rebuild, and rates may rise without more support.

@ianjames.bsky.social for @latimes.com:
www.latimes.com/environment/...

“Mi psicólogo de IA me ayudó a superar momentos difíciles”: los riesgos y beneficios de usar un chatbot como terapeuta

🧠Con el desarrollo de la Inteligencia Artificial, algunas personas optan por utilizar a chatbots como psicólogos.

No obstante, especialistas consideran que estos programas informáticos son "terapeutas inexpertos".

Vía BBC Mundo.

Los ranchos tradicionales en Mexicali se transforman para conservar el río Colorado

👩‍🌾#HoyEnAnimal | Agricultores y productores de Mexicali, Baja California, emplean prácticas sostenibles para conservar el río Colorado.

Los campesinos utilizan el cauce de manera eficiente y siembran ciertas especies para contrarrestar la crisis hídrica.

A person resting on a hot day. The text says, “Protect yourself from heat and sun. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. Beverages with electrolytes can also help protect against heat stress. Apply sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) every two hours. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing. Take regular breaks in the shade.”

Sunburns not only increase your risk of skin cancer but also increase your risk of heat-related illness and dehydration. On #DontFryDay, learn how to protect your skin by finding shade and wearing protective clothing.

Learn more: bit.ly/3Vhzzcc

#HeatSafety #NIHHIS

Just out and OA in Policy Design & Practice:

"Educating for uncertainty: Integrating abductive reasoning into the public policy curriculum"
by M Ramesh & Michael Howlett @howlettm

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

🚀 PATNet 2025 is going METAVERSE!
🎮 Panels, poker, Tetris, & beachside networking—where theory gets playful.
🧠 Public Administration & Democracy’s Promise
📅 June 12–15, 2025 | 📍 In the Metaverse
🎥 Featuring @poojapaswan.bsky.social (Chair), Nuri (EIC ATP), & Edgar
🔗 Register + teaser inside!

¿Qué nos invita a interactuar con un #robot en un espacio público y qué nos preocupa?

Estaré en una clase abierta para Escuela de Gobierno Uniandes con el Profesor Juan David Gutiérrez el 6 de mayo a las 6pm hora Bogotá. Aquí la liga:

lnkd.in/g-_5nUY3

Homeowners stunned after losing insurance coverage for reasons beyond their control: 'We got a letter saying that they were dropping us' "In three months, we've had three insurance companies."

In Idaho and elsewhere insurance companies are ending coverage in high-risk areas, leaving many without coverage as wildfire season approaches www.yahoo.com/news/homeown...

📣 How can keywords help you assess the impact of scientific publications?

Find out in Part 2 of @altmetric.com's webinar series with Ashraf Maleki (University of Turku) @utu.fi

Discover citation & altmetrics trends and topics driving attention.

🔗 Register now: www.altmetric.com/event/keywor...

These past few days have been very rewarding. Visiting Washington, D.C. for the first time was an unforgettable experience—the city's iconic monuments left me inspired and admiring the history of this great country. #SoHappy

Great research at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. They are understanding adaptive strategies plants use to thrive, despite grazing and fire.

C. M. Radaelli explores ToPP's impact on EU policy research and advocates its integration with theories on implementation, evaluation, and governance, in the upcoming SI, guest-edited by C. Weible. #PolicyStudies #policyprocess #publicpolicy #polisci onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

YouTube video by Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil Curso: Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil, Tema 1

Aquí la perspectiva actual de política pública sobre desastres en México
youtube.com/watch?v=MAJz...

What’s your research story? Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a workshop on research storytelling. It was a transformative experience that reshaped…

An interesting piece on research storytelling.

medium.com/@munasabiha/...

Chile declara estado de emergencia por amenaza de incendios El mandatario chileno declarará el toque de queda en una serie de comunidades que dará a conocer en las próximas horas.

#Internacionales | 🇨🇱 Chile declara estado de emergencia preventivo por riesgo de incendios. 🌡️ Las temperaturas extremas amenazan las regiones de Maule y Ñuble.