I’m the Dean of the Library, Vice Provost for Information Collaboration, and Professor of History at Northeastern University. (more about me)
Recently
“A Museum’s Sublime Hallucinations” — Sometimes you need the fake to show you what’s real. March 6, 2026
“Can AI Prompt Us to Ask New Questions?” — Not with chatbots as we know them, but perhaps with what comes next. February 23, 2026
“Where Should Scholars Draw the Line on AI?” — Between the poles of Zero AI and AI For Everything lies a vast, poorly mapped middle ground. February 3, 2026
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Humane Ingenuity looks in depth at technology that helps rather than hurts human understanding, and human understanding that helps us create better technology. New issues are sent to subscribers about once a month.
Of Note
“The Books of College Libraries Are Turning Into Wallpaper,” The Atlantic. University libraries around the world are seeing precipitous declines in the use of the books on their shelves. Why is this happening and what does it mean for the future of libraries? May 26, 2019
“The Narrow Passage of Gortahig” — On the rugged western coast of Ireland, a critical road is a bit too narrow, and the locals like it that way. August 26, 2018
