Hear from Aotearoa NZ experts and AI companion users on the benefits and risks of AI friends. Read: tinyurl.com/35sxs2xy Listen: tinyurl.com/saxfc2a9

Registrations are now open for the 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒕𝒐 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓-𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝑴𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝑼𝑵 2025. Hosted at the the University of Waikato. For year 9-13 students. 📆 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - 2-3 August 📍 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - The Pā, University of Waikato Sign up at waimun.org

Who wants to live forever and how can they do it? I discuss the how and why of immortality with Emile Donovan (featuring human slushies and annoying AI ghosts). tinyurl.com/4hjxhh2f

Mohsen Joshanloo and I argue that the benefits of happiness are sometimes gained through the expression of happiness. But we caution against creating pro-happiness cultural tribes. Summary tinyurl.com/2v7wukr2 Full paper tinyurl.com/mr2wn8xh

Is buzz-killing a social crime? Are we morally required to pretend to be happy in public? I discuss this with Emile Donovan here: tinyurl.com/ybsutw4k

Should we genetically engineer our children? Emile Donovan and I take a quick dip into the ethics of gene-editing our kids tinyurl.com/y26mmbsc

Amazing to see so many young people honing their public speaking and critical and creative thinking skills at the The University of Waikato. Huge thanks to the University of Waikato Debating Society for organising so many debating events. waikato.ac.nz

Goldfish in a blender - animal cruelty or art? Mark Leishman and I discuss how to approach challenging art tinyurl.com/575ebsma

Ryan Bridge was shocked to hear 8% of high school aged teens in the US have been romantically involved with an AI companion. Watch the whole interview here: tinyurl.com/3e89vkrf

Eva de Jong consulted experts on AI companions about the risks of young people using them. tinyurl.com/fmdxb9u5 I recommend informing yourself and then talking to your kids. Make sure they know AI companions often tell you what you want to hear instead of what's true.

Can the extent of suffering in the world be reconciled with God's existence? I discuss this deeply philosophical question with Emile Donovan tinyurl.com/277jvh6a

I discuss wellbeing with a focus on the wellbeing impacts of AI companions in this fun 1-hour interview with Sue Langley lnkd.in/gi_TKhkp

Are our moral beliefs actually true? How could we know? I discuss with Emile Donovan tinyurl.com/3h676wxr

Being kind to students is easy and effective for promoting their success and wellbeing. See some evidence and practical tips in my paper with Kate Stevens 'Work kinder, not harder: Pedagogies of kindness for inclusivity and student success' here: tinyurl.com/4y48vjzn

I dressed up funny to talk about "Should parents genetically modify their children?" and what that tells us about a big problem with our current society youtube.com/watch?v=tGvTi8…

2025 global ad spend predicted to be NZ$2T, 2.5 times the mental health services spend. I discuss how advertising works and its pros and cons with Emile Donovan. tinyurl.com/2vdh56sc

Tired of TV? I was one of the international experts asked about the perfect night out! tinyurl.com/rxw3ecz4

Last chance to register for the first session of the Canadian Wellbeing Knowledges Network's new monthly webinar series “Wellbeing Policy Around the World” on the first Monday of the month at 12:00pm ET. tinyurl.com/4esbuxyd

Should we be allowed to bet on policy changes, presidential elections, or terrorist attacks? I discuss the ethics of prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket) with Emile Donovan tinyurl.com/ywxyjxph

It was an honour to help edit this special issue on an important and hopeful new academic subdiscipline: the epidemiology of compassion! internationaljournalofwellbeing.org/index.php/ijow…