The Know Daily - Wednesday 4 March 2026

_{Read in 4m 15s ∙ Listening to Alex Warren ∙}

Spice up your…purse?! The royal mint is celebrating 30 years of Girl Power by releasing a special anniversary coin in honour of the Spice Girls. I think we’ll all wannabe getting our mitts on one of these! 😉

🤖 AI on campus

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday school and university life with tools like ChatGPT that can draft essays, explain concepts and help plan lessons. Let’s unpack the benefits and drawbacks for the world of education.

How are students using AI?
Many students use AI tools to summarise readings, generate revision questions, improve drafts or understand difficult topics. For some, it functions like a study aid. Universities increasingly accept that students will use AI in some form – the debate is more about creating clear boundaries than banning it altogether. Lecturers are using it too, for example to create teaching materials or reduce administrative workload.

So, what are the potential benefits?
AI can do a lot to support day-to-day academic practices, like:

• Providing instant explanations and practice questions

• Helping students structure their work

• Supporting revision and independent study

• Reducing repetitive admin tasks for staff

• Building familiarity with tools that are becoming common in workplaces

• Learning how to use AI responsibly to boost digital literacy

Ok, what about the main concerns?
Right now, academic integrity is the central issue. AI can produce essays and answers that appear original, which makes traditional plagiarism detection harder. AI-detection software has been introduced in some places, but it has also faced criticism for inaccuracy and false accusations. There are also concerns about learning quality. Some academics question whether heavy reliance on AI could weaken writing and critical thinking skills if students outsource too much of the process. 

But it's not just teachers who are concerned. A recent survey by Inside Higher Ed and the Generation Lab showed that more than half of students who used AI for coursework have mixed feelings about it, saying that even though it does help them sometimes, it can also make them think less deeply.

What are the rules?
Policies differ by country and institution. In parts of the US and UK, universities have shifted from outright bans to conditional use – allowing AI for brainstorming or editing, for example, but requiring students to disclose when they’ve used it. Some universities are redesigning assessments. Oral exams, supervised in-person tests and more project-based work are being used to reduce misuse. There is no single global approach yet – institutions are still adjusting.

So is AI good or bad for education?
That’s still up for debate. Used carefully, AI can support learning and improve access to information. Used uncritically, it may undermine key skills that education aims to build. The current challenge for schools and universities is practical: setting clear rules, protecting academic standards and helping students use new tools without replacing the learning process itself.

💼 The spring statement has been delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who said Labour’s economic plan is beginning to show results – even as new forecasts point to a slower pace of growth.

• The bigger story: Fresh figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility suggest the UK economy isn’t expected to grow as quickly as previously thought, and unemployment could edge up before improving again. Reeves highlighted falling inflation and lower borrowing as signs that stability is returning. Critics, though, argue the softer outlook shows there’s still a way to go and that many households haven’t yet felt the benefits. You can check out what the forecasts could mean for you here.

💊 A “digital gut” could test drive personalised probiotics so that we don’t have to, a new study has suggested. 

✈️ Some flights have begun to depart from the Middle East, but most are still suspended due to airspace closures.

👩‍💻 10 six-figure (and female-led) jobs have been highlighted through new research aiming to narrow the gender pay gap.

🏮 80% of China’s lanterns are created in this little village in the north of the country – all made by hand, too!

🏛️ The British Museum predicts 7.5 million people will visit in 2026, with the Bayeux Tapestry (loaned from France) set to go on display. 

🌉 Paris’s oldest bridge is set to receive a major makeover from a street artist who wants to reimagine it as “The Cave”.

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Trivia answer: B) The portrait captures Sir Elton, his husband, their two children and their two Labradors.

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