If I waited until I was in the mood to write, then little would ever be written. I can only dream of disappearing off to an idyllic writing retreat, where I can while away the days mulling over ideas in the shade of a tree, overlooking the sea. In practice, I have to write in small fractures that open up in the continuum of time.  I write in cafes, before swimming, while swimming, over lunch, after hours, before sunrise, on planes, buses and trains, and at bus stops, stations

What's your view of AI - a blessing, a curse, a danger, or just tedious and creating more bother in your life? As well as displaying fake sentiment ... Don't believe it if your receive a compliment, let alone an expression of love. Just don't! The colossal danger that AI poses to individuals as well as masses of people is often the last consideration of users, but the heads of major tech companies know better than most, the horrific dimensions that AI could exploit to the det

To answer this question, I decided to ask an imaginary friend, who I decided to name Deborah. Deborah hasn’t been around for long, in fact I only made her up as I started typing, so she hasn’t had much time to get her head around AI. I explained to Deborah that AI is an artificial replica of the human brain, a human creation, which has been gifted with the ability to think for itself. Deborah said that sounds a lot like her, and when I explained that I find AI a bit creepy, s

AI seems to have pride of place on Google these days. And trouble can arise when an innocent unsuspecting crossword player asks Google for help. Even though Wikipedia is a much more reliable source of information, created by those in the know (ie humans) with cross-checking carried out by even more humans who are knowledgeable on a particular subject, AI has pushed its way into our lives for those who happen to trust whatever comes up first in a Google search . Readers of th

I received a text from a relative this week saying she was unwell, and along with it a ‘kind’ offer from AI in the form of a response. All I had to do was click send! As if I couldn’t form my own words to describe my sympathy! It must be the greatest insincerity from AI that I’ve experienced so far. This is what AI came up with: 'Hope the worst is behind you now [personal name used] and that you've suffered no damage. Still some waiting to go though. Sent from my iPhone.' I m

It's true - you still have time before the New Year to right the wrongs of 2025. Maybe start sweeping with a new broom, or get a new look haircut. Read on so that David Benn can guide you in how to go about it ...   It was nearly six o’clock on a very warm and humid December evening when I pushed open the door of Louis’s small hair salon on Redfern Street. Dressed in a tight white singlet and baggy blue jeans, the large tanned Greek Cypriot lounged back in one of the two salo

Why certain writing stands out as singularly beautiful is both as illusory as it is self-evident. Unlike AI which lacks artistic agency and must be told what is interesting and unique. The human experience of 'being in the world', gathered up through our sensory perceptions and intuition, alerts us when something sublime, rather than ordinary, crosses our path - in a way that moves us and may even transform us. It’s as if the writer draws back a curtain and we glimpse the wor

The stories in my head are like a small army. Character by character, the story gains strength, growing bigger and more powerful by the day. If I let them sit idle for too long, the warning signals flash. Let the army march! And if I don’t listen to the signals, the army completes a hostile takeover. It occupies all my mental space, leaving little room for me to think about anything else. I write to let the soldiers do their job: fly in peace out of my head and into the world

The popular project to show the world who we really are can be summed up in the search for the self and why it’s become such an important quest for our identity. A new force, yet age-old, this search has in recent years taken on extraordinary importance due largely to the digitalisation of our experiences in the world, leading to a need to express what the self really means. The quest goes back a long way, however, into Ancient Greek times, with the emergence of Socrates, one

Jack slowly opened the door to the study and looked in. ‘Are you in here, Dad?’  His voice was at once inquisitive and sheepish. It was not quite assertive yet not quite timid. It was caught somewhere between adult and child. This voice means he wants to talk to ask me for something , I thought. It is usually financial.   And, of course, he knew I was in there. It was evening. I am always in the study on Sunday evenings, working at my laptop while taking in the beauty of the

(Short fiction set in Watsons Bay, Sydney) ‘Hey buddy, wake up. This is the last stop.’  These words hang in the ether until the...

I wonder why most media continue to speculate about Iran’s nuclear capacity yet it is a signatory to the International...

I’m not sure of many things, but if there’s something I am certain of it is my ability to make my head a prison. Often when my mind is...

Thoughts dashing here and there, in and out of a roundabout of consciousness. P ush button A, click here, race past before the lights...

The dilemma - to avoid the news because you can't stand to hear it anymore, believing there's little you can change, OR to speak out, or...

I say no to women and equality, Let's get white men back on track. See me walk with spring in step, Now Donald Trump is back. Big plans,...

It's Christmas - so go for a surf

givesway to storms in summer Copyright: text/photos cv williams Posts on this Sydney School of Arts & Humanities blog (...

A new book and a new take on the history of publication, written by literary figure, Michael Visontay, was launched at Gleebooks last...

If politics leaves you wondering, Or wallowing in despair, His stupid orange suntan, His stupid fucking hair, Be calm, Take heart, For...