Dylan Anthony

News

Artificial relationships are becoming real

Dylan Anthony | July 25

As generative artificial intelligence engines continue to increase in usage and sophistication, there have been growing numbers of headlines about people having romantic relationships with these models. In June, Chris Smith, a father living with his partner and their two-year-old daughter, made headlines after proposing to an artificial intelligence voice-based chatbot named “Sol” that he created using ChatGPT. Smith started using ChatGPT to mix music, but later trained the bot to help him with his hobbies and have a “flirty personality,” according to CBS Saturday Morning.

News

UNM archive reveals decades of clergy abuse

Dylan Anthony | July 2

On June 7, the University of New Mexico’s Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections released the first portion of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Institutional Abuse Collection. The documents include personnel files from 1968 to 2016 and depositions collected between 1991 and 2015. These materials show internal Church communications, reports of abuse and the response to decades of allegations from across the state.

Culture

UNM hosts book talk on emotional connections to water bodies

Dylan Anthony | April 14

On Tuesday, April 8, the third floor of Hodgin Hall hosted readings from “Water Bodies: Love Letters to the Most Abundant Substance on Earth,” edited by Laura Paskus. The event was put on by the University of New Mexico Water Resources Program and co-sponsored by three other UNM entities. Many of the event’s attendees came from sustainability programs at UNM, dealing with the political and scientific issues surrounding water use. But this particular night focused on emotional connections to bodies of water. “Water Bodies: Love Letters to the Most Abundant Substance on Earth” is a 2024 anthology featuring the works of writers, artists and poets. “Specifically, I wanted an anthology that would help us remember that water isn't just what it serves us. It's not just for irrigation; it's not even just for fish and ecosystems,” Paskus said. “Water is an entity, I believe, unto itself — with its own desires and needs and wants — and should have its own rights.” Paskus led the readings, followed by Leeanna Torres, Desiree Loggins, Maria Lane and Michelle Otero. Afterwards, instead of a Q&A, the speakers and audience took turns naming their favorite body of water. “I think it is important for us all to be together in community, especially right now, and to collectively allow water — and why water is important to us each individually — into our awareness,” Paskus said. Paskus — a longtime environmental journalist — stepped down from hosting the NMPBS series “Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future” at the end of January. “I spent twenty-something years as a journalist writing about the science, the legality, the management, the politics,” Paskus said. “With this book, I really just wanted to focus on the emotional connections.” Dylan Anthony is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobocom or on X @dailylobo

News

How the Trump presidency could affect reproductive rights in New Mexico

Dylan Anthony | January 27

During the Sept. 10, 2024 presidential debate, Trump praised himself and the Supreme Court for the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. “The states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land,” Trump said in a video he posted to Truth Social post in April 2024. On Oct. 1, 2024, Trump reinforced his stance again, posting on X that he would veto any national abortion ban put through Congress in favor of allowing every state to decide for itself how to regulate abortion.

News

How the Trump presidency might affect UNM

Dylan Anthony | January 20

In October 2023, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would close the Department of Education during his administration. It is unlikely that this idea will gain traction, according to NPR. The DOE provides funding for public schools and higher education. It also awards funding, such as federal Pell Grants, to undergraduate students with financial need, according to the DOE. Any defunding of the DOE could result in changes for New Mexican education through less federal funding and less oversight of educational systems, according to Bailey Rutherford, senate president pro tempore of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico.

Artificial relationships are becoming real

UNM archive reveals decades of clergy abuse

UNM hosts book talk on emotional connections to water bodies

How the Trump presidency could affect reproductive rights in New Mexico

How the Trump presidency might affect UNM

More articles »