AI Border Investigation, Spy Fiction, Killer Robots in Gaza, and More
The latest at Inkstick.
Hello, everyone.
The term artificial intelligence has been around for several decades, but in recent years it seems to have taken over a daily slot at almost every major media outlet around the world. Each day we learn more about its supposed benefits, the controversies surrounding its use, and the fears over what it means for our future.
But one thing we don’t hear about as much is what artificial intelligence means for displaced people who are forced to try and cross borders. That’s why Inkstick teamed up with several publications in Europe — Solomon in Greece, El País in Spain, WoZ in Switzerland, and Tagesspiegel in Germany — in a new joint investigation that digs deep into the myriad ways a growing dependence on tech-heavy border enforcement is putting refugees and migrants at even greater risk.
Speaking of out-of-control technology, is there anything more frightening than the idea of lethal autonomous weapons? These weapons can identify and attack targets — read: humans — on their own. Throughout the war on the Gaza Strip, as Bree Megivern reports, there was a startling number of reports that Israel used such autonomous “sniper drones” against Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave.
That’s not all we’ve got at Inkstick. And if you’re not already, please follow us on LinkedIn, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube.
“The Espionage Novel Giving New Meaning to ‘Family Affair’” by Katherine Voyles (Jan. 13)
Spy fiction is, above all, a family affair. This crucial but frequently overlooked reality feels especially important for understanding Karla’s Choice, the new novel about George Smiley and the Circus (the British Overseas Intelligence Service) written by one of John le Carré’s sons, Nick Harkaway.
“How Can the World Protect Gazan Civilians from Killer Robots?” by Bree Megivern (Jan. 14)
The Israeli military has already been experimenting with using AI to make targeting decisions, and the lack of information about the drones’ targeting processes raises an important question: What can be done to protect civilians in Gaza from gun-wielding drones?
“The Threat of Fatalism in Troubled Times” by Laurence Claussen (Jan. 15)
In 2025, war is once again in the air. Conflicts are spiraling across four continents, great powers are more confrontational than at any time in the last three decades, and the constant stream of negative news only sharpens the fear that things are getting worse. But that’s also why it’s time to think hard about a future worth fighting for.
“For Migrants, Artificial Intelligence Becomes a Roadblock to Europe” by Katy Fallon, Giorgos Christides, Deana Mrkaja, Florian Schmitz, Marguerite Meyer, & Hibai Arbide Aza (Jan. 16)
The months-long joint investigation by Inkstick, Solomon, El País, WoZ, and Tagesspiegel explores the way that artificial intelligence and other tech-heavy surveillance practices are putting refugees and migrants at even greater risk on Europe’s borders.
“Progress Without Protection for Women in Mexico” by Mie Hoejris Dahl (Jan. 17)
Last year, Mexicans elected their first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, a 62-year-old environmental scientist and former mayor of Mexico City. Yet, expectations of protecting Mexican women from gender-based violence could be replaced by disappointment.
From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media.