85 being, but in fact it is the product of clever computer programming and a huge database. And these data are automatically processed so that you will never be able to know whether the things that are said are in any way correct. They may even contain problematic content, which any reasonable human writer would try to avoid. Speaker 2: That may well be the case, but you’ll never know where authors got their ideas from. They might have lifted them from sources which are not reliable to say the least or which might even be toxic. But what about this: Don’t you think that AI can be very beneficial as well? In medicine, for example, a lot of modern gadgets that are used in hospitals already rely on AI to produce results which help doctors to find the cause of a certain symptom. Would you prefer not to use such a tool if it might help you? Speaker 1: This is a very common argument people who consider AI as a positive step forward refer to, the progress in medical diagnostics to brush the negative aspects aside. Speaker 2: Yes, but what does that mean in the end? Should we not make use of computers if they can make life easier for us? Self-driving or driverless cars, for example, could change the way we travel, they could make older people or children too young to drive less dependent on others to take them. Without AI such developments would not be possible. Or think of the safety devices in your car like emergency braking systems or automatic distance control to name just two. They help reduce accidents, even if the driver has made an error of judgement. Ultimately, they save lives. Speaker 1: That’s all fine but I still think that we need to be extra cautious when handing over some of our responsibility to automated systems. That is my real concern … (fade out) 0: C, 1: A, 2: G, 3: B, 4: H, 5: J, 6: D, 7: F Not used: E, I Exploring vocabulary: Claudia Goldin, winner of the Nobel Prize (Key) a)–b) Individual answers Test practice: Claudia Goldin, winner of the Nobel Prize (Transcript and key) On Monday, the 9th of October 2023, Claudia Goldin was announced as the winner of the Nobel Economics Prize. She is only the third woman to win this prize, and the first to be honoured solo. In her work Goldin has been focusing on researching why gender gaps exist and how female labour force participation has changed over time, depending on social, cultural, political and economic factors. In the last few decades she has been one of the most outstanding economists in this field. However, the topic of women in the economy has not yet received the attention it would deserve. If we take the unpaid labour market, we see that globally it is overwhelmingly dominated by women in all societies. They often do care and domestic work and have to rely on their husbands, partners or family for financial support. While their contributions are absolutely essential for a functioning economy, they remain largely invisible in economic calculations. In spite of recent research many business leaders still think that it is the women themselves who are required to change their situation. Some even say that it is the women’s choice if they are disadvantaged in the labour market due to family duties and their roles in society. And this is not only true in countries with only basic social provisions, it is also the case in rich Western countries with elaborate social systems. Goldin’s research has had a profound impact on public policy discussions surrounding gender equality. Her work has influenced policymakers and organisations to implement strategies aimed at reducing the gender wage gap and promoting gender equality in the workforce. She has also been arguing for investing in education and opportunities for women to build up the skills that qualify them for the labour market. Through careful analysis of data, she has shown that the gender wage gap has decreased significantly over the years, but still exists to a certain extent due to various factors such as the unequal distribution of family and care responsibilities. Goldin emphasises the importance of policies that promote workplace flexibility and support for working parents, as well as the need to challenge social norms that still continue to play a major part in the different attitudes to men and women in the workplace. In addition to her scientific research, Goldin is a dedicated educator, having mentored numerous students who have gone on to leave their mark in the field of economics. Her expertise and passion for teaching have earned her the respect of both her colleagues and students. Claudia Goldin’s contributions to labour economics and her tireless efforts to promote gender equality make her an influential figure in the field. The Nobel Prize is well deserved and 5 6 + 47 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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