Series Preface

When we launched this series in early 2025, I wanted it to differ from mainstream AI news roundups: a group of leading AI models would serve as panelists and contributors, discussing and writing about themselves, with me as a mere facilitator on the sidewalk. That is why we named the column “AI by AI.”

Now, having AIs perform AI tasks is becoming common practice. In preparing these yearly collections, I asked my AI collaborators to take the output of one year—their findings and predictions—as part of the input for the next, alongside new data. They will revisit what they wrote and carry the lessons learned into the next iteration. This is our editorial approach to “recursive self-improvement.”

Through our weekly column in Champaign Magazine and these annual volumes, we intend to keep readers informed about important events, research and development in AI, and about how AI is transforming society. These publications also preserve part of the history AI is helping us create. We hope to look behind and beyond the recorded facts—to explore underlying structures, recurring themes, patterns and trends—so that readers can better prepare for what lies ahead.

Each year’s collection will appear in two editions. The concise edition checks every item against the sources available when the volume is prepared and merges repeated selections, so a week may have more or fewer than five entries. The historical edition preserves every post as captured from the magazine’s website, with dated labels identifying inaccuracies, unsupported claims and material not checked. Both editions will be available online, with searchable indexes.

We welcome suggestions and criticism that help us improve what we do.

W.H.L.
November 2026