The purpose of art
/The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. -Pablo Picasso, born Oct. 25, 1881
ideas that challenge / comfort / inspire
17 Recent Articles about Using AI
/I Tried an AI Web Browser, and I’m Never Going Back – Wall Street Journal
Designing a Successful Agentic AI System – Harvard Business Review
How to Use AI Chatbots and What to Know About These Artificial Intelligence Tools - CNET
Wikipedia says traffic is falling due to AI search summaries and social video – TechCrunch
How to use ChatGPT to shop and find the best deals - The Washington Post
Introduction to Generative AI – Google Courses
5 NotebookLM Tips to Make Your Day a Little Easier – KD Nuggets
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Pulse to proactively write you morning briefs - TechCrunch
I didn’t believe the hype about Google Mixboard — now I’m obsessed – Tom’s Guide
Next Time You Consult an A.I. Chatbot, Remember One Thing - Wall Street Journal
I discovered ChatGPT’s best new feature: Quitting things for you - The Washington Post
CHATGPT resurrected my dead father – The Atlantic
Unstructured Input in AI Apps Instead of Web Forms - LukeW
Google Injects Gemini Into Chrome as AI Browsers Go Mainstream – Wired
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Pulse, a paid feature that generates personalized subject matter briefs for users overnight - TechCrunch
Wine, Cheese and ChatGPT: Ladies’ Night in San Francisco - New York Times
Stop Deploying General-Purpose AI Models For Everything
/Ensuring safe A.I. is another reason developers should stop deploying general-purpose models for everything. To date, the industry has been unable to guarantee that generative A.I. systems will stick to their safety instructions. Studies have documented instances in which generative A.I. deceives its human operators, tries to use blackmail if its self-preservation is threatened and responds in a way that could lead to murder. More specialized systems like AlphaFold and Waymo’s driving systems won’t misbehave that way because their operating parameters are much narrower. - Gary Marcus writing in the New York Times
When we are most likely to do something regrettable
/Under the right circumstances, a subconscious neurobiological sequence in our brains causes us to perceive the world around us in ways that contradict objective reality, distorting what we see and hear. This powerful shift in perception is unrelated to our intelligence, morals, or past behaviors. In fact, we don’t even know it’s happening, nor can we control it.
Researchers found that it happens in two distinct situations: those involving high anxiety and those associated with major reward. Under these conditions, all of us would do something just as regrettable as those headline-grabbing stories, contrary to what we tell ourselves. Phrased differently, we don’t consciously decide to act a fool. Rather, once our perception is distorted, we act in ways that seem reasonable to us but foolish to observers.
Robert Pearl writing in Vox
10 New Jobs that may Emerge from AI
/AI assessors – Someone in this role will evaluate models, keeping track of how they’ve improved, what they are best at doing, and how much they are hallucinating.
AI auditors – Someone who dig down into the A.I. to understand what it is doing and why and can then document it for technical, explanatory or liability purposes.
AI consistency coordinator – This job is about ensuring digital replicas remains consistent as changes are made.
AI consultants – This job involves helping businesses adopt and implement AI by offering a strategic roadmap, technical expertise, and project leadership. The AI consultant must facilitate communication between a company’s departments to marry technical knowledge with business needs. After deployment of AI, it is their job to help set up ways to monitor the outcomes. Besides possessing a robust AI education, the AI consultant will have to stay on top of trends and changes in the industry.
AI engineers – Unlike traditional IT roles, people in this position will fix the AI when it breaks, digging through the layers to determine what went awry, why it went wrong and how to repair it. Like a plumber, they’ll snake the pipes to clear out the system and figure out how to avoid the problem next time. This will be particularly important when it comes to models that have been highly customized to the organization.
AI ethicist – This role will involve building chains of defensible logic that can be used to support decisions made by AI (or by hybrid A.I.-and-human teams) to address both ethical and legal concerns.
AI integrators – These are experts who figure out how to best use AI in a company, then implement it. These jobs will be technical in nature, requiring a deep understanding AI while possession a knowledge of the company so that that AI can meet real business needs.
AI personality director – This person fine-tune the “personality” of the AI so that its style of interacting with employees and customers fits with the organization’s ethos. This can become an integral part of a company’s branding.
AI trainer – This is the job of helping the AI find and digest the best, most useful data and then teach the AI to respond in accurate and helpful ways.
AI translator (trust director) – People who understand AI well enough to explain its mechanics to others in the business, particularly to leaders and managers, so that they can make effective decisions. These workers will not only explain what the AI output means (especially when it is technical) but how trustworthy the information and conclusions are. This role may fall under that of compliance officer, helping organizations understand contracts and report written by AI.
Read more at The New York Times
18 Surprising Things AI can do now
/AI is reshaping childhood in China – Rest of World
AI drones are America's newest cops - Axios
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Pulse to proactively write you morning briefs – TechCrunch
AI flood forecasting allows aid to reach farmers before disaster strikes - Rest of World
Doctors develop AI stethoscope that can detect major heart conditions in 15 seconds – The Guardian
AI is reshaping childhood in China - Rest of World
I discovered ChatGPT’s best new feature: Quitting things for you – Washington Post
AI can now pass the hardest level of the CFA exam in a matter of minutes – CNBC
How chatbots will likely develop as general life advisers. – Osmarks
Oakland Ballers to use AI for in-game decisions – Sports Business Journal
Powell’s Books facing criticism after merchandise created with help of AI – KPTV
NFL's Surface tablets to get AI upgrade before new season - Axios
An A.I.-enhanced version of “The Wizard of Oz” – New York Times
Anthropic develops anti-nuke AI tool – Semafor
21 Ways People Are Using A.I. at Work – New York Times
U.S. authorities have reportedly embedded secret GPS trackers in shipments of advanced AI chips – The Decoder
A new Gemini AI tool can generate bedtime stories complete with illustrations – Google
Study finds AI is better than experts at differentiating between human- and AI-written stroke papers – AHA/Asa Journals
It’s not what you are
/It’s not what you are, it’s what you don’t become that hurts. -Oscar Levant
How AI is Changing Entry Level Jobs
/Rather than have rookie employees compile reports or write memos — things the A.I. is good at — you might have them start, say, creating new ideas for products right away. Traditionally, this kind of work would be reserved for deeply experienced workers, but it won’t need to stay that way. By empowering young, inexperienced workers, A.I. can enable them to be more entrepreneurial, faster. And this means that a greater range of the organization — with a wider range of perspectives — can be hunting for new great ideas or new areas for growth rather than busying themselves with repetitive office tasks. -New York Times
AI Definitions: Big Data
/Big Data - Data that’s too big to fit on a single server. Typically, it is unstructured and fast-moving. In contrast, small data fits on a single server, is already in structured form (rows and columns), and changes relatively infrequently. If you are working in Excel, you are doing small data. Two NASA researchers (Michael Cox and David Ellsworth) first wrote in a 1997 paper that when there’s too much information to fit into memory or local hard disks, “We call this the problem of big data.” Many companies wind up with big data, not because they need it, they just haven’t bothered to delete it. Thus, big data is sometimes defined as “when the cost of keeping data around is less than the cost of figuring out what to throw away.”
Big Data looks to collect and manage large amounts of varied data to serve large-scale web applications and vast sensor networks. Meanwhile, data science looks to create models that capture the underlying patterns of complex systems and codify those models into working applications. Although big data and data science both offer the potential to produce value from data, the fundamental difference between them can be summarized in one statement: collecting does not mean discovering. Big data collects. Data science discovers.
More AI definitions here
Form a strong identity … and let it go
/Fixating on one part of your identity and saying, “I am this—and this is all I am” stagnates your identity. A more holistic approach allows your identity to shift and change and expand as you become more fully who you are. Different experiences and people will draw different things out of you. Yes, form a strong identity and find words that help you express where you are at in this moment. But do it in order to ultimately let it go.
The Trivial & the Bureaucratic
/The Bikeshed Effect (focusing on the trivial to the neglect of the important) is a spiral toward the insignificant.
The time and energy waster grows from a lack of working from priorities. If you don’t continuously cut off its oxygen, you adopt to the surrounding culture that fuels spotlighting the details.
The Bikeshed Effect is related to Parkinson’s Law, which suggests a project will take as long as is given to finish it. The further out the deadline, the longer it will take to complete a task. Thus, bureaucracy expands to use up whatever resources are devoted to it.
To get at what’s underneath Parkinson’s Law and the Bikeshed Effect, why we focus on the trivial and put off deadlines, we must ask ourselves, “What are we afraid of?” Sabina Nawaz wrote in the Harvard Business Review:
When we’re scared, we might spin up a frantic list of activities to avoid confronting our fear. The more afraid we are, the more we retreat from what spooks us by believing we’re too busy to tackle it.
To escape the ranks of the fearful and dead bureaucrats, take a serious look at the angst underneath and disempower it.
Making us Average
/A.I. is a technology of averages: large language models are trained to spot patterns across vast tracts of data; the answers they produce tend toward consensus, both in the quality of the writing, which is often riddled with clichés and banalities, and in the caliber of the ideas. Other, older technologies have aided and perhaps enfeebled writers, of course—one could say the same about, say, SparkNotes or a computer keyboard. But with A.I. we’re so thoroughly able to outsource our thinking that it makes us more average, too. - Kyle Chayka writing in the New Yorker
AI Definitions: AI model collapse
/AI model collapse - The idea that AI can eat itself by running out of fresh data, so that it begins to train on it’s on product or the product of another AI. This would magnify errors and bias and make rare data more likely to be lost, leading to an erosion of diversity—not only ethnic diversity but linguistic diversity as the AI model’s vocabulary shrinks and its grammatical structure becomes less varied. In effect, the model becomes poisoned with its own projection of reality. AI-generated data is often a poor substitute for the real thing. Example
More AI definitions here
18 Articles about AI & the Creative Arts
/Amid the A.I. Deluge, What Counts as Art? Ask the Curators. - New York Times
Indonesia’s film industry embraces AI to make Hollywood-style movies for cheap – Rest of World
Let's talk about AI art. – The Oatmeal
I’m a Screenwriter. Is It All Right if I Use A.I.? – New York Times
DC Comics won’t support generative AI: ‘not now, not ever’ – The Verge
Inside the work of an AI content creator as online video gets unreal – Washington Post
Publishers with AI licensing deals have seven times the clickthrough rate – Press Gazette
Is this the end of Adobe as we know it? Unless Adobe listens to users it could be – Amateur Photographer
When A.I. Came for Hollywood - New York Times
I didn’t believe the hype about Google Mixboard — now I’m obsessed - Tom’s Guide
In an era of AI slop and mid TV, is it time for cultural snobbery to make a comeback? – The Guardian
Creator of AI Actress Tilly Norwood Responds to Backlash: “She Is Not a Replacement for a Human Being” – Hollywood Reporter
A short video from the UK’s Particle6 featuring AI ‘Actor’ Tilly Norwood (and is completely AI generated) - Particle6 TV
The Psychology Of Trust In AI: A Guide To Measuring And Designing For User Confidence – Smashing Magazine
Record labels claim AI generator Suno illegally ripped their songs from YouTube – The Verge
Artists are losing work, wages, and hope as bosses and clients embrace AI – Blood in the Machine
How AI is disrupting the photography business – Axios
Writing alt text with AI - Jared Cunha
AI Evolution
/AI Evolution
Generative AI sounds like a person.
AGI (artificial general intelligence) reasons like a person.
Sentient AI thinks it's a person.
More AI definitions here
24 Webinars this week about AI, Journalism & Media
/Mon, Oct 20 - How to Start Your Own Podcast
Who: Edward Fitzpatrick The Boston Globe; Megan Hall Megan Hall is an award-winning audio journalist and health policy expert and Rhode Is.and Public Radio’s health care reporter,
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: New England First Amendment Coalition
Mon, Oct 20 - How Language Shapes Brands, Business, and Public Perception
What: Research-based insights on how language influences branding, communication, and stakeholder perception. You’ll learn: How to spot fake online content by analyzing its language; The right level of assertiveness in advertising messages; How subtle word choices like “we” vs. “you” can influence stakeholders’ perceptions of your business.
Who: Ann Kronrod, Professor of Marketing at University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Institute for Public Relations
Mon, Oct 20 - Getting Started with AI in Teams: 3 Things Every Nonprofit Needs to Know
What: This session is designed for those who want clarity, confidence, and practical AI tools they can bring back to their teams. Together, we will cover three essentials every nonprofit should know: Foundations, what AI can (and cannot) do for nonprofits right now; Ethics, how to use AI responsibly, avoiding risks to trust and equity; and Practical Prompts, simple, hands-on examples with ChatGPT that can save your team time and support your mission-driven work.
Who: Meena Das, CEO at NamasteData.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Mon, Oct 20 - Selling in the Age of AI: Why People Still Win
What: This interactive webinar will provide easy-to-understand insights on: Where AI can add real value in consultative sales enablement and where it falls short; How emotion and memory shapes decision-making and lasting customer impact; Practical strategies for blending technology with human coaching, communication and trust-building. What sales leaders and learning and development (L&D) professionals can do today to create a human-centric, future-ready sales culture.
Who: Integrity Solutions VP Client Development Amanda Ervin, and chief product officer Amara Hun
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Integrity Solutions
Mon, Oct 20 - The Art and Craft of Narrative Storytelling
What: We will explore long-form feature writing, including: Narrative arcs and finding story structure; The importance of characters Angles: how to zig when others are zagging.
Who: Kristal Zook, Hofstra University journalism professor.
When: 6 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Press Club of Long Island
Tue, Oct 21 – Prompt Engineering for Journalists
Who: MD Ashraful Goni, Adjunct Faculty Stony Brook University
When: 11 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: State University of Bangladesh
Tue, Oct 21 - How I Got Here: Finding your path in public media
What: Join us for candid conversations with public media professionals who've taken diverse paths to reach where they are today. Each session pairs voices from different career stages to share real stories about challenges, breakthroughs, and the power of networking, mentorship, and self-advocacy in career growth.
Who: Sydney Roach Training Manager, Report for America; Tanner O'Neal Riley, Honors Journalism student, University of Missouri,
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Public Media Journalists Association
Tue, Oct 21 - Avoiding the “Bad Training, Faster” Trap in the Age of AI
What: This interactive webinar will provide easy-to-understand insights on: How to effectively guide AI tools instead of letting them guide you; Practical ways to use AI for the heavy lifting while you focus on empathy, creativity and connection; Why faster content alone doesn’t equal better learning — and how to avoid the “bad training, faster” trap; Simple strategies to orchestrate AI as your crew, so learning resonates and drives real change
Who: Mike Taylor, learning designer, speaker and author of “Think Like a Marketer, Learn Like an L&D Pro.”
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Camtasia
Tue, Oct 21 - What editors want to see in pitches
What: Tips about what editors do and do not want to see in freelance pitches. Aimed at both experienced and inexperienced freelancers, you will learn exactly what you should be including in your pitches and how you can sharpen them up.
Who: Donna Ferguson, a multiple award-winning freelance journalist who is on the committee of Women in Journalism.
When: 2 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: £7.50 for member, £20.00 for non-members.
Sponsor: Women in Journalism
Tue, Oct 21 & Wed, Oct 22 - Social Media Boot Camp
What: This two-day webinar series combines our Social Media 101, 102 topics, and includes more resources for you to elevate your social media presence. Attendees will receive a Social Media Boot Camp Workbook and get additional Q&A time with our experts each day.
Who: Kiersten Hill, Director of Nonprofit Solutions at Firespring.
When: 2pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Firespring
Tue, Oct 21 - Reporting Without Borders: The Role of Journalism Today
What: We will explore the critical role of independent journalism in an era of misinformation, political polarization, and rapid technological change.
Who: Geeta Anand, Editor-in-Chief of VTDigger, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
When: 5 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: The John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth
Tue, Oct 21 - Whose Story Counts?
What: Join us for a powerful edition of Journey of a Story, The Uproot Project’s storytelling series that brings environmental journalism to life. This virtual conversation will explore the intersection of climate politics, media trust, and the work of environmental journalists of color, focusing on how stories are shaped, challenged, and reclaimed. We will hear from frontline journalists, policy watchers, and community-centered storytellers who are navigating political pressure, misinformation, and the urgent need for honest climate storytelling.
Who: Tory Stephens, Climate Fiction Creative & Brand Partnerships Manager, Grist; Tik Root, Senior Staff Writer, Grist; Luis Alexis Rodriguez Cruz, Writer, Science Communicator, and Researcher; Roxanne Scott Freelance Reporter.
When: 6 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Society of Environmental Journalists
Wed, Oct 22 – Freedom of Information (FOI) in Europe
What: This webinar will explore the importance of Freedom of Information/Access to Information (FOI/ATI) for journalists in Europe. In theory, most European countries have laws in place that ensure journalists and citizens can access government information. However, in practice, journalists frequently see their requests for information ignored, delayed, or rejected. Participants will get an overview of the critical role that FOI plays for journalism.
Who: Tamás Bodoky, Átlátszó, Director and Co-founder; Galyna Petrnko, Detector Media, Director and Editor-in-Chief; Michaela Pia Camilleri; Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, Researcher and Advocacy Officer; Cara Räker, Monitoring Officer, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.
When: 9 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Media Freedom Rapid Response
Wed, Oct 22 – Alternative Social Platforms – Growing Your Page
What: Join us as we break down the strategies that help small businesses grow on alternative platforms like TikTok, X, Snapchat, etc. Rather than trying to fit into the over-saturated platforms like Facebook and Instagram - let's dive into some new ones.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Small Business Development Center, Widener University
Wed, Oct 22 – LinkedIn for Learning and Development: Build Your Network and Leverage AI
What: Discover how to grow your professional network, position yourself as a thought leader in your community, and use AI-powered tools to enhance engagement and career growth.
Who: Joe Apfelbaum CEO, evyAI.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Training Magazine Network
Wed, Oct 22 - Disinformation in the Influencer Age
What: Join a dynamic discussion that explores how influencers and organizations can work together to combat misinformation in the age of AI. Featuring insights from a unique collaboration between Page Center scholars and practitioners from NATO, this session will highlight two studies on influencer relations and generative misinformation. Learn best practices, discover actionable strategies and see how collaboration can drive change.
Who: Gary Sheffer, Page Center Board Member; Staci Smith, University of Mississippi; Brian Smith, University of Mississippi; Beaudine Verhoek, NATO.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Arthur W. Page Center
Wed, Oct 22 - Legal Challenges to Student Reporting
What: A check-in on the legal challenges that college reporting programs are facing today, the rights we can exercise, and strategies for protecting our student reporters.
Who: Meg Little Reilly, CCN Managing Director; Gary Green, Student Press Law Center Executive Director; Mike Hiestand, Student Press Law Center Senior Legal Counsel; Josh Moore, Student Press Law Center Assistant Director; Jonathan Gaston-Falk, Student Press Law Center Staff Attorney.
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsors: Student Press Law Center & the University of Vermont Center for Community News
Thu, Oct 23 - AI in the Library: Balancing Use and Institutional Adoption of Digital Tools
What: AI tools in the academic space continue to evolve and adapt to new use cases. While faculty are slowly turning to AI to assist with course creation and grading, they often cast a wary eye on students using it for coursework. Yet, student use of AI continues to grow. This confusing landscape presents an opportunity for libraries to lead campus-wide AI literacy, helping students use new technologies effectively, ethically and in a way that faculty can embrace. Join us as we explore how libraries are guiding students’ use of AI and building faculty comfort with these new technologies.
Who: Rachael Clark Collections Strategy & Assessment Librarian, Wayne State University; Stephen Kemsley Senior Manager of User Experience Design, Clarivate; Marc Cormier, Director of Product Management, Clarivate.
When: 11 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Clarivate
Thu, Oct 23 - Building an AI Assistant with MyGPT (Intermediate Level)
What: In this session, you will explore how to create a custom AI assistant. We will introduce you to MyGPT Builder, and we'll guide you through the fundamentals of crafting effective system prompts and supplying your assistant with a relevant knowledge base. You’ll explore real-world examples, gain practical tips for successful development, and discuss use cases across various academic, administrative, and research contexts.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Duke University
Thu, Oct 23 - Students Speak Up About AI in Their Learning Lives
What: This briefing will provide an inside look at the key research findings collected from more than 60,000 K–12 students, educators, administrators, and families through the 2024–25 Speak Up survey and national report. The goal of this year’s panel is to ensure that policymakers, education leaders, and practitioners hear directly from students about the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into teaching and learning.
Who: Julie Evans is the Chief Executive Officer of Project Tomorrow; Robin Lake is Director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: edWEb.net
Thu, Oct 23 - Using Fiction Elements to Enrich Your Non-Fiction Writing
What: We show you how elements of fiction—dialogue, description, and characterization—can give your non-fiction writing power, sparkle, and the ability to stick with your reader. Writers will learn: Where and when to use dialogue; How much description is too much?; Creating and using case-study characters; The power of storytelling in non-fiction.
Who: Bestselling fiction author Allie Pleiter.
When: 1:30 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Author Learning Center
Thu, Oct 23 - How to verify data and avoid AI pitfalls
What: Discover how to validate your data projects and prevent AI “hallucinations” along with other risks tied to this fast-evolving technology.
Who: Sandeep Junnarkar, Data Journalism Director at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.
When: 2 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: New England Newspaper & Press Association
Thu, Oct 23 - Five Powerful Ways to Use Notebook LM
What: Notebook LM is one of the most overlooked tools that can dramatically simplify your content creation workflow in ministry. Whether you're preparing sermons, writing devotionals, training leaders, or creating digital resources, this workshop will show you exactly how to use this tool with purpose.
Who: Kenny Jahng, AI for Church Leaders founder.
When: 2:30 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: $27
Sponsor: AI for Church Leaders
Fri, Oct 24 - Student Webinar - Bloom in the Room: Preparing for an Interview
What: Insider tips, real-world insights and actionable strategies to help you walk into any interview with confidence and clarity.
Who: Kristen Smith, Director of Public Relations, Universal Orlando Resort.
When: 12:00 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Florida Public Relations Association
The snotty-nosed delinquent down the street
/It's easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one's neighbor.--Eric Hoffer
It's easy
/It's easy to give time to the harmless and inconsequential over the significant and enduring.
AI Definitions: AI assistance
/AI assistance - Using AI to improve grammar, revise sentence structure, provide style suggestions, generate transcription, content summaries, or assisting with literature searches. This contrasts with AI-generated content is produced by the AI itself.
More AI definitions here
The Educated Mind
/It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle