For the Scholarly Elite or the Masses?

In college and graduate school, I studied cognitive science, philosophy, and politics. I formed a conviction that I wanted to try to change the world for the better. Initially, my plan was to be an academic and public intellectual. At the time, I got bored easily (still do), which made me distractible and not great at making the trains run on time. Academia seemed like an environment that would keep me perpetually stimulated as I would think and write on the value of compassion, self-development, and the pursuit of wisdom. I would hopefully inspire others to implement these ideas to form a nobler society.

But graduate school, while stimulating, turned out to be grounded in a culture and incentive scheme that promoted hyperspecialization; I discovered that academics end up writing for a scholarly elite of typically about fifty people. It turned out there was not much support for academics who would attempt to spread ideas to the masses. So my aspiration to have a broad impact on potentially millions of people clashed with the market realities of academia. 

I adopted my career orientation. My new aim was to try to promote the workings of a good society via entrepreneurship and technology.

Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha, The Startup of You

AI's Impact on Middle-Tier Employees

From a purely financial perspective, it would increasingly make sense for companies to hire junior employees who used A.I. to do what was once midlevel work, a handful of senior employees to oversee them and almost no middle-tier employees. -New York Times

19 Articles about AI & Coding

How to Measure the ROI of AI Coding Assistants – The New Stack

AI now writes 25% of code in the US: Should Computer Science students rethink their career plans? - Times of India

Learn to code, they said: AI is already erasing some entry-level coding jobs – Mashable

What Google Translate Can Tell Us About Vibecoding – Ingrid’s Space  

Coding agents have crossed a chasm // flurries of latent creativity – Singleton  

Field Notes From Shipping Real Code With Claude - diwank's space

How to use ChatGPT to write code - and my top trick for debugging what it generates - ZDnet

How vibe coding is tipping Silicon Valley’s scales of power – Semafor

An AI Vibe Coding Guide for Data Scientists – KD Nuggets

My AI Coding Skeptic Friends Are All Nuts – Fly.io

"Learn to Code" Backfires Spectacularly as Comp-Sci Majors Suddenly Have Sky-High Unemployment - Futurism

A.I. Is Coming for the Coders Who Made It – New York Times

The Computer-Science Bubble Is Bursting: Artificial intelligence is ideally suited to replacing the very type of person who built it – The Atlantic

AI and State of Software Development – Hardik Pandya

Which Workers Will A.I. Hurt Most: The Young or the Experienced? – New York Times

The Best AI Coding Tools You Can Use Right Now – IEEE

AI Agents Are Getting Better at Writing Code—and Hacking It as Well – Wired

I’ve become an AI vibe coding convert – Fast Company

Google issues official internal guidance on using AI for coding - and its devs might not be best pleased – Tech Radar

An Example of Using AI in Journalism

CalMatters is using AI to track all of the committee hearings in the California state legislature. Not only are they using AI to monitor things that they could never have enough people to do manually, but they’ve created a website where I, as a user, can go and search any topic I’m interested in, and AI will find the conversation that was had in the state legislature about that topic and pull those transcripts for me. It’s an impressive tool. -Poynter

How talkers and non-talkers can get along

There are two kinds of people in the world: Talkers and non-talkers. While it might seem like common sense to match the two types together in marriage, that’s not necessarily a recipe for marital bliss. Many non-talkers are also non-listeners. And despite the growing number of ways to communicate, technology is becoming a substitute for engagement rather than a supplement. Ideally, we’d find someone who complements our style of communication. Here are a few tips from the experts:

• Recognize the difference between silence and someone who is really listening. Active listening means being engaged with nonverbal cues and reflecting back what the speaker has said.

• Be honest with one another and ask for a break when the non-talker runs low on gas. Be respectful and give it to him.

• Don’t make the mistake of thinking brief summaries will do the trick. These bursts may not give enough time for an emotional connection.

• Instead of numbing an emotionally-depleted spouse, find an attentive audience of friends who can provide what a talker needs.

19 Recent Articles about the Impact of AI on Students

California colleges spend millions to catch plagiarism and AI. Is the faulty tech worth it? – Cal Matters

My students think it’s fine to cheat with AI. Maybe they’re onto something. – Vox  

Panel with AI experts to review appeal of NTU student penalised for academic misconduct - The Straits Times 

How AI Is Helping Students Find the Right College – Wired

Chinese AI firms block features amid high-stakes university entrance exams – Washington Post

6 College Majors That Will Thrive In An AI-Driven Economy – Forbes

For Some Recent Graduates, the A.I. Job Apocalypse May Already Be Here – New York Times

AI cheating surge pushes schools into chaos – Axios

Here are some guiding ideas to keep in mind as you navigate college in the era of artificial intelligence – Student Guide to AU

A New Headache for Honest Students: Proving They Didn’t Use A.I. – New York Times

What My Students Had To Say About AI – The Broken Copier

Using ChatGPT, students might pass a course, but with a cost – PhysOrg

How Are Students Using AI? – AI and How We Teach

Students Are Humanizing Their Writing—By Putting It Through AI – Wall Street Journal

Why misuse of generative AI is worse than plagiarism – Springer

Students, early career workers use ChatGPT as a mentor - Axios

How Students Use and Think About Their Use of AI – Daily Nous

How AI Helps Our Students Deepen Their Writing (Yes, Really) – EdWeek

As if graduating weren’t daunting enough, now students like me face a jobs market devastated by AI – The Guardian

AI's Impact on Motivation

Despite the performance benefits, study participants who collaborated with gen AI on one task and then transitioned to a different, unaided task consistently reported a decline in intrinsic motivation and an increase in boredom. Across our studies, intrinsic motivation dropped by an average of 11% and boredom increased by an average of 20%. In contrast, those who worked without AI maintained a relatively steady psychological state. -Harvard Business Review

Expand Your World

If you don't keep expanding your world it will naturally shrivel. –Stephen Goforth

18 Articles about AI & the Creative Arts

Responsible by Design – Why AI Must Be Human-First – Unite.AI  

An Illustrator Confronts his fears about AI Art – New York Times 

The Grammys Chief on How AI Will Change Music – Wall Street Journal

Approaching AI as a design leader: rethinking the customer journey with a layer of AI-first - Jehad Affoneh

AI, Search and the Future of News Once again, distinctiveness is the best defense - Richard J. Tofel

Music streaming service Deezer adds AI song tags in fight against fraud – Associated Press

‘M3gan 2.0’ Review: Everyone’s favorite campy killer doll returns in a movie that has some thoughts about AI - Wall Street Journal

Madison Avenue Braces for the AI Apocalypse – Hollywood Reporter  

What Hollywood wants from the AI industry – Washington Post

Music Producer Timbaland Introduces New AI Artist – Rolling Stone

Australian authors say no to AI using their work – even if money is on the table – The Conversation

AI learns how vision and sound are connected, without human intervention – MIT 

How political cartoonists are bringing AI into their work – Harvard’s Neiman Lab

There should be no AI button - Kojo Osei 

Fortnite’s Darth Vader Is A.I.-Powered. Voice Actors Are Rebelling. - New York Times 

Why AI Interviews Could Be Bad News For Honest Designers - Andy Budd

‘Nobody wants a robot to read them a story!’ The creatives and academics rejecting AI – at work and at home – The Guardian  

I write novels and build AI. The real story is more complicated than either side admits – Fast Company

An AI Vision for College—Tools for Every Facet of Campus Life

OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has a plan to overhaul college education — by embedding its artificial intelligence tools in every facet of campus life.  If the company’s strategy succeeds, universities would give students A.I. assistants to help guide and tutor them from orientation day through graduation. Professors would provide customized A.I. study bots for each class. Career services would offer recruiter chatbots for students to practice job interviews. And undergrads could turn on a chatbot’s voice mode to be quizzed aloud ahead of a test. ChatGPT Edu also enables faculty and staff to create custom chatbots for university use. -New York Times

5 Internal Contributions to Anger

1-Self-esteem

People who try to be self-sufficient are easily frustrated and angered when they see evidence of their dependence on others. They get angry at themselves for needing others and they get angry at other people for “keeping” them in this weakness.

2-Desire for Power in Relationships

Some people feel threatened by the need to give up power in love relationships. For instance, a batterer may use anger to intimidate others in a quest for power. It’s a way to caution the abused person against using their own power. To avoid rousing their anger, spouses end up tiptoeing around the other to avoid confrontation because the price is too high to pay.

3-Desire to be Perfect

Unrealistic standards must be met for the person to feel worthwhile and accepted.

Whenever there is a perceived loss of perfection, the person becomes depressed (angry with themselves) for small failures. The student who gets a B-plus instead of an A, etc. These people also set up high standards for others to achieve and are quickly judgmental. They are hurt by others who do not join them in the quest for perfection. Even though they may be chronic confessors, but growth comes slow because they don’t want to accept their limitations.

4-Guilt

Unresolved guilt can lead to irritability. People have trouble admitting their faults.

5-Rejection

Rejection leaves people feeling hurt and worthless. When significant others disdain our contributions or act as if we are inferior and unimportant we bolster self-esteem by rejecting others ourselves, using the weapons of anger and hostility.  Since it does not heal the relationship or self-esteem, it is a temporary fix. 

A Dozen Webinars this Week about AI, Journalism & Media

Mon, July 7 - Privacy, Power, and Platforms

What: In this webinar where we’ll unpack the forces shaping our digital lives and explore how educators can help students understand, critique, and protect their privacy. Together, we’ll examine the ways platforms, policies, and power dynamics intersect to track, monitor, and influence behavior—online and off. Through engaging media, hands-on tools, and critical conversations, we’ll equip educators with strategies to help learners become savvy, empowered participants in a networked society.

Who: Wesley Fryer, an educational technology “early adopter / innovator.”

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Media Education Lab

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Tue, July 8 - Report with Equity

What: In this workshop, you’ll learn about Solutions Journalism through expert facilitation and practical exercises. You will get a good understanding of the four pillars of the method and how Solutions Journalism helps to create equitable stories. Ideal for young journalists, writers, and media makers aiming to tell deeper, more inclusive stories with integrity.

When: 4 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsors: Solutions Journalism, INSIGHT Project

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Tue, July 8 - Online Tools for Nonprofits

What: Take your nonprofit’s website to the next level by using powerful engagement and fundraising tools from Wix. This session will cover how to use Wix Donations to launch customized donation campaigns directly on your site. You’ll also learn how to keep your supporters engaged with Email Marketing and how to foster a sense of community using the Members Area feature. Whether you're looking to increase donations or deepen relationships, these tools will help you make a greater impact.

Who: Ala Ebrahim WIX Head of B2B Product Training.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: TechSoup

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Tue, July 8 - ONA’s AI Innovator Collaborative

What: Join the collaborative if you’re already experimenting with AI tools — even if you’re not an expert. This is a regular gathering for AI users in journalism to connect and share ideas.

Who: Liz Worthington, Director of Product Strategy at the American Press Institute; Derrick Ho, Editorial Director, AI, for Hearst Newspapers, and others.

When: 3 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free to members, registration fee for non-members

Sponsor: Online News Association

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Wed, July 9 - Behind the Code: How AI Brands Build Awareness & Win Market Share

What: A powerful conversation on how GenAI is reshaping the media landscape—from content creation and editorial ethics to monetization and trust.

Who: Steve Nouri and Ellen Cooper Edelman of Generative AI.

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Generative AI

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Wed, July 9 - How Publishers Use AI to Win Back the SMB Market

What: We’ll explore how leading publishers are reclaiming digital advertising by using AI to build highly relevant, high-performing campaigns for small and medium-sized businesses in their local markets — at scale.

Who: Christian Scherbel, Founder & CEO of Smartico; Farris Robinson, the Director of US Sales at Smartico.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Local Media Association

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Wed, July 9 - Earn a Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Marketing & Fundraising  

What: This webinar will discuss: What is AI and why it matters to nonprofit marketers and fundraisers; An exploration of foundational concepts and terminology; The pros and cons of using AI for marketing and fundraising How to create an AI policy for your nonprofit.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Nonprofit Tech for Good

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Wed, July 9 - Maximizing the Value of Your Data with AI Agents 

What: Aqxle’s Consumer Insights Agent will process real primary research for a global CPG brand, showing in this live demo how teams can unlock higher-quality insights, improve data integrity, and scale success across markets.

Who: Bharad Ramesh- CEO & Co-founder, Aqxle AI.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Association of National Advertisers

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Wed, July 9 - Stop Drowning in Drafts

What: You’ll learn how to build a writing process that works with your brain, not against it, using AI tools like ChatGPT to stay on track and stay yourself.

Who: Paulette Perhach, author of Welcome to the Writer's Life and Lindsay Scola, author of AI for ADHD.

When: 1:30 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The speakers themselves

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Thu, July 10 - Introduction to ChatGPT

What: An introduction to ChatGPT designed for beginners. Only a free ChatGPT account is required to follow along.

Who: Lois Newman, Customer Enablement at Open AI; Lauren Oliphant, OpenAI Solutions Engineer.

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: OpenAI Academy

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Thu, July 10 - How to make community content a significant monetization channel

What: How local news publishers and media organizations can unlock new revenue by turning everyday audience submissions into profit. From community calendar listings to real estate posts and press releases, we’ll will walk through proven strategies for making your submissions positively impact your bottom line.

Who: TAPinto and Hyperlocal News Network Founder Mike Shapiro.

When: 12:30 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Local Media Association

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Thu, July 10 - Press Freedom under Assault: Preserving our Democracy

What: The panel will examine whether these actions and other threats represent a fundamental shift in the relationship between journalism and politics, one that signals a movement toward authoritarianism.

Who: Sylvester Monroe, who reported and edited for Newsweek, Time and the Washington Post; Geoffrey Cowan, University Professor of Communication at USC and a distinguished First Amendment attorney; Susan Goldberg, the president and CEO of GBH, the largest producer of PBS content and a major provider of NPR programming; and Kevin Merida, the former executive editor of the Los Angeles Times and the former managing editor of the Washington Post.

When: 7 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: New England Newspaper & Press Association

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Stop a Moment

In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you. - Leo Tolstoy

Telling their stories

The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them. -Czeslaw Milosz

AI Definitions: Compression-meaning tradeoff

Compression-meaning tradeoff – This is the balance between reducing data size (compression) and preserving the original information (meaning). To manage information overload, humans group items into categories. For instance, we think of poodles and bulldogs as dogs. We balance this compression with details that separate them: size, nose, tales, fur types, etc. LLMs, on the other hand, attempt to maintain this balance between compressing information and original meaning differently. LLMs have an aggressive compression approach which allows them to store vast amounts of knowledge. However, it also contributes to unpredictability and failures. This tension has led many data scientists to conclude that better alignment with human cognition would result in more capable and reliable AI systems.

More AI definitions here

It is Better

It is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong. –William Boetcker

22 Articles about the Business of Running an AI Company

OpenAI Forecasts Revenue Topping $125 Billion in 2029 as Agents, New Products Gain – The Information

Cloudflare launches a marketplace that lets websites charge AI bots for scraping – TechCrunch  

Abridge, Whose AI App Takes Notes for Doctors, Valued at $5.3 Billion at Funding – Wall Street Journal

Tech giants play musical chairs with foundation models – Axios 

The A.I. Frenzy Is Escalating. Again. – New York Times 

It’s Known as ‘The List’—and It’s a Secret File of AI Geniuses - Wall Street Journal

In Pursuit of Godlike Technology, Mark Zuckerberg Amps Up the A.I. Race – New York Times

Running AI on Phones instead of in the cloud slashes power consumption - Axios 

An AI-powered platform aiming to predict how genetic code variants lead to different diseases – Stat News 

OpenAI warns models with higher bioweapons risk are imminent - Axios

The OpenAI Files is the most comprehensive collection to date of documented concerns with governance practices, leadership integrity, and organizational culture at OpenAI - OpenAI Files 

Microsoft and OpenAI play high-stakes tug-of-war - Axios

How to Make AI Faster and Smarter—With a Little Help From Physics – Wired  

Behind the Curtain: ChatGPT juggernaut - Axios

SAG-AFTRA Video Game Deal Includes AI Consent Guardrails, Minimum Rates for Digital Replica Use – The Wrap  

Mattel, OpenAI Ink Deal to Power Toy Innovation – Toy Book  

Chinese AI firms block features amid high-stakes university entrance exams – Washington Post

Google's new AI tools are gutting publisher traffic – Quartz

Mark Zuckerberg's supersized AI ambitions - Axios 

ChatGPT Lags Far Behind Google in Daily Search Volume – Visual Capitalism

OpenAI wants to embed AI in every facet of college. First up: 460,000 students at Cal State. – New York Times

Elon Musk wants to put his thumb on the AI scale - Axios 

We miss the thoughts of our students

For a lot of us, our motivation to enter academe was primarily about helping to form students as people. We’re not simply frustrated by trying to police AI use, the labor of having to write up students for academic dishonesty, or the way that reading student work has become a rather nihilistic task.  Our frustration is not merely that we don’t care about what AI has to say and therefore get bored grading; it is that we actively miss reading the thoughts of our human students. -Megan Fritts writing in the Chronicle of Higher Ed

AI Definitions: Data Poisoning

Data Poisoning – This is an attack on a machine-learning algorithm where malicious actors insert incorrect or misleading information into the data set being used to train an AI model in order to pollute the results. It also can be used as a defensive tool to help creators reassert some control over the use of their work. AI’s growing role in military operations has particularly created opportunities and vulnerabilities related to data poisoning of AI systems involved indecision-making, reconnaissance, and targeting.

More AI definitions here

The Wrong Audience

It doesn’t matter how amazing your performance or products are, if you target the wrong audience, who don’t recognize, appreciate, or need your value, your effort will be both wasted and rejected. -Jia Jiang