Essays
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“Responsible AI” is a Shared Responsibility
Indeed’s latest data spotted a new buzzword popping up in job descriptions across tech and beyond: Responsible AI. It sounds good. Sensible, even. Who wouldn’t want AI to be responsible? But before we get too impressed, let’s take a closer look. What Is Responsible AI? At its core, Responsible AI refers to the concept that artificial intelligence systems should…
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Lost in the Present: A Theory of Feeling Overwhelmed
Over the last several years, the acceleration of culture, technology, and politics has left me feeling pretty overwhelmed, and I’d wager you feel the same. If so, don’t worry – you’re in good company. Dozens of social indicators have reported increases in depression, anxiety, and economic distress (Half of Americans Feel Financially Adrift Amid Economic…
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Creativity in the Age of AI
Apple recently brought the issue of creativity in the modern technology era to a head with its tone-deaf Crush Ad. If you haven’t seen it, the viewer is treated to the slow-motion destruction of all manner of artistic media, from instruments to paints to cameras. The hydraulic press lowers inch by steady inch until the…
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Meeting the New Boss: Are We Ready for AI Executives?
An recent NY Times article asks a question that’s been vaguely floating around the edges of the business world since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3 in November of 2022 – “Can A.I. replace human CEOs?” Taking this question at face value, there are plenty of answers needed before “A.I. CEO” becomes anything more than…
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The (AI) Kids are Alright
If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last few months, you’ve no doubt heard the buzz about ChatGPT and other generative AI text and image systems. After the initial hype, we’ve seen much pooh-poohing of the real capabilities of these tools. Instead, I want to plant a flag that these baby AI…
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Self-Partnership > Self-Mastery
Is your present self sabotaging your future self? It’s time to get all your selves on the same team.
Reviews
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Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick
Ethan Mollick’s One Useful Thing Substack newsletter is widely hailed as one of the best resources for understanding the rapidly evolving world of AI and LLMs. It’s no surprise that his 2024 book, Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, is a thoughtful and widely practical guide for engaging with AI, regardless of the reader’s prior…
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Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie
After hearing author Hannah Ritchie on Ezra Klein’s podcast, I immediately sought out her recent book. Ritchie serves as the Deputy Editor and Lead Researcher at Our World in Data, a non-profit dedicated to using data to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. And in Not the End of World, she uses that data…
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Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
In my review of the first book in the series, Peter and the Starcatchers, I explained that I’m a huge Peter Pan fan, and my expectations for new works are always high. I’ve been disappointed many times – Hugh Jackman in Pan, Disney’s emo-Pan adaptation in Peter Pan and Wendy, and dear, sweet Christopher Walken…
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Illuminations by Alan Moore
It’s hard to believe that anyone wouldn’t have encountered an Alan Moore work at this point. He’s essentially the crazy wizard grandpa to the comics industry, and his most popular graphic novels, Watchmen and V Vendetta, have become successful movies and tv shows. Personally, he’ll always have a place in my heart as one of…
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The Prisoner’s Dilemma by Jonathan Blum and Rupert Booth
I have to start by trying to describe the 1960s British television show, ‘The Prisoner,’ and that in itself is a challenge. The show began when actor Patrick McGoohan decided to leave his successful spy thriller tv show in the 1960s. As an alternative, he pitched a show to the network in which he would…
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How Not to Kill Yourself by Clancey Martin
On the title alone, How Now to Kill Yourself: A Portrait of a Suicidal Mind is a daunting prospect. Add in the page count (nearly 500) and that even trying to Google he book will fill your screen with suicide support numbers, and it’s fair to say that this book isn’t for everyone. The author…
