Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 12

Fooling Humans Is Easy. That’s The Real AI Problem

Alan Turing once asked, “Can machines think?”

75 years later (after the Turing Test became “the moment” for humans and tech – it was also known as The Imitation Game), maybe the better question is:
Does it matter if they can fool us into believing they do?
Because ChatGPT passed the Turing Test a while back.
Not kinda… not maybe… passed with flying colors.

According to recent studies, human judges thought it was the human most of the time… even more than, well, actual humans.

More impressively, many people found that the AI chatbot behaves better than humans (more cooperative, etc.).
So yes… AI can now fake it better than we can make it.
But here’s the rub: the Turing Test doesn’t measure intelligence.
It measures performance… it rewards fluency… not insight.
Coherence… not truth.
Charm… not depth.

So what are we celebrating?

That we’ve built a better chatbot?
Or that we’ve trained ourselves to lower the bar?

It gets worse. 

Because the Turing Test doesn’t just expose how good AI has become.
It reveals how easy we are to impress.
We’ve confused intelligence with imitation… and depth with delivery.
Maybe the machines didn’t pass the Turing Test.
Maybe we failed it?

Modern AI doesn’t need consciousness (aka AGI) to reshape our world. 

It’s already doing it.
From helping you write emails… to managing investments, AI isn’t thinking… it’s outperforming.
And if performance is all that matters, we’ve entered a new kind of arms race… err… knowledge race.
We don’t need AI to think like us.

We need to think more critically about what we’re building… and what we’re outsourcing. 

The tools may make us sound smart, but we’re the ones making the decisions about how and when to use them.
And increasingly, we’re letting the illusion of intelligence stand in for the real thing.
Still, we keep asking: Can it think like us?

Wrong question.

Ask instead:
Can I trust how it works… predicts… reasons?
Is it aligned with my values?
Is it safe to rely on?
These aren’t Turing-era thought experiments.
They’re everyday decisions we’re now making with zero context and infinite confidence.

Because the real test isn’t whether AI can pass for human.

It’s whether we’ll still think critically when it does.
Chatbots can sounds smarter than your boss… your teacher… your elected official.

Will you still care about truth when it’s indistinguishable from performance?

Because the test we’re taking now?
It’s not technological.
It’s moral.
It’s societal.
And it’s ongoing.

Welcome to the Imitation Game – Part II.

This time… we’re the ones being judged… not the machines.

This is what Dan Delmar and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM.

Mitch Joel · Fooling Humans Is Easy. That’s The Real AI Problem – The Elias Makos Show – CJAD 800

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

The Algorithm Wants Relevance… I Choose Ritual

I’ve been publishing a new episode of my podcast, Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne, every Sunday since May 22, 2006.

That’s 19 years.
That’s 980 episodes.
No seasons… no breaks… no reruns.

Some weeks, it feels easy.

Other weeks, it feels like shouting into the void.
And still… I do it.
Not out of obligation.
Out of something else… something harder to explain.

I do it (mostly) because I can’t imagine not doing it (if that makes any sense?).

Maybe it’s loyalty to the craft.
Maybe it’s stubbornness.
Maybe it’s the belief that consistent personal excellence still matters… even if the metrics don’t always show it.

But lately, I’ve been asking myself:

Does consistency still matter in a world that rewards relevance above everything?
We live in an algorithm economy.
You’re told to post when it’s trending.
Follow the format.
Jump on the meme.
Be loud… be now… be everywhere.

But here’s the thing I learned during my time in the music business:

The louder you try to be… the easier it is to lose your voice.
That’s what I was thinking while editing this week’s episode of Six Pixels with Steve Pratt author of the new book, Earn It – Unconventional Strategies For Brave Marketers.
Steve said something that stopped me in my tracks:

“Most shows don’t fail because they’re bad… They fail because people give up too soon.”

He’s right.
It’s not about being viral.
It’s about being valued.
It’s about earning trust… episode after episode… post after post… year after year.

There’s a quiet dignity in showing up every week (at least that’s what I keep telling myself).

Not for clicks… not for dopamine… but because you believe in the work.
Because it matters to you.
This conversation with Steve felt like a reflection of how hard this path can be, and why it’s still worth walking.
Because consistency isn’t sexy… but it’s what lasts.

So here’s what I’m wondering:

In a world obsessed with relevance, what does long-term consistency look like for you right now?

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Steve Pratt On Podcasting And Unconventional Marketing – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #984 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Steve Pratt knows how to earn attention – and not in the algorithm-chasing, trend-hopping way most marketers talk about it. As the co-founder of Pacific Content (the first agency dedicated to branded podcasts), Steve helped pioneer a model for long-form brand storytelling that respected the audience as much as it served the client. Before podcasting was a thing brands took seriously, Steve was guiding companies like Slack, Facebook, Shopify, BMW, Adobe, and Charles Schwab into a new kind of media – one built on trust, consistency, and real creative value. That experience forms the foundation of his new book, Earn It – Unconventional Strategies For Brave Marketers. In this conversation, he unpacks why so many marketers are stuck in short-term thinking, how performance marketing is cannibalizing brand, and what it really takes to build content worth someone’s time. There’s insight here on the difference between being loud and being relevant, on why the future belongs to brave brands with a point of view, and how AI may flood the market with content – but only humans can still make something remarkable. Steve’s career started in TV production, moved through digital innovation at CBC, and has now landed at the intersection of creativity, business strategy, and media design with his newest venture, The Creativity Business. His message is simple: the only brands that win long-term are the ones willing to put in the work, respect the audience, and be consistently great over time. For anyone wrestling with content strategy, podcasting, or how to think like a media company – this one’s a masterclass. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #984 – Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast .

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

SPOS #984 – Steve Pratt On Podcasting And Unconventional Marketing

Welcome to episode #984 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Steve Pratt knows how to earn attention – and not in the algorithm-chasing, trend-hopping way most marketers talk about it. As the co-founder of Pacific Content (the first agency dedicated to branded podcasts), Steve helped pioneer a model for long-form brand storytelling that respected the audience as much as it served the client. Before podcasting was a thing brands took seriously, Steve was guiding companies like Slack, Facebook, Shopify, BMW, Adobe, and Charles Schwab into a new kind of media – one built on trust, consistency, and real creative value. That experience forms the foundation of his new book, Earn It – Unconventional Strategies For Brave Marketers. In this conversation, he unpacks why so many marketers are stuck in short-term thinking, how performance marketing is cannibalizing brand, and what it really takes to build content worth someone’s time. There’s insight here on the difference between being loud and being relevant, on why the future belongs to brave brands with a point of view, and how AI may flood the market with content – but only humans can still make something remarkable. Steve’s career started in TV production, moved through digital innovation at CBC, and has now landed at the intersection of creativity, business strategy, and media design with his newest venture, The Creativity Business. His message is simple: the only brands that win long-term are the ones willing to put in the work, respect the audience, and be consistently great over time. For anyone wrestling with content strategy, podcasting, or how to think like a media company – this one’s a masterclass. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:00:53.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on X.Here is my conversation with Steve Pratt.Earn It – Unconventional Strategies For Brave Marketers.The Creativity Business.Follow Steve on Instagram.Follow Steve on LinkedIn.

Chapters:

(00:00) – The Journey of Podcasting.
(02:58) – Consistency vs. Relevance in Content Creation.
(06:05) – The Landscape of Media Companies vs. Individual Creators.
(08:58) – Audience Development in the Digital Age.
(11:49) – The Nature of Podcasts vs. Video Content.
(15:09) – The Evolution of Podcasting and Video Strategies.
(17:49) – The Role of Sensationalism in Media.
(20:52) – Quality vs. Mediocrity in Content Creation.
(33:37) – The Challenge of Earning Success.
(34:44) – The Longevity of Podcasting and Audience Engagement.
(39:01) – Niche Marketing and Brand Media Companies.
(42:59) – The Pressure of Performance Marketing.
(50:00) – The Role of AI in Content Creation.
(01:03:16) – Red Bull: A Case Study in Media Innovation.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #984.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links That Make You Think #777

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Just Evil Enough, Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another:

Do Starfield’s Pipes Make Any Sense? – Any Austin – YouTube . “Sometimes I wonder if I’m overthinking things. Then the Internet shows me something like this, and I realize I’m a complete amateur.” (Alistair for Hugh). Taken: The Musical – There, I Ruined It – YouTube . “Laying off the heavy stuff this week. There, I Ruined It can turn anything into a musical, apparently.” (Alistair for Mitch). Extraterrestrial Tongues – Nikhil Mahant – Aeon . “What would it actually mean to communicate with aliens?” (Hugh for Alistair).  The Moth Presents: John Turturro – Stumbling In The Dark – The Moth – YouTube . “The great John Turturro tells you a story.” (Hugh for Mitch). AI, Informational Pain, and Nutritional Value – Hugh McGuire – Substack . “Our buddy, Hugh, did something. He got tired of reading the things that he has to read (but doesn’t want to/doesn’t have the time for). A problem – I am guessing – most of us have to deal with. So, some vibecoding (and real coding) later and he’s come up with tldrr. A little generative AI magic tool that (accoding to him) ‘converts long-form PDFs (for now) into structured summaries (or guides) and saves them in a dashboard. It pulls key takeaways, quotes, and questions, and builds a glossary to make dense material more digestible. You can ask deep questions, and share your summaries, making it easier to send high-pain-high-nutrition docs to others, with a chance they might read them.’ And, yeah… it works… it’s cool… and I’m adding it into my toolkit. So, if you’re also struggling with both your information diet and where you need store those exccess information calories (that’s just me messing with his language ;), I’d recommned you (and everyone else) check it out… Proud of you, Hugh!” (Mitch for Alistair). Scott Galloway Vs. Rory Sutherland – Is The Era Of Brand Over? – Uncensored CMO – YouTube . “Talk about two great business and marketing minds coming together for a chat (and meeting for the first time). Scott Galloway may declare the era of brand dead, but what’s really dying is the old broadcast model – not branding itself. In a world of AI, search, and fragmented attention, brand isn’t built through logos and taglines anymore – it lives in product experience, social proof, and recommendation engines (plus the brands that can create the best experiences through robust services). Scott’s fixation on performance and product overlooks the soul of branding: its power to create meaning, connection, and community. As product parity rises, brand becomes the only moat (Rory agrees). What’s really at risk isn’t brand – it’s the rise of generic, forgettable offerings. And while Rory Sutherland had the insight to challenge this, the format didn’t give him enough room or time to really spar. The debate deserved more tension… and much more perspectives from Rory, but it’s still a great watch and learn moment.” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Automated, Augmented Or Unemployed? The Myths Of AI

Here’s another thread about AI that I probably shouldn’t have pulled at because now it’s unraveling everything… 

I used to frame AI like many do: as “rocket fuel” or a “co-pilot.” 
Like we’re launching into a utopia of limitless personal productivity.
I no longer believe that.

That framing isn’t just wrong… it’s dangerous.

Yes, AI can help us move faster. 
But the real story is what happens after liftoff.

AI is already replacing jobs. 

First in knowledge and service-based work. 
Next in physical labor, as robotics get cheaper and more precise.
Not because it’s malicious.
Because it’s efficient.
That’s what technology has always done… from fire, to the printing press, to the spreadsheet.

But with all that efficiency, here’s the paradox:

Are we working less?
Are we more productive?
Or just doing more with tools that demand more from us?

If tech keeps getting better at doing what humans do… why are we busier than ever?

The memos from Shopify and Fiverr’s CEOs isn’t fear-mongering… it’s realism. 
They’re naming a hard truth: 
Roles built on repetition or pattern recognition are disappearing. 
Yes, innovation will follow. 
New jobs will emerge. 

But many will require fewer humans.

That’s the part we don’t like to talk about: 
The companies with trillion-dollar market caps scaled with far fewer people than the industrial giants that came before them.

AI will multiply that effect.

Even advanced degrees, expertise, credentials… they’re starting to feel like taxi medallions after Uber ubered.
This isn’t just about expanding capabilities.
It’s about redistributing power.

So the real question is:

Who gets augmented?
And who gets automated?
Visionary leaders aren’t the ones shouting “everyone wins!”
They’re preparing for a messy, ethically complex, uneven future… where a few soar, and many fall behind… unless we build new scaffolding now.

Yes, AI can be a jetpack.

But today’s “co-pilot” won’t stay in the passenger seat for long.

That’s what keeps me up at night.

If I spend a year feeding AI my thinking – writing, voice, interviews – when does it just do the job better than me?
In my voice.
With my depth.
Plus every other writer’s insights… plus optimized for every platform’s algorithmic whim.
Most AI optimism assumes stasis… that it’ll stay passive, helpful, second-chair.
But that’s not what’s happening.

These systems are getting agentic.

They act.
They decide.
They initiate.
The optimize.
They improve.

So what then?

If AI can do your job with you today, what makes you so sure it won’t do it without you tomorrow?
This isn’t just extended capability.
It’s exponential independence.
And that changes everything: labor, value, trust, control.

This isn’t dystopian.

This is what responsible leadership sounds like.
Less hype… more hard thinking.
So yes… maybe AI is rocket fuel.
But if we’re not careful, we’ll wake up and realize:

We weren’t the ones in the cockpit.

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

The Illusion Of Everyone – Welcome To The Era Of Fake Consensus

We used to fear that AI would create the perfect lie.

Now, the real threat is something worse: that everyone else believes what the bots want us to believe.
This is not about a rogue deepfake.
This is about a coordinated machine – bot farms – churning out emotional, divisive content at a scale that no human network can match.
They’re not just impersonating us.
They’re outnumbering us.
They’re manipulating us.
They’re getting us to think (exactly) how they want.

No… this is NOT a conspiracy theory.

Imagine thousands of phones in racks, each running social media accounts powered by AI-generated faces, voices, bios, and political opinions.
These AI-generated profiles spend months following real people (and other AI bots) slowly accumulating followers of their own, commenting on other profiles, adding “value” and more to fake “engagement” while amplifying and sharing the “message” their owners are being paid to publish.
Now imagine those accounts liking, sharing, commenting – in perfect sync – to make a fringe idea feel mainstream… to normalize it.
That’s not just misinformation.

That’s manufactured belief.

You’ve probably fallen for it and felt it.
That moment when something weird or extreme pops into your feed and you think, “is this actually popular?”
It might not be.
It might just be a synthetic consensus, algorithmically juiced by an army of digital avatars.
And then shared by someone you know, like/love and trust.
Again, this isn’t conspiracy theory territory. 

This is a productized industry.

Bot farms are real. 
They’re operated by nation states, PR firms, “influencers” and political actors.
They operate at a penny-per-action… likes, shares, comments, views and followers.
That’s all it takes to hack attention.
And once something looks like it’s trending, it gets boosted by the platforms themselves.
This is “coordinated inauthentic behavior” – Meta’s term, not mine – and it’s eating away at the internet from the inside out.

So here’s my provocation:

What happens when fake accounts outnumber real ones?
When virality becomes a hoax?
When the signal-to-noise ratio is so broken that truth sounds like a minority opinion?
The bots aren’t here to persuade you.

They’re here to exhaust you.

To make everything feel suspect.
Because when truth becomes blurry, power wins by default.
That’s the part we don’t talk about enough.
This isn’t a war on facts.

It’s a war on belief infrastructure.

If democracy depends on a shared reality, how do we defend it when the algorithm can’t tell a troll from a citizen?
We don’t need a panic button.
We need a playbook… one that prioritizes digital literacy, algorithmic transparency and emotional self-defense.

Because in a world where identity is programmable and outrage is profitable, your ability to think clearly – and pause before you share – might be the last real act of resistance.

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM.

Mitch Joel · The Illusion Of Everyone – The Elias Makos Show – CJAD 800

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Matthew Weinzierl On Space And New Economic Frontiers – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #983 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Matthew Weinzierl is not just thinking about the future of the economy – he’s thinking about the economy of the final frontier. As a professor at Harvard Business School and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, Matt brings the analytical rigor of economic policy to a space sector that’s shifting from sci-fi to IPO. In our conversation, we unpack the big thesis behind his new book Space To Grow – Unlocking The Final Economic Frontier (co-authored with Mehak Sarang Rousseau), which reframes space as something more than spectacle or science – it’s a place where real economic value is being created right now. This isn’t about day trips to orbit or Mars hotels (not yet). It’s about the role of market forces, national security, broadband access, sustainability, microgravity manufacturing, and the essential debate between centralized control and decentralized innovation. Matt has built a career studying tax policy and the philosophical underpinnings of economic systems, and now he’s applying that lens to a commercial space industry that’s still defining its rules. We talk about SpaceX’s dominance and what it means for competition, the outdated frameworks of international space law, and why economists are uniquely suited to help structure the future of space activity. We also explore the symbolic and practical value of human exploration, and how figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos shape the public’s understanding of what’s possible (and what might be hype). What makes Matt so compelling is his clarity… he doesn’t get swept up in the cosmic dreams without asking who benefits, who governs, and what kind of economic system we’re building in orbit and beyond. If you’ve been curious about the real forces shaping the space economy – and what it might mean for Earth – this episode is a must-listen. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #983 – Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast .

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

SPOS #983 – Matthew Weinzierl On Space And New Economic Frontiers

Welcome to episode #983 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Matthew Weinzierl is not just thinking about the future of the economy – he’s thinking about the economy of the final frontier. As a professor at Harvard Business School and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, Matt brings the analytical rigor of economic policy to a space sector that’s shifting from sci-fi to IPO. In our conversation, we unpack the big thesis behind his new book Space To Grow – Unlocking The Final Economic Frontier (co-authored with Mehak Sarang Rousseau), which reframes space as something more than spectacle or science – it’s a place where real economic value is being created right now. This isn’t about day trips to orbit or Mars hotels (not yet). It’s about the role of market forces, national security, broadband access, sustainability, microgravity manufacturing, and the essential debate between centralized control and decentralized innovation. Matt has built a career studying tax policy and the philosophical underpinnings of economic systems, and now he’s applying that lens to a commercial space industry that’s still defining its rules. We talk about SpaceX’s dominance and what it means for competition, the outdated frameworks of international space law, and why economists are uniquely suited to help structure the future of space activity. We also explore the symbolic and practical value of human exploration, and how figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos shape the public’s understanding of what’s possible (and what might be hype). What makes Matt so compelling is his clarity… he doesn’t get swept up in the cosmic dreams without asking who benefits, who governs, and what kind of economic system we’re building in orbit and beyond. If you’ve been curious about the real forces shaping the space economy – and what it might mean for Earth – this episode is a must-listen. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 58:47.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on X.Here is my conversation with Matthew Weinzierl.Space To Grow – Unlocking The Final Economic Frontier.Economics Of Space.Mehak Sarang Rousseau.Follow Matt on LinkedIn.

Chapters:

(00:00) – Introduction to Space Economics.
(03:05) – The Intersection of Economics and Space.
(06:09) – Challenges in the Space Sector.
(09:06) – Market Dynamics and Competition in Space.
(12:11) – The Role of National Security in Space.
(14:48) – The Future of Space Exploration.
(18:02) – Arguments For and Against Space Exploration.
(29:32) – The Double-Edged Sword of Celebrity in Business.
(31:13) – Decentralization: Opportunities and Challenges.
(35:26) – Balancing Centralization and Decentralization in Space.
(38:32) – The Ethical Implications of Space Exploration.
(40:17) – Regulating the New Frontier: Challenges Ahead.
(44:54) – The Reality of Mars Missions.
(48:53) – Unlocking the Value of Space Resources.
(51:37) – The Role of Humans in Space Exploration.
(53:46) – Economic Policies and Global Trade Dynamics.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #983.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links That Make You Think #776

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Just Evil Enough, Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another:

Watch The Skies – World’s First Ai Visual Dubbed Feature Film – Crazy Pictures – YouTube . “Watch The Skies is a successful 2022 Swedish sci-fi movie. To reach a wider audience, the producers partnered with a company called Flawless. The actors, who are bilingual, re-read their lines in English while having their faces recorded. Then the software edited the film, frame-by-frame, to sync lip movements with the original Swedish footage. The result is a re-release with English-speaking actors. Closed-captioning and regional productions (think Squid Game, Lupin, ano other foreign-language break-out hits). Just in time for US protectionism, Hollywood no longer has a monopoly on the most lucrative audiences.” (Alistair for Hugh). Back To A Website – homestarrunnerdotcom – YouTube . “‘Do you remember Homestar Runner‘ is an age check for people who were extremely online in the nineties. The Flash-based website was part blog, part video archive, and part game. It gave us classics like Lightswitch Raves and Trogdor. There were attempts at spinoffs, but when Adobe killed Flash it was no more. Well, if you’re not already feeling old enough, it’s a quarter of a century old. Here’s their 25-year anniversary video.” (Alistair for Mitch). Using AI In Writing Class: Student Voices – Michelle Kassorla – The Academic Platypus . “Teachers are rightfully worried about AI, and many are at a loss, students are submitting AI slop, the tech bros say teachers will be replaced by AI, and everything is scary. Teachers like Michelle Kassorla have leaned in, and are figuring out how AI can be a central part of accelerating student learning, even in a class like writing. Hear what her students have to say about her approach.” (Hugh for Alistair). Meet Slate – Slate Auto – YouTube . “Great ad, great marketing, and … a crazy, low-priced EV truck that’s kind of like Mr. Potatohead (you can configure it how you like, now or later). I kinda want one.” (Hugh for Mitch). Personality And Persuasion – Ethan Mollick – One Useful Thing . “What if AI doesn’t have cognitive bias, but rather knows what you – individual – cognitive bias is and treies to appease it. So… forget getting something wrong in world where AI knows exactly what you want it to tell you… yikes! Ethan Mollick’s recent exploration into AI’s persuasive capabilities reveals this future where machines don’t just inform… they influence. By crafting language and personalities that resonate with us (in a very personal way), AI models are becoming adept at tailoring arguments to your individual beliefs, sometimes surpassing human persuaders. This evolution isn’t merely about technological advancement… it’s about the subtle shaping of human decisions and opinions. As AI integrates more deeply into our lives, the line between assistance and manipulation is now blurring. So, it is time to re-evaluate how we interact with these digital entities and what about the ethical frameworks governing them?” (Mitch for Alistair). How Creativity Became The Reigning Value Of Our Time – Bryan Gardiner – MIT Technology Review . “This article states something I’ve been noodling on for years: The notion that creativity is uniquely the domain of humans and/or that creativity is – always – the most important human thing we do. Samuel Franklin’s new book, The Cult of Creativity, dismantles the myth that creativity is an innate, timeless human trait, revealing it instead as a post-WWII construct born from Cold War anxieties and corporate agendas. What we now revere as ‘creativity’ was engineered to humanize bureaucratic systems, soothe fears of conformity, and boost productivity in white-collar America. It was less about artistic expression and more about making workers feel like visionaries while keeping them firmly within the machine. This article (which is, mostly, a book review) exposes how brainstorming sessions and creativity tests weren’t liberating… they were tools of control, cloaked in the language of self-actualization. In today’s AI-saturated world, where machines can mimic ‘creative’ outputs, this history forces us to ask: was creativity ever about originality or just another lever in the productivity playbook? If creativity was a managerial invention, what does it mean when algorithms outperform us at it? Maybe it’s time to stop worshipping at the altar of ‘creative disruption’ and start redefining what human ingenuity really looks like… beyond the buzzwords. Which is a fascinating thought experiement in a world where AI is taking the hard work of ’thinking’ and making it easy… (nearly) free… fast… and much more.” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

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