Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 22

Six Links That Make You Think #756

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 (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: 

Alignment Faking In Large Language Models – Anthropic. “When an AI’s output is consistent with the rules its creator set out, it’s ‘aligned’. Misalignment means doing things like explaining how to make a weapon or list the ingredients for a drug. AI companies’ safety teams have various ways of testing alignment – but it’s rather like a normal teacher testing an extraordinary pupil. How do we know if they’re lying to us when they’re smarter than us? I’m a fan of Anthropic, and its approach to alignment is different from others… it’s also more transparent. If you want to understand how misalignment and faked behavior happen, this is a great, clear explanation.” (Alistair for Hugh). The Ghosts In The Machine – Liz Pelly – Harper’s Magazine . “A few years back, I was writing a short e-book for O’Reilly called, Music Science, about how tech was changing the recording industry. I learned that Spotify hired François Pachet, an expert in generative music. This was seven years ago, in 2017. Why pay artists to stream their music when you can just generate it for them, I wondered. Well, it seems like something is indeed rotten in Denmark, Sweden. In this Harpers piece, Liz Pelly offers a look inside the company’s ‘Perfect Fit Content’ machine. Which brings up not only the ethical questions of artist compensation, but also a conversation about whether generative noise we like is a valid product offering.” (Alistair for Mitch).The Real Secret Of Youth Is Complexity – Lewis A. Lipsitz – Nautilus. “Ask Alistair about his theory of life the next time you see him, which goes something like this: life’s driving ambition is to convert energy into information. This is in contervalence to the overall physics of the universe, which tends to entropy (aka disorder). Of course there’s more to it, but Alistair will have to fill you in. In any case, studies in aging show that we are all mini-universes tending towards entropy and our own heat deaths: all the structures of the body – our brains, our bones, our organs, our skin – get less complex as we age.” (Hugh for Alistair). All the Little Data – Nicholas Carr – The Hedgehog Review . “Nick Carr writes about all those notifications, texts, alerts, emails, and numbers that shape our lives every day, and comes, more or less, to the conclusion that this data is replacing life. ‘What is datafication but a process for transforming the living into the dead?’ This is interesting in context of Alistair’s theory of life (see above) – ‘transforming energy into information’ … maybe it’s a round-trip? What information giveth, information taketh away. In any case, please turn off your notifications.” (Hugh for Mitch).  52 Things I  Learned In 2024 – Tom Whitwell – Medium. “Full disclosure: I can’t remember how I came across this article… I don’t know who Tom Whitwell is… and I have not clicked on every link/source to verify the credibility of these statements/headlines. With that, here is a fascinating list of things that I was ’this years old’ when learning about… fun… insightful… weird… ludicrous… And it kicks off with this one: ‘To highlight tax evasion, South Korea introduced ugly neon green number plates for company cars worth more than $58,000. Luxury car sales fell 27%.’” (Mitch for Alistair). The Greatest Tech Book Of All Time – The Verge . “Pardon the overly click-baity title of this article. I was just telling Hugh that I am madly deeply in love with the iPad Mini. That it is, beyond reason, one of the best ‘content devices’ I have ever owned. So, what better way to enjoy this coming holiday season than curled up with a great read. This list… surprised me… some book that I have read enjoyed (that I would not qualify as the ‘best of all time’) and many more that I have not read. So… here’s to a holiday filled with clearing out those book wishlists…” (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.

Screenagers – Raised By YouTube, Fed By TikTok, Ignored By Us

Nearly half of American teens are online almost constantly.

Read that again.

This isn’t just connection – this is immersion.
According to Pew Research Center’s latest report, teens are spending more time glued to screens than ever before, reshaping culture, communication, and habits in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

And the platform leading the charge?

YouTube (not what I thought, either).
The numbers don’t lie.
73% of teens say they use YouTube daily.
One-third of them use at least one social media platform “almost constantly”.
TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat round out the list, with Facebook and X slowly fading into teens’ background.

The rise of YouTube as the dominant platform is no small shift.

It’s not just videos.
It’s TV.
It’s music.
It’s learning.
It’s background noise – wallpaper for an always-on generation.
This isn’t a new screen addiction… it’s an evolved one.

But is this a problem – or just a generational handoff?

Here’s where the divide becomes clear.
Older generations (the digital immigrants) see this behavior and recoil.
What happened to TV in the living room?
Family dinners without screens?

Teens today live in a different reality.

Most have smartphones.
Most use social media daily.
Most (even ones from smaller economically stable homes) have connectivity.

And 46% say they’re online “almost constantly”.

It’s not just “connected” anymore – it’s consumed.

The question is:

Do we need teens to behave more like older generations, or do older generations need to adapt to this cultural shift?
Interestingly, Instagram usage – especially among teen girls – is rising, with 12% saying they use it “almost constantly,” up from 8% just a year ago.

Here’s the part we’re not talking about:

Platforms track how many times teens log in.
But what about how many hours they spend there?
That data is rarely shared – maybe because it would make the addictive nature of these platforms undeniable.
And when nearly half of teens are “almost constantly” online, it raises a bigger question:

How much of their time is theirs, and how much of it belongs to the platforms?

This isn’t about screens.
It’s about habits.
It’s about an entire generation that will grow up never knowing a world without a glowing rectangle in their hand.

How does that shape their communication? Their relationships? Their creativity?

What happens when today’s teens become adults with their own teens?
The screens won’t disappear. 
The platforms won’t disappear.
AI will, without question, change everything.
So, as we look at these numbers, we have to ask ourselves:

Are we prepared for what comes next?

Or are we just scrolling past the problem?

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Screenagers – Raised By YouTube, Fed By TikTok, Ignored By Us

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.

Richard Cytowic On Simple Brains And Smartphones – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #962 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Richard Cytowic is a neurologist, neuropsychologist, and a creative force who brought the enigmatic phenomenon of synesthesia back into scientific discourse after decades of dismissal, earning him international acclaim and cementing his place as a pioneer in neuroscience. Currently a Clinical Professor of Neurology at George Washington University, Richard has authored multiple groundbreaking books, including The Man Who Tasted Shapes, which won The Montaigne Medal, and has been the subject of three BBC documentaries. His work has influenced fields ranging from psychology to the arts, with speaking engagements at prestigious institutions like NASA, the Smithsonian, and the Library of Congress. In our conversation, Richard explored the themes of his latest book, Your Stone Age Brain In The Screen Age – Coping With Digital Distraction And Sensory Overload, an examination of why our prehistoric brains are ill-equipped for the constant bombardment of modern technology. Richard’s unique lens – a fusion of neurological insight and storytelling – reveals how our brains, still operating on Stone Age instincts, are no match for the addictive design of our devices. He explains the science behind behaviors many of us dismiss, such as our inability to put down our phones or stop scrolling, linking these behaviors to the brain’s limited bandwidth and the mechanics of positive intermittent reinforcement (think slot machines in your pocket). As someone who helped reintroduce synesthesia to mainstream science, Richard also connects these findings to larger societal implications, questioning how technology influences not only our attention but also our ability to interact meaningfully with others. Richard’s deep dives into the science of human attention, working memory, and our psychological relationship with technology offer practical wisdom and fascinating insights. If you’ve ever wondered why it’s so hard to put your phone down – or how we can reclaim our focus and connection in the digital age – this is for you. 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):  #962 – 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 #962 – Richard Cytowic On Simple Brains And Smartphones

Welcome to episode #962 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Richard Cytowic is a neurologist, neuropsychologist, and a creative force who brought the enigmatic phenomenon of synesthesia back into scientific discourse after decades of dismissal, earning him international acclaim and cementing his place as a pioneer in neuroscience. Currently a Clinical Professor of Neurology at George Washington University, Richard has authored multiple groundbreaking books, including The Man Who Tasted Shapes, which won The Montaigne Medal, and has been the subject of three BBC documentaries. His work has influenced fields ranging from psychology to the arts, with speaking engagements at prestigious institutions like NASA, the Smithsonian, and the Library of Congress. In our conversation, Richard explored the themes of his latest book, Your Stone Age Brain In The Screen Age – Coping With Digital Distraction And Sensory Overload, an examination of why our prehistoric brains are ill-equipped for the constant bombardment of modern technology. Richard’s unique lens – a fusion of neurological insight and storytelling – reveals how our brains, still operating on Stone Age instincts, are no match for the addictive design of our devices. He explains the science behind behaviors many of us dismiss, such as our inability to put down our phones or stop scrolling, linking these behaviors to the brain’s limited bandwidth and the mechanics of positive intermittent reinforcement (think slot machines in your pocket). As someone who helped reintroduce synesthesia to mainstream science, Richard also connects these findings to larger societal implications, questioning how technology influences not only our attention but also our ability to interact meaningfully with others. Richard’s deep dives into the science of human attention, working memory, and our psychological relationship with technology offer practical wisdom and fascinating insights. If you’ve ever wondered why it’s so hard to put your phone down – or how we can reclaim our focus and connection in the digital age – this is for you. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:02:58.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 Twitter.Here is my conversation with Richard Cytowic.Your Stone Age Brain In The Screen Age – Coping With Digital Distraction And Sensory Overload.The Man Who Tasted Shapes.Synesthesia.Richard’s columns for Psychology Today.Follow Richard on X.Follow Richard on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

(00:00) – Introduction to Synesthesia.
(11:46) – The Impact of Screens on Our Brains.
(25:14) – Understanding Attention and Energy.
(39:45) – Navigating Digital Addiction.
(55:50) – The Future of AI and Human Interaction.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #962.

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 #755

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 (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: 

Space Elevator – Neil.Fun. “Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m trying to take a break from dystopian things. So why does this site have text like ‘This is the Armstrong limit – above this altitude your saliva and tears will boil if you don’t have a pressure suit’? Because it’s a space elevator visualizer. One of the great things about the Internet is how well it helps us understand ideas (like the 3D flood warnings from the Weather Channel. This isn’t quite the same, but it caught my interest because a friend of mine once ran an X Prize for the Space Elevator, and went to great pains to explain that the kinds of meta-material we’d need for a tether must be impossibly strong, but incredibly light – since almost all the force it has to withstand is its own weight. Also, I did not know that someone jumped from 30km wearing only a duct-taped pressure suit.” (Alistair for Hugh). Natural Language Playlist . “Describe your music, get a Spotify playlist. I tried ‘Bass-heavy music with incredible bass that’s not rock or funk’, and it gave me this playlist. Mitch, after all my complaints about AI, here’s something you can probably enjoy for a change.” (Alistair for Mitch). Ninety-five Theses On AI – Samuel Hammond – Second Best . “Economist Sam Hammond believes that AI is going to be equivalent to the printing press, or photosynthesis. Lest we get too happy about either, remember that the printing press ushered in not just an unprecedented period of knowledge dissemination, but also roughly 200 years of conflict, wars and chaos in Europe. Martin Luther wrote his Ninety-five Theses that upended the Catholic Church’s control of society (spiritual and political). Hammond has 95 thought-provoking theses about AI, and believes, largely, that things are going to get real.” (Hugh for Alistair).  In Tests, OpenAI’s New Model Lied And Schemed To Avoid Being Shut Down – Frank Landymore – Futurism . “Nothing to see here. Move along, human.” (Hugh for Mitch). What’s The Best Micro Work Setup For iPad Mini? – That Mark Gilroy – YouTube . “In 2010, Apple launched the iPad. My first thought (and this earworm still speaks) was, ‘it’s just a big iPhone… do I need this?’ My work ‘really’ happens on my MacBook Pro, and I have an iPhone… how would the iPad figure into my life? Well, 14 years later, and I will readily admit that every few years I get sucked into buying an iPad with the idea that it will be great for reading, watching videos, and consuming content. And, if I am to be honest, after a few weeks of playing with it, they would just collect dust. I just couldn’t figure out a place for it in my work/play. Especially because I am on the go (the iPad was like carrying around a second laptop). If you had asked me about the iPad Mini, I would have been even more negative about it (really… my iPhone can handle it… it’s a waste). Well, I’m here to tell you that I picked up a new iPad Mini several months back, and it may well be the best piece of technology that I have ever purchased. The form factor is perfect for reading (ebooks, newspapers, magazines, etc…), it’s great for note-taking, YouTube, podcasts, emails, browsing, and more. It’s light enough that I don’t ‘feel it’ when I travel and, most importantly, it has made my life so much better… truly. A few key learnings: When I travel, I find that my laptop’s sole use is for onstage presentations (and that’s about it), for flights, the beach, hanging out at a café/library, it really is the perfect form factor (now my Kindle is collecting dust). I was so wrong about this tech. I’m probably going to have to write an article all about the tools, apps, and productivity it has brought into my life (and made everything so much more pleasurable). ’Tis the season, so treat yourself and get an iPad Mini… it really has replaced almost every aspect of my laptop and smartphone…” (Mitch for Alistair). Phil Collins: Drummer First – Official Trailer -Drumeo – YouTube . “One, this is going to be an incredible documentary about Phil Collins and I can’t wait to watch it. Two, this isn’t some big studio or streaming service producing it… this is brought to us by Drumeo (and online platform to learn how to play drums – and if you have not checked out their awesome drummer challenges on YouTube, you really should!). Three, Check out the quality and think about how brands (like Drumeo) are now creating content that rivals the big studios and streaming services. Four, reflect on how we discussed (almost twenty years ago) the possibility that brands could be publishers and that ‘content is media’ long before anyone believed us. Five, reflect deeper on how some of the better podcasts that are coming out are, essentially, TV shows… and how powerful this is. Great production, great quality, finding content that suits an audience, and bringing it all to life in a powerful way. Wow…” (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.

Flagged, Banned, And Confused – Welcome To The Wild World Of Content Moderation

Content moderation is a tricky and brutal business.

Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, recently admitted the company’s systems have been, well, overzealous.
Too much content is being removed.
Too many innocent posts are being flagged.
And too many users are being penalized for doing nothing wrong.

But here’s the real question:

Is this about cleaning up mistakes—or navigating a political minefield?
Clegg didn’t mince words.
“We overdid it,” he said, reflecting on Meta’s heavy-handed moderation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Large volumes of content were removed under the guise of safety.
But hindsight is 20/20, and now, Meta is acknowledging what users have been saying for years: the company’s automated systems and policies are far from perfect.
Examples of moderation failures have surfaced recently on Threads, Meta’s text-based platform.
One high-profile blunder? Suppressing images of Donald Trump surviving an attempted assassination – a mistake that sent shockwaves through its user base.
Even Meta’s own Oversight Board has sounded the alarm, warning that these errors could stifle political speech ahead of key elections.

Right now, Meta spends billions annually on moderation, using a mix of AI and human reviewers.

Still, Clegg’s admission highlights a deeper issue:
Even with cutting-edge tools, mistakes are rampant.

So, what’s the fix?

Clegg described Meta’s content rules as a “living, breathing document,” suggesting ongoing adjustments.

But what does that really mean?

Are we heading toward clearer guidelines – or just more Band-Aid solutions?
This isn’t just about algorithms or oversight.

It’s also about politics.

During the pandemic, the Biden administration urged platforms to crack down on misinformation, a move Meta now regrets enforcing so aggressively.
This back-and-forth between tech giants and governments creates a murky landscape.

Who decides what’s acceptable?

And how much influence should politics have on platforms designed for free expression?
We know this to be true: Moderation is a tightrope walk.
Platforms like X have taken the opposite approach, allowing everything that isn’t illegal to remain online.

The result?

A chaotic free-for-all where community notes and user moderation reign.
Meta, on the other hand, has tried to curate its spaces, but at what cost?
If moderation goes too far, platforms risk alienating users and suppressing critical voices.
But too little control, and you create a playground for harmful content.

The bigger picture…

Moderation woes aren’t about technology – they’re about trust.
And, trust is different from person to person and from region to region.
Users want a platform where they feel safe, but they also want their voices heard.

Can social media platform find the sweet spot between over-enforcement and under-regulation?

Or are we destined for a future where moderation becomes the new battleground for politics, profit, and public discourse?
For now, Meta’s errors are a reminder that even the biggest tech companies – who are spending billions on the solution – don’t have all the answers.

The question is:

What will fix this… technology… AI… the community… common sense?

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Flagged, Banned, And Confused – Welcome To The Wild World Of Content Moderation

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.

Sandra Matz On Algorithms, Psychology And Human Behavior – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #961 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Sandra Matz is one of those rare individuals who sits at the intersection of academic rigor and cultural relevance. As a computational social scientist with a background in psychology and computer science, Sandra studies human behavior by uncovering the hidden relationships between our digital lives and our psychology. Her goal is to make data relatable, and help individuals and businesses make better and more ethical decisions. As the David W. Zalaznick Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, Sandra has dedicated her career to understanding the hidden connections between human behavior and the data trails we leave behind. Over the last 10 years, she has published over 50 academic papers in the world’s leading peer review journals. In her new book, Mindmasters – The Data-Driven Science Of Predicting And Changing Human Behavior, Sandra dives into how big data is not just a tool for understanding us but also for influencing our decisions – sometimes in ways that are empowering, other times in ways that are downright chilling. As someone who has always been fascinated by the promise and perils of technology, this conversation hit close to home. Sandra’s perspective is nuanced: she’s as much a champion of the transformative potential of algorithms in areas like mental health and financial well-being as she is a critic of their misuse for manipulation. Our conversation ranges from her conflicted feelings about the power of psychological targeting to her hope that these tools can help individuals lead happier, more balanced lives. What struck me most was her candor about the fine line between helpful nudges and invasive manipulation. Sandra is not just theorizing about these issues; she’s actively shaping the conversation around them. If you’re grappling with questions about the role of AI and algorithms in our lives – whether as a force for good or something we need to be deeply wary of – this episode will give you plenty to think about. 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):  #961 – 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 #961 – Sandra Matz On Algorithms, Psychology And Human Behavior

Welcome to episode #961 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Sandra Matz is one of those rare individuals who sits at the intersection of academic rigor and cultural relevance. As a computational social scientist with a background in psychology and computer science, Sandra studies human behavior by uncovering the hidden relationships between our digital lives and our psychology. Her goal is to make data relatable, and help individuals and businesses make better and more ethical decisions. As the David W. Zalaznick Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, Sandra has dedicated her career to understanding the hidden connections between human behavior and the data trails we leave behind. Over the last 10 years, she has published over 50 academic papers in the world’s leading peer review journals. In her new book, Mindmasters – The Data-Driven Science Of Predicting And Changing Human Behavior, Sandra dives into how big data is not just a tool for understanding us but also for influencing our decisions – sometimes in ways that are empowering, other times in ways that are downright chilling. As someone who has always been fascinated by the promise and perils of technology, this conversation hit close to home. Sandra’s perspective is nuanced: she’s as much a champion of the transformative potential of algorithms in areas like mental health and financial well-being as she is a critic of their misuse for manipulation. Our conversation ranges from her conflicted feelings about the power of psychological targeting to her hope that these tools can help individuals lead happier, more balanced lives. What struck me most was her candor about the fine line between helpful nudges and invasive manipulation. Sandra is not just theorizing about these issues; she’s actively shaping the conversation around them. If you’re grappling with questions about the role of AI and algorithms in our lives – whether as a force for good or something we need to be deeply wary of – this episode will give you plenty to think about. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:04:51.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 Twitter.Here is my conversation with Sandra Matz.Mindmasters – The Data-Driven Science Of Predicting And Changing Human Behavior.Follow Sandra on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

(00:00) – Introduction to Computational Social Science.
(03:00) – The Conflict of Technology and Psychology.
(06:13) – Understanding Psychological Targeting.
(08:58) – The Intimacy Economy vs. The Attention Economy.
(11:52) – The Dangers of Data Privacy.
(15:09) – The Impact of Google Searches on Personal Life.
(17:56) – Mass Surveillance and Data Collection.
(20:57) – The Role of Regulation in Data Privacy.
(24:07) – The Algorithmic Accountability.
(26:49) – Synthetic Data and Its Implications.
(30:09) – The Future of AI and Human Creativity.
(33:01) – The Role of Algorithms in Society.
(36:08) – The Importance of Perspective in AI.
(41:59) – The Challenge of Transparency in Algorithms.
(44:46) – Grassroots Movements and Algorithm Accountability.
(47:46) – The Future of AI and Human Interaction.
(51:05) – Conclusion and Reflections on Technology.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #961.

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 #754

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 (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: 

How Complex Systems Fail – Richard I. Cook. “What keeps me awake at night is the sheer complexity of modern life. We sit atop complex, brittle systems that, if they collapsed, would render most of humanity helpless almost overnight. Nuclear War: A Scenario and Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and The World sit in my reading queue after The Ministry for the Future. I’m super cheery. I came across this list of the attributes and vulnerabilities of complex systems, and as I reflect on the calls for ‘efficiency’ in government, I can’t help thinking that many of the ‘inefficient’ layers are also redundancies, backups that have grown over the years. And that by stripping away the dead cells, we might also remove some of those redundancies.” (Alistair for Hugh). Following Wildfire – TenTree . “Part tech tool, part PSA, this website draws attention to the growing wildfire problem in Canada. It claims to scan social media for images that might contain spreading fires. If an image contains fire or smoke, the tech looks at local weather and terrain to rate the risk of spreading wildfire. I can’t quite tell if it’s real, or even useful (and I’m increasingly skeptical of things I can’t touch or test myself). But it’s beautiful.” (Alistair for Mitch). Is Consciousness Everywhere? – Christof Koch – The MIT Press Reader . “Integrated Information Theory is an intriguing approach to the question: ‘what is consciousness?’ IIT uses an empirical and mathematical approach to explain consciousness as the result of a system, like the brain, processing information in a connected and organized way that can’t be split into separate parts. You can apply this to humans, of course, but also bees and even some cells. Not, however, computer systems. By the way, I spent more time than I would like to admit in a lovely conversation with ChatGPT to help me understand why GPT isn’t considered conscious by IIT criteria. GPT insists it isn’t conscious.” (Hugh for Alistair). In Praise Of Print: Why Reading Remains Essential In An Era Of Epistemological Collapse – Ed Simon – Lit Hub . “The push and pull of the world feels overwhelming at times these days – so much seems to be shifting under our feet, from domestic politics, to the meaning of right and left, to geopolitical structures, to our (and our kids’) relationships to technology and knowledge. It does feel like tilting at windmills, but I – a long-time advocate of digital reading – have made my little adjustment: I am reading books in paper again. I suspect my revolution won’t save the world, but, I am enjoying it, and that’s something.” (Hugh for Mitch). My Smartphone Was Ruining My Life. So I Quit. – August Lamm – The Free Press . “A few years ago, our mobile service provider had a major outage. It was at the same time as Montreal ComicCon. I spent the day diving into dusty comic book boxes, taking in so much pop culture – from manga and video games to action figures and local artists – and the best part of the day was this feeling of ’not being attached’… not being accessible. Not being able to go ‘elsewhere’ from where I was, physically, and simply not being reachable (and it not being my own choice/fault). It was… freeing. At the beginning of this week, I was thinking about that day (and how I felt) and toyed with the idea of deleting all social media apps from my iPhone and iPad. I didn’t do it. I’m in that weird place where I feel like I really need all of this connectivity and, at the same time, that I don’t need any of it ever again. Am I the only one?” (Mitch for Alistair). Band Aid – The Making Of The Original ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ (New Documentary, 2024) – Live Aid . “Back in the eighties, there was a trend. Musicians (from different genres and geographies) would rally together around a cause, record a song, donate their time and profits to the charity of choice. The model continues today, but it has evolved. It has been almost forty (!!!!) years since the ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas‘ was released. This was the UK’s version (and the first one to kick off this trend) that Bob Geldolf and Midge Ure led. It’s a rogues gallery of famous musicians, and it’s fascinating to see them hang out, meet one another and give their time to alleviate famine in Ethiopia. What really struck me? The lyrics of the song (pretty cringe by today’s standards), the lack of diversity in the line-up, the fact that no one has a phone and is so ‘present’… unreachable… and just how much the times and culture has changed since 1984. It also comes with a lot or criticism these days. Still, if you’re a Gen Xer, this will hit you right in the nostalgia… promise…” (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.

Brian Wheat From Tesla On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

“Wait… did I miss something? Why is there an article about a bass podcast on Six Pixels of Separation?”

Here’s why:
In the late nineties my first job was as a music journalist (actually, my first interview was with Tommy Lee from Motley Crue right before the band released Dr. Feelgood).
I spent many years interviewing musicians and artists for local weekly alternative newspapers, national and international magazines (and even published three music magazines – before we had the Internet).
I also studied and played the electric bass (in high school and post-secondary) and always felt like bass players never really had a chance to tell their stories.
So, about ten years ago, Seth Godin introduced me to Corey Brown (founder of No Treble – one of the world’s biggest bass platforms – and he also worked on Squidoo with Seth).
From there, Corey and I decided to try this monthly podcast where I would interview bass players and talk about their music, art, creativity and more.
I’m hopeful that these conversations will inspire your work, creativity and innovation as much as they do for me…

Brian Wheat from Tesla is this month’s conversation on Groove – The No Treble Podcast.

You can listen the new episode right here: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #120 – Brain Wheat.

Groove – Episode #120: Brian Wheat by No Treble

Brian Wheat has always been a storyteller, whether through his bass lines with Tesla or his lens as a photographer. Known as the bassist for the multi-platinum rock band Tesla, Brian’s career spans decades of creating music, touring the world, and evolving as an artist in unexpected ways. Born in Sacramento, California, Brian knew from a young age that music was his calling. Inspired by his siblings’ record collections, it was The Beatles’ Revolver that first lit the spark. By 12, a broken leg led to a serendipitous gift – a guitar. Brian wanted to be more Paul McCatney than John Lennon, so he sold his Schwinn bike for $40 and bought his first bass. That moment cemented a lifelong passion for the instrument that would become his identity. In the early ’80s, Brian and his friend, Frank Hannon, started jamming in garages, first as Earthshaker, then City Kidd, before becoming Tesla. With Jeff Keith, Troy Luccketta, and Tommy Skeoch rounding out the lineup, Tesla quickly gained momentum. By 1985, they were signed to Geffen Records, and the rest is rock history. Hits like ‘Love Song’ and ‘Modern Day Cowboy’ showcased their bluesy hard rock style, and decades later, their music still resonates with fans. During this conversation, Brian shares stories about the band’s early days, the grind of touring, and his love for the collaborative process of music. Tesla’s music reflects their roots – raw, honest, and deeply connected to their fans. Despite years of global success, Brian remains grounded, finding joy in the simplicity of creating and performing music with his bandmates. But there’s more to Brian than his time with Tesla. About a decade ago, during a break from touring, he discovered a new creative outlet: photography. A vacation with rock photographer Ross Halfin introduced Brian to the Leica camera, and a new passion was born. He started capturing the world around him, seeking out unique locations and moments of quiet beauty amidst the chaos of a rock star’s life. Brian’s photography has since evolved into what he calls Enhanced Photography – a mix of photography and painting. His work combines vivid colors and textures, resulting in striking images that blur the line between photo and painting. Some of his pieces even adorn Hofner basses, transforming them into playable works of art. Brian also has a new band with AleX – an emerging singer/songwriter from the U.K. The duo has joined forces to create a new band called Violet Breed, with their debut single, ‘Awake‘ out now. Whether on stage with Tesla or behind the camera or making music for Violet Breed, Brian continues to share his unique perspective with the world, one note – and one frame/bar – at a time. Enjoy the conversation…

What is Groove – The No Treble Podcast?

This is an ambitious effort. This will be a fascinating conversation. Our goal at Groove is to build the largest oral history of bass players. Why Groove? Most of the content about the bass revolves around gear, playing techniques, and more technical chatter. For us, bassists are creative artists with stories to tell. They are a force to be reckon with. These are the stories and conversation that we will capture. To create this oral history of why these artists chose the bass, what their creative lives are like, and where inspiration can be found.

Listen in:  Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #120- Brian Wheat.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends).