Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 29

Six Links That Make You Think #740

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: 

Maybe It’s Good We Get This Attached – Everything Is Amazing. “I’ve been playing Valheim in my spare time lately. It’s an open-world roleplaying game, and I’m not very good. I keep losing my stuff when I die, making me a pitiable newbie once again. I loved this piece about attachment in another survival-focused game, The Long Dark, but also about teddybears. If you can get past the increasingly annoying Substack chaff, it’s worth a read.” (Alistair for Hugh). The Internet’s Biggest Mystery – New York Magazine . “How many people use the Internet? Because engagement is tied to eyeballs, and revenue is tied to engagement, online platforms play fast and loose with their user counts. But companies have gradually pulled ‘active users’ from their numbers in recent years. Feels like another part of the slide from ‘tech industry’ to ‘everything is tech now’ that is robbing many of the Internet behemoths of their immunity even as brick-and-mortar reality comes creeping back.” (Alistair for Mitch). Disenshittify Or Die – Cory Doctorow . “One of the great coinages of the last few years is Cory Doctorow‘s name for what happens to web platforms as time goes on: ‘enshitification.’ My candidate for entry into the Oxford English Dictionary. Doctorow defines it as the inexorable path that big tech (see: X, Facebook, etc) platforms follow. Here’s a long update from Cory, and the full title is: ‘Disenshittify Or Die! – How Hackers Can Seize The Means Of Computation And Build A New, Good Internet That Is Hardened Against Our Asshole Bosses’ Insatiable Horniness For Enshittification’.” (Hugh for Alistair). NASA Says Astronauts Stuck In Space Will Not Return On Boeing Capsule, Will Wait For Spacex Craft – NBC News . “I would hate to work for Boeing‘s PR team: My newsfeed the past six months have had about one article a day about various pieces of Boeing planes falling off around the world. When I saw Boeing was sending a manned Starliner to the ISS, I thought: Well, they’ll be happy to have that news to distract the public from the rest of the Boeing debacle. Guess not.” (Hugh for Mitch). The Pez Outlaw . “I’m a sucker for documentaries. I’m a sucker for pop culture. I’m a sucker for nostalgia. I’m a sucker for collectibles. I’m a sucker for a good business story. This hit all of those feels. And, even if those things are not your jam, this is definitely a documentary worth checking out. Forget those true crime stories about drug smuggling, crooked executives and corrupt border guards… this is all of that and more… and… it’s about Pez! Yes… Pez candy… What an amazing and fun ride this movie is! Check it out… I watched it on Amazon Prime.” (Mitch for Alistair).  Procedural Portraits (1): Decoding ‘Eno’s’ Generative Structure – Justin Pickard . “Let’s keep going on the topic of great documentaries. I’m also a sucker for music documentaries. It could be about a band, a solo artist, the making of album or even conversations about how music gets created (I don’t even have to know or like the band to love the documentary – weird… I know). Well, now we have two personal favorites coming together. Brian Eno is the subject of a new documentary called, Eno, which was created by Gary Hustwit (and if you have not seen his documentaries Helvetica, Objectified, Urbanized, Rams, etc… can we still be friends?). I had the chance to see the premiere last week at the Mutek Festival in Montreal (and Gary was there to take questions). This film is unique in that every showing is a different version of the film. Confused? Don’t be. This is a new take on film and storytelling that they call ‘Generative’ based on custom software called Brain One (a clever anagram for ‘Brian Eno’). This is a great two-part article on the process, and if this doesn’t stoke the flame to get you interested in catching a viewing of Eno, I don’t know what will. Hat-tip to Sentiers for this article.” (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.

Pop Quiz – Is AI Heading For A Bubble Burst?

It might be wise to think of the possible (and pending) AI bubble, much like past tech bubbles.

They come… it destroys a lot of venture capital and hype, but the tech simmers and finds the market.
For my dollar, I don’t believe we can lump artificial intelligence into these parameters.

AI is going to change things fast, drastically and be all-encompassing.

This won’t be dotcom, blockchain, or big data all over again.
We may, in fact, look back on this moment and wonder why we didn’t treat AI with a vastly different temperament.
Still… the media (and others) are chanting “bubble bursting.”
It could be nothing.
It could be a correction.
It could be a bubble bursting (and I could be wrong).

Can we see beyond this initial wave of inflated expectations?

Nvidia has been riding the AI wave to unprecedented heights, with its GPUs becoming the backbone of AI processing.
But now, there’s competition from the likes of AMD and others developing cheaper, more efficient alternatives, Nvidia’s once unassailable market position is under threat.

Let’s take a step back.

Are we confusing a necessary correction with a catastrophic burst?
Gartner’s recent projections and insights from IBM’s Maryam Ashoori suggest that while one in three AI projects might be abandoned after the pilot stage, the other two are making it through and finding real value.
This isn’t so much a collapse as it is a fast maturing process – shedding the hype to focus on what really works.
With a different lens, we could be witnessing the shift from wild speculation to practical application.

So, is the AI bubble about to burst?

I could be wrong, but I do not think so.
What we’re seeing is more of a reality check – the overinflated expectations are coming back down to earth, and while that might mean some pain in the short term, it’s likely to lead to more sustainable growth in the long run (if we can do this without having an extinction level event).

In fact, this is still the early days of AI.

It’s just the beginning of a more grounded, practical approach to what it can really do.
And don’t forget that super intelligence might be just around the corner.

If that development becomes a reality, what we’re seeing now won’t even be considered a rounding error.

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

Mitch Joel · Pop Quiz – Is AI Heading For A Bubble Burst?

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.

Frederik Pferdt On How To Live Future Ready – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #946 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Dr. Frederik Pferdt has spent his career helping some of the most creative minds at Google – and beyond – shape the future. As Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, he didn’t just observe the future unfolding; he actively shaped it. Frederik founded Google’s Innovation Lab, where he coached tens of thousands of Googlers in the art of innovation, fostering a culture that thrives on curiosity, empathy, and experimentation. His work has resonated far beyond Silicon Valley, with collaborations ranging from NASA to the NBA, and teaching stints at Stanford University that inspired a new generation of thinkers. In his book, What’s Next Is Now – How to Live Future Ready, Frederik challenges the notion that the future is something we passively encounter. Instead, he invites us to see it as something we actively create. He distills his philosophy into six principles: optimism, openness, curiosity, experimentation, empathy, and something he calls “Dimension X” – the unique way each of us perceives the world. This isn’t just a framework for surviving the future; it’s a guide to thriving in it. During our conversation, Frederik dives into how these principles aren’t just abstract concepts but actionable strategies that anyone can apply. He emphasizes that the future is crafted by the choices we make today, and by cultivating a “future-ready mindstate,” we can turn ambiguity and uncertainty into opportunities. From collecting dots — ideas, experiences, and learnings — to connecting them in innovative ways, Frederik explains how we can stay ahead in a rapidly evolving world. Frederik also touches on the importance of predictive empathy, which helps us understand the potential consequences of emerging technologies, and how embracing uncertainty is crucial for personal growth. He shares insights on how to counter the cynicism that often accompanies aging by intentionally choosing curiosity and optimism. Our discussion explores the transformative power of mindfulness practices like silent meditation retreats and the value of experimentation in cutting through the hype of the present moment. 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):  #946 of 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 #946 – Frederik Pferdt On How To Live Future Ready

Welcome to episode #946 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #946. Dr. Frederik Pferdt has spent his career helping some of the most creative minds at Google – and beyond – shape the future. As Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, he didn’t just observe the future unfolding; he actively shaped it. Frederik founded Google’s Innovation Lab, where he coached tens of thousands of Googlers in the art of innovation, fostering a culture that thrives on curiosity, empathy, and experimentation. His work has resonated far beyond Silicon Valley, with collaborations ranging from NASA to the NBA, and teaching stints at Stanford University that inspired a new generation of thinkers. In his book, What’s Next Is Now – How to Live Future Ready, Frederik challenges the notion that the future is something we passively encounter. Instead, he invites us to see it as something we actively create. He distills his philosophy into six principles: optimism, openness, curiosity, experimentation, empathy, and something he calls “Dimension X” – the unique way each of us perceives the world. This isn’t just a framework for surviving the future; it’s a guide to thriving in it. During our conversation, Frederik dives into how these principles aren’t just abstract concepts but actionable strategies that anyone can apply. He emphasizes that the future is crafted by the choices we make today, and by cultivating a “future-ready mindstate,” we can turn ambiguity and uncertainty into opportunities. From collecting dots — ideas, experiences, and learnings — to connecting them in innovative ways, Frederik explains how we can stay ahead in a rapidly evolving world. Frederik also touches on the importance of predictive empathy, which helps us understand the potential consequences of emerging technologies, and how embracing uncertainty is crucial for personal growth. He shares insights on how to counter the cynicism that often accompanies aging by intentionally choosing curiosity and optimism. Our discussion explores the transformative power of mindfulness practices like silent meditation retreats and the value of experimentation in cutting through the hype of the present moment. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 57:23.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.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 Dr. Frederik Pferdt.What’s Next Is Now – How to Live Future Ready.Frederik’s NextLetter.Follow Frederik on LinkedIn.Follow Frederik on Instagram.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Background.02:10 – Creating a Future-Ready Mind State.11:02 – The Power of Collecting Dots.27:22 – Changing Our Relationship with the Future.31:14 – Reflections on the Pace of Change.33:13 – Shaping the Future through Present Choices.35:43 – Embracing Uncertainty and Active Learning.40:18 – Counteracting Cynicism with Qualities of Mind.48:32 – Navigating the Hype and Trends of the Present.57:17 – The Transformative Power of Silent Meditation Retreats.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #946.

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 #739

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: 

Psilocybin Desynchronizes The Human Brain, Sometimes – Springer Nature. “I went to see Shane Mauss a few weeks ago, a standup focused on hallucinogens whose show is part Public Safety Announcement, part confessional, and part advocacy. He simply couldn’t have taken a show like that on the road a decade ago; now, he’s got a roomful of people lining up to buy coloring books. I found this somewhat related story fascinating: Drugs like Psybocillin (the active component in magic mushrooms) work when you don’t try to lock yourself to reality. Focusing on mundane, practical tasks defeat the effect of those drugs.” (Alistair for Hugh). MDMA Therapy Didn’t Get FDA Approval. Now What? – Vox . “I spoke with a participant in a multinational, 400-person study of treating PTSD with MDMA-assisted therapy. As with all studies, there was a control group which received a placebo. This person was in the control group, but unlike most placebo recipients, knew immediately that they weren’t getting MDMA. Unlike many medications, psychedelics are pretty self-evident to those who are taking them. (Her months of unassisted therapy didn’t work; as part of the trial, she was guaranteed an assisted therapy program afterwards. She was cured in three sessions). Unfortunately, the gold standard for any medical trial is whether it’s “blinded” – and it’s pretty hard to keep mind-altering drugs a secret from those who are given them. There’s compelling evidence that chemicals treat brain chemistry, but medicine lacks the protocols to evaluate them. What comes next?” (Alistair for Mitch). Making ‘Food Out Of Thin Air’ – Noema . “Yummm! Just found a great recipe: Take some hydrogen, CO2, Oxygen and Ammonia, mix well and add to a bioreactor with Hydrogenotrophic Bacteria. Wait a bit, pasturize and dehydrate, and you’ve got yourself a delicious meal. Or, at least, you’ve made some food that doesn’t require typical agricultural inputs.” (Hugh for Alistair).  Desperately Seeking Mothman – The Hedgehog Review . “On cryptozoology and our desire for a world that is unexplainable or – at the very least – unexplained.” (Hugh for Mitch). 
Families Are Going Into Debt For Disney Vacations – The New York Times \“I have been thinking about this story non-stop. From a business perspective, the market is brutal and will dictate everything from the viability of products and services to the pricing threshold. It’s often unfair and unknown why something works (and, more importantly, why most businesses fail). Disney is a storied brand. It has both held up and endured over the decades. The fact that my kids feel the same affinity to Mickey Mouse in the same way that my grandparents did as kids is a sight to behold. With that, when the customer is willing to go into debt to buy your brand… what does that say? Does Disney have to lower costs? Does Disney even know this is happening? The world has become (almost) unbearably expensive (ask me about my recent family trip and the gripes I have about how much things cost – from flights and hotels to meals and bottled water). The cost of living in an ever-challenging economic environment for the vast majority of our population is simply not working. So… what does one do? Do they stop going to Disney or go in debt? Just think about that for a second, read this article and try to understand the reasoning why families are doing this.” (Mitch for Alistair). I Only Have Myself To Blame – Rick Beato . “Unintended success based on an individual’s passion is one of my favorite things. The musician who turns producer and songwriter but truly makes their mark in the music business by becoming a famed YouTuber. This is the short (and over-simplified) ride of Rick Beato. There are so many deep and powerful life lessons in this short five-minute clip. I’ve watched it countless times and will share and share and share it. We all have pre-conceived notions of how a good life unfolds. In my second book, CTRL ALT Delete, I had a chapter on the concept of a ’squiggly life’… and this is a prime example of it. Think you’re too old? Think everyone has already done it? Think it’s too late? You’re wrong. Dead wrong. Watch this, start doing it… and dream…” (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.

X Marks The Spot – Are Private Likes A Win For Privacy Or A Loss For Accountability?

X (formerly Twitter… can we drop this yet?) just made a bold move — likes are now a private affair.

So, what happens when the digital thumbs up goes underground?
Are we looking at a victory for privacy, or have we just waved goodbye to a bit of accountability?

Let’s talk about what this means for you.

Without public likes, you’re free to engage with content without the fear of public shaming.
Liking a hot take on politics?
Nobody needs to know.
Found a meme a little too edgy for the company you keep?
Like away.
It’s all part of the plan – X wants you to interact more freely, with less social baggage.

But here’s the rub:

Does this newfound freedom also invite a darker side?
Without the public eye, what’s stopping the likes from pouring in on content that, let’s be honest, might be better left not being posted or shared in the first place.
Public likes have always been a form of social signaling – think of them as the digital equivalent of a nod.
By making likes private, X is pushing users toward a more honest interaction, but at what cost?

Without those nods, how do we gauge the collective mood?

Are we moving towards a more authentic experience, or are we just making it harder to see the bigger picture?
X’s move does set it apart from the rest of the social media herd.
Facebook and Instagram still flaunt their public likes like badges of honor (but they have been tinkering with ways to have those be less present).
X is going for discretion.
This could make it the go-to platform for people who care more about privacy than public affirmation.

There’s a flip side.

By privatizing likes, X risks isolating itself, making it less transparent, and possibly a little less fun.
Let’s be honest: Isn’t part of the joy in social media seeing what everyone else is into?

Here’s another angle:

This could be part of a broader strategy to monetize niche content.
When likes go private, users might feel more comfortable engaging with content they wouldn’t publicly endorse.
Could X be eyeing a transition into a subscription-based model, where privacy pays?
Maybe.

But this could also make content moderation a nightmare.

Are we just opening the door for echo chambers and underground groups to thrive unchecked?
Either way, it’s a step away from Twitter’s legacy, possibly leading to a shift where metrics like impressions take center stage over traditional engagement.

This could also be a trendsetting moment.

This could be a sign of things to come in the social media world.
Platforms might start favoring privacy over public interaction, leading to more insulated and personalized experiences.
This might also make it harder for trends or social movements to gain traction.

When the visibility of collective actions fades, what happens to the sense of community that made social media so powerful in the first place?

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

Mitch Joel · X Marks The Spot – Are Private Likes A Win for Privacy Or A Loss for Accountability?

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.

Matt Beane On Saving Humanity In The Age Of Intelligent Machines – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #945 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Matt Beane isn’t your typical academic tucked away in a library. As an Assistant Professor in the Technology Management Program at UC Santa Barbara, he’s out in the trenches, observing firsthand how robots and AI are transforming the workplace. From robotic surgery to warehouses where machines pick and pack products, Matt has spent years immersed in environments where the stakes are high, and the impact of automation is undeniable. But Matt’s not just a researcher – he’s a storyteller who connects the dots between complex technologies and the human experiences they’re reshaping. Before diving into academia, he took a detour to help launch Humatics, a startup linked to MIT that’s pushing the boundaries of IoT technology. His work has landed in top academic journals and mainstream outlets like Wired and Harvard Business Review, and his TED Talk on robotic surgery has been viewed almost two million times. In his new book, The Skill Code – How To Save Human Ability In An Age Of Intelligent Machines (special for you… if you click the link, Matt is giving you the first chapter of the book free), Matt delves into the subtle yet powerful forces that drive how we learn skills. Drawing from years of field research, he outlines the three C’s – challenge, complexity, and connection – that form the bedrock of effective skill development. These aren’t just abstract concepts; they’re the real-world dynamics that get disrupted when AI and robots take over tasks traditionally handled by humans. Matt’s current work is all about bridging the gap between technology and human capability. He’s keenly aware that while machines can handle more tasks than ever, they can’t replace the nuanced, mentor-apprentice relationships that have historically been the engine of skill development. The Skill Code is a roadmap for navigating this new landscape – showing us how to harness intelligent machines without losing the very things that make us skilled and adaptable. Whether you’re navigating the evolving landscape of work or just curious about how we can stay sharp in an AI-driven world, Matt’s insights offer a practical and thoughtful approach to ensuring that technology enhances, rather than diminishes, our human potential. 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):  #945 of 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 #945 – Matt Beane On Saving Humanity In The Age Of Intelligent Machines

Welcome to episode #945 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #945. Matt Beane isn’t your typical academic tucked away in a library. As an Assistant Professor in the Technology Management Program at UC Santa Barbara, he’s out in the trenches, observing firsthand how robots and AI are transforming the workplace. From robotic surgery to warehouses where machines pick and pack products, Matt has spent years immersed in environments where the stakes are high, and the impact of automation is undeniable. But Matt’s not just a researcher – he’s a storyteller who connects the dots between complex technologies and the human experiences they’re reshaping. Before diving into academia, he took a detour to help launch Humatics, a startup linked to MIT that’s pushing the boundaries of IoT technology. His work has landed in top academic journals and mainstream outlets like Wired and Harvard Business Review, and his TED Talk on robotic surgery has been viewed almost two million times. In his new book, The Skill Code – How To Save Human Ability In An Age Of Intelligent Machines (special for you… if you click the link, Matt is giving you the first chapter of the book free), Matt delves into the subtle yet powerful forces that drive how we learn skills. Drawing from years of field research, he outlines the three C’s – challenge, complexity, and connection – that form the bedrock of effective skill development. These aren’t just abstract concepts; they’re the real-world dynamics that get disrupted when AI and robots take over tasks traditionally handled by humans. Matt’s current work is all about bridging the gap between technology and human capability. He’s keenly aware that while machines can handle more tasks than ever, they can’t replace the nuanced, mentor-apprentice relationships that have historically been the engine of skill development. The Skill Code is a roadmap for navigating this new landscape – showing us how to harness intelligent machines without losing the very things that make us skilled and adaptable. Whether you’re navigating the evolving landscape of work or just curious about how we can stay sharp in an AI-driven world, Matt’s insights offer a practical and thoughtful approach to ensuring that technology enhances, rather than diminishes, our human potential. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:06:12.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.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 Matt Beane.The Skill Code – How To Save Human Ability In An Age Of Intelligent Machines (first chapter free for Six Pixels listeners!).Matt’s TED Talk.Follow Matt on LinkedIn.Follow Matt on X.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction.03:04 – Early Interest in Robotics and Human-Robot Interaction.06:01 – Robots in the Workplace and the Anthropomization of Robots.10:49 – The Impact of Technology on Skill Development and Work Practices.35:23 – The Impact of AI and Automation on the Future of Work.42:30 – Redefining Education and Skill Development for the Future.50:05 – Societal Implications of Technological Advancements.01:02:34 – The Importance of Open-Mindedness and Continuous Learning.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #945.

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 #738

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: 

Who Is Reading Even For Anymore? – The Free Press. “Last century’s moral binary between people who read and people who don’t has morphed into the more specific notion that the bookshelf is a window to the soul. Is reading a performative act now? My feeds are certainly full of bros who are crushing it, dropping their favorite bedside reads. But is the world now split into those who enjoy a book for themselves, and those who wear their books like symbols? Hugh: Next time we catch up, I want to discuss what this means for writers.” (Alistair for Hugh). The Real Reason Why Music Is Getting Worse – Rick Beato – YouTube . “First: Is it though? But if you accept Rick Beato‘s premise, he makes a good case. Although a lot of it sounds like ‘back in my day’ stuff – music’s too easy to listen to; we don’t buy albums and listen to every track over and over again since streaming came along. Mitch: Next time we catch up in person, I want to debate this with you.” (Alistair for Mitch).The Death Of The Magazine – The Honest Broker. “Just last week, at my in-laws house, I saw an edition of National Geographic magazine on a coffee table, and thought: Why doesn’t my family (two kids under 14) subscribe? National Geographic is a gateway for curiosity about nature, adventure, culture, and the globe. But here is an article about all the recent cuts to editorial, staff, writing and more, and their recent focus on TikTok videos. A sad, familiar decline for a magazine. National Geographic’s print circulation is down from ~12 million in the 1980s to 1.8 million in the US in 2023. 1.8 million is a big number for a magazine, but in 2023, laid off all staff writers and stopped newsstand sales in 2024. Still, they have 280 million Instagram followers?” (Hugh for Alistair). The Phenomenal ‘New York Review of Books’ – The Atlantic . “While National Geographic, like many magazines, has morphed into something very different than it used to be, The New York Review of Books – one of my favorite periodicals – continues to publish long thoughtful pieces on all sorts of subjects, as it has since its founding in 1963, and has about as many subscribers as it ever has. It looks just the same. Who knows if it will survive, but I hope so.” (Hugh for Mitch).  The Spectacular Failure Of The Star Wars Hotel – Jenny Nicholson – YouTube . “When I first heard that Disney was building out an immersive Star Wars experience (Galactic Starcruiser) where customers would pay to be immersed in their own Star Wars story, the little nerd in me got all the feels. Then, as clips and the pricing emerged my thoughts shifted to ‘let’s see how this plays out first… I’m not sure it’s worth the crazy prices that are being tossed about.” Welp, it flopped. Hard. Why? Well, if you have four hours (not a typo), this is an incredibly amazing piece of video from Jenny Nicholson that is both fascinating to watch and getting a lot of attention. Brands talk about creating an ‘immersive experience’ all of the time, and what Jenny has produced here is both a fascinating business case that should be dissected at the Harvard Business School and she should be hired to work for Disney. No need for a resume… just get the people in leadership positions and HR to take a gander. You would think that this type of journalism shouldn’t require four hours of attention, but wow this is fascinating and the time flies by. As an aside, I feel like there is some kind of unique business model here as well. Imagine companies paying influencers like this to really (and honestly) break down every component of their experience? Check this out…” (Mitch for Alistair).  Adult Fiction Titles Are Booming, Thanks To Booktok – Sherwood . “For the past while (let’s call it almost two years), I have been questioning the impact that business books have on the general zeitgeist. On one had, you have many writers publishing many business/non-fiction titles praying to get listed on the New York Times’ bestseller list as a gateway to fame, popularity and higher speaking fees/credibility. On the other hand, I can’t point to many instances where a new concept (think: Atomic Habits, which was published in 2018 and still sits at the top of these bestsellers lists) has really broken through. In fact, it feels like so much has changed in how we work post-Covid and (still) not many new big ideas have permeated the population. My friend, Ion Valaskakis sent me article this as some kind of validation for my thinking. Total non-fiction is down 2% (I wonder if business non-fiction is better or worse?) in a world where Adult and Young Adult Fiction is booming. What’s going on here?” (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.

Heartwired – Will AI Become Your Perfect Partner?

In the movie Her (from 2013), Joaquin Phoenix’s character falls in love with his AI operating system.

What feels like science fiction often becomes our reality (the good and the bad).
We are well beyond the “idea” of AI relationships and it’s becoming our growing reality.
It is early days, but the trend and uptick in users paints a clear picture: We are turning to AI chatbots for companionship, connection, and even a sense of intimacy… as we struggle to find this with other humans.

What does this shift say about us, and where is it taking us?

What do we know?
People are fed up with the dating scene.
The endless swipe left, swipe right, and the constant disappointment have left many searching for something — anything — that offers a bit of validation and connection without the baggage.
The AI won’t ghost you.
The AI won’t dox you if you do something stupid.
The AI won’t create a TikTok making fun of you if it doesn’t work out.
It’s not hard to see the appeal of an AI that remembers every detail of what you say, is always empathetic, and never needs anything in return.

Plot twist! It’s not just the stereotypical nerds who are seeking solace in these digital companions.

More and more women are finding that AI chatbots can offer a level of attention and understanding that’s sometimes lacking in their human relationships.
The numbers back it up.
AI companion apps are surging in popularity, with user engagement rates far outpacing those of other app categories.
People are spending a lot of time – and emotional energy – on these platforms.

It’s easy to dismiss this as another tech fad or shake your head at this in disbelief, but the underlying shift is more profound.

Yuval Noah Harrari calls this “The Intimacy Economy” and it’s a massive shift away from the long-standing “Attention Economy.”
It’s not just about grabbing eyeballs anymore… it’s about creating a sense of closeness, even if it’s with a machine… or a brand.

So, we’re left with the big question:

Can these AI-driven relationships really replace human interaction?
On one hand, users of apps like Replika and Nomi report feeling less lonely and even say these interactions reduce their risk of depression.
Still, there’s an undeniable risk that we’re setting the bar for human relationships unrealistically high.
Can real-life partners ever compete with an AI that’s perfectly attuned to our every whim?
And what happens when the line between digital companionship and real-life connection blurs beyond recognition?

The ethical concerns are just as pressing.

As these AI companions become more prevalent, questions about privacy and data security come to the forefront.
Who owns the intimate details shared with a chatbot?
And could this data be used to further train AI, creating a cycle where our deepest emotions are commodified for even more advanced machines?

The rise of AI companionship is a fascinating paradox: In our quest for connection, are we actually drifting further apart?

Yes, AI can help us feel less lonely, but it can’t replicate the nuances of a real relationship — the eye contact, the shared experiences, the mutual growth… yet.
The challenge lies in finding the balance between using AI as a tool to complement our lives (think: entertainment) without letting it dominate our most intimate spaces.
As a reminder… think about how we all felt about online dating when it was first introduced.
It was all “ick” until it become the gold standard.
We continue to stand at the crossroads of our humanity, technology and human connection.

The question is: What do we really want?

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

Mitch Joel · Heartwired – Will AI Become Your Perfect Partner?

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.