Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 36

Six Links That Make You Think #723

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: 

We Need To Rewild The Internet – Noema. “This is a powerful piece with some amazing lines. The sprawl of RSS and blogs has become a monoculture of Meta, X, Google, and a few others. Leaning into this ecosystem crituque, Maria Farrell and Robin Berjon say, ‘our online spaces are not ecosystems, though tech firms love that word. They’re plantations; highly concentrated and controlled environments, closer kin to the industrial farming of the cattle feedlot or battery chicken farms that madden the creatures trapped within. Now I need a shirt that says, ‘IT’S NOT A FEED IT’S A FEEDLOT’.” (Alistair for Hugh). An AI Startup Made A Hyperrealistic Deepfake Of Me That’s So Good It’s Scary – MIT Technology Review . “I’m ready for my AI Doppelganger, Mr. Demille. If you got scanned – really, properly, from all angles, with many expressions, scanned – and from that point on a computer could replace you online, would you do it?” (Alistair for Mitch). The Deaths Of Effective Altruism – Wired . “The high priests of Effective Altruism say: If you want to do good in the world, the best thing is to: choose a career that makes a ton of money, and donate lots of that money to the most ‘effective’ charities. How do you know which charities? Well, effective altruists have websites that will tell you, and handle your transactions. And take a cut. There’s always been something fishy to me about this approach to improving the world. Sam Bankman-Fried, the bitcoin convict, was a big EA man, and you won’t be surprised to know that many in Silicon Valley are too. There’s something nice about a philosophy that tells you: If you wish to make the world a better place, become outrageously rich. This is a long skewering of the EA movement, which, according to the author, is more or less a fraud.” (Hugh for Alistair). How The Suburbs Became A Trap – The New Republic . “Whenever I walk around much of Montreal, I think: the urban planning model here is just right. Big parts of the city are filled with relatively dense row-houses of two or three-stories, often but not always broken up into a flat/apartment on each floor. The results in neighbourhoods like mine is what I feel to be the perfect mix of density and space: there is no sense of being either crammed in, or isolated, and there are enough people to make street-level commerce thrive in all directions. The suburbs take the opposite approach: more space, single family homes, big back yards, and cars. An idyllic kind-of-country life near the city. But things are not going all that well in suburbia.” (Hugh for Mich). Synthetic Data: A Safer, Smarter Solution For Training AI? – Strategy + Business . “My hot take? synthetic data is the real opportunity in the current discourse about the future potential of AI. That’s where I have been spending a lot of my time and it really has been baking my noodle. For those who don’t know, synthetic data involves using generative AI to mimic the properties of original datasets without containing sensitive information, allowing for its use in AI training and machine learning without privacy risks. Re-read that last sentence. If you are suspicious of what these many companies are doing with your personal data, now you don’t have to share it… and even if you don’t share it, they might still be able to target and speak to you as if you had. So now we have this sophisticated advancement where there is no security risk to consumers and the utility to industries is well beyond anything we could have ever thought. Now start thinking about what happens to the regulatory and data governance industries when all of this data is synthetic. If you’re in business and not digging deep into the topic of synthetic data… woe is you…” (Mitch for Alistair). A Rock Star Ideas Festival In Brooklyn – Tablet . “At one of the TED events in Vancouver a few years back, I was seated next to Melissa Chen. She was one of the most impressive young people I had met in some time. Along with her business partner, Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, at Ideas Beyond Borders (and we had a mutual connection through Steven Pinker). Beyond the dinner event and couple of social encounters in the following days at TED, we had lost touch (although we connected on Social Media). Recently, I have been sharing a lot of links related to public intellectuals, the intellectual dark web and a host of individuals creating very deep conversations about our current situation (from politics to culture wars and beyond). I’ve enjoyed this brain journey immensely. Melissa recently posted about a live event called, Dissident Dialogues (which is being co-organized by her husband and ex-Mumford & Sons co-founder, Winston Marshall), taking place this weekend in Brooklyn. I bit the bullet, bought a ticket and as you read this I will be in sessions listening to people like Steven Pinker, the Triggernometry hosts, Chris Williamson, Richard Dawkins and many more. Why? Because I want to grow. Because I feel that every angle of content is so swayed politically that I don’t even know my own beliefs anymore. This is less about validating my current thoughts and much more about being open and trying to sit there with different (and I am sure there will be many ideas that I don’t agree with) perspectives. I want to sit there… in it… and force my brain to look at different values and new angles. I’m not sure what to expect, but you might be seeing a slew of new perspectives from others in the coming weeks. Here is a preview of the event.” (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.

Mark Egan On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

Mark Egan 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 #113 – Mark Egan.

Groove – Episode #113: Mark Egan by No Treble

Who is Mark Egan?

He is one of my favorite bassists. Mark Egan, a legend in the world of electric bass (including a Grammy), brings his rich history and deep passion for the instrument into his latest album, Cross Currents. With a career spanning over five decades, Mark has not only contributed to the evolution of the bass, but has also influenced the soundscape of contemporary jazz through his unique fretless bass tone and innovative playing techniques. Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, Mark’s musical journey began with the trumpet but shifted to the bass at age fifteen. His formal music education at the University of Miami‘s Frost School of Music, where he studied under jazz giants like Jaco Pastorius, set the foundation for his inspiring career. Mark’s early professional experiences include touring with icons like The Pointer Sisters and recording with David Sanborn. A defining moment in his career was joining the Pat Metheny Group in the late 1970s, where he contributed to groundbreaking albums like American Garage. His collaboration with Pat Metheny Group drummer, Danny Gottlieb, led to the formation of the jazz fusion band Elements – further cementing his reputation as a pioneer in jazz fusion. Throughout his career, Mark has played with a veritable who’s who of the music industry, from Sting and Stan Getz to Joan Osborne and Art Garfunkel. His versatility and skill have made him a sought-after studio musician, appearing on numerous gold and platinum albums. Mark’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own record label, Wavetone Records, which has become a platform for innovative contemporary instrumental music. The new solo album, Cross Currents, is a testament to his ongoing passion and creativity. Recorded at Power Station New England Studio, the album features Mark alongside drummer Shawn Pelton and guitarist Shane Theriot. It offers a blend of jazz, R&B, rock, and funk, characterized by intricate orchestration and adventurous interplay among the musicians. In this episode, Mark (who is back for a second appearance on the show) discusses the balance between improvisation and structure, the impact of fusion music, and his continuous growth as a musician. His reflections on the collaborative process and the artistic decisions behind the album highlight his deep commitment to pushing musical boundaries. 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 #113 – Mark Egan.

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). 

Reality Bites – Apple Revises Vision Pro’s Bright Future

When Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, the buzz was palpable (maybe that was just me?).

You can listen to my initial hot takes here:

Virtual Reality, Real Rivalry – Meta’s Quest 3 Challenges Apple’s Vision Pro.Eyes On The Prize – Apple Vision Pro Takes Center Stage.

This wasn’t just any product launch – it was a $4500 glimpse into the near-future of augmented and virtual reality, courtesy of one of Silicon Valley’s giants.
Now, months down the line, the excitement has cooled (was it ever really hot?), replaced by a sobering recalibration of production forecasts amid tepid demand.

The enthusiasm gap.

We seem to forget that it was always going to be the next big leap forward while also having limited niche appeal (like all new tech).

As an entrepreneur there are two constants in our world:

Innovation doesn’t guarantee acceptance.This might not work.

Sure, all revolutionary tech comes with a premium price tag for the consumer – there’s a need to recoup development outlays and cultivate a base of early adopters.
Still in a world of $500 Meta Quest devices that have yet to have mass appeal, it’s always a precarious dance between ambition and reach.

So, where are we at?

Apple originally expected to sell as many as 800,000 Apple Vision Pro units this year.Apple has revised its Apple Vision Pro shipment expectations for 2024 down to 400,000 – 450,000 units.This means Apple is looking at around $1.4 billion in sales (not bad for what others consider a bust?).Apple took in about $385 billion in sales (and this wasn’t even considered a great year for Apple).The company has more cash on hand than any other company in the world (around $165 billion)… and more than most countries.

So… not great for a product launch but hardly an issue for the company if it needs to absorb this first attempt.

Is it Apple or is it the virtual reality space?

The future of AR/VR lies not just in overcoming technological hurdles but in weaving these technologies into the fabric of everyday life in ways that resonate and add value to the average consumer (it also needs that killer app).

If I was Apple… I would keep going…

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

Mitch Joel · Reality Bites – Apple Revises Vision Pro's Bright Future

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.

Going Ghost – The New Social Media Is Not To Be Seen

Social media is changing faster than you might think.

We used to talk about our “digital footprint” as something permanent (like a tattoo).
But there’s a growing trend among Instagram users that suggests a shift towards reclaiming privacy.
It could be that or creating a digital world that acts more like our physical world… it’s hard to tell.

Welcome to Grid Zero.

Is this a movement or a trend?
Users on Instagram are now stripping their profiles (and the grid) down to nothing, leaving behind the traditional showcases of personal milestones and daily experiences that once dominated the platform.
Why?
Many see this as a simple preference for privacy.
Said another way: There is a growing aversion to permanence and digital footprints that come from growing up in the public eye of social media (you have the parents who posted every waking moment of their kids’ existence to thank for this).
And, it has left these now-adults craving private spaces to explore and express themselves without the weight of a lasting digital record.

The move towards ephemeral content.

This isn’t just about privacy.
Twelve years ago, I wrote this (The Impermanent Internet) about about Snapchat:

“With Snapchat, users take a picture (or short video) and send it to friends via their smartphones. That’s no great innovation. What makes Snapchat interesting is that the picture (or video) can only be seen by the recipient for a couple of seconds after they have opened it. After that, poof! It’s gone (like Keyser Soze). All of the content shared on Snapchat is temporary. So, what’s the point? Young people are currently driving the growth of Snapchat (which many people see as a contender to the Instagram throne) because of that very reason. They have no need to keep this stuff on a hard drive, they’re creating content much in the same way we used to have conversations in the pre-Internet days (did you ever think of archiving your face-to-face conversations?).”

It’s also a commentary on the state of social media saturation.

The introduction of platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram Stories has allowed for temporary posts, providing users with brief snapshots of life rather than a permanent gallery.
Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s chief, notes that the platform’s focus has shifted towards features that support fleeting interactions such as direct messages and stories, recognizing that these are the areas of most significant engagement, particularly among younger users.
For many, Grid Zero is more than a personal choice.

It’s a style and a statement.

It’s about embracing negative space and making ‘anti-brand’ the new brand.
This trend is partly a reaction against the ‘cheugy‘ – a term used by Gen Z to describe efforts that try too hard, such as meticulously curated feeds.

In this new era, the less you care about your social media presence, the cooler you seem.

Intriguingly, some users are finding creative ways to engage with Grid Zero by posting content only to quickly archive it, creating a kind of digital ‘Easter Egg’ hunt where posts are hidden treasures rather than public broadcasts.
This approach reflects a strategic use of Instagram’s functionality to maintain a presence on the platform while controlling who sees what and when.
If this picks up steam, marketers and advertisers face new challenges.
The shift towards more private and ephemeral content could lead to changes in how brands interact with potential customers on social media.
This could also mean a greater focus on real-time interactions and possibly a reevaluation of what it means to engage with consumers on social media.

If Big Tech and the government doesn’t regulate online privacy leave it to the consumers!

There is a reflection.
It’s a reflection of a broader cultural shift towards privacy and a reconsideration of the value of permanence in an increasingly ephemeral world.
Maybe we are redefining the boundaries of social media and signaling a potential shift in how all of us should engage with these platforms.
And maybe… just maybe… being known… or an influencer… or fame in general was an anomaly of social media, and we’re seeing a fresh lens through which to manage our relationships and actual friendships with one another… with technology… beyond the cult of personality and showing off our highlight reels.

This is what Jeremy White and I discussed on 640 Toronto. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Going Ghost – The New Social Media Is Not To Be Seen – 640 Talk Radio

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.

Todd Henry On Cultivating Bravery In Creative Leadership – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #929 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to

Uncertainty and rapid change have become the business norm. The need for brave leadership is more pronounced than ever. Todd Henry, self-describes as an “arms dealer for the creative revolution,” brings this point home in his latest book, The Brave Habit – A Guide To Courageous Leadership. Known for his extensive work with leaders and organizations to foster environments of innovation and creative brilliance, Todd’s insights are always invaluable for anyone looking to thrive in creative or challenging industries. Todd’s been a friend for over a decade, and he is the person that I turn to when I think about new ways for human beings to be creative and more effective. Todd explores the evolving dynamics of bravery in the business world, especially in the realms of book publishing and the integration of artificial intelligence into creative processes. As the landscape of publishing shifts and AI begins to play a significant role in creativity, Todd discusses how these tools can be leveraged to enhance creative output without compromising the integrity of artistic expression. The Brave Habit is not just a manual – it’s a manifesto for courageous action in times of daunting challenges. Todd emphasizes that bravery isn’t an innate trait possessed by a select few but a skill that can be honed. His practical framework for courageous leadership is designed to empower professionals to make tough decisions and lead confidently through times of uncertainty. The conversation also touches on the risks posed by cancel culture and the pervasive fear of judgment that can stifle bold decision-making. Todd argues that creating a balance between homogeneity and creativity is crucial for fostering a culture of innovation. He highlights the role of empathy in understanding diverse perspectives and building a supportive environment where bravery can flourish. According to Todd, bravery involves doing the right thing in the face of fear or personal loss, and it is something that can and should be cultivated daily. Todd is also the author of The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Herding Tigers, Daily Creative (also the name of his excellent and recently rebooted podcast), and Louder Than Words. Todd is also active on ThinkersOne where you can book him to pop into your next meeting. 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):  #929 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 #929 – Todd Henry On Cultivating Bravery In Creative Leadership

Welcome to episode #929 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #929. Uncertainty and rapid change have become the business norm. The need for brave leadership is more pronounced than ever. Todd Henry, self-describes as an “arms dealer for the creative revolution,” brings this point home in his latest book, The Brave Habit – A Guide To Courageous Leadership. Known for his extensive work with leaders and organizations to foster environments of innovation and creative brilliance, Todd’s insights are always invaluable for anyone looking to thrive in creative or challenging industries. Todd’s been a friend for over a decade, and he is the person that I turn to when I think about new ways for human beings to be creative and more effective. Todd explores the evolving dynamics of bravery in the business world, especially in the realms of book publishing and the integration of artificial intelligence into creative processes. As the landscape of publishing shifts and AI begins to play a significant role in creativity, Todd discusses how these tools can be leveraged to enhance creative output without compromising the integrity of artistic expression. The Brave Habit is not just a manual – it’s a manifesto for courageous action in times of daunting challenges. Todd emphasizes that bravery isn’t an innate trait possessed by a select few but a skill that can be honed. His practical framework for courageous leadership is designed to empower professionals to make tough decisions and lead confidently through times of uncertainty. The conversation also touches on the risks posed by cancel culture and the pervasive fear of judgment that can stifle bold decision-making. Todd argues that creating a balance between homogeneity and creativity is crucial for fostering a culture of innovation. He highlights the role of empathy in understanding diverse perspectives and building a supportive environment where bravery can flourish. According to Todd, bravery involves doing the right thing in the face of fear or personal loss, and it is something that can and should be cultivated daily. Todd is also the author of The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Herding Tigers, Daily Creative (also the name of his excellent and recently rebooted podcast), and Louder Than Words. Todd is also active on ThinkersOne where you can book him to pop into your next meeting. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:09:06.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 Todd Henry.The Brave Habit – A Guide To Courageous Leadership.Daily Creative.Daily Creative Podcast.The Accidental Creative.Die Empty.Herding Tigers.Louder Than Words.Check out Todd on ThinkersOne.Follow Todd on X.Follow Todd In Instagram.Follow Todd on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Takeaways

The traditional model of book publishing is evolving, with new formats and publishing options emerging.AI has the potential to enhance creativity by providing new avenues of exploration and inspiration.Creativity is a complex concept, and the impact of AI on creativity is still being explored.Bravery is essential in creative pursuits, as it requires taking risks and challenging the status quo. Cancel culture and the fear of making missteps can hinder bravery in the workplace.Finding a balance between homogeneity and creativity is crucial for fostering innovation.Empathy plays a significant role in promoting bravery and understanding different perspectives.Bravery is defined as doing the right thing even in the face of fear or personal loss.Being brave in a cowardice situation requires listening to one’s conscience and not succumbing to societal pressures.Bravery can be developed and trained, and it is not limited to extraordinary acts.Promoting bravery in everyday life involves creating a culture that values empathy, meaningful conversations, and the willingness to challenge the status quo.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Book Formats03:00 – The Changing Landscape of Book Publishing06:11 – New Models for Book Publishing09:22 – The Role of AI in Creativity15:10 – The Complexity of Creativity and AI21:18 – The Impact of AI on Creativity and Imagination30:05 – The Brave Habit and Bravery in Creativity36:36 – Balancing Artistic Expression and Market Demands41:09 – Taking Brave Actions in Creative Pursuits41:59 – The Rewarding of Bravery in the Business World45:12 – The Impact of Cancel Culture on Bravery50:14 – The Balance Between Homogeneity and Creativity54:53 – The Role of Empathy in Bravery01:00:06 – The Definition and Opposite of Bravery01:01:17 – Being Brave in a Cowardice Situation01:04:06 – Discovering the Nature of Bravery01:05:22 – Promoting Bravery in Everyday Life

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #929.

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 #722

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: 

TSMC’s debacle in the American desert – Rest Of World. “The tech industry runs on computer chips. In that regard, Taiwan is Arrakis: The source of spice that makes our economy possible. With increasing tensions between the NATO countries and the rest of the world, the US wants to shore up chip production. Part of the plan is bringing the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to Arizona. To say things are not going well is an understatement. Work culture between the US and Taiwan could not be further apart. For example, American employees expect access to Instagram during working hours, and don’t respond well to criticism. Taiwanese employees surrender their personal phones for 12-hour days and are very direct with their feedback. I’d watch this reality show; it’s also an object lesson in organizational change.” (Alistair for Hugh). The 4 Biggest Ideas In Philosophy, With Legend Daniel Dennett For Big Think – Big Think – YouTube . “We’ve lost a great philosophical mind, one that wasn’t happy with a simple answer and preferred to get into the weeds to truly understand the mechanics of things. This is one of  Daniel Dennett’s last interviews for Big Think, in which he details four of his big philosophical concerns in his sunset years.” (Alistair for Mitch). Sean Carroll: General Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Black Holes & Aliens – Lex Fridman Podcast . “Sean Carroll is one of my favorite podcasters – a theoretical physicist who is deeply engaged in both fundamental science and the big philosophical questions of our time. He’s thoughtful, generous and deeply curious. Lex Fridman is great too – though I am much more interested in his science interviews compared to the political ones. In any case, Sean does the best job I’ve ever heard/read of explaining Einstein‘s genius (and exactly what the fuss is about the Theory of Relativity – special and general).” (Hugh for Alistair). Why You Can’t Afford A Home, Explained In 10 Charts – Globe & Mail . “Canada, in my opinion, has two existential-scale problems that must be tackled right now: cratering productivity (which means every year we get poorer as a country, and have a harder time paying for all the things we like – such as health care and education), and housing costs (which means that a larger portion of income is going to housing, so that in addition to getting poorer as a country because of low productivity, we are also feeling poorer as individuals because we have less money left over after we’ve paid for housing). Any political party that doesn’t put those two problems at the top of their policy priorities is, in my opinion, criminally negligent. This article presents ten charts that show how complex the housing problem is. Among other things: it’s 107% more expensive to build a house in Toronto than it was in 2017. In 2022 demographic demand doubled, so there are now twice as many people needing housing than there is house construction. It now takes twice as long to build a house than it did in 1995. And monthly average mortgage payments have doubled since 2020. How do you fix all of this? I don’t know, but I sure hope every party is working hard to sort it all out, and putting this problem front and centre in their policy proposals. So far I am excruciatingly underwhelmed by the Liberals.” (Hugh for Mitch). Generative Ai Is Still A Solution In Search Of A Problem – Axios . “Just because I am used to articles questioning the value (and potential) of a disruptive new technology, it doesn’t mean that I have to like it. This article really frustrated me. Here’s just a taste from the article: ‘In a recent podcast conversation, New York Times columnist Ezra Klein said, ‘I consistently sort of wander up to the A.I., ask it a question, find myself somewhat impressed or unimpressed at the answer. But it doesn’t stick for me. It is not a sticky habit… it’s not really clear how to make A.I. part of your life.’ This is so misguided that it scares me (especially coming from a journalist). My hot take? Generative AI tools that we see right now, are extremely impressive. To say otherwise, is a natural human reaction to the fact that when we see technology that can do tasks comparable (and often more effectively) than us humans, it’s a natural impulse to be protective. We want to protect our knowledge. We want to protect our experience. We want to protect all these skills that we have acquired. I would argue that in the near-future, the results from Generative AI will force us humans to re-define and push the boundaries of who we assumed we are. And that’s a very uncomfortable place to be (for me and you). As a reminder: It’s all about the inputs. Very good inputs already get pretty great outputs. And, yes, I believe that we’re avoiding all of his, because confronting it is going to very challenging.” (Mitch for Alistair). What Is An Ai Anyway? – Mustafa Suleyman – TED – YouTube . “I was not able to make my annual pilgrimage to the TED conference this year. As they start to publish some of the TED Talks, I was thrilled to see that Mustafa Suleyman’s presentation was already available. In contrast to Ezra Klein asking generative AI questions (like it’s just a Google replacement), take a listen to what the CEO of Microsoft AI (and the co-founder and former head of applied AI at DeepMind – an AI company acquired by Google) has to stay about where we’re at with AI… and where it’s going. His logic and insight (especially the notion of a new digital species) is, exactly, aligned with where my mind wanders as I both think about AI and integrate it into almost all of my current workflow.” (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.

Tick Tock TikTok – The Rush To Ban TikTok

Is this about divestment, banning or digital sovereignty (or a little mix of everything)?

In a landmark move, United States President, Joe Biden, has signed into law a bill demanding TikTok‘s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban.

Security concerns vs. free speech.

The U.S. (and many other countries) has expressed longstanding fears that TikTok could serve as a conduit for the Chinese government to harvest data from its 170 million American users or manipulate the app’s algorithm to influence public opinion.
There has been voiced concerns about ByteDance’s alleged ties to the Chinese government, suggesting that TikTok could be used for espionage or to sway public sentiment.

TikTok’s defense…

The company robustly denies any wrongdoings or influence from the Chinese government.
The company argues that a ban would infringe on Americans’ First Amendment rights, a stance previously upheld by a Montana judge who blocked a state-level TikTok ban for violating free speech.
TikTok has vowed to challenge the new law in court, arguing its unconstitutionality.
The legal battles will likely hinge on the government’s ability to demonstrate a clear and present national security threat that justifies such a drastic measure.
The outcome could set a precedent not only for TikTok but for international business operations and digital sovereignty on a global scale.

Some personal musings about this (I should have made a TikTok!):

Meta and Google are popping corks.If this happens, big tech consolidates the media.Billions of dollars and a tremendous amount of (additional) power goes to the same companies that this government has been eyeing for having too much power (not sure how this becomes a “win”).What’s good for TikTok must be good for everyone else.If one of the main concerns is that TikTok is brainwashing the youth or holding back on certain perspectives as a form of propaganda, those same rules should apply not just to TikTok’s competition but all media (good luck with that).TikTok’s issues around moderation and data privacy concerns are hardly unique to this one platform (would anyone disagree with that?).It’s all about the algorithm.Anyone who has spent any time on TikTok knows that the success of the platform is rooted in the algorithm.ByteDance will never sell the algorithm.So, someone will be buying just the users and the content (which – as anyone in media knows – rarely works out well).Why does the ownership have to be US-based?Could it not be owners from Canada, the UK, Australia, etc. (if TikTok is one of the most power media companies right now, is this really about data and security… or power?).Pay close attention the creators and their audience.TikTok is excellent at recommending videos from accounts without a huge audience/following (thanks, algorithm) and these creators (and most of them are not media professionals) might lose their voice and potential to build differing perspectives if they even could do the same on other platforms.

We are in the digital age.

Data and these AI tools are as strategic a resource as oil once was.
This TikTok saga is a bellwether for how deeply digital platforms can embed themselves into the social fabric of a nation — and how fiercely governments might fight to control them.
So… we will have to decide…

Privacy and security or power and control?

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

Mitch Joel · Tick Tok TikTok – The Rush To Ban TikTok – 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.

Tick Tok TikTok – The Rush To Ban TikTok

Is this about divestment, banning or digital sovereignty (or a little mix of everything)?

In a landmark move, United States President, Joe Biden, has signed into law a bill demanding TikTok‘s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban.

Security concerns vs. free speech.

The U.S. (and many other countries) has expressed longstanding fears that TikTok could serve as a conduit for the Chinese government to harvest data from its 170 million American users or manipulate the app’s algorithm to influence public opinion.
There has been voiced concerns about ByteDance’s alleged ties to the Chinese government, suggesting that TikTok could be used for espionage or to sway public sentiment.

TikTok’s defense…

The company robustly denies any wrongdoings or influence from the Chinese government.
The company argues that a ban would infringe on Americans’ First Amendment rights, a stance previously upheld by a Montana judge who blocked a state-level TikTok ban for violating free speech.
TikTok has vowed to challenge the new law in court, arguing its unconstitutionality.
The legal battles will likely hinge on the government’s ability to demonstrate a clear and present national security threat that justifies such a drastic measure.
The outcome could set a precedent not only for TikTok but for international business operations and digital sovereignty on a global scale.

Some personal musings about this (I should have made a TikTok!):

Meta and Google are popping corks.If this happens, big tech consolidates the media.Billions of dollars and a tremendous amount of (additional) power goes to the same companies that this government has been eyeing for having too much power (not sure how this becomes a “win”).What’s good for TikTok must be good for everyone else.If one of the main concerns is that TikTok is brainwashing the youth or holding back on certain perspectives as a form of propaganda, those same rules should apply not just to TikTok’s competition but all media (good luck with that).TikTok’s issues around moderation and data privacy concerns are hardly unique to this one platform (would anyone disagree with that?).It’s all about the algorithm.Anyone who has spent any time on TikTok knows that the success of the platform is rooted in the algorithm.ByteDance will never sell the algorithm.So, someone will be buying just the users and the content (which – as anyone in media knows – rarely works out well).Why does the ownership have to be US-based?Could it not be owners from Canada, the UK, Australia, etc. (if TikTok is one of the most power media companies right now, is this really about data and security… or power?).Pay close attention the creators and their audience.TikTok is excellent at recommending videos from accounts without a huge audience/following (thanks, algorithm) and these creators (and most of them are not media professionals) might lose their voice and potential to build differing perspectives if they even could do the same on other platforms.

We are in the digital age.

Data and these AI tools are as strategic a resource as oil once was.
This TikTok saga is a bellwether for how deeply digital platforms can embed themselves into the social fabric of a nation — and how fiercely governments might fight to control them.
So… we will have to decide…

Privacy and security or power and control?

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

Mitch Joel · Tick Tok TikTok – The Rush To Ban TikTok – 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.

Generative AI Is Recoding The Marketing Industry… And It’s Coming For You Too

My perspectives on the near-future of Generative AI is less optimistic than others.

First: AI, including the Generative AI tools that we see right now, are extremely impressive.
To say otherwise, is a natural human reaction to the fact that when we see technology that can do tasks comparable (and often more effectively) than us humans, it’s a natural impulse to be protective.

We want to protect our knowledge. We want to protect our experience. We want to protect all these skills that we have acquired.

With that, we are finding out (through the quick evolution of Generative AI) that this “digital species” (as Mustafa Suleyman defines it) is currently able to be inspired by a mass spectrum of sources and influences (think the entire Web, including all video and audio as well). 

I would argue that in the near-future, the results from Generative AI will force us humans to re-define and push the boundaries of who we assumed we are.

And that’s a very uncomfortable place to be (for me and you).
When we talk about the ability for businesses to be more predictive than ever before, these current slate of Generative AI tools are more than just impressive.
They’re actually excellent predictive engines already.

As a reminder: It’s all about the inputs.

Very good inputs already get pretty great outputs.

Second: When it comes to the marketing industry (in fact, almost any knowledge-first business), many of the current tools (text, images, audio and soon soon video) have been impressive enough that the need to hire entry level and junior practitioners (and even some mid-level employees or specific freelancers) can be done without many of the issues business face from finding the right people, training them and getting ideal results.
Often the outputs are more interesting than someone who is attacking the same challenge with little to minor experience.
With that, if there is a slow down in new/young hires what does the near-long term look like?

That’s what I am most concerned about.

This isn’t a short or mid-term strategy.
It’s a serious long term approach with a focus on sustainability.

Newsflash: Whether you’re working creative, strategic planning, media buying, and more these tools are coming hard, fast and aggressively for that work.

Said another way…

If your job – day in and day – is quite repetitive (meaning different clients, but the same types of tasks you’ve done for previous clients)… this is the type of work that AI eats for breakfast.

Third: I’m not as worried about consumer data as others are.

I’m more interested in synthetic data.
The ability to use algorithms to generate information that is artificially created rather than produced by real-world events seems like the next now.
To generate new kinds of data – well beyond personas that can include all kinds of buying patterns and models.
Ultimately, admitting to the clients that we’re not using any of their customer’s data but have a greater understanding of human buying behavior that can replace our need to leverage the personal stuff.
That takes the liability away, doesn’t it?
I’m not even able to bake my own noodle into where this could go in an effective and real way.

But there’s much more…

This, and other current topics were discussed along with Matt McDermott (Humble & Wallop), Samuel Monnie (Sustainable Brands) and host Bob Knorpp (always a good human) on the very excellent BeanCast Podcast (which I’ve been fortunate to be a guest on in the past). I don’t know what it is about BeanCast, Bob Knorpp and these other panelists, but there is always “something in the water” when we record these conversations that brings out a lot of stimulating ideas and insights (and some friendly disagreements too!).

Are you ready for this deep dive into the world of media and marketing? Here is: BeanCast #744 – Three Bald Men.

For about an hour, we discussed and debated the following topics:

The Mass Personalization Dilemma.Grid Zero’s Impact.EU Rejects Meta’s “Solution”.Netflix Won’t Share Subscribers. 

Take a listen and jump into the fray…

Mitch Joel · BeanCast #744 – Three Bald Men

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.