David Lidsky's Blog, page 88

How to tell if the article you’re reading was written by AI

You’ve noticed that articles are all starting to sound the same. Here are five reasons why

So, we’ve all been there. You’re two paragraphs into a blog post. The headline was catchy enough, the intro kind of made sense, and now your eyes are glazing over. You read over a word, a blurb, a sentence that sounds vaguely all-too-familiar and now you’re wondering, “Wait…did a human even write this?”

Why embedded fintech will help small businesses grow

Five things tech companies should consider to better serve SMBs

In today’s unpredictable economy, more small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are feeling tight on time, resources, and bandwidth. Having the right tech in place can help; the past decade has seen an explosion of technology helping small businesses.

Patagonia and other outdoor brands bet on nonpartisan support for public lands. It worked

A controversial plan to put millions of acres of federal land up for grabs has been scrapped for now. Opposition came from a broad coalition of hikers, hunters, and other outdoor lovers.

If you follow any variety of outdoor-focused brands on social media, you probably noticed these that companies were less focused in recent weeks on pushing products and more focused on pushing advocacy. 

Figma files to go public on the NYSE as ‘FIG’

The biggest design IPO of the year is coming.

The collaborative design tool Figma continues its march toward going public in one of the most highly anticipated IPOs in the history of design software.

No tax on tips or overtime, with a catch: What to know as Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ passes the Senate

Tax write-offs included in the massive bill would deliver on promises Trump made on the campaign trail—but only for a few years.

On Tuesday, the Senate narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act with a 50-50 vote—with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie—to get the legislation across the finish line after an all-night session. The bill now goes back to the House of Representatives for a final vote, as the GOP races to finish passage of the bill before the upcoming July 4 holiday weekend.

Minimum wage hikes take effect for 880,000 workers across the U.S.

New state and local increases are boosting paychecks in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and other locations this week.

Workers in about 15 locations nationwide are about to receive a boost in their paychecks, thanks to minimum wage increases that went into effect this week around the country. On Tuesday, July 1, minimum wage increases went into effect in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington D.C. Additionally, 12 cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles, are doing the same.

The minimum wage hasn’t changed on a federal level since 2009. It remains stuck at $7.25. However, local governments have been moving the needle over the years, which is good news for workers, given the cost of living is at an all-time high. 

Microsoft says AI can diagnose tough medical cases better than physicians

The company’s MAI-DxO system reached 85% accuracy on challenging NEJM cases, compared to 20% for doctors.

The digital health market is growing, and according to Microsoft, its new AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO) is among the latest in generative, artificial intelligence to support accurate, complex medical diagnoses—and it’s doing it better than human doctors. 

What is the ‘pearl earring theory’? The TikTok trend blaming jewelry for being single

A viral TikTok theory claims that wearing pearl earrings makes you seem high maintenance—and might be the reason you’re still single. Here’s what creators are saying.

“Girl With a Pearl Earring” has taken on a new meaning on social media.

Meet Picastro, the Instagram alternative for astrophotographers

Launched by an amateur stargazer, Picastro gives night sky images the resolution they deserve—without AI slop or algorithm fatigue.

For those who’ve had enough of scrolling AI slop, meet Picastro: an Instagram app for astrophotography.

Here’s what Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ means for AI

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes billions of dollars for AI and broadband, but critics say it forces states to choose between infrastructure and regulation.

The Republican Party’s 800-page One Big Beautiful Bill Act is now being debated in the Senate, with a final up-or-down vote expected as soon as Monday night. On the issue of artificial intelligence, much of the attention has focused on the bill’s proposed moratorium on state-level laws regulating the development or application of AI models and apps.