It is May … I am sitting in LA, with the heating on, while outside it is pouring with rain. This while I read 🔗 How El Niño could affect U.S. weather. (TL;DR .. if you thought it has been hot recently … you ain’t seen nothing yet.)
The most recent proposal from the WGA concerning AI is the following: “Regulate use of artificial intelligence on [Minimum Basic Agreement] covered projects: AI can’t write or rewrite literary material; can’t be used as source material; and MBA-covered material can’t be used to train AI.” And, as it currently stands, the response from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is a big wet fart of an offer for “annual meetings to discuss advancements in technology.”
💬 Ryan Broderick
Who goes on to write;Their counter, put another way, is actually: “we do not want to commit to anything until we know if this technology will be good enough to replace whole writers rooms.”
… Which was my thought on reading that first paragraph, but Ryan summarizes more eloquently and efficiently.
“Spending less money and making more would’ve been something I would’ve worked on.”
💬 Ben Smith
… Ben is the founder of Semaphor, a new publication with a stable of great writers that I presume cost a lot of money to run. The countless newsletters that come out of Semaphor .. daily … are totally free.
Anyone else confused?
This surprised me, other than bikes clearly require a different skill set to drive away on than a car … surely there are people that can do that?
There are … they just don’t want to do it for ‘free’ anymore.
Go figure!
2023 | 05 | 04
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Via my friend Jerry after this appeared in one of those siloed networks … and is clearly right.
“The fallout from our cultural obsession with personal rights is that we too easily forget about personal responsibility. If I demand my rights and you demand yours, we end up butting heads again and again and again.”
💬 Yonason Goldson
Ten things that you can do to embrace the future of AI whilst mitigating the threat of losing your liveliehood.
1. Stay informed: Keep up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in AI and automation, and how they are affecting your industry and job market.
2. Develop new skills: Continuously learn new skills to stay relevant in the job market, such as programming, data analysis, or other skills related to AI.
3. Pursue higher education: Consider obtaining a degree or certification in a field related to AI, such as computer science or data science, to prepare for the jobs of the future.
4. Explore new career opportunities: Look for opportunities to work with or alongside AI, such as in fields like robotics, automation, and machine learning.
5. Be adaptable: Embrace new ways of working and be open to adapting to changing work environments as AI and automation continue to transform the workplace.
6. Build a strong professional network: Connect with other professionals in your field and seek out mentorship and guidance to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in AI.
7. Be creative: Explore new ways of applying your skills and expertise to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging opportunities in the AI economy.
8. Consider entrepreneurship: Starting your own business or pursuing self-employment can provide greater control over your livelihood and allow you to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the AI economy.
9. Advocate for policies that support workers: Encourage policymakers to create policies that support workers and address the potential negative impacts of AI on employment, such as job retraining programs and income support for displaced workers.
10. Stay positive: Embrace the potential benefits that AI can bring, such as increased productivity and efficiency, and stay positive about the opportunities that lie ahead.
Ten things that corporations can do to empower their employees and their use of AI whilst NOT reducing their workforce to increase profits.
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Invest in upskilling and reskilling: Provide opportunities for employees to learn new skills and develop expertise in areas related to AI, such as data analysis, programming, or robotics.
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Foster a culture of innovation: Encourage employees to experiment with new technologies and processes, and provide the resources and support necessary to implement new ideas.
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Promote collaboration: Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing, to bring together employees from different departments with diverse skill sets and expertise.
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Ensure transparency and communication: Be transparent about the company’s AI strategy and communicate clearly with employees about how AI is being used and how it will impact their work.
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Emphasize ethical considerations: Ensure that AI is being developed and used in an ethical and responsible manner, and prioritize the well-being of employees and society as a whole.
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Implement AI for augmentation rather than automation: Use AI to enhance human decision-making and productivity, rather than replacing human workers with automated systems.
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Prioritize employee well-being: Consider the impact of AI on employee well-being, and take steps to mitigate potential negative effects, such as stress or burnout.
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Encourage employee feedback: Solicit feedback from employees on how AI is being used and how it could be improved, to ensure that employees feel empowered and engaged in the process.
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Reward creativity and innovation: Recognize and reward employees who come up with innovative ways to use AI to improve the company’s operations or products.
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Invest in long-term goals: Focus on the long-term benefits of AI, rather than short-term cost savings, and invest in initiatives that will create sustainable growth and benefit both the company and its employees over the long term.
Rob Long is such a good story teller. Here he connects an outbreak of an ‘epidemic of vomit hurling’ in a kid’s school, making three bean salad at scale, the writers strike and the challenges for the broader entertainment industry - in just ten minutes.
There is a number I used to call someone two months ago - no problem.
It’s the number that is on their web site.
Yesterday and today I get ‘call failed’ and no connection - despite repeating tries.
I tried from Jax’s phone - and straight in.
I wonder what causes that?
Jax was at the RSA thing in San Francisco last week. She mentioned yesterday that there were 40,000 people there. ‘FORTY THOUSAND’? I replied. ‘I think you mean 4,000’.
No - 40,000 - she was adamant. I had to go fact check. She was wrong.
Apparently it was closer to 50,000. FIFTY THOUSAND!
I am not a fiction writer (at least not a public one.) But I did submit this one (if indeed it is fiction) to the people at BizCatalyst360. They published it.
When I wrote it, I wasn’t happy about it, but shared it with Jax - who cried (god only knows why!) and said send it.
A writer friend wrote …
I believe you said during Byline 360˚ yesterday you’re not a writer. That’s clearly not true. And as I said yesterday, as writers, I don’t believe it’s our job to judge our work. Our job is to write and to share what we write.
Count it as (for better and worse) shared!
🔗 2023 Marketing Technology Landscape: 11,038 Solutions
… this is getting silly.
🔗 The Democrats Unveil a Secret Weapon on the Debt Ceiling.
I’m not am sure that I don’t fully understand this … but definitely intrigued enough to watch how it pans out.
“Google searches for ’VPN’ have skyrocketed in Utah this week for one reason: You can no longer visit Pornhub from a Utah IP address.”
💬 Morning Brew
After years of calling CNN “fake news,” Donald Trump has agreed to appear on the network for a town hall. His campaign says it wants to hit reset on its relationship with the channel now that it’s under new management.
Bollocks. Licht has steadily and systematically moving CNN towards ‘the new center’ since he arrived. This will be a total softball.
Meanwhile … who really cares? CNN peaks at around half a million for its biggest star (Anderson Cooper).
I see the latest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have been announced. Two surprises;
- That Willie is on the list.
- Since he is, why it has taken until his 90th birthday.