Ideas that challenge / comfort / inspire
Stephen Goforth
"Half of all men reported having used generative AI over the previous 12 months, while only 37% of women did. Studies show that women are less likely to trust technology and that men are more likely to be confident in their tech savvy." -Bloomberg
I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. –Henry David Thoreau
Three experts discuss the rise of low-quality content and its implications for the profession, the news industry and the public sphere. – Reuters Institute
Discussing the future of journalism: From conflict to AI – Vatican News
The AI Reporter That Took My Old Job Just Got Fired – Wired
Creating an AI chatbot to speak to a country’s budget – Reuters Institute
Particle launches an AI news app to help publishers, instead of just stealing their work – Tech Crunch
The Washington Post's new generative A.I. tool, "Ask The Post" – Washington Post
AI firms need media more than they admit – Axios
'Garbage in, garbage out': AI fails to debunk disinformation, study finds – VOA News
How Journalism Groups in Africa Are Building AI Tools to Aid Investigations and Fact-Checking – Global Investigative Journalism Network
Using AI to sift through federal regulations for news tips – Fast Company
94% of people want journalists to disclose their use of Al – Trusting News
Using AI in PR: Experts explain how AI is enhancing PR workflows – Muckrock
When it comes to using AI in journalism, put audience and ethics first - Poynte
Three predictions about AI’s impact on FOIA and how you can help – Muckrock
How is AI being used in journalism? – IBM
Lawrence student journalists recognized for fighting district’s use of AI surveillance – Lawrence Times
Five Canadian news media outlets sue OpenAI for copyright breach – Al Jazeera
Study of ChatGPT citations makes dismal reading for publishers – Tech Crunch
“Researchers and religious leaders released findings from a two-month experiment through art in a Catholic chapel in Switzerland, where an avatar of "Jesus" on a computer screen, tucked into a confessional, took questions by visitors on faith, morality and modern-day woes, and offered responses based on Scripture. Those behind the project said it was largely a success: Visitors often came out moved or deep in thought, and found it easy to use.” -Associated Press
What: We’ll examine the falsehoods that gained momentum in the weeks leading up to the general election and those that have emerged in its aftermath. Drawing from both recent and historical examples, we’ll explore how conspiracy theories influence democratic processes, public trust, and media coverage. Through the lens of media literacy and critical thinking strategies like the SIFT framework, participants will engage with the broader cultural and political impacts of these narratives and discuss tools for navigating misinformation in a polarized landscape.
Who: Wesley Fryer, STEM and media literacy teacher
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Media Education Lab
What: Expertise on creating impactful short-form videos. Learn how to: Use Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts to grow your audience. Create engaging video content that boosts brand visibility. Apply practical techniques for effective video marketing.
Who: Junior Consultant & Photography Expert Gabriela Fialova and Junior Consultant & Digital Content Team Coordinator Austin Moyer.
When: 5 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Small Business Development Center, Widener University
What: Go behind the scenes of the project, that explores the state of ocean reporting, identifies gaps in media coverage, and proposes new ways to enhance storytelling. What environmental editors look for in stories, and explore how to engage audiences with compelling ocean storytelling.
Who: Benji Jones, an environmental journalist and photographer based in New York; Jennifer Adler, an underwater photojournalist based in California; Jessica Aldred runs the Pulitzer Center's ocean reporting fellowships and grants program; Paige Vega, Vox's climate editor.
When: 11 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Pulitzer Center
What: Discover how AI tools can improve your nonprofit's website experience and marketing strategy.
Who: Jon Hill, Tapp Network Web Project Manager; Tareq Monuar, Web Developer
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: TechSoup
What: Learn more about potential impacts of GenAI on search and discovery and Elsevier’s GenAI literacy program.
Who: Emily Singley Vice President, North American Library Relations Elsevier; Pam Vitu Manager, Customer Engagement Marketing Elsevier; Lingni Zhou Director Product Management Elsevier.
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Elsevier
What: This workshop will demonstrate how instructors can enhance writing and research with more effective and comprehensive searches. Participants will need a smart device to explore AI tools such as Perplexity, Consensus, ChatGPT, and Claude along with the session facilitators.
Who: Maria Barefoot Associate Librarian and Online Learning Librarian, University of Delaware; AI Literacy & Content Creation, University of Delaware.
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: University of Delaware
What: Explore the basic principles and pillars of solutions journalism, talk about why it’s important, explain key steps in reporting a solutions story, and share tips and resources for journalists interested in investigating how people are responding to social problems. We will also explore additional resources we have on hand for your reporting, including the Solutions Story Tracker, a database of more than 15,000 stories tagged by beat, publication, author, location, and more, a virtual heat map of what’s working around the world.
When: 6 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Solutions Journalism
What: In this workshop, you’ll learn how to leverage ChatGPT to develop rubrics that directly align with your assignment instructions. We’ll ensure that students can easily see the connection between the assignment directions and the rubric criteria, with all requirements clearly reflected in both.
Who: Rachel Lapp, Instructional Designer, University of Delaware,
When: 10 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: University of Delaware
What: This is a session for journalism educators and advisors to have a dialogue on how to share criminal justice datasets and reporting resources with student journalists, so they can hit the ground running on topics such as: Conditions in jails and prisons, The political opinions of incarcerated people, Correctional officer shortages, Book bans behind bars.
Who: David Eads, Data Editor, The Marshall Project; Nicole Lewis, Engagement Editor, The Marshall Project.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: The Marshall Project, the Student Press Law Center and the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont.
What: A discussion of the best tactics for podcast growth. Get an exclusive look at The Podglomerate's tried-and-true playbook (used for their acclaimed podcast clients like PBS, Netflix, and Harvard) for optimized podcast publicity, marketing, cross-promotions, app features, and paid acquisition.
Who: Webby Award-winning judge Joni Deutsch, SVP of Marketing & Audience Development at The Podglomerate; Nick Borenstein, General Manager, Webby Award
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Webby Awards
What: Abusive trolls are joining forces to disproportionately target writers and journalists to intimidate, discredit, and silence. Each and every one of us can be an ally. Join for this interactive training, where we’ll give you the tools you need to intervene safely and effectively when you witness online abuse.
Who: Gisela Pérez de Acha Consultant and Trainer, Online Abuse Defense Program; Amelia Prochaska Training and Facilitation Specialist, Right to Be.
When: 2 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: PEN America and Right To Be
What: In this webinar, we will share how the power of storytelling in tandem with tailored, targeted messaging can help you reach the right audience with your mission to help you fundraise and build loyalty in your community year round. We will also show you the Constant Contact tools you can use to segment and grow your list and discuss how to use AI and multichannel campaigns to reach them at the right place and the right time.
Who: Thomas Nettesheim, Constant Contact Partner Success Manager and Sales Engineer
When: 2 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: TechSoup
What: How to create a consistent brand experience across both digital and physical platforms. You’ll learn: How to maintain brand consistency across various channels. Best practices for aligning digital and offline branding. Ways to enhance customer trust and recognition through cohesive branding.
Who: Branding Specialist Ricky Fitts, Social Media Specialist Casey Remolde.
When: 5 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Small Business Development Center, Widener University
What: Hear from newsrooms from the U.S. and Canada that use API’s Metrics for News (MFN) to launch new products, present journalism in new formats, stop producing what isn’t working and improve reader experiences.
Who: Erin Lebar, Manager of Audience Engagement for News, Winnepeg Free Press; Elizabeth Couch, Director of Audience Engagement, Crain’s City Brands; headshot of Liz Worthington Liz Worthington Director of Product Strategy, American Press Institute.
When: 12:30 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: American Press Institute
What: The impact of AI across industries and the race for global technological primacy.
Who: Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar, Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela and top economic experts.
When: 4:30 Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: The Washington Post
What: The impact of AI across industries and the race for global technological primacy.
Who: Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar, Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela, McKinsey Global Institute director Kweilin Ellingrud and New York University Stern School of Business chief AI architect Conor Grennan
When: 4:30 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Washington Post, IBM
What: This webinar is designed for reporters interested in getting started but with minimal or no knowledge of AI. We will dissect what makes a good AI accountability story, from quick turnarounds to more ambitious investigations, and dig deeper into a few examples.
Who: Gabriel Geiger, an Amsterdam-based investigative journalist specializing in surveillance and algorithmic accountability reporting.
When: 3:30 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Pulitzer Center and the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism
What: This virtual briefing will help journalists understand the post-election milestones and planning requirements that presidents-elect must follow to ensure a smooth, effective transfer of power — and what happens when the incoming administration has not followed the traditional process.
Who: Max Stier, founding president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service; Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Center for Presidential Transition.
When: 11 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: National Press Club, The Partnership for Public Service
This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something. -Elizabeth Gilbert
Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt. –Shakespeare
The way we measure progress in AI is terrible Many of the most popular benchmarks for AI models are outdated or poorly designed. – MIT Tech Review
Multimodal AI: The Future of Enterprise Intelligence? – Information Week
A discussion of data labeling for AI geospatial intelligence – Space News
18 Recent Articles about AI’s future
AI Research Roundup including multi-modal LLM reasoning, 3D mesh generation with LLMs, image editing with AI, training code LLMs, and more - Pat McGuinness
AI Definitions: Test-time training (TTT)
10 Critical AI Concepts Explained in 5 Minutes – KD Nuggets
The NRO—how it got here and it’s ongoing mission – Center for Strategic & International Studies
AI Definitions: Structured Query Language, SQL
Generative AI Is Still Just a Prediction Machine – Harvard Business Review
12 Articles about AI & the Military
Liquid foundation models promise competition for LLMs—here's how - Diginomica
What AI Will Do To Data Science – Hakernoon
AI Definitions: Liquid Foundation Models (LFM)
Getting The Biggest ROI On Your Digital Twin – Semi-engineering
Scaling Laws for Pre-training Agents and World Models – Arxiv
Palantir moves into military and spy work by striking deals with AI developers – Gizmodo
Is ‘Big AI’ beating 'small AI'—and what does it mean for the military? – Defense One
Chinese researchers develop AI model for military use on back of Meta's Llama - Reuters
AI Definitions: Agentic AI Agents
Agentic AI: How Large Language Models Are Shaping the Future of Autonomous Agents – Unite AI
How agentic AI handles the speed and volume of modern threats – HelpNetSecurity
AI Definitions: Predictive analytics
An opinion piece about “What AI Will Do To Data Science – Hackernoon
NGA Eyes Multimodal AI in Next Phase of Geospatial Analysis - GovCIO
The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. -Madeleine L'Engle (born Nov. 29, 1918)
Thanksgiving is more than just a long holiday weekend for watching eight consecutive hours of football or finding a few shopping bargains. It’s a time to reflect on the remarkable blessings showered upon us. Think back over the year; You’ll remember how often a crisis loomed. Perhaps you’re facing just such a situation now. And yet, how many of last year’s potential disasters are still with you? There is much for which to be thankful, and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to remind yourself and your family of what you are truly grateful. May you and your loved ones escape the daily grind and spend quality time together.
Stephen Goforth
Individuals using Microsoft Teams will soon be able to converse in languages they don’t speak, thanks to an AI agent that translates speech in real time, using the speaker’s own voice. A preview that includes nine languages will become available early next year. More at Semafor
It is the tension between creativity and skepticism that has produced the stunning and unexpected findings of science. –Carl Sagan
We associate development with learning and adding to what is already there—but it is by unlearning and stripping away what is there that we grow. -William Bridges
Smaller brains? Fewer friends? An evolutionary biologist asks how AI will change humanity’s future – The Conversation
The future of Windows is cloud and AI – The Verge
Some hope for AI’s future What if machines and humans worked together? – Washington Post
The Present Future: AI's Impact Long Before Superintelligence – One Useful Thing
Is AI hitting a wall? – The Verge
The AI boom may unleash a global surge in electronic waste – Washington Post
How Google is changing to compete with ChatGPT – The Verge
Replacing my Right Hand with A (a pitch for the “AI engineer“) – Erik Schluntz
Nuclear power's AI renaissance – Axios
The AI Boom Has an Expiration Date – The Atlantic
Will A.I. Be a Bust? A Wall Street Skeptic Rings the Alarm. – New York Times
Altman's hazy AI utopia - Axios
AI will be more intelligent than humans 'in a few thousand days' says OpenAI CEO – Tom’s Guide
Machines of Loving Grace1 How AI Could Transform the World for the Better – Darioamodei
Marc Benioff says AI's future is all about agents, not chatbots The Salesforce CEO – Quartz
I chatted to an MIT-built AI version of my future, 60-year-old self and we did NOT get along – PC Gamer
Multimodal AI: The Future of Enterprise Intelligence? – Information Week
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. - Anatole France
Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished. -Dan Gilbert
Pokémon Go Players Have Unwittingly Trained AI to Navigate the World – 404 Media
What AI knows about you – Axios
AI firms need to address security, open-source concerns: G42 exec – Semafor
Anyone Can Turn You Into an AI Chatbot. There’s Little You Can Do to Stop Them – Wired
His daughter was murdered. Then he discovered that her name and image had been used to create an AI chatbot.-Washington Post
How to Say No to Our A.I. Overlords – New York Times
Study: AI could lead to inconsistent outcomes in home surveillance – MIT
LinkedIn plans to use your data to train its AI. Here’s how to stop it – Fast Company
A booming industry of AI age scanners, aimed at children’s faces - Washington Post
Inside the company that gathers ‘human data’ for every major AI company – Semafor
A booming industry of AI age scanners, aimed at children’s faces - Washington Post
Can Security Experts Leverage Generative AI Without Prompt Engineering Skills? – Tech Republic
This AI Tool Helped Convict People of Murder. Then Someone took a Closer Look. – WIRED
Development is an interesting word derived from a linguistic root meaning “rolled” or “folded.” An envelope is a folded sheet of paper, and to develop is to “unroll” something that has been heretofore so tightly rolled that we could not see what it really was. After the child has grown up, we can say that she was that way from the very start. But when she was a child, it was anyone’s guess how she would turn out.
The particular individual is an entity that is both utterly unique and profoundly like others. In this paradox of sameness and difference, we are like leaves on a tree or waves on the ocean.
The path of development is the fishtailing course we follow as we let go of what we have been and then discover a new thing to become—only to let go of that in time and become something new. This is the Way of Transition, the way or path of life itself, the alternating current of embodiment and disengagement, expansion and contractions.
William Bridges, The Way of Transitions
Test-time training (TTT) - An alternative to transformers (which have high energy demands), TTTs theoretically do not grow when processing additional data, as transformers do. TTTs encode the data into representations called weights, so that additional data does not increase the size of the model. In effect, it is nestling a neural network inside another neural network. This type of machine learning model is in its early development stages and is only now being tested.
More AI definitions here.
Pokémon Go Players Have Unwittingly Trained AI to Navigate the World - 404Media
Meta forms product group to build AI tools for businesses - Axios
OpenAI Is Paying Dotdash Meredith At Least $16 Million to License Its Content – Ad Week
AI Investments Are Booming, but Venture-Firm Profits Are at a Historic Low – Wall Street Journal
There’s No Longer Any Doubt That Hollywood Writing Is Powering AI – The Atlantic
Researchers have invented a new system of logic that could boost critical thinking and AI – The Conversation
AI Companies Are Trying to Get MIT Press Books – 404Media
Liquid foundation models promise competition for LLMs - here's how - Diginomica
Google preps ‘Jarvis’ AI agent that works in Chrome – 9to5Google
AI firms need media more than they admit – Axios
Agentic AI: How Large Language Models Are Shaping the Future of Autonomous Agents – Unite AI
Wall Street Giants to Make $50 Billion Bet on AI and Power Projects – Wall Street Journal
Meta strikes multi-year AI deal with Reuters – Axios
Apple releases new preview of its AI, including ChatGPT integration – CNBC
One of the Biggest AI Boomtowns Is Rising in a Tech-Industry Backwater - Wall Street Journal
OpenAI is looking beyond Microsoft for its cloud computing needs. – The Decoder
Microsoft Has an OpenAI Problem – New York Mag
AI firms need to address security, open-source concerns: G42 exec – Semafor
HarperCollins Confirms It Has a Deal to Sell Authors' Work to AI Company - 404Media
Becoming is a service of Goforth Solutions, LLC / Copyright ©2025 All Rights Reserved