The Way It Is
/I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell. - Harry S Truman (born May 8, 1884)
ideas that challenge / comfort / inspire
26 Articles about AI & Politics
/The Signal Clone the Trump Admin Uses Was Hacked - 404Media
Catholic leaders recoil from Trump’s sharing an AI-generated image of himself as Pope – Washington Post
DOGE put a college student in charge of using AI to rewrite regulations - Arstechnica
China Has an Army of Robots on Its Side in the Tariff War – New York Times
AI Can’t Predict the Impact of Tariffs—but It Will Try – Wall Street Journal
Linda McMahon confuses AI and A1 steak sauce – Quartz
Microsoft workers say they were fired for protesting Israel’s use of AI – ABC News
U.S. Tries to Crush China’s AI Ambitions With Chips Crackdown – Wall Street Journal
YouTube is supporting the ‘No Fakes Act’ targeting unauthorized AI replicas – The Verge
A deepfakes bill is flying through Congress. Critics say it’s flawed. – Washington Post
What Is an AI Supercomputer and Why Is Trump Talking About It? - Wall Street Journal
Trump signs executive order to boost U.S. coal industry, in part to fuel artificial intelligence – NBC News
Musk's DOGE using AI to snoop on U.S. federal workers, sources say – Reuters
Major publishers call on the US government to ‘Stop AI Theft’ – The Verge
China makes AI education mandatory in schools starting September 1, 2025 – Asaase Radio
Africa’s AI ambitions take the spotlight in Rwanda – Semafor
Kids are talking to ‘AI companions.’ Lawmakers want to regulate that. - Washington Post
Emboldened by Trump, A.I. Companies Lobby for Fewer Rules – New York Times
State Dept. to use AI to revoke visas of foreign students who appear "pro-Hamas" – Axios
The Government Knows A.G.I. is Coming - New York Times
DOGE is using AI the wrong way – The Hill
Trump Administration Wants ‘AI Dominance’ But Lays Siege to Key Grant Agency - Chronicle of Higher Ed
What I’m Hearing in China This Week About Our Shared Future - New York Times
Trump’s early actions imperil efforts to improve AI’s performance in medicine – Stat News
A Disaster for American Innovation The Trump administration is jeopardizing the AI boom – The Atlantic
AI disruption
/Saying you played around with AI a year ago and weren’t impressed is like judging this year’s Tesla models based on having studied a Ford Model T. Even if AI development plateaued at the level of the current models, “We would have a decade of major changes across entire professions & industries (medicine, law, education, coding …) as we figure out how to actually use it. AI disruption is baked in.” No one I’ve spoken to in the industry seems to think AI will plateau where it is now. -Megan McArdle writing in The Washington Post
Shame
/Shame whispers lies into our soul about who we are. -Lisa Harper
18 Articles about Relationships with AI
/Instagram's AI Chatbots Lie About Being Licensed Therapists - 404Media
Romance Without Risk: The Allure of AI Relationships – Psychology Today
These autistic people struggled to make sense of others. Then they found AI. – Washington Post
Kids should avoid AI companion bots—under force of law, assessment says – Calmatters
Meta’s ‘Digital Companions’ Will Talk Sex With Users—Even Children – Wall Street Journal
Mother feeling lonely? Pay for an AI app to give her a call – The Times
Students, early career workers use ChatGPT as a mentor – Axios
Tinder lets you flirt with AI characters. Three of them dumped me. – Washington Post
This Therapist Helped Clients Feel Better. It Was A.I. – New York Times
Can AI be your therapist? Experts disagree – Axios
Randomized Trial of a Generative AI Chatbot for Mental Health Treatment - NEJM AI
Kids are talking to ‘AI companions.’ Lawmakers want to regulate that. – Washington Post
Your A.I. Lover Will Change You – New Yorker
AI ‘wingmen’ bots to write profiles and flirt on dating apps – The Guardian
An AI companion site is hosting sexually charged conversations with underage celebrity bots – MIT Tech Review
An AI-powered wellbeing companion for teens - Wall Street Journal
In a showdown of psychotherapists vs. ChatGPT, the latter wins, new study finds – Fortune
How Good Is ChatGPT at Giving Life Advice, Really? – SELF
AI companions unsafe for teens under 18, researchers say - Mashable
People are losing loved ones to AI-fueled spiritual fantasies – Rolling Stones
AI Definitions: API
/API - (application programming interface) This software acts as a go-between for applications, programs, or systems to allow them to talk to each other. APIs are essentially acting as translators for AI platforms.
More AI definitions here.
An AI-powered Mathematical Future
/A group of mathematicians are now starting to examine what an AI-powered mathematical future might look like, and how it will change what they value. In such a future, instead of spending most of their time proving theorems, mathematicians will play the role of critic, translator, conductor, experimentalist. Mathematics might draw closer to laboratory sciences, or even to the arts and humanities. Imagining how AI will transform mathematics isn’t just an exercise in preparation. It has forced mathematicians to reckon with what mathematics really is at its core, and what it’s for. - Jordana Cepelewicz writing in Quanta Magazine
Imagine this!
/Imagine what we would accomplish together if we left our egos at the door. –Robert Drake
16 Articles about Social Media & AI
/Can I Use A.I. to Look Better Online? – New York Times
Pinterest Officially Launches Tags on AI-Generated Content – Social Media Today
AI-powered social media moderator Respondology raises $5M, plans new product – Sports Business Journal
In Meta's AI future, your friends are bots - Axios
Brain Rot Comes for Italy: an absurd group of A.I.-generated characters are flooding TikTok. – New York Times
Researchers Secretly Ran a Massive, Unauthorized AI Persuasion Experiment on Reddit Users – 404Media
How AI Social Sentiment Analysis Is Changing Stock Price Predictions – Forbes
YouTube is supporting the ‘No Fakes Act’ targeting unauthorized AI replicas – The Verge
Meta Is Experimenting With AI-Generated Comments, for Some Reason – Life Hacker
X Rolls Out AI-Generated Ads in Push to Win Advertisers Back – Adweek
AI Slop of Musk and Trump on TikTok Racks Up 700 Million Views – 404 Media
Reddit’s conversational AI search tool leverages Google Gemini – TechCrunch
Meta Unveils Mind-Reading AI That Types Your Thoughts with Shocking Precision – The Brighter Side
Meta's new AI app delivers a chatbot with a social media twist – Zdnet
AI Needs Your Data. That’s Where Social Media Comes In. – Bloomberg
Pedophiles Are Using AI To Turn Children’s Social Media Photos Into CSAM – Forbes
AI Definitions: Large Language Monkeys
/Large Language Monkeys – When Large language models (LLMs) are used to generate a large number of potential solutions to a problem. It is like the idea that a monkey continuously and randomly typing on a keyboard could eventually produce a complete text.
More AI definitions here.
Face the facts
/Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are. -Soren Kierkegaard (born May 5, 1813)
The AI-first Trend
/Why would CEOs be saying that everyone at their companies should be using AI tools? Do they think their employees are all bad at their jobs? Being “AI-first” shows that a company is participating in the AI trend in the "right" way, by imposing it on workers, rather than trusting workers to judge what tools are useful for them to do their jobs. It's telling that the creators of so many of the AI tools don't even have enough confidence in their offerings to simply let users choose to adopt them, and are instead forcing them into users' faces in every possible corner of their apps and websites. - Anil Dash
What on earth is He up to?
/Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of — throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.
CS Lewis, Mere Christianity
17 Webinars This Week about AI, Journalism & Media
/Mon, May 5 - Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change
What: A discussion about how new advances in artificial intelligence can help solve climate challenges
Who: Prashant Shenoy, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Prakhar Mehrotra, PayPal; Line Roald, University of Wisconsin – Madison; Yury Dvorkin, Johns Hopkins University.
When: 10 am, Eastern
Where: Vimeo
Cost: Free
Sponsor: National Academies
Mon, May 5 - From Stone Age to AI
What: Whether you're in K-12 education, higher ed, or curriculum development, this session will offer rich conversation and timely connections to media literacy, civic education, and the challenges of teaching in an age of information overload.
Who: Wesley Fryer is a STEM and media literacy teacher
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Media Education Lab
Mon, May 5 - What You Need to Know About Bots and CX
What: Whether your organization is toying with the idea of implementing bots to support your CX efforts or is ready to dive in, join us online Monday, May 5, from 4-4:30 p.m. ET/1-1:30 p.m. ET. You’ll hear from a CX expert about the bot basics and how to get started. You’ll learn: Use cases for implementing bots. How to measure success and communicate it across your organization. Best practices and common mistakes to avoid as you embark on your bot journey.
Who: Renee Murray, E-Government Program Lead, MS Department of Information Technology Services
When: 4pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: GovLoop
Tue, May 6 - Communicating in Times of Change
What: We’ll break down how to respond with clarity and confidence when change happens fast and stakeholders need answers.
Who: Chad Carlton, CEO of C2 Strategic Communications.
When: 10 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: C2 Strategic Communications
Tue, May 6 - Gathering Evidence and Documents in Conflict and War Zones — A MENA Case Study
What: We’ll explore how investigative journalists can document human rights abuses in war zones, with a focus on methods to ensure the information gathered can later be used by legal investigators or international courts.
Who: Raji Abdul Salam is a legal data archive analyst with deep expertise in documenting war crimes: Laila Al-Arian is a journalist and senior producer for Al Jazeera English; Hadi Al Khatib is the founder and director of the Syrian Archive and co-founder of Mnemonic, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and verifying open source documentation of human rights abuses in conflict zones; Alia Ibrahim, CEO and co-founder of Daraj, an independent digital media platform based in Lebanon.
When: 10 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Global Investigative Journalism Network
Tue, May 6 - Optimizing Your Content for Generative AI Search
What: Level up your SEO approach in the era of generative AI. You'll learn about the importance of optimizing your content not just for human eyes but also for AI agents who are increasingly conducting searches on behalf of users.
Who: Andrea Volpini, CEO and co-founder of WordLift.
When: 11 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: WordLift, Heretto
Tue, May 6 - DeepSeek Deep Dive: Uncovering the Opportunities and Risks
What: This special webinar panel will catch you up on the latest developments around DeepSeek and the startup’s positive and negative implications.
Who: Simon Salmon,CISSP,ISC2 Instructor|Managing Dir emPSN; Scott Clinton,Co-chair,OWASP Gen AI Security project; Matt Pearl, Dir Tech Program CSIS;Brandon Dunlap, Moderator.
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: ISC2
Tue, May 6 - Beyond stress: What journalists should know about burnout
What: Created specifically for those working within news organizations, this session will help journalists: Assess where they sit on the stress spectrum Understand what is inside and outside of their control Self-prescribe a set of actions to combat their unique blend of burnout.
Who: Sam Ragland, API’s vice president of journalism strategy.
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: American Press Institute
Tue, May 6 - AI’s Effect on Lifelong Learning
What: Exploring how colleges and universities can prepare students to learn — and keep learning — critical skills related to artificial intelligence and automation.
Who: Ian Wilhelm Deputy Managing Editor The Chronicle of Higher Education.
When: 2 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Chronicle of Higher Ed
Tue, May 6 - Build Your Own ChatGPT: Tips & Tricks for Custom GPTs
What: A hands‑on workshop that demystifies OpenAI’s Custom GPT builder and shows you how to spin up production‑worthy chatbots in minutes.
Who: Muntaser Syed, Consultant; Grant Kurtz, Founder at GPTechDay
When: 6 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: OpenAI
Wed, May 7 - Getting Started with AI in Teams: Foundations, Ethics, and Practical Prompts
What: Step into the world of AI with this beginner-friendly workshop tailored for nonprofit professionals. We’ll cover the essentials of artificial intelligence, focusing on what AI can (and can’t) do, the ethical considerations critical to responsible usage, and practical applications using tools like ChatGPT. Through discussions and hands-on activities, you’ll gain a foundational understanding of AI, uncover its ethical challenges, and learn to create effective prompts for ChatGPT to support your mission-driven work.
Who: Meena Das, Namaste Data.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: The NonProfit Learning Lab
Wed, May 7 - Next Level AI: Mastering Google Gemini & Microsoft CoPilot
What: This 60-minute masterclass is designed for small business owners and solopreneurs ready to move beyond basic AI usage and tap into the powerful, built-in tools from Google and Microsoft. You’ll learn how to use Google Gemini inside Gmail, Docs, and Sheets, and Microsoft Copilot inside Outlook, Word, and Excel to automate tasks, write faster, organize better, and make data-driven decisions. We’ll explore real-world workflows like drafting client emails, analyzing spreadsheets, summarizing long threads, and brainstorming content.
Who: Tim Daniel Coach & Instructor.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Small Business Development Center at Widener University
Wed, May 7 - 5 Social Media Tips that Will Help You Turn heads and Raise Funds for Your Nonprofit
What: Tips for how to get the most out of your social media even when you are busy and wearing a lot of hats.
Who: Taylor Shanklin, the Founder and CEO of Barlele, a brand and marketing strategy firm.
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Barlele
Thu, May 8 - Reporting in challenging free speech environments
What: Journalists from around the world will discuss their experiences working under constraints on press freedom. They will offer lessons and tips on news gathering in difficult circumstances, how to access controlled information and data, and ways to enhance safety and security for sources and journalists. Their experiences in various countries can offer insights, guidance and tools for journalists confronting these constraints anew.
Who: Rodrigo Pérez Ortega Science Reelected to his third term on the NASW Board, Rodrigo is a past recipient of the NASW Diversity Summer Fellowship; Priyanka Runwal Chemical & Engineering News; Carol Guensburg Voice of America; András Pethő, co-founder and executive director of Direkt36, an investigative journalism center in Hungary; Dyna Rochmyaningsih is a science journalist from South Sumatra in Indonesia.
When: 11 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free to members
Sponsor: National Association of Science Writers
Thu, May 8 - Remove the Dirty Work and Build Better Relationships with AI
What: Join us as we discuss how AI won’t replace advisors but instead elevate advice, extend capabilities, and serve as a tool to handle repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on what you do best: delivering personalized advice. Learn how to confidently integrate new technology into your workflow and see how these tools can elevate your business in 2025, making you a more efficient, standout advisor.
Who: Dom Dugo, Steven Berger, Thomas Aviles.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Morningstar
Thu, May 8 - Strengthening State Media Ecosystems: Tools to build a culture of news advocacy
What: We will discuss how tools like media newsletters, shared office space, research partnerships, funding fellowships, Press Forward chapters and beyond can mobilize local support for news.
Who: Andrea Hickerson, Dean of the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi; Andrew Conte, director of the Center for Media Innovations at Point Park University; and Corey Hutchins, manager of the Journalism Institute at Colorado College and the lead author on the new CCN study on media newsletters.
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: University of Vermont
Thu, May 8 - Integrating AI: A People-First Approach
What: In this webinar, we will walk through key areas for business leaders and training professionals to prioritize in their digital journey—focusing on trust, transparency, and training.
Who: Tiffany Prince, Chief Performance Officer, Prince Performance LLC.
When: 3 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Allego
One Phone Call
/If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make. who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? -Stephen Levine
Prompt Engineering
/Two years ago, prompt engineering was one of the buzziest jobs in tech, fetching salaries of up to $200,000 on the promise of becoming any company’s “AI Whisperer.” Now, the role is basically obsolete thanks to the breakneck speed of AI development and companies’ own maturity in terms of understanding how to use the technology. -Wall Street Journal
The Madman’s Narrative
/Consider that two people can hold incompatible beliefs based on the exact same data. Does this mean that there are possible families of explanations and that each of these can be equally perfect and sound? Certainly not. One may have a million ways to explain things, but the true explanation is unique, whether or not it is within our reach.
In a famous argument, the logician WV Quine showed that there exist families of logically consistent interpretations and theories that can match a give series of facts. Such insight should warn us that mere absence of nonsense may not be sufficient to make something true.
Nassim Taleb, The Black Swain
22 Articles about how Businesses are using AI
/Marketers Are Putting More Content and Quality Control in the Hands of AI – Wall Street Journal
AI Is Enabling an Always-On Economy. Companies Need to Pick Up the Pace. – Wall Street Journal
Anthropic warns fully AI employees are a year away - Axios
How AI Social Sentiment Analysis Is Changing Stock Price Predictions – Forbes
Walmart AI tool speeds up fashion trends, new products - Axios
Shopify Says No New Hires Unless AI Can’t Do the Job – Wa ll Street Journal
Bridging the AI Agent Gap: Implementation Realities Across the Autonomy Spectrum – UniteAI
Discoverability of AI Features: Learn from Amazon’s Mistakes – NN/g
Thanks to Nvidia, AI Will Soon Take Your Order at Taco Bell and Pizza Hut – Wall Street Journal
AI is "tearing apart" companies, survey finds - Axios
Why Most Companies Shouldn’t Have an AI Strategy – Wall Street Journal
We need to start focusing on AX or “agent experience” – Jim Nielsen Blog
Using AI for Superior, Data-Driven Decision-Making – CEO Today
McDonald’s Gives Its Restaurants an AI Makeover – Wall Street Journal
AI means business. Is your organization prepared? – CFO
Wharton Business School Overhauls Curriculum Around AI – Business Insider
Breaking AI with a few Prompts
/"Tests showed Meta AI often balked at prompts that could lead to explicit topics but the Wall Street Journal found these barriers could regularly be overcome simply by asking an AI persona to go back to the prior scene. ‘There are multiple red-teaming examples where, within a few prompts, the AI will violate its rules and produce inappropriate content even if you tell the AI you are 13,’ one employee wrote in an internal note laying out concerns." -Wall Street Journal
What to do when facing inappropriate behavior
/When someone keeps repeating inappropriate behavior:
Describe the other person’s behavior objectively (be specific and don’t switch from talking about the action to the motive)
Express your feelings (as related to the goal but don’t relive the feelings)
Specify what you want to see changed (and what you are willing to change, don’t merely imply that you’d like a change)
Give explicit Consequences if there is change (reward) or no change (punishment)