Stern and Splendid
/Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness. -CS Lewis
ideas that challenge / comfort / inspire
22 Articles about AI & the Creative Arts
/A New Report Takes On the Future of News and Search: AI’s impact on platforms and publishers – Columbia Journalism Review
How generative AI is playing out in the media industry – Computer Weekly
Fake movie trailers were an art form. Then came the AI slop. – Washington Post
Oscars OK the Use of A.I., With Caveats – New York Times
An AI is going to art school — and might earn a diploma. Meet Flynn. – Washington Post
YouTube rolls out a free AI music-making tool for creators – TechCrunch
Design for the AI age – Linear
The artifact isn’t the art: Rethinking creativity in the age of AI – Free Think
ChatGPT’s Studio Ghibli tool says goodbye to creativity - The Washington Post
The world's first AI product creation platform – Arcade AI
The Designer as Conductor in the Age of AI – Francesco Bertelli writing in Medium
Controversial AI-generated art exhibition takes Oregon campus by storm – Daily Emerald
An update to ChatGPT made it easy to simulate Hayao Miyazaki’s style of animation, which has flooded social media with memes. – New York Times
New York’s longest-running play offers AI-powered live translations to attract new audiences – Semafor
Evaluating Co-Creativity Between LLMs and Humans in the Generation of Humor – Arxiv
10 Ways Generative AI is Redefining Creativity in 2025 – Analytics Insights
Celine Dion warns fans to beware of fake, AI-generated songs appearing online – CNN
Exploring how User Experience will evolve with the growth of Artificial Intelligence. – Shape of AI
We need to start focusing on AX or “agent experience” - Jim Nielsen Blog
Sony is experimenting with AI-powered PlayStation characters – The Verge
AI's creative block – Axios
Approaching AI in Your Career
/Other than mastering AI, I suggest leaning into the parts of your job that involve your physical presence and human relationships and away from the parts that involve analysis of large datasets or bodies of text. While you’re using these news tools — figuring out what machines can do and what you can do that they can’t — you should stop to enjoy the new functions, rather than simply assessing the threat. -Megan McArdle writing in the Washington Post
Stepping on Toes
/The one who never steps on toes is probably standing still.
18 Webinars this Week about AI, Journalism & Media
/Mon, May 19 - Covering civil unrest
What: Learn tips on situational awareness, protective gear and positioning that can help you reduce the chances of arrest, assaults and injury on the job. We'll discuss preparation before an event, how best to respond to active shooters and stampedes, and building solidarity among media groups and legal defenses.
Who: Judith Matloff, senior adviser for safety training at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
When: 2 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free to members
Sponsor: Investigative Reporters & Editors
Mon, May 19 - Is AI the Cure for FOIA Frustration?
What: A discussion of AI and FOIA. The pros and cons of integrating AI in the records requesting process and how journalists can use AI as a tool.
Who: Axel Ebermann, President New York Coalition for Open Government; Irwin McCullough, Co-Founder· FOIA Friend, James Mae, Moderator.
When: 6 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Society of Professional Journalists, Wash., D.C. Pro Chapter
Tue, May 20 - AI use now and the future of being human
Who: Lee Rainie, director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University.
When: 11 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy
Tue, May 20 - The SPLASH Method & How To Use It To Create World Class Content
What: So much content is painfully boring. We're on a mission to break the boring out of B2B content. It starts here, with the SPLASH Method. The way to check your content for stand out properties and promotion that will let it sing and dance.
Who: Ollie Whitfield Partner, Slingshot Content.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Training Magazine Network
Tue, May 20 - Disinformation in Society Report
What: A new study by the IPR and Leger finds that concerns about disinformation in the US have returned to their highest levels since 2021, with 70% of Americans as a “major” problem, on par with issues like illegal drug use, hunger/poverty, and federal spending. The 5th edition of the Disinformation in Society Report surveyed 2,000 adults to assess what sources they trust the most, how Americans perceive false or misleading information, who they hold responsible for spreading it, and what actions they believe are necessary to combat it.
Who: Tima McCorkindale, President & CEO of the Institute for Public Relations; Dave Scholz, Chief Strategy Officer, Leger.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Institute for Public Relations
Tue, May 20 - Leveraging AI to Streamline Operations for Nonprofits
What: Explore how AI tools can enhance operational efficiency for nonprofits. Learn practical strategies for automating repetitive tasks, optimizing resource allocation, and driving organizational impact. Gain actionable insights into implementing AI solutions tailored to nonprofit needs.
Who: Kyle Barkins, Tapp Network Co-Founder; Zach Patton, Tapp Network, HubSpot Solutions Manager.
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: TechSoup
Tue, May 20 - Technology and Evolving Research Practices in the Humanities
What: How can research tools like the MLA International Bibliography help academic researchers find not only credible and up-to-date sources but also materials that help push the boundaries of scholarship? Featuring teaching faculty, library instructors, and research service leaders, this webinar will examine how new technology and AI tools are influencing research practices in the humanities. Attendees can expect an overview of current technology impacts and strategies for how to guide patrons through this changing scholarly environment.
Who: Elizabeth Brookbank, Instruction Librarian and Professor, Western Oregon University; Ellen Carillo, Professor, English and Writing Coordinator, University of Connecticut; Leo Flores, Chair, English Department, Appalachian State University; Nhora Lucía, Serrano Director, Academic Technology, Teaching & Research Services Hamilton College; Angela Gibson, Senior Director, Operational Strategy Modern Language Association.
When: 2 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: The Modern Language Association
Tue & Wed, May 20 & 21- Social Media Boot Camp
What: Practical tips and tools for extending your cause and mission via social media. We cover the basics of using social media for your nonprofit organization and give you handy tips for the most useful social media platforms for nonprofits.
Who: Kiersten Hill, the driving force behind Firespring’s nonprofit solutions and an inspiration to organizations nationwide.
When: 3 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Firespring
Wed, May 21 - AI Variety Pack: Perplexity, Claude & DeepSeek
What: Explore the rapidly evolving world of AI tools in this dynamic session featuring Perplexity, Claude, and DeepSeek. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned tech enthusiast, this event will showcase the strengths, use cases, and unique capabilities of each platform. Join us for live demos, real-world applications, and a discussion on how these tools can boost productivity, creativity, and research.
Who: Tim Daniel Coach & Instructor Widener SBDC.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Small Business Development Center, Widener University
Wed, May 21 - Guiding AI Policy in Schools: An Ethical and Systems Thinking Approach
What: This webinar offers a practical introduction to two essential frameworks: values-based ethical decision making and systems thinking. Attendees will explore a model for ethical reasoning grounded in school values such as equity, curiosity, and integrity—designed to support thoughtful decision making around AI use.
Who: Karen Rezach, Director of The Ethics Institute, Kent Place School (NJ); Lisa Yokana, Co-Founder and COO, Next World Learning Lab.
When: 2 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School
Wed, May 21 - AI for Nonprofits, Part 1: Unlock Generative AI and Microsoft 365 Copilot for Impact
What: An engaging and insightful two-part webinar series, where we will dive into the essentials of generative AI, address key AI concerns, and demonstrate how nonprofits can benefit from using Microsoft’s AI assistant, Copilot, to achieve their goals.
Who: Joshua Peskay, RoundTable Technology; Kim Snyder RoundTable Technology, VP of Data Strategy.
When: 2:30 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: TechSoup
Wed, May 21 - Covering Mental Health Responsibly: Reducing the Risk of Suicide
What: This session will also explore an understanding of suicide and the unique mental health challenges faced by Latino/a/e communities, specifically their risk of suicide and the compounded stressors these individuals face. The experts will address best practices for journalists to effectively cover suicide with story elements and framing that are known to minimize the risk of suicide contagion.
Who: Maria de los Angeles Corral, Vice president of public relations at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Rebecca Ruiz, Senior reporter at Mashable.
When: 5 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free to members
Sponsor: National Association of Hispanic Journalists & the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Wed, May 21 - Tech Tools for Journalists
What: Join us as we navigate AI in journalism. Our expert panelists will discuss the pros and cons, ethical standards in reporting, and much more!
When: 6:30 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Society of Professional Journalists
Thu, May 22 - The mental health impact of climate reporting
What: A presentation of the preliminary findings from research into the impact of climate change reporting on the wellbeing of journalists. Then, a panel discussion will look at the implications of the research on newsrooms and reporters with two journalists and members of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network.
Who: Anthony Feinstein, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto; Sharon Chen is the Managing Editor for Bloomberg Green; Jhesset O. Enano, an independent environment and climate journalist from the Philippines; Diego Arguedas Ortiz, Associate Director at the Oxford Climate Journalism Network; Mitali Mukherjee is Director of the Reuters Institute.
When: 8 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: The Reuters Institute
Thu, May 22 - Intro to ChatGPT
What: An introduction to ChatGPT designed for beginners. Only a free ChatGPT account is required to follow along.
Who: Mohammed Husain, Solutions Engineer, OpenAI; Lois Newman, Customer Enablement, OpenAI.
When: 10 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: OpenAI Academy
Thu, May 22 – Hands on Career Preparation
What: Learn how career-prep programs are shaping the future of employment around the world. You’ll receive insight into programs like: Study-abroad opportunities that allow students to immerse themselves in new cultures and experiences. Internships that allow students to practice the day-to-day tasks of their chosen careers. Employer tuition-reimbursement programs that allow employees to complete a college program chosen by their employer for free or at a discounted rate. Entrepreneurial programs that allow students to apply their business knowledge in real-world opportunities.
When: 2 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Chronicle of Higher Ed
Thu, May 22 - Writing in the Age of AI: What Faculty Need to Know
What: A faculty-focused session exploring the evolving role of writing in higher education. As AI tools like ChatGPT become widespread, educators are asking: What does it mean to teach writing today? How do we uphold academic integrity while encouraging student creativity?
Who: Siya Raj Purohit Education, OpenAI; Jay Dixit, Head of Community for Writers, OpenAI.
When: 4 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: OpenAI Academy
Fri, May 23 - Trust Busters: Building Newsroom Credibility
What: A hands-on workshop on building stronger relationships between newsrooms and communities. In an era of mistrust, this session will equip journalists with actionable strategies to demonstrate credibility and actively earn audience trust.
When: 1 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Sunlight Research Center & Trusting News
AI Definitions: Causal AI
/Causal AI – This is where the principles of causal inference is applied to AI so that it uncovers connections between data points and looks for the cause-and-effect relationships to understand why things happen. Instead of predicting an outcome and its value as in predictive interference, causal inference looks at how an outcome changes if a particular factor is manipulated. While predictive AI is ideal for anticipating what a user is most likely to be interested in based on past behavior and user characteristics (such as when making purchase recommendations), causal AI will gauge the impact of changes to user behavior (such as A/B testing).
More AI definitions here.
LegoGPT
/Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University unveiled LegoGPT, an AI model that creates physically stable Lego structures from text prompts. The new system not only designs Lego models that match text descriptions (prompts) but also ensures they can be built brick by brick in the real world, either by hand or with robotic assistance.- Ars Technica
Stealing from Yourself
/There once was a thief, a man named Emanuel Ninger. The year is 1887. The scene is a small neighborhood grocery store. Mr. Ninger is buying some turnip greens. He gives the clerk a $20 bill. As the clerk begins to put the money in the cash drawer to give Nr. Ninger his change, she notices some of the ink from the $20 bill is coming off on her fingers which are damp from the turnip greens. She looks at Mr. Ninger, a man she has known for years. She looks at the smudged bill. This man is a trusted friend; she has known him all her life; he can't be a counterfeiter. She gives Mr. Ninger his change, and he leaves the store.
But $20 is a lot of money in 1887, and eventually the clerk calls the police. They verify the bill as counterfeit and get a search warrant to look through Mr. Ninger's home. In the attic they find where he is reproducing money. He is a master artist and is painting $20 bills with brushes and paint! But also in the attic they find three portraits Ninger had painted. They seized these and eventually sold them at auction for $16,000 (in 1887 currency, remember) or a little more than $5,000 per painting. The irony is that it took Ninger almost as long to paint a $20 bill as it did for him to paint a $5,000 portrait! It's true that Emmanuel Ninger was a thief, but the person from whom he stole the most was himself. He was another in the endless list of thieves who steal from themselves when they try to steal from others.
Zig Ziglar
14 Recent Articles about AI & Robotics
/China's AI-powered humanoid robots aim to transform manufacturing – Reuters
The Evolution of AI Products – LukeW
China Has an Army of Robots on Its Side in the Tariff War – New York Times
Humanoid robots run a Chinese half-marathon alongside flesh-and-blood competitors – Associated Press
Invasion of the Home Humanoid Robots – New York Times
Nvidia says ‘the age of generalist robotics is here' – The Verge
Agibot unveils AI model that allows humanoid robots to perform real-world tasks – SCMP
Newly developed artificial intelligence can account for how the brain changes as we learn, enabling a person with paralysis to move objects. - University of California, San Fransico
A robotic spacecraft designed to detect metal-rich asteroids - New York Times
Humanoid Robot Startups Are Hot. This AI Expert Cuts Through the Hype. – Wall Street Journal
“Murderbot,” a sci-fi comedy introduces TV’s latest fascinating cyberbeing for an age of A.I. angst. - New York Times
How AI and robotics can help prevent breakdowns in factories — and save manufacturers big bucks – Business Insider
Eldercare robot helps people sit and stand, and catches them if they fall – MIT
A Journalist’s AI 'Go Bag'
/"What should be in a journalist’s AI go bag? For starters, the one basic thing that should be in everyone’s bag, the AI prepper’s equivalent of a flashlight and bottled water: skill at using AI tools. It is not enough to use it as a slightly better Google; you need to keep abreast of the latest releases and spend time every week pushing both its capabilities and your own. Trying to make it do your job is table stakes. Try making it write a children’s book, or invent a new game, or solve cold fusion. As with any learning process, the outcome is less important than the effort, because the effort is how you learn not just what it can do, but what you could do with it." -Megan McArdle writing in The Washington Post
The advantages of flexibility
/Flexibility is valuable in almost any aspect of life – in school, on the job, in intimate relations with other people, and even in dealing with oneself. Just think of how much more effective teachers could be if they accommodated themselves to the varied styles of thinking in their classrooms, or how easy it would be to work for people who allowed us to be ourselves and to get our work done in ways that are effective for us, or how enjoyable it would be to be in a relationship with someone who fully appreciated us for ourselves – for our own likes and dislikes – rather than for what they would like us to be. The advantages of flexibility are so overwhelming that one wonders why we don’t emphasize it much more than we do in our teaching of our children, our students, and our employees.
Robert Sternberg, Thinking Styles
22 Articles about What AI can do now
/NBC will use Jim Fagan’s AI-generated voice for NBA coverage –The Verge
Eldercare robot helps people sit and stand, and catches them if they fall – MIT
4 ways I use AI as an accessibility specialist – Scott Vinkle Blog
AI Helped Heal My Chronic Pain – Wall Street Journal
AI headphones translate multiple speakers at once, cloning their voices in 3D sound – Univ of Washington
New Lego-building AI creates models that actually stand up in real life - Ars Technica
World biometric identity network launches in U.S. with iris-scanning stores - The Washington
Visa and Mastercard unveil AI-powered shopping – Tech Crunch
The Evolution of AI Products – LukeW
Researchers Secretly Ran a Massive, Unauthorized AI Persuasion Experiment on Reddit Users – 404 Media
I Recorded Everything I Said for Three Months. AI Has Replaced My Memory. – Wall Street Journal
An AI-generated radio host in Australia went unnoticed for months – The Verge
These autistic people struggled to make sense of others. Then they found AI. – Washington Post
Mother feeling lonely? Pay for an AI app to give her a call – The Times
Google created a new AI model for talking to dolphins - Ars Technica
Wearable AI system helps blind people navigate – Techxplore
An AI model that learns to predict how quantum systems evolve – The Quantum Insider
Google AI masters Minecraft - Semafor
Philly’s new Vision Zero dashboard shows where and how crashes happen – Technical.ly
Invasion of the Home Humanoid Robots – New York Times
Bot Trained to Provide Students Feedback on Assignments
/A communication professor at the University of Washington, developed a custom A.I. chatbot by training it on versions of old assignments that she had graded. It can now give students feedback on their writing that mimics her own at any time, day or night. It has been beneficial for students who are otherwise hesitant to ask for help, she said. “Is there going to be a point in the foreseeable future that much of what graduate student teaching assistants do can be done by A.I.?” she said. “Yeah, absolutely.” - New York Times
The Importance of Leisure
/German philosopher Josef Pieper wrote, “We mistake leisure for idleness, and work for creativity."
In a world of “total work,” there is no space for contemplation or rest. There is no need for people to be in “harmony with themselves” as long as they are employed. To “know thyself” is a secondary concern, and any sort of break from work is merely in the service of doing more work.
As Pieper put it:
The simple ”break” from work — the kind that lasts an hour, or the kind that lasts a week or longer — is part and parcel of daily working life. It is something that has been built into the whole working process, a part of the schedule. The ”break” is there for the sake of work. It is supposed to provide ”new strength” for ”new work,” as the word ”refreshment” indicates: one is refreshed for work through being refreshed from work.
Paul Millerd writing in Quartz
22 Articles about the Business of Running an AI Company
/AI Startup Perplexity’s Valuation Surges to $14 Billion in New Funding Round – Wall Street Journal
Google AI Overviews leads to dramatic reduction in clickthroughs for Mail Online – Press Gazette
How China’s Biggest Chipmaker, SMIC, Could Threaten U.S. AI Dominance - Wall Street Journal
AI Is Not Your Friend How the “opinionated” chatbots destroyed AI’s potential, and how we can fix it – The Atlantic
Reports: US losing edge in AI talent pool - Semafor
Google Plans to Roll Out Its A.I. Chatbot to Children Under 13 – New York Times
Researchers Find Easy Way to Jailbreak Every Major AI, From ChatGPT to Claude -Futurism
Advanced AI gets more unpredictable - Axios
Here’s How Big the AI Revolution Really Is, in Four Charts - Wall Street Journal
Immigrant founders are the norm in key U.S. AI firms: study - Axios
Reasoning models don't always say what they think - Anthropic
Nvidia reveals plans to manufacture some AI chips in the U.S. – NBC News
Oracle to provide cloud computing, AI services to Singapore military – Reuters
Nvidia to Make AI Supercomputers Entirely in U.S. - Wall Street Journal
AI startup is reportedly aiming for a massive $2B seed round – Tech Crunch
Google unveils Ironwood, its most powerful AI processor yet – ArsTechnica
Meta got caught gaming AI benchmarks to make it appear its new AI model is better than the competition - The Verge
Google is in trouble... but this could change everything - and no, it's not AI - ZDnet
OpenAI and Anthropic are fighting over college students with free AI – The Verge
Why the AI Revolution Will Require Massive Energy Resources - AEI
Perplexity partners with PayPal for in-chat shopping as AI race heats up – CNBC
LegoGPT
/Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University unveiled LegoGPT, an AI model that creates physically stable Lego structures from text prompts. The new system not only designs Lego models that match text descriptions (prompts) but also ensures they can be built brick by brick in the real world, either by hand or with robotic assistance.- Ars Technica
Impersonating People with Down Syndrome
/AI-generated accounts impersonating people with Down syndrome are spreading across social media. Many of these artificial intelligence-backed profiles are gaining followers faster than real disability advocates — and they're making money from it. For people with Down syndrome, these fake accounts can feel like a new level of discrimination — one where their lived experiences are copied, exaggerated and monetized. -CBS News
The Time Test
/If a class of students are allowed an hour to complete an essay test and one student completes her assignment before the time is up, she isn’t penalized, is she? The assignment was to write an essay, not merely to use the time.
But what if using the time was the assignment? If a person is told to use an entire day profitably, but he becomes bored and diverted by mid-morning, wasting the balance of the day, then his speed is worthless.
The same is true when life is the task. To be finished with life before life has finished with us is to have failed to complete the assignment.
18 Recent Articles about AI Fakes
/Why people are using AI to fake disabilities like Down syndrome online – CBS News
The AI Slop Presidency – 404 media
In Battle Against AI-Powered Fraudsters, Colleges Turn to New Weapon – AI – Voice of San Diego
Deepfakes on trial: How judges are navigating AI evidence authentication -Reuters
The Age of Realtime Deepfake Fraud Is Here – 404 media
Reasoning models don't always say what they think - Anthropic
Is this AI or a journalist? Research reveals stylistic differences in news articles – Techxplore
Nine Ways to Protect Yourself From ‘Impostor’ Voice Scams – Wall Street Journal
A deepfakes bill is flying through Congress. Critics say it’s flawed. – Washington Post
YouTube Turns Off Ad Revenue For Fake Movie Trailer Channels After Deadline Investigation – Deadline
AI Slop Is a Brute Force Attack on the Algorithms That Control Reality – 404 media
Russia seeds chatbots with lies. Any bad actor could game AI the same way. – Washington Post
Researchers raise red flag about AI-generated fake images in biomedical research – Medicalxpress
This ‘College Protester’ Isn’t Real. It’s an AI-Powered Undercover Bot for Cops – 404 media
Major deepfake porn site shuts down – NPR
7 Best Deepfake Detector Tools & Techniques (May 2025) – Unite AI
Former school athletic director gets 4 months in jail in racist AI deepfake case – Associated Press
AI Headphone Translation
/A team of researchers at the University of Washington say they have designed an AI headphone system that translates several speakers at once, while preserving the direction and qualities of people’s voices. Read more in this press release