The Gradual Effect of AI on Creativity

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"When people use A.I. in the creative process they tend to gradually cede their original thinking. At first, users tend to present their own wide range of ideas, but as ChatGPT continues to instantly spit out high volumes of acceptable-looking text users tend to go into a 'curationist mode.' The influence is unidirectional, and not in the direction you’d hope: 'Human ideas don’t tend to influence what the machine is generating all that strongly,' Nataliya Kosmyna, a research scientist at M.I.T. Media Lab, said. ChatGPT pulls the user 'toward the center of mass for all of the different users that it’s interacted with in the past.'" - Kyle Chayka writing in the New Yorker

AI Definitions: Deep Learning

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Deep Learning – A popular type of machine learning that’s especially useful when the data is a mess—such as with natural language processing. This method of training computers uses neural networks. The word “deep” means that the composition has many “blocks” of neural networks stacked on top of each other, and the trick is adjusting the blocks that are far from the output, since a small change there can have outsized effects on the output. It is the dominant way to help machines sense and perceive the world around them. It powers the image-processing operations of firms like Facebook and Google, self-driving cars, and Google’s on-the-fly language translations. Deep learning algorithms need vast amounts of data to perform tasks that humans learn easily with a few examples. 

More AI definitions here

Résumé virtues & Eulogy virtues

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Résumé virtues are professional and oriented toward earthly success. They require comparison with others. Eulogy virtues are ethical and spiritual, and require no comparison. Your eulogy virtues are what you would want people to talk about at your funeral.

Time is limited, and professional ambition crowds out things that ultimately matter more. To move from résumé virtues to eulogy virtues is to move from activities focused on the self to activities focused on others. 

Arthur C. Brooks writing in The Atlantic

19 Articles about AI & Coding

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Addicted to Love

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Breaking up is hard to do. Literally. A Rutgers brain study shows getting over romantic rejection is similar to kicking an addiction. One of the study authors says, "When you've been rejected in love, you have lost life's greatest prize, a mating partner." Researchers examined the brains of more than a dozen volunteers who had each recently been dumped but still loved the person who had rejected them. It turned out that reminders of the beloved activated brain regions in the lover associated with addiction to cocaine and cigarettes. These same areas affect emotional control, rewards, addiction cravings, a sense of attachment, pain and distress. This brain system becomes activated in an attempt to win the person's affections again, according to the researchers. Details are in the July 2010 issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology.

Perhaps the lesson here is that it's important to become addicted to someone who is good for you.

Stephen Goforth

Breaking up is hard to do

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The time immediately after a bad relationship is filled with promise. It's as if you've rid yourself of something that was weighing you down and keeping you from reaching your full potential. You fell light and clear and free. But this honeymoon with yourself is short-lived and you’re soon in a new relationship fraught with the same old problems. This pattern continues until you finally realize that most of the issues are your own, and that to be truly free, you must break up with yourself.

Andrew Boyd, Daily Afflictions

22 Webinars this week about AI, Journalism & Media

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Tue, Oct 28 - Tips and Tools for Uncovering Online Scams

What: In this webinar, investigative journalists from around the world will gain practical strategies and tools for tracking, verifying, and reporting on online scams. Whether you’re new to the topic or looking to deepen your expertise, this session will provide advice for impactful reporting on one of the world’s most urgent issues.

Who: Antonio Baquero is a journalist based in Barcelona. He joined OCCRP in 2020 and is an investigative editor covering Europe and beyond; Damien Leloup is an investigative reporter for Le Monde, with a strong focus on tech and the tech industry, and collaborative projects; Damien Leloup is an investigative reporter for Le Monde, with a strong focus on tech and the tech industry, and collaborative projects; Hera Rizwan is a reporter with BOOMLive India. She investigates cyber scams, online fraud, digital threats, and the intersection of technology with society; yakerario Omari is a Nairobi‑based fact‑checker and investigative journalist with experience in open source reporting, data research, and digital verification. She currently works at Code4Africa; Craig Silverman, an award-winning investigative journalist, digital investigations/OSINT trainer, and public speaker. Cofounder of The Indicator and GIJN Digital Threats Online Course Lead Trainer.

When: 9 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Global Investigative Journalism Network

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Tue, Oct 28 - Politics & Protest: Writing in Times of Crisis

What: This session examines how writers, educators and researchers document and interpret protest, balancing rigour, representation and safety. We will surface practical frameworks, ethical guardrails and classroom strategies for engaging civic texts without harm.

When: 10 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsors: African British Journals

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Tue, Oct 28 - Ask. Discover. Cite. How Academic AI is Redefining Discovery

What: Join us for an illuminating session on Primo Research Assistant, the AI-powered research companion developed by Ex Libris (part of Clarivate). This intelligent tool allows users to ask questions in natural language and receive a composed answer based on trusted academic content, highlighting the most relevant sources, while also suggesting related questions to guide further exploration - perfect for today’s students’ discovery needs.

Who: Michael Gonzalez, University Librarian, University of Technology Sydney; Sue Stevens, Head of Library Systems, Cardiff University; Katy Aronoff Director, Solution Consulting.

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Library Journal

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Tue, Oct 28 - How Publishers Can Win at Social in 2026

What: We explore the current state of social media and break down exactly what publishers need to do to stay ahead. We’ll also explore how AI and automation are unlocking new levels of scale, helping lean teams punch above their weight and consistently drive traffic without burning out.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: New England Newspaper & Press Association

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Tue, Oct 28 - How to Create a World-Class Substack

What: We’ll show you how to create a world-class Substack publication.

Who: Russell Nohelty is a USA Today bestselling author, and speaker. He runs Wannabe Press and is the Co-founder of Writer MBA and The Future of Publishing.

When: 1:30 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Author Learning Center

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Tue, Oct 28 - Generative AI in Education: What Every Teacher Should Know

What: Explore how teachers and educators can use generative AI to plan lessons, engage learners, and personalize instruction while also navigating ethical challenges. You’ll learn how tools like ChatGPT are being used in real classrooms, what the latest research reveals about AI for personalized learning, and how to apply AI thoughtfully and effectively in your own teaching to improve student outcomes.

Who: Candace Walkington is the Program Director, Learning Sciences at SMU; Jason Taylor is an Admissions Outreach Advisor who helps students enroll in SMU’s MS in Learning Sciences program.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: SMU Simmons School of Education & Human Development

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Tue, Oct 28 - Influencer Collaboration for Newsrooms: Strengthening Community Trust

What: This session will walk you through strategies and frameworks to help you build stronger collaborations with trusted messengers, influencers, and community partners. You’ll come away with actionable ideas and exercises you can adapt to your own newsroom.

Who: Liz Worthington, Director of Product Strategy at the American Press Institute and a former journalist and editor

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Indiegraf

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Tue, Oct 28 – Ask-Me-Anything Info Session: Advancing Democracy Newsroom Cohort

What: Are you a U.S.-based newsroom that wants to deepen its practice of solutions journalism, trust and transparency building and audience and community engagement? Learn about the upcoming Advancing Democracy Newsroom Cohort and how you can get support by joining an Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) session

Who: Bridget Thoreson of Hearken; Joy Mayer of Trusting News[ Jaisal Noor from Solutions Journalism Network.

When: 3 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Solutions Journalism Network

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Tue, Oct 28 – Courageous Conversations are coming to PBS LearningMedia

What: Join us as we introduce the resources, showcase highlights, and share strategies for using courageous conversations to build media literacy skills, engage students in dialogue, and offer space for diverse perspectives in the classroom.

Who: From Ocean State Media (previously Rhode Island PBS) Colleen Kenyon, Renee Gilbert, and Sarah Trudeau.

When: 7 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Media Education Lab

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Wed, Oct 29 - Women in AI Series 2025 - Artificial Intelligence in Journalism

What: We will discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on media literacy and how news organizations can use the technology more responsibly to reach their audiences. 

Who: Christen Smith is Pennsylvania editor for The Center Square newswire service and co-host of Pennsylvania in Focus, a weekly podcast on America's Talking Network.

When: 8 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: IEEE

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Wed, Oct 29 - Figuring Out Fair Use

What: Strategies and recommendations for making wise fair use decisions and the foundations on which those decisions are made.

Who: Sara Wolf is an associate professor of technology and media at Auburn University.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Niche Academy

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Wed, Oct 29 - Words that Work — Making the Case for Local News

What: We will gather to learn about Press Forward’s new toolkit for newsrooms, which was built from national survey data, focus groups, interviews and extensive message testing by the strategic communications firm Beekeeper Group.  You will hear valuable insights to help you intentionally craft your messaging and wording to your audience — whether it be funders, donors or your local community — to strengthen your fundraising strategies.

Who: Alex Dickinson, Beekeeper Group; Marika Lynch, Press Forward.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Lab Link

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Wed, Oct 29 - AI on Campus: Emerging Governance Models

What: We’ll explore possible AI governance models to replicate, ways to centralize or unify AI campus efforts, and strategies for making AI a supportive tool rather than a threat.

Who: Taylor Swaak Senior Reporter The Chronicle of Higher Education.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Chronicle of Higher Ed

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Wed, Oct 29 - Turning Federal Contract Cancellations into Solutions Stories

What: Explore how to use Big Local News tools to uncover the local impact of federal contract cuts and report on innovative community responses.

Who: Rosie Cima, Senior Data Journalist, Big Local News.

When: 4 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsors: Solutions Journalism Network & Advancing Democracy

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Thu, Oct 30 - Covering Immigration & Protecting Your Rights

What: We will share practical guidance on navigating the legal challenges that may arise when covering immigration. The session will conclude with a Q&A, giving attendees the chance to ask questions and discuss specific challenges they may encounter.

Who: Jennifer Nelson, director of pre-publication review & journalist support at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

When: 10 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Virginia Press Association

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Thu, Oct 30 - What’s Working in Local Media: 2026 Trends from 6-Million Readers

What: This data‑driven session will be packed with actionable insights from over 250 news sites and 6 million readers powered by BlueLena’s technology‑enabled strategic consulting.  We’ll reveal exactly what’s working in local newsrooms—and what’s holding them back—as we head into 2026.

Who: Daniel Williams, Founder & CEO, BlueLena.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: E&P (Editor & Publisher)

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Thu, Oct 30 - What’s it Like Reporting News Today?

What: A conversation about the complexities and considerations it takes to deliver the highest quality journalism in today's charged information ecosystem.

Who: Christa Case Bryant, editor of The Christian Science Monitor.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsors: Christian Science Monitor & Sooth.fyi

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Thu, Oct 30 - Immigration reporting: From political scorecard to democratic principles

What: We’ll first hear from a researcher who studies Latino politics and how identity informs political attitudes. Then we’ll talk in breakout groups about how journalism could evolve, and leave with concrete ideas and recommendations.

Who: Trusting News Executive Director Joy Mayer; Stella Rouse, director of the Hispanic Research Center and professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Trusting News

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Thu, Oct 30 - Solutions Journalism Training: The Environment & Religion

What: This is a climate solutions journalism training open to journalists, students, scholars and scientists interested in public engagement through media.

Who: Rebecca Randall, SCF’s vice president and an accredited solutions journalism trainer.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Science Communicators of Faith

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Thu, Oct 30 - AI, EI, Oh! The critical role of emotional intelligence in the advancement of AI

What: The essential importance of understanding this critical relationship between emotional intelligence and AI and the exact right mix of skills your organization needs to thrive.  

Who: David Cory Founder and CEO, EITC (Emotional Intelligence Training Company).

When: 3 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: MHS

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Fri, Oct 31 - Inside the Investigation: Shelter police

What: We will share details of an investigation into a long-running pattern of misconduct and impunity among police in New York City's homeless shelters along with concrete tips and resources that other journalists can use in their reporting.

Who: Sammy Sussman who is part of The New York Times’s Local Investigations Fellowship.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Fund for Investigative Journalism

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Fri, Oct 31 - Money, Movement, and Misdirection Tracking Global Business Footprints

What: This is a session on tracking the people, money, and networks behind international businesses. From offshore entities and layered ownership to foreign disclosures and regulatory loopholes, this session will walk through practical strategies for identifying who really controls a company, tracing its presence across jurisdictions, and uncovering political or financial ties, even when records are scattered or incomplete.

Who: Anna Massoglia, Sunlight’s director of investigations.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Sunlight Research Center

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17 Recent Articles about Using AI

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Stop Deploying General-Purpose AI Models For Everything

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Ensuring safe A.I. is another reason developers should stop deploying general-purpose models for everything. To date, the industry has been unable to guarantee that generative A.I. systems will stick to their safety instructions. Studies have documented instances in which generative A.I. deceives its human operators, tries to use blackmail if its self-preservation is threatened and responds in a way that could lead to murder. More specialized systems like AlphaFold and Waymo’s driving systems won’t misbehave that way because their operating parameters are much narrower. - Gary Marcus writing in the New York Times

When we are most likely to do something regrettable

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Under the right circumstances, a subconscious neurobiological sequence in our brains causes us to perceive the world around us in ways that contradict objective reality, distorting what we see and hear. This powerful shift in perception is unrelated to our intelligence, morals, or past behaviors. In fact, we don’t even know it’s happening, nor can we control it. 

Researchers found that it happens in two distinct situations: those involving high anxiety and those associated with major reward. Under these conditions, all of us would do something just as regrettable as those headline-grabbing stories, contrary to what we tell ourselves. Phrased differently, we don’t consciously decide to act a fool. Rather, once our perception is distorted, we act in ways that seem reasonable to us but foolish to observers.

Robert Pearl writing in Vox

10 New Jobs that may Emerge from AI

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AI assessors – Someone in this role will evaluate models, keeping track of how they’ve improved, what they are best at doing, and how much they are hallucinating.

AI auditors – Someone who dig down into the A.I. to understand what it is doing and why and can then document it for technical, explanatory or liability purposes.  

AI consistency coordinator – This job is about ensuring digital replicas remains  consistent as changes are made.

AI consultants – This job involves helping businesses adopt and implement AI by offering a strategic roadmap, technical expertise, and project leadership. The AI consultant must facilitate communication between a company’s departments to marry technical knowledge with business needs.  After deployment of AI, it is their job to help set up ways to monitor the outcomes. Besides possessing a robust AI education, the AI consultant will have to stay on top of trends and changes in the industry.

AI engineers – Unlike traditional IT roles, people in this position will fix the AI when it breaks, digging through the layers to determine what went awry, why it went wrong and how to repair it. Like a plumber, they’ll snake the pipes to clear out the system and figure out how to avoid the problem next time. This will be particularly important when it comes to models that have been highly customized to the organization.

AI ethicist – This role will involve building chains of defensible logic that can be used to support decisions made by AI (or by hybrid A.I.-and-human teams) to address both ethical and legal concerns.

AI integrators – These are experts who figure out how to best use AI in a company, then implement it. These jobs will be technical in nature, requiring a deep understanding AI while possession a knowledge of the company so that that AI can meet real business needs.

AI personality director – This person fine-tune the “personality” of the AI so that its style of interacting with employees and customers fits with the organization’s ethos. This can become an integral part of a company’s branding.

AI trainer – This is the job of helping the AI find and digest the best, most useful data and then teach the AI to respond in accurate and helpful ways.

AI translator (trust director) – People who understand AI well enough to explain its mechanics to others in the business, particularly to leaders and managers, so that they can make effective decisions. These workers will not only explain what the AI output means (especially when it is technical) but how trustworthy the information and conclusions are. This role may fall under that of compliance officer, helping organizations understand contracts and report written by AI.  

Read more at The New York Times

18 Surprising Things AI can do now

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How AI is Changing Entry Level Jobs

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Rather than have rookie employees compile reports or write memos — things the A.I. is good at — you might have them start, say, creating new ideas for products right away. Traditionally, this kind of work would be reserved for deeply experienced workers, but it won’t need to stay that way. By empowering young, inexperienced workers, A.I. can enable them to be more entrepreneurial, faster. And this means that a greater range of the organization — with a wider range of perspectives — can be hunting for new great ideas or new areas for growth rather than busying themselves with repetitive office tasks. -New York Times 

AI Definitions: Big Data

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Big Data - Data that’s too big to fit on a single server. Typically, it is unstructured and fast-moving. In contrast, small data fits on a single server, is already in structured form (rows and columns), and changes relatively infrequently. If you are working in Excel, you are doing small data. Two NASA researchers (Michael Cox and David Ellsworth) first wrote in a 1997 paper that when there’s too much information to fit into memory or local hard disks, “We call this the problem of big data.” Many companies wind up with big data, not because they need it, they just haven’t bothered to delete it. Thus, big data is sometimes defined as “when the cost of keeping data around is less than the cost of figuring out what to throw away.”    

Big Data looks to collect and manage large amounts of varied data to serve large-scale web applications and vast sensor networks. Meanwhile, data science looks to create models that capture the underlying patterns of complex systems and codify those models into working applications. Although big data and data science both offer the potential to produce value from data, the fundamental difference between them can be summarized in one statement: collecting does not mean discovering. Big data collects. Data science discovers.  

More AI definitions here

Form a strong identity … and let it go

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Fixating on one part of your identity and saying, “I am this—and this is all I am” stagnates your identity. A more holistic approach allows your identity to shift and change and expand as you become more fully who you are. Different experiences and people will draw different things out of you. Yes, form a strong identity and find words that help you express where you are at in this moment. But do it in order to ultimately let it go.