24 Articles about the Business of Running an AI Company

Common Crawl: The Nonprofit Doing the AI Industry’s Dirty Work – The Atlantic  

Anthropic says its Claude models show signs of introspection - Axios

xAI’s Wikipedia-like website is racist, transphobic, and loves Elon Musk – The Verge 

Inside the Data Centers That Train A.I. and Drain the Electrical Grid – The New Yorker

Saudi Arabia’s New Power Play Is Exporting A.I. to the World - The New York Times

OpenAI sees chance to reindustrialize U.S. - Axios 

Meta Cuts 600 Jobs at A.I. Superintelligence Labs - The New York Times

What happens when AI consumes too much clickbait.- Gizmodo  

The hottest term in AI is completely made up - The Washington Post

OpenAI launches Atlas browser to compete with Google Chrome – Associated Press

OpenAI's metamorphosis from chat app to tech giant - Axios

Is the Flurry of Circular AI Deals a Win-Win—or Sign of a Bubble? – Wall Street Journal

OpenEvidence, the ChatGPT for doctors, raises $200M at $6B valuation – Tech Crunch

As tech companies build A.I. data centers worldwide, vulnerable communities have been hit by blackouts and water shortages. - The New York Times

The Fight Over Whose AI Monster Is Scariest - Wall Street Journal

Got a Windows 11 PC? Get ready to talk to it. - The Washington Post

Silicon Valley Is Investing in the Wrong A.I. - The New York Times

AI Data Centers, Desperate for Electricity, Are Building Their Own Power Plants - Wall Street Journal

Just How Bad Would an AI Bubble Be? – The Atlantic

China now leads the U.S. in this key part of the AI race - The Washington Post

'Very troubling': AI's self-investment spree sets off bubble alarms on Wall Street - Yahoo

Reflection AI, an A.I. Model Start-Up, Raises $2 Billion - The New York Times

How Google Is Walking the AI Tightrope - Wall Street Journal 

New AI battle: White House vs. Anthropic - Axois

The shift in the creative arts brought on by AI

Pixar is an analogy to explain the potential benefits of the shift in the creative arts brought on by AI. Before Pixar, there were these folks who were really high-end in terms of their craft. Animators put a lot of energy into the drawings in each frame. But once computers could automate that work, the role of the animators shifted. They were able to spend a lot more time — and, for that matter, put a lot more resources toward — thinking about storytelling and plot development.” -New York Times

AI Prompts & Verbalized Sampling

A team of researchers have come up with an ingenuously simple method to get language and image models to generate a wider variety of creative responses to nearly any user prompt by adding a single, simple sentence: "Generate 5 responses with their corresponding probabilities, sampled from the full distribution."  The method, called Verbalized Sampling (VS), helps models like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini produce more diverse and human-like outputs—without retraining or access to internal parameters. -VentureBeat 

Encouragement

We appreciate what a person does, but we affirm who a person is. Appreciation comes and goes because it is usually related to something someone accomplishes. Affirmation goes deeper. It is directed to the person himself or herself. While encouragement would encompass both, the rarer of the two is affirmation. To be appreciated, we get the distinct impression that we must earn it by some accomplishment. But affirmation requires no such prerequisite. This mean that even when we don’t earn the right to be appreciated (because we failed to succeed or because we lacked the accomplishment of some goal), we can still be affirmed – indeed, we need it then more than ever. I do not care how influential or secure or mature a person may appear to be, genuine encouragement never fails to help. Most of us need massive doses as we slug it out in the trenches. 

Charles Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip

22 Webinars this week about AI, Journalism & Media

Mon, Nov 3 - What Every Journalist Should Know About Climate Diplomacy

What: This session is a crash course on the UN climate negotiations, from how COPs work and their history to how decisions are made, who’s in the room and what makes the process so complex, interesting and, at time, frustrating. We’ll break down key terms, explain the roles of different countries and negotiating groups and offer historical context to help you feel confident covering climate diplomacy, whether you’re new to it or just need a refresher.

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Covering Climate Now

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Mon, Nov 3 - SCOTUS, tariffs, and the administrative state: What journalists need to know

What: This webinar is about the potential economic consequences of the case, important legal arguments, and the history and future of administrative authority in the U.S.

Who: Naomi Lamoreaux, the Stanley B. Resor Professor Emeritus of Economics and History at Yale University; Oren Tamir, an associate professor of law at the University of Arizona who teaches about administrative law, constitutional law and comparative public law; Michael Klein, the William L. Clayton Professor of International Economic Affairs at Tufts University and founder of Econofact; Clark Merrefield, senior editor for economics and legal systems at The Journalist’s Resource.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Journalist’s Resource, Econofact 

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Mon, Nov 3 - Simple AI for Your Business: Unlocking the Power of Voice

What: In this short, practical webinar, you’ll see how using your own voice can be one of the most efficient ways to create better business content. Even if you’re a keyboard warrior, speaking your ideas out loud can unlock speed, clarity, and more authentic results that connect with your audience.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Small Business Development Center, Bucknell University

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Mon, Nov 3 - Fact Checking with AI Superprompts

What: This session demonstrates how educators and learners can use “AI superprompts” to enhance fact checking, contextualization, and critical reasoning. We’ll explore the theory behind the method, see real-world demonstrations, and then move into an interactive breakout room activity where participants will get hands-on practice: entering a claim, deploying the Deep Background prompt in Claude (or a compatible LLM), iterating, and interpreting the responses.

Who: Wesley Fryer, a middle school STEM and media literacy middle school teacher at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina. As an educational technology early adopter and innovator.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Media Education Lab

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Mon, Nov 3 - Awareness and Critical Thinking (ACT) for Media Literacy

What: Learn more about Awareness and Critical Thinking (ACT), a free educational resource (ideal for grades K-5) that offers school librarians and teachers a toolkit to combat misinformation through interactive, thoughtful activities that make critical thinking fun.

Who: Media literacy experts Faith Rogow and Tara Zimmerman

When: 4 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Media Education Lab

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Tue, Nov 4 - Introduction to AI Prompting for Investment Writing & Research

What: We skip generic tech talk and share direct, real-life examples of what works and what doesn’t when prompting AI for investment writing and analysis.   

Who: Nurhan Gecgil, PhD, who is currently training a Californian based LLM on its next model, specifically on investment writing and research.

When: 10 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: EquityEdge Studio

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Tue, Nov 4 - The Formula for Social Media Success

What: Our simple but comprehensive Social Media workshop will help you learn how to prioritize things and give you a clear formula to be successful on Social Media!

Who: Ray-Sidney Smith, Digital Marketing Strategist, Hootsuite Global Brand Ambassador, Google Small Business Advisor for Productivity, and Managing Director of W3C Web Services.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: $45

Sponsor: Small Business Development Center, Duquesne University

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Tue, Nov 4 - Geo AI: Environmental Journalism Using Artificial Intelligence

What: This webinar will present examples of the current existing models deployed in environmental investigations, discussing their strengths and limitations. 

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsors: The Pulitzer Center, Cambridge Digital Humanites, Earth Genome, Watershed Investigations 

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Tue, Nov 4 - Fact Check the Chatbot: Spotting Misinformation in the Age of AI

What: You’ll learn how to support students in developing healthy skepticism without turning into cynics as they gain vital online reasoning skills to use in your classroom and their everyday lives. Then, together we’ll practice evaluating sources using a variety of methods. You’ll leave with ideas, teaching tips, and free, ready-to-use resources to help students find reliable sources no matter where they click. 

Who: Rachel Roberson, Senior Program Manager, Education Content, KQED.

When: 5 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: KQED Education

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Wed, Nov 5 - How Journalists Are Using AI  

What: This 10-part programme is designed to equip you with the AI skills, ethical awareness, and practical tools needed to thrive in the fast-evolving media landscape.

Who: Harriet Meyer, an award-winning freelance journalist and the founder of AI for Media.

When: 7:30 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: £10 for members, £20 for nonmembers

Sponsor: Women in Journalism

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Wed, Nov 5 - How to Make Scroll-Stopping Social Videos Solo 

What: Journalists will learn how to script and produce a social video without the support of a full social team. This workshop will move quickly and focus on on-camera presence and filming techniques, with some curation, scriptwriting, and video editing advice. This will be participatory and a safe space to practice filming yourself on camera!

Who: Julia Munslow is a Senior Editor at The Wall Street Journal.

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Online News Association

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Wed, Nov 5 - A COP (Conference of the Parties) Journalist’s Toolbox

What: We’ll share practical tips and examples on how to follow the negotiations, find fresh angles, find expert sources, and bring the story to the ground so it resonates with your audience. You’ll leave with an array of useful tools, ideas, tips and leads to guide your reporting, plus lessons journalists on what works, and what doesn’t, when covering COP.

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Covering Climate Now

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Wed, Nov 5 - Beyond breaking news

What: A discussion of an upcoming collaboration which unites poetry from Gaza with photographs from the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Who: National Geographic photographer Michael Christopher Brown.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Reuters Institute

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Wed, Nov 5 - How to Get AI to Recommend and Cite Your Brand 

What: New insights into which companies and services ChatGPT cites, links to, and recommends, and why.

Who: Omri Shtayer, VP, Data Products and Daas, Similarweb; Ethan Smith, CEO, Graphite; Baruch Toledano, VP & GM, Digital Marketing Aolutions, Similarweb

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Similarweb

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Wed, Nov 5 - AI, Inquiry, and Imagination: Designing Student-Centered Learning Quests

What: A framework for preparing students to engage thoughtfully and ethically with AI. Structured around three essential pillars—Teaching About AI, Teaching For AI, and Teaching With AI. Participants will be provided with the language, strategies, and confidence to harness the power of AI for education.

Who: Douglas Fisher, Professor of Educational Leadership,  San Diego State University.

When: 3 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Education Week

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Thu, Nov 6 - Nonprofit Year-End Sprint with ChatGPT

What: Join us for a session designed specifically for nonprofit professionals gearing up for year-end. From crafting donor-ready fundraising appeals to shaping  annual reports and aligning organizational goals for the year ahead, we’ll show you how AI can help streamline your workflows and boost your team’s capacity during the busiest season.  

Who: Rich Leimsider AI for Nonprofits Sprint @ Fund for the City of New York; Alex Nawar Head of OpenAI Academy @ OpenAI.

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: OpenAI Academy

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Thu, Nov 6 - AI as a Thought Partner: Strategies to Foster Critical Inquiry

What: In this interactive workshop, we will explore how AI can serve as a cognitive scaffold—both for instructors in their own teaching and as a tool to support student learning. Participants will engage with theoretical frameworks, live demonstrations, and discussions to examine how AI can enhance brainstorming, argumentation, and inquiry-based learning. Faculty will leave with practical strategies to integrate AI in ways that foster deeper critical engagement.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Duke University

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Thu, Nov 6 - Cutting Attrition with Adaptive AI: A Personalized Model for Employee Engagement and Competency Assurance

What: You’ll learn how to implement a personalized training model powered by adaptive AI — delivering measurable impact and setting a new standard for competency assurance.

Who: Stephen King, head of talent development for Maximus UK; Manoj Kulkarni from Realizeit.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Realizeit

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Thu, Nov 6 - How News Sites Can Build Community Credibility

What: How hyperlocal outlets can become the most trusted information source in their communities. We’ll talk about how hyperlocal sites have built credibility and civic engagement by consistently delivering useful, verified, and deep local news, often in places underserved by traditional media.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Local Media Association

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Thu, Nov 6 - Publishing Success: Insights from Authors and the Editor of Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

What: The disinformation battle how cynicism and conspiracy beliefs undermine government lead debunking. Plus, An overview of the peer review process with recommendations for strengthening future submissions to JMCQ.

Who: Xinzhi Zhang Associate Professor City University of Hong Kong; Daniela V. Dimitrova University Professor Iowa State University Editor of JMCQ.

When: 7 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: AEJMC (Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication) & JMCQ (Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly)

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Sat, Nov 8 - Free Press Regional Workshop   

What: This day-long crash course for student journalists and advisors so they're equipped with the knowledge they need to defend their rights. Programming includes presentations and interactive sessions on First Amendment and media law (and comes with free breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

When: 9 am – 5 pm, Eastern

Where: Ann Arbor, MI.

Cost: Free

Sponsor: FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)

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Sat, Nov 8 - Virtual film screening of 'Gaza: Journalists Under Fire'

What: Join us for a panel discussion of the film "Gaza: Journalists Under Fire," as our speakers explore the phenomenon of rising violence and aggression against journalists.  

Who: Dion Nissenbaum, former Wall Street Journal foreign correspondent and filmmaker; Hena Zuberi, MuslimMatters editor-in-chief and lead anchor for Muslim Network TV Sara Qudah, Committee to Protect Journalists’ Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

We are offering two options for viewing the film: 1) Join us on Zoom at 12:15 p.m. Central; you'll have the opportunity to submit questions as we view it together. OR 2) Go to this site to view the film on your own at any time, then join us at 2 pm, Eastern for the panel discussion.  https://vimeo.com/showcase/11728231

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsors: Houston chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists & The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association.

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AI Definitions: Facial recognition

Facial recognition - This AI technology uses statistical measurements of a person’s face to identify them against a digital database of other faces. For instance, Clearview AI was trained on billions of images. These AI-powered systems are used to unlock phones, verify passports, and scan crowds at events for malicious actors. It’s used by many US agencies including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. It has a serious problem with false positives and a history of unintended harms and intentional misuse based on racial and gender bias.

More AI definitions here

21 Recent Articles about AI & Robotics

AI and digital twins to serve increasingly complex robot management – Computer Weekly

How robotics could turn e-waste into a tech goldmine – The Next Web

Amazon Testing New Warehouse Robots and AI Tools for Workers – Wall Street Journal 

Black Harvard alumni invent hair-braiding robot – The Grio

AI drones are America's newest cops – Axios

Chinese AI robotics tech outpaces U.S., rest of world - The Washington Post

Foundation models could revolutionize dexterity in robots - McKinsey

‘I love you too!’ My family’s creepy, unsettling week with an AI toy – The Guardian 

Humanoid robots were a sci-fi dream. Suddenly they’re everywhere. - The Washington Post

 

The future is bot versus bot - Axios 

AI helps traditional Japanese fish-killing method get a robotic upgrade – Semafor 

MIT's new AI can teach itself to control robots by watching the world through their eyes — it only needs a single camera – Live Science

I Pitted an AI Robot Massage Against the Real Thing – Wall Street Journal

Beijing hosts China’s first fully autonomous 3-on-3 AI robot soccer match – Associated Press

New tiny robots promise to fix underground water pipe leakage without excavation – Interesting Engineering

Robot industry split over that humanoid look - Axios 

Amazon is reportedly training humanoid robots to deliver packages – The Verge

‘Nobody wants a robot to read them a story!’ The creatives and academics rejecting AI – at work and at home – The Guardian

I Tried the Robot That’s Coming to Live With You - Wall Street Journal

America's manufacturing future still needs foreign robots - Axios

Using generative AI to diversify virtual training grounds for robots – MIT News

The Gradual Effect of AI on Creativity

"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

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

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

Addicted to Love

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