Futurist Sundays: Reads & Reflections

AI generated campaign videos, cults, and the death of Google.

Welcome to Futurist Sundays: Reads & Reflections, where I like to share my thoughts and insights on current news, new tech, or tools that I am using and share what I am currently reading or paying attention to.

Sundays are my sit-down, think and reflect days. Feel free to share this with friends or colleagues and comment below with your own thoughts or reflections.

What I am Currently Reading: “You Look Like a Thing, and I Love You: How Artificial Intelligence Works and Why It's Making the World a Weirder Place” by Janelle Shane

Janelle Shane, the research scientist behind the comical AI Weirdness blog, does a stellar job of demystifying AI. She explains how machine learning really works, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. Although you'll learn about things like generative adversarial networks, the book never gets dull. The witty and moreish writing is peppered with practical examples of AI attempts at creativity that are frequently laugh-out-loud funny.

This book was a random pick I found, but it’s incredibly relevant in today’s AI-driven world. While AI is making our lives both more complicated and easier in some respects, it's also making our choices in art, film, and pretty much everything else much weirder. I'm not done with the book yet, but it's a funny and pretty quick read.

Tech News Roundup

OpenAI's SearchGPT May be the Death of Google and Musk's Deepfake Controversy

OpenAI's SearchGPT Challenges Google

OpenAI just unveiled SearchGPT, a new AI search tool set to rival Google's Search Generative Experience and Perplexity's AI. This move signals OpenAI's intent to disrupt Google's 90% market share in search. CEO Sam Altman claims this prototype offers faster, clearer results with concise answers and relevant links. While still in testing, users can join the waitlist to try it out. This development could significantly alter how we approach search, potentially sidelining traditional SEO as AI-driven algorithms take center stage.

I've been saying it for a while: AI is will drastically change how we search online. With SearchGPT in the picture, the landscape is shifting. SEO might soon become a thing of the past as AI algorithms redefine relevance and search dynamics. This new reality is upon us, and it's time we adapt.

Musk Shares Deepfake Video of Kamala Harris

Elon Musk is under fire for sharing a doctored video of Vice President Kamala Harris. The AI-generated video, created by right-wing YouTuber Mr. Reagan, falsely portrays Harris in a negative light. Despite being labeled as a parody, Musk shared it without a disclaimer, reaching millions. This incident underscores the growing issue of AI-driven misinformation, especially when amplified by influential figures like Musk. His actions contribute to the spread of fake news and highlight the urgent need for better regulation and awareness around AI and deepfakes.

Sharing AI-generated deepfakes that spread misinformation is dangerous and irresponsible. It's not okay for Musk to endorse such content to his massive audience.

Reflections of the Week

I'm honestly over the intense misogynistic fangirling that follows men like Elon Musk and Donald Trump. The world continues to blindly support them, and it's exhausting. But whatever, I don't want to get upset or upset my readers by even bringing them up or adding any more fire to the flame that the world has already ignited.

On a lighter note, I've been more active lately. Going to the gym, taking walks, and simply enjoying more time outside. Slowing down and prioritizing myself and my health has been my focus. I got pretty sick last week and was bedridden all week. It felt horrible, but the rebound and bounce-back weren’t as bad because I've been taking care of myself.

It's a reminder of how important it is to invest in our well-being. I hope you're all finding time for yourselves too. Stay healthy, stay positive, and let's keep moving forward together.

Catch up with some of my latest posts this week. 👇