“In 2024, there were a total of 454 words used excessively by chatbots, the researchers report.” When does use of AI tip over into something fraudulent? Experts disagree.
Newsletter
Currently reading: Women! In! Peril! by Jessie Ren Marshall 📚
The education sector is a big target for cyber attacks, with higher ed being one of the largest and most sensitive targets for bad actors. A recent study shows that education is unprepared as a sector and many institutions lack resources to support a thoughtful and robust cybersecurity program.
Search engines deliver answers instead of links. What does it mean for web traffic - and the outlets, people and jobs who rely on it? Inside the Media’s Traffic Apocalypse
A cool sustainability story out of Madison: “Birds did not evolve with windows, so [they] have little to no ability to identify them as solid, transparent objects…” sustainability.wisc.edu/bird-safe…
“The world’s most valuable companies are based in the United States, built on foundations of government-funded university research.” open.substack.com/pub/edtec…
Of course Jean Grae has a striking narrative voice and point of view. My hero. Currently reading: In My Remaining Years by Jean Grae 📚
Currently reading: Communication Solution by Stacy Smulowitz 📚
Close reading as the salve for These Times: https://defector.com/close-reading-is-for-everyone
How is identity created and conferred across digital spaces? And should those spaces be controlled by corporate interests? www.wired.com/story/big…
This book has some decent insights, especially on how to refine your leadership “brand” in the workplace and online, but I’m not sold yet. Currently reading: When We’re in Charge by Amanda Litman 📚
An interesting take on why we like AI for coding but not for writing. www.linkedin.com/pulse/cre…
Currently reading: In My Remaining Years by Jean Grae 📚
Currently reading: When We’re in Charge by Amanda Litman 📚
Which AI applications do what best - and how to think about it. www.vox.com/future-pe…
Private group chats are as maddening as public social media - and much harder to track. https://www.semafor.com/article/04/27/2025/the-group-chats-that-changed-america
I generally use this space to track what I’m reading in books. But going forward, I’ll also be using it to consolidate links to articles I’m reading about communication, higher education and technology trends.
Vonnegut captures today’s tech zeitgeist in a science fiction tale - written seventy years ago. Apparently he wrote it during his time at GE, inspired by their rush to automation. Finished reading: Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut 📚
Wherein the protagonist turns a blob into the man of her dreams. Currently reading: Blob by Maggie Su 📚
Currently reading: Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut 📚
Still maintaining this sprawling 1200+ song playlist of indie music across genres, focused on women vocalists and players. open.spotify.com/playlist/…
Needed this vibe. Currently reading: An Immense World by Ed Yong 📚
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 →
There’s a reasonable argument that this is the single biggest breach of public data by private person, ever. NYT gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/1…
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 →
The ham-handed relationship between governments, trustees and schools as boards get politicized. PBS: www.pbs.org/newshour/…
On “institutional neutrality,” a conservative approach to dampen political speech on college campuses.
⚡ A trust-building exercise in an era of "flooding the zone"
Monday, February 10, 2025 • 1
While institutions are backing away from making position statements, news outlets are making lengthy statements of intent. This one from Madison is interesting because it also acknowledges that a portion of their audience may be intentionally avoiding news about the White House. This is a traditional trust-building strategy applied in a new way: explaining how the news outlet plans to allocate their resources in an era of “flooding the zone.”
The bureau speak is v amusing. Currently reading: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley 📚
Finished reading: Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom 📚
Updated my reading list, while slowly making my way through half a dozen books at once.