Here’s a list of interesting things I read in Feb.
1. Semfor Signals uses AI to balance news reporting
The advent of AI in the newsroom is a double-edged sword, promising efficiency but raising concerns about skewed narratives. Enter Semafor Signals, an interesting approach that aims to relay reports without bias. This AI-powered system sifts through mountains of data, using contextual and emotional analysis to try to present news that’s transparent, balanced, and resistant to algorithmic biases. It’s not drawn me into becoming a regular Semafor reader, but it might do in the messy election cycle that’s ramping up.
Check it out: Introducing Semafor Signals
2. Will AI limit human intelligence?
A deep, reflective piece questioning whether AI is beginning to cap human cognitive aspirations. This philosophical musing makes a compelling case for the perpetual undervaluing of human intellect and emotion. Taking a critical lens to AI’s relentless march, the author argues that while we’ve grown adept at creating efficient machines, we’re at risk of suffocating the essential elements of humanity: creativity and empathy.
Dive in: AI Limits Human Aspirations
3. Tyler Perry on AI and Hollywood
An indication of the big shifts that might hit Hollywood as AI’s inexorable rise sparks fear and innovation in equal measure. Renowned filmmaker Tyler Perry’s candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter is an eye-opener. Sharing how AI has affected his creative process, he holds up a mirror to the industry, which faces the unnerving prospect of algorithmically driven scripts and algorithms determining box-office gold. AI’s impact on film production isn’t a distant prospect—it’s now.
Read up: Tyler Perry’s AI Alarm
4. TikTok’s Trends Report
In the epoch of TikTok, storytelling has found a new canvas—and a not-surprising commercial success. TikTok’s slightly sales-y 2024 Trend Report shows the platform as a narrative powerhouse. Delving into consumer trends, this corporate content doubles as a digestible look into the nuanced art of digital storytelling. Storytellers and marketers should at least skim this.
Peek in: TikTok’s 2024 Trend Report
5. YouTube and the Indian elections
The world’s largest democracy goes to the polls this year. The last election demonstrated the impact of WhatsApp as a campaigning tool. This piece from Rest of World looks at YouTube’s rising prominence in the current campaign. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you want to spot interesting social media innovations, look for it in campaigns.
Dig deep: India Elections 2024
6. Pew’s latest data on social media in America
Pew’s comprehensive report shines a light on the latest shifts, trends, and takeaways from how Americans use social media. It remains one of the most useful datasets to understand, at a broad level, which social media channels remain part of the lives of different demographics. There’s little to surprise but much that reaffirms what we already know.
Uncover insights: Pew’s Social Media Use Data
7. An ode to the 404 page
Have you ever wandered into the digital void, landing on a page that doesn’t exist, only to be greeted by a nondescript error message? Imagine if, instead, you were met with wit, comfort, or even an unexpected piece of art. I loved and shared with many people this exploration of 404 pages, those digital cul-de-sacs we occasionally find ourselves in.
If you read one thing, read this: The Art of the Error Message