A Short History of Video Games (Every)
Just like motorsports have accelerated (pun intended) the development of cars, video games can be directly linked to the development of the GPUs and other technologies that are now so central to AI development. So thank the gamers in your life!
The Duolingo effect: How keeping the ‘streak’ is changing people’s behavior (Fast Company)
This isn’t a new strategy. In fact, you can relate it to “Don’t Break the Chain“. However, reading this article did prompt me to take note of all the other apps I use that have implemented a streak functionality, such as Calm, Peloton, and the StoryGraph.
You Can’t Truly Be Friends With an AI (The Atlantic)
At first, I was like “this doesn’t seem that big of a topic” because of course you can’t have a real relationship with AI. It’s like using a spell or a love potion on someone negates a relationship (in a world where love potions exist, of course). Friends choose each other. But it was the end of the article that got to me.
“We start thinking, Oh, this is how women interact. This is how I should talk to and treat a woman,” she told me. “And that doesn’t stay in that little tiny box.”
Jesse Fox to Ethan Brooks
Look at how other media has influenced how we see and treat each other, changing our expectations and removing our sense of shame (e.g. anonymity on the internet). I hadn’t considered before reading this article what our interactions with AI would do to our interactions with other people. However, now I can’t help but think of how it’ll lead people to lose the skill of showing reciprocal interest in others, since an AI friend is all about You.
I will admit to trying out Replika, but I have to admit it wasn’t for me. It felt too forced, too formal, and for someone who already struggles with friendship based on just conversation (my flavour of neurodivergent only bonds over shared experiences and activities), it didn’t hit. D&D has still been my safest bet for finding friendships recently!
The Next Global Superpower Isn’t Who You Think (TED)
I don’t think it’s new information that tech companies have faaaar too much power these days. But I needed Bremmer to really lay it out for me what the political and economic contexts and impacts would be. I also particular loved the design of the graphics backing up his points, simple but powerful.
The SATs Will Be Different Next Year, and That Could Be a Game-Changer (The New York Times)
“But Dani!” I hear you cry. “The SATs have nothing to do with you!”
True, but the underlying discussion here still holds true. Testing that puts you under an extreme time crunch doesn’t really test your knowledge and understanding, unless you’re the kind of person who excels in that particular situation. It doesn’t allow for thinking and reasoning time, just Immediate Reactions.
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