Any recommendations to better understand the current AI hype?

I’m a big fan of Ethan Mollick, both his newsletter (One Useful Thing) and his 2024 book (Co-Intelligence). The latter was helpful for me in thinking about how AI can supplement human expertise, rather than replace it.

It cites studies that show that AI can help bridge the divide between different types of employees. While it’s also helpful for high-performing employees, AI can raise the floor for those who are less skilled or less experienced. It can assist with translation for employees who may not be strong writers in their second language. It can help non-coders build apps. It can fill in knowledge gaps that may take years to accumulate. It’s a useful read for anyone who is thinking about how AI could be integrated into the workplace.

Are we taking AI seriously enough?

I do think the media is taking it seriously. There’s quite a few headlines about it, and it’s a major topic of discussion at every journalism conference I attend.

What surprises me is that some traditional journalists still seem to view AI as something optional, technology they could simply choose not to use. It’s reminiscent of how some editors used to think about websites or social media. For anyone using a smartphone, AI is already integrated into our daily lives. Most popular apps use it, or will in the near future. And it has already started to change the way that people consume the news. An example of that is how AI-generated search summaries have already had an impact on external traffic to publishers.

What’s a good hobby to pick up?

During the height of the pandemic, I made a New Year’s resolution to join a few book clubs and actually read all the books. I felt isolated at the time, and was seeking out escapism. I managed to keep it up, and am now active in three book clubs (and less active in a couple of others). There are few things I enjoy more than talking about a book, and now I have a great excuse to do it regularly.

What I love about book clubs is that they force you to challenge yourself to read books you never would have otherwise. I just finished a 600-page book (All the Colors of the Dark) set mostly in rural Missouri. I probably wouldn’t have started that book, let alone finished it, without the threat of an impending book club meeting. They also have high-quality, built-in socialization with people you may know well — or not at all.