Imagine having a personalised AI collaborator at your side who helps you do your best thinking. After sharing your documents with your personal AI, it becomes an instant expert in those sources so you can read, take notes, and collaborate with it to refine and organise your ideas.

This has been the core functionality behind Google’s NotebookLM, an AI-powered note-taking and research assistant, since it launched in early access in July 2023. NotebookLM is designed to help you synthesise information from your own notes and documents. Integrating a language model (hence the “LM” in NotebookLM), the assistant aims to provide personalised assistance in understanding, summarising, and generating insights from user-provided content.

NotebookLM combines the capabilities of Google’s most advanced large language model, Gemini 1.5 Pro, with a note-taking interface, enabling you to interact with and gain insights from your documents. There’s a great deal to unpack in what NotebookLM can do for you, so it’s worth spending some time to review in depth what Google has created.

In this post, I want to talk about a new feature in NotebookLM that captures the imagination, a feature that elevates its functionality far beyond creating simple text summaries.

The Remarkable ‘Audio Overview’NotebookLM can create AI personas that can discuss a topic you’re interested in by having a conversation about it, the recording of which is then available in an audio format that makes it very easy to create a podcast.

I tried the new ‘Audio Overview’ feature Google has enabled in NotebookLM, which is just one in a range of updates and new features.

Frankly, my jaw dropped when I listened to the audio recording that was created. I expected to hear a conversation that would most likely be discernable as something created by artificial intelligence following some kind of script, no matter how credible the generated voices sounded.

Instead, what I got was something that sounded as far removed from AI as it’s possible to go. The conversation sounded unquestionably like that of two actual people in unscripted, natural, discourse, just like you and I having a chat.

The seven-minute audio recording is embedded below. But before you jump to it, let me briefly explain what I did and how.

Last week, I published a post on this blog titled “It’s Time To Be Honest About Security Alerts.” The post discusses how companies like Microsoft and Spotify need to take a more proactive approach to security alerts. The post criticises the dismissive tone of current security alerts, which often attribute multiple login attempts to innocent typos. I argued that these alerts downplay the very real possibility of a malicious attack and instead should acknowledge the seriousness of the situation.

I shared this post with NotebookLM and selected the “Audio Overview” option for the AI assistant to create a podcast-style discussion with simulated voices about the content of the post.

NotebookLM creating an instant podcastHere’s how that works:

AI Personas: NotebookLM created two AI personas, a man and a woman, called “hosts”. These hosts have distinct voices and conversational styles, contributing to a dynamic and engaging dialogue. Currently, it’s available in US English.
Content Analysis: Using advanced language understanding, NotebookLM analyses the shared document, identifying key themes, arguments, and supporting evidence.
Dialogue Generation: It then constructs a conversation between the two AI hosts where they discuss these key points, raise questions, express opinions, and challenge each other’s viewpoints.
Natural Language Generation: The conversation is generated using natural language processing techniques, aiming for a fluent, coherent, and engaging discussion that closely resembles a real-life conversation between two people.
Podcast-Style Format: The final output is delivered in a WAV uncompressed audio file in a podcast-style format, complete with natural-sounding voices and even subtle pauses and intonations, enhancing the illusion of a genuine human conversation.

I’ve taken the original seven-minute WAV audio and created an MP4 video to make it available on YouTube to embed here and share. Take a listen and see for yourself what this NotebookLM tool is capable of in this simple, straightforward example:

(If you don’t see the YouTube embed above, listen to it on YouTube.)

Mind-blowing, wouldn’t you say?

This is just the Audio Overview recording: if I’d added an intro and outro, some branding, and perhaps some theme music and saved it as an MP3 file, I’d have a podcast episode of under ten minutes. Adding some further narrative could get it to 15 minutes or more. (That’s in the area of what Shel and I record for the short-form For Immediate Release podcast episodes we create. We could have fun with that idea!)

Real World ExamplesI’ve been thinking of ways organisations can embrace NotebookLM and see measurable benefits from doing so. There are so many examples I can think of!

Let me continue the focus on audio with these two examples:

Marketing Content CreationScenario: A marketing team needs to create content quickly for different platforms, like blog posts, podcasts, or social media summaries, from a single source, such as a product whitepaper or case study.

How NotebookLM Helps: Using NotebookLM, the team could upload a lengthy whitepaper and generate an audio conversation between AI personas discussing the product’s key features and market impact. This podcast-style discussion can then be published on company websites and social media platforms as original content, providing a new, engaging way to reach audiences who prefer audio content.

Example: A B2B SaaS company uploads a detailed whitepaper on a new software feature and generates a conversational AI podcast where two AI hosts explain the feature in layman’s terms, making it easier for potential clients to grasp its benefits.
Benefit: The audio format is quicker to produce, broadens audience reach (targeting listeners as well as readers), and positions the company as innovative by using cutting-edge AI tools for content creation.
Internal Communication and TrainingScenario: A large company frequently distributes lengthy policy updates, compliance instructions, or training manuals to employees, often resulting in low engagement.

How NotebookLM Helps: By uploading these documents to NotebookLM, a company could generate an AI-driven audio discussion that distills key points from complex documents into a podcast-style format. The AI personas could engage in a conversation about the document’s most important sections, turning the static material into an engaging dialogue. Employees could listen to this while commuting, allowing them to absorb essential information more easily.

Example: A human resources department could upload a new code of conduct document and create an AI-generated podcast where two AI personas discuss the major updates and implications for employees.
Benefit: This format could cater to employees who prefer learning via audio, making it easier to ensure compliance and understanding across teams.

On the Cusp of a New HorizonWith NotebookLM, we’ve had a glimpse of how AI can really change the world with the implementation of generative AI audio technology like this. I’m filled with excitement and fear, all at the same time!

I’m excited at the possibilities this technology offers in a more immersive and engaging way to learn from documents, catering to auditory learners and those who prefer a conversational approach to information consumption.

It makes complex information more accessible by presenting it in a conversational format, potentially benefiting individuals with reading difficulties or those who prefer audio content.

The natural back-and-forth between the AI hosts can stimulate critical thinking, encouraging users to consider different perspectives and engage more deeply with the material. I was astounded when I first listened to the hosts’ conversation extending into new areas beyond what I originally wrote.

Just like humans would do.

But there are concerns.

Despite advances like this, large language models can sometimes generate inaccurate or misleading information, especially when dealing with complex or nuanced topics. Note the disclaimer at the foot of every NotebookLM screen: “NotebookLM may still sometimes give inaccurate responses, so you may want to confirm any facts independently.”

You need to check the accuracy of any audio, just as you do now with content generated when using chatbots like ChatGPT. There isn’t yet the capability to download a transcript of the output from Audio Overviews that would aid the verification process, but Google says it’s on their to-do list.

Privacy and data security should be front of mind regarding how user data and uploaded documents are handled and stored, particularly for sensitive information. This is true of all AI-generated content activity.

As AI tools become more advanced, concerns about their impact on jobs and the workforce are inevitable. Businesses must navigate the ethical considerations of content creation. And ensuring that AI-generated content is fact-checked and free from bias will be crucial to maintaining trust with all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, take advantage of the availability of NotebookLM to explore the full capabilities of this amazing tool. See how easy it is to generate an audio podcast. And brace yourselves for a flood of AI-generated podcasts in the coming weeks and months as people experiment and share their outputs and thoughts. The price of accessibility!

Game-Changing InnovationGoogle NotebookLM is pushing the boundaries of AI by transforming how we interact with our own content. Whether you’re looking to streamline internal communication, enhance customer engagement, or create compelling marketing content, this tool offers powerful new possibilities.

The key will be balancing innovation with caution, especially regarding privacy, ethics and accuracy concerns.

How do you see the role of AI-generated audio in your business?

Related Reading:

The Rise of Shadow AI is a Double-Edged Sword for Corporate Innovation (25 July 2024)
Not Using AI Could Become a Matter of Negligence (30 April 2024)
A Balanced Approach to AI Integration: Lessons From Klarna’s Customer Service Success (4 March 2024)

(The image at top was created with Adobe Firefly.)

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In the past 24 hours, I’ve received 26 security alerts from Microsoft, each containing a different one-time login code for my Microsoft account.

Each email reads, “We’ve received your request for a single-use code to use with your Microsoft account.” They go on to state, “If you didn’t request this code, you can safely ignore this email. Someone else might have typed your email address by mistake.”

Seriously, Microsoft?The idea that someone mistakenly typed my email address 26 times in quick succession, overnight while I was asleep, stretches credulity to the breaking point. Is it not more plausible that this is someone (or something) attempting to gain unauthorised access to my account?

The dismissive tone of Microsoft’s alert does a disservice to its users. By suggesting that these repeated login attempts are most likely the result of an innocent typo, they downplay the very real possibility of a malicious attack. The email subject line “Your single-use code” does nothing to suggest this is something important requiring immediate attention.

At a time when cyber threats are on the rise and becoming increasingly sophisticated, such alerts need to reflect the reality of the situation rather than appease the user with explanations that describe an unlikely situation.

One or two attempts by someone mistakenly typing my email address might be credible, but 26 in quick succession?

It’s not just Microsoft; other services like Spotify are guilty of this as well.

You, too, Spotify!I’ve highlighted just two companies from my own experience. This is only the tip of the iceberg, though. All organisations should take a more proactive stance in educating and protecting their users rather than offering blanket assurances that there’s nothing to worry about. At a minimum, they should encourage users to take action if they receive multiple unsolicited login attempts.

A More Effective Security AlertInstead of dismissive messaging about someone “mistakenly typing” your email address, companies should frame their alerts to inform and empower the user. Here’s a suggestion for Microsoft for more effective wording:

Subject: Security Alert: Multiple Unsuccessful Login Attempts on Your Microsoft Account

Body:

Dear [User’s Name],

We have detected multiple unsuccessful login attempts to your Microsoft account using single-use codes within the past 24 hours.

If you did not initiate these requests, this could indicate that someone is trying to gain unauthorised access to your account.

Here’s what you can do to secure your account:

Change your password immediately. If someone is attempting to access your account, they may have partial information.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds an additional layer of security.

Review your account activity. Check for any signs of unauthorised access.

Contact Microsoft Support if you have concerns about your account’s security.

Your security is our top priority. Please take action to ensure your account remains safe.

Stay safe,
The Microsoft Account Team

Note that the subject line starts with ‘Security Alert’. By framing the email this way, Microsoft acknowledges the possibility of a deliberate attack, encourages proactive measures, and provides clear steps for the user to secure their account. This approach is far more effective than dismissing the situation with the assumption of a simple, innocent typo.

Why Companies Should Do Better With Security AlertsIgnoring the possibility of a security threat isn’t just negligent – it actively places users at risk. Users should be encouraged to take control of their security with the support and guidance of the platforms they use. Companies should acknowledge the potential risks instead of providing a false sense of security, and offer practical advice.

Security is a shared responsibility between users and service providers. By improving their alerts and taking potential threats seriously, companies like Microsoft and Spotify can empower their users to protect themselves in an increasingly risky digital landscape.

Related Reading:

Cyberattack: The lack of serious intent for the NHS is not a role model (15 May 2017)

(Image at top via Adobe Stock.)

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If you’ve been writing a blog for a long time, you’re probably familiar with unsolicited pitches from people looking to publish guest posts or content to gain exposure. It’s almost become part of the job description for SEO marketers and others looking for advantage and influence in niche audiences.

But now and then, an email arrives in your inbox that makes you pause. That happened to me earlier today.

The email subject line, ‘High Quality Content For Your Site,’ seemed like the typical pitch. The request was short and to the point, but what caught my attention was the email’s stark directness – it stood out from the usual spam in a way that was almost intriguing:

“Hi Neville,

I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to let you know that I’ve put a lot of effort into writing some content and would really appreciate it if you could publish it on your site. I don’t have a budget for this, so whether or not you can include a link is completely up to you. I’ve been impressed with how well your site performs and would be grateful for the opportunity.

Thanks a lot!”

At first glance, this could seem like a genuine request from someone trying to gain exposure for their work. But on closer inspection, several red flags start waving:

No credentials or background: The sender didn’t provide any information about themselves – no links to a website or social media profiles, no indication of previous work, and not even a draft or outline of the so-called “high quality content.”
Vague intentions: What exactly is the content about? How would it fit into my blog? These are questions left unanswered, making me suspicious of the sender’s motive.

The Power of DirectnessWhat did catch my attention was the directness I mentioned. The writer was transparent about not having a budget and left it entirely up to me whether to include a link. There was an openness that, while refreshing, also made me pause.

Could this be someone genuinely seeking a helping hand, or is this a more sophisticated approach to spam? And what about the extra gap between ‘Hi’ and my name – is it a sign of poor merging from a database or just a lack of attention to detail? Could this even be the start of some scam?

Why These Requests Are ProblematicOver the years, I’ve been receptive to pitches from people who want to contribute to my blog or podcasts. I’ve published others’ guest posts from time to time. I published guidelines for guest bloggers in 2014. However, the digital landscape has shifted considerably in the last decade, and I’m not sure how many people even consult such guidance before sending their (often pseudo-personal) pitches.

The problem with emails like this one is the lack of trust signals. While I enjoy helping people, collaborating with others, and offering a platform to those with great ideas, these types of requests often leave me in a dilemma:

No clear indication of value: If you want to be published, show me why your content matters. Give me an idea of your expertise or share previous work that demonstrates your voice and point of view.
Too much mystery: When an email arrives with no context or credentials, it’s hard to distinguish between a genuine writer and someone looking for SEO backlinks or trying to place low-quality content.

The Thin Line Between Spam and OpportunityA part of me always wants to give people the benefit of the doubt, especially when they seem to approach me in good faith. But the nature of the Internet today means we have to tread carefully. Unsolicited emails like this might be phishing attempts, spam, or even a stepping stone to malware. On the other hand, they could be from someone just starting out, looking for an opportunity but not quite sure how to go about it the right way.

I’ve seen both cases: Some pitches turn into successful collaborations, while others have fallen flat, wasting time and resources. The key, I believe, is in the details. An authentic outreach will come with proof of work, transparency, and, most importantly, a clear value proposition for both parties.

My Takeaway: Approach with Caution but Keep an Open MindSo, what should you do when you receive an email pitch like this?

Don’t ignore your instincts: If something feels off, there’s probably a reason.
Do your research: Check if the sender has an online presence or prior work that speaks to their expertise.
Look for trust signals: A well-structured email with credentials, a link to their portfolio, or a meaningful reason for wanting to collaborate makes all the difference.

Ultimately, the onus is on the sender to build trust, provide transparency, and offer value. As content creators and communicators, we should remain open to new opportunities – but only when they come with a certain level of credibility as a foundation stone for building trust.

Have you received similar pitches? How do you handle them?

Related Reading:

How to be smart about guest bloggers (January 2014)

(Photo at top by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash)

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As EE, one of the UK’s largest mobile network providers, advises parents against giving primary school-aged children their own smartphones, a nostalgic but potential solution comes to mind.

In my almost completed home decluttering project this weekend, I stumbled upon two Samsung feature phones from the early 2000s, tucked away in a cupboard for nearly 20 years. Pictured above, the Samsung SGH-S100 from 2002 (left) and the Samsung SGH-ZV10 from 2005 (right) brought back memories of a simpler time, before the iPhone arrived in 2007 to disrupt and revolutionise the mobile landscape.

But can such vintage devices still serve a purpose today, especially in light of EE’s guidance?

EE’s advice aims to improve children’s “digital wellbeing” following a surge in requests for guidance from concerned parents. The company recommends that under-11s use “non-smart” devices with limited capabilities. This approach is designed to protect children from the potential harms of excessive screen time and online exposure.

The Samsung feature phones I rediscovered are relics of a bygone era, with 2G capability and, in the case of the ZV10, 3G as well. These are the second and third generations of mobile phone networks. 2G, introduced in 1991, enabled text messages as well as voice calls. 3G, introduced in 2003, added basic Internet connectivity. Since then, we’ve had 4G and 5G; 6G is appearing, and I see reports that 7G is on the horizon.

If you happen to have such devices tucked away in a cupboard, then they might serve your immediate needs. But there are far better options you should consider.

What Do We Mean by ‘Feature Phone’?A feature phone, also known as a dumb phone, is a type of mobile phone with fewer functions than a smartphone but more capabilities than a basic telephone, eg, your pre-digital landline. It typically does not have a touchscreen and uses a physical keyboard. Perhaps the most recognisable brand associated with 1990 to late-2000s feature phones is Nokia.

The Nokia 1110 feature phone 2005-2007, the second highest-selling mobile device of all time.Feature phones can provide basic multimedia and, for those using 3G, Internet capabilities, along with voice calls and text messaging functionality. Adults often prefer them for their simplicity, affordability, and longer battery life than smartphones.

Is This Really a Feasible Idea?While feature phones may seem outdated, they could serve as a solution for parents looking to limit their pre-teen children’s digital exposure. They can make phone calls and send text messages, which could be sufficient for what parents wish to enable their young children to be able to do.

However, this would be a short-term solution, especially for 3G phones, as the mobile industry in the UK intends to phase out 3G by 2025 (and 2G by 2033).

There’s a growing trend, though, especially among younger generations, to embrace simpler, less-smart phones as a way to detox from the digital world. This nostalgia-driven movement is partly fueled by a desire for a more straightforward, less complicated way of communicating. Vintage feature phones like the Samsung models I mentioned could appeal to this sentiment, offering a basic, no-frills alternative to today’s sophisticated smartphones.

More practical, though, would likely be feature phones along the lines of Nokia’s candybar format – the slab-like form that’s now the standard for all smartphones – so that they mirror the look, if not the feel, of modern smartphones. In particular, older and pre-teens kids with such phones wouldn’t look out of place among their friends.

Generally, feature phones are cheaper than smartphones, making them an attractive option for parents looking for an affordable mobile device for their pre-teen kids. In the UK, prices range from as low as £10 or even less to £100 or more, depending on the model, its condition if a used one, and whether it’s locked to a particular carrier.

Several manufacturers sell contemporary feature phones with modern features such as being able to play MP3 files and watch MP4 video even on a relatively tiny screen. These include devices made by HMD Global (which today makes Nokia-branded phones), TCL, Samsung, and others. Online marketplaces like Ebay are a good source for a wide range of modern feature phones.

Modern feature phones of all types listed on EbayGiven global market projections for feature phones in the coming years and forecast growth in the UK, this potential solution could deliver the reassurance parents seek for their pre-teen children’s digital well-being.

The growing trend among Gen Z and Millennials to embrace simpler phones as a way to detox from the digital world supports the idea of using feature phones for younger children. This nostalgia-driven movement is fueled by a desire for a more straightforward, less complicated way of communicating that limits intrusions from others.

It’s worth noting that, of a handful of people I know who have gone minimalist with their digital living, not one has given up their traditional smartphones, just minimised their usage. I ventured along that path a year or so ago with a Nokia 2720 flip phone (which was not a phenomenal experience).

It Is a Feasible Option, But…Modern feature phones, mirroring the look of smartphones, could be a practical solution for parents seeking to limit their children’s digital exposure.

They offer a feasible option for parents looking to protect their children from the potential harms of excessive screen time and online exposure.

Considering feature phones as a viable alternative gives parents the reassurance they are looking for – providing their pre-teen children with a basic, no-frills mobile device that meets their needs without exposing them to the complexities of smartphones.

But, the reality of modern life at school and home presents a significant challenge. Increasingly, curriculums, scheduling, and homework require online connections beyond simple texts, making it difficult for feature phones to be the sole mobile device for kids. Hunting and pecking on tiny fixed keys make for a dreadful user experience! The widespread use of WhatsApp by schools, pupils and parents for communication further complicates the issue.

This modern dilemma underscores the need for a balanced approach, where feature phones can be part of a broader strategy to manage the digital well-being of children, rather than a sole standalone solution.

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In long-form episode 425 of our For Immediate Release podcast, Shel Holtz and I explore the implications of several significant and shifting trends in business, communication, and technology.

During a 90-minute discussion, we dive into six pressing and timely topics:

1: Fediverse and Sovereignty of Social Media Platforms

We kicked off the episode with discussion of Andy Piper’s idea of creating a sovereign-owned and operated Mastodon instance for the UK Parliament he calls a “Fediverse for Freedom”. This is inspired by the growing disillusionment with platforms like X following social unrest in the UK, which saw several MPs abandoning the platform formerly known as Twitter for Threads and Bluesky. The concept centres around governments owning their social media platforms to maintain digital sovereignty and avoid corporate control over public discourse. Our discussion highlights both the potential benefits and challenges of such an initiative.

2: The Decline of Individuality in the Digital Age

We explore a study that tracked a significant decline in people’s desire to stand out or be unique since the turn of the century. Our discussion focuses on the societal implications of this trend and how it might affect communication strategies. With more people hesitant to express uniqueness, communicators may need to find new ways to engage audiences who prefer blending in over standing out.

3: Corporate Response to DEI Backlash

Following our discussion on DEI in FIR 418, we discuss a recent report by Axios on the growing pressure corporate executives face regarding their Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion policies. Some companies are scaling back their DEI commitments due to political and social backlash. Our conversation also references a USA Today survey that showed many companies are still committed to DEI, though they might be communicating these efforts less publicly.

4: Impact of Disabling Social Media Comments

Shel shared insights from a Harvard Business Review article on how disabling comments on social networks can negatively affect the perception of online influencers and public figures. Disabling comments might make an influencer appear less sincere and likeable, and it could reduce engagement with their content. Our discussion emphasises the importance of transparency and being open to audience feedback.

5: Kamala Harris’s Digital Campaign Strategy

I set out an assessment of the Harris campaign’s innovative use of digital media to not only engage Gen Z voters, but also redefine how political engagement happens online. By leveraging platforms like TikTok and employing young influencers, the campaign successfully leverages memes, trends, and viral content to connect authentically with younger audiences. Our discussion highlights how this strategy marks a shift from traditional political campaign tactics, with a significant portion of their media spend focused on digital rather than television.

6: The Future of Search and SEO in the Age of AI

The rise of generative AI is transforming the search industry, impacting traditional SEO practices. Our discussion covered the concept of “zero-click search” where users get answers directly from search engines without visiting websites, and “ranch style SEO,” which advocates for creating concise, targeted content pieces instead of lengthy articles. In our discussion, we encourage communicators to adapt to these changes to maintain visibility in search results.

This episode also includes Dan York‘s Tech report, where Dan discusses new features on Threads, the battle between Spotify and YouTube for podcast supremacy, the advanced photo manipulation capabilities of Google’s new Pixel 9 phones, and a company’s stand against AI.

These discussions provide a comprehensive view of the evolving business, communication and technology landscape, offering valuable insights for professionals navigating these changes.

Listen to FIR 425You can listen to our 90-minute conversation right here; or, if you don’t see the embedded audio player below, listen on theepisode 425 show notes pageon the podcast website. You can also find links there to all the source material we used in this episode, along with a verbatim transcript of our conversation.

Related Reading:

Finally, the Unravelling of X (15 August 2024)
Navigating Democracy’s Discontent in 2024 (29 February 2024)
The Future of Online Search: A Closer Look at Perplexity AI (5 February 2024)

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In a discussion on Threads, the new social network from Meta, a lively debate unfolded around Toyota’s new internal combustion engine (ICE), which reportedly will fend off electric vehicles (EV) for years to come.

The engine – a collaboration between Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda announced in May – has been touted for its ability to burn any fuel type and generate more power while consuming less fuel. It sparked a heated conversation among EV enthusiasts and critics alike on a post I published on Threads on 27 August.

The main topic of discussion on Threads is with regard to the viability and relevance of the new combustion engine in the context of the growing electric vehicle market.

The new engine, known as the Renaissance engine, can use any fuel, producing slightly fewer emissions than other engines. It is relatively efficient in its fuel type, which may be petrol, synthetic e-fuels, biodiesel, or hydrogen.

It felt clear to me that most comments were very much against the continuance of ICE in any shape or form, and some of the arguments supporting such a view were worthy. Other comments appeared to be emotionally charged opinions, making claims and statements without citing any reliable sources, as is often the nature of such discussions on a social network.

At least overall politeness reigned supreme (imagine if it had been taking place on X!).

Analysing the DiscussionI wanted a much clearer sense of the discussion, support vs criticism, common themes and opinions, sentiment, etc. So, early today I enlisted the help of Perplexity AI to analyse the overall discussion and provide a credible assessment of what’s taking place.

Common Themes and Opinions Skepticism about Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Many commenters express skepticism about the use of hydrogen as a fuel source, citing its inefficiency, high production costs, and lack of infrastructure. * Comparison with Electric Vehicles: Several comments compare the new engine unfavourably to electric vehicles, highlighting EVs’ higher efficiency, lower operating costs, and simpler mechanics. * Criticism of Toyota’s Strategy: Some commenters criticise Toyota for focusing on combustion engines instead of fully embracing electric vehicles, suggesting that the company is missing (or has already missed) the boat on EV technology. * Concerns about Climate Change*: A few comments emphasise the need for zero-emission solutions to combat climate change, arguing that slightly more efficient combustion engines are not enough.

Notable Comments Hydrogen Inefficiency: A commenter points out that hydrogen production is highly inefficient and that using it as a fuel source for cars makes little sense. * EV Efficiency: Another commenter highlights the efficiency of electric vehicles, noting that they are 3.3 times more efficient than fuel cell vehicles and 5.6 times more efficient than combustion engines running on hydrogen. * Infrastructure Challenges: A comment emphasizes the significant challenges in building a public hydrogen refuelling network, suggesting that it would be prohibitively expensive. * Toyota’s Strategy*: A commenter criticises Toyota for being late to the EV market and trying to cling to combustion engine technology, likening it to being bullish about horses in the 1920s.

Overall SentimentThe overall sentiment of all the comments is predominantly negative towards Toyota’s new engine and the use of hydrogen as a fuel source. Many commenters express frustration and skepticism about the company’s strategy and the viability of the technology. Many commenters advocate for a shift towards electric vehicles to address climate change.

New Information and PerspectivesSeveral new pieces of information and perspectives emerged in the comments:

Hydrogen Production and Efficiency Hydrogen Production Costs: Commenters pointed out that producing hydrogen is highly inefficient and costly, with one noting that it costs three times as much to produce the energy as putting it into a battery and through an electric motor. * Energy Density and Storage*: The challenges of storing hydrogen were highlighted, including the need for high-pressure tanks and the inefficiencies of liquid hydrogen storage.

Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure EV Efficiency: Commenters emphasized the higher efficiency of electric vehicles compared to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and combustion engines running on hydrogen. * Charging Infrastructure*: The difficulty of building out a public hydrogen refuelling network was noted, with one commenter suggesting that it would be prohibitively expensive and that the focus should be on electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Toyota’s Strategy and Market Considerations Global Market Considerations: A commenter pointed out that Toyota’s global market is not yet ready for electrification, particularly in regions like Africa and South America. * Competition from Chinese EV Makers*: Toyota’s position in the market was criticised, with one commenter noting that Chinese EV makers are trouncing the company and that new engines won’t stop this trend.

Environmental Impact and Climate Change Emissions Reduction: The need for zero-emission solutions to combat climate change was emphasised, with one commenter noting that slightly more efficient combustion engines are not enough. * Hydrogen’s Role in Zero Emissions*: A commenter argued that hydrogen or e-fuels are necessary to make all transportation zero emissions despite the challenges and inefficiencies of hydrogen production and use.

These comments provide new insights and perspectives on the discussion, highlighting the complexities and challenges of transitioning to more sustainable transportation solutions.

I should add at this point that I drive a self-charging hybrid or HEV, a Toyota Corolla, which EV evangelists criticise as putting lipstick on a pig. I’m thick-skinned, though! The time may come for me to change to an EV. But for now, my Toyota HEV is just fine.

Into the Heart of the DebateThe discussion on Threads not only sheds light on the technical and environmental implications of Toyota’s new engine but also serves as a fascinating case study on the nature of sharing passionate opinions on social networks and online forums.

Post by @nevillehobson  View on Threads

It also highlights current limitations in including posts and replies from Threads in a post published on a WordPress site like this one. The above widget embeds my original post but not any of the comments – you have to go to the post to read those and add yours.

It is early days for all this, though, so expect an evolution sometime soon especially as Threads widens the ability to share and amplify content across the fediverse. (If your response is “What’s the fediverse?”, watch this short explainer video.)

Using a tool like Perplexity enabled me to get into the heart of the debate, exploring the main topics of discussion, the common themes and opinions expressed, and the overall sentiment of the comments, which were far from linear with people commenting on others’ comments at different levels in the overall discussion.

This analysis also provides additional insight into how individuals engage with complex topics and how tools like Perplexity can help in understanding and assessing such discussions on social networks.

Related Reading:

Assessing the choice of self-charging hybrid cars vs EV (28 August 2022)
Electric cars are coming, but where will you charge? (7 March 2020)
Hybrid stepping stone (1 March 2020)

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In today’s digital world, portable devices have become integral to our daily lives, especially smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.

With the rapid advancement of technology, such devices have become more sophisticated and powerful, enabling us to stay connected, productive, and entertained on the go. This increased functionality and usage have also led to a growing need for power on demand. No longer can we afford to be tethered to a wall outlet; our devices require a reliable and portable power source to keep up with our busy lifestyles.

I’ve been testing one such device for charging smartphones (and tablets) that stands out in a crowded marketplace – the Benks ArmorGo 5000mAh Power Bank. This compact, lightweight and durable charging solution fits the bill in terms of size, weight, portability, and convenience. It delivers power to keep your phone powered up and ready to go, whether you use it wirelessly or with the provided charging cable.

In this review, I’ll take a closer look at its features, performance, and specifications.

Design and Build:

The Benks ArmorGo 5000mAh Power Bank features a premium aramid fibre texture that gives it a durable and stylish design. Aramid fibres are used in aerospace and military applications and in various lightweight consumer items ranging from phone cases to tennis rackets.

Using lightweight aramid fibre provides reliable protection against accidental scratches and wear. Its resistance to abrasion and heat ensures that the power bank will remain in good condition even after prolonged use. The compact design allows it to fit easily in a pocket or bag, making it a great companion on daily travel.

I like the unique texture and appearance, which makes it look sleek and elegant. It matches the protective case on my Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable smartphone (also a Benks product they sent me last year; read my review of the Benks ArmorAir Case for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 published in September 2023).

Complementary looksPerformance:

With a capacity of 5000mAh, the Benks ArmorGo Power Bank can charge most compatible smartphones to full capacity at least once. Its compact size and lightweight design make it a great option when you need a quick power top-up on the go.

The power bank features fast charging with low-temperature control, ensuring your device performs at its best when it matters most.

So, how much of a charge does the Benks ArmorGo Power Bank 5000mAh give you?

As ever, an answer will always begin, “It depends…” Benks says most modern smartphones have batteries ranging from 2000mAh to 4000mAh (my Z Flip 5 battery is 3700mAh). A 5000mAh power bank can fully charge a 2500mAh phone battery approximately two times. For phones with larger batteries, like 4000mAh, it can provide one full charge and perhaps some extra.

I have been using this power bank as a top-up charging device for my phone, not a get-from-zero-to-100% kind of resource. It’s a great solution when you just need some extra juice at a time and place when you can’t readily fully charge your phone from a mains supply or it’s not convenient to do so.

Wireless Charging and Magnetic Grip:

One of the standout features of the Benks ArmorGo 5000mAh Power Bank is its support for wireless charging, when you place your smartphone onto the power bank where a magnet grips it. This allows for seamless switching between wired and wireless charging, making power-ups even more convenient.

This brings me to an important note on the magnet and grip.

My experience with charging was excellent – when I place my Galaxy Z Flip 5 onto the power bank, it works readily and well, wirelessly charging the phone rapidly. I got accustomed to doing this frequently when away from the office (and even sometimes when in the office for the pure convenience).

But if I lift the phone, the power bank drops off, no matter how I place it. I suspect this is because I have a protective cover that, even as feather-light and slim as it is, interferes with the magnet’s ability to maintain a strong enough grip between the power bank and phone.

Only if I remove the protective case from the phone is the magnetic grip strong enough, as this short video clip shows (it has no commentary):

The phone weighs 187 grams and the protective case just a few grams. Perhaps those few grams make the total weight just too much? Or perhaps the magnet simply isn’t strong enough. Either way, I wouldn’t want to have to remove the protective case every time I tried to use the power bank; that’s hardly practical. I don’t have any other phone that enables wireless charging, so I couldn’t test it on a different device.

For me, this isn’t a show-stopper, as simply placing the phone onto the power bank is good enough. Plus, I can always use the cable for a wired connection and also take advantage of the power bank’s fast-charging capability. Still, the wireless charging feature and portability are convenient, so this situation is a bit of a niggle and adds a dent to my review score.

Incidentally, you can wirelessly charge a tablet with a power bank if your tablet supports Qi wireless charging. But just because you could, it doesn’t mean that you should.

Key Specifications:

As Tested Capacity: 5000mAh
Material: 600D aramid fibre, ABS, aluminium alloy, and magnets
Weight: 113 grams
Dimensions: 102mm (L) x 66mm (W) x 8mm (H)
Charging Port: USB-C
Wireless charging: Supported, allowing for seamless switching between wired and wireless charging

Should You Buy One?The Benks ArmorGo Power Bank stands out for its sleek and durable design, compact size and weight, and wireless charging capability.

It’s a great option if you’re looking for a slim and powerful charging solution. Its premium aramid fibre construction, attractive design, and lightweight build make it perfect for travel and use with your phone or tablet. Its 5000mAh capacity ensures that you can keep your devices topped up on the go.

While this capacity would be sufficient for most, you might want to consider the 10000mAh version: double the capacity for even more convenience and peace of mind. Also think just a year or two ahead where mobile device battery capacities are very likely to increase quite a bit beyond 5000mAh and so will need more powerful charging solutions. Check the Benks product page – the price differential between the two (on the UK website) is relatively small.

5000mAh model: £30.99
10000mAh model: £34.99

With the convenience of wireless charging and whatever capacity you select, in a sleek and attractive presentation, the Benks ArmorGo Power Bank is a great and affordable choice.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

(Disclosure: Benks sent me the ArmorGo Power Bank 5000mAh without cost so I could try it out and publish a review. I have not received payment for this review, and Benks has not influenced what I’ve written nor seen the content before publication. The links to their website in this article are clear links with no affiliate codes. Prices mentioned are as shown on the Benks UK website on 25/8/24.)

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The evolving role of the Chief Communication Officer (CCO) is taking centre stage in today’s corporate landscape.

In our For Immediate Release podcast episode 424, Shel Holtz and I explore a new survey report from the Observatory on Corporate Reputation (OCR) highlighting the expanding responsibilities of CCOs. The findings from research among Fortune 1000 companies show that CCOs are increasingly taking on additional business functions, giving rise to the ‘CCO-Plus’ title and role.

Such roles are already integrating various functions among the Fortune 1000, according to OCR, including:

Chief Communication and Marketing Officer (CCMO) at 57 companies
Chief Communication and Human Resources Officer (CCMHRO) at 33 companies
Chief Communication and Sustainability/ESG/Impact Officer (CCSEIO) at 29 companies
Chief Communication and Corporate Affairs Officer (CCCAO) at 28 companies

The survey found that CCO-Plus roles have increased by 88% since 2019, outnumbering traditional CCO roles for the first time. CCOs are now overseeing areas such as those listed above, reflecting a trend towards more integrated communication strategies. OCR says this evolution positions CCOs closer to the executive decision-making process, allowing for a more cohesive approach to organisational messaging and stakeholder engagement.

The CCO Juggler’s ActAxios reported that the rise of the CCO-Plus role means communication is at the centre of all a company does or is viewed as a catch-all.

Yet, there are big challenges to balance with such role integration.

While combining roles can streamline operations and position communication as a strategic business function, it may also dilute focus and strain resources, potentially impacting the effectiveness of communication and the additional functions absorbed.

“These findings don’t necessarily mean that the CCO-Plus is better than the CCO. It could be that there are some companies that are getting enough value by keeping their comms team focused, whereas on the CCO-Plus side, it might signal that maybe communications is not enough by itself.”

Craig Carroll, OCR Executive Director, quoted by Axios, 15 August 2024

In our podcast discussion, Shel and I consider how merging these roles enhances organisational efficiency and strategic alignment. We ask whether the added responsibilities could overwhelm CCOs, compromising performance quality. We also wonder what structures and support systems are necessary to ensure success in these hybrid roles.

You can listen to our 20-minute conversation right here; or, if you don’t see the embedded audio player below, listen on the episode 424 show notes page on the podcast website.

On a final note, Axios says in its report that many communication teams have been tasked with integrating artificial intelligence into corporate workflows. With this in mind, a new alphabet soup title — Chief Communication and AI Officer, CCAIO — could also be on the horizon.

Related Listening:

FIR #361: Is There A Seat At The Table in Corporate Communication’s Future? A new study from Edelman polled hundreds of Fortune 500 Chief Communication Officers about the future of corporate communication. The results include… (25 October 2023)

(Image at top created by Adobe Firefly via Adobe Express to the simple prompt “business executive juggling”. This was the first of four images suggested by the app and the one I liked most.)

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In the wake of Elon Musk’s public spat with Keir Starmer in recent weeks, which saw the X owner spread falsehoods and insults about the UK riots that took place from late July into the first week of August, a growing number of users have begun to abandon the platform formerly known as Twitter.

We’ve witnessed a steady stream of departures, with many flocking to alternative social networks like Threads and Bluesky. Every day over the past week and more, my Threads feed has been overflowing with people setting up their handles and joining Meta’s alternative offering that launched in July 2023 and now has more than 200 million average monthly users.

Some new arrivals on Threads talk about transitioning. Others are more direct, saying they’ve entirely quit X. What nearly everyone has in common is not only disgust at Musk’s ugly personal behaviour but also a response to the platform’s failure to address hate and disinformation, which has been exacerbated by Musk’s own actions and algorithmic changes.

Some optimistically talk about an exodus, a mass movement away from X to a perceived better place like Threads. It certainly felt like a torrent to me, with Threads hashtags like “Xodus” and “TwitterExodus” trending, but the data didn’t support the idea of any kind of actual “exodus“, as explained by Sarah Perez writing in TechCrunch last week.

Bluesky also benefited from the sudden willingness of people to seek places other than X, reporting that the UK had the most Bluesky signups of any country for five straight days in the previous week.

Flexing Political WillTo illustrate this point, alarm and concern about hate and disinformation is a clear driver behind a migration of Labour Members of Parliament that gathered momentum this week, with many arriving on Threads and on Bluesky.

Earlier this week, the Guardian reported that newly-elected Labour MPs took to WhatsApp groups last weekend to raise growing concerns about the role X played in the spread of misinformation amid the UK riots.

“Musk turned X into a megaphone for foreign adversaries and far-right fringe groups seeking to corrupt our public sphere. Nobody should have that power. A new generation of legislators are flexing their muscles, people who’ve grown up understanding the power of these platforms. By talking down Britain, Musk has placed X firmly in our sights.”

– Josh Simons, LabourMP for Makerfield, in the Guardian, 12 August 2024.

As politicians seek alternative platforms to engage with their constituents, Threads and Bluesky have emerged as current primary potential options.

Bluesky promises to give users more control over their online interactions and reduce the spread of disinformation. Threads, which allows users to share longer-form content and make edits to published posts, has been praised for its more nuanced and respectful conversations.

And that is a key point – respectful conversations, something X is renowned for not enabling at all since Musk’s takeover in 2022. In light of this, there are concerns that an influx of politicians may unwittingly stimulate the kind of nasty troll-like behaviours X personifies when it comes to discussions about politics.

Maybe one answer to that is to provide politicians (in the UK at least) with their own unique place, such as an initial idea articulated by Andy Piper:

“The UK Parliament should have a sovereign owned/operated Mastodon instance for one thing. More difficult to provide a single answer for candidates and broader party interests, but in principle with federated social accounts the location does not matter so much, as long as they can be discovered and followed.”

– Andy Piper on Threads, 14 August 2024.

Creating A New NormalSomething feels very different about all this, as if a shift in time and space is happening.

The sense I get from these recent events isn’t so much about an exodus or wholesale migration, it’s much more about a gradual unravelling of X where these events I’ve talked about here are tipping points that set the scene for further unravelling.

I don’t think it signals the forthcoming end of X, more a sign of what might become of it under Musk’s continuing erratic leadership – a niche network of disinformation and untruths, populated by right-wing extremists, trolls, and the euphemistic ‘bad actors’ we hear so much about. As X slides into irrelevance and becomes mired in arguments and disputes with advertisers and former employees, and other stakeholder groups, it might limp on for a few years but it won’t count for much compared to other platforms.

Furthermore, the shift towards alternative platforms like Threads and Bluesky is significant. It reflects a growing desire for online spaces that prioritise respectful conversations and accurate information. For politicians, this means finding platforms where they can engage with their constituents without being drowned out by hate speech and disinformation.

Indeed, that’s what everyone is looking for.

Bluesky, with its focus on transparency and user control, offers a promising alternative. Founded by Jack Dorsey, the former co-founder and CEO of Twitter, Bluesky aims to create a more civil and respectful online environment. Its emphasis on community moderation could help foster a more constructive dialogue between politicians and their constituents.

A drawback for Bluesky could be its scalability – is it ready to take on board a large influx of new users that could be a flood?

Threads, on the other hand, has already shown its potential for nuanced and respectful conversations. With its longer-form content and editing capabilities, Threads allows for more thoughtful and considered discussions. Its connection to Instagram and Meta’s resources could also help it scale further and accommodate an even larger user base.

Meanwhile, Bluesky and Threads are driving their ideas of federation, where posts are shared across the emerging fediverse. This concept of federation allows users to share content across different platforms, creating a more interconnected and diverse online ecosystem. For example, Bluesky’s AT Protocol enables users to share content with other platforms that support the protocol, while Threads is implementing federation with the ActivityPub protocol to allow users to share content with decentralised platforms like Mastodon.

Moreover, the potential of “identity portability” in the fediverse could revolutionise the way users interact with their communities on social networks. Identity portability refers to the ability of users to take their online identities (ie, their social network handles) and content with them across different platforms.

This means that you can maintain your online presence and connections without being tied to a single platform. For social networks, this could lead to a more decentralised and user-centric approach, where platforms compete on the quality of their services rather than the size of their user base.

It’s crucial for these alternative platforms to maintain their focus on respectful conversations and accurate information, ensuring that they don’t become echo chambers for political and other forms of extremism or disinformation.

The gradual unravelling of X under Elon Musk’s leadership may indeed signal a shift in the social media landscape, that shift in time and space I mentioned earlier. As a result of X’s failure to address hate and disinformation – indeed, X is perceived as encouraging hate and disinformation by permitting political extremists to be active on the platform – users are seeking out alternative platforms that prioritise civility, trustworthiness and accuracy, X may find itself increasingly isolated and irrelevant.

This picture might radically change, though, if radical change comes to X, eg, with a new owner. But time is not on X’s side.

“The whiff of Failing Social Network Syndrome gets stronger by the day. Advertising revenue has fallen off a cliff; commercial deals have collapsed; and regulators are closing in with very real threats of catastrophic fines. A former Twitter executive has called for Musk’s arrest for stoking unrest in the UK … X is now in the full flailing about stage of Failing Social Network Syndrome, suing advertisers who followed Musk’s advice to stay off the platform.”

– Dave Lee on Bloomberg, 14 August 2024.

In summary, the future of social networks is more likely than not to be one where platforms like Threads and Bluesky become the norm, offering a more constructive and respectful online environment for users, politicians, advertisers, journalists, influencers, and other stakeholders alike.

As these alternative platforms prioritise civility, trustworthiness, and accuracy, they will likely attract a diverse range of users and communities, creating a more vibrant and inclusive online ecosystem.

Ultimately, this shift towards more responsible and user-centric social networks will benefit not only individuals but also society as a whole, fostering a more informed, engaged, and respectful public discourse.

Related Reading:

Digital Walls: Boundaries in the Evolution of the Public Square (7 February 2024)
The hate speech problem on X: a test of conscience for users and brands (18 November 2023)
Calling Time on X (17 October 2023)
X, Moral Bankruptcy, and the Business of Hate (8 October 2023)

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The traditional concept of retirement and working age is facing a significant shift. As people live longer and pension ages rise, the idea of a fixed working age bracket is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

In OECD countries, an average of 23% of people aged 65-69 are still working, highlighting the need for a more dynamic approach to defining working life.

Writing in The Conversation last week, Sajia Ferdous argues that ‘working age’ as a measure fails to take in the complexities of people’s lives.

This trend is not new, though, and some have been advocating for a more age-agnostic approach to work for years. In June 2017, in a guest post on this blog, Tim Drake argued that the gig economy presents a unique opportunity for Baby Boomers – those born between 1946 to 1964 during the mid-20th century baby boom – to continue working on their own terms, leveraging their skills and experience to remain economically active.

Drake noted that many Boomers are embracing the gig economy as a way to stay engaged, active, and fulfilled, often pursuing work that aligns with their passions and interests.

As a 1950s boomer myself, I’ve seen firsthand how the concept of retirement and working age has evolved over time. Growing up during a time of significant social and economic change, I’ve learned to be adaptable and open to new opportunities. Indeed, as the government helpfully points out, a forced retirement age of 65 no longer exists in the UK: now, you can keep working past your State Pension age for as long as you want to.

For me, the gig economy represents a welcome opportunity to continue working on my own terms, leveraging my skills and experience to stay engaged, relevant, and fulfilled. This non-traditional approach to work in the current decade has allowed me to navigate the shifting sands of opportunity with greater flexibility, autonomy, and confidence.

However, as Drake also pointed out, ageism remains a significant barrier for many older workers, both men and women. Despite their experience and skills, many Boomers face discrimination and bias in the job market, making it difficult for them to secure traditional employment.

According to the charity Age UK, ageism is the most widespread form of discrimination in the UK. Half of people aged over 50 in England experienced age discrimination in the past year; and, the charity says, at least a third of people hold ageist beliefs, which the World Health Organisation defines as “the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age.”

The gig economy offers a way around this, allowing many older workers to create their own opportunities and work on their own terms.

Let’s Take a More Holistic Approach to Work and ProductivitySajia Ferdous’ article in The Conversation takes this idea a step further, arguing that it’s time to rethink the idea of working age altogether. Rather than focusing solely on chronological age, she says, societies need to adopt a more holistic approach that recognizes the value of all contributions, regardless of age.

This might involve measuring capabilities and abilities, rather than simply relying on age as a proxy for productivity.

By embracing this more dynamic approach, we can create a more age-fluid and inclusive society that values the contributions of all individuals, regardless of their age. As Tim Drake noted, the gig economy is already showing us that older workers can be just as innovative, entrepreneurial, and productive as their younger counterparts.

As we’ve seen, the traditional concept of retirement and working age is no longer relevant in today’s society. I’d even argue that it’s no longer fit for purpose.

It’s time for us to rethink our approach to work and age, and to create a more inclusive and dynamic society that values the contributions of all individuals, regardless of their age. By doing so, we can unlock the potential of older workers, promote age diversity, and build a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

The question is, what will it take for us to make this vision a reality?

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has taken an innovative approach to engaging with younger audiences through the creation of a graphic novel, “NATO 2099”.

Published this year, 75 years after NATO’s founding, and set 75 years into the future, “NATO 2099” projects a future that envisions brewing conflicts and takes readers on a journey to the moon with its heroine.

This adventure story was written by 35 science fiction authors from across NATO Alliance countries. It imagines what the organisation might look like in the year 2099, tackling themes such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and space as a new military domain.

Why a Graphic Novel?The choice of a graphic novel format is a deliberate attempt to humanise an organisation typically seen as an austere political-military alliance, says Max Nielsen, Commandant of the NATO Defense College. He notes that science fiction is a genre that excels at imagining future possibilities and innovations, and the creation of “NATO 2099” leverages the predictive power of science fiction to inspire and prepare for future challenges.

By using this medium, NATO aims to make itself more accessible, especially to younger audiences who may not be familiar with it – or see it purely in the military sense – while also appealing to older audiences through its high-quality presentation. The graphic novel format captures the imagination of readers and conveys complex themes in an engaging and easy-to-understand manner.

Reaching Gen Z: The Role of Social Media and Influencer MarketingNATO’s intent to target Gen Z audiences is evident in its efforts to engage with them through social media and influencer marketing.

A detailed report by Bloomberg Law via Time magazine describes how the organisation invited 16 content creators from countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and France with followings on TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms to attend its summit in Washington from 9-11 July. Another 10 influencers from the United States came at the invitation of the U.S. Defense and State departments.

The group of nearly 30 young influencers has a worldwide audience of around 40 million across social media channels, according to the State Department.

The move is an acknowledgement that traditional media outlets, which offered wall-to-wall coverage of the summit, may not be reaching Generation Z, says Bloomberg.

This approach recognizes the importance of social media in shaping the narrative around NATO and its role in global security. By leveraging the predictive power of science fiction and the engaging format of a graphic novel, NATO aims to make itself more relatable to younger audiences.

Today is the Day! ???? The moment has arrived – the NATO 2099 graphic novel has launched! ? Join us as we venture into the unknown, exploring the future through captivating narratives and stunning illustrations.

??? https://t.co/M8QNBNSCWB
??? https://t.co/TV1kNWbXXX pic.twitter.com/ZdhyUGSpYL

— NATO Defense College (@NATO_DefCollege) July 18, 2024

Other than an announcement about the launch of the graphic novel on X, I’ve seen little social messaging about “NATO 2099”, or any visible activity on TikTok, Instagram, or other platforms that could be from social influencers, so perhaps any campaign has yet to lift off. The hashtag #NATO2099 on X has limited content so far and none that you could say was from social influencers.

It’s worth noting, too, that “NATO 2099” aligns with NATO’s broader public diplomacy goals, aiming to build a multigenerational coalition of supporters by making its mission and operations more transparent and relatable.

“NATO 2099” is an innovative approach to engaging Gen Z audiences and communicating the importance and relevance of the NATO Alliance in a rapidly changing world. By using a graphic novel format and leveraging social media and influencer marketing, NATO is taking steps to build its appeal to, and storytelling by, younger generations.

One thing I do wish for is an actual copy of “NATO 2099” – you can only read it online. I did ask NATO via Threads if there is a copy, even a PDF, but they didn’t reply. Take a look at the graphic novel on the web and see how the story and its format appeal to you: https://www.ndc.nato.int/nato2099/

Podcast DiscussionThe graphic novel itself is a primary discussion topic in the July monthly episode 420 of the For Immediate Release podcast that Shel Holtz and I jointly host, published yesterday. We talked at some length about the graphic novel and what it might mean for NATO to achieve wider understanding and engagement with Gen Z.

You can listen to the episode right here; if you don’t see the embedded audio player below, listen on the episode show notes page on the podcast website. Consider taking in our discussion on all the wide-ranging topics in this episode – 80 minutes of great content!

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Hello, readers! I’m excited to unveil a fresh new look for NevilleHobson.com. The new minimalist design offers a cleaner, more intuitive interface. You’ll find it easier to navigate and access the content that matters most to you.

By decluttering the design, I’m putting the spotlight firmly on the content – the insights, analysis, and discussions that are at the heart of this website. Informal feedback from readers who subscribe to my newsletter has been a helpful influence in making such changes.

What’s New Cleaner Layout: The principles of minimalism, simplicity, and clarity have guided me in refreshing the site. The new design, on the right in the image above, emphasises white space and typography, making it easier to focus on the content. * Improved Readability: The content is much easier on the eyes, allowing you to comfortably engage with longer articles. * Faster Loading Times: By streamlining the design and reducing unnecessary elements, the site now loads faster compared to the previous design, ensuring you can quickly access the information you need. * Mobile Optimisation: The simplified design ensures a more seamless experience across all devices, whether you’re reading on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. * Taking Advantage of Full Site Editing:* The foundation WordPress theme I’ve used to create the new design lets me do that using individual blocks for text, images, videos, and other site elements in an intuitive interface, providing enhanced flexibility and design capabilities.

I’ve rewritten the About page that will make it clearer who I am, what the blog is about and what you can expect here. It addresses my own intent to make this page significantly shorter and a lot more focused than its novel-length predecessor that did waffle on a bit, as some friendly feedback informed me!

What Hasn’t ChangedWhile the look is refreshed, my commitment to providing thought-provoking content remains steadfast. You’ll still find:

Insightful analysis of current and emerging trends in communication technology.
Practical strategies for enhancing your corporate communication.
Thought-provoking discussions on the future of business communication

Looking AheadI’ve set out the benefits I see of a minimalist design, such as improved user experience, faster loading times, and better readability. It also offers a friendly, conversational tone that aligns with a more informal approach compared to the previous design.

It’s worth saying that this new design is a work in progress, as I expect to soon fix a couple of things I haven’t figured out how to yet, and fine-tune some things over time. Thanks again to everyone who told me what they thought and for some very helpful suggestions. Now you see the new look and feel live, let me know if you have any further thoughts.

Related Reading:

Key Themes in my Writing Agenda for 2024 – 3 January 2024

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In the ever-evolving landscape of corporate technology, a new phenomenon is emerging that’s both thrilling and concerning: Shadow AI. This term refers to the growing trend of employees using consumer-grade AI tools without official company approval, a practice that’s rapidly gaining traction across industries.

A report published earlier this year by Cyberhaven, an AI-powered data security company, has shed light on thescale of this trend. In just one year, the amount of sensitive corporate data being input into AI tools by employees has skyrocketed from 10.7% to 27.4%. This data includes everything from customer support information to source code and confidential HR records.

While this surge in AI adoption showcases employee initiative and a hunger for innovation, it also raises red flags for corporate security and compliance teams. Shadow AI, much like its predecessor, shadow IT, brings with it a host of potential risks.

Despite such risks, companies can’t afford to simply clamp down on AI use. The key lies in striking a delicate balance between fostering innovation and maintaining security.

The goal isn’t to stifle AI adoption, but to guide it. By taking a proactive approach to AI integration and education, companies can harness the benefits of this powerful technology while mitigating the risks associated with shadow AI.

Still, the consequences of unchecked shadow AI use can be severe, as demonstrated by several real-world incidents:

Data Breaches: In 2020, a major financial institution suffered a significant data breach due to an unauthorised AI-based analytics tool. This resulted in millions of customer records being compromised, highlighting the severe security risks that can be associated with shadow AI.
Compliance Violations: A retail company faced public backlash when it was discovered they were using shadow AI to optimise workforce scheduling. This led to biased practices, demonstrating how uncontrolled AI can lead to ethical dilemmas and potential legal issues.
Intellectual Property Risks:Samsung, recognising the potential dangers, took the drastic step of banning ChatGPT usage among its employees. This decision was likely motivated by concerns over sensitive data and proprietary information being inadvertently shared with external AI platforms.
Unintended Data Exposure: AI meeting transcription services have become an overlooked source of data leaks. Employees may not realize that their conversations on Zoom, for instance, are being transcribed and potentially stored or shared inappropriately, leading to unintended exposure of sensitive information.
Security Vulnerabilities: AI tools based on large language models (LLMs) are susceptible to prompt injection attacks. For instance, an AI email application could inadvertently disclose sensitive information or facilitate account takeovers if not properly secured and monitored.

Bringing Shadow AI Into the LightAs we continue moving forward with AI, it’s crucial for organisations to develop robust data strategies that ensure secure, widespread adoption of AI technology. This includes implementing monitoring systems, offering approved AI alternatives, developing comprehensive guidelines, and fostering a culture of open dialogue about AI use.

In episode 419 of our For Immediate Release podcast, Shel and I discuss shadow AI and the tricky path for organisations to navigate between stifling and guiding. You can listen to our conversation right here; if you don’t see the embedded player below, listen on the FIR show notes page.

The future belongs to those who can innovate responsibly, turning the potential threat of shadow AI into a competitive advantage instead of being seen as part of a dystopian, even Orwellian, workplace nightmare. By acknowledging the risks and taking steps to address them, companies can ensure they’re at the forefront of AI innovation without compromising their security or ethical standards.

Related reading:

Understanding AI in the Context of History – 10 May 2024

Footnote

The image at top was generated by DALLE-3 via ChatGPT 4.o in response to the simple prompt, “Create a realistic photo-like image about shadow AI and striking a delicate balance between fostering innovation and maintaining security in the workplace.”

The image is the output that ChatGPT describes thus:

“A realistic photo-like image depicting the concept of shadow AI and the balance between fostering innovation and maintaining security in the workplace. The scene shows a modern office environment with employees working at their desks, some collaborating in small groups. In the foreground, there is a transparent holographic interface displaying various AI tools and data streams, symbolizing innovation. In the background, a security professional is monitoring activities on a large screen, symbolizing security. The image should convey a harmonious balance, with vibrant colours for the innovation elements and cooler tones for the security elements.“

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Many users of Windows computers are familiar with the term ‘blue screen of death’, or BSOD. That’s what you get on your screen when the computer suddenly crashes (stops) due to an unexpected event on the PC. So the computer slams to a halt, throws its hands up in the air and shows you a BSOD.

It’s part of computing life from the very early days when hardware and software were more likely than not to give up the ghost for one reason or another. Today, BSODs are still part of computing life but are relatively rare on workhorse PCs used in businesses and homes around the world. When they do happen on one particular PC, it’s typically little more than an inconvenience, and you can work on a solution yourself. It’s even easier when you have an assistant like ChatGPT at your side.

Now imagine what the situation might be if you had an event that affected literally thousands and thousands of computers running Windows, all around the world, each of which required a human being to be sat at each computer to perform a fix.

A Screwup At ScaleThat is what happened last Thursday when a flawed software update from CrowdStrike, an American cybersecurity firm, inadvertently introduced a critical vulnerability to Windows, leading to widespread system failures and significant operational disruptions across businesses of all types all over the world.

We’re not just talking about desktop PCs and laptops. This event also adversely affected the operation of any device running Windows. The impact was immediate and exceptionally disruptive for businesses in many industries, their employees and customers, including airports, banks, broadcasting, hotels, hospitals, manufacturing, retail, schools, stock markets, and transportation.

Governmental services including emergency services have been affected, even the NHS health service in the UK, where the effects ranged from problems for patients logging in to their medical records online and via the NHS app (such as the photo at the top illustrates), making appointments with their GP, and even life-challenging disruptions such as cancer patients being unable to attend scheduled radiotherapy sessions at the hospital as the systems were down because of CrowdStrike’s flawed software update.

The global reach of Windows means that no sector has been spared. Microsoft says its current estimate is that CrowdStrike’s faulty update affected 8.5 million Windows devices. Microsoft – the maker of Windows but not the perpetrator of this outage – says this is less than one per cent of all Windows machines. While that offers some perspective on the numbers, it’s small comfort when you consider that the scale of numbers shows that fixing this problem can’t quickly be done at scale (MIT has some handy tips on how to do your own fix).

None of this was the outcome of a cyberattack or an act of terrorism. While it was faulty code that created the meltdown, it appears that this was down to human error at CrowdStrike, a terrifying reminder of the fragility of the centralised systems that knit together our connected world and the people who maintain those systems.

Navigating The AftermathIt’s all a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in this interconnected digital world. It underscores the need for rigorous testing and quality assurance in software updates, robust contingency planning, and improved collaboration between cybersecurity firms and their clients. As Microsoft noted on Saturday:

“It’s also a reminder of how important it is for all of us across the tech ecosystem to prioritise operating with safe deployment and disaster recovery using the mechanisms that exist. As we’ve seen over the last two days, we learn, recover and move forward most effectively when we collaborate and work together.” – Microsoft, 20 July 2024

A big issue also hovers over the landscape, what the Guardian describes as monopolisation in a report yesterday. Does this single centralised point of failure spotlight the huge risk of having all our IT eggs in a single basket?

“It’s not just that so many firms rely on CrowdStrike, but that cloud infrastructure relies on hugely powerful companies such as Microsoft, which then subject firms to exclusionary and anticompetitive practices that concentrate services and offerings into an increasingly narrow range of options.” – Guardian, 20 July 2024

It’s probably fair to say that this IT meltdown will have resulted in billions in losses as businesses worldwide face downtime, lost revenue, and recovery costs. Actual recovery will likely take some time, with consequential effects lingering for days, if not weeks.

Now, let’s consider communication during the initial days of the crisis and what should come next.

CrowdStrike’s approach from the start of the outage demonstrated several best practices in crisis communication. They were quick to publish a statement from founder and CEO, George Kurtz, with an apology (and thus implicit ownership of fault), establish an update reporting structure via their support website and blog, and make a commitment to resolution and future improvements – an overall approach likely to help maintain trust with customers and stakeholders during this challenging situation.

Kurtz has also been visible and active on social networks, notably X and LinkedIn.

CrowdStrike published detailed information on the technical aspects of the outage, including what happened, the impact, and technical details about the affected systems – a level of detail to help IT professionals understand the issue and its implications.

There’s a live Wikipedia page with updates by many volunteer editors that describes the timeline of events.

A Clear Call To ActionAll this is very good. But, at this stage, it’s important to fully understand all the circumstances surrounding this calamitous outcome from a routine update for Windows instead of just priming social media with ongoing explainers that will struggle to maintain focus and momentum on all the key elements of this crisis amidst conflicting and at times confusing reports and opinions on what’s going on.

It’s crucial for CrowdStrike and Microsoft to work hand-in-hand, not just in resolving this immediate crisis, but in rebuilding trust in the technologies that underpin our digital world. We need a comprehensive post-mortem analysis that goes beyond technical fixes to address the systemic vulnerabilities exposed by this incident, and a communication plan that majors on authenticity, facts and trust.

For business leaders, this serves as a wake-up call to reassess their cybersecurity strategies and crisis preparedness. It’s time to have serious conversations about redundancy, disaster recovery, and the risks of over-reliance on single vendors (and the risks of monopolisation).

It’s unquestionably a huge task, but one that is critical and must begin straightaway.

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A compelling new concept in marketing metrics could be the next level in marketing measurement as AI adoption grows: the “share of model.” This AI-focused metric measures brand visibility and associations within AI-generated content by tracking brand mentions in the data sets of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Meta’s Llama 2.

Initially introduced by Jack Smyth earlier this year, and expanded upon by Tom Roach last week – both men are executives at Jellyfish – it is tailored for the AI era and could be a game changer if marketers can link the new metric to market share.

LLMs handle billions of queries daily, significantly shaping brand perceptions and visibility. Smyth outlines strategies for brands to optimize their share of model, including reviewing creative assets, engaging regularly with LLMs, and continuously adapting content to maintain favorable AI recognition.

Roach contextualizes this new metric by comparing it to traditional measures such as share of market, share of voice, and share of search. While share of market gauges market presence and profitability, share of voice links media spend to market share growth, and share of search tracks online brand searches, “share of model” serves a similar purpose in the AI context. It reflects brand visibility and positioning within AI-generated content, Roach says, offering a new dimension to monitor brand mentions, evaluate brand associations, and inform strategic communication.

Roach envisions “share of model” profoundly impacting future marketing strategies by providing deep insights into brand performance and market dynamics. He emphasizes the need for further research to establish robust relationships between this metric and traditional market share measures and brand performance.

In episode 417 of our For Immediate Release podcast, Shel and I discuss this new model and explore its potential compared to traditional measures. You can listen to the episode right here. Or, if you don’t see the embedded audio player below, listen on the show notes page at the FIR website.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-driven content, understanding and influencing how LLMs perceive brands is becoming essential for marketers. Embracing and optimizing the “share of model” metric by marketers could help brands stay more relevant and engage more effectively with consumers in this digital age.

(Photo at top by Jakub Zerdzicki on Unsplash.)

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The results of the 2024 UK general election on 4 July have sent shockwaves across the British political landscape. The Labour Party led by Sir Keir Starmer, pictured above, won a landslide victory, securing 412 seats and an overwhelming working majority in the House of Commons of 181.

The results mark a dramatic end to 14 years of Conservative rule, with the party securing only 121 seats and losing over 250.

Since 2010, the Conservatives have presided over a period of stagnation and decline in many areas of British life. From crumbling public services to economic instability, the party has failed to address the issues that matter most to people. The constant leadership changes – five different party leaders and Prime Ministers between 2010 and 2014 – internal conflicts and self-serving behaviour by those in power, eroded public trust to the point where even traditional Conservative supporters had had enough.

The election results also hint at a broader shift in British politics. While Labour won a significant majority, the rise of smaller parties suggests that the era of two-party dominance is waning. The Liberal Democrats made a strong comeback with 72 seats – an increase of 61 from 2019 – while Reform UK and the Greens also made gains. This fragmentation of the political landscape reflects a growing desire among voters for alternatives to the traditional major parties.

The Conservatives (blue ) and the SNP (yellow) have all but disappeared from the political landscape, while Reform UK (light blue) came out of nowhere in early 2024 to splinter the Conservative vote / 5 July 2024 via Martin Stabe, FT, on X

It’s particularly telling that the combined vote share for Labour and the Conservatives is at its lowest since 2001. This suggests that voters are increasingly willing to look beyond the two main parties for representation. The success of Reform UK, in particular, at the far-right of British politics, which won five seats with 14% of the vote share, indicates a growing appetite for more extreme political positions.

Arguably, the appeal of Reform UK to some right-wing Conservative voters is one factor behind the collapse in support for the Tories, where Reform UK splintered that support. And I imagine broad apathy and cynicism about big politics (and politicians) played a role, too, especially as overall voter turnout was under 60%, the lowest since 2001.

A Clear MessageStill, Labour can deservedly bask in glory this weekend over its overwhelming victory even if the election results feel less like an enthusiastic embrace of Labour and more like a resounding rejection of the Conservatives. A lacklustre campaign by the Conservatives (putting it kindly) helped them not a bit. Indeed, it likely fueled anger and became part of a tipping point for some extraordinary reversals in fortunes at the ballot box, eg, the defeat of Liz Truss, Prime Minister for 49 fateful days in 2022, where the Labour challenger overturned her 2019 majority of over 26,000 to take the South West Norfolk seat; and where the Greens overturned a Conservative majority of almost 25,000 to take North Herefordshire.

As we look ahead, Labour now has its chance to prove itself. I’m willing to give them my support and see what they can achieve, and they’ll need to work hard to address the myriad issues facing the country. From rebuilding public services, especially the NHS, to grappling with immigration issues legal and illegal, to tackling economic challenges, the task ahead is monumental.

A flying start: the first Cabinet meeting of the new Labour government on 6 July 2024 / UK government photo CC BY-NC-ND

This election feels like a turning point in British politics. It’s not just about a change in government, but potentially a fundamental shift in how our democracy functions. As smaller parties gain ground and the political landscape becomes more diverse, we may be entering a new era of British politics – one that’s more fragmented, but potentially more representative of the diverse views within our society.

It has also highlighted the challenges Labour faces in balancing its relationships with both Jewish and Muslim voters. While the party has made significant strides in addressing antisemitism and rebuilding trust with the Jewish community, it has simultaneously faced criticism from Muslim voters over its stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

An in-depth BBC report this weekend reveals a stark contrast: Labour has seen a resurgence in support among Jewish voters, with some polls showing up to 46% support, while simultaneously experiencing a decline in Muslim voter confidence. It suffered some surprise seat lossesoverits stance onGaza. The new government’s ability to reconcile these divergent issues may well determine its long-term success in building a truly inclusive and representative political movement.

And perhaps now is the time to talk about the discrepancy between the number of seats in the House of Commons and the share of the popular vote that shines a spotlight on the UK’s first-past-the-post electoral system.I think we’ll see increased pressure for electoral reform to ensure proportional representation for the next general election in 2029.

The message from the electorate is clear: we want change, we want competence, we want inclusiveness, and we want a government that focuses on improving people’s lives rather than delivering constant psychodrama such as we’ve seen non-stop with the Conservatives in recent years. It’s now up to Labour to deliver on these expectations and prove they can offer the leadership and vision that this country and all its people need.

The honeymoon will be a brief one.

Related reading:

Clash of the Would-Be Next PMs in First TV Election Debate – 5 June 2024
Can Labour End the Tory Reign? – 24 May 2024
Tony Blair’s Vision for Election Success – 30 July 2023
Jingle and Mingle should be the Tories’ epitaph – 20 June 2023
By design or not, Liz Truss sets the scene for why time is up for the Tories – 5 February 2023

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The Post Office Horizon IT scandal, widely regarded as one of the gravest injustices in British legal history, exposed a profound crisis of ethics at the heart of a trusted institution.

The scandal, which ruined the lives of over 700 sub-postmasters over more than two decades, stemmed from faulty accounting software called Horizon from Japanese IT giant Fujitsu, used in post offices throughout the UK, leading to wrongful accusations, prosecutions and convictions of fraud.Some went to jail, some committed suicide, and livelihoods were completely ruined, but a culture of total denial in the Post Office and among its leadership meant no responsibility for this dreadful scandal touched anyone there or at Fujitsu.

Both organisations have recently made public apologies (Post Office, Fujitsu).

This scandal revealed a profound failure of ethical leadership within the Post Office. Had strong ethical principles been in place and adhered to, much of the crisis could have been prevented or mitigated. Instead, the organisation’s approach demonstrated a disregard for long-term reputational consequences.

At the core of this ethical breakdown was a stark misalignment between proclaimed values and actual behaviour. The organisation’s principles of purpose, trust, care, and pride were betrayed by leadership actions prioritising self-preservation over honesty and accountability.

These are among the many revelations emerging from the public inquiry into the scandal, currently underway in London.

An Echo Chamber of Unethical DecisionsIn the latest edition of Management Today, Alastair McCapra, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, writes a keen analysis of recent revelations that illustrate what happens when ethics take a back seat and you get the communication completely wrong. The article anchored the discussion Shel and I had about the scandal in episode 415 of our For Immediate Release podcast, published yesterday.

Perhaps the most glaring ethical failure that McCapra highlights in his article was the deliberate misuse of language. By employing euphemisms like “Horizon-related shortfalls” instead of acknowledging bugs and system errors, Post Office leadership and managers engaged in a form of linguistic deception in their behaviour and their communication that shifted blame onto innocent sub-postmasters.

McCapra highlights leadership’s moral vacuum when the scandal laid bare a critical absence of ethical leadership. Those at the helm failed to uphold moral standards, choosing instead to protect the organisation’s image at the cost of human lives and livelihoods.

The Post Office’s steadfast refusal to be transparent about the Horizon system’s problems revealed a deep-seated ethical flaw. This lack of openness eroded public trust and perpetuated injustice against hundreds of individuals.

And by stubbornly refusing to admit mistakes and take responsibility, the Post Office leadership demonstrated a severe lack of moral courage. This ethical shortcoming impacted all communication, prolonged the suffering of victims and deepened the reputational damage.

When Ethics Vanish, Trust EvaporatesWhile the Post Office Horizon scandal reveals unwelcome realities of what can happen in organisations at times of crisis, it is not a rare example (although in my eyes it is the most egregious).

In our podcast discussion, Shel and I trawled the net on recent scandals where ethical leadership and communication had recused themselves. Companies that prompted discussion include Volkswagen and ‘dieselgate’, Toyota’s acceleration problem, and Boeing’s 737 Max crisis.

In all cases, reputations are damaged and trust is taken away, fleetingly in some cases. Still, these examples emphasise the disconnect between an organisation’s proclaimed principles and its actions, highlighting the risk of ethical breakdown at times of crisis. And, as we pointed out, if there is no ethical and moral compass to guide leadership – a key role of communicators, we argued – then perhaps a Post Office-style scandal is on your horizon.

You can listen to episode 415 of our podcast right here. If you don’t see the embedded player below, listen on the FIR website.

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I like Threads, it’s a good social network to be active in and to engage with others. Or to listen, I find that appealing too. The desktop and mobile apps are good, although all lack some features that may come sooner or later.

For me, one niggle is the icon to indicate likes or other activities and with a red dot whenever there’s new activity you haven’t viewed yet. This indicator, though, is a bit confusing as the red dot comes and goes with no visible connection to changes in actual activity.

Let me add some poetic license to my musing…

In the digital tapestry of Threads,
Where thoughts and voices interweave,
A heart icon stands, black and bold,
New connections it aims to achieve.

But lo! A crimson dot appears,
A beacon of unread delight,
It comes and goes, a fickle friend,
Keeping users on their toes, day and night.

We tap and scroll, engage and share,
In this vibrant online space,
The red dot teases, now you see,
Now you don’t – a notification race.

Features may come, and some may go,
As Threads evolves with every post,
But that elusive scarlet speck,
Remains the one that puzzles me most.

Yet still we return, drawn by the heart,
To this place of digital discourse,
For in these Threads, we find our voice,
And connections become our driving force.

So the red dot that comes and goes matters not! Do I want to get pinged with every notification that diverts my attention?

No, because I bask in the joy of listening or engaging whenever the moment feels right, not in arbitrary response to a red dot. After all, Threads is not X!

Why not join me on Threads? I’m here: https://www.threads.net/@nevillehobson. See you there?

(Image at top by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash.)

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In 2022, the business social network LinkedIn removed over 80 million fake profiles, according to data from Allure Security, a firm that offers online brand protection-as-a-service and handles such takedowns every day. If that sounds a lot (it is!), then consider this – Allure says it’s an increase of 152 per cent over the previous year.

Fake or fraudulent LinkedIn profiles present significant potential risks, such as reputational damage, data theft, and fraudulent activity.

It’s the focus of episode 410 of the For Immediate Release podcast, where Shel Holtz and I discuss this partly in the context of the communication profession, where a proliferation of fake LinkedIn profiles was reported by PRovoke Media last week. It adds to the overall wider picture of such fakery on a huge scale.

PRovoke Media’s investigation revealed at least 11 fake profiles claiming to be employees of a PR recruitment firm, Phifer & Company. These profiles boasted impressive credentials and included stock photos from websites like Shutterstock and a Russian photo stock site. CEO Brian Phifer told PRovoke Media that he attributes the fake profiles to a disgruntled former employee, saying, “I don’t know what this is all about, and why someone is trying to defame me”.

In our podcast conversation, Shel and I speculate about other possible motives, including efforts by persons unknown to pad the company’s reputation, or malicious activities by competitors or others.

You can listen to our 15-minute conversation right here. If you don’t see the embedded audio player below, listen on the FIR website.

How to Protect Your LinkedIn PresenceThe fake profiles problem clearly extends far beyond one company, with LinkedIn removing tens of millions of inauthentic accounts annually that impersonate real businesses and executives. It’s an ongoing challenge as fraudsters use increasingly sophisticated methods like AI-generated images to create fake profiles (and the profile texts themselves being created via generative AI) for scams, phishing, and reputational harm. It also points to broader concerns about disinformation and fraud across social networking platforms.

In the case of Phifer & Co, LinkedIn removed the fake profiles after being alerted by PRovoke Media. In a statement to the publication, LinkedIn said, “We have robust measures in place to prevent and detect fake profiles. When we become aware of fake profiles, we take appropriate action, including removing the profiles”.

However, the incident does raise concerns about the platform’s ability to manage and prevent such fraud, especially when we consider the big numbers in Allure Security’s findings.

What should you and your organisation do to help ensure your best defences are in place?

Here are ten suggestions. Some are simple to do, others will likely require far greater effort, resourcing and time:

Be vigilant when accepting connection requests. Carefully review the profile of anyone who tries to connect, looking for red flags like suspicious profile images, incomplete work history, few connections, or inconsistent details. For LinkedIn’s new ‘Follow’ feature that does not require your permission to be followed by someone, you should regularly check the list of people who follow you (and likewise, who you follow).
Check profile images using reverse image search tools like Google Images to see if the photo is a stock image or used elsewhere online under a different name, or is AI-generated.
Look at the account’s content and activity. Fake profiles often have little to no original content, lack of genuine engagement, generic statements, or even duplicate posts.
For organisations, regularly audit your company’s LinkedIn page and employee list. Compare the profiles listed as current employees against your actual employee roster. Look out for suspicious profiles and report them to LinkedIn.
Provide cybersecurity awareness training to employees on how to spot fake profiles, avoid interacting with suspicious accounts, and report any red flags. Educate employees on the risks of engaging with fakes.
Set clear social media policies for your organisation on what information employees should and should not share about their roles and the company. And be sure you have clear guidelines on who can claim a connection with your company if they’re not an employee: contractors, for example, and others working with your employees as freelancers or placed in work with you by agencies.
Enable two-factor authentication and use strong, unique passwords for LinkedIn accounts to prevent unauthorised access if login credentials are compromised.
If you identify fake profiles impersonating employees or your brand, report them to LinkedIn immediately. LinkedIn relies heavily on user reports to take down fake accounts.
Stay informed on the evolving tactics and red flags of fake LinkedIn profiles. Scammers’ methods grow more sophisticated, such as using AI-generated profile images, so awareness is key.
Consider using LinkedIn’s built-in verification and security features, such as work email verification and proof of identity.

By proactively monitoring for fakes, reporting suspicious activity, and educating employees on the risks, individuals and organisations can better protect themselves from the reputational harm, data loss and fraudulent activity that fake LinkedIn profiles enable.

As with using any social network or online place today, the combination of vigilance and verification is essential.

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Last week, I joined thousands of others for the first day of The Podcast Show 2024 at the Business Design Centre in London. This third annual consumer event is a major gathering for the podcasting industry, probably the most significant such event outside the US. It’s a showcase not only for the industry but also for individual podcasters, the mainstream media, equipment vendors, hosting services, advertising and monetization promoters, and more.

It was a great place to connect with other podcasters, including the podcasting OG – the first person I saw when I arrived at the venue was Todd Cochrane, one of the most influential podcasters from the early days, who wrote the first book about podcasting in 2005. He was there representing Blubrry, the podcasting business he started, with a stand in the exhibitor hall, and leading a session on Day 2.

Todd still hosts Geek News Central, one of the first shows I started listening to in 2004. We took a selfie!

The Business Design Centre is a good venue. It’s in Islington, easy to get to by public transport, and there’s underground parking right there for car drivers like me. The venue was busy and, according to some post-event reports, attracted over 10,000 visitors during the event’s two days. I was there on the first day, 22 May, as an attendee, mainly to listen and learn.

Some great sessions and presentations offered opportunities to do just that. There were so many to choose from on a whirlwind visit that, undoubtedly, I missed some good ones. But here are some takeaways from the stand-out Day 1 sessions I attended.

Podcasting By the NumbersOne of the reasons I went to the event was to hear firsthand about the state of the industry and how things are going. The first speaker I tuned in to, James Cridland, editor of Podnews, did not disappoint.

Apple Podcasts is strong in the US and UK, but Spotify dominates globally

Apple Podcasts and Spotify are the two podcast platforms that are in constant battle in the popularity stakes for podcast consumers. James Cridland shared information that showed how the land lies in ten countries for these two platforms.

While Apple Podcasts is the clear leader in two of them (the US and UK), Spotify is streets ahead in at least eight other markets around the world.

The long tail of podcast apps in the UK

I found the picture in the UK most interesting. It reinforces the fact that there is a huge long tail of podcast apps that consumers use to get their podcasts (a picture repeated elsewhere, as the previous slide suggests). So while Apple and Spotify dominate with their combined UK share at 58 per cent of the total, the remaining 42 per cent share is split among at least 23 other apps, with tiny numbers individually. James points out in the slide that the numbers do not include YouTube, BBC Sounds or Global Player, three heavyweights in the industry.

The data shows that the UK is a highly fragmented market where control rests with the consumer, not the creator or the publisher – a picture that’s also reflected in other major markets.

Next, big listener numbers came from Will Pearson, president of iHeart Podcasts, in his Day 1 keynote presentation. He shared metrics about shows published by the iHeart Podcast Network, which gets more than 200 million downloads a month, making iHeart the top podcast publisher globally.

Listener numbers are increasing globally

Will’s presentation included much about growth in podcast advertising and how big brands are driving a changing trend in advertising buys: now, it’s more from advertisers looking for audiences instead of direct buys.

Podcasts appeal to 18+ listeners, much more than other social channels

One significant trend to note is that US podcast listeners aged 18+ spend more time per day listening to podcasts than they do using any other social media platform, a trend likely to grow in other major markets like the UK. We also heard that Black and Hispanic podcast listening is growing twice as fast as listening in the general population.

Will told us that, since 2021, there has been impressive growth in daily podcast listening in three distinct areas: Super Listeners who listen every day, up 60 per cent; Heavy Listeners who listen 8 times a month, up 50 per cent; and Medium Listeners who listen 4 to 7 times a month, up 6 per cent.

The global listening picture shows that other countries are catching up to US levels, especially China, which is far ahead of all other countries.

Significant growth in global podcast listening per month since 2019

We heard about developments in the US in areas we’re not seeing so much in the UK, not yet. For example, sports podcasts are huge in the US, with celebrity football players, athletes, and others hosting shows that attract very large audiences. Women are driving overall podcast audience growth, and women’s sports podcasts have the fastest-growing fan base in the US.

The wide landscape view of podcasting shows a picture of healthy growth and monetisation opportunities for creators and marketers, reasons why brands are becoming increasingly interested in including podcasts in their media mix.

There is strong growth in brands investing in podcast advertising

Thus far, this was a data nerd’s delight, with so many metrics from which to drive data to produce meaningful insights into the state of things in podcasting today.

It’s not done yet, as one other session I found most interesting was a presentation by Gabriel Soto, Senior Director at Edison Research, who took us through the results of a new study into the UK podcast consumer – who is listening, how are they doing it, what are they listening to, and how does it compare to US consumption?

UK Podcasting SnapshotGabriel Soto’s focus on this topic took a somewhat different angle, with information on listener demographics and other data points rather than only big-picture numbers. If a podcast is available in the UK, he said, it will be included in Edison’s UK study. Other presentations cited Edison Research data in many instances, so I was keen to see different takes.

Gabriel told us that Edison measures listening, not downloads. Rather than asking publishers to report their metrics, which inevitably will be mostly related to downloads, Edison goes directly to UK podcast consumers aged 15 and older, asks them, “What are you listening to?”, and reports that.

He noted that Edison conducts 2,500 online interviews with consumers every quarter. Since starting the UK study a year ago, announced at The Podcast Show 2023, Gabriel said they have carried out 7,200 online interviews – a robust sample in the research field.

Consumer podcasts are mostly listened to at home, both in the US and the UK

He offered some good insights into where people listen to podcasts. I found the data on UK locations for listening pretty interesting if unsurprising, where the majority (55 per cent) takes place in the home, and while walking coming in second at 14 per cent. Listening in the car (10 per cent) or on public transport (7 per cent) was less than I expected, though.

It’s a notable contrast compared to listening locations in the US. While listening at home is the top metric there, as it is in the UK, listening in the car is a strong second place at 18 per cent – the US is a big country, and cars and driving have a much bigger role overall in culture and society there than here; plus, as Gabriel pointed out, the UK has “more walking-friendly cities”. Listening in the workplace is third at 10 per cent.

Gabriel spoke about routine and how many consumers make podcast listening part of their daily routines. News podcasts do well in this scenario especially those that address consumers’ listening habits by publishing new episodes at times best suited to their routines, eg, early morning or evening commute times.

Another focus was on listener demographics, especially younger Gen Z listeners, those aged between 15 and 24.

Gen Z audiences illustrate greater diversity

It’s striking how this generation of younger podcast listeners demonstrates greater diversity compared to the overall listener makeup. The younger you are, the broader your ethnicity and the wider the opportunity for creators to reach larger niches. Asian/Asian British, for example, comprises 18 percent of listeners, more than double the number in the general listener population, with Black audiences at 9 per cent, nearly double the general metric.

One-quarter of weekly UK podcast listeners started listening less than a year ago

The overall growth in listeners is a trend to pay close attention to, adding it to the other listener-growth trend that skews younger listeners. Understanding who your audience is, how old they are, and where they are, is key to tailoring content to their needs and preferences.

A final snapshot metric from Gabriel I want to mention is about video podcasting.

Your audio podcast can also be a video podcast

Gabriel said that younger listeners prefer video podcasts to audio, so he’s paying close attention to this trend. As more Gen Z listeners enter the scene – many of the 4 million new UK weekly listeners last year are Gen Z – the more this preference is likely to increase.

Podcasting, Google and Major ChangeI was keen to attend the session about best practices in publishing podcasts to YouTube given by Sandy Wilheim, Head of UK News and Podcast Partnerships at YouTube. Many others were also keen as the small presentation room was packed, with every seat taken, and people standing at the back.

A captive audience that didn’t get many YouTube insights

The reality was quite different. Instead, we had a 30-minute one-way presentation about publishing tactics, and that was it. There was no Q&A, no discussion.

I was disappointed, frankly, as I had expected some engaging, insightful commentary on the advertised topic, perhaps with some keen to-and-fro Q&A at some point. And perhaps hear more about Google’s podcasting strategy with the imminent global shutdown of Google Podcasts and the shift to YouTube Music.

Still, Sandy did cover some key points about publishing audio podcasts to YouTube, including developing a channel strategy, visual styles, captions and transcripts, chapters in full episodes, etc.

Essentially, everything you can find on YouTube’s help system, here: https://www.youtube.com/creators/podcasts/

Given Google’s imminent changes, this is an important topic. Google Podcasts isn’t the platform it ought to be. Instead of being alongside the prime players Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and potentially Amazon Podcasts, it’s way down the league table (see James Cridland’s slides above). With the announced changes, perhaps we’ll see some energy from Google in the podcasting space. But I didn’t hear about that.

Political Journalism and PodcastingMembers of the front line of the BBC’s global election coverage

Now for a complete shift away from metrics and big pictures to an excellent afternoon panel session I sat through with half a dozen BBC journalists who also podcast, typically about current affairs and politics, as shown in the photo above that I took.

From the left, they are Justin Webb, Presenter, Today and Americast; Nick Robinson, Presenter, Today and Today Podcast; Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent, BBC News and Presenter, Americast; Adam Fleming, Presenter, Newscast; Amol Rajan, Presenter, Today and Today Podcast; and panel chair Alex Forsyth, Political Correspondent, BBC News and Presenter, Any Questions? and Newsbeat.

All the journalists on the panel are well known in the UK, especially those whose prime medium is radio (voice recognition). Some have wide exposure via TV, and increasingly so with their involvement in the global medium of podcasting.

The session discussed how the BBC brings together the power of podcasting with radio to deliver a comprehensive and trusted offer for audiences, wherever they are, when the news cycle and political opinion goes into overdrive.

This year, there are more than 60 countries holding elections, so the need for and requirements of media coverage and reporting will be intense. The backdrop is the BBC’s wide approach, skills, and resources as an international public service broadcaster to covering an election. Podcasts play a mainstream role now, alongside all the other elements of a mainstream medium, brought together in a holistic whole.

For the UK general election, some of the panel members will be in and reporting from a constituency on polling day: Amol Rajan in Dagenham, Essex; Nick Robinson in Bolton, Lancashire; and Justin Webb in Wells, Somerset.

A very relaxed panel: clearly podcasting has beneficial effects

And on the UK general election, the timing of it was an unspoken topic. At one point during the 45-minute session, someone made a comment about Nick constantly glancing at his phone, probably to see messages from contacts about the likelihood of a general election being called soon. It got some laughs, but as we now know, the next general election will take place on 4 July as announced by Rishi Sunak in the late afternoon on 22 May.

Next, Justin said, it’s the US presidential election where much attention will focus, news and opinion will be reported on, and podcast episodes will be created.

On the topic of podcasts, it was interesting to hear from the panel members on the appeal of podcasting to them.

For Nick, podcasting creates space for others to share their stories. It’s largely about the content, he said. For Justin, his style as a radio journalist has been affected by podcasting. He’s now more relaxed, he said.

For Amol, there are risks as well (he didn’t expand on that), and being able to meet listeners’ expectations. Podcasting is not a zero-sum game, he said. And he added, if you don’t like a particular podcast, find another one (the power of choice!).

Marianna spoke of making connections with the podcast audience, especially younger listeners. For Adam, he’s careful on choosing what topics to discuss in a podcast.

It’s a WrapIn summary, my day at The Podcast Show 2024 was a great experience. I didn’t get to attend all the sessions I wanted to (I missed one entirely as the session time had been moved, but the schedule in the show app hadn’t been updated), and I dearly wished I could have stayed for the second day.

I think it’s very clear that this event is a landmark and a milestone (can it be both?) in the business of podcasting that presents an accessible place for 10,000+ people with like minds and common interests, along with a huge number of partners and exhibitors, to gather, listen, learn, and ultimately create and share thinking and ideas. As a B2B podcast host and producer, I learned much from experiencing the consumer side of this business.

If you didn’t attend – or even if you did – you can take advantage of a brilliant idea from the event organisers: get an audio recording of every session across the two days via The Podcast Show+ offer.

While you won’t get the visual presentations, you will get each session audio recording in a playlist that you set up in your podcast app of choice. It’s a one-off cost of £79. But, until 2 June, there’s a 25% discount if you use the promo code TPS2024. See the FAQ for more information.

Related reading:

Others have posted reviews of their impressions and experiences, including Adam Bowie and, on LinkedIn, Lev Cribb, Norma Jean Belenky, Gareth Evans, and James Cridland. Undoubtedly there will be more, but these are the ones I’ve seen so far.

I attended The Podcast Show 2023 in May last year. Equally good! I wrote about it.

The Podcast Show 2025 is being planned. I intend to be there!

(Photo at top via The Podcast Show Instagram)

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It often seems that you can’t visit a website, read a newspaper, or use your smartphone without the touch of artificial intelligence. Everywhere you look, there is an article, an opinion, a video, or a blog post about AI and its good or bad impact on society.

Utopia or dystopia awaits, it seems; take your pick.

In this concise post, I’ll explore AI’s history and why it matters, its current impact, and take a look at its future potential.

As it’s a topic of keen interest to me, I spend a great deal of time reading, watching, listening and thinking about AI. My principal focus is not only the business setting but also the larger picture on both sides of the arguments on societal impact. And while I’m keen on getting to grips with science facts, I’m as susceptible as anyone else on giving attention to science fiction. The important thing is being able to separate the two and not mistake one for the other.

Ever since ChatGPT arrived on the scene in November 2022 – just 18 months ago – buzz and hype have run parallel to some of the extraordinary things generative-AI chatbots can already do, and what they enable people to do.

Gartner’s AI hype cycle, above, shows generative AI at the peak of inflated expectations. That was in July last year – maybe it’s still in that position, although I suspect generative AI is fast approaching the trough of disillusionment. How long it will take to emerge from that state will occupy many people’s minds throughout the rest of this year and next.

It’s worth noting that Gartner’s predictions on how long it will take for a given technology to reach a plateau of productivity are geared toward a state of mainstream adoption starting to take off. According to Gartner, generative AI still has a long journey ahead to reach that state: five to ten years.

The Importance of Historical ContextIncreasingly, I’ve been looking to history to help me better understand the present and gain some insight into the future. But much of what I do see out there amongst the huge quantity of content is the digital equivalent of crystal balls or tea leaves, much of it of questionable quality and trustworthiness.

Yesterday, I started reading a new book, just published, that I think will help me understand the history of some major milestones in AI development, and in the right context to aid a better understanding of now and next.

The book is How AI Ate the World: A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence – and Its Long Future by journalist Chris Stokel-Walker. I’m reading the Kindle edition and hit the 15% mark late last night.

Its beginning is very good in recounting how AI made its start in the early 1950s, mainly in the UK and the US. Stokel-Walker provides a highly readable exploration of AI’s bumpy journey since then, explaining the achievements and disappointments by some of the key personalities of that era, such as Alan Turing in the UK, John McCarthy in the US – two men widely considered to be among the fathers of artificial intelligence – and many others.

I’m looking forward to the AI adventure I see coming in the remaining 85% of the book!

He answers critical questions about the AI revolution, such as what humanity might be jeopardising; the professions that will win and lose; and whether the existential threat technologists Elon Musk and Sam Altman are warning about is realistic – or a smokescreen to divert attention away from their growing power.

Amazon UK book listing 9 May 2024

Understanding the history of AI is crucial in grasping why it has become a focal point of modern technology and its potential for the future. Historical context helps demystify the rapid advancements in AI, illustrating how past challenges were overcome (or not), the peaks and troughs of progress, and how it all paved the way for current successes. It also provides a baseline for understanding the limitations and ethical dilemmas that have emerged over time.

Food for ThoughtThe dual perspective of optimism and caution provides a balanced approach that can help maximise AI’s benefits while addressing potential drawbacks. As AI continues to evolve, so too must our approaches to managing its impact on our world.

Exploring AI’s past, present, and future, as presented in a book like Stokel-Walker’s, serves not only to inform and entertain but also to inspire thoughtful consideration of how we deploy AI technologies.

Footnote:

I prompted ChatGPT Plus to create a hero image for this post based on the working title, ‘Understanding the Role of AI Through the Lens of History and Future Aspirations’. The image at the top was created by DALL-E 3 to the subsequent prompt from ChatGPT Plus: “The image should feature a juxtaposition of classical and futuristic elements: an old, ornate library filled with books on one side, and a sleek, modern tech lab with advanced computers and holographic displays on the other side. The transition between these two worlds should be seamless, symbolizing the evolution from past to future. Soft lighting and a sense of depth should draw the viewer in.”

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As artificial intelligence transforms the consulting industry, the traditional pricing model based on billable hours is quickly becoming obsolete. With AI cutting the time needed for many consulting tasks, clients are demanding a shift to value-based pricing.

That’s the essential premise of a thought-provoking article last month by Tracey Shirtcliff that I stumbled upon via a post on LinkedIn.

The Billable Hours Model is Under PressureShirtcliff – CEO of CPQ pricing platform SCOPE Better – argues that AI’s ability to automate and speed up many consulting tasks means the old model of charging clients based on billable hours no longer makes sense. Clients will expect to pay for the insights and value provided, not the time it takes to generate them using AI. Consulting firms must adapt their pricing to be based on the value and results they deliver.

This crystallises my own thinking on this subject. As a consultant myself, almost everything I do is either based on the time I estimate I’ll spend on a client’s work, or an overall value attached to a specific project.

Recently, in working out a budget estimate for a proposal for a new client, I kept thinking that quoting a price based on an hourly or daily rate doesn’t work well if you’re a consultant where much of your time on client work is focused on research and development. Increasingly, the research part of that picture is carried out by an AI assistant, faster and more accurately than I (or a human research assistant I work with from time to time) could do it.

And, as AI tools become more sophisticated and widely adopted, they enable me to automate many tasks, especially initial topic or subject-matter research, summarising articles and reports, and pinpointing the key issues on a given topic. Even creating an outline or first-pass draft of, say, a report I need to write. As a result, I can generate insights far more efficiently and quickly than before. In fact, the most time I now spend is in verifying what the AI assistant has created so that I can confidently apply the results to the work I need to do. I call this “applying the Wikipedia principle“.

Generally speaking, all this means that I can complete the same amount of work in a fraction of the time it used to take.

Of course, I can see a temptation for consultants who might think they can continue charging out as they have been doing to make quite a bit more from the work the AI would do. Resist that! Clients are increasingly aware of the potential of AI – and you should expect clients’ own use of AI to increase exponentially in the coming year or two – and they are starting to question why they should continue paying high hourly rates when a significant amount of the work is being done by a different kind of intelligence. This puts pressure on consultancies to re-evaluate their pricing strategies and find new ways to demonstrate the value they deliver.

And that is the key point – how to demonstrate the value you deliver to the client.

Shifting to Value-Based PricingIn my view, the consultants who will thrive in the age of AI will be those who proactively shift to value-based pricing models.

This is a model I have started moving to. Instead of focusing purely on the time spent, I will base fees on the unique insights, recommendations, and results I provide to my clients. This will require a deep understanding of each client’s business challenges and a clear articulation of the specific and measurable ways in which my expertise and AI-powered solutions can drive meaningful outcomes.

I’m still thinking this through, so I don’t yet have a complete approach that I’m fully confident with. I’ve already had one discussion with a current client on how we can transition to this. I’m sure we’ll know the answer to that quite soon.

I think this change won’t be a huge issue for independent consultants like me. We’re small, we don’t have committees, we make decisions about our business and processes quickly (for better or worse), and we don’t typically have huge overheads. As the saying goes, we’re agile and nimble.

But for some consultants, and especially big consulting firms, making this transition will likely not be easy. It will require a significant mindset shift and new approaches to scoping and delivering projects. However, I believe it is essential for the long-term success of the consulting industry. Firms that cling too long to the billable hours model risk seeing their revenues decline as clients baulk at paying for time rather than results.

One thing is clear: AI is not just changing how we work, but also how we value and pay for that work. The consultants who adapt quickly to this new reality will be the ones who chart a successful course in the years ahead.

I’m curious to hear from other consultants. How are you adapting your pricing and service delivery for the age of AI?

(Photo at top by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash.)

Related reading:

Not Using AI Could Become a Matter of Negligence – 30 April 2024
The Evolution of Search in the Age of AI Chatbots – 28 March 2024
Bill Gates: the Age of AI has Begun – Asides, 28 March 2023

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In FIR podcast episode 403 of our For Immediate Release podcast, the long-form monthly edition for April, Shel Holtz and I discussed a range of compelling subjects over the course of an 82-minute conversation.

I’d like to talk about one of our topics in particular: the remarkable keynote address that Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, Head of Civil Justice, and the second-most senior judge in the UK, gave to the Manchester Law Society’s AI Conference in March. The conference centred around the theme “AI: Transforming the Work of Lawyers and Judges,” highlighting the increasing importance of artificial intelligence in the legal sector.

Known for his advocacy for digital justice and technological advancements in the legal field, Sir Geoffrey emphasized the urgent need for legal professionals to embrace AI technologies. He starkly stated the importance he sees that lawyers and judges get to grips with new technologies, especially AI, underscoring that the legal profession is not immune to the transformations AI is bringing to various sectors globally.

He used several images as visual support for his speech, all of which he created using ChatGPT Plus and DALL-E 3. Unfortunately, none of those images has been publicly discoverable. I was particularly keen to see one he referenced – a vivid AI-generated image depicting what an AI-enabled courtroom might look like, symbolizing his forward-thinking approach.

During his speech, Sir Geoffrey outlined several ways AI can assist legal professionals, from legal research and drafting documents to more complex tasks like legal analysis and practice management.

His arguments will resonate far outside the legal profession as much of what he says is also applicable in, say, public relations, advertising, or accounting. For example:

First, clients will not want to pay for what they can get more cheaply elsewhere. If generative AI can draft a perfectly serviceable contract that can be quickly amended, checked and used, clients will not want to pay a lawyer to draft one instead.

Secondly, in a similar vein, if AI can summarise the salient points contained in thousands of pages of documents in seconds, clients will not want to pay for lawyers to do so manually.

Thirdly, and perhaps more importantly, AI is not only quicker, but may do some tasks more comprehensively than a human adviser or operator can do.

It’s not far-fetched to suggest that someone providing professional services to clients could be held to account for negligence by not using AI, a point Sir Geoffrey makes clear:

Use [of AI] may rapidly become necessary in order to perform workplace duties. One may ask rhetorically whether lawyers and others in a range of professional services will be able to show that they have used reasonable skill, care and diligence to protect their clients’ interests if they fail to use available AI programmes that would be better, quicker and cheaper.

He also addressed potential risks, such as the misuse of AI and the importance of maintaining confidentiality, especially when using large language models like ChatGPT. His perspective is clear: while AI is a powerful tool, it requires careful and responsible handling to ensure it benefits the legal system without compromising ethical standards or client trust.

Another critical point Sir Geoffrey raised was the potential for AI to necessitate changes in common law principles due to its profound impact on legal processes. He speculated that in the future, AI might even be involved in certain judicial decision-making processes, albeit under strict human supervision and with safeguards like the right to appeal to a human judge.

In other words, an AI could one day play a role in court cases, including acting as a judge. Far-fetched? I don’t think so. But you decide!

The implications of AI in the legal sector are vast and multifaceted. Sir Geoffrey Vos’s speech serves as a clarion call for the legal profession to not only adopt AI – “get with the programme”, as Sir Geoffrey noted – but to do so thoughtfully and ethically, ensuring that its integration supports justice and adheres to the highest standards of the profession. His vision for a technologically advanced legal system aligns with broader movements towards digital transformation in various other sectors.

The transcript of Sir Geoffrey’s speech is on the Judiciary website, and you can download a PDF copy.

This episode also explored other significant topics, such as whether marketing requires its own ethics standard for AI, reflecting the broader implications of AI across various professional fields. The conversation about ethics in AI is crucial, paralleling the concerns Sir Geoffrey Vos raised about AI’s integration into the legal profession. We talked about the rise of a phoenix as Peter Shankman’s HERO makes its entrance. We shook our heads at the notion of a beauty pageant featuring AI-generated babes, and lauded Unilever for its pledge to not use AI models in lieu of real women in its advertising for Dove.

And there’s more, including Dan York‘s technology report.

You can listen to the overall discussion right here. If you don’t see the embedded audio player below, listen on the FIR website or via your favourite podcast app.

(Image at top by Conny Schneider on Unsplash.)

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The relentless and transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the professional sphere is nowhere more evident than in the complex world of intellectual property (IP) and trademark law. In episode 8 in Season 3 of the Ideas to Innovation podcast I host for Clarivate, we explore the intersection of these three elements.

With two experts in the field—Jay Myers, Director of Innovation for the Intellectual Property Practice Group at the Seyfarth Shaw international law firm; and Arun Hill, Senior Consultant at The Clarivate Center for IP and Innovation Research—we delved into how AI is reshaping legal practices, highlighting both its potential benefits and the challenges it brings.

AI Enhancing Legal Efficiencies

One of the standout revelations from our conversation is AI’s capability to dramatically improve the efficiency of trademark searches. Traditionally a time-consuming process, trademark searches are critical for ensuring that a new mark does not infringe upon existing ones. AI can quickly sift through vast databases, identifying potential conflicts and similarities with a precision that rivals human oversight. This not only speeds up the process but also reduces the costs associated with these searches.

AI tools are increasingly being used to monitor trademark infringement. By continuously scanning the Internet and various databases, AI systems can alert businesses to possible infringements, enabling quicker responses and helping to safeguard intellectual property rights across global markets.

Strategic Decision-Making Enhanced by AI

Our guests emphasized AI’s role in strategic brand decision-making. They spoke of AI analytics uncovering trends and predicting future patterns, allowing businesses to make informed decisions about where to register trademarks and how to manage their portfolios. This proactive approach facilitated by AI can provide a competitive edge in crowded markets.

“AI applications should be human centric or they should be built with the human in mind and maybe work back from particular challenges or problems that we might want to solve. So it’s maybe less about AI everywhere all the time and more about AI where you most need it at the times that you most need it.”

Arun Hill, Senior Consultant, The Clarivate Center for IP and Innovation Research

Navigating Ethical and Practical Challenges in IP Law

However, integrating AI into legal practices is not without its hurdles. Ethical dilemmas, such as potential bias in AI algorithms and accountability for AI-driven decisions, were key concerns discussed. The need for transparency in how AI tools process and decide on legal matters is crucial to building trust and ensuring fairness.

Also, the practical challenge of integrating AI with existing legal frameworks is a hot topic. Laws and regulations that govern intellectual property rights were mostly established in the pre-digital era, leading to a gap that needs to be bridged as AI technologies evolve.

The Act of Balance

The episode highlighted that while AI holds great promise for transforming legal practices within intellectual property and trademark law, it also requires careful consideration of ethical standards and regulatory adaptations. For businesses and legal professionals, staying informed and adaptable is key to leveraging AI’s capabilities effectively.

“The people that stand to benefit greatly [from AI] are friends in the in-house community. They really can. The lawyers who are in-house who really are driving for efficiency and driving for better outcomes and better results and being a one-stop shop for their corporate and business clients internally. They are the ones that really stand to benefit enormously.”

Jay Myers, Director of Innovation, Intellectual Property Practice Group, Seyfarth Shaw

Both guests were clear in their belief that AI is not just a tool but a transformative force in intellectual property law. By streamlining operations, informing strategy, and presenting new challenges, AI is already shaping the future of how we manage and protect intellectual creations.

You can listen to our 32-minute conversation right here. (If you don’t see the embedded audio player below, listen on the Clarivate website or in your favourite podcast app.) The episode transcript is also available.

Footnote:

The image at top was created by ChatGPT Plus and DALL-E 3 in response to the prompt, “Create an image of an elegant, feminine robotic hand with a high-shine, pastel finish. The hand is raised, fingers gracefully curved, and it is holding a 3D metallic ‘R’ in a sans serif typeface, encased within a perfect circle to denote a registered trademark. The ‘R’ and circle should appear clean and modern, devoid of any additional flourishes, symbolizing the sleek simplicity of contemporary design. The background should be a soft, unobtrusive gradient that complements and enhances the metallic texture of the ‘R’ symbol”.)

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Today, we’re witnessing a pivotal transformation in how we search for and interact with information online. With established AI chatbots like ChatGPT and new entrants like Perplexity gaining prominence, the narrative of search is rapidly evolving, presenting a mix of opportunities and challenges for giants and newcomers in the search industry.

This transformation is spurred by emerging AI technologies and strategic moves by major companies like Microsoft and Baidu, indicating a shift towards more conversational, AI-driven search experiences. Google has been the primary gateway to the Internet for the last 20 years, processing around 100,000 web searches every second. But its longstanding dominance in search is under threat, with its moves involving the introduction of its AI chatbot Gemini and investments in AI startups under scrutiny.

The big picture also highlights the broader implications of this shift, including the technological and financial challenges of AI-assisted searches, changes in user behaviour with younger demographics turning to social media for information, and the strategic necessity for Google to innovate within a rapidly changing market.

This is the broad theme that Shel Holtz and I discussed in episode 396 of our For Immediate Release podcast, published on 27 March. I set the scene for our discussion with a narrative summary of three recent news articles.

CMS Wire asks, “Is the era of search engines coming to an end?”, citing a press release from Gartner on this very question that says traditional search engine volume will drop 25% by 2026, with search marketing losing market share to AI chatbots and other virtual agents.

The Register says, “Search engine results are getting worse”, citing a study published earlier this year by German researchers.

And The Economist weighs in with a lengthy essay asking, “Is Google’s 20-year dominance of search in peril?”

Using Perplexity Pro to summarise the three articles, and then combine the different perspectives in each article into a single new narrative summary, I developed these talking points for our discussion:

The Challenge to Google’s Throne: Long regarded as the Internet’s primary gateway, Google’s dominance is being tested. Microsoft’s significant investment in OpenAI and the integration of AI into Bing then CoPilot signal a potential shift, urging Google to innovate or risk losing ground.
AI’s Disruptive Wave: The integration of AI into search, exemplified by Microsoft’s Bing and Baidu’s initiatives, signifies a move towards more dynamic, conversational interactions with digital platforms. Google’s initial response with Gemini, its AI chatbot, underlines the competitive urgency.
Changing Consumer Behaviours: The narrative also touches on the broader landscape of search, where platforms like Amazon and Apple carve niches, mainstream media companies create their own AI chatbots, and social media channels become alternative search venues for the younger demographics.
Technological and Financial Implications: AI-enhanced searches offer a new frontier in search technology, raising questions about monetization and the future of advertising in search.
Strategic Innovations: The discussion extends to the strategic imperatives for established players like Google, emphasizing the need to balance innovation with the risk of cannibalizing existing profitable models.
The Future of Search: As we move forward, the search industry is set to become more conversational, personalized, and AI-driven, reshaping user interactions and expectations.

The overall narrative I used not only presents a snapshot of the search industry’s current state and future possibilities as seen by three publications but also showcases the methodical approach I used to synthesize three diverse viewpoints into a single coherent story with the help of an AI tool.

The Other Side of the CoinDuring our discussion, Shel introduced an opposite view of the landscape, one in which others argue that Google will not be displaced from its dominant position in search anytime soon. He cited an article in Forbes quoting research from Edelman that discusses a decline in public trust towards AI, highlighting concerns around ethics, security, and transparency.

According to Forbes, as AI technology advances, public trust seems to be waning, with a notable decline in the US. The concerns aren’t only about AI’s accuracy but also its ethical implications and transparency. This underscores the importance of developing AI in a way that prioritizes ethical considerations, security, and transparency to rebuild and maintain public trust. Forbes says this is essential for AI’s integration across various domains, including search, where trust in the technology’s ethical use and decision-making processes is paramount

An article in The Verge waxed lyrical on why AI search engines really can’t kill Google, suggesting that while AI search tools are getting better, they don’t yet understand what a search engine is and how we really use them.

The Verge article argues that AI search tools, while improving, fail to grasp the full spectrum of tasks a search engine performs, from simple navigational queries to complex information searches. The Verge’s tests reveal that for basic navigational and real-time information queries, Google’s speed and accuracy remain unmatched.

However, The Verge says, AI search engines show promise in delivering concise answers to specific questions, potentially offering a more streamlined search experience for certain types of information. This critique underscores the complexity of replacing or even competing with Google’s search engine, highlighting the technological and practical challenges AI search tools face in meeting the diverse needs of users.

I think this timely comment in a Threads post by Shashi Bellamconda sums up some current viewpoints pretty well.

Irresistible MomentumIn acknowledging the concerns raised in Forbes and The Verge regarding public trust and the current capabilities of AI in search, it’s important to consider these challenges as part of the evolving landscape of technology.

Despite these hurdles, I’d argue that the momentum behind AI’s integration into search is undeniable and irresistible.

The shift towards more intuitive, conversational AI-driven search experiences reflects a broader transformation in how we access and interact with information. While the path forward may require navigating issues of trust, transparency, and technological refinement, the evolution of search technology suggests that the traditional paradigms of search are indeed on the cusp of significant change.

I think my view on this aspect is best expressed in this self-awareness statement by Perplexity itself:

Perplexity, as an AI-driven answer engine, represents a significant development in how users interact with information and seek answers online. It is part of the broader trend towards more sophisticated, conversational, and context-aware AI technologies that aim to improve the accuracy, relevance, and personalization of search results. By leveraging advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, Perplexity and similar platforms are designed to understand complex queries, provide concise and informative answers, and enhance the overall user experience in obtaining information.

Perplexity AI, 24 March 2024

That’s quite clear it’s about a lot more than the simple questions or keywords that Google search as we know it today is accustomed to.

As AI continues to redefine the boundaries of search, businesses and users alike must adapt to a landscape where information retrieval becomes more interactive and nuanced, presented with transparency and authenticity, and tailored to individual needs.

Here are examples illustrating the shift:

Conversational Interfaces: Tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT offer a conversational approach, allowing users to ask questions in natural language and receive answers that feel more like a dialogue than traditional search results.
Personalized Responses: AI can tailor search results based on a user’s past interactions, preferences, and even the context of their queries, providing more relevant and personalized information.
Complex Query Understanding: Unlike traditional search engines, which often rely on keywords, AI-driven search can understand the nuances and intent behind complex queries, offering answers to more intricate questions.
Integration Across Platforms: AI search capabilities are being integrated into various platforms beyond web browsers, such as virtual assistants, social media platforms, and even IoT devices, making access to information seamless across devices.
Knowledge Synthesis: AI can synthesize information from multiple sources to answer questions that don’t have straightforward answers, providing summaries, comparisons, and analyses that would take humans much longer to compile.

You can listen to Shel and me discuss this overall topic (including a lively exchange of different views in places – we don’t always agree in our discussions) right here. If you don’t see the embedded player below, listen on the FIR website.

If you have opinions on this topic, or any aspect of our discussion, do share your views. You can email a comment to us. Share your experiences with us on AI in search. Or why not join the conversation in our new Discord community? You can request access on Discord.

Related Reading:

The Future of Online Search: A Closer Look at Perplexity AI – 5 February 2024

Footnotes:

1/ The image at the top was created and generated by DALL-E 3 via ChatGPT Pro. My simple prompt to ChatGPT was “Create a square image with a futuristic perspective on the subject of ‘The Future of Search in the Age of AI Chatbots’.”

ChatGPT’s explainer of DALL-E 3’s creation was this:

Envision a bustling, neon-lit cityscape at night, symbolizing the vast expanse of digital information. In the foreground, a sleek, holographic interface displays a variety of search queries floating in mid-air, interacted with by users through gestures and voice commands. These queries dynamically change and adapt, showcasing the AI’s ability to anticipate and refine search needs in real time. The users, diverse in appearance, represent the global reach and accessibility of this future search technology.

The atmosphere is one of harmony between humans and technology, where AI chatbots serve as intuitive, responsive guides through the endless sea of information, making the search experience more efficient and tailored to individual needs. The overall tone conveys a sense of advancement, connectivity, and optimism for the future of search in the age of AI chatbots. The image is rich in detail, with a focus on the interaction between users and the holographic AI interface, set against the backdrop of a futuristic city.

2/ I edited this post on 29/3/24 to add a numbered list of five examples of the shift we are seeing; it appears in the narrative just before reference to the FIR podcast episode. Number 5 in this list is precisely what I did with Perplexity combining summaries of three separate articles into a new narrative article, and then creating a list of talking points.

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Over the past couple of years, I’ve tried out a variety of webcams that offer features to enable you to look the other person in the eye, at their eye level, when connecting live via Teams, Zoom, etc. They also let you look your audience in the eye, so to speak, if you’re making a group presentation via webcam or recording a video for later use.

Plenty of research findings have been published in recent years that set out the measurable benefits and advantages of making direct eye contact when engaging with someone in a video call.

Webcams that I’ve tried for direct eye contact do this mostly via stiff but flexible cables that drop the camera to eye level on your computer screen from its housing, which sits on top of the screen. Some others use a tiny camera on a thin cable that you stick to the actual screen at eye level with a suction cap. Some of these struggle to be HD, never mind 4K, with many maxing out at 720p resolution.

Enter iContact Camera Pro, which offers a new way of doing this that I find highly appealing. There are no cables or suction caps, just a device that sits on top of your screen, with a retractable rigid stalk at the end of which is a small 4K video camera. The stalk folds out to a 45-degree angle below the device; once you’ve finished your meeting or recording, you can fold it back up and out of the way. Highly practical!

This article isn’t a full review; it’s purely a first look and my immediate impressions of the hardware and the user experience. Read on or jump to the short video further down the page.

Top 5 things:The camera sits perfectly on top of my Dell curved UHD 4K monitor. It has a thick, curved back, but this webcam sits on it very nicely.

It has a USB-C connector that comes with a USB-A adapter, so it’s ready for use with almost any widely-used USB port type.

It’s plug-and-play on Windows 11—connect the camera, the OS recognises it, and it just works. You can check the settings within Windows 11; if you’re using a Mac, iContact recommends downloading the MacOS settings app from their website.

It is 4K video! I tested it on webcamtests.com which showed the resolution at 3840×2160. I used the Windows 11 Camera app to record my video of first looks, embedded below, which shows video quality of 2448p at 30 fps. When I uploaded the video to YouTube, it created the 4K video version at 2160p (precisely double the resolution of 1080p HD, thus 4K).

Excellent design and build quality. It’s a very nice piece of kit. It looks smart and sits discreetly at the top of my screen. With this size of monitor, the retractable camera is positioned at just the right eye level for me when it’s folded out.

I have 2 small niggles:First, the stalk on the retractable camera is slightly bent out of the vertical. So when it’s out and in position, the lens is looking slightly to one side. As the stalk is hard plastic, I’m reluctant to try to bend it. But it’s not affecting use – I shift my position slightly.

And second, the Windows 11 camera settings do not have an option for zooming in or out. There are third-party apps, though, to do that. iContact’s website suggests one called Camo, which has a free version (but it’s limited to 720p resolution). Much better is a tool like Xsplit Vcam, which I use, that lets you set a zoom setting without any limitations, among many other useful functions.

And 1 observation:I used the webcam’s built-in stereo noise-cancelling microphone to record the audio for my video. Usually, when recording video or audio, I use a Shure MV7 podcast microphone that’s pretty close to my mouth for the best audio quality and listening experience. The built-in microphone is not bad at all, capturing the audio in good enough quality that you probably won’t need to increase your listening volume by a large amount.

And, one more thing – it would be very helpful if the camera had something like an LED light to indicate when it’s in use. It actually has nothing visual that does that so you don’t know if it’s on or not. This is something for the developer to consider in the future.

I made a short – just under 7 minutes – video of my first impressions that you can view right here. If you don’t see it embedded below, watch it on YouTube.

Overall, on first looks, this is a super webcam! 4K video might seem like overkill for uses like conference calls, especially in low-bandwidth situations. But for recording presentations, or videos like mine above, etc, it’s brilliant. In terms of video resolution and quality, for whatever use, you’re set up for the immediate future.

More to come in a review once I’ve been using the iContact Camera Pro for a while.

I should mention here that iContact Camero Pro was a Kickstarter project I backed in November 2023. In return for my financial support, I would receive one of these cameras as a perk.

Backers like me were to receive their perks in December 2023, and mine was shipped at that time. It never arrived, and after some time, iContact and the courier DHL determined that my package had been “lost in UK customs.”

The period up to learning my shipment had been lost was one of nothing but disappointment with iContact and their dreadful customer service, such as no replies to emails, no outreach when it really mattered, and a lack of proactive communication overall. I wrote a long post about this on my Asides blog in January, with subsequent updates.

But in late January, I opted to receive a replacement instead of a refund, saying in a private message in early February to founder Stacy Nimmo:

[…] I’m sticking with it despite my misgivings from my experience with iContact so far. A good friend in the US backed you, and he received his perk. He’s told me it’s a superb product. So, I’ve accepted your support team’s offer to get a replacement shipped to me rather than take a refund. I cannot imagine a repeat of the customs fiasco.

Neville Hobson, 8 February 2024.

The replacement arrived this past Saturday, March 16. It arrived much later than iContact had told me.

Today, I’m keeping an open mind about iContact the company for now. As for the webcam, my initial view, as would be clear from my first-looks video, is that they have an excellent product.

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In an interview on the FIR Interviews podcast published last week, guest Bill Beutler told Shel Holtz and I that it’s essential for the PR industry to re-engage with the principles of ethical Wikipedia engagement. His insights serve as a reminder of the ongoing evolution of digital communication platforms and the intricate relationship between Wikipedia and the public relations industry, as we explored the changes in that relationship over the past two decades and the current state of affairs in 2024.

Bill Beutler is founder and president of Beutler Ink, a digital agency with a unique focus on Wikipedia engagement, bridging the gap between the world’s largest encyclopedia and brands looking to establish a credible presence online. Bill’s journey from a political journalist to a pioneer in Wikipedia consulting sheds light on the influence and importance of collaborative online projects in shaping public perception.

Our conversation highlighted key historical moments, such as the establishment of the Corporate Representatives for Ethical Wikipedia Engagement (CREWE) advocacy group, spearheaded by Phil Gomes, which played a crucial role a decade ago in fostering a constructive dialogue between PR professionals and the Wikipedia community. This initiative, along with others at that time by professional associations such as the CIPR in the UK (an initiative in which I was directly involved), paved the way for a more ethical approach to Wikipedia engagement by PR professionals, emphasising transparency and adherence to Wikipedia’s policies and guidelines.

“The Five Pillars of Wikipedia”

Beutler provided insights into the current challenges facing the Wikipedia-PR relationship, including the need for ongoing education among new generations of PR practitioners. Despite the establishment of best practices, Beutler says, there’s a noticeable trend towards collective amnesia regarding the proper ways to engage with Wikipedia, necessitating a renewed effort to educate and remind industry professionals of the ethical standards required.

One of the most intriguing parts of our discussion revolved around the impact of artificial intelligence on Wikipedia content creation. With generative AI’s growing capabilities, there’s a debate within the Wikipedia community about its potential role in article writing. However, the human element, with its nuanced understanding of accuracy and source verification, remains irreplaceable in ensuring the quality and reliability of Wikipedia entries, Beutler says.

A Call to Action for PR PractitionersAccording to Beutler, it’s crucial for PR professionals to revisit and adhere to the established guidelines for ethical Wikipedia engagement. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, staying informed about best practices, embracing transparency, and collaborating with the Wikipedia community will ensure that our efforts contribute positively to the wealth of knowledge available online. We must commit to a future where PR and Wikipedia work hand in hand to enrich, rather than exploit, this invaluable resource.

You can listen to our discussion right here (or, if you don’t see the embedded player below, on the FIR website).

Related:

Wikipedia is about to get easier to edit – 31 October 2022
Civilising Wikipedia – 14 February 2021
The journey begins: guidance from the CIPR on PR and Wikipedia published – 27 June 2012
Closing the chasm between PR and Wikipedia – 19 April 2012

[Wikipedia logo at top: Harleen Quinzellová, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.]

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Klarna, a Swedish international fintech company, has introduced an AI assistant developed in collaboration with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. Klarna says it has significantly transformed its customer service operations.

In a press release on 27 February, Klarna itemised an impressive list of achievements in just one month of the global deployment of the AI assistent, essentially a chatbot:

The AI assistant has had 2.3 million conversations, two-thirds of Klarna’s customer service chats
Doing the equivalent work of 700 full-time agents
On par with human agents with regard to customer satisfaction score
More accurate in issues resolution, leading to a 25% drop in repeat inquiries
Customers now resolve their issues in less than 2 minutes compared to 11 minutes previously
Available in 23 markets, 24/7 and communicates in more than 35 languages

While the AI assistant has led to operational efficiencies and is projected to contribute $40 million in profit improvements for Klarna in 2024, it also raises concerns about job displacement. What isn’t clear is whether this move to AI has resulted in layoffs in the reduction of Klarna’s customer service workforce from 3,000 to 2,300 employees where “doing the equivalent work of 700 full-time agents” is a convenient equivalent number on the difference between 3,000 and 2,300.

What is clear is that Klarna’s deployment of an AI chatbot in customer service not only showcases the potential of AI to streamline operations and improve customer satisfaction, but also highlights the critical need for a balanced approach to AI integration, one that enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them.

Klarna’s Balancing ActIn this context, it’s worth noting that clerical-type jobs such as customer service representatives are among jobs often predicted to be among the most at risk from AI replacement.

Indeed, the conversation around AI in the workplace commonly revolves around its potential to replace human jobs. However, experts argue that AI should augment human intelligence, not replace it. AI and humans bring different strengths to the table, and the most successful applications of AI in the workplace will be those that leverage both to achieve augmented intelligence.

So while AI in customer service can lead to significant improvements in efficiency, availability, and personalization – Klarna’s example clearly demonstrates that – it is important to balance these benefits with the potential drawbacks. The human touch remains a core component of customer service. This approach can help mitigate job displacement concerns and ensure that customer interactions remain empathetic and contextually aware.

It’s a key point that Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Klarna’s co-founder and CEO, seems to have grasped as indicated in a comment on how this example underscores the profound impact on society that AI will have, mentioned in the press release, and in his post on X. In a post on LinkedIn published by Klarna last week, there’s some lively discussion in the comments on this point.

As AI continues to evolve, fostering a symbiotic relationship between human and artificial intelligence will be key to harnessing its full potential while mitigating its societal impacts.

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In the constantly-evolving landscape of AI-assisted content creation, OpenAI’s latest innovation, Sora, represents a seismic shift. This text-to-video generative AI creator is not just another step forward; it’s a leap into a future where the boundaries between imagination and reality blur. Sora enables creators to make vivid, dynamic videos just by typing a simple text prompt, a development that is as exciting as it is alarming.

The examples of Sora’s capabilities are nothing short of breathtaking.

From intricate scenes featuring multiple characters and complex motions to detailed backgrounds that feel palpably real – such as the image above, a still from a text-to-video creation of a woman walking along a street in Tokyo at night time – Sora’s output is a testament to the power of AI in creative hands. These videos, generated directly from text, demonstrate a level of visual quality and adherence to the user’s prompt that was previously unimaginable.

You can watch a video compilation of these capabilities right here, including seeing the actual text prompts used; or, if you don’t see the embedded player below, watch the video on YouTube.

This technological marvel also raises significant ethical concerns.

The ease with which anyone can create anything brings to light the potential for misuse. The ability to generate realistic videos from mere text prompts opens up a Pandora’s box of possibilities, both positive and negative. On the one hand, it democratizes content creation, allowing individuals without traditional video production skills to bring their visions to life. On the other, it poses a risk of bad actors spreading misinformation, creating deepfakes, and infringing on copyright, as highlighted by experts in the field.

Thankfully (I guess this is the right word), OpenAI has not made Sora openly available to anyone just yet. Currently it is only in the hands of testers.

We’ll be taking several important safety steps ahead of making Sora available in OpenAI’s products. We are working with red teamers — domain experts in areas like misinformation, hateful content, and bias — who will be adversarially testing the model.

OpenAI, February 15, 2024

Finding a BalanceEven before any release beyond testers, the impact of Sora on content creation is profound. It promises to revolutionize the way we think about storytelling, marketing, and entertainment. For businesses and artists, Sora offers unparalleled opportunities for growth and innovation. It could change the game for filmmakers, marketers, and educators by making video production more accessible and less resource-intensive.

Yet, as with any powerful tool, it comes with responsibilities. The potential for creating misleading content or harmful deepfakes cannot be ignored.

Comparing Sora to other AI tools reveals its unique position in the landscape of generative AI. While not the first to offer text-to-video capabilities, Sora’s integration of OpenAI’s advanced language understanding and video generation technologies sets it apart. Its ability to generate complex, realistic scenes with accurate details and emotions showcases the advancements OpenAI has made in understanding and simulating the physical world.

The ethical complexities surrounding Sora and similar technologies are vast. The concerns range from the potential for misuse in creating convincing deepfakes to the broader societal implications of such technology becoming widely available. Think about the possibilities for signficant disruption of elections in 2024 using a tool like this.

OpenAI has taken steps to address these concerns by working with domain experts to assess the risks and develop detection tools for misleading content. However, the balance between harnessing the creative potential of Sora and mitigating its risks remains a delicate one.

There can be no doubt that Sora represents a watershed moment in the evolution of content creation. Its ability to turn text into video is not just a technical achievement; it’s a tool that could reshape our cultural landscape.

But as we marvel at the possibilities it opens up, we must also navigate the ethical minefield it presents. The examples on YouTube are a glimpse into a future where creativity knows no bounds, but they also serve as a reminder of the need for vigilance and responsibility in the age of generative AI.

Related reading:

AI-generated disinformation: A new battleground for elections in 2024 (8 September 2023)
A scientific sleuth leads the fight against fake data and images in science research (24 August 2023)
Whether scraping data for generative AI training infringes copyright is a matter for debate (22 March 2023)

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Imagine a modern Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park, London, a public square that traditionally is a symbol of free speech and public discourse, now surrounded by towering walls made of digital screens displaying algorithmically-generated content. Individuals inside the walls are wholly focused on their personal devices, isolated in their own digital bubbles.

The historic podium, once a bustling hub of lively debate and discussion, stands neglected in the centre, symbolising the shift from public, open dialogue to private, fragmented communication in the digital age. The contrast between the vibrant, communal past and the isolated, algorithm-driven present is stark, highlighting the metaphorical transformation of the public square into private, curated experiences.

The image here, created by ChatGPT Plus and DALL-E 3 to my simple prompt, embodies the concept of the modern transformation of the public square into a digital environment dominated by private groups and algorithmically-generated content. This visual metaphor highlights the shift from traditional, open forums of expression to more isolated, digital experiences, illustrating the impact of social networks today on public discourse and freedom of expression.

Whither the Public Square?In episode 384 of our For Immediate Release podcast, Shel Holtz and I consider the trend of people spending less time on the big open public social networks we’re familiar with – the likes of Facebook, pre-X Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, etc – opting instead for closed communities, hidden away from public scrutiny, on less-huge social networks or, at a pinch, private closed groups on those big networks.

We discuss these changes and consider the implications for professionals, businesses and wider society, referencing a highly-credible analysis by The Economist in its latest edition. Key takeaways:

Social media is splitting into personal interactions via closed groups and mass consumption of content, primarily videos, driven by algorithms.
The shift towards content curated by AI, as on TikTok, means less social interaction and more entertainment consumption.
Political and private communication is moving to encrypted or closed platforms, altering the landscape of public discourse.
The changing nature of social media impacts everything from political campaigning to the mental health of users, with a noted decline in public posting and news sharing.
The Economist’s article underscores the challenges and changes in moderation, content dissemination, and the balance between private communication and public forums.

All of this reflects broader changes in how people interact online and the implications for society, politics, and individual behaviour. Is it the end of social networking as we know it? No more public squares but lots of private ones?

You can listen to our discussion right here or, if you don’t see the embedded audio player below, on the episode page on the FIR website.

Related reading:

The hate speech problem on X: a test of conscience for users and brands – 18 November 2023
X, Moral Bankruptcy, and the Business of Hate – 8 October 2023
AI-generated disinformation: A new battleground for elections in 2024 – 8 September 2023

Footnote: The image at the top was created by Chat GPT Plus and DALL-E 3 to my simple prompt: “Using Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park as a reference, create a square image that’s a metaphor for the so-called public square popularly used to describe freedom of expression in social networks that today is ebbing away and being replaced by private groups and algorithmically-generated content.”

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When I search online for the most relevant, comprehensive, and accurate information I’m looking for, I find it’s typically a hit-or-miss procedure. Traditional search engines will give you results but heavily weighted to sponsored listings or paid ads, thus making it hard to determine what’s trustworthy and worth my attention. In fact, ‘listing’ is the key word as what you get is precisely that, a listing of links that might match all or some of the keywords in your search term.

Google has dominated the search space for much of the past two decades, shaping how we discover, learn, and make decisions in the digital age. It has over 90% of the search engine market worldwide. And let’s not forget – Google Search, Microsoft Bing, and many others are advertising businesses as much as anything else.

The advent of artificial intelligence tools like chatbots, kickstarted by ChaptGPT in late 2022, moved things out into the wider world and gave everyone far greater means of searching and finding better answers to everyday questions. But given that ChatGPT and other generative AI tools and LLMs like Claude, Google Bard, Microsoft Copilot, etc, are not just search engines with a bit of added AI, there’s been a market opportunity for someone to fill the gap with a tool specifically designed for search that is genuinely innovative and definitely evolutionary.

Right now, I think that’s Perplexity AI, a tool the developers call an “answer engine“, that arrived on the scene late last year to signal a new era in search technology, challenging the status quo with its very different approach to information search, retrieval and presentation.

This weekend, I had an experience that demonstrated the difference between Perplexity and every other top search engine in use around the world. It’s the perfect illustration to see that difference.

Starting with Google and BingI wanted to find the answer to a simple question that came to mind following an informal message chat on Threads about hybrid cars and EVs.

My question was: Is a self-charging hybrid car a better option than a plugin hybrid, known as a PHEV? It’s deliberately a broad question as it’s typical of the kind of quick question I tend to ask Google

I started with Google Search; this screenshot shows the typical result you get with Google search.

Google Search results: a list of ad-supported linksThis is what’s visible in the browser window before any scrolling. All of it is sponsored content – the organisations shown have paid for this information to be algorithmically selected in response to the keywords.

As all are paid for, you’ll know that like all paid advertising, you’ll not be getting unfiltered, neutral answers. There will always be an angle and a point of view being promoted.

Next up – the same question asked of Microsoft Bing.

Bing search results: the sidebar looks engagingBing is similar to Google Search where the first screen of results is advertising. There is a major difference, though, as you can see in the small panel on the right in the screenshot, which is AI-generated content using Copilot, Microsoft’s own AI bet.

But when you scroll down the page, you get a sense of the value of an “answer engine” (this label isn’t exclusive to Perplexity) that starts to get really interesting with the greater breadth and depth of responses, as the next screenshot shows.

Bing search results: starting to get conversationalThis is far more useful and helpful in giving added perspective to the results rather than simply presenting a list of URLs. It gives you more to explore there and then rather than having to perform additional searches based on the first results that may or may not get you closer to what you’re seeking.

And then there’s PerplexityBut it’s when you try Perplexity that you start to see where online search is moving to in the next stage of leveraging the power and value of AI for day-to-day utility.

The same question asked of Perplexity AI produced responses that were eminently useful, far different to a list of links that an algorithm has created based on advertsing data.

This screenshot shows what Perplexity produced in response to the same question I asked Google and Bing.

Perplexity search results: the most engaging of allPerplexity’s approach is conversational. I find that every time I use it, I engage in a conversational manner as reflected in my search requests. With Google typically, you ask in terms of keywords. With Perplexity, you ask in a way that you’d ask a question of another person. And when you get a response, you can continue the conversation without starting over each time. It’s a natural-like process.

And what responses! Perplexity looks at everything it found related to your request and then writes a summary of it all. As the screenshot shows, it also annotates the texts with reference to each source it finds (the numbers you see sprinkled throughout the text) to give those texts context and relevance, and a sense of credibilty when seeing source citations actually noted in the text. Not only does this make your verification job a lot easier, it also makes it a lot easier to decide what is trustworthy and usable.

You can share the results from each activity directly to some social networks; or, use the share link to share it anywhere. And, if you use a Chrome extension such as Save My Chatbot, you can save a result as a markdown file, which is especially handy as you get all the links to all the sources Perplexity found. If you open up the saved markdown in an appropriate editor – I’m trying out Typora – you can then edit it or export it to HTML for further use.

This markdown text is all far more useful than a simple ad-influenced list of URLs in a browser as this screenshot shows.

Perplexity search results: exported as a markdown file(Here’s a link to the Perplexity result: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/Is-a-selfcharging-2lPAHB9UQlqPn089YyBD7w?s=c)

Essentially, Perplexity has replaced Google Search for me.

Last week, I started a monthly subscription to Perplexity Pro, the paid-for next-level service that removes many of the throttles that exist in the free basic service. I’m trying it out in parallel to ChatGPT Plus, the paid service I’ve been subscribed to since last year and which, broadly speaking, is a direct competitor to Perplexity Pro. I don’t see ChatGPT as that, though, as I think both are differently focused.

Then again, perhaps it doesn’t matter. I experience much overlap already in how I use all such tools – one for search like Google, another for general research, a bespoke GPT for specific-topic research, etc. The day will surely come when you should be able to use just one such tool to accomplish all your everyday requests. Or it will be much clearer which tools are best for what purpose. The day hasn’t come yet, though.

It’s worth mentioning as well that, like every other generative AI tool out there, Perplexity has its imperfections. And you’ll still have to do your part of the process, mostly verification of everything Perplexity tells you.

I strongly recommend you try Perplexity for search if you haven’t yet. You can use the website version, or install apps for Android and iOS devices. You don’t need the Pro account to get impressive results; the free account will be just fine to try it out.

Finally, read a very good assessment of Perplexity by Kevin Roose in the New York Times last week, with a focus on the Pro version. This sets the scene:

Many start-ups have tried and failed to challenge Google over the years. But Google seems less invincible these days. Many users have complained that their Google search results have gotten clogged with spammy, low-quality websites, and some people have started looking for answers in places like Reddit and TikTok instead.

Kevin Roose, New York Times, 1 February 2024

Opportunity knocks. Perplexity could open the doors.

[Update 28/3/24:] Also, see a new post published today that expands on the themes discussed here – The Evolution of Search in the Age of AI Chatbots

Related reading:

ChatGPT, Claude, Bing, or Bard? – 29/8/2023 (Asides)
Bill Gates: the Age of AI has Begun – 28/3/2023 (Asides)
Keep an open mind about AI – 21/6/2022

Footnote:

I created the AI-generated image at the top in ChatGPT Plus and DALL-E 3. My simple prompt was: “Create a square image that portrays a search for information online. Show a large computer monitor in a modern high-tech office with people gathered around the display which has the logos of Google, Bing and Perplexity AI visible.” I got the Google logo but not the others.

In response to my criticism of these missing elements, ChatGPT said, “I understand your feedback and acknowledge the oversight. The intention was to create images that closely align with your requests while adhering to guidelines regarding the representation of specific brands. I appreciate your understanding and am here to assist further with any adjustments or new requests you might have.”

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Nineteen years ago this past week, Shel Holtz and I founded and launched the For Immediate Release podcast. Back then, podcasting was in its infancy and we began a journey at a time when it was more of an experiment than a mainstream platform.

Our foray into this medium that began on 3 January 2005 with episode 1 of The Hobson & Holtz Report, as it was first known, was driven by a desire to explore the potential of digital audio in enhancing business communication. As we noted in a post and test audio on 21 December 2004 introducing the forthcoming podcast, “We’ll bring a balanced view on what’s going on in the US and Europe in communication, technology and other relevant topics.”

Early listeners liked what we offered and the abbreviated moniker for the show, “FIR”, quickly caught on.

Origins and EvolutionTwice a week over Skype, Shel and I enjoyed discussion and analysis of current and new practices which closely embraced new technologies and new ways of communicating and engaging. We had schwag, such as the coffee mug from our earliest days on the left in the image above. We had our eyes on branding!

We broadened our reach with niche podcasts such as FIR Interviews, which began a revival in 2023. Soon, we had carved out a distinct niche by delving into various aspects of organisational communication. We wrote a book about podcasting for business published by McGraw-Hill in 2006 (still in print and still available).

Over the years, the podcast evolved, becoming a weekly show, attracting correspondents who filed reports from around the world – Lee Hopkins in Australia, Eric Schwartzman and Dan York in the USA, David Phillips in the UK, and Michael Netzley in Singapore, to name five – and expanded the content with new voices joining us with their shows in the FIR Podcast Network on its founding in 2015. FIR became a re-launched monthly show in 2017, and later added short-form episodes in between the long-form monthly ones when we joined Jason Falls‘ Marketing Podcast Network in early 2022.

Podcasting Impact and LongevityIn the modern era, where digital media is constantly evolving and where the number of podcasts is in the millions – it was only in the hundreds in 2005 – For Immediate Release stands out for its remarkable consistency and depth of insight.

From the impact of social media on corporate strategies to the latest trends in public relations, the podcast has consistently provided valuable insights and analysis and attracted a significant community of listeners. It has earned the descriptor you still hear in every episode today voiced by Donna Papacosta: “For Immediate Release, the podcast for communicators”.

As we pass the 19-year milestone on our podcasting journey, we look at the factors that have contributed to FIR’s success and longevity in episode 377, published on 5 January. We also explore the evolving role of podcasting in business communication and how this podcast has remained an important resource for communication professionals in the field, and consider what’s next for this medium that is far removed from being an experiment.

Listen to episode 377 right here. If you don’t see the embedded player below, listen on the FIR website.

Only a year to go until we celebrate 20 years!

Related:

FIR 191: Two decades in 2.5 hours – 21 January 2020: “In what may be the longest single episode of a podcast ever, Shel and I present observations and prognostications from 17 of the smartest communication professionals in the business…”
Podcasts: “I’ve been involved in podcasting since 2004, currently hosting three business podcasts…”

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During the Christmas/New Year break, as I considered what topics I might explore in this blog in 2024, I reflected back to remind myself of what I’ve been writing about in 2023.

Given the blog’s broad embrace of being “at the intersection of business, communication, and technology”, it was no surprise to see that I wrote and published thirty-five articles during the past year across that broad spectrum, an average of just under three per month.

It won’t come as much surprise either when I tell you that my trusted assistant, ChatGPT Plus, analysed that sum total and spectrum and, in much less than 60 seconds, produced an assessment of my writing and what I had written about.

In 2023, the assistant said, NevilleHobson.com covered a diverse range of topics, primarily focusing on the impact and evolution of technology in communication, social media, and public relations. Indeed, my experiences in social strategy and podcasting over the past 20 years have informed and shaped my perspectives on the topics I write about.

Here is a summary of the themes and subjects I’ve written about here during the past year:

Social Media and Communication Platforms* Changes and developments in popular social media platforms, especially Twitter (X), exploring its evolution, challenges, and the rise of alternative platforms like Mastodon, Pebble formerly T2, and Bluesky. (I just realised I didn’t write here about Threads in 2023, but undoubtedly I will in 2024.)

Artificial Intelligence and Technology* AI’s influence in various domains was a recurrent theme. Topics ranged from AI-generated disinformation, AI in public relations, and AI-generated images to the broader implications of AI in daily life and business.

Digital Innovation and Trends* Innovations like foldable phones and the evolving role of NFTs in the digital space. Discussions also included the relevance and future of blogrolls for building community in the digital era.

Public Relations and Communication Strategies* Posts reflected on various aspects of public relations, including the importance of digital PR, the need to move away from outdated metrics like AVE, and strategies for building professional communities.

Global Events and Issues* Topics like the future of the monarchy in the UK, and the environmental aspect of renewable energy and net-zero goals.

Podcasting and Media* The role of podcasting in mainstream media and its evolution was another key topic, along with the general state of media and entertainment.

For 2024, the themes I’ve outlined will continue to evolve and remain relevant, and I will write about them mostly here but also on my asides blog, NevilleHobson.fyi (my writing is a bit more random over there), as well as on influential business networks such as LinkedIn. I will talk about these themes in my podcasts, too.

Given the rapid advancements in technology and digital media, you can expect further insights into AI’s impact on communication and public relations, the continuous evolution of social media platforms, and the integration of innovative technologies in mainstream usage.

The global socio-political landscape, especially in relation to technology and media, will also remain a significant area of interest. My focus on these areas brings the blog to the forefront of discussion and analysis at the intersection of technology, communication, and global events.

Diving DeeperAs I draw this reflection to a close, I’m reminded of the very essence of our journey in the digital landscape. This week, as the For Immediate Release podcast I co-host with Shel Holtz celebrates its 19th anniversary, I am struck by the profound evolution we have witnessed in business communication. What began as an exploration into the burgeoning world of podcasting, aligned with our vision to delve into the heart of organisational communication and technology, has now become a cornerstone in the vast edifice of digital engagement.

I am inspired to dive deeper into the themes that have defined our digital age. From the revolutionary strides in artificial intelligence to the ever-changing dynamics of social media, this journey is far from over.

Join me as we explore the evolving landscape of technology and communication. Let’s unravel the complexities of this era and leverage its myriad opportunities. Subscribe to stay updated on the latest insights and discussions.

What topics are you most interested in for 2024?

Related reading/viewing/listening:

The Musk X effect, and other marketing stories – Asides, 20 December 2023. “Published this week on the Socially Unacceptable podcast is an episode where I joined the hosts, Chris Norton and Will Ockenden, as their guest…”
Recognition in 2023 Top 10 PR Blogs ranking – 2 November 2023. “For most people, it’s pleasing to receive unsolicited recognition for an achievement or piece of work that demonstrates excellence in one form or another, as perceived by those who give the recognition…”

(Photo at top by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash.)

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In countries around the world, 2024 will bring elections. And something new is causing a lot of worry – disinformation generated by AI. How worried should we be about AI disrupting elections?

This was a terrific topic for Shel and me to discuss in a short midweek episode of our For Immediate Release podcast, which we did in episode 352 on 5 September.

In the past, disinformation has always been created by humans. Advances in generative artificial intelligence, or Gen AI mean there are models that can spit out sophisticated essays and create realistic images from text prompts. This makes synthetic propaganda possible, says The Economist in an analysis published last week.

Fear looms large that disinformation campaigns may be supercharged in 2024, just as countries with a collective population of some 4 billion — including the US, the UK, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Taiwan — prepare to vote.

How worried should citizens be? Consider these points that The Economist makes:

Generative AI models like ChatGPT can create sophisticated text and realistic images, raising concerns about their potential to spread disinformation and sway elections.
However, voters are hard to persuade on major political issues. Existing campaigns only produce small shifts in voter behaviour.
Tools to make fake images and videos have existed for years. Generative AI makes it easier, but effort was not previously the limiting factor.
AI-generated disinformation could undermine trust between citizens, but it’s unclear if it benefits one party systematically.
Social media platforms and AI firms say they are trying to address risks, but voluntary regulation has limits.

In sum, panic is unwarranted, says The Economist – people spread terrible ideas without new technology. The 2024 US election will see disinformation at major scale, The Economist adds, but the source will be Trump, not AI.

Do we agree with that conclusion? Listen to episode 352 to hear our discussion on this issue.

(Image at top by Bing Image Creator to this simple prompt: “AI disinformation creator”)

Related:

FIR #348: The consequences of AI panic (17/8/23)
FIR #344: Sloganeering with AI (24/7/23)
FIR #340: Will AI destroy the Web? (28/6/23)
Keep an open mind about AI (21/6/23)

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In July I bought a new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable phone. Since it arrived at the beginning of August I’ve been delighted with it and enjoy using it daily. At the time, I said it was a giant leap forward in foldable smartphones. I still hold that view, perhaps more so, especially because of its large front cover screen, the Flex Window, and what you can do with it.

Today, though, I want to talk about protective cases.

If ever an expensive mobile device needed protection from damage, accidental or otherwise, it’s the Z Flip 5. It’s lovely to hold in your hand, but it’s very slippery indeed with a high risk of damage through accidental drops. So a protective case is a must.

But when it comes to protective cases for the Z Flip 5 – indeed, for all flip phones – the market is flooded with options. There’s one case I’ve tried, though, that really does stand out from the crowd, and that’s the Benks ArmorAir Case for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, pictured here.

Here’s why:

Sleek Minimalist Design: In an era where most cases are bulky and overly decorative, the ArmorAir case offers a refreshing minimalist design. It’s simple, yet sophisticated, ensuring that your phone looks elegant without compromising on protection.
Kevlar Material: The use of Kevlar in its construction is a game-changer. Not only does it add to the case’s durability, but it also gives it a unique texture and appearance. Kevlar is known for its strength and resistance, so you can be sure that your phone is shielded from potential damage.
Snug Fit: One of the most impressive features of this case is its precise fit. It hugs the Z Flip 5 perfectly, ensuring that every corner and edge is protected. The case aligns seamlessly with the phone’s ports and buttons, providing an uninterrupted user experience.
Excellent Feel in the Hand: A protective case can often change the way a phone feels in your hand, but the ArmorAir case enhances it. The case is smooth and silky to the touch, and its ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip, reducing the chances of accidental drops. With this case on your Z Flip 5, you’ll have a protected foldable phone that is what I describe as ’eminently grippable’.

To give you a good visual tour of the Benks case in action, as it were, I recorded a short video that you can watch right here or on YouTube.

So, if you’re in the market for a protective case for your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, the Benks ArmorAir case should be at the top of your list. It’s not just a case: it’s a statement of style, durability, and functionality.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Related reading – Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: A giant leap forward (15 August 2023)

(Disclosure: Benks sent me their ArmorAir case without cost in the expectation that I’d review it, which was my intent anyway. I have not received payment for this review. The links to their website in this article are clear links with no affiliate codes.)

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Believing that what you see, read and hear is real and truthful has never been under such a challenge as it is today. While technology plays a big role in creating this state of affairs, most egregious is the human faker, someone who sets out to deceive and profit with…Read More

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For as long as many of us can remember, the Internet has been a single entity, a vast digital sea where we could navigate freely between its various islands. Social networks stood tall and united, giving us separate but unified spaces to connect and share. Yet, it seems that unfettered…Read More

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It’s hard to avoid the hype and buzz about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable smartphone that’s been building over the past few months. It reached a crescendo before, during and in the days following Samsung’s huge “Galaxy Unpacked” launch event in Seoul, South Korea, on July 26, when…Read More

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Are you still on Twitter? I am although I’m becoming more and more exasperated with the vandalism I see being done by Elon Musk as he continues to remake Twitter in his own image. Just a week ago, he posted a series of tweets indicating that the very name of…Read More

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I was honoured to present some of the awards to winners of the UK Digital PR Awards 2023 contest at a dinner and ceremony in London on 12 July. The awards recognise excellence in digital PR across more than 25 categories. The judging process was rigorous, with an expert panel…Read More

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When Twitter first appeared in 2006, it marked the start of enablement and empowerment of people who wanted a means of communication that was unfiltered, uncontrolled and unfettered. It would let you chat with your friends and engage in sharing news and information on a small scale, something that met…Read More

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Artificial intelligence is the buzzword of the moment, sparking curiosity, excitement, and a fair share of apprehension. It’s everywhere – from media outlets to social networks, from corporate boardrooms to government offices worldwide. Companies are grappling with defining AI and its best applications within their operations. Beyond the business world,…Read More

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Just over three weeks ago, I signed up for Bluesky, the new social networking service started by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and currently in private beta for users who join via an invitation code from someone who already signed up. The company will open a public beta on a currently-unknown date in the future for which you can add your name now to a waitlist.

Since the Bluesky private beta opened in February 2023, it’s become one of the most desired online destinations with high-profile users and a few celebrities piling in – so much so that invitation codes are a hot item for sale on Ebay with asking prices reaching the hundreds of dollars, pounds and euros.

Currently, the level of hype surrounding Bluesky is off the scale, putting it squarely at the peak of inflated expectations.

People are publicly pleading to get a special code that lets them join an invitation-only social-media platform. "I would pay up to $250 for it." https://t.co/4HdZDFH7m3

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) June 1, 2023

What’s clear, though, is that Bluesky continues attracting attention, desire, and new users to the private beta. Overall, mainstream media reporting on Bluesky is very largely positive. The result is steady but sure growth to the point that it passed 105,000 users in early June. I joined on May 9: then, it had about 70,000 users.

From less than 60K users at the start of May, to more than 105K in early June.

Remember, this is still a private beta where it’s far too soon to think about phrases like ‘daily active users’ or, in Twitter parlance, ‘monetizable daily active users.’ Is that ever the ugliest of phrases! And Twitter currently has about 237 million of them (which I guess includes me as I’m still there).

The Bluesky platform itself is still in development with frequent changes, and the mobile apps for Android and iOS are updated regularly with bug fixes and improvements. There’s also a desktop app as well now.

While it has many similarities to Twitter in terms of look and feel, Bluesky doesn’t yet have a comparable feature list other than the basics – how to create and post messages, ‘like’ others’ posts, share them, etc. At present, there is no direct-messaging function nor any means to embed videos, two of the most-used functions on Twitter, nor can you set your profile as private.

Twitter’s been going for 17 years, don’t forget, Bluesky for little over six months.

Yet in the midst of such current-minimalism and constant change, people are taking part in a great experiment to help create an online presence that gives them something more/different/better/new than they currently get in other places online, whether it’s Twitter or somewhere else.

It’s worth noting one important aspect of Bluesky in this regard. While most people might think of Bluesky as a social network, it’s actually more of a technical project, an initiative to develop a decentralized social network protocol called the AT Protocol, and an associated social networking service. So it’s much more than a social network.

And incidentally, one thing I see on Bluesky that’s different is few people talking about Bluesky and Twitter comparisons, something I see all the time on Mastodon.

From now to coming soonIn my Bluesky usage over the past three weeks, I’ve had a good opportunity to kick the tyres and get a good feeling for this familiar-but-different place that I could see becoming my new outpost on the embryonic social Internet.

A few days after I signed up, I posted some initial impressions of Bluesky. Since then, I’ve learned quite a bit; here are a few further thoughts and perspectives.

1: A guide for users. The Bluesky team published a Bluesky User FAQ in mid-May. If you’re new, this is a good first port of call. If you’re not yet here, it’s worth looking at to see how things currently work on Bluesky.

2: Use a domain you own as your Bluesky handle, instead of the default ‘@yourname.bsky.social’. It’s quite easy to set up, even to change your existing handle from a default one to your own domain (and know why you would want to do that). The tutorial explains how. It’s a move I made about ten days ago. On a simple level, it’s a big personalisation step but the real value will be seen in the future when the AT Protocol starts to have an impact.

3: No support for hashtags yet. This is a mixed blessing. But I’m sure support will come at some point because of the innate usefulness of hashtags in search and as a tool to focus attention on a given topic. There’s also the fact that hashtags are widely used on other platforms and familiarity exists already. Perhaps asking for it might help.

4: Choose custom feeds to follow. This may well be one of the biggest features that will differentiate Bluesky from other would-be Twitter alternatives. This is the polar opposite of algorithms where the platform automatically creates lists of posts from your behaviour, and a lot else, based on analyses of lots of data about what you do on the network and who you’re connected to, such as how Twitter works. As Bluesky explains in the User FAQ:

Custom feeds is a feature on Bluesky that allows you to pick the algorithm that powers your social media experience. Imagine you want your timeline to only be posts from your mutuals, or only posts that have cat photos, or only posts related to sports — you can simply pick your feed of choice from an open marketplace.

Bluesky, May 19, 2023

If you’re a developer you can create your own feeds. Blueskey says a feature for users to do this themselves is forthcoming.

5: Sharing information to Bluesky is still a manual process. We’re very much used to being able to share a news item to a social network like Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook by clicking or tapping an icon or button on the source website or other place. You can’t do that on Bluesky.

You also can’t do things like embed tweets from Twitter or other social networks, although the platform now lets you include visual references in Bluesky posts you create much like the cards you have on Twitter. Also, you can’t embed Bluesky posts on websites (such as in this article, hence only screenshots) that you can do with posts from Twitter and other networks. No doubt this is due to the private nature of the current beta: you also notice it when sharing someone’s post on Bluesky which you won’t be able to see unless you’re logged in to your own Bluesky account. And there are no share buttons anywhere on any websites yet.

The infrastructure for such things isn’t in place yet, and I wouldn’t expect some of it to be until development in the Bluesky public beta is well advanced. So for now, it’s a manual copy-and-paste job of article titles, URLs, etc, into the edit panel when you create a new post.

Undoubtedly there’s a lot more to talk about that I’ll save for my next ‘Bluesky report card’ post.

While I can see Bluesky as a realistic alternative to Twitter for individuals, even basing such a view just on this private beta test, it’s far too early to make any concrete or credible predictions. There is too much unknown, especially thinking about what Bluesky might look and feel like if it were to assume the mantle of a mass social networking medium with tens of millions of users, something I don’t really foresee in the immediate future considering their current roadmap.

Plus, consider what others may be planning. For instance, it appears that Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is developing a Twitter-like decentralised social network.

Is Bluesky a place for businesses or political groups?In a word, no, it’s not. Bluesky’s terms of service contain wording that might restrict or prohibit some activities by people representing organisations. For instance, “Bluesky grants to you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license, with no right to sublicense, to download and install the App on a mobile device that you own or control and to run the App solely for your own personal non-commercial purposes”.

Even if Bluesky becomes such a place as it develops and the terms of service change, I don’t see it as an attractive or sustainable place for business and other advertisers if they continue the business models we currently see elsewhere. It’s not a place for businesses or organisations in the way Twitter is (or better said, was in the relative normality prior to the Elon Musk era).

That’s largely based on demographic profiling, data capturing and algorithmic procedures, all legitimate activities – setting aside appallingly-bad practices with people’s privacy and data under the guise of legitimacy – but anathema to most of the users on Bluesky (I’d say) and their reasons for being there.

So while you will find individual politicians, mostly American at the moment, you won’t find businesses, political parties, governments, activists, non-profits, etc, on Bluesky if they don’t comply with all the conditions in the terms of use.

Experiment with no pressureOne thing I’m sure of is that it’s worth exploring Bluesky, seeing how it works, seeing who’s there and making your own connections. It really is very much like Twitter was in its earliest days in 2006-2007, a time of relative innocence and one of openness, trustworthiness and authenticity that has greatly diminished in recent years. Think about what the AT Protocol will do in terms of user verification.

If you do join Bluesky, it could be part of your individual Twitter escape plan if pursuing an alternative option is what you want. Otherwise, just enjoy your unfettered, unpressured freedom.

This is not about seeing the world through a cloud of nostalgia and winding back the clock. Those early Twitter days are in the past, part of history, something to learn from.

My advice is to sign up when you can, be yourself, feel liberated and not pressured to perform; explore, connect with new and old connections alike, and see what natural social behaviours can bring you, for yourself and those you connect with in this refreshingly different environment.

If you have questions or comments about Bluesky, I’m happy to help you address them. If you’re already on Bluesky, I’m at https://bsky.app/profile/airstrip1.uk. If you’re not there yet, well, Twitter or Mastodon are the other best places to find me.

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Podcasting in the UK is very much alive and well if even half of what I heard and saw at The Podcast Show 2023 in London last week is any indicator.

Held at the Business Design Centre in Islington, this conference and exhibition event ran throughout the week with the main show itself on 24-25 May. It was heavily supported by some prominent mainstream industry names as partners – Acast, Amazon Music, AudioBoom, BBC Sounds, Dolby, Libsyn, Sky News, Sony Music, Spotify, Wondery, YMU, the list goes on – along with nearly 50 exhibitors.

Podcasting is very much a huge media business today, grown way beyond the homebrew era of its noughties origins. Indeed, I couldn’t imagine how different this was until I remembered what an event like PodcastCon UK looked like back in 2006 at podcasting’s dawn.

Or is it that the real difference 17 years on is primarily one of evolution and scale? That is a realistic view especially when you consider what the picture of podcasting looks like now according to some powerful metrics published within the past month where Adam Bowie has applied some skill in the analysis and visualisations of data from Ofcom in April.

However you think about it, The Podcast Show 2023 was a well-built event that offered a big platform for creators, producers, hardware and software makers, vendors, service providers, and many more. It was a showcase of many sorts. And it was a place for learning with sessions led by podcasters, producers, and vendors designed to share knowledge and insights about podcasts and podcasting, from the simple to the essential.

I was impressed at the breadth of topics featured in the ‘Talking Podcasts‘ sessions – ranging from creating podcasts for children, to how to structure and market your podcast subscription effectively, to immersive storytelling with the latest leading-edge audio tech, to how to take an abstract idea and transform it into a treatment for an entire audio experience, and a great deal more.

Podcasting really has come a long way since Shel and I created How to Do Everything with Podcasting, the book aimed at communicators and business podcasters, published by McGraw-Hill in 2007.

Photo gallery from the floor:

I went to the event on the final day, Thursday 25 May. I was there all day primarily to listen and learn. I wanted to see what was happening, join a handful of sessions to learn what was happening, and meet some people and talk about what was happening. I was wearing my overall podcasting hat so I wasn’t there on a specific representation, just as a long-time podcaster keen to see what was going on.

Gordon Glenister, a fellow member of the Marketing Podcast Network, was also there. Gordon had an exhibition stand and he was speaking. We didn’t manage to meet up (ships in the night…); he’s written up a narrative on his experience there.

Session notesThe rest of this article gives you a view of some of the sessions on the final day of The Podcast Show 2023 as seen through my specific lens. It’s quite a narrow focus that reflects my own interest areas. There was a great deal else going on, especially in the areas of actual podcasting and shows being developed, even BBC Sounds and Sky News were there doing a great deal.

Keep an eye on the event’s Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for news and info about reviews, announcements, new episodes, etc, as well as the event hashtag #PodShowLDN.

Panel: Execution, Targeting & Measurement – Is Podcasting ‘Growing Up’?“Podcasting is growing as a channel but is it ‘growing up’ to offer the same types of execution, targeting and measurement that today’s digital buyers expect based on their ways of buying more mature digital channels? Join Acast, PWC and the LadBible group to discuss what marketers want in podcasting and how to target and measure campaigns.”

Michael Bayston, VP, Adtech Solutions, Acast
Emily Roberts, Senior Associate PWC and Co-Founder The Women in Programmatic Network
Fern Potter, VP Business and Product Strategy, Multilocal
Megan Davies, MD International, Acast

Without podcasting there would have been no growth in digital audio in 2022 – Michael.

What do advertisers want?

good targeting
measurement
attention
a holistic approach

If you can’t measure it, it didn’t really happen – Emily
Addressability: finding the right space for your podcast – Fern
Overmeasure: just because you could doesn’t mean you should – Fern
Marketers opening up to podcasting because of cookie tracking going away – Megan

Ad tech and podcasts
Podcasting is different to radio

Marketers are interested in collaborations including sponsorships with existing successful podcasts – Megan

Panel: The Unstoppable Rise Of The Visual Podcast“The next generation of podcast listeners will expect video as part of your offering – and the next generation of podcast talent is already delivering it. So, what’s the impact for creators and what should they be doing to level up their content? In this session, we’ll explore the rise of the visualised podcast and the lessons every podcaster can learn from visual first creators.”

Mike Newman, VP Content & Production, Audioboom
Jordan Theresa, Host, Voicenotes podcast
Beth Heard, Head of Talent, Sixteenth

Video = podcast – Jordan, who hosts a… video podcast
(Audience disagreed when asked by Mike: they said video = show or video)

Fans ask for audio so they can listen when they can’t watch – Mike, ref to RAJAR survey report

Not everyone needs a podcast – Beth

Panel: The State of Audio-Only Storytelling with Dolby Atmos“Learn from industry leaders on how they leverage connecting and engaging podcast listeners with Dolby Atmos. Audible Director of Production Chris Jones, Wondery Chief Creative Officer Marshall Lewy, and director of the award-winning series, The Sandman, Dirk Maggs will discuss how their creative teams are expanding into new genres with Dolby Atmos and why it’s important to create more immersive experiences for listeners. With Dolby Atmos, podcast creators and audio-only storytellers can now place sounds in a multi-dimensional space that creates an audio-only experience so rich and life-like it transports you into the story. Hear how you can elevate your storytelling to offer a podcast experience so true to life, the lines between the listener’s imagination and reality start to blur.”

Tina Eckman, Director, Content Relations, Dolby
Marshall Lewy, Chief Content Officer, Wondery
Chris Jones, Director of Production, Audible UK
Dirk Maggs, Director/Adapter & Co-Executive Producer, The Sandman (Audible/DC Comics)

Dirk Maggs produced the “Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” for BBC radio

Dolby Atmos raises your game in more ways than you imagine – Dirk
Immersive, you’re in the audio story – Dirk
We’re on the learning curve and the adoptive curve – Dirk
YouTube is the biggest podcast channel, bigger than Apple or Spotify – Marshall
The power of sound is as a storytelling tool – Dirk
You collude with the sound to create the images yourself – Dirk

Panel: A Podcasters Manifesto: How Pod Save The UK Can Change The World“Crooked Media launched Pod Save America in the shadow of President Trump’s inauguration. But now that every problem in the American political system is solved, Crooked has teamed up with Reduced Listening and London’s own Nish Kumar and Coco Khan to try to do the same for the UK. A driving factor in the creation of Pod Save the UK is a desire to disrupt the way we talk about UK politics and keep listeners informed, engaged, and inspired to take action. Find out about the new podcast, the team’s view on the current political-podcast landscape and how creators can use their platforms to inspire change.”

Nish Kumar, Host, Pod Save The UK
Coco Khan, Host, Pod Save The UK
Matt Deegan, Creative Director Radio & Podcasting, Folder Media
Joby Waldman, Managing Director, Reduced Listening
Louise Cotton, Executive Producer, Pod Save The UK

Nish: played a really good showreel

Excellent and highly amusing introduction/walk-through by Nish of the UK political and podcasting landscape

This is a sister show to Pod Save America that was founded by the Obama comms team in 2016
But Pod Save the UK is very different to the US show in content and tone
Weekly show: audio and video (on YouTube)

My label: comedy and politics, a winning combination

About other media: GB News = generally bullshit

What do you want to achieve and who is your audience?

Coco: self-described lefty, political, wannabe DJ

Reduced Listening is the producer

Tone is driven by the presenters – Louise
It’s important we have a ‘Pod Save the UK’ attitude – Louise

Presentation and Recording: Podnews Weekly Review – Live“The last session of the day is the last word in podcasting news: a live recording of the popular weekly industry news podcast, with James Cridland and Sam Sethi. Join them, with special guests, looking at the week’s news.”

James Cridland, Editor, Podnews
Sam Sethi, Host, Podnews Weekly Review

This was a very different session from the more formal and structured panel discussions I attended during the day. In essence, it was a live recording with James and Sam in conversation, with “Special guest: the audience” participating in response to James asking questions on topical issues.

Topics:

YouTube RSS landgrab
Podcast ranking for the UK
Podcasting and Twitter
the BBC is to work with Spotify’s Megaphone
Spotify AI ads

I added my 0.02 to the topic about YouTube and RSS. I think it’s a hot issue – YouTube seems to want to capture exclusivity with where podcasts are hosted, as in “it’s YouTube and nowhere else” – although some in the audience expressed opinions that they didn’t really care where their podcasts are hosted as long as they got the listeners.

I think they’re wrong: big brands especially are very focused on where podcasts they are associated with are hosted and in what environment. Every podcaster should be.

The 40-minute episode was published on Friday 26 May. Listen.

And that wrapped up the day. It was good to meet up with James and Sam again. The last time I saw James was at PodcastCon UK in 2006 in London. Time certainly has flown!

As for how alive and well UK podcasting is, as I referenced at the start of this article, my only caution is that the risk of podcasting evolving into a mainstream medium is precisely that: the risk of becoming just another mainstream medium. Even just another marketing channel.

I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts this year already, mostly by UK podcasters and many new. While most demonstrate the passion and talents of the hosts and presenters, share some great stories, and are a delight to listen to, some are just what I describe as ‘tabloid radio’ with nothing authentic or memorable about them at all. Others are too slickly produced for my taste, lacking genuine warmth and passion: I can visualise in my mind as I listen that the host is turning the script pages, tapping page-down on a keyboard or scrolling a tablet. Even if they’re actually not.

I’m reminded of Beth Heard’s comment in the second session I attended in the morning that “Not everyone needs a podcast.” She’s right. I’d add, “Not everyone should be doing a podcast”.

Some final thoughts about my day’s experience:

It would be great if the organisers were to share the recordings of each session. Maybe they plan to do this although I see no reference anywhere on the event website.
Intriguing to see live transcripts on TV screens in nearly all the sessions I attended. AI driven, I imagine, as you can tell it was automated by the auto-corrections happening and sometimes not. Nice to see a live sign-language interpreter in one session I was at, too.
There was a show app for iOS and Android but, frankly, I wasn’t impressed with it at all. I had the Android version but no matter what I did, it wouldn’t log me in. Before the event I uninstalled it, reinstalled it, reset the password at least three times, no success. The organiser team tried to help via Twitter but in the end, asked me to contact the app developer. Well, there wasn’t time for that.
What was good was the registration bar code that I could install on my phone within my Google Wallet. All I had to do was show it at the registration desk at the Business Design Centre. It worked perfectly when I arrived to get my badge: they scanned the code on my phone and out popped a badge from the printer with no faff or fuss, all in less than 60 seconds. Nicely done!
The last word is a shoutout to Libsyn for having the most relevant badges/stickers of any I saw there!

Nice #podcasting badges from @libsyn at #PodShowLDN yesterday ????? pic.twitter.com/asDjwV8tDL

— Neville Hobson (@jangles) May 26, 2023

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Since Elon Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter last October, much discussion has ensued on finding an alternative social networking platform where unhappy Twitter users could migrate from Twitter and leave the uncertainty and chaos behind. In the past month, one name has gathered significant momentum and come to the head of attention – Bluesky.

Bluesky is a new social network founded by Jack Dorsey, one of the three founders of Twitter, built very much to look and feel like Twitter although it is not owned by nor is it a part of Twitter. It has not been released publicly yet but has attracted extraordinary attention and a surge in popularity in recent weeks on a wave of hype across the entire media landscape, mainstream and social, around the world.

Anyone can sign up on a waitlist for access to a Bluesky beta programme when that’s available. What’s been a big driver in the hype is that you can gain access to an exclusive pre-beta test now if you have a special invitation code, typically secured from someone already with access.

As you can imagine, that kind of exclusivity – added to a FOMO factor and opinions, screenshots and more being shared across the social web from people with access – is almost guaranteed to keep the hype boiling and drive the attention stream onward. In a supply-meets-demand situation, there are even invitation codes being offered for sale or auction on eBay and elsewhere.

I’d say you’ll be taking some major chances if you go the route of buying a code.

Earlier this week, I secured an invitation code for the pre-beta test from Drew Benvie – a good friend, and the best route. I’ve been setting out my stall on this would-be Twitter replacement and I’ve begun kicking the tyres.

My very first impression is that Bluesky really does look and feel just like Twitter. The design, the layout, and the actions you take to create and post a message, like others’ messages, share posts, etc, will be highly familiar to every Twitter user who comes here.

To begin, I installed the Bluesky app on my Android smartphone via a download from Google Play. If you have an iPhone, it’s a similar procedure with a download from the App Store. There is no app for Windows yet, but there is for Macs via the App Store.

I actually wasn’t keen at all on having to use only my phone or tablet for this. I primarily use social networking on my desktop or laptop PCs running Windows 11, not on a mobile device which I use when not at my desk. Luckily, with a little sleuthing and help from a new Bluesky acquaintance, I found the solution to using Bluesky with a browser on a computer once you know what your precise handle address is. (I haven’t found this documented anywhere so I may write up a quick how-to? unless one appears.)

So I’m happily using Bluesky in the Chrome browser on my computers. As with other social networks I use, I also have the app on my phone and tablet so I’ve covered all my bases.

Being as this is very much beta software, there isn’t a huge amount of documentation or explainers to help you – and so something that looks familiar to what you already know will be helpful. It all can be a bit buggy although the worst I’ve experienced so far is slow page loads from time to time. I have found tweeting (sorry, old habits are hard to stop) a question asking how to do something will typically get quick replies.

It reminds me a little of Twitter back in the beginning days in 2006 and the following few years where other users’ help was always there and the fail whale was your constant companion. Everything was an experiment!

And so, I have set up my account. I’ve posted more than 20 messages, some with images. I’ve started following a few dozen other users, nearly all of whom weren’t known to me before, and I have about 40 people following me so far. Not a bad start in just a few days.

It’s important to remember that, while this looks and feels very much like Twitter, it’s only just starting and does not have the infrastructure surrounding Twitter that’s been constructed and refined over the past 17 years. On a fundamental level, there’s no support yet for direct messages, hashtags or embedding videos, for example. This is pre-beta, don’t forget, although I’d expect such fundamentals to improve well before the time it gets to full public launch.

Is Bluesky an alternative to Twitter?A low barrier to entry (once Bluesky actually launches) and a shallow learning curve will likely be two major influences on people looking for an alternative to Twitter that is familiar and where they can get going pretty quickly.

If you are seriously looking for somewhere other than Twitter, is Bluesky the place for you? As ever, the answer to such a question will inevitably start, “It depends.”

It depends on what you want from an alternative to Twitter and why you wish to leave Twitter. I think for many people, maybe most, a major driver will be to escape from the chaos and uncertainty about Twitter and what’s been happening recently, eg mass layoffs of key staff and constant changes to the platform often with unintended or unexpected consequences, and the removal of Twitter verification and replacing it with a paid-for service called Twitter Blue. Others will say that Twitter under Elon Musk’s leadership is not a place they want to be. Others will talk about decentralisation and getting away from manipulated content and the overt selling of things. And still others do not want to be on a social network full of – as the euphemism goes – bad actors.

As I’ve written here over the past year, I worry about all of the above, yet I remain on Twitter. The reason is partly related to my work where being present on Twitter is important. It’s also that I’ve been on Twitter since December 2006 so giving up my presence there isn’t something I will do lightly.

I do have an escape plan so if push comes to shove requiring an exit in a hurry, or I reach a point where I want to leave of my own accord, I am ready for that.

Whether Bluesky is an alternative to Twitter, for individual users it’s not yet because it’s in a pre-beta stage, it’s a closed private network, and it has no infrastructure to speak of yet nor ecosystem of communities and developers – such things take time to build.

If you would join Bluesky to represent your company or organization, then no, it’s certainly not ready for that yet either, other than for establishing a footprint there and testing the waters. If you have this in mind, you might want to read Drew Benvie’s article in PR Week this week (behind a paywall) in which he discusses Bluesky’s potential in the PR world. Also see the 4 things for PR pros to know about Bluesky report in PR Week, published last week.

And, you should definitely read Bluesky’s terms of service and its copyright notice before joining.

What of other potential alternatives to Twitter, eg, Mastodon or Post.News to name but two? I’ve used both and I’m active on Mastodon and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Mastodon would be my primary choice if I were looking to move from Twitter – it has enjoyed huge growth over the past year and already has a developing infrastructure and ecosystem in place.

This was my choice right up until Bluesky emerged as a potential alternative. It may become an actual and viable alternative once it’s progressed into formal beta testing and features and functionality improve.

You might conclude that this picture doesn’t do well at presenting a clear alternative to Twitter. To be sure, the picture isn’t clear yet. I see this as a time for discovery and experimentation. Most people aren’t into all the tech that underpins many of the new offerings that have emerged where the word ‘decentralised‘ is commonly spoken. This word applies to Bluesky and this will be more important in the coming years as proving you are who you say you are requires verification quickly and seamlessly, all with no fuss. That’s what decentralisation will help deliver among other things.

There’s also a matter of major importance to many people, which is all about the people who found and run the infrastructure of the community you join and their role in creating a safe place for its users, the people in that community who you engage with, and your overall experience.

For many people, these are among the failings at Twitter and the primary reasons why they want to leave. Expect more ups and downs with Twitter in the coming weeks following an announcement yesterday that Elon Musk has hired a new CEO.

I would recommend checking out Bluesky when you can – right now if you want to be at the bleeding edge and if you can get an invitation code. Or join the waitlist for the public beta launch. Or, wait for the actual full launch.

I’ll continue my own exploration of Bluesky, getting to know the pros and cons and building up a community of my own, and report my further experiences in this blog.

I like Bluesky because of its familiarity with what has been an excellent tool for communicating and engaging with others online over the years. That’s Twitter even if it always has been an imperfect tool, one that in my view has rapidly declined in trustworthiness since Elon Musk arrived on the scene.

If you’re already on Bluesky and would like to connect, you’ll find me here: ~~https://bsky.app/profile/jangles.bsky.social~~ [26/5/23: I changed my handle, now using a domain I own: https://bsky.app/profile/airstrip1.uk. The previous handle is no longer valid.]

Bluesky might be the reset starter that so clearly is needed now where reputation, trust, trustworthiness and authenticity really do matter to everyone, individuals and businesses alike.

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I have a few takeaways from this Coronation Weekend of pomp, pageantry and rock ‘n’ roll I’d like to share that characterised the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6 May and the coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May.

Like millions of people in the UK and many more millions around the world, we watched the coronation ceremony live on the BBC. It was all you’d expect from an event like this and the BBC’s mastery in staging, producing and broadcasting it live.

The camera work and presentation of the ceremony that took place in Westminster Abbey were a compelling viewing experience. From the moment the King and his Queen Consort entered the building to the conclusion of this highly formal, traditional and so regal an event, we were part of something historic you could feel. The sense of witnessing a key part of this country’s identity and history that stretches back well over a thousand years is a powerful thing.

The BBC has posted video recordings on the BBC iPlayer (the full ceremony in UHD, for UK viewers) and its YouTube channel (a 4-minute summary), there for all the world to view at its leisure. Seeing it again, it really is quite a spectacle.

For me, the most compelling part of all was during the anointing of the King behind privacy screens and just before the actual crowning ceremony.

While this element in the coronation took place we could hear the orchestra playing Zadok the Priest and see the choir singing the accompanying words. This seminal work was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1727 for the coronation of King George II, and has been part of every coronation since then.

Will it produce a strong emotional reaction for you as it does for me? Watch the video and read the lyrics in the captions.

All Change at the CastleThe concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday evening was as different from the formality of the royal coronation on Saturday as you could imagine.

The production design was magnificent in the construction of the huge outdoor stage with all the supporting elements including imagery in the darkening evening sky created by drones that played key visual roles in the story-telling we saw and heard from each of the acts on stage and at venues up and down the country.

Each act took full advantage of the spaces and the panoramic depth of view across the audience of 20,000 surrounding the stage in a semi-circle with the castle wall as backdrop. All for an audio-visual experience that was designed for digital content broadcast and displayed in high-definition video and audio on big-screen TVs and other compatible devices.

And so to the acts themselves.

Coronation Concert: full line-up and songs

For me, two were standouts because of their sheer energy and ability, encompassing the singers themselves together with supporting backers and other artists, and the simple enjoyment of viewing their performances that were presented so beautifully – another testament to the BBC and the skills of its production teams and contractors in putting on an event like this. You only have to watch the Platinum Party at the Palace concert last year celebrating the late’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to see that they really do know what they’re doing.

My first standout is Katy Perry. The multi-platinum American singer’s energy and exuberance were delightful as she belted out ‘Roar’, her 2013 number 1 hit record. On stage, her reflective-gold costume was a visual feast as her every move and turn reflected the light so that she stood out unmistakably, contrasting the stage lights.

Watch the video:

My second standout act is Take That. The venerable British pop group, with a string of hit singles and albums over almost 30 years, closed the concert with their 1995 hit song ‘Never Forget’, starting with the choristers of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, singing the song’s introduction, and with backing by drummers of the Royal Marines Band.

Take That are past masters at audience engagement, something we saw in this concert session. Just about the whole audience of 20,000 singing along, waving flags, illuminated armbands highly visible in the evening darkness, all adding to the audio-visual experience. And the Royals joined in, too.

Watch the video:

Looking Ahead for the MonarchyIn the midst of the focus on King Charles and his wife Camilla as the Queen (crowned on Saturday, too, so no longer known simply as ‘Queen Consort’), it’s worth mentioning how William, Prince of Wales, has come to the forefront of attention during the past year.

His natural and easy ability for public speaking, and conveying a sincere belief in his authenticity and passion for causes related to climate change (the Earthshot Prize being the classic example), stand him in good stead for what undoubtedly will be required of him as his role will change now that his father is the anointed and coronated king and head of state. William is now next in line for succession. His speech on Sunday was a clear affirmation of his commitment to the service of others.

And what will be next for the Royal Family and the monarchy overall as an institution? We live in changing times (to perhaps re-coin an old phrase) and the role and purpose of the monarchy are being questioned publicly and more critically than the polite murmurings of the past.

That said, a YouGov survey just before the coronation shows there is still strong support for the monarchy among the British public – of those surveyed, two-and-a-half times as many said we should continue to have a monarchy than those who said we shouldn’t.

Still, changes in sentiment are in the air and, while some criticism has already translated into active opposition (prompting strong police reaction and a follow-up apology), a good foundation of support presents the right opportunity to build on it in ways that really can resonate with different age groups in the population.

And there’s still a limited window through which to capitalise on the goodwill King Charles has earned, much of which carries over from his mother the late Queen.

I can see both the King and William taking a strong, prominent and proactive lead on many issues surrounding climate change that would resonate with people, especially if there’s a strong sense of advancement, taking things forward, and stimulating action.

I can see another, parallel opportunity that will need strong persuasive acts and willingness to carry them through, and that is the King becoming more involved in advancing the climate change agenda in some of the politics in this country. Perhaps review the government’s long list of items in this agenda – pick just three things and get them moving.

If politicians can’t get things done, perhaps it’s time for another approach including expanding or formalising the scope for influence the monarch holds which may lead to opening up the wider debate on exactly how the monarchy should evolve. It’s a big topic.

Where there’s a will, though, there’s a way.

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The phrase “end of days” came to my mind as I reviewed a number of critical news reports during this past week about the current state of Twitter. The forthcoming demise of Twitter, sooner or later, is the strong thread running through all of this content, assessing the situation and arriving at this conclusion from many different routes.

A consistent narrative underpinning everything is a standard view that Twitter has gone to the dogs under Elon Musk’s leadership.

Some reports are fanciful, others ridiculous, but many give us a clear pause for thought, if not actual action, regarding the future of Twitter and us as users or advertisers. In reverse chronological order, these are a few of the more thought-provoking narratives and opinions that have caught my attention that offer clear pointers to Twitter’s pending and probably inevitable car crash:

Is Elon Musk a genius or a dud? “What once felt like a free and open public forum has become one in which those who pay the most get to shout the loudest, while others with more thoughtful expressions are pushed to the wayside. To make matters worse, it’s now difficult to tell if many people on the site are who they say they are.” (New Statesman, 30 April 2023.)
Move over Twitter… meet Bluesky “Given Elon Musk’s chaotic rein at Twitter, manifested most recently with his uneven removal of the blue ticks of authentication and his tendency to use the platform to settle petty personal beefs, there is a sense that a breach has opened. Bluesky looks quite similar, with profile photos, posts, replies, follower counts, and even a similar blue and white colour scheme … Yet history would say that the odds of Bluesky breaking through are very low.” (The Times, 29 April 2023.)
Six Months In: Thoughts On The Current Post-Twitter Diaspora Options “Just sticking with Twitter: This has to be at least mentioned, as many people remain on Twitter, and certain communities don’t seem motivated enough to move. It still remains possible that somehow Twitter will stop making ridiculous decisions. But, the last six months is… well… not encouraging. Still, inertia is a powerful force and it can win. Either way, this is a rapidly evolving space, and I’ve been really fascinated and encouraged by what’s happened over the past six months on Mastodon/ActivityPub, Bluesky, and even nostr. For all the talk of a lack of competition, we’re now seeing a ton, and competition leads to experimentation, and experimentation leads to innovation.” (TechDirt, 28 April 2023.)
Musk’s toxic brand is why Twitter is doomed “What isn’t fixable is Twitter’s astonishing reputational collapse under Musk because that collapse is the direct result of the rank politics of its owner. For most people, and for most brands, spending time or money on the platform is now an implicit endorsement of Musk’s political ideology, which includes or has included vaccine denial, union busting, homophobic disinformation targeting Democrats, hate speech targeting trans persons and other toxic beliefs. Musk is Twitter and Twitter is Musk.” (PR Week, 27 April 2023.)
Twitter is dead “Usually when a piece of culture dies – particularly a piece of technology – it’s because it has been phased out for something new, which is doing what the old thing did better (or, at the very least, in a way that has become more exciting and addictive to the average user) … But this isn’t what is happening with Twitter. It isn’t dying because some wildly-improved text-based platform has entered the scene – it’s dying as a direct impact of its owner’s choices. Not only is Twitter dying, nothing is thriving in its place.” (The New Statesman, 4 April 2023.)
Twitter is dying “Since Musk took over he has set about dismantling everything that made Twitter valuable – making it his mission to drive out expertise, scare away celebrities, bully reporters and – on the flip side – reward the bad actors, spammers and sycophants who thrive in the opposite environment: An information vacuum. It almost doesn’t matter if this is deliberate sabotage by Musk or the blundering stupidity of a clueless idiot. The upshot is the same: Twitter is dying.” (TechCrunch, 28 March 2023.)
How a social network falls apart “Musk looms large as Twitter’s owner. His presence on the site, up to and including picking fights with various individual users, makes him feel less like the CEO of a social media website and more like a tyrannical forum moderator. The tone of the site comes from the top, and it’s difficult to want to post on a site owned by someone who openly believes that ‘the media’ is racist against white people.” (The Verge, 9 March 2023.)

So, seven narrative reports and opinion pieces all of which run in a similar vein that Twitter isn’t a good model for the future of social networks.

I’ll add one other development that fuels my view that the end may be nigh. Overnight I received an email from JetPack, a WordPress toolkit to secure, speed up, and grow your website (owned by Automattic which also owns WordPress), telling me that important functionality connecting a WordPress blog with Twitter will no longer work automatically from the 1st of May.

A JetPack blog post explains what’s happened.

Twitter decided, on short notice, to dramatically change the terms and pricing of the Twitter API. We have attempted to work with Twitter in good faith to negotiate new terms, but we have not been able to reach an agreement. As a result, the Twitter connection on Jetpack Social will cease to work, and your blog posts will no longer be auto-shared to Twitter.

JetPack, 29 April 2023

JetPack noted that you will still be able to share your posts to Twitter manually by pasting the post link into the body of your tweet. But the auto-share function is gone.

There are some other tech developments worth noting, adding pressure to Twitter from a different angle. For example, Bluesky will allow users to use domain names as handles to help achieve decentralized verification and give users more control over their identity. This sounds like an attractive and more trustworthy-looking method of verification than the joke that is now Twitter’s version of verification.

Final wordsWhat would a demise actually look like? The literal end of Twitter? No more, wound up, bankrupt? Even in the midst of the chaos, it’s hard to believe that this is a possibility. More likely, perhaps, is a social network that continues to exist but as a shell of its former self with little genuine influence and even less authenticity.

In my view, what all this illustrates is this:

For brands: Twitter is not a trusted place for your reputation.
For individuals: I wouldn’t waste your money on Twitter Blue. Stay on Twitter as a “regular user” but make an escape plan, that’s your insurance policy in case you need to move very fast or if there’s a sudden demise. If you don’t have one yet, there’s still time. Just.

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Today the UK government launched Business Connect, described as a new conference that champions the dynamism of UK businesses to unlock innovation and grow the economy. Or, as The Times puts it, a charm offensive with business.

It’s also a means by which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak can engage in small-group conversation that will let him pitch his wares, as it were, more directly and personally.

As part of this charm offensive (I like The Times’ moniker), Sunak presented himself live on LinkedIn at 8.30am this morning in an online event. Over 30 minutes, he spoke to a handful of people who were brought into the live video stream in turn, asking Sunak questions which he addressed, making this a reasonably engaging series of inter-connected one-to-one chats.

What did it achieve, I wonder.

I saw Rishi Sunak’s post on LinkedIn advertising the event at about 8am this morning. That post said, “On 24 April I’ll be answering questions from the business community – live – right here on LinkedIn.”

That he did. But judging from some of the comments posted on LinkedIn, quite a few people were expecting Sunak to answer questions they were posting in the chat. Indeed, that was largely what I was expecting to happen.

Clearly, that would have been almost impossible in a live session like this. Texts were appearing non-stop in a constant stream along with emoji reactions. Some of the questions were plain silly or utterly off-topic but would require moderating. Others seemed to me to be really on topic, but you couldn’t expect individual answers in a session like this over 30 minutes.

Instead, we had scripted Q&A. Yet I think it wasn’t bad at all. Even if there was a huge sense of stage-managed marketing here, Sunak has the personality and the natural talent to at least give a good impression of authenticity.

Imagine, then, if this had been an ask me anything type of online event. Instead of on Reddit, on Linkedin. Eminently doable and I hope this idea gets attention from Sunak’s comms team.

Risky but if done well, it can be so engaging and genuine. Here’s a terrific example.

Improve the engagementIf I had a direct criticism of today’s LinkedIn event, it would be about identity. Meaning, who were the talking heads who appeared one after the other? Each said who they were but by the time I got even halfway through listening to them, I had forgotten their names.

Captions with names and LinkedIn handles would have been immensely helpful. It would also let you check them out there and then if you wanted to.

I’ve seen some comments about the lack of subtitles. Yes, it would have been helpful, and certainly so if they were included in the recording post-event but they’re not. That’s a big opportunity missed to engage with people who didn’t see it live but could be interested in the recording. If mobile, subtitles will enable viewers to follow along completely, given how so many people (me included) tend to watch most videos on social networks with audio muted. Subtitles are essential.

If you want to see the video recording, it’s here. (Imagine if I had been able to embed the video right here: you could just watch it. But I couldn’t find an embed code or any way to do that.)

Looking forward to the next one with improvements!

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In the early days of the twenty-first century, when the term “social media” was but a whisper in the digital wind, blogrolls played an instrumental role in the development of online communities.

A blogroll – a curated list of links to other blogs that a blogger would include on their blog – enabled bloggers to create a web of interconnected relationships, fostering discussion and exchanging ideas. Today, though, you’d be hard-pressed to find a useful blogroll on any worthwhile blog, a fact that I believe has contributed to a decline of discussion, of conversation, that was a mainstay of early blogging and developing a sustainable community online.

The Blogroll and Social ConnectionsBlogrolls helped form the foundation of early online communities. Through them, bloggers could connect to other bloggers and their content to engage in meaningful conversations and debates, ultimately broadening their horizons. Blogrolls were not just lists of links; they were the original social networks that laid the groundwork for an attractive social media landscape to develop.

Blogging platforms like Blogger, Movable Type, TypePad and WordPress helped encourage people to build the blogosphere and connect blogs together with pings, trackbacks, RSS feeds and a blogroll feature from the very beginning that you could enable on every blog. Today’s platform leader WordPress had functionality built in to create and curate a blogroll but removed it from the core software over a decade ago.

As the Internet and the world wide web evolved, so did social media. Social platforms like LiveJournal started in 1999, with others such as MySpace emerging in the early years of the new century. From around the mid-noughties, Facebook and Twitter began to dominate the consumer online world, simplifying the process of connecting with others. LinkedIn and XING did the same for online business networking.

But across the online world, the focus began shifting from in-depth commenting, replying and actual discussions on blogs to quick, easily digestible snackable content that took place on social networking sites.

This transition marked the beginning of the end for blogrolls in the mainstream as they were largely replaced by “follow” and “like” buttons.

Before that transition, blogrolls were a common sight. Here’s a screenshot from my TypePad blog in August 2004 – the blogroll is in the left-hand sidebar. The blog is no longer online in the format you see (it’s a text-only archive now) but you can see this view via the Wayback Machine.

Over the following decade, social media continued to evolve and become more of a vehicle for commercial and political interests with data manipulation and monetisation in mind. The sense of genuine community and authentic connections that blogrolls fostered began to fade. Attention spans shortened, and the desire for instant gratification grew.

The intimacy and thoughtfulness of the blogroll era were replaced by a culture of impulsivity where every link has a tracking code, and where hot takes and clickbait headlines reigned supreme. And let’s also mention anti-social behaviours and aggression that have led to many blogs and other websites disabling commenting entirely as discourse became overwhelmingly uncivil.

In short, the rise of social networking platforms and changes in people’s online behaviours have contributed to the decline of civil discourse. Blogrolls, with their curated links implying recommendations, encouraged reflection and respectful dialogue, as bloggers took the time to read, comment, and engage with one another’s work.

Now, though, communication is often governed by character count, making it difficult to foster and develop actual meaningful conversations.

In the current digital landscape, anonymity and the lack of accountability often lead to aggressive and polarising language and behaviour. The demise of blogrolls and the shift towards instant, shallow connections have given way to echo chambers and filter bubbles, further exacerbating the polarisation of opinions.

In the face of these challenges, there is a growing desire by many people to return to the thoughtful, respectful discussions that characterized the blogroll era. I believe there is hope that the lessons learned from the past can guide us in rebuilding a digital landscape that encourages civil discourse.

Recent initiatives such as the emergence of conversational-newsletter platform Substack – and perhaps new entrants such as Post.News – has the potential to enable people to create long-form content and build genuine interactions between authors and readers. And include curated lists of other recommended places.

Just like blogrolls in the (g)olden days :)

And while Twitter is still in the throws of chaos and turmoil with mounting questions over its relevance and trustworthiness, and even its very survival, let’s not count it down and out just yet. News came a few days ago that Twitter is enabling posts of up to 10,000 characters, which would be somewhere between 1,400 and 2,500 words. That’s unquestionably long form (and a knock on the head to its original value proposition of brevity in 140, then 280, then 4,000 characters) that may enable Twitter to evolve into better relevance for some – all else being equal, not least paying a monthly fee for the privilege with Twitter Blue.

As Stephen Waddington recently noted, blogrolls such as the one shown below in a screenshot of Richard Millington’s blog in June 2008 are a throwback to a gentler time when social media was social. Thanks to Michelle Goodall for bringing Rich’s blogroll to my attention!

The Blogroll can Help Civil Discourse Arise AgainThe history of blogrolls and their role in the development of social media is a tale of a seemingly lost art – the art of civil discourse. By understanding the lessons from the past, we can strive to create more inclusive, respectful online communities that value genuine connections and thought-provoking conversations.

As we navigate the ever-changing digital landscape, let’s not forget the importance of the humble blogroll and its ability to bring people together, fostering a sense of community and shared understanding.

Ultimately, the responsibility falls upon each of us as creators, writers and users of the Internet to cultivate a more thoughtful and inclusive digital environment. We can do this by seeking out people and platforms that encourage genuine discussions, engaging in respectful conversations, and sharing content that contributes to meaningful discourse.

I’m making a new start by introducing a blogroll for the first time since 2009. It begins as a short list of ten people whose content I enjoy, some of whom I’ve been reading for years. You’ll see the blogroll in the right-hand sidebar on the home page. Do make some visits!

Neville Hobson, 16 April 2023

By taking a step like this, we can each rediscover the essence of the blogroll era and work towards a brighter future for online interactions. If you run a WordPress blog, adding a blogroll is straightforward now with the ability to add a blogroll as a navigation menu. There are also WordPress plugins if you prefer that option.

As we continue to learn from the past and adapt to the present, we have the opportunity to redefine how we connect and communicate in this digital age, to pause and to take our time. We can rekindle the spirit of civil discourse that once flourished in the world of blogrolls.

Aside:

The generative AI images at the top are by Adobe Firefly beta in response to the text prompt: “Portrait of a person in a coffee shop, with sunlight, holding a laptop computer”, with filters set to ‘art’ and ‘digital art’. Usually, you would pick one of the four generated images. But I felt the four together were so complementary, I grabbed all four as presented. Collectively, they convey a good sense of civil online discourse and community.

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For many people, the blue checkmark on Twitter has been synonymous with credibility, influence, and social status. For others, it’s a vanity project with no real value to anyone, a broad sentiment that might grow in the face of changes to the verification programme that are in process.

These changes to verification and the meaning of the blue checkmark have left many questioning the whole point of Twitter and the overall purpose of the verification programme.

In the beginning…Twitter launched its verification feature in 2009 to combat the growing issue of impersonation of Twitter users, particularly concerning high-profile individuals. The blue checkmark provided a visual cue that the account belonged to the person it claimed to represent. As the platform grew, verification became a status symbol, with many users striving to obtain the coveted checkmark.

But the social network endured controversies in 2017 leading to its suspending the verification system entirely later that year.

Jump forward to May 2021, and Twitter relaunched verification with a re-declaration of what it means to be verified on Twitter:

The blue badge is one of the ways we help people distinguish the authenticity of accounts that are of high public interest. It gives people on Twitter more context about who they’re having conversations with so they can determine if it’s trustworthy, which our research has shown leads to healthier, more informed conversations.

Twitter: 20 May 2021

Jump forward again, to October 2022 and the arrival of new proprietor Elon Musk following the closing of his successful bid to acquire Twitter for $44 billion.

Musk set in train a series of massive changes at Twitter, from reducing employee numbers by thousands to leading the charge on launching the new Twitter Blue subscription service designed in part to address the loss of revenue from big advertisers who fled the social network and to replace the existing (now called ‘legacy’) verification programme.

Twitter Blue offers a range of additional benefits, some of which – being able to edit a tweet you’ve already published, for example; or posting tweets up to 4,000 characters, a significant increase beyond the standard 280 characters – are highly attractive to many users.

You pay for such benefits with the current subscription fee at $7.99 a month in the US (UK: £7.99 a month), more if you pay via the Apple Store, based on paying for a year in advance.

And then there’s verification, now only available to individuals if you subscribe to Twitter Blue.

Getting the Twitter bluesWith Twitter Blue verification, the original core principle mentioned above of verification being “one of the ways we help people distinguish the authenticity of accounts that are of high public interest” has gone. Now, verification is only a cue that a particular blue-checkmarked account is paying for a Twitter Blue subscription:

The blue checkmark means that the account has an active subscription to Twitter Blue and meets our eligibility requirements. Starting April 1, we’ll be winding down our legacy Verification program and accounts that were verified under the previous criteria (active, notable, and authentic) will not retain a blue checkmark unless they are subscribed to Twitter Blue.

Twitter (undated)

So, the meaning of ‘Twitter verification’ has entirely changed to simply one that says you’re verified as a Twitter Blue subscriber.

In my book, that means little, perhaps even nothing at all. My primary Twitter handle @jangles is verified (rather, ‘legacy verified’ in 2017) and according to Twitter, I will lose this verification very soon (bye-bye blue checkmark!) as Twitter starts winding down the old programme from 1 April and if I don’t subscribe to Twitter Blue.

As I have neither wish nor intent to pay Twitter for a blue checkmark of questionable value, this looks like a certainty. Or perhaps it’s all an April Fool’s joke? That’s what Politico is wondering.

In any case, I think this devalues Twitter and makes me wonder, “what’s the point?”, a question the EFF eloquently explores.

Just look at the differences in the meaning of ‘verification’ now on Twitter in this comparison of how the word is explained on a ‘legacy verified’ user profile such as mine:

So I expect the blue checkmark to disappear very soon.

I don’t lament its imminent passing, frankly. If you’ve read any of the articles here over the past six months and more, you’ll know that disillusionment with what Twitter has fast become under Elon Musk’s leadership has set in, to the extent now that I have little faith in Twitter as a place of “healthier, more informed conversations.”

I also think it’s worth repeating a point I made last December in an article about the changes in Twitter verification:

We live in a time of severely diminished trust in institutions and individuals alike. And the rise of bad actors, scams and fakery at scale requires tools and methods that increase trust, not diminish it. Twitter Blue ‘verification’ may prove to be another straw on Twitter’s back, hopefully not the final one that breaks it for users.

Neville Hobson, 19 December 2022

Or starting the end of days for Twitter, to use another metaphor.

I don’t plan on leaving Twitter – I’ve been here since 2006 – but I no longer see this social network as a primary place of engagement with people. It still has a role to play in the wider universe of people sharing opinions, news and information online but with huge caveats attached.

The new face of Twitter verification – 19 December 2022
Twitter’s chaos may help decentralized alternatives like Mastodon gain traction – 22 November 2022
Turmoil engulfs a Twitter in transition – 6 November 2022

Additional reading:

Without Verification, What Is the Point of Elon Musk’s Twitter? – Electronic Frontier Foundation, 31 March 2023
Twitter’s Blue Check Apocalypse Is Upon Us. Here’s What to Know – New York Times, 31 March 2023
Some of Twitter’s top users aren’t afraid of losing their blue check marks – NBC News, 31 March 2023
Should You Pay for a Checkmark on Twitter, for Yourself or Your Business? – Social Media Today, 30 March 2023
Twitter to no longer only promote paid-for accounts after backlash – Guardian, 29 March 2023
Twitter to Revoke ‘Legacy’ Verified Badges in April, Leaving Only Paying Subscribers With Blue Check-Marks – Variety, 23 March 2023

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Some years ago, Advertising Value Equivalency (AVE) was a hot topic in PR industry discussion. The discussion focused on an increasingly widely-held view that AVE is a discredited measurement metric for public relations.

AVE refers to the practice of estimating the value of PR efforts by calculating the cost of an equivalent amount of advertising space or time in the same media outlet and comparing the two.

Unfortunately, AVE refuses to go away entirely as some in the industry still advocate for its use. Recently I came across an explainer from Meltwater that includes a formula for calculating AVE using Meltwater’s widget. The explainer includes the caveat, “While this is a very popular widget among our clients, it is important to note that this is our best estimate and it does not measure an exact value.”

You might as well take the random number AVE calculator for a spin and get some entertainment at the same time!

No doubt GPT-4 and AI has serious applications for #prmeasurement #publicrelations – This calculator is not one of them. It took me 10 mins to make using GPT-4. Can you believe vendors still include this metric in their tools?! :) https://t.co/m7YgDoXl9p

1/2 pic.twitter.com/ylKvxmfnje

— Gary Preston (@garydpreston) March 27, 2023

If you do need a reminder of why AVE is an invalid practice, here are five:

Inaccurate comparison: AVE compares PR to advertising, which is fundamentally different. Advertising is a paid-for, controlled message, while PR is earned media, based on third-party endorsement and credibility. This makes it difficult to make a fair comparison between the two, as their impact on the audience can be vastly different.
Overestimation of value: AVE often overestimates the value of PR coverage because it assumes that the entire worth of PR is equal to the cost of advertising, ignoring that earned media often has greater credibility and trustworthiness. Additionally, AVE doesn’t account for the quality or sentiment of the coverage, which can significantly affect its impact on the audience.
Lack of standardisation: AVE calculations are not standardised, leading to inconsistencies in how the value is determined. Different organisations might use different multipliers or methodologies, creating confusion and making it difficult to compare results across various PR campaigns or agencies.
No measurement of outcomes: AVE only focuses on the supposed monetary value of media coverage and does not provide insight into a PR campaign’s actual results or effectiveness. Metrics like audience engagement, message resonance, and behaviour change are more meaningful indicators of PR success, but AVE doesn’t account for them.
Disregard for online and social media: AVE was developed in an era when traditional media dominated the landscape. Today, online and social media play a significant role in shaping public opinion, but AVE doesn’t accurately capture their impact. This makes it an outdated and incomplete measurement for modern PR efforts.

Today, most practitioners focus on more meaningful and comprehensive evaluation methods, such as explained in the Barcelona Principles which advocate for outcome-based measurement, qualitative analysis, and a holistic understanding of PR impact. Barcelona Principles 3.0 were published in November 2020, which contains a clear reminder statement of principle on AVE:

The message remains consistent and clear: we continue to believe that AVEs do not demonstrate the value of our work. It is important that communications measurement and evaluation employs a richer, more nuanced, and multi-faceted approach to understand the impact of communications.

AMEC Barcelona Principles 3.0

Note that if you enter a CIPR award programme for public relations campaigns with the expectation of winning a prize, set that expectation very low if you have used AVE in your measurement – you’ll get a zero score on measurement if you have.

Be smart, and do yourself and the PR profession a favour – don’t use AVE.

(I created the image at the top with Bing Image Creator from the simple prompt “PR professional studying a newspaper.” Goodbye stock images.)

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A thorny issue in the broad area of generative AI concerns copyright and how or whether it applies in activities involving the gathering of data about images, texts and other content for use by AI publishers.

Specifically, such use would be using the data gathered, with permission if required, as sources for training the algorithms that generate the AI-produced content such as images, video and text.

It was one of the discussion topics in the March monthly episode of For Immediate Release, the business podcast I co-host with Shel Holtz that we published on March 20. That discussion, in which Shel and I appear to be on opposite sides of the copyright and permission debate, was prompted by an article last week in The Economist that warned a battle royal is brewing over copyright and AI.

The main issue here, The Economist argues, is the oceans of copyrighted data that bots have siphoned up while being trained to create human-like content. That information comes from everywhere: social media feeds, Internet searches, digital libraries, television, radio, banks of statistics and so on. Often, it is alleged, AI models plunder the databases without permission. Those responsible for the source material complain that their work is hoovered up without consent, credit or compensation.

In short, says The Economist, some AI platforms may be doing with other media what Napster did at the turn of the century with songs – ignoring copyright altogether. Napster, a platform for sharing mainly pirated songs, was ultimately brought down by copyright law.

Similar arguments and warnings are being made by others, too, who believe the issue of infringing or ignoring copyright is one that hasn’t been addressed at all and is becoming urgent. I remember reading a really good assessment in The Verge last November that made very clear points on the scary truth about AI copyright is nobody knows what will happen next.

Already legal actions are starting, the most dramatic being the lawsuit filed by Getty Images against Stability AI, the company behind the Stable Diffusion AI image generator. Getty claims that over 12 million of its copyrighted images, along with their descriptions and metadata, were used to train Stable Diffusion. The lawsuit seeks a staggering $1.8 trillion in compensation.

Overall, it’s a muddy picture. I think many people speak of generative AI and copyright in the sense of the actual ouput, eg, a digital artwork or a text article. Some see it as the digital images or texts that can also be the input where AI tools look at reference images or articles that form part of the training and learning that enable these tech tools to generate content from the prompts users give.

It’s about the dataWhat we’re actually looking at here is the input in the form of data, eg, the metadata mentioned above in the Getty lawsuit against Stability AI, and whether it’s been acquired and used by AI firms with permission and in full recognition of copyright ownership.

Governments are starting to do more than just talk about the issue. In the UK, for instance, the government is creating a code of practice for generative AI firms according to a report in Computer Weekly last week, that aims to enable generative AI companies in the UK to mine data, text and images that would attract investment, support company formation and growth, and show international leadership. And hopefully address the matter of copyright.

In the US, the federal government Copyright Office has just published Copyright Registration Guidance: Works Containing Material Generated by Artificial Intelligence that sets out a statement of policy to clarify practices for examining and registering works that contain material generated by the use of AI technology.

These are good moves undoubtedly. Yet they illustrate one of the biggests hurdles – the geographic nature of copyright law. Perhaps territoriality of copyright law is a better label to illustrate the predicament of applying ‘geographic law’ in a situation that is not defined by geography.

Let’s ask an AISo what is the way forward? It’s clear to me that no one really has a credible and uniform answer yet. With the help of ChatGPT Plus and Google’s just-released Bard, I researched the topic. The input from these two chatbots was helpful: as research assistants they save a lot of time that I can then use on verification and some editing or rewriting.

A good starting point in looking for an answer to the big question of whether scraping data for generative AI training infringes copyright or not is this – it depends.

When it comes to generative AI, large datasets are typically used to train models to produce human-like text, images, or other content. Often, this data is scraped from publicly-accessible websites or platforms. However, the act of scraping data does not inherently infringe on copyright, as copyright law protects original works and not the raw data itself. That said, the way this data is used could potentially infringe on copyright.

Some factors to consider:

Fair Use Doctrine

The fair use doctrine is a legal principle in the United States that allows the limited use of copyrighted material without obtaining permission from the copyright holder. It balances the interests of copyright holders with the public’s interest in the free flow of information. To determine if a particular use of copyrighted material falls under fair use, US courts consider four factors:

The purpose and character of the use.
The nature of the copyrighted work.
The amount and substantiality of the portion used.
The effect of the use on the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

Generative AI models that use scraped data for non-commercial research, education, or other transformative purposes may potentially be protected under the fair use doctrine. However, it is essential to note that fair use is determined on a case-by-case basis, and there is no guarantee that a specific use will be considered fair.

Note this is just in the US. In the UK, the similar principle is known as fair dealing which has significant differences compared to the US fair use doctrine.

Public Domain

If the data being scraped consists of works in the public domain, then there is no copyright infringement. Public domain works are those whose copyright has expired or those that were never subject to copyright protection. Examples include works created by some governments and certain facts, ideas, or theories.

License Agreements

Some websites or platforms provide access to their data through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) or other means, subject to specific licensing agreements. These agreements may outline permitted and restricted uses of the data. Using data in accordance with such a license agreement would not constitute copyright infringement as permission will have been agreed with the data owners.

Does the above provide clear answers? Actually, I don’t think so although it does help shine some light on the overall picture to illustrate the complexity. Never was there a more muddy phrase than “it depends.”

For me, there is one clear answer – do not use someone else’s data unless you are sure you have permission if that’s required. Just because something is easily available online and you could scrape it, that doesn’t mean that you should.

It’s worth mentioning that both ChatGPT Plus and Bard concluded their research in a similar manner:

“The use of generative AI for transformative purposes is likely to fall within the fair use exception to copyright law. This means that you can scrape data from the Internet and use it to train a generative AI model without infringing copyright. However, it is important to note that fair use [and fair dealing] is a complex area of law, and there is no guarantee that a court will find a particular use to be fair. If you are unsure whether a particular use is fair, it is always best to consult with an attorney.“

(Image at top created by Bing Image Creator in response to the simple prompt: “Data scraping on the Internet.” I’d imagined something Matrix-like, and this result isn’t bad from such a simple prompt.)

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Podcasting is an activity that I love. From my first steps into this field in late 2004, I now host and co-host three business podcasts. One of these is The Small Data Forum monthly podcast that started in May 2016.

Nearly seven years and 74 episodes later, Sam Knowles, Thomas Stoeckle and I, the three founders and co-hosts pictured above, have taken a step forward with the podcast to make our individual voices stronger, emerging into the light, let’s say, from behind the SDF podcast name.

We spent a long weekend together in Andalucía, a delightful part of Spain on the Mediterranean coast, where Thomas has a lovely hideaway villa in the hills above Málaga. Our ‘podcasting retreat’ also combined exploration and discovery of the culinary delights in this part of Spain. And as the picture above suggests, taken in Málaga, the weather was fabulous compared to Blighty in mid March!

But, as Sam notes in the episode we’ve just published that sets out our refreshed stall, we’re not about the weather. Rather, we continue our seven-year focus:

We take a sideways look at the uses and abuses of data big and small in politics, business, and public life with opinion and insights that challenge accepted wisdoms.

We think creating a name that embraces the meaning of that statement along with a sentiment that describes the three of us behind that statement is what we want to do now. And so the “Podnosticators” came to be.

In episode 70 we recorded on March 13 and published on March 20, we explain how this name came about and why we think it is a really good moniker for the emphasis we wish to present about the podcast and who’s behind it.

Thomas introduces the idea of “podnostication” and Sam dives into the origin of the name and how a googlewhack played a key role. He dives even deeper into the origin in an etymology-focused post on his website. Both wax lyrical on foxiness and hedgehogging.

While in Spain we recorded four episodes, numbers 67 to 70, all but one in a new short-form presentation of 20 minutes or less. This will likely be our production goal as we move forward that differs from the single long-form 45-minutes-plus monthly episodes: the shorter ones will likely be on a single topic whereas the monthlies address multiple topics. And short-form will be the norm. We’ll see how this plays out and will very much consider what listeners say. So do let us know what you think.

One related change concerns Twitter. Until now @SDFpodcast has been the handle that we use to communciate about episdoes, etc. That handle continues but now becomes purely a means to announce a new episode without commentary or narrative. So follow that handle to get automated content notifications by tweet (if you prefer email for that, you can sign up on the podcast website).

Our primary conversational handle is @Podnosticators – follow that if you want to hear opinion about topics and to add yours if you have something to say.

To our existing listeners, thank you for listening, I hope you like the new changes. If you haven’t listened to us yet, why not try us out with this episode 70? You can also read the complete transcript below.

Either way, let us know what you think.

(If you don’t see the embedded MP3 player above, listen on the Small Data Forum website.)

The Small Data Forum Podcast, episode 70: “The Podnosticators Edition”
Recorded in Ríogordo, Andalucía, Spain, on 13 March 2023

TranscriptThomas Stoeckle:

Good morning. Another sunny morning, Monday morning in Riogordo, Malaga, the last day of the Small Data Forum’s road trip to Andalusia in the south of Spain, where the three Podnosticators, Neville Hobson, Sam Knowles, and myself, Thomas Stoeckle, went to rethink how we want do this whole podcast thing that we have had going for about seven years now, putting the world to rights. And I think the joint mutual feeling was that we need to put more effort into putting the world to rights, because it really needs it. So therefore, we will continue with this short-format podcasting, but there will also be the occasional long one.

This particular episode is going to be about the idea of “podnostication”, where the word comes from, and without, I think, any further ado, apart from saying what we’re doing here, is considering what drives us, what lights us up, as Sam wrote in one of his books, one of the perfect dinner party introductions that go way beyond, “So, what you’re doing?” Many more lovely ideas in Sam’s books, but this isn’t a marketing exercise. Sam, over to you. Tell us where this word comes from.

Sam Knowles:

This is a sort of self-reflexive, self-indulgent, solipsistic, onanistic… We’re all navel-gazey, but we’re going to try and make it less navel-gazey.

So, Podnosticators came like one of those blindingly marvelous flashes of insight. We knew it had to be our name during the first night of our trip. Podnosticators. Well, let’s think. It’s obviously related to prognosticators, and, as your resident etymologist, I’ve gone back and had a look and seen where this has come from.

And I’m delighted it comes originally from Greek rather than from Latin. It comes via Latin and Middle French. But prognostic, [Ancient Greek 00:02:11], it’s a Greek word, very little change, that means foreknowing. And it was related to weather. It comes into prognosis, many who have ever been to a doctor and have got a chronic condition will know about the prognosis, but it’s about coming to know things before they actually come to pass.

Now, the sharp-eared of you will realize that you’re listening to a podcast. So what we’ve done is we’ve taken the prog-, slightly bastard etymology, chopping off a bit of one word and a bit of another, and replaced prog- with pod-.

So, we’re here to look at the uses and abuses of data, big and small, in politics, business, and public life, to try and see around corners, to try and find the light at the end of the tunnel, to try and get to more insight, more, as I would define it, profound and useful understanding. As Thomas says, the world has never needed guidance like it before.

We don’t think we have the answers, but I think we do think that we can ask some smart questions, get to some really interesting insights, these profound, useful understandings, and then we can tell, as we’re looking at data big and small, small B, capital S, we can tell human, empathetic, data-driven stories that can allow us to, at least for us, and we hope for many of you, to make sense of the world, and to not necessarily avoid making the same mistakes again and again, but to perhaps, once, to learn from history, or in this case, because we’re prognosticating in a podnosticating kind of way, we can maybe fail to make the mistakes that we might otherwise have made.

Before handing over to Neville, I just want to talk to you a little bit about going back to prognostication. It’s really fallen off in popularity since 1800. Google has this fantastic timeline when you look for an etymology. It was much more popular in 1800 than it was in 1900. It had a slow, downward gradient. Interestingly, in the 10 years in the pre-millennial tension years of the 1990s, it had a slight peak, and then it’s dropped off entirely.

And those who’ve seen the uses and abuses of data in the past 20 years of our 20 plus years of our digital world might think “Yes, that’s not surprising that people really haven’t been having foreknowing.” So, we’re not about weather, really. The weather’s very nice in Spain. We’re not about health and wellbeing. We’re about how data can be used and, well, that’s, I think, enough etymology.

Neville Hobson:

That was actually a pretty good explainer, I think. That puts it in great perspective, it seems to me, where the focus is not changed from when we started this podcast, but I see this as the three of us emerging into the light, let’s say, from behind the SDF podcast name, which is an entity, I suppose, by differentiation.

But we’re keen for the three of us, collectively and individually, known as the Podnosticators, to make our individual voices more obvious. The Small Data Forum podcast, how we communicated on Twitter, LinkedIn in particular, is, in a sense, a marketing brand, to differentiate it. And that’s been fine for the past seven years. But in our discussions about all this, we wanted to change that a bit to reflect more of the personal element each of us brings to the table, as it were, that collectively we will make this up.

And so it made a good sense to come up with a, dare I say, I shouldn’t really call it a brand name, because that’s not what we’re about, but we need an identifier, an identity that we can project with the same focus on what we’ve been talking about before.

So, I’m actually looking at the description on our website, which we’re going to update this, because this is when we started and it’s not changed, but we focus more about this mythical thing, I love it, called the sideways look. And that’s a differentiator for us.

We state quite clearly, we take a sideways look at all these things, in the context of data, big and small, the uses and abuses of data, big and small, in business, public life, and politics, or business, politics, public life, doesn’t matter which way round it is, but politics is a strong focus here. Public life gives us a broad remit to talk about anyone, ranging from Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer, and Gary Lineker. They’re all in public life, in one way or another, so we’ve got a rich source material that we can talk about. That’s important to us. We have opinions about all these things. So here’s the start of the next chapter in the evolution of the Small Data Forum.

So, welcome to the Podnosticators. Go to Twitter, Podnosticators is our handle.

Thomas Stoeckle:

Thank you, thank you both, and thank you for being part of this journey for the last seven years. It takes them back to the beginning, when we first met to be the Small Data Forum, my then employer asked me to do what is called a fireside chat in the business. Not that you necessarily do fireside chats in the morning, but maybe it was a breakfast meeting meets fireside chat. And it was meant to be all about big data, and how big data is being used in business for insights and all these sorts of things.

And I said, “Can I please not call this big data? Because that’s what everybody says. I want it to be about small data, because what makes a real difference in using data is narrowing it down to the bits that really matter, and that turns big into small.” And that was the beginning.

Now, when we started out, and I think this is quite significant in a way, as the Small Data Forum, in front of this audience of potential clients and so on, it was very much a scripted exercise. Here are three things we need to discuss, and then here’s Neville’s opinion, and here’s Sam’s, then I add something to it. We took this format into our continuous podcasting. We’re now beginning to do something different, and both of you alluded to that, and it’s much more about the dynamic between us, and the emerging, dare I say, wisdom, insight? Whatever, that comes out of that dynamics.

Neville Hobson:

Careful, careful, Thomas. Getting carried away.

Thomas Stoeckle:

The “what lights us up” thing, one book that I want to mention in this context is Nate Silver’s The Signal and the Noise, which came out, I think, in 2010?

Neville Hobson:

Yep.

Sam Knowles:

[inaudible 00:08:52].

Thomas Stoeckle:

Which gave me the idea of the… Or introduced me to the concept of the hedgehog and the fox; the curious fox, the open-minded, curious, potentially empathetic fox, and the close-minded, single-minded hedgehog. There’s a purpose for both in life and solving problems and so on, this goes back to Samuel, of course, tell us… Archilochus, third century before Christ, maybe? That is an important concept, has become a really important concept to me. I personally identify strongly with the fox, perhaps a bit too much. Sometimes hedgehoggy qualities would also suit me.

Another book that I want to mention, then I hand over to Sam again, is Harry Frankfurt’s Bullshit, which was also published in probably around 2010, ’12? Which, in a way, is closely related to this whole idea of the hedgehog and the fox, and Harry Frankfurt, as a philosopher, defines the term “bullshit”. And the way he defines it, I don’t have the definition in front of me, but for me it’s very, very close to something that you would describe as plausible deniability. It’s not about blatant lying, it’s about bullshitting in a way that you can always get away with it.

And when I read that book first, way before 2019 and when Johnson became Prime Minister, the print edition of the book that I have has several exclamation marks on various sides where I wrote, “Johnson” exclamation mark, exclamation mark, exclamation mark. So, why am I mentioning this? Now, we talk about ChatGPT, we talk about politics, Johnson, and so on. Plausible deniability, fake news, hallucination.

I think this is all really important stuff in making sense of the world, and this is what the Podnosticators want to cut through and get a better idea of where we are, where we might be going, and where we perhaps should be going. Sam?

Sam Knowles:

Really interesting you mentioning Bullshit, because in the longest of the podcasts that we recorded in Spain going out Tuesday, or went out last Tuesday, I made reference towards the end to an article from The Times Higher by Colm O’Shea at New York University looking at the perils of using ChatGPT, because of its convergent thinking rather than divergent thinking approach. And the fact that it gives gist rather than vivid explanation. We will definitely include a link to the article in the show notes.

But that actually, gist and summary and boiling down from however many sources in the way that the algorithms currently do, and this is O’Shea’s considered opinion, leads to a bland synthesis, not an insightful joining together, but in fact, what he calls bullshit. So there’s a nice circularity there.

On hedgehogs and foxes, you’re right, Archilochus, quite right, sixth century BC, but don’t worry [inaudible 00:11:52] about that. He was one of the lyric poets. Hedgehogs and foxes, hedgehogs and foxes, that was picked up by Isaiah Berlin, the head of Wolfson, founder of Wolfson College, Oxford, wrote it as a joke, really, and was rather taken aback by how seriously it was taken. I think it’s a very useful distinction, nice distinction.

But, in the same way as being foxy, being interested in lots of things, asking open questions, there comes a moment when it’s important to ask a closed question. So if you’re a prosecutor, if you’re a police investigator, you will use open questions. The police have this fantastic formula, the TED formula, tell, explain, describe, encouraging defendants, witnesses, and victims of crime to open up, to give a narrative account. But once it looks like they’re going to get to where they need to get, then closed questions have a role.

In exactly the same way, being foxy, being curious about everything, having this endemic sense of curiosity, and going around and finding out all sorts of things, all sorts of perspectives, really, really matters. But also there comes a time when we can be hedgehoggy, and I think three of our podcasts have been very hedgehoggy.

One, we’re talking just about the Podnosticators and what that means. Another one, we talked about Gary Lineker and the BBC, and a third we talked about the PR industry missing the boat. So, I think our emergence is we’re embracing both our inner fox, because we are, I think, by nature, quite foxy, the three of us, we three Podnosticators. But also, I think we’ve also learned to embrace our inner hedgehog, that when we’re just going after food, we’re just going after food. So there we go.

Neville Hobson:

I like that, embracing our inner hedgehog. That sounds superb. That’s very good.

Thomas Stoeckle:

It’s a bit prickly. It’s a bit prickly. [inaudible 00:13:43].

Neville Hobson:

Prickly topic, yeah, I know. Nevermind. [inaudible 00:13:44].

Sam Knowles:

The inside’s fine. It’s the outside.

Neville Hobson:

So, that’s really great. I think you’ve summarized that very nicely. All I would add before closing is to say to our listeners, not much will actually change in the overall topic areas we talk about. What might shift is the focus, in some ways.

So for example, we’ve always said from the very beginning that we want to make big data more actionable, more valuable for marketing and communication professionals. That’s still true, but others outside marketing and communication, there’s something for you here as well. And it’s not necessarily if you’re keen on politics, although there’s that too, the sorts of things we address have a communication flavor.

Sam mentioned the episodes we recorded and published during our retreat in Spain this past week. The myopia in the PR industry is a very good one about AI, but not just AI, and Thomas brought that bit to the table. If it had just been me talking about it, it would’ve probably just have been about the tech.

Hence the three of us bring different perspectives to these topics, which is terrific. We will build on that, you will see in future episodes.

So, that brings us to the conclusion of this short-form episode that lets you know about the Podnosticators. And I’m going to, as always, pass the ball back to Sam to conclude… To Thomas, actually, to conclude us in his inimitable manner.

Thomas Stoeckle:

Thank you very much, Nigel… Neville. So, one little thing that will change in the outro is that now we are going to refer to our new Twitter handle, @podnosticators. There’s also a LinkedIn page coming, in production. We continue to be at smalldataforum.com, where all the show notes and the links to the podcast will be uploaded, and probably additional material, we’ll probably build that one out a bit more as well. And then also, of course, there are the complementary but different channels that Sam and Neville use: nevillehobson.com, Neville’s website; insightagents.co.uk, that is Sam’s professional persona.

So, this is going to be the temporary end of SDF podcast on tour… Podnosticators on tour. We will probably be back out here at some point. I think it was a good one. Thank you everybody for listening, stay with us, tell others, and us, what you think, and spread the word about the Podnosticators.

Thank you very much.

[Episode transcribed by humans at Rev.com.]

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While attention on and interest in artificial intelligence as a tool to aid and amplify people’s creativity continues in a non-stop fashion with ideas, opinions, announcements and more appearing in unequal measure on a daily basis, AI is not catching on everywhere.

During much of 2022, all the attention was on creating AI-generated images with Midjourney, Stable Diffusion and DALLE-2 as the primary trio of tools that anyone could use to translate imaginations into reality, even winning an art contest.

So far in this year 2023, all the talk has been about chatbots and specifically ChatGPT that have profoundly captured imaginations in the mainstream with the simple formula of writing a question or instruction for the AI to create a text result from the prompt.

Excitement and hype has been endless. Good and bad news surface everywhere. If I were to look at this on a hype cycle graph, I’d place this AI right at the top of the peak of inflated expectations, perhaps even slightly onto the edge of the slippery slope that leads down to the trough of disillusionment.

There’s no doubt that developments in AI are moving at quite a pace. While hype is at its peak, the time is now for learning more about AI, experimenting with it yourself, and discovering how it can be of distinct value to you in your work (and in your leisure). With learning and experimenting come the confidence to discard the hype as you glean insights that help you focus on what matters and what actually is important.

Except in a large part of the PR profession, it seems. Ironic, given PR’s key role in creating excitement (and hype).

According to the results of a PRCA and ICCO survey conducted in February and published this week, 25 percent of those surveyed stated categorically that they would never use AI tools such as ChatGPT in their work in public relations.

This is the collective view of some of the CEOs, directors, and department heads who are members of the two professional bodies behind the survey, or work for agencies that are. The PRCA alone represents 35,000 PR professionals in 82 countries worldwide.

I’ve not seen more information than that published by the PRCA in its press release. It would be good to know more about the reasons behind why 25 percent of survey respondents say they’d never use AI, assuming they were asked for reasons. Such naysayers will likely be quite surprised when they learn how much they already use AI without being aware of it.

There is some good news, though. As the numbers in the image above show, 30 percent of survey respondents said they’ve never used ChatGPT or other AI tools before but plan to do so soon. 15 percent said they are fairly frequent or very frequent users already. 29 percent said they rarely use such tools.

Could it be ignorance about AI and the pros and cons that prompted 25 percent to respond the way they did? Perhaps respondents have had bad experiences that inform their present views? That’s a possibilty but I doubt it would be so for all 25 percent. Are they put off by all the hype, never mind the excitement? Possibly. But I believe it’s most likely lack of knowledge.

So there are some hills to climb here in the PR profession where over half the survey respondents (54 percent) have rarely or never used AI and don’t intend to. I wonder how they respond to clients who ask them for advice and counsel on this topic with questions such as:

Who’s doing what with AI like ChatGPT in my industry?
What are you doing in your agency and with your other clients?
Which chatbot should I use? ChatGPT? Bing? What about Bard?
Aren’t chatbots old news? We’ve had Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant for years!
What will the AI landscape in my industry look like in 2025?

Etc.

Don’t sleepwalk on AIThere is plenty of information out there if you look that will help you see some worthwhile benefits from using a tool like ChatGPT in your work that will benefit you and your clients or your employer. Here’s a simple list of just five reasons why you should seriously consider using AI in your PR work:

Improved Efficiency: Public relations professionals can use ChatGPT to automate tasks such as drafting press releases, responding to media inquiries, and managing social media communications. This will help them to be more efficient and save time.
Increased Engagement: ChatGPT can be used to interact with clients, media, and other stakeholders in a more personalized and engaging way. This can help to build stronger relationships and increase brand loyalty.
Enhanced Reputation Management: ChatGPT can be used to monitor online conversations and identify potential issues before they escalate. This will help public relations professionals to address concerns in a timely and effective manner, thereby protecting the reputation of their organization or clients.
Better Crisis Communications: ChatGPT can be used to develop crisis communication plans and respond to crises in real-time. This will help public relations professionals to mitigate the impact of negative events on their organization’s reputation.
Improved Data Analytics: ChatGPT can be used to gather data and analytics on media coverage, social media engagement, and other key metrics. This will help public relations professionals to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns and adjust their strategies accordingly.

This list was created by ChatGPT from a prompt I gave it. I edited it very lightly, mostly replacing ‘customer’ with ‘client’ that better reflects naming conventions in the industry. It can give you some ideas worth looking into where you can add some flesh to these skeletons, as it were.

Also, check out a newly-published report from the CIPR titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and the impact on public relations practice” that the CIPR describes as “the most comprehensive review to date of AI use within the profession.”

Signficantly, the CIPR notes:

The public relations industry is “sleepwalking into a technological future” unless it gets a better understanding of the potential applications and limitations of artificial intelligence (AI) and wider technology.

CIPR

In addition, as awareness of AI tools and what you can use them for increases – alongside the hype and some unrealistic expectations – some people are sharing the learnings from and outcomes of their experiments, helping others make their own starts, such as:

How to perfect your prompt writing for ChatGPT, Midjourney and other AI generators
10 Midjourney Prompt Codes for Marketers and Creators
An SEO’s guide to ChatGPT prompts

Don’t ignore these still-emerging technologies that will have a profound impact on our lives let alone our work.

Finally, the image at the top of this page that I’ve titled ‘Ostrich Surprised’ was created by a new AI image generator called Blue Willow AI from a simple prompt I gave it. It’s free to use and very good. Give it a try!

tvsmc

tvsmc23

(Photo at top by Battenhall on Unsplash)

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When people obsess about numbers, it looks like either success or failure must be imminent. So it is at the moment with Mastodon, the much talked-about potential alternative to Twitter as the latter continues its path through turmoil towards an unknown future.

By some accounts, the bubble has burst on the rapid growth in people signing up for a Mastodon account in recent months. Has it, though?

Mastodon the company (a non-profit organization) was founded in 2016, but it’s gained signficant growth since Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter completed in October 2022. According to the Guardian, the number of people opening accounts between the end of October and end of November took the overall active users number from less than half a million or so prior to Musk’s closing the deal on Twitter to more than 2.5 million thirty days later.

There’s no evidence to show that significant numbers of Twitter users closed their accounts when they opened accounts on Mastodon. There is evidence, though, that user growth for Twitter has been strong in recent months, mainly in the US, although overall it’s a complex picture.

As the simple graph above shows, user logins on Mastodon at the end of November/start of December were a high point from which a gradual fall happened until mid January where it appeared to be settling at about the 1.75 million mark.

Does the gradual fall suggest a bubble that’s burst? I don’t think so.

Data from @MastodonUserCount, a useful bot that reports on user growth and activity on Mastodon, shows continuing increases in user numbers and activities. Note this includes actual accounts on Mastodon, more than 9.2 million, not user logins to those accounts, suggesting that just over 18% of users log in to their accounts per the Guardian’s figure. I doubt that’s especially surprising really, mirroring activity data from other social networks

And see this statistic on joinmastodon.org today – 1.4 million monthly active users on 9.7 thousand servers.

What looks quite clear is that, following the acquisition of Twitter, many people signed up on Mastodon in a flurry of “let’s get out of Twitter while the going’s good” in response to much of Musk’s capricious if not destructive acts at Twitter. This includes his firing employees in a way that will probably be a primary case study at business schools in how not to run a business, and allowing back in people with extreme opinion and anti-social behaviour who’d previously been banned.

Shel Holtz and I discussed this topic of user decline in episode 312 of For Immediate Release, our monthly podcast for January, published earlier this week.

There’s also much continuing confusion for brands and other advertisers that does not bode well for Twitter’s future financial stability given that the majority of its revenue is from advertising.

Add to that a reality factor where people often don’t do what they say they’ll do.

Everybody went and signed up [on Mastodon] and realised how hard it was, and then got back on Twitter and were like, ‘Oh, that’s, that’s hard. Maybe we won’t go there.’ It’s like the people that said ‘I’m moving to Canada’ when Donald Trump was elected. They never actually moved to Canada.

Meg Coffey, social media strategist, quoted in the Guardian

There’s truth in what Meg Coffey says above where many people fall at the first hurdle when they see that Mastodon is anything but easy to use when compared to Twitter. After all, Twitter and apps have been developed, added to, refined and evolved over a 16-year period to the extent where everything, more or less, just works and is good (with some recent post-acquisition exceptions).

And rarely do we see the modern equivalent of Twitter’s original fail whale these days. We do see Mastodon’s equivalent quite a bit, just like with Twitter in its early days.

While the basics of a social network similar to Twitter are in place at Mastodon – timeline of messages, mentions, likes, hashtags, private messaging, etc – that you interact with via an app on your mobile device or desktop/laptop computer, not every element is actually functional or functions well.

There are two huge differences to Twitter, differences that many including me see as outstanding features – 500 characters with which to write your posts, not 280; and an edit button!

And there are many apps you can use, all developed and created by different people. Unlike Twitter, there is no centralized setup where one company or group does everything.

Instead, Mastodon is “decentralized social media” where there are many different Mastodons you can join that, collectively, comprise part of what many people refer to as the fediverse (read more about this topic as it relates to Mastodon).

Understanding that Mastodon is not a single place but rather a collection of independent places (servers or, in Mastodon talk, ‘instances’) with each running Mastodon software, will help you grasp a major difference between Mastodon and Twitter, where the latter is a centralized social network wholly under the control of a single for-profit organization (or, as it seems at times, a single individual).

Let’s consider the User ExperienceWhich brings me to a point that I think is key to user growth for Mastodon – ease of use. Compared to Twitter, Mastodon isn’t easy to get to know yet, and use effectively.

While there is a growing number of apps for Mastodon as I mentioned earlier, most of them leave much to be desired in the user experience (UX). Clunky interfaces, steep learning curves in some cases, functionality missing, or not working well, or sometimes not at all. It adds up to a sense of work-in-progress, unreadiness, with a user waiting for something better and, well, experiential.

But as we move forward in 2023, we’re starting to see innovation in app development emerging where more choices are now apparent with apps that look good, look familiar if you’re coming from Twitter and, generally, offer a much better UX.

I discovered one just the other day in a tip from Andy Piper, an app that now is my preferred interface with Mastodon, on the Windows 11 desktop and Andoid mobile, and all that goes on.

It’s called Elk and, boy, does it look and feel very familiar and Twitter-like as the screenshot below suggests. It’s a pleasure to use, something others note as well. It’s still in testing and the developer doesn’t recommend it for prime use yet as development work continues. But I am using it, and it does remind me of app development from Twitter’s early days where you took your chances bugs and all.

The Elk app is simliar to many apps today that are designed to run in a browser on any platform. You don’t download a file that installs software on your phone or computer – you just go to the app website in your browser where you either use it in the browser, or you install the app from within the browser as a browser window that runs just like a normal app.

Another one I’ve seen being talked about a lot at the moment is Ivory, an app for iOS devices from Tapbots, developer of the popular Tweetbot third-party app for Twitter. Tweetbot shut down a few days ago following Twitter’s banning all third-party apps.

Users like it judging from some of the posts on Mastodon I’ve seen. It’s worth noting that Ivory is a paid app, not free.

Some people feel strongly that migrating from Twitter to Mastodon should also mean not having apps that look and feel like apps for Twitter. I disagree: a big benefit of using such apps is the comfort of familiarity where the learning curve is far less and the enjoyment is far greater than if you spent ages tryng to figure out how to use the app.

So consider the landscape now, almost three months after Elon Musk closed his deal to buy Twitter. We’ve seen a stream of tweeters heading to Mastodon, some staying and others not. We’re still seeing turmoil and FUD at Twitter with no end in sight of that.

And we’re seeing the Mastodon infrastructure developing nicely with new features, bug-fixed features, better interfaces, nice apps, and a growing number of people setting up home or shop in a decentralized, ad-free place online. It offers a much more pleasant welcome than the place that Twitter is today with its data manipulation, intrusive too-frequent ads, polarized political ranting, and some pretty nasty people showing up daily in your timeline – an environment that looks worse than it was pre Musk.

To me, all of this – developing infrastructure, great features and apps, no ads, many choices of which Mastodon you like the look of, people so far like you and me – suggests that Mastodon offers a personal experiential experience and is a better place. (But I still stay active on Twitter as well.)

Is Mastodon a replacement for Twitter? I think that question is up to users themselves to answer. Do you see it as a replacement, never mind what mainstream and other social media have to say? If you’ve done your due diligence and concluded that you do, then Mastodon will likely be a good place for you.

[Edited 29/1/23:] I’m adding a link to a really good post I read today that is well researched, well constructed, and well done. It takes you through a good explainer of what Mastodon is and how it differs from Twitter. It explains how to set up an account and how to use it effectively, and talks about apps especially Ivory that I mentioned in my article.

Mastodon: A New Hope for Social Networking by Glenn Fleishmann / TidBits, 27 January 2023

Well worth a read if you want greater detail about Mastodon and how it presents a landscape that’s currently a pleasant place to be. The first paragraph will draw you in:

Cast your mind back to the first time you experienced joy and wonder on the Internet. Do you worry you’ll never be able to capture that sense again? It’s worth wading gently into the world of Mastodon microblogging to see if it offers something fresh and delightful. It might remind you—as it does me, for now—of the days when you didn’t view online interactions with some level of dread.

Glenn Fleishmann in TidBits

On the topic of apps, I should have mentioned a really great one I’m using alongside Elk – Mastodeck, a name that will sound familiar if you’re using Twitter and TweetDeck on which it’s based look-and-feel wise. I’ve been a huge fan of TweetDeck since it’s very early days in 2008-09 when developed by Iain Dodsworth, before he sold it to Twitter in 2011.

Mastodeck’s a web app like TweetDeck so should work in browsers on Windows and Macs. Its similarity with TweetDeck makes it a great choice if you’re coming from Twitter and want a multi-column interface that is already familiar. Take a look at this screenshot:

The usual caveats apply of course: this is a platform and apps in development and things sometimes don’t quite work as expected.

Just like Twitter in its very early days, in fact, all part of that throwback experience Glenn Fleishmann describes.

Related reading:

Twitter’s chaos may help decentralized alternatives like Mastodon gain traction (14 November 2022)
Turmoil engulfs a Twitter in transition (6 November 2022)
Escape planning in case Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition succeeds (1 May 2022)

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In May 2022, the first episode of Ideas to Innovation podcast Season 2 from Clarivate brought into sharp focus the devastating impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on scientific research and innovation in that country.

In December, episode 9 shone a spotlight on the work of two highly-cited researchers who share insights into their research and what were the triggers that influenced their starts in their fields.

From the severe challenges of carrying out scientific research in a war zone, to financing healthcare start-ups, to new ways of understanding the past and the present through education outside the box, to reporting on ocean science sustainability and the economic forces shaping human happiness, we probed the boundaries of innovation with even more stories in between, quickly discovering that this podcast has explored the broad meaning of innovation that knows no boundaries.

In all, we created nine episodes in Season 2 – ten including the wrap-up end-of-year episode – in eight months that illustrate the driving forces that stimulate innovation and discovery in so many different areas.

I’m thrilled to have been the host of Season 2 since the start, working closely with a great team at Clarivate to create great content.

We have taken listeners to places around the globe to hear compelling stories our guests have told, in their own authentic and passionate voices. Not only that – each episode has also given us an inside look at how those guests have helped to drive change, find creative solutions to the toughest of challenges and, sometimes, even change the world.

Episode ten, the end-of-year review recorded and published in the final days of 2022, includes clips from each of the episodes in Season 2 and runs a little over 22 minutes. Take a listen: if you like what you hear, why not subscribe via RSS and get every forthcoming episode as we continue bringing great stories to our listeners in 2023.

You can also get each episode from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and other platforms as well as in your favourite podcast app.

In 2023, we’ll bring you more human stories, more examples of people whose passion and commitment drive change and who explore the meaning of innovation. Sign up for the journey!

(Photo at top of page by D Jonez on Unsplash)

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Last week Twitter relaunched Twitter Blue, its new subscription service that offers premium features like account verification and a range of services such as greater prominence for your tweets, the ability to edit your tweets after publication, and to see less ads. It costs $8 per month ($11 per month if you use the Twitter app from Apple’s App Store) in the US; UK pricing is £8 a month.

Traditionally, Twitter verified accounts were reserved for public figures, celebrities, and other high-profile individuals to confirm the authenticity of their account and distinguish them from fake or impersonator accounts. Verification was seen as a prestigious status symbol and was often sought after by users who wanted to establish their credibility and authority on the platform.

With the introduction of Twitter Blue, the traditional concept of verification has changed. Now, anyone with a Twitter Blue subscription can verify their account, regardless of their fame or influence. This has led to criticism from some users who feel that the verified badge has lost its exclusivity and value.

While I’m certainly no celebrity or famous person, Twitter verified my primary account @jangles in February 2017. Now, the meaning of the blue check mark next to my handle has changed.

For me, the ‘because it’s notable’ descriptor matters nothing compared to the procedure for individuals that led to the verification being made by Twitter.

It must be said that the former process was far more comprehensive and carries greater credibility due to its identity verification aspects than the new process where you can simply sign up for a Twitter Blue subscription, verify your account (not your identity) with a few clicks, and pay $8 a month.

On the plus side, the new verification process for Twitter Blue subscribers is much simpler and faster than the traditional verification process was.

Incidentally, you can quickly check what kind of verification a Twitter user has by clicking on the blue check mark next to a user’s handle. The screenshots above show the evolution of the legacy verification; the one below is what a Twitter Blue verification looks like, with the description “This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Twitter Blue.”

More than just blue for businessFor businesses, the blue check mark no longer applies – that’s only for individuals, whether they are ‘legacy verified’ or Twitter Blue subscribers.

Now, Twitter has launched Twitter Blue for Business where businesses get a gold check mark (not a blue one) such as illustrated in the screenshot at the top, along with a different explainer: “This account is verified because it’s an official business on Twitter.”

Overall, the introduction of Twitter Blue and its verification feature has changed the traditional concept of verification on Twitter. While it has made it easier for users to verify their accounts, it has also led to some concerns about the loss of exclusivity and value of the verified badge.

We live in a time of severely diminished trust in institutions and individuals alike. And the rise of bad actors, scams and fakery at scale requires tools and methods that increase trust, not diminish it. Twitter Blue ‘verification’ may prove to be another straw on Twitter’s back, hopefully not the final one that breaks it for users.

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Trying to explain in simple terms what NFTs are is often a challenge. Getting your head around ‘non-fungible‘ is a hurdle that can take you down rabbit holes to end up with hundreds of words in your explainer, resulting in confusion and glazed eyes from your explainee. Clever AI to…Read More

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The advent of creating images where an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm does the heavy lifting in the actual creation process has evolved in leaps and bounds during 2022. Previously-niche names like DALLE-2 (and its creator OpenAI), Stable Diffusion and Midjourney are now in the wider mainstream vocabulary as more people…Read More

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It’s been an adventure observing the chaos that’s ensued following Elon Musk’s completion of his deal last month to purchase Twitter for $44 billion. It’s also been a nightmare for users large and small, and for advertisers large and small, navigating the shifting quicksands that make up the Twitter landscape.…Read More

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Updated on November 10, 2022 Even if you’re not a fan of Twitter and/or Elon Musk, you’d have been hard pressed to avoid news about both over the past week. Since closing the deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion (£39 billion) on October 27, Musk has sowed huge fear,…Read More

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If you’ve ever been involved in editing or creating content on Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, you’ll know it’s not something you’d typically approach casually. Creating new pages and editing existing ones is not an easy task for beginners. While there are myriad rules, policies and customs you must comply with, there’s not much in the way of easy-to-follow guidance on the ‘how’ of creating and editing the content that forms part of the encyclopedia. Now, 21 years after Wikipedia was…Read More

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Updated on September 30, 2022 Look at these four images of some well-known people who have died in the past 30 years. They probably look familiar and I’d guess you will be able to easily identify all of them. Left to right from top: Princess Diana (died 1997), Freddie Mercury (1991), Michael Jackson (2009), and Heath Ledger (2008). Each of them is imagined as representing what each might look like today, years after their deaths. And that imagining was done…Read More

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In August, I had the great pleasure and distinct honour of being in conversation with Jerry Harrison, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee through his role with Talking Heads, one of the most critically-acclaimed New Wave rock bands of the 1980s. Our conversation was for an episode of the Ideas to Innovation Season 2 podcast I host for Clarivate, a global company I’ve been working with since early 2021 in a range of communication areas. The podcast season…Read More

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Today, Boris Johnson formally stood down as UK Prime Minister and has been replaced by Liz Truss who accepted an invitation from the Queen to form a new government. Thus culminates a fraught summer in which Truss and former Chancellor Rishi Sunak battled it out in a leadership contest that started in July with eight candidates vying for the top job after Johnson resigned as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party. And so we have a new Party…Read More

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Last week, a man in the US entered an artwork in a competition and won first prize in the digital art category with a work called “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial.” As reported by Vice: The image is gorgeous. It depicts a strange scene that looks like it could be from a space opera, and it looks like a masterfully done painting. Classical figures in a Baroque hall stare through a circular viewport into a sun-drenched and radiant landscape. It is beautiful,…

The post The human imagination in AI-generated art appeared first on NevilleHobson.com.

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If you’ve read any of the mainstream media in recent days, or glanced through the news feeds in your social networks, it wouldn’t take much to feel that the end of the world as we know it is imminent. It really is hard to talk about the sorry state of affairs in which we find ourselves in the UK – economically, politically, socially – without sounding like the most awful doomster and sensationalist. Yet, you cannot ignore the reality we…Read More

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When Meta fka Facebook announced its change of purpose and name last year to become a self-described “social technology company,” it was widely seen as a signficant move in establishing the leading role in defining and enabling the metaverse as […]

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On July 11, the Guardian newspaper dropped a bombshell across the media and political landscapes with the first revelations about Uber and its law-breaking activities around the world, on an industrial scale, in the pursuit of profits. News about the […]

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The suspension of a Google engineer called Blake Lemoine, who claimed an AI (artificial intelligence) in the form of a computer chatbot he was working on had become sentient and was thinking and reasoning like a human being, has stimulated […]

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In mid-May, I got a new phone, a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3. Launched in August 2021, this device bolstered Samsung’s reputation for innovation and leading-edge technology where they succeeded in bringing to market a smartphone with ‘flexible glass‘ that […]

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We watched the Platinum Party at the Palace music concert on Saturday night (4 June 2022), broadcast live by the BBC from outside Buckingham Palace in London where more than 20,000 people had gathered to experience it in person. It […]

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We’re seeing the metaverse and Web 3.0 being used to hide promo codes, and companies are getting people to look around and earn things in the metaverse – that’s where I think there’s going to be a lot of growth. […]

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As the continuing war that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 passed its 90th day, the tragedy that has befallen Ukraine at the hands of Russia knows no bounds. The Donbas region in the east of Ukraine […]

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Ever since Elon Musk announced his bid to acquire full ownership of Twitter, the matter has become a […]

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Today marks a sinister milestone for Ukraine. One month ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia began an invasion […]

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Developing a strategy for something like creating and building a business-focused professional community typically follows a traditional path. […]

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Decentralized autonomous organizations or DAOs are a hot topic these days. And with so much reporting and opinion it can be hard not only to understand what a DAO is but also to better understand the significance of this very different form of organization.

Indeed, much of the reporting I see is on answering the question, ‘What is a DAO?’

Here’s a good definition on Wikipedia:

A decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), sometimes called a decentralized autonomous corporation (DAC), is an organization represented by rules encoded as a computer program that is transparent, controlled by the organization members and not influenced by a central government, in other words they are member-owned communities without centralized leadership. A DAO’s financial transaction record and program rules are maintained on a blockchain. The precise legal status of this type of business organization is unclear.

Okay, it’s a start. But do you really understand what a DAO is and, importantly, how it actually works? What makes this type of organization both decentralized and autonomous? Smart contracts on the blockchain are part of the answer, but what does that actually mean?

It’s worth spending ten minutes watching this engaging video from Cointelegraph. It’s the best explainer I’ve yet seen that will add to your understanding of what a DAO is, how it works, and what it could mean for you.

Once you know a bit more about DAOs in general, there’s more to understand in specific areas. Marketing and brands, for instance.

As DAOs grow in popularity, expand the scope of their focus, and become a routine approach to some kinds of business activities, could decentralized branding become more common?

That’s a question Shel and I discussed earlier this month in episode 232 of For Immediate Release, the business podcast we present. This episode is under 15 minutes – you can listen to it here:

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Decentralized autonomous organizations or DAOs are a hot topic these days. And with so much reporting and opinion […]

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began on 24 February is being followed online by billions worldwide.

Anyone with an Internet connection has access to news, opinion, information, misinformation, disinformation, fact, fiction, the whole kitchen sink of a global event that’s unparalleled in its accessibility.

That Internet connectivity would let you see a real-time view of anywhere in Ukraine courtesy of Google Maps. In Google Maps, I captured the screenshot image of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv that you see at top at 13:34 UTC on Saturday 26 February which shows that many roads out of the city west and northwest are closed.

Undoubtedly some closures are due to diversions in place as a result of damage from Russian missile attacks although it could also be the presence of arriving Russian forces that news reports have been talking about much of today Saturday, that are reportedly approaching the city from the northwest.

It’s but a small example to illustrate the ease with which you can get a real-time view of almost anywhere on earth using a software tool like Google Maps.

A street-level view Perhaps a more dramatic example is that of a university professor in California – half a world away from Ukraine – who noticed a traffic jam at 3:15am on Thursday 24 February on a road in Belgorod, Russia, about 25 miles from the border with Ukraine.

The Washington Post reported that Jeffrey Lewis was monitoring Google Maps with a research team of students he mentors as part of a project to analyze images taken from space. He and his team realized what was happening: a Russian armoured unit was moving toward the border with Ukraine.

By combining Google Maps traffic information with a radar image that showed troops, Lewis and his team realized an invasion was underway hours before the news became public and from thousands of miles away in California. Russia officially announced its assault on Ukraine on Thursday morning.

“In the old days, we would have relied on a reporter to show us what was happening on the ground,” Lewis said. “And today, you can open Google Maps and see people fleeing Kyiv.”

Lewis’s sleuthing helps demonstrate how technology — and specifically Google Maps — is making it so people even far away can see in real time what’s happening , all the way down to the street level. What billions of people around the world can see from the palm of their hands reflects that people on the ground, in the midst of troop movements, are also constantly connected to their devices. And in some cases those devices are becoming a tool for civilians.

Welcome to a Russian war in Europe as captured virtually by the rest of the world.

Related reading:

UkraineInvasion: the start of a new #ColdWar? https://t.co/Z3edyVXmyf #ColdWar2 via @BBCNews< excellent analysis from @JohnSimpsonNews

— Neville Hobson (@jangles) February 25, 2022

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began on 24 February is being followed online by billions worldwide. Anyone […]

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Around fifteen years ago, some big brands started playing in Second Life.

For me, memorable names and what they did include General Motors with a cool Pontiac sports car: that’s virtual me behind the virtual wheel in the photo above. GM issued a press release in October 2006 about starting up in SL.

There was Dell who experimented not only with letting you configure and buy a computer in Second Life but also getting customer service and tech support. They held a virtual press conference in November 2006 to announce their plans.

And Coca-Cola, who I mentioned in a previous post, ran brand events including contests in Second Life in 2007.

In June 2006, Shel Holtz and I set up a virtual outpost of our For Immediate Release podcast where we could meet listeners and chat about all the kinds of things of mutual interest as you would in a real-world venue.

And there were others: IBM, Cisco, ABN Amro Bank, the BBC, Mazda, Sun Microsystems and many more – there’s a long list of real-world companies who experimented in Second Life.

Much of this past action isn’t in the mainstream memory today when people talk about ‘the metaverse’ and make comparisons with Second Life those years ago.

I think we’re now so used to powerful computers and mobile devices, amazing graphics, network connectivity on demand, always on, wherever you are… it was a very different picture in the mid-2000s where many people still used dial-up modems, costly but fast (relatively) ISDN if you were lucky, to get online.

Think about it – in average terms, only 16.8% of the world’s population had access to the Internet in 2006, and that was not evenly distributed. In 2021, it had improved to 63% but still not evenly distributed as this chart from Statista illustrates.

As Statista notes:

“In 2021, it was estimated that 90 percent of people living in developed countries used the internet, compared to 57 percent of individuals living in developing markets. The global online access rate was 63 percent. In the least developed countries, there was an estimated 27 percent of internet access in 2021.“

In an interview published today in the English-language edition of Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Wagner James Au – writer, consultant, and author of the highly-rated The Making of Second Life: Notes from the New World published in 2008 – makes reference to lack of connectivity in those early days as well as the dearth of widely-available capable computing equipment:

“When it started, you really needed a desktop computer and a dedicated broadband line and that only applied to about 10% of the population at the time. Back then, only gamers had that kind of equipment. Even as Second Life got more and more mainstream [attention], the technology requirements were not mainstream. Then there was the user experience which, even today, looks like it was created by engineers versus designers.“

Back then, you really did need to have bags of enthusiasm to persevere with using Second Life. His reference to gamers might help you see why so many people refer to Second Life as a game, which it really is not.

Wagner says that Second Life could have been much bigger if Linden Lab, the creators, hadn’t made some bad decisions early on:

“It was intended to be used by hundreds of millions of people and its creators had aspirations to build the metaverse. But Second Life couldn’t run on a laptop. And then there was a shift to smartphones. There is still no official Second Life app, which is just mind-boggling.“

As for the future and how metaverses might develop, Wagner is pretty bearish:

“There’s a very good chance that metaverse platforms will not grow further. If you consider Roblox a metaverse platform, which I do, it has 200 million active users. But since its IPO, Roblox has not grown. Its website traffic is not growing. And my theory, I call it the Metaverse Age Cliff, is that metaverse platforms are really popular with kids into their teens or early 20s. But usage drops really quickly around 24 or so. We can infer a lot of reasons for that. People start becoming adults, going out on dates, hanging out with friends, getting jobs and families and they have less time. They’ll still use metaverse platforms but it’ll be for an hour.“

Second Life today has 900,000 monthly average users according to Linden Lab, pretty far short of Roblox’ 200 million or so.

Yet we’re not comparing like with like. I see Wagner’s perspective but I have optimism for virtual worlds and Second Life. It isn’t likely to become ‘The Metaverse’ (capital M) but, broadly speaking, if you make it so compelling that people will want to come and spend their time there, you’re in a good place. Whether you can make it a business success, well, that’s another matter.

Still, I think it’s got a good chance of developing into ‘a metaverse’ (lower-case m). I’m still in Second Life from time to time; look me up and connect if you’d like to chat.

We need to showcase those early adopters I mentioned before to illustrate that what they did paved the way in so many ways for what others are doing today across the whole spectrum of Web 3 and metaverses.

And it matters.

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Around fifteen years ago, some big brands started playing in Second Life. For me, memorable names and what […]

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Around fifteen years ago, some big brands started playing in Second Life.

And Coca-Cola, who I mentioned in a previous post, ran brand events including contests in Second Life in 2007.

And there were others: IBM, Cisco, ABN Amro Bank, the BBC, Mazda, Sun Microsystems and many more – there’s a long list of real-world companies who experimented in Second Life.

Much of this past action isn’t in the mainstream memory today when people talk about ‘the metaverse’ and make comparisons with Second Life those years ago.

As Statista notes:

“In 2021, it was estimated that 90 percent of people living in developed countries used the internet, compared to 57 percent of individuals living in developing markets. The global online access rate was 63 percent. In the least developed countries, there was an estimated 27 percent of internet access in 2021.“

“When it started, you really needed a desktop computer and a dedicated broadband line and that only applied to about 10% of the population at the time. Back then, only gamers had that kind of equipment. Even as Second Life got more and more mainstream [attention], the technology requirements were not mainstream. Then there was the user experience which, even today, looks like it was created by engineers versus designers.“

Wagner says that Second Life could have been much bigger if Linden Lab, the creators, hadn’t made some bad decisions early on:

“It was intended to be used by hundreds of millions of people and its creators had aspirations to build the metaverse. But Second Life couldn’t run on a laptop. And then there was a shift to smartphones. There is still no official Second Life app, which is just mind-boggling.“

As for the future and how metaverses might develop, Wagner is pretty bearish:

“There’s a very good chance that metaverse platforms will not grow further. If you consider Roblox a metaverse platform, which I do, it has 200 million active users. But since its IPO, Roblox has not grown. Its website traffic is not growing. And my theory, I call it the Metaverse Age Cliff, is that metaverse platforms are really popular with kids into their teens or early 20s. But usage drops really quickly around 24 or so. We can infer a lot of reasons for that. People start becoming adults, going out on dates, hanging out with friends, getting jobs and families and they have less time. They’ll still use metaverse platforms but it’ll be for an hour.“

Second Life today has 900,000 monthly average users according to Linden Lab, pretty far short of Roblox’ 200 million or so.

Still, I think it’s got a good chance of developing into ‘a metaverse’ (lower-case m). I’m still in Second Life from time to time; look me up and connect if you’d like to chat.

And it matters.

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If 2021 was the year of growing awareness of a thing called a ‘non-fungible token‘ – NFT for short – 2022 looks like it will be the year of better understanding of NFTs, what you can do with them as representations of goods (real as well as digital), and an appreciation of the power of cryptocurrencies in this Web 3 supply chain.

As more companies start making moves into NFTs – like Selfridges and the Associated Press to name just two in the past month – and as people pile in on independent NFT marketplaces that are springing up everywhere, ensuring you protect your intellectual property rights is something that now should be front and centre of mind.

Of course, this is a view on the respectable side of this burgeoning market where the flip side is pretty ugly, rife with thieving, fakery, plagiarism and spam.

For brand owners, the days are probably gone now where encouraging people to share digital images and video of your product online, freely and with a relaxed approach and little oversight on how they might do that or where, was the norm.

Eyeballs, engagements and clicks were the order of the day.

You can’t afford such a laissez-faire approach any more as others will not only profit from your lack of attention but also increase the reputational risk to you from brand dilution and even damage.

That’s the picture I see with the news that French fashion house Hermès is suing Mason Rothschild, an American artist, for creating digital versions of their Birkin handbags called ‘MetaBirkins’ and selling them on his website as NFTs.

In its lawsuit filed in New York, Hermès said Rothschild was ripping off its trademark, and accused him of being a “digital speculator who is seeking to get rich quick,” according to The Times.

For his part, Rothschild roundly rejected Hermès claims, stating:

“The First Amendment gives me the right to make and sell art depicting Birkin bags, just as it gave Andy Warhol the right to make and sell art depicting the Campbell’s soup cans.”

As Shel and I noted in For Immediate Release podcast episode 222 when we discussed this last week, we wish him good luck with that defence! You can listen to our 11-minute conversation right here:

Whatever the outcome of this lawsuit alleging infringement of copyright, I think we will likely see much more of this as brands step up the pace to protect their intellectual property rights.

Legal website The Fashion Law summarised this position in a lengthy assessment of the Hermès case:

“It is certainly still very early days when it comes to the metaverse and corresponding technologies, but either way, as more unauthorized uses come to light, it will not be surprising if otherwise skeptical or hesitant brands opt to enter in metaverse ventures with the aim of amassing stronger rights in their valuable assets and thus, more easily stomp out infringements and control over their images.”

An NFT is a token not the actual asset There is much misunderstanding about what rights you have on a product when you buy an NFT. You don’t own the product at all. Rather, you own a token (the NFT) that gives you certain rights.

Henrique Centieiro offers a simple explanation:

“Buying an NFT does not mean you own the digital or physical assets it represents unless specified. Remember, NFT is a blockchain representation showing the existence of an asset and not the actual asset. It can be explained better as a certificate of authenticity that a digital record of an asset belongs to you.

“When you buy an NFT, you are paying fora token that represents an asset. The token carries the information of the asset that proves its authenticity and that you own limited access to that digital record. Your token cannot be duplicated, and this rarity is what gives NFT cryptocurrency value.”

And note, you don’t get ownership of copyright. Perhaps this group of would-be NFT millionaires should have done a little more homework.

NFT Group Buys Copy Of Dune For €2.66 Million, Believing It Gives Them Copyrighthttps://t.co/vFEYgaP6qq pic.twitter.com/GIq1fbnty9

— IFLScience (@IFLScience) January 17, 2022

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Of course, this is a view on the respectable side of this burgeoning market where the flip side is pretty ugly, rife with thieving, fakery, plagiarism and spam.

Eyeballs, engagements and clicks were the order of the day.

In its lawsuit filed in New York, Hermès said Rothschild was ripping off its trademark, and accused him of being a “digital speculator who is seeking to get rich quick,” according to The Times.

For his part, Rothschild roundly rejected Hermès claims, stating:

“The First Amendment gives me the right to make and sell art depicting Birkin bags, just as it gave Andy Warhol the right to make and sell art depicting the Campbell’s soup cans.”

As Shel and I noted in For Immediate Release podcast episode 222 when we discussed this last week, we wish him good luck with that defence! You can listen to our 11-minute conversation right here:

Whatever the outcome of this lawsuit alleging infringement of copyright, I think we will likely see much more of this as brands step up the pace to protect their intellectual property rights.

Legal website The Fashion Law summarised this position in a lengthy assessment of the Hermès case:

“It is certainly still very early days when it comes to the metaverse and corresponding technologies, but either way, as more unauthorized uses come to light, it will not be surprising if otherwise skeptical or hesitant brands opt to enter in metaverse ventures with the aim of amassing stronger rights in their valuable assets and thus, more easily stomp out infringements and control over their images.”

Henrique Centieiro offers a simple explanation:

“Buying an NFT does not mean you own the digital or physical assets it represents unless specified. Remember, NFT is a blockchain representation showing the existence of an asset and not the actual asset. It can be explained better as a certificate of authenticity that a digital record of an asset belongs to you.

“When you buy an NFT, you are paying fora token that represents an asset. The token carries the information of the asset that proves its authenticity and that you own limited access to that digital record. Your token cannot be duplicated, and this rarity is what gives NFT cryptocurrency value.”

And note, you don’t get ownership of copyright. Perhaps this group of would-be NFT millionaires should have done a little more homework.

NFT Group Buys Copy Of Dune For €2.66 Million, Believing It Gives Them Copyrighthttps://t.co/vFEYgaP6qq pic.twitter.com/GIq1fbnty9

— IFLScience (@IFLScience) January 17, 2022

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If 2021 was the year of growing awareness of a thing called a ‘non-fungible token‘ – NFT for […]

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One of the difficulties with NFTs for most people is understanding precisely what they are and what they mean to a purchaser.

Even the name from which the initialism is derived – ‘non-fungible token‘ – sounds like so much techno-babble. Still, NFTs are a $41 billion marketplace right now that drives a fast-growing cryptocurrency market with digital and physical goods changing hands for huge amounts of real money in some cases that drive an equally fast-growing hype cycle that some are calling a bubble waiting to burst.

Rather than maintain the practice of trying to define what an NFT is (read this explainer from the Verge that’s as good as any I’ve seen recently), let me help raise your understanding with an example of a practical use of NFTs that brings it out into the potential mainstream.

Vogue Business reports that UK department store Selfridges is planning to sell NFTs and digital fashion in its Oxford Street flagship store in London, bringing digital goods to real-life shopping and broadening their accessibility in fashion (a world first in retail according to Retail Gazette).

The blending of virtual and physical worlds is launching as part of a pop-up that will feature artwork by Victor Vasarely and new physical pieces from designer brand Paco Rabanne inspired by Vasarely’s work. The NFTs, which can be purchased via an in-store digital screen using a traditional credit card, will include digital versions of the first dresses designed by Paco Rabanne.

Selfridges’ in-store pop-up is designed to make purchasing NFTs as familiar as shopping for clothing in store, says Jason Attard, founder and CEO of Substance, the NFT platform that worked on the project. Items can also be purchased online.

The ability to purchase NFTs by credit card alone can make the technology more accessible, says Vogue Business, noting that most other NFT purchases require registration on a specific auction site or marketplace and cryptocurrency. When a customer purchases the NFT from Selfridges, Substance automatically creates an NFT wallet for them where the NFT is saved.

Selfridges’ project is likely to introduce new customers to the world of NFTs, says Attard.

If you remove the words ‘NFT’, ‘crypto’ and ‘blockchain,’ you just have the experience. Even when you pay at a normal till, you also don’t know how it operates. The project also includes a virtual environment in metaverse platform Decentraland, in which people can interact with patterns inspired by Vasarely, whose work feels contemporary today.

Will Selfridges’ foray into NFTs widen their appeal through fashion and high-end retailing? Shel Holtz and I discuss this question in the latest short edition of our For Immediate Release podcast published yesterday. Shel also highlights examples of other retailers’ experiments with NFTs in the US.

You can listen to the 12-minute episode right here:

FIR Podcast episode 219: Get your NFTs at a brick-and-mortar retailer This is a very interesting time for NFTs as an element in Web 3, the super-hyped evolution of augmented reality, virtual reality and a great deal more that aspires to be a decentralized online future with public blockchains at its core.

In tandem, it’s also a time for finding solutions to scams and fraud across many marketplaces that is widely seen as endemic and a major barrier to widening the appeal of things like NFTs.

Related reading:

Retailers are flocking to NFTs. Why? – The Hustle, 21 January 2022
Twitter rolls out a way to showcase your NFTs – CNET, 20 January 2022
Facebook and Instagram are reportedly exploring plans to make, showcase, and sell NFTs – The Verge, 20 January 2022
Coinbase & Mastercard Collaborate to Simplify NFT Purchases – Tipranks, 19 January 2022
Booming NFT art market plagued by ‘mind-blowing’ fraud – Rappler, 19 January 2022

(Image at top via TheIndustry.fashion)

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One of the difficulties with NFTs for most people is understanding precisely what they are and what they […]

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One of the difficulties with NFTs for most people is understanding precisely what they are and what they mean to a purchaser.

The blending of virtual and physical worlds is launching as part of a pop-up that will feature artwork by Victor Vasarely and new physical pieces from designer brand Paco Rabanne inspired by Vasarely’s work. The NFTs, which can be purchased via an in-store digital screen using a traditional credit card, will include digital versions of the first dresses designed by Paco Rabanne.

Selfridges’ project is likely to introduce new customers to the world of NFTs, says Attard.

If you remove the words ‘NFT’, ‘crypto’ and ‘blockchain,’ you just have the experience. Even when you pay at a normal till, you also don’t know how it operates. The project also includes a virtual environment in metaverse platform Decentraland, in which people can interact with patterns inspired by Vasarely, whose work feels contemporary today.

You can listen to the 12-minute episode right here:

In tandem, it’s also a time for finding solutions to scams and fraud across many marketplaces that is widely seen as endemic and a major barrier to widening the appeal of things like NFTs.

Related reading:

Retailers are flocking to NFTs. Why? – The Hustle, 21 January 2022
Twitter rolls out a way to showcase your NFTs – CNET, 20 January 2022
Facebook and Instagram are reportedly exploring plans to make, showcase, and sell NFTs – The Verge, 20 January 2022
Coinbase & Mastercard Collaborate to Simplify NFT Purchases – Tipranks, 19 January 2022
Booming NFT art market plagued by ‘mind-blowing’ fraud – Rappler, 19 January 2022

(Image at top via TheIndustry.fashion)

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When Shel and I started the For Immediate Release podcast, usually abbreviated to ‘FIR,’ in January 2005, we had a big vision for it.

We wanted to have a conversation about topics that interested us at that intersection of business, communication, and technology. As we noted in a post on December 21, 2004, introducing the forthcoming podcast, “We’ll bring a balanced view on what’s going on in the US and Europe in communication, technology and other relevant topics.”

We thought others might be interested not only in listening to us chatting but also contributing their opinions if they cared to share them with us. That way, we extend the conversation.

And so, we launched FIR on January 3, 2005. We intended to focus on a niche audience made up of professionals across the communication spectrum – marketing, employee communication, advertising, corporate communication, and more – wherever they are in the world.

Seventeen years later, that’s still the primary focus of why we continue creating FIR episodes each month. The audience has expanded in this time, though, where we now have listeners from outside the communication profession.

1: There are now additional ‘For Immediate Release’ episodes

Starting this year, 2022, we’re adding a new dimension to the monthly show with additional episodes designed to address one specific topic in each episode. We published the first such episode on January 3, coincidentally on the exact day of our FIR seventeenth anniversary.

These new episodes are short, between ten and fifteen minutes in length. Quite a difference to the monthly show that runs a minimum of 60 minutes and has been known to reach 90 minutes or more, and includes a segment on tech by Dan York.

These episodes are a continuation of the FIR brand, and inherit the existing method of numbering the shows. The only real difference is that they’re short!

We hope the new episodes will attract and retain listeners who prefer short-form audio content. Indeed, we heard in the listener surveys we conducted in 2009 and 2011 that some people really do like short content. And feedback from the latest listener survey a decade on, running now until the end of January, suggests similar sentiment.

In any case, do let us know what you think of the new episodes. Get the RSS subscription feed to be sure you don’t miss any. Or search for ‘FIR Podcast’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

2: We’ve joined Jason Falls’ Marketing Podcast Network (MPN)

As an outcome of the thinking Shel and I have been discussing in recent months regarding developing FIR, we have decided to be part of an initiative by Jason Falls that is all about connecting people to great content in marketing-oriented podcasts relevant to their interests.

This is the Marketing Podcast Network that Jason is building that includes fifteen podcasts including FIR. MPN provides niche marketing podcasts access to a collective revenue share from network advertising.

We think this is a great move for us and for FIR listeners. Not only are we now part of a network that offers scale and reach greater than we could build on our own, it also gives us exposure via other network shows. Not only that, it means that our listeners learn about other shows they might be interested in listening to as well.

If you’re a long-time or regular FIR listener, nothing will change in terms of how you get the show and listen to it. FIR will continue to be available via the FIR Podcast Network as well as via MPN. And other podcasts offered via the FIR Podcast Network will continue to be available in the way they are now.

Now you can listen to the FIR podcast in two ways:

The original FIR edition without advertising, delivered from the FIR website
The MPN edition including advertising, delivered from MPN

In the second of the new short-form FIR episodes we published on January 6, Shel and I talk about FIR becoming part of MPN and what it means for the future of our show. You can listen to that eleven-minute conversation right here. It’s short!

We’re excited about these developments and hope you will be keen as well. We’d welcome hearing your thoughts on our news.

Do get in touch, thanks.

(First published on For Immediate Release on January 10, 2022. Photo at top by Matt Botsford on Unsplash.)

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When Shel and I started the For Immediate Release podcast, usually abbreviated to ‘FIR,’ in January 2005, we had a big vision for it.

We thought others might be interested not only in listening to us chatting but also contributing their opinions if they cared to share them with us. That way, we extend the conversation.

1: There are now additional ‘For Immediate Release’ episodes

These episodes are a continuation of the FIR brand, and inherit the existing method of numbering the shows. The only real difference is that they’re short!

2: We’ve joined Jason Falls’ Marketing Podcast Network (MPN)

Now you can listen to the FIR podcast in two ways:

The original FIR edition without advertising, delivered from the FIR website
The MPN edition including advertising, delivered from MPN

We’re excited about these developments and hope you will be keen as well. We’d welcome hearing your thoughts on our news.

Do get in touch, thanks.

(First published on For Immediate Release on January 10, 2022. Photo at top by Matt Botsford on Unsplash.)

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When Shel and I started the For Immediate Release podcast, usually abbreviated to ‘FIR,’ in January 2005, we […]

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Matthew Rosenfeld, known as Moxie Marlinspike, the creator of the Signal encrypted messaging service, writes a comprehensive analysis of Web 3, centralization and decentralization, NFT, cryptocurrencies, and a great deal more.

His starting point:

web3 is a somewhat ambiguous term, which makes it difficult to rigorously evaluate what the ambitions for web3 should be, but the general thesis seems to be that web1 was decentralized, web2 centralized everything into platforms, and that web3 will decentralize everything again. web3 should give us the richness of web2, but decentralized.

In his analysis he makes it pretty clear that decentralization is not what he sees happening nor likely to happen any time soon.

Basically, Web 3 is about who owns things: the content, the experiences (you do), and where all that takes place (on the centralized servers owned by other people over which you have absolutely zero control). The issue here, Marlinspike argues, is that from the very beginning Web 3 technologies immediately tended towards centralization through platforms in order for them to be realized.

Marlinspike also has some startling comment about NFTs. For instance:

Looking at many of the NFTs on popular marketplaces being sold for tens, hundreds, or millions of dollars, that URL often just points to some VPS running Apache somewhere. Anyone with access to that machine, anyone who buys that domain name in the future, or anyone who compromises that machine can change the image, title, description, etc for the NFT to whatever they’d like at any time (regardless of whether or not they “own” the token). There’s nothing in the NFT spec that tells you what the image “should” be, or even allows you to confirm whether something is the “correct” image.

And:

Given the history of why web1 became web2, what seems strange to me about web3 is that technologies like ethereum have been built with many of the same implicit trappings as web1. To make these technologies usable, the space is consolidating around… platforms. Again. People who will run servers for you, and iterate on the new functionality that emerges. Infura, OpenSea, Coinbase, Etherscan.

It all makes today’s big issues surrounding social networks, misinformation, algorithms, data privacy, trust, and control of user experiences look like Act 1 of a tragedy that’s a preview of the next level we are heading towards.

But, like addressing climate change, we know what we can and need to do to help create a far more positive environment and equitable foundations for the next level, whatever it’s called.

Other views:

5 NFT trends that will bring social media audiences into web3 – TechCrunch, Jan 6
Money in the Metaverse – The New Yorker, Jan 4
The metaverse isn’t what you think it is, because we don’t know what it is – CNET, Jan 4
Web3 is “an Open Public Database” Says Fred Wilson – TrustNodes, Jan 2

Related:

The Metaverse, Web 3 and Internet 2: the conversation (and hype) continues

(Photo at top by Taylor Vick on Unsplash)

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His starting point:

web3 is a somewhat ambiguous term, which makes it difficult to rigorously evaluate what the ambitions for web3 should be, but the general thesis seems to be that web1 was decentralized, web2 centralized everything into platforms, and that web3 will decentralize everything again. web3 should give us the richness of web2, but decentralized.

In his analysis he makes it pretty clear that decentralization is not what he sees happening nor likely to happen any time soon.

Marlinspike also has some startling comment about NFTs. For instance:

Looking at many of the NFTs on popular marketplaces being sold for tens, hundreds, or millions of dollars, that URL often just points to some VPS running Apache somewhere. Anyone with access to that machine, anyone who buys that domain name in the future, or anyone who compromises that machine can change the image, title, description, etc for the NFT to whatever they’d like at any time (regardless of whether or not they “own” the token). There’s nothing in the NFT spec that tells you what the image “should” be, or even allows you to confirm whether something is the “correct” image.

And:

Given the history of why web1 became web2, what seems strange to me about web3 is that technologies like ethereum have been built with many of the same implicit trappings as web1. To make these technologies usable, the space is consolidating around… platforms. Again. People who will run servers for you, and iterate on the new functionality that emerges. Infura, OpenSea, Coinbase, Etherscan.

But, like addressing climate change, we know what we can and need to do to help create a far more positive environment and equitable foundations for the next level, whatever it’s called.

[Update Jan 10] There’s a really good technical discussion thread in Reddit responding to Marlinspike’s critique. Bottom line: “I see no technical reason why the future needs to look like the status quo today.” Emphasis on ‘technical reason’ – https://www.reddit.com/r/ethereum/comments/ryk3it/my_first_impressions_of_web3/hrrz15r/

Other views:

5 NFT trends that will bring social media audiences into web3 – TechCrunch, Jan 6
Money in the Metaverse – The New Yorker, Jan 4
The metaverse isn’t what you think it is, because we don’t know what it is – CNET, Jan 4
Web3 is “an Open Public Database” Says Fred Wilson – TrustNodes, Jan 2

Related:

The Metaverse, Web 3 and Internet 2: the conversation (and hype) continues

(Photo at top by Taylor Vick on Unsplash)

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Matthew Rosenfeld, known as Moxie Marlinspike, the creator of the Signal encrypted messaging service, writes a comprehensive analysis […]

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The metaverse isn’t what you think it is because we don’t know what it is, says CNET.

It’s a good starting point to think about a topic that I believe is one of three elements – metaverse, Web 3 and Internet 2 – that make up a singular entity that’s evolving. One of the three names might become the singular descriptor for all three. Or it might be something else entirely.

The term “the metaverse” is simplistic, CNET says, adding that a number of metaverses will emerge along the lines of social media platforms, with a handful becoming dominant and largely incompatible.

That may be so. We might also see “the Metaverse” (with a capital ‘M’) that takes on a role similar to the Internet (with a capital ‘I’) that is often described as “the network of networks” that embraces a decentralized system with no one in control.

That’s a bit at odds, though, with the land-grab we’re currently seeeing about which I referenced in an article I published on New Year’s Day.

Yet does it matter right now that we don’t have clear descriptions of what such terms actually mean? With so many differing narratives and opinions (some of which matter while most likely don’t) flowing from the increasing experiments we’re seeing as more people and organizations jump into the pool, it may take a while before we can see the wood for the trees.

“Metaverses have all the classic signs of overhype: A previous run that came and went (Second Life), association with hardware that very few people have interest in adopting (AR and VR headgear), a sense that metaverse promoters will say anything to make a lot of money off the concept, and a huge leap of faith that the hard technical problems are just few cycles of Moore’s Law away from solving themselves.“

Pay attention to the experiments not the narrow opinions driving the hype. And keep an eye on what’s happening in Asia.

(Screenshot at top by Sarah Tew/CNET)

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The metaverse isn’t what you think it is because we don’t know what it is, says CNET.

That’s a bit at odds, though, with the land-grab we’re currently seeing about which I referenced in an article I published on New Year’s Day.

“Metaverses have all the classic signs of overhype: A previous run that came and went (Second Life), association with hardware that very few people have interest in adopting (AR and VR headgear), a sense that metaverse promoters will say anything to make a lot of money off the concept, and a huge leap of faith that the hard technical problems are just few cycles of Moore’s Law away from solving themselves.“

Pay attention to the experiments not the narrow opinions driving the hype. And keep an eye on what’s happening in Asia.

(Screenshot at top by Sarah Tew/CNET)

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For more than twenty years, Microsoft Outlook has been the primary software tool I use for email and calendars on Windows PCs, for both business and personal uses.

On New Year’s Day, I switched my personal email accounts to Mailbird, a software tool that lets me manage my email and calendars on my Windows 11 PCs.

Even only four days into my use, I’m already well impressed with Mailbird, how easy it was to install and set up, and the fast way I get things done that took much longer with Outlook.

So far three things stand out for me about Mailbird:

Unified mailbox. I can set up multiple email accounts within Mailbird, all of which can appear in a single unified mailbox that contains emails from all the accounts. Each account is colour-coded so I can see at a glance which email account a message is in. This is ideal when you have multiple email accounts.
Integration with Google calendar. This is a breeze to set up compared to Outlook which requires a third-party bridging app to synchronise Google calendar with Outlook calendar. With Mailbird, it just connects to Google and brings in your calendar. This makes things very straightfoward when you have Mailbird installed on up to three devices where your Google calendar is accessible by all.
Retrieving account settings and synchronising for email is fast and works every time. This behaviour is refreshing compared to Outlook. In setting up, Mailbird grabbed the server settings for each of the email accounts I wanted to add (Gmail and Yahoo accounts plus a domain email), set up access and started bringing in email. Couldn’t be simpler.

Mailbird offers much more with the Personal plan if you want it including integration with a wide range of third-party apps and services such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Telegram, Facebook, Discord, and more. If you go for the Business plan, you can also integrate others like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Trello, and more.

I’ve not integrated anything other than Google Calendar, as I want to keep this tool minimalist and just focus on my email and calendar. I really like the easy-to-use interface and simple layout.

See the full range of features Mailbird offers. You can compare that with Outlook’s offering. And take a look at this comparison of Mailbird with other platforms.

That said, there are a couple of things I don’t like much about Mailbird compared to Outlook, or wish I do could do them differently.

The Calendar, for instance. Like Outlook, I can display a summary of calendar events in a vertical panel at the right of the app window. But the design shows this app’s heritage as an app originally for macOS as the panel looks like you see it on an iPhone screen. I don’t like it much! And I wish the calendar in the panel would display events for a week in addition to the current day or month setting.

Also when replying to email, the procedure when you have lots of names in the address line and maybe a few cc’s isn’t as clear and simple as it is with Outlook. Or maybe it’s because I’m so used to Outlook it will take a while longer to adjust.

Such things aren’t show stoppers for me, just illustrative of the fact that no software application is wholly perfect.

One thing to note as well: the Personal plan does not let you add email accounts that use Microsoft Exchange. For that, you’ll need a Business plan.

When thinking about moving away from Outlook, I did also consider just using the native approach to my personal email accounts , mostly on Gmail. But I don’t want to have to check it via a browser with multiple logins to multiple email accounts or granting calendar access to different accounts. No to that faffing about!

I decided to give Mailbird 30 days to help me decide whether to make the switch permanent or not. I have bought a license for the Personal plan and the price is low enough that I’m willing to experiment even if the result is that I don’t continue using it.

Mailbird Personal supports IMAP and POP3 accounts and has versions for Windows and, soon, macOS.

Based on my experience so far, I see a future for Mailbird.

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For more than twenty years, Microsoft Outlook has been the primary software tool I use for email and calendars on Windows PCs, for both business and personal uses.

On New Year’s Day, I switched my personal email accounts to Mailbird, a software tool that lets me manage my email and calendars on my Windows 11 PCs.

Even only four days into my use, I’m already well impressed with Mailbird, how easy it was to install and set up, and the fast way I get things done that took much longer with Outlook.

So far three things stand out for me about Mailbird:

Unified mailbox. I can set up multiple email accounts within Mailbird, all of which can appear in a single unified mailbox that contains emails from all the accounts. Each account is colour-coded so I can see at a glance which email account a message is in. This is ideal when you have multiple email accounts.
Integration with Google calendar. This is a breeze to set up compared to Outlook which requires a third-party bridging app to synchronise Google calendar with Outlook calendar. With Mailbird, it just connects to Google and brings in your calendar. This makes things very straightfoward when you have Mailbird installed on up to three devices where your Google calendar is accessible by all.
Retrieving account settings and synchronising for email is fast and works every time. This behaviour is refreshing compared to Outlook. In setting up, Mailbird grabbed the server settings for each of the email accounts I wanted to add (Gmail and Yahoo accounts plus a domain email), set up access and started bringing in email. Couldn’t be simpler.

I’ve not integrated anything other than Google Calendar, as I want to keep this tool minimalist and just focus on my email and calendar. I really like the easy-to-use interface and simple layout.

See the full range of features Mailbird offers. You can compare that with Outlook’s offering. And take a look at this comparison of Mailbird with other platforms.

That said, there are a couple of things I don’t like much about Mailbird compared to Outlook, or wish I do could do them differently.

Such things aren’t show stoppers for me, just illustrative of the fact that no software application is wholly perfect.

One thing to note as well: the Personal plan does not let you add email accounts that use Microsoft Exchange. For that, you’ll need a Business plan.

Mailbird Personal supports IMAP and POP3 accounts and has versions for Windows and, soon, macOS.

Based on my experience so far, I see a future for Mailbird.

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Two things happened recently that reminded me of the saying “what goes around, comes around” but in a good way. Both things concern the metaverse, Web 3 and Internet 2.

These are terms that everyone is talking about online and offline, yet no one seems to be talking about them from the same page.

The most recent reminder came a few days ago in a tweet from Joe Garde in Dublin who noted the state of things back in 2008. “Fun looking back.. 14 year’s or so.. What we were doing in SL.. ‘Walking’ out of Web 2 into Web 3 was the idea,” said Joe, in reference to the typical conversation topics among early adopters, a group of which I met up with on a visit to Dublin in May that year.

Fun looking back.. 14 year's or so.. What we were doing in SL.. 'Walking' out of Web 2 into Web 3 was the idea.. #teleport #pptstreaming #boardroom with #voip #Metaverse https://t.co/e620vrCcQr

— Joe Garde (@JoeGarde) December 30, 2021

“Walking out of Web 2 into Web 3” is a great way to summarise the focus behind the conversations back then – many taking place in Second Life – that largely has the same focus today with people articulating their vision of that journey even if the detail about Web 2 and Web 3 from then to now isn’t the same.

That doesn’t actually matter much, it seems to me, as attempts to define all these terms – metaverse, Web 3, Internet 2 – just muddies the water further as there is little consensus emerging yet on meanings likely to get wide understanding.

One thing today that’s similar to what was happening in that earlier period 14+ years ago is the way in which many people are pressing ahead with experiments no matter that the definition of where and how they’re doing that isn’t clear at all.

Back then, we saw early adopters like Dell, IBM, General Motors, BBC, ABN Amro Bank, Coca-Cola, and many others putting a lot more than just toes in the virtual water trying to figure out the worth in and value of being actively present in a virtual place like Second Life.

Back then, I was part of Crayon, a company founded in Second Life in 2006 with Joseph Jaffe, Shel Holtz, and CC Chapman, where we lived the dream of working with some great brands on helping them figure out Second Life.

For me, an especially memorable event was the virtual media conference held in Second Life in early June 2007 to promote the Die Hard 4 movie where star actor Bruce Willis took an active part in a Q&A session via his avatar with the assembled media via each journalist’s avatar. Very ground-breaking at the time.

(Screenshot: Bruce Willis in Q&A about ‘Die Hard 4’ in a press conference in Second Life, June 2007) Today, we see many people trying to figure out the metaverse – I see this as a successor to Second Life although I’m not saying that’s a definition – with Big Tech companies like Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Epic Games, Google, Nvidia, and Apple, and myriad newer entrants like Roblox and Decentraland, all of which are major players in constructing foundations and creating experiences that run on them.

Not to mention blockchain and cryptocurrencies that some see as core to decentralisation of the Internet (which is a good thing) whatever the number is.

From this it’s not hard to see that the sheer scope and scale of this foundation-building just dwarfs what one company was able to do in the early years of this century compared to what dozens are doing today. The broad tech landscape now is one of powerful usually-mobile devices with fast high-definition graphic displays, content storage in the cloud and on local SSDs measured in terabytes and petabytes, and ubiquitous fast network connectivity on demand almost anywhere in advanced economies, all combined with broad awareness of that tech and understanding what it lets people do.

That certainly was not the picture 14+ years ago.

Hang on, I hear you say. All of this is just the metaverse. Where’s Web 3 and Internet 2?

Well, this leads to the second thing that happened and that has greatly influenced my thinking.

First, though, I think the three terms are elements of a singular entity that’s evolving. One of the three names might become the singular descriptor for all three. Or it might be something else entirely.

Look at the metaverse market map above, created by Jon Radoff in early 2021. This offers some good clues on the overlap across these three loosely-defined terms. I think of it like the current Internet (with a capital ‘I’), the global system of interconnected computer networks (let’s call them internets with a small ‘i’) which is about a decentralised layered landscape – the foundation, the application layer that sits on top, transport and security layers, etc.

The overlap depicted in the map suggests to me that the metaverse (we probably would call this ‘the Metaverse’ with a capital ‘M’), Web 3 and Internet 2 are pieces of the same jigsaw puzzle.

Last week, Shel Holtz and I discussed Web 3 in the December episode of the FIR podcast. I’ve been thinking a lot about that conversation since, which has partly crystalised some of that thinking in this article.

While I’m still thinking about and reviewing where that’s leading me – and I believe it’s not down a rabbit hole – I’ve arrived at a waypoint stop on the journey. This is the second thing I mentioned.

In considering everything that’s going on that everyone is talking about – the many opportunities awaiting businesses, brands, investors, and ordinary people in the brave new world ahead – we seem to have missed some important considerations.

This isn’t too unlike what was happening back in the mid-noughties, except now it’s at hugely greater scale and with greater potential consequences

Tim O’Reilly captures the matter extremely well when he wrote a few weeks ago on why it’s too early to get excited about Web 3.

He quotes science fiction writer William Gibson (he coined the term “cyberspace“) who said, “The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.” We can also look at economic and social patterns and cycles, he notes, using as a lens the observation ascribed to Mark Twain that “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.”

And he asks, “Using those filters, what can we say about Web 3?” He continues in an absorbing assessment of the present “we’re here for the money” landscape and land-grab that seems to epitomise Web 3 right now.

His concluding remarks summarise where we ought to be today rather than where we actually are:

“Let’s focus on the parts of the Web3 vision that aren’t about easy riches, but on solving hard problems in trust, identity, and decentralized finance. And above all, let’s focus on the interface between crypto and the real world that people live in, where, as Matthew Yglesias put it when talking about housing inequality, “a society becomes wealthy over time by accumulating a stock of long-lasting capital goods.” If, as Sal Delle Palme argues, Web3 heralds the birth of a new economic system, let’s make it one that increases true wealth—not just paper wealth for those lucky enough to get in early but actual life-changing goods and services that make life better for everyone.”

That also means to me not allowing only companies like Meta to set the agenda for what’s to come, something Second Life founder Philip Rosedale has a strong view on. They need to be participants, there is no doubt about that. But, just as with the current issues of regulating social media, they cannot be in the driving seat.

As for who should be in the driving seat, that’s another vexatious matter.

In his article, O’Reilly talks at length about cryptocurrencies, the dot-com bubble, and the Dutch tulip mania bubble of the 17th century, all in the context of asking, “Where are we in the cycle?” For today, I’d ask “Where are we in the hype cycle?”

If you’re familiar with Gartner’s hype cycles, you’ll know that they provide a graphical and conceptual presentation of the maturity of emerging technologies through five phases:

The first phase is the technology trigger and the stories and talk across mainstream and social media about a potential technology breakthrough that generates significant publicity and awareness.
The second phase is the peak of inflated expectations, where we hear about a number of success stories, often accompanied by scores of failures.
The third phase is the trough of disillusionment, that place where interest wanes as experiments and implementations fail to deliver. There’s a winnowing of players in the space and investment continues only if the surviving providers improve their offerings to the satisfaction of early adopters.
The trick here is to see how long you sit in the trough before you start to climb phase four, the slope of enlightenment where people realise that what you offer actually can deliver on the great promises.
This leads to the plateau of productivity, meaning you’ll more than likely hit the mainstream.

I believe we are almost at the peak of inflated expectations with our trio of tech-based stories that herald much promise but have yet to deliver anything.

Which is not too bad a place to be as worthless predictions and debate are discarded, as visions and new perspectives are articulated and shared, and as conversations continue. I expect in 2022 we will see even more stories and talk, some of which will be worthy of our attention and debate, which may lead to a short stay in the trough of disillusionment – which surely is the next destination very soon – and a rapid climb onto the slope of enlightenment.

Btw, I’m still present in Second Life, a place that’s still going strong: look me up and connect if you’d like to chat in an early metaverse (with a small ‘m’).

Happy New Year!

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Two things happened recently that reminded me of the saying “what goes around, comes around” but in a good way. Both things concern the metaverse, Web 3 and Internet 2.

These are terms that everyone is talking about online and offline, yet no one seems to be talking about them from the same page.

Fun looking back.. 14 year's or so.. What we were doing in SL.. 'Walking' out of Web 2 into Web 3 was the idea.. #teleport #pptstreaming #boardroom with #voip #Metaverse https://t.co/e620vrCcQr

— Joe Garde (@JoeGarde) December 30, 2021

Not to mention blockchain and cryptocurrencies that some see as core to decentralisation of the Internet (which is a good thing) whatever the number is.

That certainly was not the picture 14+ years ago.

Hang on, I hear you say. All of this is just the metaverse. Where’s Web 3 and Internet 2?

Well, this leads to the second thing that happened and that has greatly influenced my thinking.

The overlap depicted in the map suggests to me that the metaverse (we probably would call this ‘the Metaverse’ with a capital ‘M’), Web 3 and Internet 2 are pieces of the same jigsaw puzzle.

This isn’t too unlike what was happening back in the mid-noughties, except now it’s at hugely greater scale and with greater potential consequences

Tim O’Reilly captures the matter extremely well when he wrote a few weeks ago on why it’s too early to get excited about Web 3.

His concluding remarks summarise where we ought to be today rather than where we actually are:

“Let’s focus on the parts of the Web3 vision that aren’t about easy riches, but on solving hard problems in trust, identity, and decentralized finance. And above all, let’s focus on the interface between crypto and the real world that people live in, where, as Matthew Yglesias put it when talking about housing inequality, “a society becomes wealthy over time by accumulating a stock of long-lasting capital goods.” If, as Sal Delle Palme argues, Web3 heralds the birth of a new economic system, let’s make it one that increases true wealth—not just paper wealth for those lucky enough to get in early but actual life-changing goods and services that make life better for everyone.”

As for who should be in the driving seat, that’s another vexatious matter.

If you’re familiar with Gartner’s hype cycles, you’ll know that they provide a graphical and conceptual presentation of the maturity of emerging technologies through five phases:

The first phase is the technology trigger and the stories and talk across mainstream and social media about a potential technology breakthrough that generates significant publicity and awareness.
The second phase is the peak of inflated expectations, where we hear about a number of success stories, often accompanied by scores of failures.
The third phase is the trough of disillusionment, that place where interest wanes as experiments and implementations fail to deliver. There’s a winnowing of players in the space and investment continues only if the surviving providers improve their offerings to the satisfaction of early adopters.
The trick here is to see how long you sit in the trough before you start to climb phase four, the slope of enlightenment where people realise that what you offer actually can deliver on the great promises.
This leads to the plateau of productivity, meaning you’ll more than likely hit the mainstream.

I believe we are almost at the peak of inflated expectations with our trio of tech-based stories that herald much promise but have yet to deliver anything.

Btw, I’m still present in Second Life, a place that’s still going strong: look me up and connect if you’d like to chat in an early metaverse (with a small ‘m’).

Happy New Year!

Related: Pay attention to metaverse experiments, published January 5

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This week I drove into and out of central London, into the congestion charging zone, in my self-charging hybrid car for the first time this year. It’s about a 60-mile trip each way for me on the A4 and M4 motorway. Much of the journey on the M4 is under 50mph or 60mph speed limits due to the huge smart motorway project to widen that whole stretch to four lanes each way between J12 at Theale and J3 at Hayes.

I drive a Toyota Corolla hybrid that I bought in the summer of 2020. It’s an ideal car for low intermittent use, mostly short local journeys with the occasional one of two or more hours including trips into busy urban area such as this one. Plus, for me, such a hybrid car is a stepping stone to full electric-powered mobility, or whatever is feasible in 2023 or thereabouts, without the anxiety of running out of juice.

So on my journey home from London, after stopping at the westbound Heston services for a ‘refreshment break,’ I continued on the M4. This was exclusively a motorway journey for over 30 of the 42 total miles for this part, with the traffic flow and speed waxing and waning throughout.

I find adaptive cruise control (ACC) not really ideal in these situations as the car tends to slow down/speed up in an over cautious manner in the former and with too much enthusiasm in the latter. In any case, given the extra attention needed on what others are doing, setting cruise control of any type isn’t a good idea in my view. You need to be in control not the sensors.

I continued my journey with caution, keeping to the low speed limit or lower depending on the traffic. A look through the metrics for this journey in Toyota’s My T app on my Android phone showed my average speed at 47mph. That looks about right: actual speed of 50mph or less for the journey between J3 at Hayes and J8/9 at Maidenhead, and then mostly 60mph or less from J8/9 to J12 at Theale even though the limit on that stretch is 70mph: too congested for that speed.

The screenshot shows fuel consumption of 68.2mpg, much better than I expected – I was thinking it might be in the low 60s, even high 50s. Perhaps that thinking is influenced by typical driving behaviour on a motorway with generally higher travel speed with ACC in constant use, perhaps with some liberal acceleration here and there to get past bunches of slow traffic.

Hybrid like an EV It also shows that 39% of the journey was under battery power, in EV mode in Toyota parlance. It means that the engine has switched off and I’m using only the electric battery.

That’s in line with my expectation.

On my inbound journey earlier, driving in central London in very heavy and very slow stop/start traffic, EV use was 80% with mpg at 57.3 according to My T. EV mode is especially useful in city driving, running near-silent and with no exhaust emissions. A good scene-setter for my motoring future with no internal combustion engine at all!

Either way, I find journey data like this really useful to better understand the capabilities of this hybrid car in tandem with my own driving behaviours and how I can improve them further. This isn’t about mpg but overall behaviour.

As a final note, the overall average info I see on my dashboard is also useful (for me, it’s currently showing average 62.2 mpg). But I find individual journey data even more useful.

If you drive a hybrid car, how do you see it all?

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Hybrid like an EV It also shows that 39% of the journey was under battery power, in EV mode in Toyota parlance. It means that the engine has switched off and I’m using only the electric battery.

That’s in line with my expectation.

As a final note, the overall average info I see on my dashboard is also useful (for me, it’s currently showing average 62.2 mpg). But I find individual journey data even more useful.

If you drive a hybrid car, how do you see it all?

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Twitter reminded me the other day that it was fifteen years ago when I signed up for a Twitter account.

December 7, 2006, was that day and the message I posted was like many you saw at the time when people started signing up – pithy and full of insight :)

Indeed, it was so unremarkable that it didn’t get a mention in my blog at a time when I was paying a lot of attention to what was happening in tech and communication and writing many articles.

That changed over the following few years as more people signed up and Twitter gained traction and other networks emerged, many falling by the wayside or being acquired by the stronger ones (remember Jaiku?).

In November 2013 Twitter become a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange following an IPO.

And here we are at the tail end of 2021 with Twitter still with us as a prominent part of the digital landscape, and still evolving. This landscape has changed in ways that we couldn’t imagine fifteen years ago, with that landscape seen by many, many people today as a toxic place, one that requires significant change, control, and regulation.

Seven years ago, in March 2014, I wrote an article about Twitter’s eighth anniversary, noting:

Who would have imagined Twitter would become such an integral part of the way in which a lot of people connect with others and with things that interest them?

That indeed is what Twitter does, embracing the good, the bad, and the ugly, of human behaviour and interaction. In recent years the social network has made efforts to remove undesirable elements and bad actors such as the big house clean of fake followers in 2018.

Today Twitter is used as a communication channel by politicians, organisations, and celebrities to make announcements that previously would be done with a press release or other formal and controlled communication, and to engage in discussion. It’s also a powerful advertising platform for business, used by global multinationals and small businesses alike.

Twitter verification is becoming more important as a signal of trust validation for a particular account and its owner. (As an aside, Twitter verified my account in early 2017.)

Twitter has evolved its offering in a major increase in scope such as Twitter Spaces social audio, and the Twitter Blue paid subscription service currently being piloted.

Is there value in a big number? Looking back at the past fifteen years of my use of Twitter, I reflect on my focus on Twitter primarily as a means of engaging organically with people on matters of mutual or topical interest, mostly on business and technology topics with the occasional political-oriented opinion thrown into the mix (let’s not mention Brexit or Christmas parties).

It’s also a place I use to think out loud, especially useful if such thinking prompts comment or amplification from others. You can learn a lot from this.

In the 2014 article about Twitter I mentioned earlier, I wrote this:

From the communicator’s perspective, there’s no doubting the value of this tool today as a method of listening to what people are talking about – a foundational step in communication planning, something you do before you start talking. It also offers you terrific opportunities to engage with others once you do start talking.

In my view, there’s no right or wrong way to use Twitter from the business communication perspective, only effective or ineffective ways. And like all online communication tools and channels, Twitter is a mirror on the behaviours of people, reflecting what they say and do.

I think these words are equally valid today, notwithstanding the changed toxicity surrounding the platform and social media generally.

And so I come to the number 100,000 which represents the volume of tweets I have posted since December 2006. I hit this number on December 10 when I tweeted comment regarding an article Bill Gates published on his website about the outlook for 2022.

That tweet moved the odometer to the 100K mark.

100,000 is quite a number. I’m actually a little amazed that I have posted so much organic content online, much of which is undoubtedly ephemeral and of little real interest beyond the passing moments of when those posts were published. I sometimes wonder what historians or archivists would think if they encountered any of this content in the digital archives of The British Library or the US Library of Congress.

Three tips Yet I have found immense value in the ephemera and the connections that result from publishing content others may find of passing interest or even value. While I’m a lot quieter these days in term of what I post and how frequently – quiet indeed compared to ten years ago when I would post 20 or more tweets daily for days on end – I will continue to be active on Twitter, probably listening more than talking. I’m particularly interested in what Twitter Blue can offer.

And what have I learned from 15 years and 100K tweets (not to mention thousands of likes that aren’t included in the big number) as an individual tweeter communicating at the intersection of business, communication, and technology?

Three things readily come to mind:

Be authentic. Yes, it’s an over-used word, but it’s an appropriate one in the context of how you appear and behave on Twitter. You’re not a marketing persona, you’re a real person: ensure your profile is complete and has a photo to help you present the unvarnished and unfiltered you to your audiences so they can get the measure of you through how you behave and what you say.
Be clear on why you are on Twitter. Whether you tweet once or twice a week or multiple times every day, you have a reason to do that. Know that reason with clarity and be there if you have interests and opinions that really matter to you, and you want to connect with like-minded people to share them. Whether your Twitter presence is a primary one, or whether it’s an entry point to your blog or website, be clear on your purpose.
Listen first, always. This is a principle of effective communication. The biggest mistake I’ve seen is people who start on Twitter and immediately talk. Worse, shout, spraying their opinions or links to “interesting content” far and wide without listening. That’s not communication never mind engagement. My tip: follow ten people (if you’re a communicator, here’s a good list to choose from) and listen to them for a month. Then like or retweet some of their tweets, perhaps as quote tweets with a comment if you want to make a good start. If a few of those tweeters start following you back, you’re on the right track.

If you’re active on Twitter, what’s your opinion on the value or otherwise of your activity? Have you reached some big numbers? What tips would you share for others to learn from? Share your thoughts.

In the old days of social media that would mean leaving a comment on this blog post. You’re welcome to do that, but perhaps more apt would be a tweet.

So, tweet me @jangles

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Twitter reminded me the other day that it was fifteen years ago when I signed up for a Twitter account.

December 7, 2006, was that day and the message I posted was like many you saw at the time when people started signing up – pithy and full of insight :)

Indeed, it was so unremarkable that it didn’t get a mention in my blog at a time when I was paying a lot of attention to what was happening in tech and communication and writing many articles.

In November 2013 Twitter become a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange following an IPO.

Seven years ago, in March 2014, I wrote an article about Twitter’s eighth anniversary, noting:

Who would have imagined Twitter would become such an integral part of the way in which a lot of people connect with others and with things that interest them?

Twitter verification is becoming more important as a signal of trust validation for a particular account and its owner. (As an aside, Twitter verified my account in early 2017.)

Twitter has evolved its offering in a major increase in scope such as Twitter Spaces social audio, and the Twitter Blue paid subscription service currently being piloted.

It’s also a place I use to think out loud, especially useful if such thinking prompts comment or amplification from others. You can learn a lot from this.

In the 2014 article about Twitter I mentioned earlier, I wrote this:

From the communicator’s perspective, there’s no doubting the value of this tool today as a method of listening to what people are talking about – a foundational step in communication planning, something you do before you start talking. It also offers you terrific opportunities to engage with others once you do start talking.

In my view, there’s no right or wrong way to use Twitter from the business communication perspective, only effective or ineffective ways. And like all online communication tools and channels, Twitter is a mirror on the behaviours of people, reflecting what they say and do.

I think these words are equally valid today, notwithstanding the changed toxicity surrounding the platform and social media generally.

That tweet moved the odometer to the 100K mark.

Three things readily come to mind:

Be authentic. Yes, it’s an over-used word, but it’s an appropriate one in the context of how you appear and behave on Twitter. You’re not a marketing persona, you’re a real person: ensure your profile is complete and has a photo to help you present the unvarnished and unfiltered you to your audiences so they can get the measure of you through how you behave and what you say.
Be clear on why you are on Twitter. Whether you tweet once or twice a week or multiple times every day, you have a reason to do that. Know that reason with clarity and be there if you have interests and opinions that really matter to you, and you want to connect with like-minded people to share them. Whether your Twitter presence is a primary one, or whether it’s an entry point to your blog or website, be clear on your purpose.
Listen first, always. This is a principle of effective communication. The biggest mistake I’ve seen is people who start on Twitter and immediately talk. Worse, shout, spraying their opinions or links to “interesting content” far and wide without listening. That’s not communication never mind engagement. My tip: follow ten people (if you’re a communicator, here’s a good list to choose from) and listen to them for a month. Then like or retweet some of their tweets, perhaps as quote tweets with a comment if you want to make a good start. If a few of those tweeters start following you back, you’re on the right track.

In the old days of social media that would mean leaving a comment on this blog post. You’re welcome to do that, but perhaps more apt would be a tweet.

So, tweet me @jangles

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At the dawn of the social media age fifteen and more years ago, everything was about blogs.

This was the time just before Facebook, before Twitter, even before YouTube, when blogs started to gain momentum from the early-to-mid 2000s when businesses began exploring this new media model and considered the opportunities and risks it presented as an additional communication channel.

Take IBM, for example – a true early pioneer in encouraging employees to embrace a new communication medium.

Often, though, the perceived risks were the prime focus for many businesses rather than the opportunities, which was how early approaches to defining policies and guidelines on how to use blogs for business tended to be developed.

Over time, such policies, and guidelines became more balanced, weighing up the pros and cons equally. And more businesses shared their policies and guidelines so others could learn from them and develop their own.

Wind forward fifteen years and you’ll see that having a clear policy on social media use by employees of an organisation makes good sense when they focus on being part of that landscape in ways that benefit the organisation, the employees and social media users alike. You can find contemporary examples of policies and guidelines that shine a light on how attitudes and approaches to blogs and the broad social media landscape that followed have evolved.

But today, we are in dark times with a very uneven social media landscape.

Maybe it’s time for a different approach. It’s all very well having a policy that governs behaviour designed to benefit the organisation, the employees and social media users alike if everyone involved is on the same page. In recent years, though, we have seen many online places where you exercise those positive behaviours become toxic wastelands full of awful behaviours, misinformation, and lack of trust, which exist to enrich the social network owners, big advertisers, and bad actors at the full expense of the users.

Maybe it’s time for a different approach to policy development, one that considers the landscape and defines what you expect from those that run it and sets out your own approach. One where every participant has a role and a responsibility.

That’s what Lush Cosmetics‘ Anti Social Media Policy looks like to me.

I wouldn’t expect this to interest governments, regulators and others yet who see only the big picture at scale and how they want to control it. It looks designed for a simpler one-step-at-a-time approach where you can define your approach that may prompt others to do the same. Maybe it could create a domino effect or tipping point – pick your metaphor – driven by a desire to create and be part of something far better than we have now.

“We wouldn’t ask our customers to meet us down a dark and dangerous alleyway – but some social media platforms are beginning to feel like places no one should be encouraged to go,” say Jack Constantine, Inventor and Chief Digital Officer, and Mark Constantine, Co-Founder and Product Inventor, at Lush Cosmetics in an official company statement.

The statement says:

“Something has to change. We hope that platforms will introduce strong best practice guidelines, and we hope that international regulation will be passed into law. But we can’t wait. We feel forced to take our own action to shield our customers from the harm and manipulation they may experience whilst trying to connect with us on social media.“

Lush’s statement says they signed out from Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp and TikTok from November 26 “until these platforms can provide a safer environment for their users.”

And Lush boss Mark Constantine tells the Guardian why ‘I’m happy to lose £10m by quitting Facebook’:

“He was disturbed by leaked Facebook research that suggested its Instagram app made body image issues worse for teenage girls. “I just thought ‘That’s their own research and they’re ignoring it and we are attracting people to their platform.’ We had no choice whatsoever. Lush attracts an awful lot of girls of that age.”

Lush has publicly posted their new policy wording. It’s refreshing and concise, reminding me of those early days of getting everyone to be part of the conversation and assuming the best of intentions from others, without that assumption requiring the detailed explanation such as we have here. Were we so naive?

Here is the full text of the Lush Cosmetics anti social media policy:

We want to use all the latest communication tools and developments which enable us to interact with our customers and the wider world.
We wish to connect with our customers as directly as possible – without this interaction being unduly controlled by third parties.
We want to be able to trust external platforms to provide their services in a clear and transparent way that does not hide their true commercial functions or revenue streams.
We wish to only use platforms and services that do their very best to protect users from harassment, harm and manipulation.
We do not want to participate on platforms that use visitor data in unpublished ways.
We favour platforms that do not use algorithms that target users with negative content, fake news, or extreme viewpoints in order to boost engagement, clicks and shares.
Like any other addictive pastime, we wish platforms to design their product to minimise the risk of overuse and encourage healthy usage patterns.
The choice of platforms we use for communications will change over time as new platforms and services become available, but will always take the above considerations and concerns into account when making our choices.

I hope it catches on.

(Photo at top by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash.)

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Facebook’s rebranding as Meta has been seen by many as the company’s latest attempt at corporate crisis control. The social media giant has been publicly attacked for creating an environment that fosters far-right extremism and violating individuals’ data privacy.

Yet it also represents an attempt to rebrand the growing power of tech monopolies to shape all areas of our lives through social expansion. It points to a troubling new era of “metacapitalism” – or “capitalism on steroids” as Forbes called it in 2000. It reflects a disturbing trend of massively expanding tech conglomerates and the dangerous privatisation of technological knowledge.

Rebranding tech monopolies Technology is rapidly transforming our world – from instantaneous digital communication to AI decision-making to virtual and augmented reality. The driving force behind these changes has been private technology firms, whether global start-ups or famous Silicon Valley conglomerates. But this combination of massive corporate profits and exciting technological innovation is the biggest myth of 21st-century progress.

The truth is much more complicated. Huge technology firms such as Google and Facebook are increasingly criticised for unethical data collection and the use of algorithms which encourage hateful beliefs and viral misinformation.

Their technology has also encouraged unjust labour practices including hi-tech digital surveillance to monitor workers, as happened in Amazon warehouses, and facilitated digital platforms such as Uber, which refuse to provide basic worker rights.

Longer term, the mining of rare earth metals and the massive amounts of energy required for data processing are major contributors to climate change.

These problems point to the threat of capitalist tech monopolies where, according to theorist Neil Postman, the culture “seeks its authorisation in technology, finds its satisfactions in technology, and takes its orders from technology”. Microsoft and Google have already been accused of monopolistic practices.

These “bit tyrants” are troubling “technopolies” which actually use their power and influence to stifle innovation and competition using – ironically – traditional practices of the old economy.

Perhaps even more troubling is how these companies channel innovation away from its potential for social good. Beneath the myth of Silicon Valley prosperity are big tech’s seeming attempts to promote corporate oligarchies and even authoritarian regimes to extend their economic reach and political power.

The highly publicised renaming of these conglomerates is part of a wider rebranding of this technopoly. As one commentator recently observed, “Facebook’s new name is ‘Meta’, and its new mission is to invent a ‘metaverse’ that will make us all forget what it’s done to our existing reality.” It may be a different name, but it is the same economic, political and social corporate threat.

The spread of metacapitalism In his video announcement, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg proclaimed this dawning of the metaverse as signalling a new technological age, providing viewers with a glimpse of it in a virtual world where people could use avatars to live out their wildest imagination in real-time with others around the world.

The backlash has ranged from moral outrage over Facebook itself, to ridiculing Zuckerberg’s new vision for technology. What is overlooked is how this represents the desire to create metacapitalism – which uses technology to shape, exploit and profit from human interaction. It is a completely marketised virtual reality world fuelled by the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, unjust global working conditions and the constant invasion of users’ data privacy for private financial gain.

Corporate and social rebranding are fundamental to the spread of metacapitalism. Google’s 2015 name change to “Alphabet” reflected its desire to be more than just a search engine and expand into other areas such as driverless cars, medical devices, smart home appliances and drone delivery. Introducing the metaverse, Zuckerberg said:

Think about how many physical things you have today that could just be holograms in the future. Your TV, your perfect work set-up with multiple monitors, your board games and more – instead of physical things assembled in factories, they’ll be holograms designed by creators around the world.

He insisted, once again, that “we don’t build services to make money; we make money to build better services”.

These moves play into a broader strategy to socially rebrand metacapitalism positively. The introduction of the metaverse is part of a new trend of what business ethics academic Carl Rhodes has referred to it as “woke capitalism”, noting in a recent article that “progressive gestures from big business aren’t just useless – they’re dangerous”.

Whether it is the Gates Foundation initially opposing the spread of global vaccines in order to protect patent rights, or Elon Musk promising to create an “multi-planet civilisation” – while avoiding paying much-needed taxes here on Earth – corporations are now increasingly using philanthropy and utopian visions to hide their present day misdeeds.

A force for good The irony is that technology could actually become a real force for radical social and economic transformation if it was freed from the narrow limits imposed on it by metacapitalism.

Digital platforms are already enabling greater cooperative ownership and direct democratic participation. Big data could be deployed to allow for efficient energy use through better tracking of energy consumption. It also allows for the community ownership of our information and the economy generally. 3D printers have the potential to revolutionise manufacturing so that we can easily and sustainably produce all that we require.

Crucially, open-source technologies which allow for their information to be freely available to use, modify and redistribute, could foster international collaboration and innovation on a scale previously unimaginable. They point to a realistic and utopian “post-capitalist” future that could transcend the need for exploitation based on principles of shared development and collective prosperity.

The rebranding of technology companies is not merely cosmetic, it represents a dangerous attempt to monopolise all forms of technology development linked to a metaverse and the spread of metacapitalism. What is needed instead is a real discussion about fostering open-source culture, data rights and ownership, and the use of technology for positive social transformation – not simply selling more products.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article written by Peter Bloom, Professor of Management, University of Essex.

Image at top by Dima Solomin on Unsplash.

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Today, October 5, Microsoft makes Windows 11, a new version of Windows, publicly available. Over the coming nine months or so, it will be available as a free update in Windows Update on computers everywhere running Windows 10.

Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 11 has taken only three months to go from first public announcement about a new version coming today to public availability and access to it.

In those intervening three months, Microsoft has run a community testing programme called Windows Insider that enabled anyone to test drive Windows 11 in development to see what the early-development versions and progressive beta versions look like, get early access to much of the new software’s features and many of its functions, see how other programs work on it, and add their voices via the feedback channels with opinions and reports of issues to address.

This army of informal beta testers (for want of a better description) has been key to enabling Microsoft to proceed with its desire to release Windows 11 on schedule. I’ve been one of them, testing Windows 11 since July.

My experience has been overwhelmingly good on the computer I installed it on, a Dell XPS 8930 tower system with an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 8400 processor and 16 gigs of RAM that I bought in 2018. I installed the first public beta version as an upgrade to Windows 10, installing each subsequent build via Windows Update as it became available.

From my first hands-on experience, I realised that Windows 11 is an evolution of Windows 10. It’s not ‘new’ in the sense of ‘brand new,’ but in the sense of improving and extending what came immediately beforehand in many ways focused on the user experience. It builds upon Windows 10 and shifts the philosophy behind a computer operating system – you can read about the thinking behind the design of Windows 11 – towards a tool that offers an aesthetic and presentation that emphasises appearance, functionality, and experiences.

The two most obvious examples are the changed taskbar on the Windows desktop, now centred on screen rather than ranged left as in every previous version of Windows – you can see it in the image of my full Windows 11 desktop at the top of this page – and the new Start menu that pops up from bottom centre on your screen, as the screenshot here illustrates:

Of course, not everyone likes these changes. But I think the centred taskbar and Start menu offer a far better user experience and just look more pleasing than the aligned-left ones in previous Windows versions. If anything, they’re conceptually (and visually) like what you see on an Apple machine which I think is a good thing (others will disagree!).

Should you upgrade to Windows 11? I’d say yes, based on my good experience with pre-release versions. But it’s more than that. This is a version of a computer operating system designed for today, what’s ahead, the changing ways we now use computers, and how our multiple devices connect with each other more seamlessly to enable us to be better connected and more engaging. This is very different even to how we started using Windows 10 in 2015, six years ago. A lot has happened in that time.

That said, there are some major considerations. To start with, you need to have a computer that’s able to run Windows 11. Microsoft published a specification list which is a good reference. A quick analysis would be running the Windows 11 PC Health Check app, a simple program you can download from Microsoft. It will tell you at a glance whether your computer can run Windows 11 or not.

I ran it on my Dell XPS 13, a new laptop I bought a few months ago, running Windows 10. It passed. In fact, Dell published a guide to upgrading, saying ” All new Dell PCs are upgrade-ready to Windows 11 when available” and it published a lengthy list of current Dell machines that can upgrade. Many other PC makers have published similar guides as the overall market gears up for Windows 11.

In addition, know that Windows 11 is still a development project: not all bugs will have been fixed when it starts appearing in your Windows Update. Expect to see a stream of updates in coming months as bugs are squashed, security beefed up, and features and functions developed more. We’re used to this, though, aren’t we? You know it from your Windows 10 experiences! And think about how you get software and updates over-the-air on mobile devices. It’s how the tech landscape looks now.

If you’re working in a large organisation, such an upgrade most likely will be centrally organised and controlled probably by your IT department. But if you make such decisions yourself, you can just do it.

The risks associated with upgrading a modern computer operating system are low, in my view, all else being equal. Naturally you’d take steps to backup beforehand anything you value that’s on your computer. Make sure you have a USB recovery backup to hand, too, just in case you need to restore Windows 10.

And speaking of Windows 10, what happens if you don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11? No worries, Microsoft says it will continue support for Windows 10 until 2025.

Additional reading:

Microsoft: Introducing Windows 11
BBC News: Windows 11 launches with redesigned start menu
The Verge: Windows 11: A familiar home that’s still being renovated
Windows Central: Windows 11 review: The start of a new era
Mashable: 5 things to know before jumping into Windows 11
How-To-Geek: Should You Upgrade to Windows 11?
Tom’s Hardware: Windows 11 at Launch: You Don’t Need to Upgrade Yet
CNET Tech: Windows 11 download: How to skip the wait and get Microsoft’s free update now

Windows11

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Today marks the 20th anniversary of the infamous terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. Today, people around the world will pause to remember 9/11 – that terrible day twenty years ago.

Almost 3,000 people from 90 countries lost their lives when two hijacked planes were crashed into the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Center, causing their total collapse and the deaths of thousands, with another hijacked plane crashing into the Pentagon in Washington DC. A further hijacked plane crashed into the ground in Pennsylvania after passengers fought the hijackers on board. It’s hard to imagine the terror in the final seconds of life for everyone on those aircraft.

Time may have dimmed the sharp pain and anguish of that day, but the memory lingers.

That’s my perspective as an observer, someone like many who heard the news on that day in 2001 of what was happening in New York from afar via live TV broadcasts. Those reports – at first a trickle and then a torrent – gradually built up the horror as the details of what was happening emerged right in front of our eyes.

Who can forget the sight of a jet smashing at high speed into one of the twin towers and exploding in a huge fireball? Or people falling, some jumping, from the towers to their deaths far below? Or the dramatic and rapid collapse of a tower in billowing clouds of dust and ash?

All of this live and in real time, via the TV. While cellphones played a big role in enabling personal communication during and after the attack, networks were quickly overwhelmed. No Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, or YouTube then, no smartphones with cameras, no ubiquitous wifi and everyone connected, no always on, just the mainstream media that reached the masses.

I am remembering that day.

September11

(Photo at top of Battery Park City and the former Twin Towers at the World Trade Center NYC, taken by Carol M. Highsmith in 2001. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.)

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As every communicator knows you start your communication plan with a measurable goal, one that lets you demonstrate whether or not the outcome of executing on your plan achieved the goal you established.

To be genuinely worthwhile, though, a goal needs to be much more than that. It also needs to be smart. Rather, SMART:

Specific – target a specific area for improvement.
Measurable – quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress.
Assignable – specify who will do it.
Realistic – state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources.
Time-related – specify when the result(s) can be achieved.

Here’s a simple example focusing on point 2, ‘Measurable.’

Instead of describing the goal of a paid advertising campaign on LinkedIn as –

During the campaign period, we expect the lead generation activity on LinkedIn to achieve a click-through rate of 4.8%.

…describe it like this:

During the campaign period, we expect the lead generation activity on LinkedIn to achieve a click-through rate of 4.8% compared to only 3.2% in the previous campaign, an increase of 1.6%.

If you have no previous comparison to make, then state your desired outcome as a benchmark:

During the campaign period, we expect the lead generation activity on LinkedIn to achieve a click-through rate of 4.8% that will be the benchmark for the next such activity.

The point here is to illustrate that your measurable goal is comparable that shows an indicator or intent of progress. Think of it as success or failure and being able to know.

For me, setting measurable goals is a prerequisite for measuring success in any communication activity. And I would argue that if your goal is not measurable, then there is no point in doing it at all.

While all of this is essential thinking for how you exercise your communication planning and execute your communication plan, it’s especially significant if you’re entering an awards contest such as the Global Digital PR Awards 2021 that, among other things, will judge best practice in communication management.

The deadline date for submitting entries is October 8, just over a month away. If you’ve already started planning, there’s good time to get your entries in, even for the early bird deadline on October 1.

If you haven’t yet decided whether to enter or not, the Awards website lists nine reasons why you should enter. I’ll highlight my top three reasons from this list:

To celebrate the success of great campaigns or strategies
To reward, celebrate and recognise your team
To provide an opportunity to showcase the quality and standard of your work

As one of the panel of judges this year I’m really looking forward to seeing examples of great work that’s been happening during these past 18 months!

Entering is quite straightforward as there’s just one form to complete and you submit it online with the entry fee via the secure entry portal.

Why not get started today? Good luck!

GlobalDigitalPRAwards

(Photo at top by Stephen Dawson on Unsplash.)

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It’s only a vision at this point, but technology companies like Facebook are aiming to make the metaverse the setting for many online activities, including work, play, studying and shopping.

How do we ensure everyone has a say in how it develops?

It’s a question Shel and I considered in the primary discussion in the August episode of The Hobson & Holtz Report aka episode 210 of the For Immediate Release podcast published on August 23.

We started with a definition. Wikipedia’s is good but it will likely glaze your eyes. I like the simpler way the World Economic Forum explains it:

The metaverse is a concept from science fiction that is predicted to succeed the Internet.
The three key aspects of the metaverse are presence, interoperability and standardization.
Companies like Facebook are aiming to make it the setting for many online activities, including work, play, studying and shopping.

It’s gained a lot of attention in recent months. The Financial Times published a great starter piece recently that speaks of “the coming battle over the metaverse” where Big Tech aims to shape how fully immersive virtual reality worlds evolve:

Like with the Information Superhighway [of the 1990s], early visions of the metaverse are likely to be an imperfect approximation of what the ultimate reality will look like. What form it takes and what its first “killer apps” will be are a matter of conjecture. And, most importantly, it is not yet settled who will set the rules and collect the profits — though today’s internet giants are in pole position.

I think the FT’s view of the metaverse being a piece-by-piece evolution has some merit. They say:

Rather than plunging users straight into a full VR world, the metaverse could well take shape more gradually. Using augmented reality to project aspects of the metaverse on to the physical world, for instance, would see it take shape first as a partial digital overlay.

And a wry conclusion:

As things stand, today’s internet powers are in a good position to dominate a future metaverse. If that happens, then they will end up with far more power to shape the online lives of billions of people than they have now. What could possibly go wrong?

CNN reports on why Silicon Valley is betting on making what it calls “this dystopian sci-fi idea” a reality:

The idea is to create a space similar to the internet, but one that users (via digital avatars) can walk around inside of and where they can interact with one another in real time. In theory, you could, for example, sit around a virtual meeting table with colleagues from around the world — instead of staring at their 2D faces on Zoom — and then walk over to a virtual Starbucks to meet up with your mom, who lives across the country.

That’s a bit of a ‘now’ definition when what we’re looking at is something that will start to be usable on a wider scale later this decade. Even Zoom is talking about evolved services for video engagement that look a lot like an element for the coming metaverse.

But hold on a minute. Haven’t we already been here? Remember Second Life? That was a virtual world, released in 2003 and ahead of its time in so many ways, which embraced many elements of the metaverse concept with the exception of connecting the real world. Everything is virtual in Second Life, even the community.

“Second Life is a 17-year-old digital world and an early version of an immersive Metaverse,” said Doug Antin in a May 2020 Medium post that explores the elements of Second Life and how he believes they create a metaverse. Antin is the founder of a company that offers “a new narrative that makes sense of society’s shift into the Digital Age.”

He says:

Because it’s been around for so long and developed its own history and norms, Second Life is an interesting case study in how Metaverse communities evolve over time.

And he notes:

The Second Life community probably won’t ever achieve mainstream adoption. It’s too fringe and the technology doesn’t support easy access to a casual user. But it does represent an incubator for what the Metaverse can become.

It’s worth considering this perspective. And Second Life is still here, by the way, I tend to pop in once every quarter or so, still in my makeover appearance from 2007.

In our discussion, Shel and I touched on a wide range of activities and experiments many people and organisations are doing now. These activities very likely will evolve into constituent parts that, collectively, will make up the metaverse as envisioned by many of today’s predictors such as the experts quoted in the World Economic Forum article mentioned earlier.

This is close to the current Internet model where the Internet (note the upper-case ‘I’) is the umbrella that embraces individual networks or internets (lower-case ‘i’) to enable them to connect to other networks, all of which is the Internet with a capital ‘I.’ Organizations like the Internet Society provide foundational elements such as protocols and standards, technical and other expertise, education, training, and more, to make it all work (see this definition by the Internet Society for a concise explainer).

Is this what the metaverse will be – the next iteration of the Internet that we could also call “Internet 2”?

And there is the matter of data protection, individual privacy, safeguards against bad actors and evil things, all of which will require cooperation and collaboration between everyone with a vested interest in how this metaverse develops in the coming years with openness and transparency at the forefront. Governments are key because they are major enablers of what people can and cannot do from a broad societal point of view. But governments are only one of the stakeholders.

After we recorded this episode, I read an interview with Marc Petit of Epic Games, who oversees the company’s Unreal Engine, a 3D creation platform, and is an influential voice in the global digital gaming industry.

Petit makes a key point about openness and why it’s going to be an important feature in the development of the metaverse:

I think it’s an opportunity to create business models and rules that are more fair for people, [protect] their privacy, and make sure creators get their fair share for the content they create. Because, hopefully, we’re going towards an economy of creation, where people who make the money are the people who created the content, not the people who own the platforms. We want everybody to become a consumer and a creator and so we need the platform and the economy that allows participation for everybody.

It’s a complex picture.

(The image at top is a still from Ready Player One, a 2018 American science fiction adventure film. Set in 2045, much of humanity uses the OASIS, a virtual reality simulation, to escape the real world. See also: “Which World Is More Like The OASIS Of Ready Player One — Second Life Or Metaplace?,” a 2013 article by Wagner James Au, one of the influential early adopters in Second Life.)

Shel and I also discussed a number of other topics in this 80-minute episode; here’s the overall rundown:

Whatever it turns out to be, the metaverse is absolutely coming as the next iteration of the internet
An update on NFTs: They have more staying power than we originally predicted
Unpacking the vicious cycle of anger, hostility, and outrage on social networks
Internal communicators need to get more involved in how managers manage
Shades of Dooced! How a boss discovering a secret blog changed an employee at a company in Belgium

See the complete show notes for links to all the articles and other published content that we referenced in this episode including topics in Dan York’s tech report.

Listen Now (Or download the MP3 file)

Special thanks to Jay Moonah for the opening and closing music.

You can also watch a recording of the live video of this episode we published on our YouTube channel.

Our next episode will be published on Monday September 27. In the meantime, please join us each Thursday at 1pm ET / 6pm UK for 30 minutes of informal conversation in the FIR ZoomChat, a Clubhouse-like session of live audio that’s not recorded. For credentials needed to participate in the Zoom call, send an email to fircomments@gmail.com.

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If you’ve been wondering why footballers get racially abused online all the time, why some people make disgusting death threats on social networks, or why presumably otherwise sensible celebrities say offensive things in their tweets about other people, a new book may well provide the light bulb of clarity you’ve been seeking.

It’s certainly something I’ve wondered about: why, in the past few years, has there been such a significant and notable increase in vile behaviours online where people say the most awful things about other people with little fear of consequences?

I’ve heard some say it’s due to the pandemic and lockdown for much of the past 18 months. While this probably has been an influence on some people, I don’t support any idea that it’s the only or major reason. Given that much of the invective you see in tweets, Facebook posts and other social content display such alarming anger, hostility, and outrage – indeed, it seems that anything that expresses an opinion not aligned with someone else’s views produces highly disproportionate outrage from the latter – I think this goes deeper than that over a very long period.

That idea is born out in a new book by journalist Charles Arthur called Social Warming that I started reading a few days ago. I’m currently at twenty percent: I’m reading the Kindle edition so the actual location or “page number” equivalent is Location 1196 of 6406.

The book starts with examining the causes of social ugliness and the rise in such behaviour online, looking into how people behave online and the roles of the places where behaviours are exhibited – social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and more.

The book’s intro offers a good clue to what’s in store in its pages:

Social warming has happened gradually – as a by-product of our preposterously convenient digital existence. But the gradual deterioration of our attitudes and behaviour on- and offline – this vicious cycle of anger and outrage – is real.

That’s a key point – we are witnessing these changes in real life as well as online. The mainstream media (especially tabloids) plays a significant role in amplifying offensive messaging to audiences who otherwise wouldn’t know about what was tweeted, Facebooked, Instagrammed or TikToked.

Twenty percent in Arthur’s book is a good place to be. This first section is a study in behaviours and how social media is a powerful catalyst for amplifying anger, hostility, and outrage that garners shares, likes and other affirming actions and reactions that drive more ugliness that further stimulates the awful landscape.

This introduction is the essential primer to grasp, understand and support what follows as Arthur explores topics that include how social media polarises politics, how the media ecosystem collapsed, and why social media undermines elections. And there’s a lot more as he makes connections between social networks, algorithms, and platform users, ie, people.

These are real issues that are happening around us, on a global level.

For a full review, read this one in the Guardian.

There’s further evidence in a study published on August 13 by Yale University in the US in its report entitled ‘Likes’ and ‘shares’ teach people to express more outrage online.

The report, says Yale, measured the expression of moral outrage on Twitter during real life controversial events and studied the behaviours of subjects in controlled experiments designed to test whether social media’s algorithms, which reward users for posting popular content, encourage outrage expressions.

The Yale team built machine learning software capable of tracking moral outrage in Twitter posts. They found that the incentives of social media platforms like Twitter really do change how people post. Users who received more “likes” and “retweets” when they expressed outrage in a tweet were more likely to express outrage in later posts.

The report notes:

Amplification of moral outrage is a clear consequence of social media’s business model, which optimizes for user engagement. Given that moral outrage plays a crucial role in social and political change, we should be aware that tech companies, through the design of their platforms, have the ability to influence the success or failure of collective movements.

Precisely a crucial focus in Arthur’s book.

Let me also add to this a video embedded below (or see it on YouTube) made by Steve Cutts in 2016 that supported ‘Are You Lost In The World Like Me?’ by Moby & The Void Pacific Choir. It seems pertinent to these matters (and clearly shows this is not only a recent or new issue). It adds a dimension to people’s behaviours online with a focus on the devices we use to get online and engage. Maybe that’s too superficial as it goes deeper than that.

Take a look and see what you think.

It’s good to read well-informed and researched books and studies like these I’ve referenced in this article. While your sense of concern at what you see on social networks these days may not diminish yet, at least you’ll have a good idea of why and what may happen in the future.

(Photo at top by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash)

Social Warming: The Dangerous and Polarising Effects of Social Media

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Last month, Microsoft announced Windows 11, the evolution of and replacement for the six-years-old Windows 10. The new version will be released later this year (some reports speculate it might be in October) as a free upgrade to Windows 10.

Panos Panay, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer and the executive in charge of Windows, posted a narrative of features to expect in the new OS. He speaks of “simplifying the design and user experience,” noting:

It’s modern, fresh, clean and beautiful. From the new Start button and taskbar to each sound, font and icon, everything was done intentionally to put you in control and bring a sense of calm and ease. We put Start at the center and made it easier to quickly find what you need. Start utilizes the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to show you your recent files no matter what platform or device you were viewing them on earlier, even if it was on an Android or iOS device.

That’s a good scene-setter to understand how the new OS is evolving especially from a UX point of view. I see this as confirming what I observe – Windows 11 is a re-imagination, if you will, of Windows 10, taking something familiar and improving it in meaningful and useful ways. It’s not a completely new product.

Many mainstream and social media sites have posted their opinions on what’s to like and what’s not so you can explore many different views. In this post, I’ll share some of what I’ve focused on in my first experiences in using the software.

Microsoft is busy working on the new version and released the first test build in late June to anyone who signed up for the Windows Insider programme. This is the public community of users who want to try out the OS before it’s final and provide Microsoft with feedback and suggestions during the testing period.

I’m in this programme (as I was for testing Windows 10 in early 2015). A few days ago, I installed the first update to the test build, version 22000.65, on my customised Dell XPS 8930 desktop computer. The update fixed many bugs in the first version and added some significant new features. My Dell PC is ideal for testing the new OS as it’s typical of many such computers in use running Windows 10. Importantly, it passed Microsoft’s hardware requirements test as being capable of installing and running Windows 11.

That hardware test, though, has received a great deal of criticism for the superficial way it tests a given PC and comes up with a pass or fail result. Microsoft withdrew it and will release a better version at some point. There is a third-party tester now available called WhyNotWin11 that I see getting a lot of positive mentions.

Microsoft published an overview of specifications, features, and computer requirements so you can see at a glance if your PC should be able to run Windows 11 preview.

The minimum requirement hardware item that is getting a lot of critical attention is the one about the Trusted Platform Module version 2.0. A TPM chip is designed to provide hardware-based, security-related functions on your computer. If your PC doesn’t have it, Microsoft says you won’t be able to run Windows 11 preview. It’s doubtful you would be able to run the released version when it appears as I can’t see a hardware-based system requirement so focused on crypto-security being removed.

The look and feel Once you’ve signed up to the Windows Insider programme, installing the preview software is as simple as enabling a setting in the Windows Update > Windows Insider Program in Settings in Windows 10 and choosing the Dev channel (if you want the preview right now) or Beta channel (if you want to wait a bit for safer, more reliable, versions). You can also choose the Release Preview channel which will give you the software close to when it’s ready for general public release later this year.

The update to Windows 11 is quite quick: in my case, from starting the process to a number of system restarts to seeing the new desktop at the end was less than 30 minutes in total. I experienced no issues at all, as was my expectation.

The first thing you notice is the new look and feel to the Windows 11 desktop. You can see it in the screenshot at the top of this page. As Microsoft’s Panay says, it is beautiful.

And then there’s the Start button and program icons in the taskbar, all centred and no longer ranged to the left. Visually, this is a huge treat! And just look at the new Start menu:

If you wished for a day without the tiles of Windows 8-10, this is your day! Before, you had few good choices if you wanted to get rid of those, from the clunky to the great alternative of Stardock’s Start10 (I use this on all my Windows 10 computers).

Now you have an aesthetically pleasing, native, and useful method of keeping your Start menu in order. The display you first see shows apps you’ve pinned to the menu with latest-opened or -run content appearing below. You can search for, add, or remove apps at will. I find this highly complementary to apps you pin to the taskbar, especially ones I use most frequently.

All of it is very pleasing to view and use. I do love the centred appearance of taskbar icons and the Start menu.

In the few days I’ve had since installing the preview, I’ve used many of the business apps I use daily without any issues of any type as I noted in a post to friends on Facebook. No crashes, freezes, anything weird. A good start.

Yesterday I used Adobe Audition 2021 extensively without any issues. Most of my apps were already installed under Windows 10 so it’s good to see that the new OS – and a developer beta at that – runs them all without issues. It bodes well for the apps most of us use day to day on our computers.

I’ve not yet played any games because I have none installed on this PC (well, apart from Candy Crush Friends and that works well on the preview). I doubt I will install many or even any so if gaming is something important for you, look at some of the reporting out there.

Connecting Android For many people, one of the biggest things about Windows 11 will be its ability to install and run Android apps. Microsoft has forged a deal with Amazon to offer Android apps via a new app store that Amazon will run. You will be able to install those apps on your Windows 11 PC.

The Verge noted that it was “a surprise addition to Windows 11”:

Android app integration directly into Windows is a significant shift, especially as the company has been favoring Your Phone as the method to bridge the gap between Android and Windows. Microsoft has been embracing Android as the mobile version of Windows for years, and now those same mobile apps will run directly in Windows 11.

If you have a Samsung (Android) smartphone, you already have a means of connecting your Samsung phone to your Windows 10 PC and showing Android apps on your PC screen via the Your Phone companion app. I believe it will work on Android smartphones from other manufacturers too. This app also offers a lot more functionality including using your PC to make and receive phone calls.

There’s one big difference, though.

The Your Phone setup lets you see, on your PC screen, what’s running on your phone. So you run the Android app on your phone and see it on your PC screen, and you can interact with it on your PC with your mouse and keyboard, and touch screen if your monitor has that capability. But the app is not installed on nor runs from your PC.

Here’s what that looks like on my PC:

On the left is the live screen of my phone, a Galaxy S20 5G, with the My Phone app on the right. All this is showing on my PC running Windows 11 and works as well as it does on Windows 10. It might suffice until the complete Android experience is up and running for Windows 11, or at least more information from Microsoft appears as to how it’s going to work.

Feedback to the development team A key thing with testing beta software is providing feedback to the developers. While you’re not obligated to, it’s good practice to offer your experiences, suggestions, and reports to the Windows 11 team, and Microsoft makes it easy to do this via the Feedback app that comes with Windows 11.

Via the app, you can offer suggestions and requests, report problems, and generally provide your feedback directly to Microsoft. You can filter what you see in the app, sorting feedback from the entire Windows Insider community in various ways, and upvote feedback you like. You can also see a record of your own feedback and any responses you get from the developers.

I think Microsoft has made a terrific start with Windows 11. The first preview update is nice work. It looks and feels excellent – I would dare say ‘beautiful’ – reflecting a compelling visual style that Microsoft clearly has invested serious time, energy, talent, and money in developing.

As this is preview software still in development, it’s not perfect. While I’ve yet to encounter major imperfections, I can see from the Feedback app the many suggestions, reports and requests from other testers that do point out some things not working properly or at all. Over time, much of this will be addressed as successive updates are rolled out during the coming months. I suppose it’s inevitable that at some point, something will happen that trashes a PC requiring a quick fix release. I recall that happening for me once with Windows 10 preview testing.

So, keep in mind that if you do join the Windows Insider programme, this is beta software and things can upset your apple cart.

And what if you don’t want to upgrade from your Windows 10 setup when Windows 11 is released? You don’t have to if you’re happy with 10. I’d argue, though, that the latest version will offer you more in terms of UX as well as the latest developments and innovations in tech and security protections. Still, Microsoft says it will continue supporting Windows 10 until October 2025, so you have four more years of life yet.

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tvsmc23

UkraineInvasion: the start of a new #ColdWar? https://t.co/Z3edyVXmyf #ColdWar2 via @BBCNews< excellent analysis from @JohnSimpsonNews

Windows11

September11

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