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While I focus on Technology, Innovation, and Publishing, because I have a platform, I also flag items that I think are important, which you might have missed, and try to include a bunch of resources & opportunities. My goal is to surface at least one interesting tidbit you didn’t see. How did I do – did you learn something new?

Important Items

Project 2025: This conservative agenda will erode civil rights liberties and bring an end to democracy as we know it

I saw this quote: “Voting isn’t a love letter, it’s public transit. Let’s board the bus to prevent utter oblivion.” and found this summary of some of the things Project 2025 means under Trump:

HT @annfriedman The extensive political recommendations include a handbook for what they plan to achieve in the first 180 days of the next presidency. If they win, here’s some of what to expect next year: June 2025.

Eliminate the three separate branches of government and instead place the entire thing – including independent agencies like the Department of Justice – under the leadership of the President.
Fire thousands of government employees and replace them with political appointees to increase control over the government.
Get rid of the Department of Education.
Outlaw pornography. Although much of this references consequences for people who make and distribute porn, the paragraph explicitly states that “educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders.”
Eliminate protections for the LGBTQ+ community, which its organizers believe exists in opposition to the “traditional American family.”
Stop the “war on oil” led by the “pseudo-science” of climate change by abandoning green energy transition, efforts to decarbonize the economy and other federal climate programs, and increasing production of fossil fuels.
Dismantle the Federal Reserve.

…They center families as part of their mission, but only for those families “comprised of a married mother, father, and their children.”

It’s dangerously real, and it will have devastating consequences for our country if implemented. This same coalition of organizations has been supporting some of the draconian legislation we’ve seen pass in conservative states, including anti-trans legislation, book bans, and the fight to bring Christian values back into public spaces. I won’t pretend our democracy is perfect, but I believe it’s better than the dystopic future presented here.

https://antiracismdaily.beehiiv.com/p/rally-project-2025

Supreme Court shifts power over federal regulations from agencies to judges

With overturning 40-yr old law Chevron, Federal judges can now overturn agency decisions over environmental, public health, workplace safety, consumer protections, and more.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/28/supreme-court-shifts-power-over-federal-regulations-from-agencies-to-judges-00165742

Supreme Court says cities can ban homeless from sleeping outside

In Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent, she called laws against homeless individuals “unconscionable and unconstitutional,” saying “Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/06/28/supreme-court-homeless-encampments-ban-ruling/

Propublica Supreme Court Gift Database

Search for organizations and people that have paid the Supreme Court justices, reimbursed them for travel, and given them gifts.

https://www.propublica.org/article/supreme-connections-database-updated-scotus-disclosures

Thinking about running for office next year or in the future? Run for Something can help

Per @runforsomething, nearly 1,000 young people are seeing what’s at stake and deciding to get in the fight themselves in the last few days. Run for Something will help them. Will you? http://runforsomething.net/donate

https://wherecanirun.org/

Firearm violence in America is a public health crisis

https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/firearm-violence/index.html

Innovation

Scientists discover next-generation system for programmable genome design

HT @notboringco Instead of cutting DNA like CRISPR does, “bridge RNA” unzips the DNA, inserts new DNA, and zips it back up – like “a word processor for DNA.” Uses: precise gene therapies, give organisms new capabilities, create more resilient crops, design genetic circuits

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-scientists-generation-programmable-genome.html

With AI Tools, Scientists Can Crack the Code of Life

Google’s AI research lab DeepMind is steadily building knowledge of how genes and their products work inside the body—and how and why they sometimes go wrong.

https://www.wired.com/story/wired-health-pushmeet-kohli-deepmind-ai-google/

This lens is just three atoms thick and works like a quantum lighthouse

Fresnel lens (by physicists @ Stanford & Amsterdam) is the world’s thinnest lens (made of just 3 atoms of tungsten disulphide), works like a quantum lighthouse & would be useful for AR glasses.

https://www.popsci.com/science/quantum-flat-lens/

Technology

Vox Media, Atlantic Irk Staffers with AI Deals

Journalists are concerned that their employers are making deals that will ultimately harm writers and journalism as a whole.

https://techcrunch.com/2024/06/22/whats-in-it-for-us-journalists-ask-as-publications-sign-content-deals-with-openai/

Time strikes licensing deal with OpenAI

The deal with the Microsoft-backed parent of ChatGPT is part of a broader effort by Time to expand access to its content to younger and more diverse audiences globally. The company removed its digital paywall last year, citing that same reason. The deal gives OpenAI access to Time’s archives from the last 101 years to train its large language models.

https://www.axios.com/2024/06/27/openai-time-licensing-deal-chatgpt

Book authors get a startup to help them deal with AI companies

A startup called Created by Humans is launching to help book authors license their work to AI companies, co-founded and led by Trip Adler (CEO of Scribd).

https://www.axios.com/2024/06/25/created-by-humans-books-ai

Are publishing designers ready to collaborate with AI?

https://www.thebookseller.com/comment/beyond-the-binary

AI tools refuse to write in style of controversial French author Michel Houellebecq, publisher says

Meta’s Llama responded in French that it could not write something considered “offensive or discriminatory.” Antoine Gallimard writes that the AI was failing to account for “the complexity of human experience” and was applying values “from the west coast of the United States to say what is good and what is not good to think.”

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240613-french-writer-michel-houellebecq-deemed-too-offensive-by-ai

Can machines write poetry?

HT @annfriedman Laurent Dubreuil on how AI models reveal “content creation” to be very different from creativity.

https://harpers.org/archive/2024/07/metal-machine-music/

Amazon working on ChatGPT competitor

Amazon’s Metis can generate conversational text- and image-based answers, provide source links, suggest follow-up questions, and generate images. It will use RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) to provide up-to-date answers.

https://qz.com/amazon-generative-ai-chatbot-chatgpt-metis-1851558879

Looks like Roblox is going to be the first to build the Holodeck — here’s why

With its new suite of AI-powered creator tools, Roblox is trying to decode the 4th dimension of game development — interaction.

https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/ai-image-video/looks-like-roblox-is-going-to-be-the-first-to-build-the-holodeck-heres-why

YouTube tries convincing record labels to license music for AI song generator

HT @tldrnewsletter YouTube offering substantial upfront payments but artists worried about devaluing their work.

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2024/06/youtube-tries-convincing-record-labels-to-license-music-for-ai-song-generator/

Report: AI is Wiping Out Jobs for Freelancers

The number of freelance gigs posted on job platforms is plummeting since the debut of ChatGPT and other generative AI.

https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-replace-freelance-jobs-51807bc7

Media Industry Jobs Vanishing in New York

The information sector — which includes publishing and digital content — is now shedding the most jobs in New York City

https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/06/24/information-media-jobs-layoffs-economy/

McDonald’s pulls AI ordering from drive-thrus — for now

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/17/tech/mcdonalds-ai-drive-thru-program

At Target, Store Workers Become A.I. Conduits

The retailer is rolling out a chatbot to help workers answer questions from shoppers — and workers.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/business/target-retail-ai.html

Shopify’s AI ‘Sidekick’ chatbot for merchants is now in early access

Sidekick functions as a support chatbot for merchants, helping them do things like make discount codes, generate reports about your store, or suggest blog post ideas.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/24/24183504/shopify-ai-sidekick-chatbot-merchants-summer-edition

Target taps Shopify to add sellers to its third-party marketplace

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/24/target-taps-shopify-to-add-sellers-to-its-third-party-marketplace.html

Google building AI chatbots based on celebrities & influencers

Google is building new AI-powered chatbots based on celebrities & YouTube influencers. Startups like http://Character.ai and companies like Meta have already done this.

https://www.engadget.com/google-is-reportedly-building-ai-chatbots-based-on-celebrities-and-influencers-235731655.html

An AI version of Al Michaels will deliver Olympic recaps on Peacock

To set up“Your Daily Olympic Recap” in the Peacock app, provide your name (the AI voice can welcome the “majority” of ppl by their first name), up to 3 types of sports, and 2 types of highlights.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/26/24185774/olympics-ai-al-michaels-voice-recaps

Apple proposes that gen AI is a technology, not a product

Via @benedictevans It’s most useful when embedded in a system that gives context about the user (e.g., search, social, a device OS, or a vertical application), unbundled into features, & power efficient.

https://www.ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2024/06/20/apple-intelligence

Apple, Meta Hold Talks on Partnership in AI

Longtime rivals Apple and Meta have held talks about potentially integrating Meta’s generative AI model into Apple Intelligence, the recently unveiled AI system for iPhones and other devices

https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/apple-meta-have-discussed-an-ai-partnership-cc57437e

Google used generative AI to analyse 8,000 successful video ad campaigns on Youtube and spot trends

https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/video/ai-analysis-of-youtube-ads/

Meta incorrectly marking real photos as ‘Made by AI’

Multiple photographers complain Meta wrongly adds “Made by AI” label to real photos. Meta recently marked a photo former White House photographer Pete Souza took of a basketball game as AI-generated

https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/24/24184795/meta-instagram-incorrect-made-by-ai-photo-labels

Apple Hits a Major Roadblock as EU Targets App Store

Apple has been warned that its App Store is in breach of EU rules, and has backtracked on plans to roll out AI tech in Europe over regulatory concerns.

https://www.wired.com/story/apple-hits-a-major-roadblock-as-eu-targets-app-store/

Publishing & Media

Amazon accused of audiobook monopoly in author class action

HT @inkbitspixels

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/amazon-accused-audiobook-monopoly-author-class-action-2024-06-14/

Recap of Spain’s Readmagine Conference 2024 on New Inflection Points in Publishing

https://publishingperspectives.com/2024/06/readmagine-2024-on-an-age-of-anxiety-in-world-publishing/

eBook Piracy: How to Respond If Someone Steals Your eBook Online

Via @inkbitspixels

https://natehoffelder.com/blog/ebook-piracy-how-to-respond-if-someone-steals-your-ebook-online/

Cheated, Swindled, or Scammed: What’s a Writer to Do?

Via @victoriastrauss

https://writerunboxed.com/2024/06/28/cheated-swindled-or-scammed-whats-a-writer-to-do/

Free Resources for Writers at the Public Library

Per ⁦@JaneFriedman⁩: My favorite resource on this list by far is NoveList, a database that can help you find comparable titles!

https://janefriedman.com/free-resources-for-writers-at-the-public-library/

AP launching nonprofit group to raise at least $100M for local news

The “AP Fund for Journalism” will be a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a separate board and is looking to raise at least $100M initially.

https://www.axios.com/2024/06/25/ap-local-news-nonprofit-journalism

Resources & Opportunities

WMG Small Group Gatherings!

Sign up quick for @WMG_NYC‘s members-only small group gatherings. They’re really special, as you get to meet other members in small groups. Choices include lunch at the Central Park Boathouse, dinner in Philly or Long Island, afternoon tea in Soho, a free in-person New Member Social, or lunch w me!

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/events

Learn the Secrets to Sales Success

Don’t miss this career-changing @WMG_NYC Lunch & Learn via Zoom featuring Julia Pimsleur, founder of Million Dollar Women. Julia will provide a deep dive into the strategies needed to consistently get prospective clients to say YES. She’ll help you understand why some of your sales are closing and others aren’t, and provide five key strategies to get to yes more often. 7/17, 12-1 pm ET. FREE for WMG members; $15 for non-members.

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-5765074

Literary Journals Open to Submissions

Via @laughingyeti Some literary journals that are open for submissions now or in July or August! Some will close soon. Genres, themes, & guidelines vary, & dates are tentative.

https://twitter.com/laughingyeti/status/1807194168189391249