Read Your Curated Morning for July 11, 2024
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The Main Thing: Obstacles are often seen as deterrents to success. They can take many forms, from people who block our great ideas to other organizations, government, or simply a lack of time and priorities. Obstacles can also illuminate the path to success. Reframed and transformed into new opportunities, obstacles help clarify and move us toward achieving our goals. Read about how obstacles can enhance your career, create a new economic development opportunity, or increase sales in your company. Focus on Technology What We Learned from a Year of Building with LLMs (Part I) by Eugene Yan, Bryan Bischof, Charles Frye, Hamel Husain, Jason Liu and Shreya Shankar | O’Reilly This comprehensive guide provides practical, tactical advice for building successful products with Large Language Models (LLMs). It emphasizes the importance of structured approaches, such as breaking complex tasks into more straightforward steps, and highlights the challenges and solutions in handling LLM outputs. It also stresses the significance of robust evaluation methods, including LLM-as-Judge and simplified annotation tasks, to ensure reliable and high-quality LLM applications. While it may be complex for the average reader, it provides much context so you can converse intelligently with technologists you might be working with. How Generative AI is clouding the future of Google search by Eric Schwartzman | Fast Company Google has implemented its most significant algorithm update ever to combat the increasing threat of AI-generated spam in search results. However, search marketing experts and business owners report that low-quality and AI-generated content still dominates top rankings, raising concerns about Google's ability to deliver reliable search results in the age of generative AI. This situation poses a significant risk to Google's primary revenue source from search ads, as users may defect to alternative platforms if the result quality deteriorates. The article also highlights the growing fragmentation of search experiences and the challenges Google faces in balancing AI integration with maintaining the integrity of its search results. Delivering services to the public—digitally—with Jennifer Pahlka by Jennifer Pahlka and Michael Chui | McKinsey Research Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America and former US Deputy Chief Technology Officer, discusses improving government technology and service delivery in the digital age. She emphasizes the need for user-centered design, a process that actively involves the end users in designing and developing public services, making the audience feel engaged in improving government technology. Pahlka also advocates for iterative development processes and bridging the gap between policymakers and implementers in government. She advocates for simplifying complex regulations and processes, building internal technical capacity in government agencies, and using AI tools thoughtfully to enhance rather than obscure public services. She stresses the importance of making government services more accessible and understandable to citizens, arguing that improving digital government is crucial for maintaining public trust and a healthy democracy. Other Articles of Interest this week: Economic Development -- Chicago considers launching a municipally owned grocery store by SmartCities News Team | Smart Cities -- The mayor has announced a partnership with the Economic Security Project, a national non-profit dedicated to building economic power for all Americans. The Economic Security Project will provide technical assistance in determining a pathway to establishing the store. Mentors/Intergenerational -- Estranged by Time: Alienation in the Aging Process by Nigel Bairstow, Ph.D. | Psychology Today -- Ageism and shrinking social networks can lead to increased isolation for the elderly. Retirement can cause significant identity loss and economic instability for older adults. Self-alienation in aging arises from physical and cognitive changes affecting self-perception. City/Country -- Celebrating the Centennial of American Indian Citizenship by Alan Greenblatt | Governing -- For most of U.S. history, Native Americans weren’t second-class citizens. In fact, they weren’t even citizens. It wasn’t until June 2, 1924, when Calvin Coolidge signed the Snyder Act, that American Indians were granted U.S. citizenship. With the centennial of American Indian citizenship coming up, Governing spoke with John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund. The article contains edited excerpts from that interview. Leadership -- An Illustrated Guide to Succeeding Where So Many Leaders Fail by Sanjay Khosla | Kellogg Insight -- For business leaders, failure can be hard to talk about. And for good reason, failure stings. It puts a dent in our egos, exposes us to criticism, and leaves us vulnerable. In this cleverly illustrated comic, Khosla offers five lessons leaders can take from common leadership failures. Green Economy --
A Blog You Should ReadMy backyard neighbor has a tree that grows in the corner of his yard, and almost all its branches impose themselves over our yard's fencing. It's not a big tree, and it doesn't do much harm, but there could be a point in the future when it collapses on my fence and causes significant damage. Does the neighbor's apparent obliviousness to the tree make him a bad neighbor? Maybe, but probably not. They are lovely people with an extensive garden and clucking chickens. What makes him a lousy neighbor is that his dog once bit me, but that is another story for another day. Being a bad neighbor is the crux of a recent Supreme Court decision to maintain a stay on an EPA regulation that limits a neighboring state's pollution from crossing state lines. The Verge is a superior website with blogs that touch on Technology and its complementary industries. This week, I highlight a blog post about the recent Environmental Protection Agency plan to prevent smog-forming pollutants from drifting across state borders. Overheard: For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled. Richard P. Feynman Overheard : For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled. Richard P. Feynman Listen, Eat, Drink, WATCH, READ, View
Patagonia is more than just a progressive company that makes high-quality outdoor wear; it has a CEO who gives people time off to surf. Patagonia is also a region in South America at the far southern tip that is lush with nature and wildlife. It is governed by Chile and Argentina and is known for its rugged landscape, mountains, and greenery. It’s a place I would love to visit, and perhaps during that visit, a horse trip would be an ideal way to see the landscape. The linked article describes two unique horseback safari adventures: Offbeat Riding Safaris in Kenya and Jakotango Riding Adventures in Argentina. Founded by Tristan Voorspuy and Jakob Von Plessen, respectively, these expeditions offer travelers an immersive, off-grid experience in remote wilderness areas, allowing them to get close to wildlife and nature while enjoying comfortable mobile camps. Both adventures combine thrilling horseback rides through stunning landscapes with relaxing evenings in camp, offering a unique alternative to traditional safaris and beach holidays. The article emphasizes the transformative nature of these experiences and encourages readers to consider such adventures for their next trip abroad. Who is in? Listen, Eat, Drink, WATCH Read, View
An Optimist Guide to the Planet is a series streaming on various channels. It is hosted by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (formerly of Game of Thrones), who travels the globe looking for heartening and positive people, places, and things. I started watching it a while back, but I have some catching up to do. Coster-Waldau meets artists, activists, tribesmen, people living off th land, and others who, despite the many negative things that populate our news channels, are optimistic about the future or, in their way, want to contribute to a more positive world. It’s a series worth watching, and you can catch it here.
This week's newsletter brings you a unique blend of travel and compelling religious history, as we delve into the surprising transformation of Hildale, Utah. Hildale, Utah, once the headquarters of a fundamentalist Mormon sect led by Warren Jeffs, is experiencing a remarkable transformation into a tourist destination. The town has seen a real estate boom after Jeffs' arrest and the seizure of church properties. It is now attracting outdoor enthusiasts with its proximity to natural attractions like Water Canyon and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, offering a hopeful future for the town. Under the leadership of its first secular mayor, Donia Jessop, Hildale is not just embracing tourism development, but also making concerted efforts to preserve its quiet character. The town is evolving into a welcoming community for both residents and visitors, without losing its unique charm. Check out the story here, and for those interested in exploring Hildale's more recent sordid past, watch this video. Please note that many of the sensitive topics in the video explore the exploits of Warren Jeffs and his religious beliefs, along with the exploitation of children and polygamy.
Thanks for Reading If you liked this email, pay it forward. Share it with someone you think might benefit. Did someone share with you? Sign up here. For previous editions, click here. Whenever you’re ready, there are several ways I can help you: 1. Economic Development: If you are looking to supercharge your economic development organization, I can help by strategizing and developing a roadmap to success. Set up a time to talk to me here. 2. Culture Change; Is your organization changing? Would you like to create an asset out of your culture? Do you know how to assess team strengths? Let me help you. I'm a certified culture change practitioner. Set up a time to talk to me here. 3. The Green Economy; The world is changing. Some of it is positive, and some of the change is not. Let me help you develop green economy opportunities for your community. Set up some time to talk about here. 4. Mentoring Programs: Circles of Seven (C7) is a proven and award-winning model for mentoring. Whether it is for business or your community leadership program, I can develop a mentoring program for you. Let's talk about your situation. Set up a time here. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding any articles in this newsletter please feel free to contact me through email at martin@martinkarlconsulting.com. You can review my services and offerings at www.martinkarlconsulting.com |
