Good morning,
I have some big news.
A couple of weeks ago, I realised that Better Odds would be more useful to the world if individuals could use it directly.
We're building this pretty cool tool, and since we started, the most common question I've received is, "Can I use it to monitor my interests?"
Previously, the answer to that question was no. But not anymore.
We're shifting our focus from large companies to providing a tool for anyone who needs to monitor the world or any specific interests they might have, keeping you all well-informed and ahead of the competition.
You can sign up for our waitlist here.
We are making some final changes to the onboarding process and will soon let our first users try a super-early version to give us feedback and tell us what features to build.
Exciting!
We still view Better Odds as a business tool. Few people sit at home feeling an urge to monitor the world.
However, after talking to many potential users at larger companies, we realised that the task and interest of staying up-to-date often fall on a few individuals. And sometimes, that individual is not even an employee but a consultant. So, it just makes more sense for us to focus on them.
If this is you, I'd love to chat about your current process for doing this to ensure we build a helpful tool. (As always, just reply to this email.)
You know what they say—change is the only constant.
Enjoy the reading!
/Anna
TALK OF THE TOWN — Apple is getting scolded for its latest iPad ad, with critics saying things like: "Worst. Ad. Ever". Take a look yourself.
BOOK — I'm currently reading Charles Duhigg's Supercommunicators. It's not all news, but it presents the current state of communication research in an attractive format.
TOOLS — This week, I've been automating some content with Airtable, Zapier, and Placid, and using a spreadsheet to generate images is neat.
INTERACTIVE — This beautiful interactive story from the Washington Post shows what happens when you stop lawn mowing. Doing the planet a favour by doing less is a true win-win.
PODCAST — This episode of the Hidden Brain podcast discusses new research that puts the "growth mindset" theories into perspective and shows how our environment creates our talents and abilities over time.
Doxxing Tactics: Pro-Israeli website ramps up attacks on pro-Palestinian student protesters
INTERNET, DEMOCRACY
What's happening: Pro-Israeli websites, such as Canary Mission, have intensified their exposure of pro-Palestinian student protesters, labelling them as promoters of hatred against Jews and Israel. The site has targeted over 250 US students and academics since the start of the latest Gaza conflict.
Legal backdrop: While the posts are generally legal, relying on publicly sourced and accurate information, the approach has been criticised as cyberbullying and doxxing. Legal experts note that defamation claims are hard to prove, leaving few avenues for rescue for those affected.
Why it matters: The website's profiling can lead to significant online abuse for those featured, affecting their safety and potentially their future careers. This raises concerns about privacy, freedom of speech, and the chilling effect on student activism.
Details: One example is the Egyptian-American student Layla Sayed, who was spotlighted after participating in a pro-Palestinian rally at the University of Pennsylvania. Her public profile on Canary Mission included personal information and links to her social media, leading to severe online harassment.
Broader context: The issue reflects how the internet silences and pressures people who speak up on polarised issues, potentially limiting democratic discourse and activism.
Neuralink Chip Detaches in First Human Trial, Raising Safety Concerns
TECHNOLOGY
What's happening: Neuralink's first human implant, a chip designed to connect a person's brain to computers, began to detach shortly after its implantation in patient Noland Arbaugh's skull in February.
Why it matters: This setback raises questions about the safety and reliability of cutting-edge brain-chip technology. The implant is designed to help individuals like Arbaugh, who is quadriplegic, control devices with their thoughts.
Details: Threads connecting the chip to the brain retracted, causing decreased functionality. Neuralink, owned by Elon Musk and valued at $5 billion, has not disclosed the cause of the malfunction.
The big picture: Arbaugh could still use the implant to play chess despite the issues, and Neuralink claims it has refined and restored the implant's functionality. At the same time, the company's handling of prior animal testing has also drawn regulatory scrutiny.
Between the lines: Neuralink's transparency and future steps will be crucial as it positions itself as a leader in brain-chip technology. The incident underscores the experimental nature of integrating advanced technology with human physiology.
Maryland's Passes New Child Safety Law Facing Legal Hurdles
INTERNET, REGULATION
What's happening: Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the "Kids Code" into law, a move aimed at enhancing online safety for children by imposing strict data protection requirements on tech companies. The law is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2024.
Why it matters: Maryland is the second state, after California, to adopt such comprehensive child safety legislation. However, similar laws have faced constitutional challenges regarding free speech violations.
Details: The Kids Code, echoing California’s Age Appropriate Design Code, requires online services accessible to children to conduct data protection impact assessments, monitor guardian approvals, and limit harmful data collection. Violations can lead to fines of up to $7,500 per child.
The big picture: While the law is set to enhance child protection online, it has already been hinted that it will face legal challenges. Tech industry groups argue these regulations infringe on free speech rights.
Between the lines: Maryland has attempted to craft the Kids Code to withstand constitutional scrutiny better than its Californian counterpart, focusing on privacy and safety without directly policing content. Legal battles are anticipated as tech companies and privacy advocates watch closely.
AI at Work: Employees Take the Lead as Leaders Lag Behind
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WORK
What's happening: A new Microsoft report shows that many knowledge workers are proactively using generative AI at work, often without waiting for company policies to catch up, highlighting a gap in leadership vision and employee initiative.
Why it matters: As the workforce rapidly adopts AI tools, companies risk falling behind if their leadership does not develop a clear strategy for integrating this technology. Employees see AI as crucial for efficiency and a key factor in their career development.
By the numbers:
- 75% of knowledge workers globally use generative AI at their jobs.
- 78% bring their own AI tools to work.
- 79% of leaders recognize the need for AI to stay competitive, but 60% admit their organization lacks a clear AI implementation plan.
Career Impact:
- 66% of leaders wouldn't hire someone without AI skills.
- 71% prefer to hire less experienced candidates with AI skills over more experienced ones without.
- There was a 142x increase in AI skills like Copilot and ChatGPT listed on LinkedIn profiles last year.
Power Users Leading the Way:
- Frequent experimentation with AI is the top predictor of becoming an AI power user.
- Power users claim AI boosts creativity (92%), improves focus on crucial tasks (93%), increases motivation (91%), and enhances job enjoyment (91%).
Broader impact: Workers' rapid embrace of AI suggests a transformative shift in how technology is deployed for productivity and personal career advancement. Companies that fail to align with this shift risk undermining their competitive edge and employee satisfaction.
Shopify Data Suggests E-Commerce Slowdown In Post-Pandemic Shifts
BUSINESS
What's happening: After a pandemic-driven surge, e-commerce growth shows signs of plateauing, with the share of US retail sales online remaining steady at 17% since Q4 2020.
Why it matters: The stabilisation suggests a return to pre-pandemic shopping behaviours, with consumers increasingly favouring physical stores over online options. This shift poses challenges for businesses that pivoted heavily to digital platforms during the pandemic.
By the numbers: Despite the broader industry trend, one of the main e-commerce platforms, Shopify, reported a revenue increase of 23% from the same quarter last year. However, the company also experienced a significant stock drop, highlighting investor concerns about future growth.
Market reaction: The recalibration of consumer spending from online back to physical retail spaces is affecting companies that had benefited from the initial e-commerce explosion, leading to a reassessment of long-term growth expectations in the sector.
Broader impact: This slowdown in e-commerce growth could influence retail strategies, potentially sparking a renewed focus on enhancing physical retail experiences and integrating them with online offerings.
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Early Death and Brain Health Issues
HEALTH
What's happening: A comprehensive study with over 115,000 participants, recently published in the journal BMJ, reveals significant health risks associated with high consumption of ultra-processed foods, including an increased likelihood of early death and neurodegenerative diseases.
Why it matters: This adds to mounting evidence that foods—from cookies and potato chips to white bread and frozen meals—are detrimental to health. They are typically low in essential nutrients and high in additives, leading to poorer health outcomes.
By the numbers: Those consuming the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods showed an 8% higher risk of dying from diseases like dementia and Parkinson's. Key offenders include processed meats, sugary drinks, and artificially sweetened beverages.
Big picture: The study tracked health professionals over decades, underscoring the long-term impact of diet on health. It suggests not all ultra-processed foods are the same, and public health interventions, like banning trans fats, have begun in some regions to combat these risks.
What's next: The findings could influence future dietary guidelines and regulatory policies to improve public health since a large share of daily calories comes from ultra-processed foods in many developed countries.
✨ Thanks for reading. I hope you learned something new.
- If you have any comments about this week's content, you can add them below.
- If you enjoyed this newsletter, I hope you'll pass it on to friends and colleagues curious about the world.
See you next week!
Anna
