15 Articles about Data Science & AI published in January

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Setbacks: Failure or a Sign of Learning?

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A decade long study published in Harvard Business Review set out to identify the specific attributes that differentiate high-performing CEOs. The researchers found:

CEOs who considered setbacks to be failures had 50% less chance of thriving. Successful CEOs, on the other hand, would offer unabashedly matter-of-fact accounts of where and why they had come up short and give specific examples of how they tweaked their approach to do better next time. Similarly, aspiring CEOs who demonstrated this kind of attitude (what Stanford’s Carol Dweck calls a “growth mindset”) were more likely to make it to the top of the pyramid: Nearly 90% of the strong CEO candidates we reviewed scored high on dealing with setbacks.

Read more about the CEO Genome Project in the Harvard Business Review

AI Definitions in Simple Language

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AI Definitions

Agents - Unlike AI prompts requiring user conversations, AI agents work in the background. Users provide a goal (from researching competitors to buying a car) and the agent acts independently, generating task list and starting to work. 

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) - AI that possesses human-level intelligence that can evaluate complex situations, apply common sense, and learn and adapt.  Beyond the goal of AGI lies the more speculative notion of "sentient AI," the idea that these programs might cross some boundary to become aware of their own existence and even develop their own wishes and feelings. 

AI Evolution

  1. Generative AI sounds like a person.

  2. AGI (artificial general intelligence) reasons like a person.

  3. Sentient AI thinks it's a person.

AI model collapse - The idea that AI can eat itself by training on internet data until it runs out of fresh data and trains on it’s on product or the product of another AI. Thus, errors and bias are magnified and rare data is more likely to be lost.

AI winter  - A period where funding and interest in the field subsided considerably.

*Algorithms - Direct, specific instructions for computers created by a human through coding that tells the computer how to perform a task. This set of rules has a finite number of steps that instruct the computer how to perform a task. More specifically, it is code that follows the algorithmic logic of “if”, “then”, and “else.”  

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Why praising people for their intelligence can hurt them

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Dr. Carol Dweck gave every child a test that consisted of fairly easy puzzles. Afterward the  researcher informed all the children of their scores, adding a single six-word sentence of praise. Half the kids were praised for their intelligence (“You must be smart at this”) and half were praised for their effort (“You must have worked really hard”).

The kids were tested a second time but this time they were offered a choice between the harder test and an easier test. Ninety percent of the kids who’d been praised for their effort choice the harder test. A majority of the kids who’d been praised for the intelligence, on the other hand, chose the easy test. Why? “When we praise children for their intelligence.” Dweck wrote, “we tell them that that's the name of the game: look smart, don't risk making mistakes.”

The third level of tests was uniformly harder; none of the kids did well. However, the two groups of kids--the praised-for-effort group and the praised-for-intelligence group--responding very differently to the situation. “(The effort group) dug in and grew very involved with the test, trying solutions, testing strategies,” Dweck said. “They later said they liked it. But the group praised for its intelligence hated the harder test. They took it as proof they weren’t smart.

Daniel Coyle, The Talent Code

15 Quotes about Teaching & AI

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While it’s not necessary in every discipline, there are certain ones — like computer science or writing — where colleges will need to prepare their students for a future with AI in it. Chronicle of Higher Ed 

The advice that I gave to faculty was that you need to be trying this out. You need to at least be conversant in what your students are able to do, and think about your assignments and what this tool enables. What policies or what guidance are you gonna give students in terms of whether they are allowed to use it? In what way would you be allowed to use it? MIT Tech Review

There’s more of a danger in not teaching students how to use AI. If they’re not being taught under the mentorship of scholars and experts, they may be using it in ways that are either inappropriate or not factual or unethical. Chronicle of Higher Ed 

I am no less human because I received help in thinking about things. All AI is, when understood, is a little help, a guide on the road to insight. I hope we continue to teach our students, using all tools available, and not deter them from the pursuit of knowledge and experience. Washington Post

If you’re teaching, you need to realize that the world has AI now. And so students need to be prepared for a world where this is going to be integrated in industries in different ways. MIT Tech Review

Learning how to engineer prompts is likely to be a transitional skill. Soon more sophisticated programs with specialized uses will be on the market. Faculty members would be better off focusing less on prompt engineering and more on determining the problems they would like to solve. Chronicle of Higher Ed

Bruno Ribeiro, an associate professor of computer science at Purdue, gives students unique coding problems that seem simple on the surface but have slight variations that often trip AI up. He then has students identify where the program went wrong and fix the code. Chronicle of Higher Ed

Students can, for instance, analyze a conversation with ChatGPT as an assignment and identify signs of fabrication, biases, inaccuracies, or shallow reasoning. Or faculty members can have students use AI to write a first draft of an essay and show what they might change. Or instructors could include AI as a contributor to group discussions. Chronicle of Higher Ed

Some professors think we should carry on as before, assigning take-home essays but writing ever-more-artful questions that GPT-4 or some other form of AI can’t answer. I’m dubious whether that can be done. Even if it could, I’m not interested in making my questions elusive enough to outsmart a machine. At a certain point, it risks demanding too much of the students: expecting a superhuman effort on their part, just for the sake of proving their humanity. Chronicle of Higher Ed

Something has gone very wrong when the advent of a machine that can produce merely competent essays is causing intelligent and committed educators to give up on assigning substantial student papers, which, as Robin acknowledges, are central to the educational enterprise as we have long conceived it. Chronicle of Higher Ed

A survey of students in grades 6-12, released by the nonpartisan think tank Center for Democracy & Technology, found that students with special needs are more likely than their peers to use generative AI and be disciplined for doing so. Center for Democracy & Technology

Some professors think that it’s the pressure and “high stakes” of our grading and assessment regimes that produce those feelings of discomfort in our students. I think it’s intrinsic to the work, if you’re doing it right. Our goal shouldn’t be to eliminate this discomfort. We need to teach students that it’s part of the process, and develop strategies for coping with it. Chronicle of Higher Ed 

Bridging the gap, and easing fears, will lie in getting educators acquainted with AI — a training need underscored by the fact that 96 percent of the 1,000 educators said they have not received professional development on the topic. Schools have recognized these needs, although training of generative AI specifically is still nascent. EdSerge

As teachers grapple with these big questions about what AI means for their profession, they need to have access to frequent training about it. “You need to give teachers time to experiment with it, and preferably learn in small cohorts, where they can share what they’re discovering.” EdSurge

Like a dishwasher or a vacuum cleaner, ChatGPT automates drudgery so we can focus on something more important. The promise of AI is, that by freeing us from the values of mere competence, we can focus more intentionally on cultivating distinctively human values. Chronicle of Higher Ed 

9 articles about AI & Business

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11 Recent Articles about the Dangers of AI

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11 Articles about AI & Work Productivity  

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Embracing Rituals

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Rituals help people transition through what would otherwise be a tumultuous period of their lives. And they let people savor the milestone they have just reached.

Creating stability at times of chaos: Though people associate events like graduations and weddings with joy, these moments also represent chaotic, potentially frightening life transitions. A wedding brings together two people to start a new, interdependent life. Graduation marks leaving the familiar world of school for the unknown world of work and grown-up responsibilities. Funerals and birthdays are two more examples.

In all four cases, there is a before and an after, as people leave their old world and enter into a new, uncertain one — and those transitions can breed anxiety.

It's easy to think that rituals like weddings are pointless and overdone. But that big cake, sparkling white dress or bouquet toss are helping us move through life in a positive and healthy way. There's no need to apologize for embracing it.

Emily Esfahani Smith writing in Mic

16 Recent Articles about AI & Politics

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Embracing the Life forced upon You

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From the beginning you are in the victim of circumstances. You're born, kicking and screaming, into an unknown family. As a child, you soak up influences that mold your mind in certain ways. When you finally get a driver’s license and move out of the house, you think, you’re free—but you marry someone who looks like your mother and drinks like your father. By the time you figure out who you are or what you want, a life has already been forced upon you. But it’s never too late to change. Although you can’t begin again from scratch, you can make a splendid ragout from the mishmash of damaged goods in your cupboard.

I choose how to live a life I didn’t choose.

Andrew Boyd, Daily Afflications

13 Media Webinars this Week: AI, PR, marketing, content creation, journalism & more

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Monday, Jan 22 - Public Relations Saves the World: Three Steps to Maximizing Media Opportunities

What: In this dynamic session, participants will gain valuable insights into the power a little prep work brings to an earned media strategy. Discover how to craft a strategic messaging plan that directly aligns with organizational goals, ensuring your organization can shine in any story it is a part of. Learn practical tips for proactively pitching media and responding to inbound requests. We will also discuss how to select the right spokesperson for any given moment and how to media and message train them for the highest impact.   

Who: Alexson Calahan, Small Adventures Communications

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Nonprofit Learning Lab

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Tue, Jan 23 - An AI and Data Playbook for Media and Entertainment

What: You’ll find out:  How media and entertainment companies can reduce data silos and unify data to create a clear view of their customers; Ways to use AI algorithms and data analytics to better segment audiences; Tips for blending AI tools with the right data strategy to deliver personalized experiences

Who: Ismael Brown Product Marketing Manager Salesforce, Gaby Hosokawa Sr. Product Marketing Manager Salesforce

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: AdWeek

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Tue, Jan 23 - Putting a Local Tinge to Global Stories: How One Small Paper Makes It Work

What: Learn how and why local news organizations can make the connection between local and global events. And stay within budget.

Who: Denise Dunbar Publisher and Executive Editor of the Alexandria Times; Carol Guensburg Deputy Editor for Standards and Practices, Voice of America

When: 6 pm, Eastern  

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Washington DC Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists

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Tue, Jan 23 - Marketing on a Shoestring

What: Attendees will be able to: – Recognize no cost tools to help them grow their marketing – Take a deeper dive into Canva and create their own marketing content – Learn how to apply these tools to their own marketing techniques – Diversity their offerings and create a strong online presence.

Who: Rachel Hazzard, Temple SBDC Marketing & Communication Specialist.

When: 1 pm

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Pennsylvania Dept. of Community & Economic Dev.

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Tue, Jan 23 - Tools for Quick and Smart Content Creation

What: A handpicked selection of tools, from the most underrated to the most efficient: from intuitive design platforms and resourceful image libraries to AI-driven writing aids and interactive content generators. This session is not just about tool recommendations but about understanding how, when, and where to use them effectively.  

Who: Garima Gupta, Founder & CEO, Artha Learning

When: 3 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Training Magazine Network

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Wed, Jan 24 - Centering Humans in AI

What: In this session, attendees will learn how this technology is designed to make life easier for admins, helping them move faster and work smarter. Join two nonprofit experts as they explore how board management software not only benefits administrators, but also injects simplicity and efficiency into a nonprofit’s entire governance environment.

Who: Leah Grobey & Chelsey Reichart of OnBoard

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Nonprofit Learning Lab

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Wed, Jan 24 - Ask the Experts: Focus on Ethics, Principles, and Governance of Generative AI

What: In this session, our experts will discuss recent increased innovation of AI applications such as Microsoft Copilot. This session offers practical advice for using AI responsibly.

Who: Joshua Peskay, RoundTable Technology 3CPO; Kim Snyder RoundTable Technology  VP of Data Strategy

When: 1 pm

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: TechSoup

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Wed, Jan 24 – Misinformation in the College Classroom: How are Faculty and Librarians Teaching News Literacy Skills? 

What: Original research on faculty and librarians' perceptions of mis- and disinformation. Explore the ways in which they are addressing mis- and disinformation in their instruction, and ideas for how academic librarians can work with faculty to more fully integrate information literacy related to mis- and disinformation into college curricula across disciplines.

Who: Laura Saunders, a Professor at Simmons University School of Library and Information Science.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Niche Academy

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Thu, Jan 25 - Ask Me Anything About Science Writing and Journalism 

What:  First, a short talk on communication training, the art of writing, and why they are important for scientists. You will then have the chance to ask about science writing or journalism.

Who: Dr. Nathan Ni, Associate Science Editor and leader of the scientific services initiative of the magazine “The Scientist.”

When: 12 pm, Central

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Applied Spectroscopy Technical Group

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Thu, Jan 25 - Future Watch 2024: Key Trends and Events Public Relations Practitioners Should Have on Their Radar in the Coming Year

What: Learn about trends and events that will inform the work of public relations professionals, how to think like a futurist and how to scan for potential changes, and how to prepare for these changes and remain nimble in the coming months and years.

Who: Stephen Dupont, vice president of public relations at Pocket Hercules

When: 3 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free for members

Sponsor: The Public Relations Society of America

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Thu, Jan 25 - Introduction to AI Tools

What: In this session, we’ll work with MidJourney and Adobe Firefly to create photo illustrations; design graphics and charts using ChatGPT’s Daigr.am plug-in; use ScholarAI to do deep research and turn it into a Twitter thread. We’ll also demo text-to-audio tools and explore some pitfalls of AI tools and the issues surrounding them.

Who: Mike Reilley, senior lecturer at the Univ. of Illinois-Chicago, founder of JournalistsToolBox.ai

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Non-members $50, students $10

Sponsor: The Virginia Press Association

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Fri, Jan 26 - Election 2024: How to use poll data to accurately inform the public

What: Participants will learn:  How to spot a well-designed poll (and those that are not). To understand how the types of questions asked, people included in the polls, and the poll’s timing will impact a poll’s results. How to incorporate polling data in ethical, responsible ways. Tips from political reporters who have used polls in their work for decades

Who: Erin Covey U.S. House analyst, The Cook Political Report; Louis Jacobson Senior correspondent, PolitiFact; Jane Junn Professor of political science, University of Southern California; Courtney Kennedy Vice president of methods and innovation, Pew Research Center.

When: 11:30 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: National Press Club Journalism Institute

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14 Articles about the Limitations of AI

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