The Future is already here...
The Future is already here...
“The future is already here - it’s just not very evenly distributed” - William Gibson
This is MadeMeThink.xyz – A weekly newsletter for visionaries, innovators and critical thinkers exploring the world of tomorrow. Written by Prof. Thomas Metzler, Ph.D.
Thought of the week…
The Future is already here…
Robert S. Apatoff, CEO of Rand McNally, then the world's largest card manufacturer, in a 2006 interview:
Anyone who believes old-fashioned folded maps are going away should think again, Apatoff says. "There's going to be some changes in how they're used, but people still want to open them and read them with their coffee. Same thing with trip planning. People will continue to want to be able to consume maps this way," he said, even if they use maps or atlases together with hand-held devices or the Internet. More maps are sold now than ever before, according to the International Map Trade Association (…) The trademark road atlas, now in its 83rd edition, remains its best-selling product by far. That's one reason the company isn't striving to become like Mapquest, Yahoo Maps or Google Maps. - Tampa Bay Times (2006)
Well, I guess I don't have to tell the end of the story, let's just say it wasn't a happy ending. What we can learn from it: Past or current figures about our business (e.g. lagging indicators like sales) do not necessarily have predictive power for future business development and can be deceiving. The good news is, it's not rocket science to study the future, because as science fiction writer William Gibson said:
“The future is already here - it’s just not very evenly distributed” - William Gibson
It means we can identify representatives of the future (e.g., researchers, entrepreneurs, early adopters, thought leaders) and engage in an exchange of ideas with them, thus learning about tomorrow today.
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This MadeMeThink last week…
When AI gets it wrong
I just read this article, and it got me thinking about the real-life implications of AI failure. In a nutshell, what is the article about?
A women named Porcha Woodruff was wrongly arrested for carjacking in Detroit due to a misidentification by facial recognition technology while she was eight months pregnant.
Her case underscores the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies when used without proper testing and regulation. The article claims that despite improvements, facial recognition technology remains prone to biases, especially towards Black and Asian individuals. At least six known cases of wrongful arrests in the U.S. resulted from facial recognition errors, with all victims being Black. Another instance involved Michael Williams, who was falsely arrested and spent nearly a year in jail for murder in Chicago based on an unreliable AI gunshot detection system. These cases exemplify the dangers of overdependence on AI by law enforcement. The article calls for comprehensive testing and oversight of AI technologies, a temporary halt on facial recognition in the criminal system, and transparency for AI tech.
Amazon Ads
Amazon has really quietly built up an enormous advertising business 👀 😳
Las Vegas Sphere at The Venetian Resort…
The Sphere, a $2.3 billion entertainment venue in Las Vegas, is opening on September 29, featuring the world's largest spherical structure and LED displays 👀🔥
Accommodating up to 20,000 spectators, the venue is a technological and architectural masterpiece. It showcases custom 16K-resolution content, utilizes over 160,000 speakers, and is expected to attract a large audience, including during major events like the Formula One race. Read more…
I would love to be in Vegas these days…
A Tool I discovered…
Rask.AI
While AI-powered translation is currently still quite expensive, especially for content creators like myself, there is no denying its potential to revolutionize content accessibility across language barriers. I guess in future platforms like YouTube will offer real-time, on-demand translation services at no extra cost, making content universally accessible, transcending linguistic boundaries. This will not only amplify the reach of content creators but also enrich the global audience's viewing experience.
Other…
WebSummit Ticket for Sale…
One of my favorite conferences is the Websummit in Lisbon. I have a ticket for this year to give away at a good price 👀 With over 1000 speakers, 2300 startups and 70000 visitors, the Websummit is probably the biggest digital conference in the world. I've been there several times, it's a worthwhile event in terms of content (and the weather and culinary experiences in Lisbon are not to be neglected either 🤗). I'm there myself this year with WalletFrens.xyz as part of the Websummit Startup Program. Anyway, I still have one ticket left that I would offer at an attractive price. Let me know if you're interested…
Disclaimer: The thoughts published in this publication are my personal opinion and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation for any type of action. I am not a financial expert. The startups or corporates highlighted in the newsletter have caught my interest. This mention is not an endorsement or recommendation to engage with them. Readers should always do their own research.