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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. I’d love to hear what you think of this newsletter.

Important Items

Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocks pregnant woman from emergency abortion

Kate Cox sought an emergency hearing to obtain an abortion after learning her unborn baby had trisomy 18, a fatal genetic condition, and is not expected to live more than a few days outside the womb, according to the suit. Cox, 31, has been to three different emergency rooms in the last month due to severe cramping and unidentifiable fluid leaks, according to her suit. The suit said, “continuing the pregnancy puts her at high risk for severe complications threatening her life and future fertility, including uterine rupture and hysterectomy.”

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/08/us/texas-abortion-ruling-attorney-general-petition/index.html

The U.S. Supreme Court may use an under-the-radar employment discrimination case to gut workplace DEI initiatives.

https://twitter.com/ProfMMurray/status/1732892638779502609

One in five young Americans think the Holocaust is a myth

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/12/07/one-in-five-young-americans-think-the-holocaust-is-a-myth

Technology

Google Just Launched Gemini, Its Long-Awaited Answer to ChatGPT

Google says Gemini, launching today inside the Bard chatbot, is its “most capable” AI model ever. It was trained on video, images, audio, andtext. It could go on to advance robotics.

https://www.wired.com/story/google-gemini-ai-model-chatgpt/

Google just launched a new AI and has already admitted at least one demo wasn’t real

The company’s demo video, featuring a spoken conversation with Gemini as it identified drawings in real-time, was edited and did not involve an actual spoken prompt.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/7/23992737/google-gemini-misrepresentation-ai-accusation

Why Novelists Should Embrace Artificial Intelligence

https://lithub.com/why-novelists-should-embrace-artificial-intelligence/

CBC News analysis finds thousands of Canadian authors, books in controversial dataset used to train AI

RT @LauraB7 Margaret Atwood, Gordon Korman, Alice Munro top list of Canadian writers with most books in data trove

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canadian-authors-books3-ai-dataset-1.7050243

Google’s NotebookLM Aims to Be the Ultimate Writing Assistant

Author Steven Johnson helped Google create an app that can analyze a writer’s research material and help them extract and explore the key themes. Maybe too well.

https://www.wired.com/story/googles-notebooklm-ai-ultimate-writing-assistant/

E.U. reaches deal on landmark AI bill, racing ahead of U.S.

The regulation paves the way for what could become a global standard to classify risk, enforce transparency and financially penalize tech companies for noncompliance.

https://apple.news/ARzaFP875R2iL6hGlpCclKg

By the Numbers: Tracking The AI Executive Order

HT @benedictevans New Stanford tracker analyzes the 150 requirements of the White House Executive Order on AI and offers new insights into government priorities.

https://hai.stanford.edu/news/numbers-tracking-ai-executive-order

The Year of ChatGPT and Living Generatively

In November last year, OpenAI launched a “low key research preview” called ChatGPT. What happened next transformed the tech industry—and perhaps humanity’s future.

https://www.wired.com/story/plaintext-chatgpt-year-of-living-generatively/

The Rise of AI-Powered Stars: Big Money and Risks

Meta and YouTube are looking to Demi Lovato, Tom Brady and other A-listers to mainstream the technology — flawed guardrails and all.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ai-powered-stars-youtube-meta-1235683894/

AWS’s transcription platform is now powered by generative AI

It recognizes 100 spoken languages thanks to AI.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/27/23978822/aws-transcription-amazon-generative-ai

Amazon announces new AI chip as it deepens Nvidia relationship

Amazon Web Services announced Trainium2, a chip for training artificial intelligence models

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/28/amazon-reveals-trainium2-ai-chip-while-deepening-nvidia-relationship.html

92 Trends Reports

HT @neilperkin There’s reports from Accenture, Forrester, Amazon, BBC and many more on creative and media trendes.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EBkCM7Bt_4tYhLQlKXj7yAh98-NcqD3u

Instagram Trend Talk

From fashion and friendship to eras and icks, here’s all the trends Gen Z will be driving on Instagram in 2024

https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/instagram-trend-talk

Pinterest Predicts 2024: The Trends of Tomorrow, Today

https://business.pinterest.com/pinterest-predicts/

Cinematic and interactive universes: Games and studios come together to bring the biggest stories to life

HT @FOSTorg Shifting demographics, innovative technologies, and the desire for high-performing IP are driving the evolution of storytelling.

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/technology-media-and-telecom-predictions/2024/blurring-the-lines-between-video-games-and-movies.html

Welcome to ‘Gag City’: Nicki Minaj’s fans used AI to create their own digital town

HT @liahaberman

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/nicki-minaj-gag-city-ai-barbz-pink-friday-2-rcna128605

Inside America’s School Internet Censorship Machine

A WIRED investigation into internet censorship in US schools found widespread use of filters to censor health, identity, & other crucial info. Students say it makes the web entirely unusable

https://www.wired.com/story/inside-americas-school-internet-censorship-machine/

Threads Gets Hashtags

HT @liahaberman

https://www.threads.net/@mosseri/post/C0j585AvsJq

Publishing & Media

Richard Sarnoff, Madeline McIntosh Among New Simon & Schuster Board Members

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/people/article/93900-richard-sarnoff-madeline-mcintosh-among-new-simon-schuster-board-members.html

What Simon & Schuster’s New Board Means for Book Publishing

interesting analysis by @KathMSchmidt

https://kathleenschmidt.substack.com/p/what-simon-and-schusters-new-board

Agents and Editors Aren’t Always Right About Market Potential

Via @janefriedman

https://janefriedman.com/agents-and-editors-arent-always-right-about-market-potential/

How Cave Canem Has Nurtured Generations of Black Poets

The poets’ fellowship, which was founded in 1996, has worked with poets who have gone on to win many of the genre’s most important accolades.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/27/arts/cave-canem-black-poets-collective.html

The Book World Still Isn’t Diverse. Dhonielle Clayton Is Trying to Change That.

Her solution? A packaging business that sells ideas for commercial genre fiction featuring characters from broadly diverse backgrounds.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/books/dhonielle-clayton-diversity.html

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Expanding Across Illinois, Offers Free Books to Children

RT @veronikellymars Illinois folks with kids under 5: the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is now available statewide. Get your monthly free books for kids!

https://www.wsiltv.com/news/top-stories/dolly-partons-imagination-library-expanding-across-illinois-offers-free-books-to-children/article_845091e0-93a8-11ee-a241-6f1960168322.html

How TikTok’s BookTok craze is ‘making reading cool again’

HT @publishingtrend

https://www.bigissue.com/culture/books/tiktok-booktok-trend-reading-literature/

TikTok’s #BookTok trend ‘literally changed my life’

HT @publishingtrend

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-67555175

Reading Skills in Germany: New Study Results Concern the Market

The Börsenverein is raising the alarm again about falling reading-skill levels in Germany in the wake of new OECD ‘PISA’ test results.

https://publishingperspectives.com/2023/12/reading-skills-new-study-results-concern-the-german-market/

This NYC bookstore prioritizes representation of immigrant authors & writers of color

HT @publishingtrend Yu and Me’s Lucy Yu wanted to create the bookstore she never saw when growing up.

https://nowthisnews.com/news/this-bookstore-prioritizes-representation-of-immigrant-authors-writers-of-color

Publishers are mad as hell and they’re not going to take this any more

HT @BoSacks Key insights from Press Gazette publisher events in New York and London.

https://pressgazette.co.uk/comment-analysis/online-advertising-publishers/

Only around a third of ad dollars reach ‘intended audiences,’ ANA finds

HT @BoSacks The study, which analyzed $123 million in ad spend, found plenty of spend going to made-for-advertising sites and bot traffic.

https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2023/12/05/ana-report-finds-that-only-around-a-third-of-ad-dollars-reach-intended-audiences

Reader’s Digest Canada, once a household staple, will end its run after 76 years

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-readers-digest-to-shut-down-canadian-magazine-in-2024/

Congress Introduces New Bill to Fight Book Bans in Schools

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/93897-congress-introduces-new-bill-to-fight-book-bans-in-schools.html

A Look at Every Current Book Ban Lawsuit

Via @veronikellymars

https://bookriot.com/book-ban-lawsuits/

There are now more than 529 book challenges in the Chicago area, according to NBC 5 Investigates

https://www.slj.com/story/Colorado-Republicans-Want-Prosecutors-Remove-school-library-Books-Under-Obscenity-Law-Censorship-News

Superintendent Ryan Walters introduces new guidelines for Oklahoma libraries

MT @veronikellymars The State Superintendent in Oklahoma just rewrote guidelines for libraries in the state and removed information literacy guidelines put out by the American Library Association.

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-superintendent-ryan-walters-introduces-standards-students/46057466

Censoring Imagination: Why Prisons Ban Fantasy and Science Fiction

HT @publishingtrend

https://lithub.com/censoring-imagination-why-prisons-ban-fantasy-and-science-fiction/

Resources & Opportunities

Journalism Job Openings: The December List

@RebeccaAguilar publishes a list of journalism jobs every month.

https://rebeccaaguilar.wordpress.com/2023/12/06/journalism-job-openings-the-december-list/

Journalism Internships in 2024

Health Journalism Fellowship

Submission deadline for the @womenjournos Health Journalism Fellowship extended to December 15!

https://www.jaws.org/health-journalism-fellowship-1

Pitch Guide for Translators

Via @AntonHur

https://antonhur.com/pitch-guide-for-translators/

The Georgia Review Prose Prize

MT @marcelalandres The Georgia Review Prose Prize, judged by Danielle Evans, first prize $1500, runner up $600, writers from all backgrounds are invited to submit, deadline 1/15

https://thegeorgiareview.com/the-georgia-review-prose-prize/

Young Creative Associates 2024

MT @NewWritingNorth We’re looking for early career freelance writers and creatives to be our new Young Creative Associates! YCA is a 6-month development programme including training, mentoring and networking. Open to early career writers or creatives of any age.

https://newwritingnorth.com/event/young-creative-associates/

Ploughshares Reading Period Open

RT @pshares Calling all writers! You have until January 15th, 2024 to submit your work to Ploughshares!

https://www.pshares.org/submit/journal/guidelines

Zoom with an Author or Illustrator for World Read Aloud Day 2024

https://katemessner.com/blog/

New Freedom Of Expression Award: An Interview With PRH And We Need Diverse Books

MT @UABookBans In the face of book bans, Unite Against Book Bans partners Penguin Random House & We Need Diverse Books have launched the Freedom of Expression Award, providing public high school seniors with scholarships to attend college. Read more about the award & how to apply here. #teamPRH

https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/new-freedom-of-expression-award-an-interview-with-prh-and-we-need-diverse-books/

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