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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. I also try to include some resources & opportunities. Please let me know what you think.

Important Items

Do you know someone detained at Alligator Alcatraz? We’d like to hear from you

RT ⁦@MiamiHerald⁩ The Miami Herald has published a list of detainees being held at Alligator Alcatraz, Florida’s makeshift immigration detention center in the Everglades, and found that many have no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article310493485.html

A Historical Perspective on U.S. Immigration

Via @HC_Richardson

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/july-14-2025

Innovation

AI Is Being Used to Support Sighted Volunteers Working With the Visually Impaired. Here’s How

Be My Eyes is an accessibility app that uses AI and a global volunteer network to help the visually impaired with everyday tasks through live video assistance. Be My AI is a feature inside the Be My Eyes app, which uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 with vision to instantly “see” and describe photos for blind and low-vision people. You snap a picture of what you’re trying to navigate in real time, and the AI tool gives you a natural-language description on the spot. Since it’s working through OpenAI’s GPT-4, it functions the same way. You can ask follow-up questions, and the AI keeps up, understanding context and responding to accommodate your needs. If the AI can’t help, you can switch to a live volunteer inside the app, giving you flexible options anytime. It’s using AI to give you agency while still offering the option to “phone a friend.”

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/ai-is-being-used-to-support-sighted-volunteers-working-with-the-visually-impaired-heres-how/

Technology

Condé Nast and Hearst strike Amazon AI licensing deals for Rufus

https://digiday.com/media/conde-nast-and-hearst-strike-amazon-ai-licensing-deals-for-rufus/

I Teach Creative Writing. This Is What AI Is Doing to Students.

HT @lenedgerly I noticed a strange emotional charge from interacting daily with a system that seemed to be designed to affirm me. When I fed it a prompt in my voice and it returned a sharp version of what I was trying to say, I felt a little thrill, as if I’d been seen. Then I got confused, as if I were somehow now derivative. It was producing a fun-house double of me — a performance of human inquiry. I was soothed because I was talking to myself — only it was a version of myself that experienced no anxiety, pressure or self-doubt. The crisis this produces is hard to name, but it was unnerving. Its writing reminds me of processed food: It goes down easy, but leaves a slick taste in the mouth….Higher education, as it’s currently structured, can appear to prize product over process….The uncanny thing about these models isn’t just their speed but the way they imitate human interiority without embodying any of its values. That may be, from the humanist’s perspective, the most pernicious thing about AI: the way it simulates mastery and brings satisfaction to its user, who feels, at least fleetingly, as if she did the thing that the technology performed. Knowing that the tool was there began to interfere with my own thinking. If I asked AI — to see what it would come up with — the result was different from what I’d do, yet its version lodged unhelpfully in my mind. When ChatGPT drafted or edited an email for me, I felt less connected to the outcome. One of the real challenges here is the way that AI undermines the human value of attention, and the individuality that flows from that.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/opinion/ai-chatgpt-school.html?unlocked_article_code=1.X08.a1xf.KtLQ0wG58Tjs&smid=tw-share

A pressure test for AI: Dow Jones makes a translation push for real-time financial news

Dow Jones Newswires launches an AI-powered French language service, following the rollout of Korean and Japanese last year.

https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/a-pressure-test-for-ai-dow-jones-makes-a-translation-push-for-real-time-financial-news/

Can Gen AI and Copyright Coexist?

Courts are divided on whether AI companies training LLMs on unlicensed copyrighted materials constitutes fair use. It’s likely to go to the Supreme Court, but it’s important to understand court decisions and make smart plans.

https://hbr.org/2025/07/can-gen-ai-and-copyright-coexist

Following YouTube, Meta announces crackdown on ‘unoriginal’ Facebook content

This year alone, Meta removed 10M fake profiles and penalized 500K spam accounts by limiting their reach and monetization. Meta is also testing links that direct users to original content.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/14/following-youtube-meta-announces-crackdown-on-unoriginal-facebook-content/

The résumé is dying, and AI is holding the smoking gun

As thousands of applications flood job posts, ‘hiring slop’ is kicking off an AI arms race.

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/06/the-resume-is-dying-and-ai-is-holding-the-smoking-gun/

Not So Fast: AI Coding Tools Can Actually Reduce Productivity

“METR performed a rigorous study (blog post, full paper) to measure the productivity gain provided by AI tools for experienced developers working on mature projects. The results are surprising everyone: a 19 percent decrease in productivity. Even the study participants themselves were surprised: they estimated that AI had increased their productivity by 20 percent. If you take away just one thing from this study, it should probably be this: when people report that AI has accelerated their work, they might be wrong!”

https://secondthoughts.ai/p/ai-coding-slowdown

Google Discover adds AI summaries, threatening publishers w further traffic declines

The shift to AI-curated content raises serious concerns among publishers already struggling w declining website traffic, rising no-click search results, and fewer Google referrals.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/15/google-discover-adds-ai-summaries-threatening-publishers-with-further-traffic-declines/

Industry video game actors pass agreement with studios for AI security

New contract includes AI consent and disclosure requirements. Performers receive 15.17% pay increase, with additional raises thru 2027

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/industry-video-game-actors-pass-agreement-with-studios-ai-security-2025-07-10/

Making AI Work: Leadership, Lab, and Crowd

A formula for AI in companies by @emollick

https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/making-ai-work-leadership-lab-and

From chatbots to collaborators: How AI agents are reshaping enterprise work

https://venturebeat.com/ai/from-chatbots-to-collaborators-how-ai-agents-are-reshaping-enterprise-work/

Weaving reality or warping it? The personalization trap in AI systems

https://venturebeat.com/ai/weaving-reality-or-warping-it-the-personalization-trap-in-ai-systems/

Dr. ChatGPT Will See You Now

HT @platformer AI has the potential to help both patients and doctors with diagnoses and treatment recommendations, researchers say, but concerns about errors and the way AI presents information need to be addressed.

https://www.wired.com/story/dr-chatgpt-will-see-you-now-artificial-intelligence-llms-openai-health-diagnoses/

AI therapy bots fuel delusions and give dangerous advice, Stanford study finds

HT @platformer Popular AI models exhibit dangerous discriminatory patterns toward people with mental health conditions and violate typical therapy guidelines for symptoms.

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/07/ai-therapy-bots-fuel-delusions-and-give-dangerous-advice-stanford-study-finds/

China’s Moonshot AI’s Kimi K2 outperforms GPT-4 in key benchmarks — and it’s free

https://venturebeat.com/ai/moonshot-ais-kimi-k2-outperforms-gpt-4-in-key-benchmarks-and-its-free/

Now Microsoft’s Copilot Vision AI can scan everything on your screen

Copilot Vision works like screen sharing, giving users real-time insights, feedback, and guidance on tasks like editing resumes, working on creative projects, or navigating games.

https://www.theverge.com/news/707995/microsoft-copilot-vision-ai-windows-scan-screen-desktop

Zuckerberg says Meta will build data center the size of Manhattan in latest AI push

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/16/zuckerberg-meta-data-center-ai-manhattan

Google rolls out AI-powered business-calling feature, brings Gemini 2.5 Pro to AI Mode

The new business-calling feature uses AI to call local businesses on your behalf to collect information about availability and pricing. The idea behind the feature is to help you access information without having to actually pick up the phone and talk to someone. As for the new “Deep Search” feature in AI Mode, Google says it will save subscribers hours by conducting hundreds of searches and issuing reasoning across differing pieces of information to create a comprehensive and fully cited report in minutes. Google notes that Deep Search is useful for in-depth research related to jobs, hobbies, or studies. The company says it’s also useful in instances where you’re making big life decisions, like buying a new house or seeking assistance with a financial analysis.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/16/google-rolls-out-ai-powered-business-calling-feature-brings-gemini-2-5-pro-to-ai-mode/

Europeans seek ‘digital sovereignty’ as US tech firms embrace Trump

European demand growing for locally-based tech services. Companies and users cite worries about privacy, politics. European companies, governments champion “digital sovereignty.”

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/europeans-seek-digital-sovereignty-us-tech-firms-embrace-trump-2025-06-21/

Vast Numbers of Lonely Kids Using AI as Substitute Friends

Of 1K kids aged 9-17, 67% said they use AI chatbots regularly. Of that group, 35% said talking to AI “feels like talking to a friend.” 12% said they do so because they don’t have anyone else to speak to.

https://futurism.com/lonely-children-ai-chatbots?ref=platformer.news

AI-Generated Images of Child Sexual Abuse Are Flooding the Internet

Organizations that track the material are reporting a surge in A.I. images and videos, which are threatening to overwhelm law enforcement.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/technology/ai-csam-child-sexual-abuse.html?unlocked_article_code=1.X08.9x8i.zOcXdcTQFlTy&smid=tw-share

TikTok owner ByteDance is reportedly building its own mixed reality goggles

https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/tiktok-owner-bytedance-is-reportedly-building-its-own-mixed-reality-goggles-212541450.html

Fake News Sites Mimicking CNN, BBC and CNBC Pave Way for Investment Scams

HT @BoSacks Cybersecurity firm identified 17K baiting news sites that publish fake news stories that link public figures and financial institutions to fabricated investment schemes.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/fake-news-sites-investment-scams/

Publishing & Media

The Editorial Process

ICYMI @lenedgerly Brilliance from Margaret Atwood on the editing process.

https://margaretatwood.substack.com/p/the-editorial-process

Men’s Journal returning to print after a more than two year hiatus.

https://www.piworld.com/article/mens-journal-makes-a-new-return-to-an-old-format/

Why Reading Retreats are Becoming a Hot Travel Trend

HT @zibbyowens For writers and the publishing industry at large, the explosion of reading retreats represents a transformative opportunity to forge deeper, more meaningful connections with readers.

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture-council/articles/why-reading-retreats-are-becoming-hot-travel-trend-1235385122/

Resources & Opportunities

The Craft & Creation of Audiobooks

LAST CHANCE! SIGN UP NOW!! Want to learn how audiobooks are made, how they are produced, how narrators are discovered? Come to this awesome virtual lunchtime panel on 7/22 at noon ET. FREE for WMG members, $15 for nonmembers. Featuring Julia Whelan (brilliant narrator of >600 books), Julie Wilson (Director of Casting, Digital Production Platforms, and Strategic Partnerships at Penguin Random House Audio), Marnye Young (Founder and CEO of Audio Sorceress, an audiobook production house), and moderated by Jennifer A. Perry (Director of eCommerce Digital Content at Barnes & Noble). Register at https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6248057

AI for Editors: An AMA with Erin Servais

Writers, Journalists, Editors get answers to your questions about using AI for storytelling, enhancing creativity, and more! 8/6 12-1pm ET via Zoom. Free for Women’s Media Group members, $15 non-members.

https://womensmediagroup.org/event-6222466

WMG Members-Only Small Group Socials

WMG Members: There are a ton of in-person and virtual members-only Small Group Socials to choose from! Including lunch w me. Hope to see you there!!

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/events

The Only Latine in the Room: How to Advocate for Latinx Stories – A Seminar for Publishing Professionals

9/12 3:30–5:00 PM Scholastic HQ in SoHo, NYC Too often, we’re expected to represent every Latinx voice in the room—while still doing our day job.The goal of this event is to find strength in community, identify potential mentorship and partnership opportunities, and exchange ideas on how to empower Latinx book workers to continue to uplift Latinx stories and storytellers.

🎟️ $30 General Admission

🎓 $20 Student Admission (w/ college email)

🤝 $20 Networking Add-On

This event is for publishing professionals + college students pursuing a career in the industry. (Not for writers/illustrators seeking publication.)

https://www.latinxstorytellersconference.com/latinx-in-publishing-seminar

Nominate a colleague for ⁦Publishers Weekly’s⁩ StarWatch!

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/corp/bcpp_intro.html

Volunteer with WriteGirl

MT @marcelalandres WriteGirl, the organization where Amanda Gorman got her start, seeks women/gender-expansive writers in all genres including fiction, poetry, journalism, screenwriting, songwriting, copywriting, business writing + to mentor teens, deadline 8/1.