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
Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, citing DEI
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/05/08/trump-fires-librarian-of-congress/
Trump fires top US copyright official
MT @EveryLibrary Trump continued a firing spree at the Library of Congress on Saturday when he dismissed the top copyright official in the nation — a position traditionally overseen by the legislative branch. Her office had issued a lengthy report about artificial intelligence that included some questions and concerns about the usage of copyrighted materials by AI technology, an industry which Musk is heavily involved in.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/10/trump-u-s-copyright-official-00340306
Innovation
Quantum Teleportation Breakthrough
Oxford scientists sent 1st quantum algorithm wirelessly btwn 2 quantum processors. It took advantage of their unique nature, pooled capabilities & formed superior computer to solve problems they couldn’t do independently
https://www.wired.com/story/quantum-computing-information-teleportation/
Technology
What The Washington Post’s deal with OpenAI says about the future of AI content licensing
Understanding the AI Class Action Lawsuits
MT @AuthorsGuild The Authors Guild has received many questions from authors about class action cases, including whether or not they are covered, if they need to take any specific action to be covered, and when they can expect to see any payment.
https://authorsguild.org/news/ai-class-action-lawsuits/
AAP chief Maria A. Pallante and HarperCollins’ Brian Murray describe ‘an unprecedented legal battle with Big Tech’ because of AI
On April 11 of this year, Jack Dorsey, a founder of Twitter, tweeted out to his seven million followers, four chilling words: “Delete all IP law.” “Imagine that. Elon Musk, X’s current owner, responded, “I agree.” There’s a reason that Big Tech’s motto is ‘move fast and break things.’ But when the things you’re breaking are laws, laws directly authorized by our Constitution and upheld for more than 200 years by Congress and the courts alike, well, we have a name for that in our country, and it’s not ‘innovation.’ It’s ‘violation,’ the violation of laws that protect storytellers, educators, researchers, artists, inventors, and creators. This puts at risk not just what it is to be American, but also America’s position as a global leader in IP and in human freedom.
https://publishingperspectives.com/2025/05/the-aaps-annual-meeting-stark-comments-on-ai/
Judge in Meta case warns AI could ‘obliterate’ market for original works
HT @inkbitspixels Judge says AI can create ‘infinite’ competing products & expressed doubt that generative AI could ever be considered fair use.
Swedish Sci-Fi Flick Watch The Skies Could Change How We Watch Movies
Ethical AI? This film had the original cast do the dubbing and used AI to map the sounds to the character’s lips.
https://www.slashfilm.com/1854900/watch-the-skies-sci-fi-could-change-how-we-watch-movies/
Fox Entertainment has been experimenting with AI videos generated with the help of Runway
The output is now rights-cleared for deliverables.
https://www.lowpass.cc/p/fox-entertainment-runway-ai-partnership-genai
In Graphic Detail: How AI is changing search and advertising
https://digiday.com/marketing/in-graphic-detail-how-ai-is-changing-search-and-advertising/
OpenAI upgrades ChatGPT search w shopping features
HT @benedictevans Some queries will get a carousel & links. However, there’s no indication of this in UI (a systemic problem w the command line as a product), so you’ll just have to guess + see what works.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/28/openai-upgrades-chatgpt-search-with-shopping-features/
Mastercard And Visa Unleash AI Agents To Shop For You
Use cases span routine buys like groceries or last-minute gifts to complex workflows like booking business travel, managing logistics or planning large events. In each scenario, the AI agent dynamically selects the optimal payment method while remaining within user-defined parameters.
Mark Zuckerberg just declared war on the entire advertising industry
His vision for ads: An advertiser gives Meta a budget and a biz objective, and Meta’s AI works out the rest—not just targeting, but it will generate the best ads—it will show every single user a different ad and compare the results.
https://www.theverge.com/meta/659506/mark-zuckerberg-ai-facebook-ads
Perplexity CEO says its browser will track everything users do online to sell ‘hyper personalized’ ads
HT @benedictevans They will build own browser to collect user data & build an interest graph, use that for ads. (Step 1: Get ppl to switch browsers.)
Apple is looking to add AI search engines to Safari
https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/07/apple-is-looking-to-add-ai-search-engines-to-safari/
Netflix debuts its generative AI-powered search tool
Netflix has officially launched a new AI-powered search feature utilizing OpenAI’s ChatGPT, allowing users to make conversational queries about content preferences.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/07/netflix-debuts-its-generative-ai-powered-search-tool/
2025 Marketing Technology Landscape Supergraphic
100X growth since 2011, now with AI. The martech landscape grew again since last year, up 9% to 15,384 solutions.
The impact of generative AI on the stock photos biz
https://kaptur.co/the-silent-collapse-generative-ais-erosion-of-photo-licensing-revenue/
Sam Altman, the architect of ChatGPT, is rolling out an orb that verifies you’re human
HT @benedictevans Orb, which wants to scan your retina to generate a digital ID on a blockchain so you can prove you’re a human online, has finally launched in the US.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sam-altman-orb-world-iris-scan-proof-of-personhood-ai/
The one interview question that will protect you from North Korean fake workers
Fascinating look at the issue of potentially hiring fake developers.
https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/29/north_korea_worker_interview_questions/
Amazon now has a ‘Get book’ button in its iOS Kindle app
Amazon has updated its Kindle iOS app to take advantage of recent changes to Apple’s App Store rules. Apple can no longer collect 27% percent commission on purchases made outside of apps.
https://www.theverge.com/news/661719/amazon-app-ios-apple-iphone-ipad-kindle-buy-books
Publishing & Media
Spotify to Introduce New Metric for Podcasts
Spotify will let users see how many times an audio-only or video podcast episode has been listened to or watched
Netflix is eyeing video podcasts as it expands beyond TV and film
Podcast Industry Twice as Large as Estimated
Google launches “100 Zeros,” a multi-year production initiative in partnership w Range Media to co-produce & fund indie films
Resources & Opportunities
WMG New Members Social
https://womensmediagroup.org/event-6166530
Taste, Talk, and Connect: A Special Night at Tsion Cafe in Harlem
Join us for a memorable evening of networking, culture, and cuisine at Tsion Cafe, the popular Harlem restaurant of chef and author Beejhy Barhany. In celebration of her new cookbook, Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens, from Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem, and Beyond, Beejhy invites WMG members and friends to experience the flavors and traditions of Ethiopian and Israeli cuisine. She will be joined by literary agent Sally Ekus, Knopf senior editor Tom Pold, and writer and cookbook collaborator Elisa Ung for a discussion about bringing this unique cookbook to life.
Guests will enjoy:
- A plant-based buffet dinner featuring dishes inspired by Gursha
- A signature cocktail crafted from a recipe in the book
- A panel discussion on the making of Gursha with Beejhy Barhany, Sally Ekus, Tom Pold, and moderator Elisa Ung
- A traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony led by Beejhy Barhany
- Dessert, book sales, and a signing with the author
This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow food lovers, gain insight into cookbook publishing, and learn about the culture and traditions of the Ethiopian Jewish community. All are welcome!
5/15 6-8pm ET at Tsion Cafe in Harlem. $45 for WMG members; $55 for non-members
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6140428
Celebrating AANHPI Storytellers!
Hear Authors:
- Katie Kitamura (Audition)
- Megha Majumdar (A Burning)
- Hyeseung Song (Docile)
- Qian Julie Wang (Beautiful Country)
5/21 5:30-7:30pm, NYC, $15 @WMG_NYC members, $20 nonmembers.
-> READERS OF MY NEWSLETTER: Come at the member price of $15: Pick Partner Organization and use code CELEBRATE <-
https://womensmediagroup.org/event-6154518
Pitch Please: Selling Your Writing to Editors
MT @marcelalandres Online workshop w author Alisha Fernandez Miranda, 5/18, 12pm-2pm EST. $75.
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLN2E9P6MYMG8/checkout/MD2RZX3DVAX5RQ6WZGCWE7NK
Applications for the 2025 American Society of Journalists and Authors Awards are open!
https://www.asja.org/what-we-do/awards/
2025 Online Journalism Awards
Deadline is 5/15. Submit your work or volunteer as a screener or judge.
https://awards.journalists.org
How to Recover After a Layoff
Join Fairygodboss on 6/3 for a virtual session led by two expert career coaches.
https://fairygodboss.com/events/ZvwT7nucF/how-to-recover-after-a
2025 First Book Summertime Sweepstakes
https://firstbook.wufoo.com/forms/z5so3oi1xr285p/
2025 ASIAN CREATIVE FESTIVAL Social Impact Hackathon
https://www.asiancreativefoundation.org/social-impact-hackathon
Schomburg Centennial Festival
https://www.schomburg100fest.org
Medical Debt Info Session
Do you or someone you know have hospital bills that you can’t afford? Free BPL program on hospital financial assistance programs avail at every hospital in the NYC area. Eligible patients make <$62,600 as individual or <$128,600 w a family of 4.
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