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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

Noem Screwed FEMA on 7/6/25

Per Heather Cox Richardson: “On July 5, the day after the Texas floods hit, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) received 3,027 calls from survivors and answered 3,018 of them, about 99.7%, according to Maxine Joselow of the New York Times. But that day, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did not renew the contracts for four call center companies that answered those calls. The staff at the centers were fired. The next day, July 6, FEMA received 2,363 calls and answered 846, or about 35.8%. On Monday, July 7, FEMA received 16,419 calls and answered 2,613, around 15.9%.”

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/july-12-2025

U.S. measles cases hit highest level in 33 years, CDC reports

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5461155/measles-outbreak-cdc-vaccination-health

I.R.S. Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates From the Pulpit

This rule has been in place for decades. The National Council of Nonprofits, which represents 30,000 such groups, warned that allowing tax-exempt groups to endorse candidates could lead to a future where political groups use nonprofits as a kind of legal disguise.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/us/politics/irs-churches-politics-endorse-candidates.html

Trump says he’s “thinking about” taking over D.C. (and NYC)

https://www.axios.com/2025/07/08/trump-taking-over-dc

Trump Media launches TV streaming platform with Newsmax channel globally

Trump Media & Technology Group launched its TV streaming platform, Truth+, globally on Monday, featuring the cable channel Newsmax to support the company’s expansion. The move also allows conservative news outlet Newsmax, which went public in March, to increase its presence outside the United States.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-media-launches-tv-streaming-platform-with-newsmax-channel-globally-2025-07-07/

Toolkit to Protect Abortion Access

by @feministsforall

https://www.feminists.co/discover/reproductive-freedom-bsmph

Innovation

Infrared contact lenses let you see in the dark

Near-infrared contact lenses enabled mice and humans to see in the dark, with their eyes closed, using biocompatible polymeric materials with the right refractive index and optical properties.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/05/infrared-contact-lenses-let-you-see-in-the-dark/

Microsoft’s AI Is Better Than Doctors at Diagnosing Disease

The Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO), correctly diagnosed 85% of cases described in the New England Journal of Medicine. That’s four times higher than the accuracy rate of human doctors, who came up with the right diagnoses about 20% of the time. Not only did MAI-DxO far outperform doctors in landing on the correct diagnosis, but the AI bot was able to do so at a 20% lower cost on average.

https://time.com/7299314/microsoft-ai-better-than-doctors-diagnosis/

Technology

Wiley partners with Anthropic on ‘responsible AI integration’

Wiley is adopting the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard created by Anthropic, which will enable seamless integration between authoritative, peer-reviewed content and AI tools across multiple platforms. They will establish standards for how AI tools properly integrate scientific journal content into results while providing appropriate context for users, including author attribution and citations.

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/wiley-partners-with-anthropic-on-responsible-ai-integration

Fortune and Axios warm to AI

Fortune told staff that it would be amping up its AI-produced content. According to an internal memo, the company said it’s going to “test ways to use AI to deliver breaking news faster” with a new section called Fortune Intelligence — essentially, stories co-written with chatbots, though the memo repeatedly stressed that “human oversight is required at every stage before publication.” Axios is also loosening its prohibition on AI-written stories. New internal editorial guidelines showed they are relaxing their old policy, which had required all content to “be written or produced by a real person with a real identity.” “That was written years ago and was unnecessarily limiting as we’ve learned more about what AI tools can and can’t do,” the new guidance said.

https://www.semafor.com/article/07/06/2025/fortune-and-axios-warm-to-ai

A dystopian future of AI-generated Audiobooks is coming for your ears

HT @publishingtrend The entire publishing industry is obsessed with AI narration for audiobooks. There will come a time when millions of audiobooks will flood the market.

https://goodereader.com/blog/digital-publishing/a-dystopia-future-of-ai-generated-audiobooks-is-coming-for-your-ears

‘I’m being paid to fix issues caused by AI’

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvm1dyp9v2o

‘Positive review only’: Researchers hide AI prompts in papers

Research papers from 14 academic institutions in 8 countries, including Japan, South Korea and China, contained hidden prompts directing AI tools to give them good reviews.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Artificial-intelligence/Positive-review-only-Researchers-hide-AI-prompts-in-papers

YouTube to de-monetize creators who post AI content along with non-original content

All reused content, AI-generated content, low-effort content, and copied content will no longer make money on the website, marking a big win for creators who actually work hard on their videos.

https://esports.gg/news/entertainment/youtube-to-demonetize-creators-who-post-ai-content-along-with-non-original-content/

OpenAI is reportedly releasing an AI browser in the coming weeks

The browser is expected to deeply integrate AI features, likely using OpenAI’s “Operator” agent to handle web interactions directly within ChatGPT, reducing the need to visit external sites.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/openai-is-reportedly-releasing-an-ai-browser-in-the-coming-weeks/

Perplexity launches Comet, an AI-powered web browser

For premium users, it offers AI-based tools like search, tab management, and real-time content interaction. However, it has weaknesses in handling complex tasks and raises concerns over data privacy.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/perplexity-launches-comet-an-ai-powered-web-browser/

Chinese researchers unveil MemOS, the 1st ‘memory operating system’ that gives AI human-like recall

Open source, it outperformed OpenAI’s memory, w 160% gains in reasoning & speed.They envision future “memory marketplaces” for sharing structured knowledge

https://venturebeat.com/ai/chinese-researchers-unveil-memos-the-first-memory-operating-system-that-gives-ai-human-like-recall/

Forget the hype — real AI agents solve bounded problems, not open-world fantasies

Rather than thinking AI agents will solve every problem, this article implores use of AI to solve a specific problem that is event driven. For example, imagine an agent that monitors new invoices. Every time an invoice lands, it extracts the relevant fields, checks them against open purchase orders, flags mismatches and either routes the invoice for approval or rejection, without anyone asking it to do so. It just listens for the event (“new invoice received”) and goes to work.

Or think about customer onboarding. An agent might watch for the moment a new account is created, then kick off a cascade: verify documents, run know-your-customer (KYC) checks, personalize the welcome experience and schedule a follow-up message. The user never knows the agent exists. It just runs.

https://venturebeat.com/ai/forget-the-hype-real-ai-agents-solve-bounded-problems-not-open-world-fantasies/

Against “Brain Damage” – AI can help, or hurt, our thinking

Per @emollick Our fear of AI “damaging our brains” is actually a fear of our own laziness. The technology offers an easy out from the hard work of thinking, and we worry we’ll take it. We should worry. But we should also remember that we have a choice.

https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/against-brain-damage

Human in an AI Age: Voice

By @rishad A case may be made that while AI itself will be essential to compete just like electricity has been necessary to compete, like electricity it will not provide a competitive advantage. The difference will come from how companies and individuals use AI not just to become more efficient and effective but also to re-imagine their businesses and much more. This competitive difference will come from Humans combining with AI. Each one of us are special and in today’s AI age we need to find, hone, architect and sculpt our voice in addition to embracing, adapting and complementing AI.

https://rishad.substack.com/p/human-in-an-ai-age-voice

The next innovation revolution—powered by AI

Per McKinsey, AI isn’t just for efficiency anymore. It can double the pace of R&D to unlock up to half a trillion dollars in value annually.

https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-next-innovation-revolution-powered-by-ai?cid=soc-web

UK broadcaster Channel 4 to offer AI-generated ads on its streaming service

HT @benedictevans Small and midsize companies will be able to create TV adverts easily and cheaply

https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/technology/article/channel-4-to-offer-ai-generated-ads-on-its-streaming-service-d86c2t2l8

Meta’s “AI superintelligence” effort sounds just like its failed “metaverse”

Zuckerberg and company talked up another supposed tech revolution four short years ago.

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/07/metas-ai-superintelligence-effort-sounds-just-like-its-failed-metaverse/

Future AI processors said to consume up to 15,360 watts of power

Thermal Design Power for next-gen AI GPUs will require extreme cooling methods, including immersion cooling & embedded cooling, replacing current copper radiators & high-pressure fans.

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cooling/future-ai-processors-said-to-consume-up-to-15-360w-massive-power-draw-will-demand-exotic-immersion-and-embedded-cooling-tech

These Transcribing Eyeglasses Put Subtitles on the World

TranscribeGlass can subtitle conversations in nearly real time and will soon be able to translate languages and tell you when the person you’re talking to you is feeling socially awkward.

https://www.wired.com/story/these-translating-ai-glasses-put-subtitles-on-the-world/

The Computer-Science Bubble Is Bursting

Artificial intelligence is ideally suited to replacing the very type of person who built it.

https://www.theatlantic.com/economy/archive/2025/06/computer-science-bubble-ai/683242/

Google brings Gemini to Wear OS watches, adds AI Mode to Circle to Search

https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/google-brings-gemini-to-wear-os-watches-adds-ai-mode-to-circle-to-search/

Google unveils Gemini CLI, an open source AI tool for terminals

It’s an agentic AI tool designed to run locally from your terminal. The new tool connects Google’s Gemini AI models to local codebases, and it allows developers to make natural language requests, such as asking Gemini CLI to explain confusing sections of code, write new features, debug code, or run commands.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/25/google-unveils-gemini-cli-an-open-source-ai-tool-for-terminals/

Brazil’s Supreme Court clears way to hold social media companies liable for user content

HT @benedictevans They would be liable for anything any user ever posts, which would mean shutting down social networks.

https://apnews.com/article/brazil-supreme-court-social-media-ruling-324b9d79caa9f9e063da8a4993e382e1

Accessibility is Our Responsibility

Yet, 95% of the world’s top million websites are not fully accessible.

https://www.printmag.com/industry-perspectives/when-accessibility-standards-slip-design-steps-up/

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected U.S. Sale

ICYMI “Under the plan, TikTok users will eventually have to download the new app to be able to continue using the service, although the existing app will work until March of next year.” Users have a clear timeline to transition to the new application, indicating a major shift.

https://www.theinformation.com/articles/tiktok-building-new-version-app-ahead-expected-u-s-sale

Gmail’s new ‘Manage subscriptions’ tool will help declutter your inbox

https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/gmails-new-manage-subscriptions-tool-will-help-declutter-your-inbox/

What Are Tokenized Stocks? Your Complete Guide To Digital Equities

Via @forbes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/article/what-are-tokenized-stocks-digital-equities/

Jack Dorsey made an encrypted Bluetooth messaging app

‘Bitchat’ allows users to communicate with nearby peers over mesh networks without requiring Wi-Fi or cellular service.

https://www.theverge.com/news/701272/jack-dorsey-bitchat-bluetooth-messaging-app

Publishing & Media

We Can Still Save the Institute for Museum and Library Services

HT @publishingtrend 1) Email and call the 17 members on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, 2) House Appropriations Committee (incl your rep), 3) Tell others!

https://bookriot.com/we-can-still-save-the-institute-for-museum-and-library-services/

The Sarah J. Maas Model: How Authors Are Bypassing Publishers in the IP Gold Rush

Sarah J. Maas’s exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with IMG Licensing represents a seismic shift in how literary intellectual property is managed – and notably, it appears to exclude traditional publishers entirely from the equation.

https://thenewpublishingstandard.com/2025/07/01/sarah-j-maas-model-authors-bypassing-publishers-ip-gold-rush/

The Politics of Printing in China

China dominates the global printing market for illustrated titles, from children’s picture books to coffee table books to graphic novels. However, they may object to maps that depict borders in ways they don’t like, capricious political image, “improper” use of Soviet-style architecture, or a bit of dialogue may get flagged.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/98068-the-politics-of-printing-comics-in-china.html

Limited Editions of ‘Fourth Wing’ Come to Market

Fablelistik Editions, Macmillan’s fine press brand unit, announced pre-orders for its fifth title, Rebecca Yarros’s romantasy phenomenon Fourth Wing. Fourth Wing is the first Fablelistik title not published by a Macmillan author, though Fourth Wing’s publisher, Entangled Publishing, is a Macmillan distribution client. Fablelistik is releasing two collector’s editions, with each of the separate editions planned corresponding the book’s two main characters, Violet and Xaden. The Violet-themed collector’s edition and Xaden-themed collector’s edition will “feature exclusive, character-specific covers and slipcases, as well as interior artwork that illustrates a few fan-favorite scenes from their edition-specific, character perspective.” Each collector’s edition is priced at $185.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/98175-limited-editions-of-fourth-wing-come-to-market.html

More Library Books, Fewer Nursing Homes: Invest in Libraries, Invest in Health

A recent study in Japan found that cities with more public library books have fewer people needing long-term nursing care.

https://medium.com/everylibrary/more-library-books-fewer-nursing-homes-invest-in-libraries-invest-in-health-76f1e5ef9a61

Indonesia’s stunning microlibraries draw young readers

Using passive design and local materials such as ice cream buckets, these modern community spaces offer a respite from urban heat and hustle

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2025/jun/02/indonesia-micro-libraries-photos?CMP=share_btn_tw

‘One in four children under four are not read to’: Children’s Books Ireland’s ‘worrying’ new research

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/one-in-four-children-under-four-are-not-read-to-childrens-books-irelands-worrying-new-research

More than 1 in 4 Japanese municipalities currently have no physical bookstores, a situation the government hopes to remedy

They plan to track inventory using RFID tags, hoping to lessen the needs for returns.

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20250612-262709/

A Media Guide for Authors

By @kathmschmidt

https://kathleenschmidt.substack.com/p/a-media-guide-for-authors

Here’s what 300+ publications have recently paid freelancers

Via @TimHerrera

https://www.freelancingwithtim.com/p/freelance-journalist-pay-rates-nyt-wired-washington-post-rolling-stone-time

New report maps a “severe” shortage of local journalists in the U.S.

https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/new-report-maps-a-severe-shortage-of-local-journalists-in-the-u-s/

Inside the Media’s Traffic Apocalypse

HT @BoSacks Traffic headwinds are not exactly a new problem for media companies, but it has only gotten worse. The problem started with Facebook pivoting away from the news in 2022 and has accelerated in recent months as Google makes seemingly corrosive changes to its search algorithm while rolling out the innovation that will one day replace traditional search results: AI summaries.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/inside-the-medias-traffic-apocalypse.html

Broadcast blitz begins

The E.W. Scripps Company and Gray Media announced a small but significant deal to swap television stations in five local markets, forming rare duopoly ownership in several places. The deal serves as a critical litmus test for understanding the resolve of FCC chair Brendan Carr around relaxing local broadcast ownership rules. Currently no single entity can own more than one of the four largest stations in any single market, but the Trump administration may relax these rules. Tegna is almost certainly eyeing deals and Apollo Global Management is looking to sell its majority stake in Cox Media Group.

https://www.axios.com/2025/07/08/broadcast-blitz-begins-media-trends

Resources & Opportunities

The Craft & Creation of Audiobooks

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 TODAY! 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

FSG Writer’s Fellowship 2025

The FSG Writer’s Fellowship is an annual program designed to give an emerging writer from an underrepresented community additional resources to build a life around writing—including $15K in funding, editorial guidance, and support from the FSG community. Deadline 7/18.

https://fsgfellowship.com

Alicia Patterson Foundation offers reporting fellowship

Full-time print journalists and photographers can apply for a fellowship. The fellowships provide support for journalists engaged in rigorous, independent and skeptical work that will benefit the public. Grants are awarded for both one-year and six-month projects. Fellows receive $40K for the full-year stipend and $20K for the six-month fellowship. Deadline 10/1.

https://ijnet.org/en/opportunity/alicia-patterson-foundation-offers-reporting-fellowship-us

Reading Rhythms Reading Parties at NYPL

MT @nypl A party about books? Sign us up! Reading Rhythms is teaming up with the Library for a series of free public reading parties. Connect with fellow book lovers and dig into your current obsession with quiet reading time, all set to music. Read together.

https://www.nypl.org/events/calendar?series=751580

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