AI Archives - 7 Takeaways

People gathered at a cocktail party where one person is telling a story and all are paying attention to him. There is a corgi in the background.

Think of Yourself As a Storyteller – 7 Takeaways No. 270

There is grace. Being yourself. There’s always more work. Attention spans. The dog in the window. Expressing yourself. Is your job safe?

An individual looking at a social media app on their phone. The individual looks distressed. There is a cable from the phone to the individual's arm as if an IV. The individual

Stop Mainlining Catastrophe – 7 Takeaways No. 269

Laugh anyway. AI is new, and it’s not. Introspection without action. Improving yourself and the world. Everything is not shit. Enjoy more everyday things. The future of music. The history of parents.

middle-aged people at a cocktail party where one person has their hand over their mouth as if they'd just said something they regret, onlookers appear shocked

Is what I actually think worth the cost of saying it? – 7 Takeaways No. 268

What’s real? Your legacy. Censoring yourself. Picking yourself up. The meaning of [your] life. Attention and writing. Learning better.

A party at which there are two groups of people. One group is animatedly talking among themselves. The other groups is all standing around looking at their phones.

I Miss Actual Conversation – 7 Takeaways No. 267

Being easy to work with. Accepting old age. Being judgy. Being adaptable. Being brave. Being ethical. Being interesting.

a college graduate wearing a cap and gown holding a degree certificate with a huge pile of bills in the background

The Cost-benefit Is Changing – 7 Takeaways No. 266

Is college still worth it? Doing anything means doing nothing. Let that stuff go. AI vs. anonymity. It’s easier to disagree. Science is boring. Coloring within the lines.

An older gentleman looking into a mirror which reflects his younger self.

Your 80-Year-old Self – 7 Takeaways No. 259

Looking forward to look back. Pay attention to now. So something nice. Your cosmic smallness. The speed of change. Irrelevant skills. Serendipity is luck.

a grumpy older man looking at a newspaper with the masthead "Great News!", and various positive story headlines.

More Complaining Than Gratitude – 7 Takeaways No. 258

Complain, complain. Be reasonable! AI will make us better? Stillness can be fear. No one is thinking. The value of diverse interests and friends. The universe is talkative.

an individual looking at a bowl of slop they've been served in a restaurant with a questioning look on their face

Amorphous Fast Casual Food Served in Bowls – 7 Takeaways No. 253

Paying attention to small decisions. Ask yourself some questions. Ask yourself some more questions. Knowing when to let go. Consuming slop isn’t new. Paying attention to what works. Intentional friendship maintenance.

a split-screen image: on one side, a hunched-over grumpy figure under a dark cloud, watching doom-laden news on TV; on the other, a vibrant, smiling individual surrounded by books, art supplies, and a laptop—engaged, curious, and hopeful. A plant bridges the sides, thriving on the optimistic side.

The Courage to Be an Optimist – 7 Takeaways No. 243

How to think. Have a good day. Radical optimism. Embracing discomfort. AI fluency. Imposters within. Who’s an asshole?

a cartoonish zombie emerging from a computer screen.

Zombies Wrecking Society – 7 Takeaways No. 242

Misunderstanding required. Purposeful longevity. I told you so. Google as zombie. Emotional exfoliation. Memes easy, thinking hard. Knowledge vs. understanding.