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Product Minting

Electric vehicle growth continues to accelerate, with some regions of the world predominantly selling EVs, and others accelerating their transition.

Data-Driven Analysis of Global EV Adoption

<div><div><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>This week, there were many headlines about Sam Bankman-Fried’s upcoming criminal sentencing, as we learned prosecutors have asked the judge to sentence the former <a href="https://hackernoon.com/tagged/cryptocurrency?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">cryptocurrency</a> exchange CEO to 100 years in federal prison. Lawyers representing Bankman-Fried responded they disagreed with the recommendation, as they filed a recommendation for a sentence between 5 and 6.5 years.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>It’s no surprise there’s a disagreement about the length of time Bankman-Fried should serve in prison for fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>What is a surprise, says federal prison consultant <underline><a href="https://sam-mangel.com/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Sam Mangel</a></underline>, are some of the finer points in the <underline><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.590940/gov.uscourts.nysd.590940.407.0.pdf?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">98-page sentencing memorandum</a></underline> released this week: “The memorandum is filled with signs Mr. Bankman-Fried and his loved ones have not truly accepted responsibility, which is fundamental to any form of rehabilitation and moving forward.”</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>As is the case with most facing sentencing for white collar crime, the argument for leniency highlights Bankman-Fried’s (generally clean) personal history, philanthropic endeavors, and lack of prior criminal conduct. The memo paints a picture of a man whose actions, while profoundly mistaken, were not driven by greed but rather a misguided approach to ambitious goals. This is a standard argument that is par for the course when it comes to sentencing for white-collar crime.</p><h2 id="h-the-problem-with-sam-bankman-frieds-approach">The Problem with Sam Bankman-Fried’s Approach</h2>
<p>The memorandum starts to become problematic when the defense points to Bankman-Fried’s potential for positive societal contributions. His lawyers present the argument that a lengthy imprisonment would be a disservice not just to Bankman-Fried but to the world, as society could benefit from his talents and his desire to rectify his wrongs.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The argument is complicated by the fact that Bankman-Fried’s lawyers argue that “the harm to customers, lenders, and investors is zero.”</p><p><strong>It’s tough to present your client as a man ready to rectify his wrongs when you later say the harm is non-existent.</strong></p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>And though this may just be lawyers lawyer-ing and attempting to do what’s best for their client, avoiding prison time may not be what’s actually best for Bankman-Fried. As <underline><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@sam-mangel?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Sam Mangel shares on his YouTube channel</a></underline>, the time removed from society can be transformative: “Meaningful change often comes from enduring the full brunt of the consequences of one's actions. This process allows for an introspective journey that can transform regret into a powerful force for good.”</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The notion that one can learn from their mistakes without fully facing the consequences undermines the justice system's role in ensuring that remorse is not just felt but is also deeply internalized through the experience of loss and reflection that comes with a prison sentence. It's about sitting with the shame and the gravity of one's actions in a manner that mere reflection from a position of comfort cannot replicate.</p><h2 id="h-the-big-picture">The Big Picture</h2>
<p>The truth is that even if Bankman-Fried were fully respectful of the process (which he wasn’t) and fully accepted what he’s done wrong (which he appears to be struggling with, per the memorandum), there are broader implications. <strong>His sentence must serve as a deterrent to others.</strong></p>
<p>Bankman-Fried's blatant carelessness with investor funds - regardless of the total damage number - is not something we, as a society, can accept and wave off as “no big deal.”</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>This is not just about punishing wrongdoing but about safeguarding the crypto ecosystem and ensuring that innovation does not become a cloak for illegal activities.</p><p>Cryptocurrency has long grappled with significant challenges regarding fraud and questions of legitimacy, and the industry is at a pivotal stage where establishing trust and credibility is more important than ever before: the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The prosecution and sentencing of figures like Bankman-Fried, therefore, play a crucial role in preventing corrupt practices in the future. A firm legal stance against such high-profile fraud cases can be a cornerstone in the faith in digital currencies. The right sentence will demonstrate a commitment to regulatory oversight and legal accountability, which is essential for attracting more mainstream adoption and investment. Ultimately, addressing these issues head-on, with transparency and rigor, could be instrumental in cryptocurrency becoming a (truly) trusted component of the global financial system.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>So, what does the right sentence look like? I’m certainly not the one to answer that, and I do not envy the position Judge Kaplan finds himself in. There’s no doubt there are factors in the case of Sam Bankman-Fried that take a serious matter - like sentencing someone to federal prison - and make it even more so.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>But what we do know is no matter how much Bankman-Fried, his family, and lawyers wish to minimize the damage, <a href="https://whitecollar.blog/how-much-time-will-sam-bankman-fried-serve-in-prison/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">SBF is going to serve time in federal prison</a>. The sooner he accepts this fact, the sooner the real rehabilitation begins.</p><p>I’m rooting for him.</p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

The approach SBF’s legal team are taking toward sentence mitigation makes one thing clear: the former FTX CEO has not yet accepted what he did was wrong.

Sam Mangel to Sam Bankman-Fried: Acceptance is the Path Forward

Chrome's broken trust led to Neulock: a password manager built on user control, not encryption & blind faith. Learn the 3 security principles behind it.

Chrome Password Manager Betrayed My Trust 13 Years Ago. I Never Forgot.

<div><div><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Welcome to the winners' announcement of the Final Round of the DevOps Writing Contest, hosted by Aptible and HackerNoon.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Many thanks to all the contributors and readers who have participated in this contest over the last 6 months. It has been such an insightful journey.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-info">
<p><strong>Here are key stats that illustrate the value we've created together throughout the contest:</strong></p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>Stories published: <strong>261</strong></li>
<li>Total # Reads: <strong>759,334</strong></li>
<li>Total reading time: <strong>19 Days, 9 Hours, 27 Minutes</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Your active participation has made this contest a success, with ripple effects leading to more opportunities for the HackerNoon community to win great prizes.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>For those who couldn’t participate: <strong>Don’t Worry!</strong></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>We have an ongoing contest and tons more where that came from.</p><div class="notice notice-tip">
<p>Visit <a href="https://www.contests.hackernoon.com/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">https://www.contests.hackernoon.com/</a> to learn more.</p>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Without further ado, let’s jump right into the announcements!</strong> 🥁🥁🥁</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h2 id="h-the-dev-ops-writing-contest-round-6-finalists-🏆">The DevOps Writing Contest: Round 6 Finalists 🏆</h2>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/bye-bye-dora-flaws-of-the-state-of-devops-reports?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Bye Bye DORA: Flaws of the State of DevOps Reports</a> by <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/icyapril?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@icyapril</a>.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/how-to-make-aws-opensearch-publicly-accessible-without-nginx-proxy?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">How to Make AWS OpenSearch Publicly Accessible Without nginx Proxy</a> by <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/kvendingoldo?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@kvendingoldo</a>.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/ansible-101-working-with-facts-and-templates?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Ansible 101: Working With Facts and Templates</a> by <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/cloudkungfu?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@cloudkungfu</a>.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/tfblueprintgen-a-tool-to-simplify-terraform-folder-setup-and-provide-base-resource-modules?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Tfblueprintgen: A Tool to Simplify Terraform Folder Setup and Provide Base Resource </a></p>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/tfblueprintgen-a-tool-to-simplify-terraform-folder-setup-and-provide-base-resource-modules?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Modules</a> by <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/krishnaduttpanchagnula?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@krishnaduttpanchagnula</a>.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/how-to-manage-multiple-opentofu-versions-with-tofuenv?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">How to Manage Multiple OpenTofu Versions With Tofuenv</a> by <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/nmishin?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@nmishin</a>.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/reverse-proxying-the-backbone-of-microservices-architecture?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Reverse Proxying — the Backbone of Microservices Architecture</a> by <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/infinity?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@infinity</a>.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/6-cool-kubernetes-operators-and-how-to-use-them?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">6 Cool Kubernetes Operators and How to Use Them</a> by <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/gilad-david-maayan?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@gilad-david-maayan</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h2 id="h-and-the-winners-🏆-are">…and the winners🏆 are:</h2>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3 id="h-in-1st-first-place-we-have">In 1st first place, we have:</h3>
<p><div class="sc-56d3a1c3-0 evTXYi"><p class="line-space"><br></p><div class="embed-hn-story"><div class="card-image-container"><img src="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/wo54vA4dRXXTVVJQcL3vwFOoOn22-8ed3xrt.jpeg?mark-pad=0&amp;mark=http://hackernoon.imgix.net/HackerNoon%20Rounded%20Horizontal.png?w=400" alt="article preview"></div><div class="card-info"><span class="provider">HACKERNOON</span><h3 class="title">Bye Bye DORA: Flaws of the State of DevOps Reports | HackerNoon</h3><span class="desc">DORA Four Key Metrics have become the "gold standard" of measurement in the software engineering industry, however several flaws have recently come to light.</span></div></div></div></p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>Like Dr Keys received funding from the sugar industry in his research - in many investigations, it’s important to follow the money to understand where incentives lie. The DORA team originally started doing State of DevOps reports for Puppet, a company focussed on automating IT infrastructure and now they do this work for Google Cloud. Both have a vested interest in developers being able to deploy work as quickly as possible. This does not mean however that it is the solution to all our problems.</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-info">
<p>Congratulations <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/icyapril?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@icyapril</a>, you’re $1500 richer!</p>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3 id="h-2nd-place-goes-to">2nd place goes to:</h3>
<p><div class="sc-56d3a1c3-0 evTXYi"><p class="line-space"><br></p><div class="embed-hn-story"><div class="card-image-container"><img src="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/2jqChkrv03exBUgkLrDzIbfM99q2-6882lxy.jpeg?mark-pad=0&amp;mark=http://hackernoon.imgix.net/HackerNoon%20Rounded%20Horizontal.png?w=400" alt="article preview"></div><div class="card-info"><span class="provider">HACKERNOON</span><h3 class="title">How to Manage Multiple OpenTofu Versions With Tofuenv | HackerNoon</h3><span class="desc">Discover tofuenv for OpenTofu: install and use it for adding, changing, and uninstalling OpenTofu versions with practical examples.</span></div></div></div></p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>Discover tofuenv for OpenTofu: install and use it for adding, changing, and uninstalling OpenTofu versions with practical examples.</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-info">
<p>Congratulations <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/nmishin?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@nmishin</a>, you’ve won $1000 for your contribution!</p>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3 id="h-and-in-3rd-place-we-have">And in 3rd place, we have:</h3>
<p><div class="sc-56d3a1c3-0 evTXYi"><p class="line-space"><br></p><div class="embed-hn-story"><div class="card-image-container"><img src="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/eQHzh6rz7ETBHLjs0KzCl1Dooqp2-ld834a1.jpeg?mark-pad=0&amp;mark=http://hackernoon.imgix.net/HackerNoon%20Rounded%20Horizontal.png?w=400" alt="article preview"></div><div class="card-info"><span class="provider">HACKERNOON</span><h3 class="title">6 Cool Kubernetes Operators and How to Use Them | HackerNoon</h3><span class="desc">Kubernetes operators are software extensions that enable the automation of operational tasks. Operators allow developers to package and deploy kubernetes apps</span></div></div></div></p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>Kubernetes operators are a powerful tool for simplifying and automating the management of your Kubernetes applications. Whether you're dealing with monitoring, storage, secrets management, or distributed tracing, there's likely a Kubernetes operator that can make your life easier.</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-info">
<p>Congratulations <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/gilad-david-maayan?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">@gilad-david-maayan</a>, you have won $500!</p>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Congratulations once again to all our winners. Thank you for your hard work!</strong></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h2 id="h-how-to-claim-your-hacker-noon-writing-contest-prize">How to Claim Your HackerNoon Writing Contest Prize<br></h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Contact <strong>yes-reply@hackernoon.com</strong> and <strong>sidra@hackernoon.com</strong> using the <strong>email ID attached to the winner's hackernoon account.</strong></p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></li>
<li>
<p>We will validate your claim and share a form requesting your bank details for reward distribution.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></li>
<li>
<p>You will receive your winnings in 2-4 weeks after completing the form.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-warning">
<p>Please note that you must contact us within 60 days after the winners’ announcement date.</p>
</div>
<hr>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h2 id="h-about-aptible">About Aptible</h2>
<p>Aptible’s hosting platform automates provisioning, managing, and scaling infrastructure so developers can focus on what matters: their product.</p>
<div class="notice notice-tip">
<p>Get started for free with&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/43A9mGn?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Aptible</a>.</p>
</div>
<hr>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-info">
<p>The HackerNoon writing contests primarily aim to celebrate quality content and recruit educational stories for our community. We congratulate all the finalists. However, the Editorial team can ban a writer and/or disqualify a story if we find any misconduct like plagiarism, copyright infringement, or disinformation.</p>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p><em>Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://contests.hackernoon.com/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">contests.hackernoon.com</a>&nbsp;to learn more about running and upcoming contests.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

Aptible and HackerNoon bring you DevOps Writing Contest Round 6 results.

The DevOps Writing Contest: Round 6 Results Announced!

<div><div><p>Fanaticism has been, for much of American history, reserved for institutions like sports teams and universities where allegiances run so deep they can (and often have) become a central part of one’s identity. But an interesting shift occurred around the turn of the century where <em>individuals</em> have come to command the same fervent admiration.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>This happened in politics - that’s a topic for a different publication - and also in business: most prominently with Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. <strong>If you connect the dots between what drove the love of those tech leaders and recent events, it is clear the new cult hero in tech is Sam Altman.</strong></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Altman clinched this position in late November after he was abruptly terminated from his position as the chief executive of OpenAI, the company he helped found in 2015.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>As has been covered extensively, the OpenAI board unexpectedly asked Altman to join a Google Meet link, at which point they told him he would be <a href="https://hackernoon.com/learning-from-the-openai-weekend-shake-up?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">fired from OpenAI over what has been described as a “breakdown in communication.”</a></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Within two days, 90% of OpenAI employees had signed an open letter to the board threatening to leave OpenAI for Microsoft if they did not reinstate Altman as CEO. This was believed to be such a credible threat that Microsoft spent the weekend loading office equipment and computers into a floor at LinkedIn’s San Francisco office, preparing for their arrival.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Ultimately, Altman returned to his job as CEO, and <a href="https://hackernoon.com/on-openai-failed-board-coup-of-sam-altman-and-the-danger-of-leaving-ai-fate-in-the-hands-of-a-few?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">OpenAI shuffled their board of directors</a>.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>And while it was a jarring sequence of events in short order, the most shocking part wasn’t his firing and re-hiring, the board re-alignment, or the fact that 90% of employees threatened to quit over the events: <strong>the biggest surprise was the broader tech industry’s reaction to Altman’s ouster.</strong></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>People who had no relationship with OpenAI or Altman came rushing to his full-throated defense. Opinion pieces were penned. Hundreds of hours of podcasts were recorded. Social media feeds were full of people who had his back despite the fact they had never so much as heard Altman’s voice.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>All of this activity went well beyond a reaction to someone getting a raw deal, and it felt familiar: like the kind of debate and memes and discourse you see play out about Steve Jobs’ role at Apple or about any of the various things Elon Musk is involved in. The response crossed into fanaticism.</p><h2 id="h-the-key-ingredients-of-a-tech-cult-hero">The Key Ingredients of a Tech Cult Hero</h2>
<p>A (perhaps unexpected) benefit of Altman’s firing and re-hiring is that it gave him one of the three core ingredients for the making of a tech cult hero: <strong>resilience</strong>. People - Americans especially - love a comeback story, and Altman’s was unlike any we had seen before, especially with regard to how quickly it played out.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>When Jobs was fired from Apple as a result of corporate politics, it took twelve years before he returned to the helm - true to the speed with which things play out in 2024, Altman’s journey took three days.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Despite the brevity of his absence, it was intense, and the stakes were high, much like the (many) times Elon took Tesla to the brink of extinction before prevailing en route to becoming the wealthiest person in the world.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>All three of these individuals also offer <strong>compelling visions accompanied by convincing breakthroughs</strong>. For Jobs, it was (initially) making computers so accessible and easy to use, that you’d welcome them in your home. For Musk, it was the electric car.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>And with Sam Altman, it’s clear his moonshot vision - an effort that he has proved capable of leading - is artificial intelligence.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Talk is cheap, and many have been drawn in by charismatic visionary types before, but in each of these cases, these people executed. That’s a big box to check off.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>More than anything, the <strong>focus and tenacity</strong> Jobs and Musk demonstrated throughout their careers, across multiple efforts and companies, is the kind of conviction that people admire.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>It’s easy to look at Musk and wonder why he maintains (a material level of) involvement in Tesla, SpaceX, Boring Company, SolarCity, and others, the answer is meaningful: these are the companies and components necessary to realize Musk’s ultimate vision, for humans to become an extra-planetary species.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>(And interestingly, the biggest thing hurting the approval rating of Elon Musk, at the moment, is attached to the lack of focus he’s demonstrating with his involvement in Twitter. His operation of Twitter won’t help people get to Mars.)</p><h2 id="h-sam-altman-has-demonstrated-resilience-and-has-vision-and-focus">Sam Altman Has Demonstrated Resilience and Has Vision and Focus</h2>
<p>Like Musk’s (previously singular) focus on helping humans become an extra-planetary species, Altman’s focus is clear: artificial intelligence. He understands, as he described it in one interview, “the arc of technology and societal change on a long time horizon.” This has pushed Altman into new, related efforts. Among them:</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>Recognizing the need for a stronger <strong>energy</strong> grid to fully realize his vision for the future of technology, Altman is the Chairman of the Board at <a href="https://oklo.com/overview/default.aspx?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Oklo</a>, an advanced nuclear fission microreactor startup. As Sam Altman told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/11/sam-altman-talks-about-oklo-nuclear-microreactor-spac.html?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">CNBC</a>, “I think there’s urgent demand for tons and tons of cheap, safe, clean energy at scale.”</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>In recognition of a similar issue, Altman has pushed for a level of investment in semiconductors (and generally, <strong>compute power</strong>) to a previously-unheard of level. Earlier this month, it was revealed <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/sam-altman-seeks-trillions-of-dollars-to-reshape-business-of-chips-and-ai-89ab3db0?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Altman has sought up to $7 trillion in investment</a> to reshape the semiconductor industry.</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>Building the roads, bridges, and tunnels of artificial intelligence isn’t satisfactory for Altman, as he is rumored to be collaborating with Apple’s former designer Jony Ive on <strong><a href="https://sanfranciscodownload.com/apples-jony-ive-sam-altman-and-tang-tan-collaborate-on-groundbreaking-ai-device?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">building a hardware AI device</a></strong> that will (presumably) change the form of the way users currently experience artificial intelligence.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="h-what-does-this-mean-for-sam-altman">What Does This Mean for Sam Altman?</h2>
<p>In addition to the personal implications of becoming a business celebrity, Altman will need to manage the bittersweet impact of this increased attention on his professional life.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>His positioning has allowed (and will continue to allow) him to take shots like the one he took when floating a $7 trillion ask for investment in semiconductors. While most would be laughed off the stage, people leaned in and listened, truly considering a proposition previously unthinkable.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Similarly, he’ll likely be found more credible and see the benefit of his reputation when he launches the rumored AI hardware device, more likely to avoid the skepticism than first-movers like Humane and Rabbit.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>He may find the attention is not all positive. When Oklo completes the process of going public via Altman’s SPAC ($ALCC), it seems an obvious candidate to become a favorite of fanboys and groups like r/WallStreetBets. While likely a good thing for the price, just ask Musk about the (potential) downsides of having so many people around the table.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>That may make it difficult for Altman and his crew to remain nimble, a drawback in an early-stage environment. His status as a cult hero may also make it difficult to do the things that Altman has proven, time and time again, that he loves: tinkering with technology projects in public.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>He may find it challenging to launch a fun Chrome extension weekend project. (Though I think he’ll manage.)</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>I ultimately do not know if it’s healthy to treat our business leaders with mythic-like status, nor do I know what to do with or about the phenomenon other than say this: I hope the path and result are better for Sam Altman than it has been for others like him.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>With both Jobs and Musk, the story has been complicated, reminiscent of a line in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 Dark Knight: “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain.” With Jobs and Musk, I think it’s safe to say this has been true in each case.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Here’s hoping Sam Altman can navigate his way to a third outcome, one where he can pursue his vision for the improvement of humanity, without devolving into an internet troll who releases a Cybertruck.</strong></p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

If you connect the dots between what drove the love of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, and recent events, it's clear the new cult hero in tech is OpenAI's Sam Altman.

Sam Altman: The Next Big Cult Hero in Tech

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<div><div><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h2 id="h-hacker-noons-web-2-5-documentary-on-the-next-gen-internet">HackerNoon’s Web2.5 Documentary on the Next-Gen Internet</h2>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>If you were asked to describe the internet in your own words, how would you respond?</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-tip">
<p>While you consider the question, here are some answers shared by HackerNoon staff in the Web 2.5 Documentary—<strong><a href="https://business.hackernoon.com/watch-web-two-and-a-half-documentary?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">now available on demand!</a></strong></p>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="web-2-5-a-hacker-noon-film.jpeg" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/5wpKgV75aONqkTJlafw2yQmK9yd2-9393x2h.jpeg" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27800%27%20height=%27387.87857142857143%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="Web 2.5: A HackerNoon Film " src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div><p class="image-caption">Web 2.5: A HackerNoon Film </p></div></span></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>I<strong>t’s just life itself</strong> - Linh Dao Smooke, HackerNoon Co-owner and COO</li>
<li><strong>A network that allows for the transfer of data and the connection to people and services</strong> - Limarc, former VP Editorial</li>
<li><strong>The Internet to me is like Dumbledore’s mirror of the Erised, It shows you whatever you want to see</strong> - Utsav Jaiswal, VP of Business Development</li>
<li><strong>The Scallions to a delicious <em>Phở Bò</em> bowl</strong> - Kien Dao, Product Designer</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-tip">
<p>Do you have your answer now? Please share it in the comments below!</p>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>However you define the internet, there’s a consensus that it has become an integral part of everyday life. Without discrimination, it mirrors humanity-good, bad, and ugly.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Like everything else in the known universe, the internet has changed in many different ways, from its earliest iterations born in the Cold War to the easily accessible, complex information network we have now.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>However, change is not always a good thing. For instance, even though the internet has become infinitely more accessible, it has also become overloaded with noise. Nonetheless, its value today is nondebatable.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/p/web-two-and-a-half-documentary?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">The Web 2.5 documentary by HackerNoon</a> explores the evolution of the Internet in 3 stages - <strong>Web 1.0 - Web 2.0 - Web 3.0</strong></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Web 1.0</strong> centers on the early stages of the Internet. Dial-up modems, limited functionality, endless curiosity. The team recounts their earliest memories of a world just getting its hands on this “fun,” supplemental information network. A time when most people barely had any idea what they were doing. Once upon a time, a certain HackerNoon team member tried to download a graphic card from the internet 💀.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Web 2.0</strong> takes stock of the internet today. There’s no denying that it has been revolutionary. Creating countless jobs, giving us the ability to work from home, and connecting us with people from all around the world.  As <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/limarc?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Limarc Ambalina</a> puts it, we’ve learned a lot about each other, sometimes too much. At the same time there are tons of scathing issues with the internet; scams, hate speech, toxicity, and restrictions on freedom of speech. Further, today’s internet is monetized, and this brings the noise.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>On the topic of issues with the current iteration of the internet, <a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/Hackerhodl?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Utsav Jaiswal</a> maintains that “everything on the Internet today, has a centralizing tendency towards the fringes. By drowning out the balancing voices/saner thoughts, it builds an echo chamber for us which colors the opinions we already have. The future of the internet needs to make sure that paid bots, shills, and algorithms don’t have as big of an impact as they already do.”</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/David?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">David Smooke</a>, HackerNoon Founder and CEO, believes that the Internet’s evolution has brought us to a point where “the powers that be” all want to take advantage of individuals and resell their information back to them.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/u/kien?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Kien Dao</a>, HackerNoon’s Product Designer, points out that Web2 is dated and slower-paced, compared to the rate of technological advancement. In light of this, a new iteration of the web is needed to get us closer to the future.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>These are some of the reasons why HackerNoon believes that the world is ready for a new iteration of the internet.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3 id="h-hacker-noons-role-in-the-nex-gen-internet">HackerNoon’s Role in the Nex-Gen Internet</h3>
<p>In a nutshell to make the internet more pleasant for the average user. And to do this, David highlights, it starts with the <strong><a href="https://hackernoon.com/the-second-human-rule?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">second human</a></strong> rule. There’s so much lousy content on the internet, but if a second human looked at it and made it better, the reader and poster would be better off. In addition to long-lasting beef with paywalls, HackerNoon is committed to making quality content available to average users worldwide.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>As David puts it;</strong></p><blockquote>
<p>That’s where we live between social media and the traditional Forbes of the world, bringing you a high-quality tech story without all the noise.</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3 id="h-is-web-3-the-new-internet-we-need">Is Web3 the New Internet We Need?</h3>
<p>Through this story, we’ve established that the current version of the Internet, while life-changing, has run its course. The world is ready for a new internet. But, what will it look like?</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>Is Web3 really the future, or is it a passing trend hyped up by bad actors?</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-tip">
<p><a href="https://business.hackernoon.com/watch-web-two-and-a-half-documentary?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Find out in the Web 2.5 Documentary</a> and decide for yourself!</p>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

Discover HackerNoon's role in shaping a more pleasant internet experience and explore the question: Is Web3 the new internet we need?

The World is Finally Ready for a New Internet

Meet the Evergreen Tech Company News Pages from HackerNoon. Here's how to create, find, edit and claim your company on HackerNoon. 

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<div><div><p>The first reviews of Apple Vision Pro seem disappointing. Without a doubt, we’re talking about groundbreaking technology that melds real-world experiences with virtual reality.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>But Apple’s initial success has been clouded by a higher-than-average <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-02-18/apple-vision-pro-returning-3-500-device-over-comfort-lack-of-apps-and-price-lsrk88mq?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">return rate</a> as customers return the expensive product, which retails for about $3,500. While returns are normal, it is less normal to see <a href="https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-Vision-Pro-return-rates-are-relatively-high-according-to-new-estimate.804645.0.html?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">high levels of returns</a> by dedicated customers.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Some of the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/14/24072792/apple-vision-pro-early-adopters-returns?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">main complaints</a> have been that the headset is too heavy and cumbersome. The front display is heavy, and the headband adds weight to the back of the head.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>People have complained of eye strain after using the product and some customers have been disappointed with the limited and skewed visibility.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Others have pointed to the <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/apple-vision-pro-returns-headaches-vr-b2496609.html?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">limited number of apps</a> as well as limited functionality. While users tend to be more forgiving with the first version of a product, the Apple Vision Pro’s price perhaps diminishes some of that forgiving attitude. For that money, people expect to be more pleased than disappointed.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Wearing the Apple Vision Pro means users are essentially cutting themselves off from their surroundings. Until you have multiple users around you, it almost makes no sense to wear it unless you intend to isolate yourself from others. <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/02/why-walking-around-in-public-with-vision-pro-makes-no-sense/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">It’s a bit of an anti-social device</a> basically.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Using the headset for movies is tiring as it is heavy and strains the eyes. <a href="https://www.sammobile.com/opinion/its-easy-to-see-why-apple-vision-pro-users-are-getting-rid-of-their-headsets/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Using it for work is also less useful</a> as it is easier to just work with a regular keyboard, mouse and screen.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>So, what needs to change?</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>First, Apple must find a way to make the headset lighter, perhaps by using lighter materials. Second, Apple will need to add better apps and more functionality. Users complain of latency and this needs to be fixed. Third, the line and scope of vision needs to be improved, offering users a wider area to work with when viewing the virtual reality experience. Fourth, a lower price point might encourage users to be more forgiving and reduce the rate of returns the company is currently experiencing. A lower price point might also mean more people can afford it. This, in turn, could mean more users, reducing the isolation and anti-social factor. The more users, the better. Sixth, Apple needs to fix the visuals so that people don’t experience eye strain. Perhaps it’s the angle at which apps and windows appear or perhaps it’s due to the colors and brightness. Some more experimentation and testing in this area could resolve these issues.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Overall, Apple has a winning product. Customers have largely been enthralled and pleased with it and have given it great reviews. But, like any new and groundbreaking technology, it takes a few extra tries to get the quirks out and make it even more functional and useful.</p><p>There is no doubt that the technology is almost there and as more capabilities are added, it is likely that Apple Vision Pro may yet see its heyday as a top product opening up new worlds for people seeking an experience beyond reality.</p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

While Apple Vision Pro has hit a few snags, there are ways the company can improve this phenomenal product.

Apple Customers Return Vision Pro By The Droves

The destructive potential of generative AI has big tech banding together to better help voters against AI-generated video, audio, or text during elections.

Big Tech Wants to Prevent Election Fraud

Did you know that FAANG companies use GitHub Pages publish websites of their Open Source Software? You can also publish your Next.js app to Github Pages.

You Should Publish Your Next.js App to GitHub Pages

Exploring how AI shapes journalism, highlighting its risks and benefits, and the crucial role of trusted, responsible journalists in the digital age.

Could AI Usher Us to an Era of Quality Journalism?

<div><div><div class="notice notice-info">
<p><strong>Authors:</strong></p>
<p>(1) Reza Ghaiumy Anaraky, New York University;</p>
<p>(2) Byron Lowens;</p>
<p>(3) Yao Li;</p>
<p>(4) Kaileigh A. Byrne;</p>
<p>(5) Marten Risius;</p>
<p>(6) Xinru Page;</p>
<p>(7) Pamela Wisniewski;</p>
<p>(8) Masoumeh Soleimani;</p>
<p>(9) Morteza Soltani;</p>
<p>(10) Bart Knijnenburg.</p>
</div>
<h2 id="h-table-of-links">Table of Links</h2>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/RniqWhYtZQp9AZK5Voa7?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Abstract &amp; Introduction</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/skah4FlYuMf3z1QLEa5w?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Background</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/7qaQVQPNxc92XPiGlhnC?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Research Framework</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/pR23EpntBYJnXEZNmxq5?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Methods</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/g58QfF9LvXXaqXTNqwz9?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Results</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/TXFZ8I6oO8tzfi5qc5kK?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Discussion</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/Tm7u01QuZayNSUKPfXwj?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Limitations and Future Work</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/wMTZT0nQEjZxVIw7UDHW?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Conclusion &amp; References</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/PaEiU60O4b1W5RZLOmMN?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Appendix</a></p>
<h2 id="h-abstract">Abstract</h2>
<p>Online websites often use dark patterns to increase users’ information disclosure. Common examples include “opt-out” privacy defaults, positive framing, and positive justification messages encouraging disclosure behavior. Considering that prior research has found older users undergo a different privacy decision-making process compared to younger adults, more research is needed to inform the behavioral privacy disclosure effects of these strategies for different age groups. To address this gap, we used an existing dataset of an experiment with a photo-tagging Facebook application. This experiment had a 2x2x5 between-subjects design where the manipulations were common dark pattern design strategies: framing (positive vs. negative), privacy defaults (opt-in vs. opt-out), and justification messages (positive normative, negative normative, positive rationale, negative rationale, none). We compared older (above 65 years old, N=44) and young adults (18 to 25 years old, N=162) privacy concerns and disclosure behaviors (i.e., accepting or refusing automated photo tagging) in the scope of dark pattern design. Overall, we find support for the effectiveness of dark pattern designs in the sense that positive framing and opt-out privacy defaults significantly increased disclosure behavior, while negative justification messages significantly decreased privacy concerns. Regarding older adults, our results show that certain dark patterns do lead to more disclosure than for younger adults, but also to increased privacy concerns for older adults than for younger. However, there was no influence of these concerns on disclosure, and instead, they are outweighed by the prodisclosure effects of dark patterns. This suggests that privacy concerns may not be a sufficient force to drive individuals to act on protecting their privacy when in the presence of dark patterns and that such patterns may be even more dangerous for older users. We discuss the implications of this work.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Keywords: Privacy decision making, older adults</p><h2 id="h-1-introduction">1 Introduction</h2>
<p>The Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and networked privacy literature predominantly present a deficit-based narrative for older adults’ technology use and privacy outcomes. This narrative frame older adults as individuals who have difficulty keeping up with the technology [82], managing their digital privacy [14, 64], and protecting themselves against privacy threats [86] compared to young adults. However, recent developments in the fields of HCI and privacy counter this deficit-based narrative by pointing out that older adults may have a different decision-making process rather than a sub-optimal one, and technologies should be designed with that in mind [3, 23]. (This approach includes considering the potential benefits of biometric authentication methods, which can offer older adults a more user-friendly and secure way to access digital services [50].)For example, Knowles and Hanson [42] argue that older adults’ non-use of technology results from their high level of privacy concerns and, therefore, non-use is a well-informed decision. Moreover, Anaraky et al. [3] compared young and older adults’ privacy disclosure decision-making processes and found that older adults make more calculated privacy choices than younger adults.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Privacy disclosure decisions, however, are not always dependent on the characteristics of the end-user and can be influenced by external manipulations. System designers may use design heuristics to nudge users to disclose their data [4, 30, 32, 43, 58]. In marketing and e-commerce research, maximizing disclosure is a goal that has led to the creation of “dark pattern” designs, where nudges are used as design interventions to increase disclosure [12]. For example, designers may configure a setting to disclose-by-default (optout) and present a biased positive framing when presenting choice options [25, 53, 54], or add persuasive messages to motivate users to disclose more information [40].</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Given that older adults have been shown to have a very different privacy decision-making process compared to young adults, we used an existing dataset from Ghaiumy Anaraky et al. [4] to investigate the effect of dark pattern design on older and younger adults’ privacy attitudes and behaviors. Ghaiumy Anaraky et al.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>[4] initially used this dataset to examine the impact of justification messages (as norms) on the complianceinducing effects of framing and defaults. They found that the presence of any justification messages increases the default effect.(Moreover, ensuring that personal and confidential data is appropriately classified not only enhances data management but also safeguards individuals’ privacy rights [75].) In the present work, we conceptualize framing, defaults, and justification messages as dark pattern design strategies and situate this work in the dark pattern design literature. We further contribute to the privacy literature by investigating how these design patterns influence older and young adults differently. Therefore, we pursue the following research questions:</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><em><strong>RQ1:</strong></em> <em>What are the effects of dark pattern designs on users’ attitudes and behaviors?</em></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><em><strong>RQ2:</strong></em> <em>How do older adults react differently than young adults to dark pattern designs in terms of their attitudes and behaviors?</em></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>To study individuals’ privacy decision mechanisms in the context of dark pattern designs, we used an existing dataset of an experiment in which participants could purportedly automatically tag themselves in their friends’ photos, and their friends could be tagged in the user’s own photos by using a Facebook application. Previous literature studies tagging decisions as privacy decisions [9, 49, 85, 95]. Tagged photos appear on the timeline of the tagged person, thereby explicitly identifying the person in the photo and sharing the photo with that person’s contacts. The study involved a 2x2x5 betweensubjects experimental design where the manipulations were three common means by which darkpattern designs encourage disclosures [12]: 1) the framing of the decision (i.e., “tag me in the photos” vs. “do not tag me in the photos”), 2) the default setting (i.e., opt-out vs. opt-in), and 3) the use of a justification message (a message that could either encourage or discourage users from using the application). After their interaction with the manipulated dark-pattern designs, participants indicated their privacy concern [40, 48] and tagging decision (accept to tag vs. refuse to tag) as the attitudinal and behavioral dependant variables. To enable a comparison between older and younger participants, we followed established age criteria in the literature: we considered individuals aged 65 and above as older adults [15] and limited our young adult sample to college-age adults, between 18-25 years of age [60, 62].</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Contributions</strong>: This study was unique because it was carried out in an ecologically valid setting on the user’s own Facebook account. Our results show that older adults had heightened privacy concerns when faced with an opt-out default than young adults. However, when it came to actual behavior, despite this privacy concern, an increase in disclosure was still observed. Furthermore, we found that older adults are more likely to be influenced by framing nudges than young adults. In light of these findings, we provide design suggestions for supporting older adults’ privacy.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-info">
<p>This paper is <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2310.03830.pdf?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">available on arxiv</a> under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED license.</p>
</div>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

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<div><div><p>Hot takes on artificial intelligence are everywhere: Depending on where you look, generative AI will either kill us, take our jobs, liberate us from drudgery, or spur tremendous innovation. (Either way, calls for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/13/congress-regulate-ai-tech?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">regulation</a> are here.) At The Markup we like to take a measured approach that often, well, includes measuring actual consequences.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>So I’m thrilled to share this Q&amp;A with associate professor of computer science at University of California, Riverside, <a href="https://intra.ece.ucr.edu/~sren/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Shaolei Ren</a>, who together with his team—Riverside Ph.D. candidates <a href="https://www.cs.ucr.edu/~pli081/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Pengfei Li</a> and <a href="https://jyang-ai.github.io/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Jianyi Yang</a>, and <a href="https://crystal.uta.edu/~mislam/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Mohammad A. Islam</a>, an associate professor of computer science at University of Texas at Arlington—recently published a paper quantifying the <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03271?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">secret water footprint of AI</a>.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>While the carbon footprint of emerging technologies has gotten some attention, to truly build toward sustainability, water has to be part of the equation too.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Also, hello! I’m Nabiha Syed, the CEO of The Markup, and I happen to be a person who believes technological advancement can coexist with a healthy planet—if we make that a priority. Keep reading to learn how much water a single ChatGPT conversation might “drink” and tangible steps we can take to reduce the water footprint of AI.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>(This Q&amp;A has been edited for brevity and clarity.)</p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="caption-from-left-to-right-pengfei-li-jianyi-yang-mohammad-a-islam-shaolei-ren-credit-credits-left-to-right-qiuxiao-chen-uc-riverside-ut-arlington-uc-riverside.558Z-f4suurb0ej1wrz2bseamr71c" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/HgNYtFi17WbGLaRvGCmxhdy7K5L2-2024-02-10T01:24:54.558Z-f4suurb0ej1wrz2bseamr71c" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27720%27%20height=%27241.5%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="Caption: From left to right: Pengfei Li, Jianyi Yang, Mohammad A. Islam, Shaolei Ren Credit:Credits, left to right: Qiuxiao Chen, UC Riverside, UT Arlington, UC Riverside" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div><p class="image-caption">Caption: From left to right: Pengfei Li, Jianyi Yang, Mohammad A. Islam, Shaolei Ren Credit:Credits, left to right: Qiuxiao Chen, UC Riverside, UT Arlington, UC Riverside</p></div></span></p>
<p><strong>Syed: With very good reason, we’re starting to see more scrutiny of the carbon footprint of various technologies, including AI models like GPT‑3 and GPT‑4 as well as</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/09/business/bitcoin-mining-electricity-pollution.html?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">bitcoin mining</a>. But your research focuses on something receiving less attention: the secret water footprint of AI technology. Tell us about your findings.</strong></p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Ren:</strong> Water footprint has been staying under the radar for various reasons, including the big misperception that freshwater is an “infinite” resource and the relatively lower price tag of water. Many AI model developers are not even aware of their water footprint. But this doesn’t mean water footprint is not important, especially in drought regions like California.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Together with my students and my collaborator at UT Arlington, I did some research on AI’s water footprint using state-of-the-art estimation methodology. We find that large-scale AI models are indeed big water consumers.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>For example, training GPT‑3 in Microsoft’s state-of-the-art U.S. data centers can directly consume 700,000 liters of clean freshwater (enough to produce 370 BMW cars or 320 Tesla electric vehicles), and the water consumption would have been tripled if training were done in Microsoft’s data centers in Asia. These numbers do not include the off-site water footprint associated with electricity generation.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>For inference (i.e., conversation with ChatGPT), our estimate shows that ChatGPT needs a 500-ml bottle of water for a short conversation of roughly 20 to 50 questions and answers, depending on when and where the model is deployed. Given ChatGPT’s huge user base, the total water footprint for inference can be enormous.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Then, we further studied the unique spatial-temporal diversities of AI models’ runtime water efficiency—the water efficiency changes over time and over locations. This implies that there’s potential to reduce AI’s water footprint by dynamically scheduling AI workloads and tasks at certain times and in certain locations, the way we reduce our electricity bills by utilizing the low electricity prices during the night to charge our electric vehicles.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Syed: How does this water footprint compare to something like, say, beef?</strong></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Ren:</strong> We might see from some websites that beef and jeans have a big water footprint, but their water footprint is for the entire life cycle and includes a large portion of nonpotable water. For example, the water footprint of jeans starts from cotton growth.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>In our study, we only consider the operational water footprint (i.e., water consumption associated with training and running the AI models), whereas the embodied water footprint (e.g., water footprint associated with AI server manufacturing and transportation, including chipmaking) is excluded. If we factor in the embodied water footprint for AI models, my gut feeling is that the overall water footprint would be easily increased by 10 times or even more.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Syed: I’m particularly curious about how carbon reduction and water conservation might be in tension with one another. What do you mean when you ask whether we should “follow or unfollow the sun”?</strong></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Ren:</strong> Water efficiency mostly depends on the outside temperature as well as energy fuel mixes for electricity generation. Carbon-efficient hours/locations do not mean water-efficient hours/locations, and sometimes they’re even opposite to each other.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>Water-conscious users may prefer to use the inference services of AI models during water-efficient hours and/or in water-efficient data centers….</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>For example, in California, there’s a high solar energy production around noon, and this leads to the most carbon-efficient hours, but around noon, the outside temperature is also high, and hence the water efficiency is the worst. As a result, if we only consider carbon footprint reduction (say, by scheduling more AI training around noon), we’ll likely end up with higher water consumption, which is not truly sustainable for AI.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>On the other hand, if we only reduce water footprint (say, by scheduling AI training at midnight), we may increase the carbon footprint due to less solar energy available.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Syed: It’s clear that tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are betting big on the future of AI, but are we seeing them make environmental considerations a priority in their development?</strong></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Ren:</strong> Yes, we’ve been seeing water footprint emerge as a priority in the sustainability reports of several tech giants such as <a href="https://sustainability.google/commitments/water/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Google</a>, <a href="https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/how-microsoft-measures-datacenter-water-and-energy-use-to-improve-azure-cloud-sustainability/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Microsoft</a>, and <a href="https://sustainability.fb.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2020_FB_Sustainability-Report.pdf?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Meta</a>.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Also, legislators have recently begun to consider the impact of data centers’ water usage on the local environment. For example, in Virginia, where Loudon County is known as the “data center capital of the world,” <a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231%20ful%20SB1078=&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">SB&nbsp;1078</a>, proposed early this year, would require “a site assessment … to examine the effect of the data center on water usage and carbon emissions as well as any impacts on agricultural resources.”</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Most of the industry’s efforts so far have been focused on improving the on-site water efficiency from the “engineering” perspective, e.g., improving the data center’s cooling tower efficiency and processing recycled water instead of tapping into the local potable water resources. Nonetheless, the vast majority of data centers still use potable water and cooling towers.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>For example, even tech giants such as Google heavily rely on cooling towers and consume billions of liters of potable water each year.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Such huge water consumption has produced a stress on the local water infrastructure; Google’s data center used <a href="https://www.rcfp.org/dalles-google-oregonian-settlement/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">more than a quarter of all the water</a> in The Dalles, Ore. Moreover, many data centers are also located in drought-prone areas such as California.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Our study shows that “when” and “where” to train a large AI model can significantly affect the water footprint.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The underlying reason is the spatial-temporal diversity of both on-site and off-site water usage effectiveness (WUE)—on-site WUE changes due to variations of outside weather conditions, and off-site WUE changes due to variations of the grid’s energy fuel mixes to meet time-varying demands. In fact, WUE varies at a much faster timescale than monthly or seasonably.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Therefore, by exploiting spatial-temporal diversity of WUE, we can dynamically schedule AI model training and inference to cut the water footprint.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>For example, if we train a small AI model, we can schedule the training task at midnight and/or in a data center location with better water efficiency. Likewise, some water-conscious users may prefer to use the inference services of AI models during water-efficient hours and/or in water-efficient data centers, which can contribute to the reduction of AI models’ water footprint for inference.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Such demand-side water management complements the existing engineering-based on-site water-saving approaches that focus on the supply side. Also, our approach is software-based and hence can be used together with any cooling systems for free without particular requirements on the climate conditions or new cooling system installations.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>By having more transparency, we’d be able to know exactly when and where we have the most water-efficient AI models.</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Syed: You propose transparency as a helpful next step. What questions could greater transparency help us answer?</strong></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Ren:</strong> By having more transparency, we’d be able to know exactly when and where we have the most water-efficient AI models.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Transparency also makes it possible to measure, benchmark, and improve the AI models’ water footprint, which can be of great value to the research community. Currently, some AI conferences have requested that authors declare their AI models’ carbon footprint in their papers; we believe that with transparency and awareness, authors can also declare their AI models’ water footprint as part of the environmental impact.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>With such information, AI model developers can better schedule their AI model training and also exploit the spatial-temporal diversity to better route the users’ inference requests to save water with little to zero degradation in other performance metrics.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Additionally, transparency can also let users know their water footprint at runtime and better their water footprint (say, they might want to defer some nonurgent inference requests to water-efficient hours if possible).</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Apple has integrated clean energy scheduling into its iPhone products by selecting low-carbon hours for charging, and we hope that water-aware AI training and inference can also be turned into reality in the future.</p><hr>
<p>I hope you found this as thought-provoking as I did! This one hit especially close to home: My dad and sister are both water resources engineers, and I grew up in drought-riddled Southern California. We’re in a technological boom, for sure—but innovation should serve our public good, not obliterate&nbsp;it.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Thanks for reading!</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Always,</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Nabiha Syed</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Chief Executive Officer</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The Markup</p><hr>
<p><em>By&nbsp;<a href="https://themarkup.org/people/nabiha-syed/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Nabiha Syed</a></em></p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><em>Also published <a href="https://themarkup.org/hello-world/2023/04/15/the-secret-water-footprint-of-ai-technology?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">here</a></em></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><em>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@beckerworks?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">David Becker</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/water-ripple-effect-rrfdqjJWwmU?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Unsplash</a></em></p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

So I’m thrilled to share this Q&A with associate professor of computer science at University of California, Riverside, Shaolei Ren

AI Tech and Its Secret Water Footprint

In this post we will look at how to use AI to do design thinking for a given business problem.

100 Days of AI, Day 10: How Effective is AI in Design Thinking for Solving Business Problems?

<div><div><p><em><a href="https://app.hackernoon.com/new?template=axios-style-reporting&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Story written using the unofficial Axios Template</a>. Featuring image generated via DALLE prompt: typical apple customer with a vision pro on a couch next to a typical facebook customer with an oculus headset on. above their heads in a shared/mixed reality world, they fight.</em></p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>The lead:</strong></p><p>Reality Labs, the VR subsidiary of Meta and makers of the Oculus headset, passed $1B in Q4 Revenue, <a href="https://s21.q4cdn.com/399680738/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/META-Q4-2023-Earnings-Call-Transcript.pdf?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">according to Meta’s earning call</a>. Zuck said, “I expect (Quest 3) to continue to be the most popular mixed reality device.”</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="zuckberg-on-2-01-24-earnings-call.jpeg" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/N0ENUd29UdNJCFcl7GnmZHdk2fA2-i0834br.jpeg" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27800%27%20height=%27101.17302052785924%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="- Zuckberg on 2/01/24 earnings call" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div><p class="image-caption">- Zuckberg on 2/01/24 earnings call</p></div></span></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong></p><p>Meta paid <a href="https://kotaku.com/facebook-buys-oculus-rift-for-2-billion-1551487939?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">$2-ish billion for Oculus / Reality Labs</a> when it had <a href="https://www.cbinsights.com/company/oculus-vr/financials?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">$23M in yearly revenue</a>. That’s 87X yearly revenue. And now ten-ish years later, here it is as $4B+ yearly revenue business. Not only do these revenue numbers show that early adopters are ready and willing to pay for a premium mixed reality interface, but also once again shows it’s hard to bet against Zuckerberg.  He consistently guesses what market will grow, buys the emerging startup in that space, and throws them into the Facebook growth engine.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Flashback:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2014/03/26/tech/gaming-gadgets/oculus-vr-explainer/index.html?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">CNN’s Brandon Griggs wrote</a>: “How is this awkward marriage going to work? Maybe it won’t: Facebook moms and Millennial gamers are an uneasy mix.”</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="from-whats-oculus-vr-and-why-did-facebook-pay-2-b-for-it-published-3-26-2014.jpeg" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/N0ENUd29UdNJCFcl7GnmZHdk2fA2-ij934bc.jpeg" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27800%27%20height=%27225.51724137931035%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="From &quot;What’s Oculus VR, and why did Facebook pay $2B for it?&quot;&nbsp; published 3/26/2014" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div><p class="image-caption">From "What’s Oculus VR, and why did Facebook pay $2B for it?"&nbsp; published 3/26/2014</p></div></span></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong></p><p>The <a href="https://hackernoon.com/search?query=Apple%20Vision%20Pro&amp;tab=stories&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Apple Vision Pro</a> also came out this week, and I’m sure folks at Apple believe it will in fact become the most popular mixed reality device. Some of the best reviews are by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86Gy035z_KA&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">MKBHD</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVX6kxnJgMU&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Casey</a>,  and of course, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukmkjARRwwg&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">by The Simpsons 8 years ago</a>. Will people wear these in public? To combat this isolated astronaut vibe, Meta teamed up with Ray Ban to also offer smart glasses - as the Vision Pro evolves, I think there could be versions that look more and more like sun glasses, or we as a society may just learn to accept our fate as a heavily goggled people.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Reality check:</strong></p><p>At $4k each, <a href="https://hackernoon.com/company/apple?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Apple</a> will need to sell 1M units to reach the $4M in yearly revenue, Reality Labs 4th quarter revenue rate. In the first ten days, <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/29/apple-vision-pro-headset-sales/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">they sold 200k units</a>. And Apple’s already built the infrastructure of <a href="https://www.news18.com/tech/apple-store-count-worldwide-272-in-us-45-in-china-and-more-7583191.html?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">520 premium physical stories</a> to distribute these devices about as fast as they can make them around the world, but am unsure how much that will matter in the future of hardware device sales. The mixed reality headset wars are on! Just think of how much money there is to be made on unique chargers!</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>The big picture:</strong></p><p>When it comes to these mixed reality headsets, what use cases will drive adoption? Meta’s steered into gaming, and now Apple’s steering into productivity. But both want to sell on this is just a cool fucking device with the earliest access to computing’s next interface. And no one truly knows what use case will drive market share until it does.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>What they’re saying:</strong></p><p><a href="https://ma.tt/2024/02/vision-pro-first-impressions/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Ma.tt Mullenweg blogged</a> three paragraphs detailing a rough first experience and onboarding with the Apple Vision Pro  before concluding: “Just like I learned to type I think I’m going to need to learn to become fluent in this new interaction paradigm. I did have a before and after feeling, like the world had shifted, not unlike when you saw the first iPod or iPhone.”</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><strong>Be smart:</strong></p><p>Screens are not essential to the internet. We’ve been raised on them, through them we interacted with the cloud of information. Maybe it’s not flat. Maybe it’s a goggle. Maybe it’s a Google. Maybe it’s an Apple. Maybe it’s this Meta. Are you reading this from your mixed reality headset? Probably not yet.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><a href="https://app.hackernoon.com/new?template=axios-style-reporting&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Write your own Axios Style story [template].</a></p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

Reality Labs, the VR subsidiary of Meta, passed $1B in Q4 VR Revenue, according to Meta’s earning call. Apple Vision Pro sold 200k units in its first ten days.

Headset Reality Wars: Meta @ $1B Quarterly VR Revenue & Apple Vision Pro Sells 200k Units in 10 Days

<div><div><p>Internet culture can be a wild and creative place, but there’s been no online trend that’s resonated in the world of finance as strongly as the rise of memes and their transformative effect on stock market investing.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>In January 2021, meme investing became global news as a mobilized motley crew of social media-based retail investors generated a GameStop short squeeze, which saw the stock rally 1,500% in just two weeks.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="image.927Z-kd9g08dlho9i9ny3krmqqelx" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/AyspbPX32fhvPLqUsbsDvTB6IVg2-2024-02-06T17:00:01.927Z-kd9g08dlho9i9ny3krmqqelx" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27800%27%20height=%27468.39416058394164%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="image" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div></div></span></p><p>Despite GME retracing from its sharp 2021 peak, the stock is still sitting in a relatively comfortable position today, with a market capitalization just shy of $5 billion.</p>
<p>Inspired by GameStop’s astronomical rally, retail investors have been targeting meme-based opportunities in stocks, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs in an attempt to make significant short-term gains.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The 2021 surge in meme investing saw some success derived from GameStop and AMC stocks, as well as cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. This frenetic high-volume investing landscape occurred against the backdrop of a cryptocurrency rally in the wake of <underline><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/bitcoin-halving-4843769?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Bitcoin’s cyclical halving event</a></underline>, which took place in 2020 and inspired a bull run that grew the portfolios of thousands of retail investors around this time.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Today, with Bitcoin’s next halving event scheduled for April this year, could we be staring at another rally that will supercharge the meme investing landscape?</p><h2>Signs of Life in Meme Markets</h2>
<p>There’s mounting evidence that meme investing is beginning to regain momentum in the wake of a series of economic headwinds that have impacted retail investor spending over the past two years.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="image.996Z-wxvecpyc9emph5qe9vsiz17g" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/AyspbPX32fhvPLqUsbsDvTB6IVg2-2024-02-06T17:00:01.996Z-wxvecpyc9emph5qe9vsiz17g" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27800%27%20height=%27248.4%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="image" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div></div></span></p><p>Using Roundhill’s MEME ETF (NYSEARCA:MEME) as an example, the exchange-traded fund has <underline><a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSEARCA/MEME/chart/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">grown more than 38%</a></underline> over the past year, posting almost 20% growth over the past three months alone.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The appeal of meme investing can be found in its sentiment-driven high-risk structure. As investors unite on social media to target a stock, they can purchase their stock in significantly high volumes to leverage growth without having to look at the company’s underlying fundamentals. This paves the way for stocks to be targeted based on factors like sentimental value (GameStop, AMC) or tributes to online jokes (Dogecoin).</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>“Recent growth in GameStop and Dogecoin indicates a short-term surge in <a href="https://hackernoon.com/meme-stocks-what-does-it-mean-for-the-stock-market?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">meme stock</a> investing among retail investors. However, it's essential to recognize that this trend is speculative,” explained Maxim Manturov, head of investment research at <underline><a href="https://freedomfinance.eu/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Freedom Finance Europe</a></underline>.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>“It's crucial to note that while meme investments may yield significant profits, they also come with substantial risks due to their high volatility and speculative nature. Investors should carefully assess their risk tolerance and investment goals before engaging in this type of investing.”</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>In 2023, meme markets <underline><a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/08/10/meme-stocks-are-back-from-the-dead?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">comfortably outperformed the S&amp;P 500</a></underline>, with the year’s biggest winners arriving in the form of fintech firm SoFi, software company Palantir, and used car retailer Carvana–with the latter recording 1,000% growth over the calendar year.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>This investing phenomenon isn’t limited to Wall Street and crypto, either. In South Korea, young investors have been rejecting blue-chip stocks like Samsung and Hyundai to buy into high-risk <a href="https://hackernoon.com/a-booming-crypto-market-presents-an-opportunity-for-meme-stock-investors?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">meme stocks</a> in science and technology sectors in the hopes of faster returns.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Internet rumors about growth plans for stocks like Duksung, a Suwon-based textiles company, saw the stock triple in value over two weeks in mid-2023 before a 50% fall in a matter of days.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>JLK, an AI-based medical data company, rallied to a brief 1,000% peak during the rally between January and September before a similar 50% decline to close the year.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><underline><a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/South-Korean-retail-investors-eye-meme-stocks-for-high-returns?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">According to Hwang Sei-woon</a></underline>, a senior researcher at the Korea Capital Market Institute, the appeal of higher returns ‘drives impatient young investors’, who would have started their trading journeys around the time of the post-pandemic boom period that began in 2020.</p><h2>The Rise of Short-Termism</h2>
<p>This short-term mindset among retail investors has given rise to the era of <underline><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimosman/2023/08/26/why-youre-almost-guaranteed-to-lose-money-trading-gamestop-amc--other-meme-stocks/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">fast food investing</a></underline>. While successful traditional investing relies on the in-depth research of stock fundamentals and the development of a sustainable investment strategy, meme investing revolves around staying switched on and alert to social media guidance.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>One of the biggest issues that this causes is the volatility, and varying degrees of success that socially mobilized investing can bring.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Using GameStop’s stock as an example, the firm is currently trading at 81% below its peak on January 29th, 2021. This means that many retail investors who bought the stock during its rapid rise would have lost out despite the stock settling higher than its values before the short squeeze.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>In addition to this, AMC stock has shed 87% of its value in the past 12 months alone, signifying that short-term attitudes can lead to stocks being abandoned for new memes at a moment’s notice.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The fickle nature of meme investors has become increasingly apparent in recent weeks throughout the cryptocurrency landscape.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The winter months drew <underline><a href="https://crypto.news/solana-meme-tokens-collapse-after-december-pump/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">added retail attention to meme coins</a></underline> launched on Solana’s network, but following December all-time highs for small-cap coins like Dogwifhat (WIF), Bonk (BONK), and AnaloS (ANALOS), the coins have tumbled 76%, 70%, and 92% respectively in a matter of weeks.</p><h2>Learning Lessons From the Past</h2>
<p>The recent approval of a Bitcoin Spot ETF on Wall Street has helped to add fuel to investor optimism for an upcoming cryptocurrency market rally in 2024 and 2025. These market movements throughout the crypto landscape could see more investors seeking to supplement their portfolio growth and renewed levels of market interest to commit more resources to meme investing.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>According to Reuters reporters Saqib Iqbal Ahmed and Laura Matthews, <underline><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/meme-stocks-ride-though-investors-more-cautious-than-gamestop-era-2023-08-18/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">retail investors never lost their appetite</a></underline> for meme investing in the wake of the 2021 GameStop short squeeze, but more so, their approaches became increasingly cautious as the market sell-offs of 2022 hit portfolios.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>In understanding the difference between a company’s stock price and its fundamentals, investors may be capable of finding a better balance between the risk and opportunities offered by meme investing. With cryptocurrency markets set to take center stage once again in 2024, we can be sure that meme investing won’t be far from the limelight.</p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

Meme investing became global news as a mobilized motley crew of social media-based retail investors generated a GameStop short squeeze.

The Return of Meme Investing: Will a Crypto Rally in 2024 Pave the Way for a Meme Resurgence?

Discover insights from an experimental evaluation on the application of large language models (LLMs) in genetic improvement (GI) within software engineering. 

Enhancing Genetic Improvement Mutations Using Large Language Models

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A Year Since ChatGPT Launch: Do Content Creators Really Need to Fear AI?

<div><div><div class="notice notice-info">
<p><strong>Authors:</strong></p>
<p>(1) Maggie D. Bailey, Colorado School of Mines and National Renewable Energy Lab;</p>
<p>(2) Douglas Nychka, Colorado School of Mines;</p>
<p>(3) Manajit Sengupta, National Renewable Energy Lab;</p>
<p>(4) Aron Habte, National Renewable Energy Lab;</p>
<p>(5) Yu Xie, National Renewable Energy Lab;</p>
<p>(6) Soutir Bandyopadhyay, Colorado School of Mines.</p>
</div>
<h2>Table of Links</h2>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/95w6UXTsYcOHn6EWSx3L?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Abstract and Intro</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/9lbDaCI5vH4fMc2icqkD?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Data</a></p>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/preview/U4aNoqUOgqU7sYS0QBTm?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Bayesian Hierarchical Model (BHM)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/BqOyoycw8TQwqruHSTWY?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Solar Radiation Example</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/G9dJS1BHVYDVwz594I6W?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Results</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/nyjXvpe8QbjSzbb8Ik9Y?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Conclusion</a></p>
<p><a href="https://hackernoon.com/preview/5MEzJlOWWkhqHg1ZGovp?ref=hackernoon.com" rel="ugc">Appendix A: Simulation Study</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/iN5ev3fSP4IbCWj2AsSW?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Appendix B: Regridding Coefficient Estimates</a></p>
<p><a href="http://hackernoon.com/preview/rUjQ9SUrKpFGsgtFGWbo?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">References</a></p>
<h2>5 Results</h2>
<p>The results presented here summarize the metrics outlined in Sect. 4. As the true coefficients are not known, we have supplemented the analysis with a simulation study. The design and results for this study are described in given in Appendix A.</p>
<h3>5.1 Posterior Distribution of Model Coefficients</h3>
<p>Resulting parameter estimates from the posterior distribution vary by location and coefficient. Here we will refer to parameter bias as the difference between the naive estimate and that based on the Bayesian analysis. In general, the naive regridding model coefficient estimates are within the 95% credible intervals of the posterior distributions for the respective coefficient. An example of the distributions compared to the naive regridding estimate can be seen in Figure 2 for a location near the coastline of California across four different months. The green lines represent the naive regridding method and the purple the Bayesian regridding method. In general, there is strong agreement between the two methods in both the point or median coefficient estimate as well as the confidence or credible intervals suggesting that incorporating the uncertainty associated with the regridding step has little effect on model estimates. However, in the month of August (bottom left plot) we see a case for the WRF coefficient where the methods do not agree and this bias is off-set by the intercept estimate. This bias in the WRF coefficient was seen across many locations for the month of August.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>For the entire area considered, the average bias by location is shown in Figure 3. The bias is calculated as the BHM estimate subtracted from the naive regridding estimate. Values close to zero indicate little difference between the two methods. Negative values indicate that the BHM is giving a stronger weight to the model. The spatial patterns of the bias are most pronounced for the month of November and also large for the month of August. In November, the average bias between the CRCM5-UQAM and WRF coefficient are spatially opposite in their signs but both hover around zero. Here, we can see that the naive method and BHM most disagree for the WRF coefficient in the month of August, with the naive method resulting in a much higher weight for WRF compared to the BHM. For additional reference, the estimated coefficient estimates and standard errors are provided in Appendix B.</p><h3>5.2 Prediction Coverage and Error Comparison</h3>
<p>The prediction coverage of the naive regridding is calculated as the percentage of observations that are within the prediction intervals of the linear model. This is calculated by location for each of the four months considered. A similar method is implemented to calculate the coverage resulting from the BHM. We show results for the fourth months in Figure 4. Note that in the figure shown, the percent coverage reported is an average for holding out each year and shown as the difference from the nominal level of 0.95. We see similar results for the out of sample coverage compared to the naive regridding.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Similarly, the RMSE between the predicted GHI and the true GHI is lower across the study domain for August than it is for November in both the naive regridding model and the BHM, indicating better predictions for the summer month over the winter month. This is shown in Figure 5. This finding may reflect a characteristic of seasonal solar radiation. Incoming solar radiation during summer months typically has lower standard deviation when considered on a monthly or seasonal basis than</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="figure-2-posterior-predictions-for-each-coefficient-compared-to-the-naive-regridding-estimates-for-a-particular-location-in-california-for-february-may-august-and-november-1998-2009-the-solid-dots-represent-the-point-estimate-for-the-naive-regridding-method-and-the-median-value-of-posterior-distribution-from-the-bayesian-method-the-whiskers-represent-the-95-credible-and-confidence-intervals-for-the-posterior-distribution-and-the-naive-regridding-estimates-respectively.png" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/fWZa4tUiBGemnqQfBGgCPf9594N2-vm83zq8.png" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27800%27%20height=%27475.8845789971618%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="Figure 2. Posterior predictions for each coefficient compared to the naive regridding estimates for a particular location in California for February, May, August, and November (1998-2009). The solid dots represent the point estimate for the naive regridding method and the median value of posterior distribution from the Bayesian method. The whiskers represent the 95% credible and confidence intervals for the posterior distribution and the naive regridding estimates, respectively" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div><p class="image-caption">Figure 2. Posterior predictions for each coefficient compared to the naive regridding estimates for a particular location in California for February, May, August, and November (1998-2009). The solid dots represent the point estimate for the naive regridding method and the median value of posterior distribution from the Bayesian method. The whiskers represent the 95% credible and confidence intervals for the posterior distribution and the naive regridding estimates, respectively</p></div></span></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>in winter in California, indicating that there is less variability in day types (i.e. cloudy versus sunny) or amount of incoming solar radiation during the summer compared to the winter. Therefore, it makes sense that predictions have a lower RMSE in the summer months as the covariables and response have less variability during that season. The RMSE values are also lower for the naive regridding than they are for the BHM across the four months shown. When regridding uncertainty is taken into account, the predicted GHI values have a higher error than when prediction is done directly without considering regridding uncertainty. This is an interesting finding in that it suggests doing prediction directly without considering any uncertainty may produce more accurate point predictions but regridding uncertainty contributes additional variability to the final point estimates as seen in the BHM.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="figure-3-average-bias-by-location-between-the-naive-regridding-estimate-and-the-median-of-all-posterior-distributions-for-february-may-august-and-november-top-to-bottom-respectively.png" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/fWZa4tUiBGemnqQfBGgCPf9594N2-2593zxx.png" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27800%27%20height=%27508.9170731707317%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="Figure 3. Average bias by location between the naive regridding estimate and the median of all posterior distributions for February, May, August, and November, top to bottom, respectively." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div><p class="image-caption">Figure 3. Average bias by location between the naive regridding estimate and the median of all posterior distributions for February, May, August, and November, top to bottom, respectively.</p></div></span></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><div class="notice notice-info">
<p>This paper is <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.13652.pdf?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">available on arxiv</a> under CC 4.0 license.</p>
</div>
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<div><div><p>Who would you like on your team or choose to work with—someone who’s highly competent but unpleasant and difficult to work with or someone with decent skills but an amazing attitude?</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Likability changes everything. When you’re likable, others will do anything for you. When you’re not, they turn their back on you.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Likability also plays a crucial role in your success at work. Because after all, everyone likes to work with people they like. Competence, knowledge and skills are important to get the right opportunities and additional responsibilities at work, but those things alike, likability gives people an additional reason to choose you over others.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>When you’re likable:</p><ol>
<li>You’re most likely to get the help you need.</li>
<li>Others find you relatable which makes you easy to work with.</li>
<li>Better opportunities land your way.</li>
<li>You end up making some long lasting work relationships.</li>
</ol>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Many people confuse likability with popularity, bias and favoritism. They’re not the same. Likability is not people pleasing or going out of your way to charm others. It isn’t about refusing to take a stand or avoiding actions that might upset others. Likability is difficult to define, but you know what it feels when you actually like someone.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Here’s everything I have learned about likability that helped me connect with people and do some incredible things together:</p><h3 id="h-dont-be-fake">Don’t be fake</h3>
<p>When you meet someone for the first time, do you try very hard to impress them? You may say and do things that make you appear easy going, agreeable and charming to win them over.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>But faking who you are or what you believe just to be liked never really works. Others can see when you’re genuine and when you’re just putting on a show.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>It’s natural to want to be liked. But faking it is not the way. Hiding your true emotions and feelings and pretending to be someone you’re not often backfires. The more you try to charm others, the more they resist you.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>You can make a good impression on others by being authentic. Being authentic requires expressing who you are and what you stand for. It requires behaving in a way that feels natural and comfortable. When what you say verbally matches how it shows up in your body language, others find it easy to trust you. And trust is the first most crucial element of likability.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist says that when we meet someone new, we quickly answer two questions:</p><ul>
<li>Can I trust this person?</li>
<li>Can I respect this person?</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>This is important according to Amy because “Occasionally we see people as incompetent and cold—foolish jerks—or as warm and competent—lovable stars. The latter is the golden quadrant, because receiving trust and respect from other people allows you to interact well and get things done.”</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>To be more likable, instead of faking it, just be yourself. Spread positive vibes and positivity will come back to you.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>When we come from an authentic, genuine place in ourselves, our efforts to connect with people work to their fullest. Our relationships develop more easily and last longer, and we feel better about the people.</p>
<p>— Michelle Tillis Lederman</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3 id="h-instill-a-sense-of-belonging-and-connection">Instill a sense of belonging and connection</h3>
<p>When you talk to others, how much of the conversation is about you, what you want and how much is it about others? Do you take the opportunity to get to know them or to tell amazing things about you with the assumption that knowing wonderful things about you will make you more likable?</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Talking about yourself makes you feel good but it puts other people off. They listen to you for a while and then check out from the conversation. You need to get their attention and engage them. You need to make them feel good.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>How can you do it?</p><p>By simply asking questions that get the other person talking. Don’t engage in superficial chit chat. Show genuine curiosity to ask something meaningful and important about their life. Make the conversation about them, not you. When you ask questions that invites them to share about their life, experience, or anything else that might be meaningful to them, it instantly creates a connection.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><underline><a href="https://www.pnas.org/action/oidcStart?redirectUri=%2Fdoi%2F10.1073%2Fpnas.1202129109&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Research</a></underline> shows that when people talk about themselves, it triggers the same pleasure sensation in their brain as money or food which leaves a warm and fuzzy feeling, draws people to you and makes you more likable.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Bringing up happy memories also improves people’s mood. They start associating these positive feelings with you which subconsciously makes them want to spend more time around you.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>To be more likable, show an interest in getting to know others—discover shared goals, interests or other activities that can spark a deeper conversation.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>Acknowledge the importance of what they're saying. This means that what is important to them has an emotional impact on you. Remember, people are always looking to be acknowledged, appreciated and respected.</p>
<p>— Patrick King</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3 id="h-be-present">Be present</h3>
<p>How often do you check your smartphone when you’re around others?</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>If you ask people, they’ll say I don’t and yet they do it every few minutes. Being distracted has become such a habit that most people don’t even realize it.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>This is the biggest challenge of being present. When you’re constantly distracted by your watch, phone or other things in your environment, you fail to pay attention to the person in front of you. You appear physically present, but mentally checked out.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Others can’t like you when you’re lost. To be likable, you need to give your undivided attention. You need to show that you value their time and their presence. Doing this makes them feel valued and respected. They respond to your presence with kindness and affection, which at an unconscious level sows the seed of likability.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>As Mokokoma Mokhonoana says -</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>“Truly paying attention to something or someone makes it or them seem as big as the universe.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>To be likable, silence your distractions and remain fully present in the moment. Don’t look at your phone or divert your attention to anything that takes you away from the conversation.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Another aspect of being present is learning to listen well. When you’re stuck in your own head, you don’t listen or observe at all. Your mind is busy thinking what to say next. Instead of waiting for your turn to speak, connect with the other person by paying attention to their words. Better your listening skills, the better will be your likability.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>Effective listening is the single most powerful thing you can do to build and maintain a climate of trust and collaboration. Strong listening skills are the foundation for all solid relationships.</p>
<p>— Michelle Tillis Lederman</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3 id="h-control-your-mood">Control your mood</h3>
<p>How do you come across to others—are you consistent in your behavior or unpredictable to others?</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Everyone has good and bad moods, but your mood can’t be a predictor of how you treat others. No one likes to deal with someone who’s unpredictable and random. Unpredictability leads to a lot of unnecessary emotions, adds complexity to conversations and makes it hard to reach a common decision.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>So if you’re known to be moody, people will find all sorts of excuses to avoid you. They don’t want to think about how you’ll react. They don’t want to deal with your tantrums. It’s easier for them to cut you off than bringing you into the picture and having to deal with your moods.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>If you want to be likable, be in charge of your mood. Don’t let it get swayed by the ups and downs at work. Most importantly, be consistent when you’re around others. It’s human nature to appreciate those who are consistent in their behaviors and actions.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>Being consistent in your behavior is a great way to build trust.</p>
<p>— Germany Kent</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3 id="h-leave-your-judgments-at-the-door">Leave your judgments at the door</h3>
<p>How do you react when you disagree or have a difference of opinion? Do you stick to your point of view or show openness in listening to others?</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>When you’re strongly opinionated or show unwillingness to hear others who disagree with your point of view, you become unapproachable. No one can like you when you shut them down or stick to your beliefs without appreciating that others can think differently and might be right too.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>When you’re judgmental, irrespective of what you say, your body language radiates the true picture. Your tone of voice, hand movements, and facial expressions will show contempt even if you try hard to hide how you think and feel.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Building likability isn’t about nodding yes even <underline><a href="https://www.techtello.com/agree-to-disagree-vs-disagree-and-commit/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">when you disagree</a></underline> or listening silently to everything others have to say without saying a word. It only requires openness to accept different points of view and curiosity to understand others.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Don’t hesitate to share your opinion, but do it in a considerate and respectful way.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><blockquote>
<p>In order to have important conversations, you will sometimes have to check your opinions at the door. There is no belief so strong that it cannot be set aside temporarily in order to learn from someone who disagrees. Don’t worry; your beliefs will still be there when you’re done.</p>
<p>— Celeste Headlee</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Likability isn’t a one time thing. It’s a lifetime process. Unless you make these practices as part of your life, you may be likable today and not so much tomorrow. Consistent liking requires consistency in how you act and come across to others.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><hr>
<h4 id="h-summary">Summary</h4>
<ol>
<li>You may have all the competence and skills in the world, but if you’re not likable, less opportunities will land your way.</li>
<li>To build likability, you don’t have to be extra nice or go out of your way to please others. Liability is built by staying authentic, not faking it.</li>
<li>Talking about yourself feels good to you, but it puts other people off. To be likable, genuinely show an interest in understanding others—their life, experience, interests and passions.</li>
<li>Talking to a person while being distracted makes them feel less valuable and disrespected. To be likable, stay away from distractions and consciously pay attention to the person in front of you. Be present.</li>
<li>Don’t let your mood decide how you come across to others. Being consistent and predictable may be boring, but it also builds likability.</li>
<li>Appreciate different points of view even if you disagree. Curiosity builds likability, not being judgmental.</li>
</ol>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>This story was previously published&nbsp;<a href="http://www.techtello.com/how-to-be-more-likable/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">here</a>. Follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagivini/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;or here for more stories.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

Likability changes everything. When you’re likable, others will do anything for you. When you’re not, they turn their back on you.

Why Being Likable At Work Matters

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Balancing Bias and Variance in Network Experiments: When Should you Cluster?

<div><div><p>Recently, the AI dubbing of Argentina President <underline><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtegqgKYR-U&amp;ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">Javier Milei’s speech at the 2024 World Economic Forum</a></underline> by video startup Heygen went viral on social media.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The software not only accurately translated his Spanish words into English but also seamlessly handled lip sync, a task traditionally exclusive to human professionals in the video industry.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Although some observers <underline><a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/ai-just-changed-the-world-again/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">claim</a></underline> that Heygen’s version of Milei sounds a bit like a 'Bangladeshi guy after a decade in Swansea,” I would dismiss these rumors. What is hard to ignore are the mechanical voice and intonation of the AI-powered Argentina President.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Frankly, the real Milei sounds better and more emotionally expressive than that.</p><p><div class="sc-56d3a1c3-0 evTXYi"><p class="line-space"><br></p><div class="youtube-container"><iframe title="ytcontainer" width="700" height="394" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YtegqgKYR-U" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></p>
<p>Until recently, emotion and intonation have been the biggest challenges for AI startups aiming to disrupt the media industry. Humans are still better at expressing passion, sadness, or anger through their voice. But it looks like things are about to change.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Another <underline><a href="https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2024/01/25/dubformer-develops-technology-to-enhance-ai-powered-song-dubbing/?ref=hackernoon.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">recent showcase</a></underline> that went largely unnoticed came from an Amsterdam-based AI dubbing startup called Dubformer. The company claims it developed technology for translating emotions and intonations in songs.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>You can judge for yourself:</p><p><div class="sc-56d3a1c3-0 evTXYi"><p class="line-space"><br></p><div class="youtube-container"><iframe title="ytcontainer" width="700" height="394" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VMBLs2Zr9NY" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></p>
<p>The startup localized the most famous version of "House of the Rising Sun," recorded in 1964 by the British rock band The Animals. It looks like this showcase has a human-like quality in capturing the essence and emotional depth of musical expression.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>According to Dubformer’s CEO Anton Dvorkovich, the company relies on its in-house proprietary technology, including Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Text-to-Speech (TTS), and Voice Biometrics.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Micah Berkley, an AI implementation specialist, solutions architect, and educator, said Dubformer’s technology is shaping a future where AI expands the global reach of artistic expression.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Personally, I just can't wrap my head around the idea that AI voices or translations could ever match the emotional expressiveness and engagement of humans. But it seems like we're right at the frontlines of a major transformation.</p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

Until recently, emotion and intonation have been the biggest challenges for AI. But it looks like things are about to change.

Here's The AI Dubbing That's Raising Alarms World Over

<div><div><p>In the ever-changing IT industry landscape, the choice between working for a startup or a large technology company is a decision faced by many professionals, including product designers and UI/UX designers. Each path offers a unique experience, challenges, and opportunities, making it crucial to understand the differences before choosing.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>As a product designer, I have been fortunate to work in both environments. In this article, I will share insights into the various aspects of working in different types of companies.</p><h1>Startups</h1>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="photo-by-marvin-meyer-on-unsplash.jpeg" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/vSiG6Xu1LJgN9eec0dCjiQ5pOxo2-za832ae.jpeg" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27800%27%20height=%27459.8357142857143%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash  " src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div><p class="image-caption">Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash  </p></div></span></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3>You Are a Pioneer</h3>
<p>Startups are like uncharted territories, placing you at the forefront of technology, especially if you join a team in the ideation stage of the product when you have only an idea and a couple of sketches on a whiteboard. As a product designer, this means directly impacting the vision and direction of the product.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>You may unintentionally become the inventor of a design pattern that others, including your competitors, will adopt in the future. For instance, 15 years ago, designing an interface for QR code recognition might have led to the implementation of your design in various future applications, including native iOS and Android.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>However, this aspect comes with challenges. Exploring new territories may need examples for reference and inspiration. The validation of your design will be met with interest and difficulties, as users may find it unfamiliar to interact with new interfaces, lacking habits based on their past experiences.</p><h3>Jack of All Trades</h3>
<p>As the likely sole designer, you'll have the opportunity to create product interfaces and work closely with various tasks requiring graphic design, illustrations, and collaborate with other roles in the team. While this multifaceted role has merits, requests like "Could you design a beautiful email signature template, you're a designer after all" may cease to be just a joke.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>By the way, in a startup, I first encountered graphic design and created a business card design for my colleagues. It was a great experience with lots of memories.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Nowadays, there are widely available resources where you can outsource various tasks, such as buying beautiful business card templates. This is financially accessible, so if you want to focus on a specific area within the startup, outsourcing may help you in some cases.</p><h3>Constant Evolution</h3>
<p>In a startup, the product evolves rapidly and can undergo significant changes. You will always be working quickly with limited time for research, design, and finalizing layouts. Constant compromises and in-depth discussions with managers and developers will occur regularly.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Be ready to advocate for your perspective and effectively "sell" your design and functionality, as there's a risk that your creations may be simplified to a degree that leaves you dissatisfied.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Compromises require concessions from all parties involved, with managers prioritizing project deadlines, developers aiming to streamline complexity, and designers endeavoring to uphold visual quality, logic, and meticulous refinement.</p><h3>Processes? Didn’t Hear About That</h3>
<p>Processes may not be well-established. Everything relies on the experience of colleagues, and you're fortunate if they bring valuable methods from their previous, more mature workplaces.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Fundamental processes like release cycles may only exist because Jira offers them as a template. But everything else is created on the fly, patching things up as best as possible, with promises to fix everything properly later.</p><h3>You Are Just a Step Away From Any Colleague, Whether It's a Developer or a CEO</h3>
<p>Startups often have a close-knit and family-like environment. This atmosphere encourages close collaboration, creativity, and a sense of belonging, which can be highly motivating for all roles, including designers. In such conditions, design discussions may involve everyone, including leaders, which typically helps approach the task from various perspectives.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>It contributes to receiving quick feedback from different roles that are genuinely engaged and passionate about the product.</p><h3>Everything May End at Any Moment</h3>
<p>As mentioned above, a startup is inherently geared towards a fast pace and constant changes. Therefore, feedback from the world can quickly lead to the startup folding or even your role being eliminated for various reasons. Some of them include:</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>Running out of money due to miscalculations or investors changing their minds.</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>A competitor with disproportionately larger resources enters the market, and you've already lost.</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>Your team is getting acquired for assimilation purposes.</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>Your team is getting acquired to disband it, meaning to remove it from the market.</li>
</ul>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><ul>
<li>As a designer, you may have done the essential and sufficient work for launching and making revenue. Your role can be redundant at that moment because the founder's goal is to sell the product "as is" as quickly as possible, or you can turn into a part-time role for supporting tasks only.</li>
</ul>
<h1>Corporation</h1>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p><span><div class="sc-a6c0bd8c-1 ijZWBT image-container undefined"><button class="sc-a6c0bd8c-0 khzBNC download-button"><a download="photo-by-wonderlane-on-unsplash.jpeg" href="https://hackernoon.imgix.net/images/vSiG6Xu1LJgN9eec0dCjiQ5pOxo2-jn932q8.jpeg" title="Download image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" fill="black"><path fill="black" d="M18 10v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H6v-1H5v-1H4v-1h4V1h1V0h4v1h1v9h4z"></path><path fill="black" d="M21 15v-1h-6v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-2v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v-1H1v1H0v6h1v1h20v-1h1v-6h-1Zm-2 4h-1v-1h1v1Zm-3-1h1v1h-1v-1Z"></path></svg></a></button><div data-rmiz-wrap="visible"><div style="position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27800%27%20height=%27458.85%27/%3e" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: initial; height: initial; background: none; opacity: 1; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><img alt="Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" class="image" style="position: absolute; inset: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: none; margin: auto; display: block; width: 0px; height: 0px; min-width: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; max-height: 100%; object-fit: contain; background-size: contain; background-position: 0% 0%; filter: blur(20px); background-image: url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;base64,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&quot;);"><noscript></noscript></span></div><button aria-label="Zoom image" data-rmiz-btn-open="true"></button></div><p class="image-caption">Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash</p></div></span></p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><h3>Available Resources and Tasks Scale</h3>
<p>You will have access to processes and tools that have stood the test of time. Most likely, you won't be a pioneer in design; if you propose something, it may have been tried before you and not implemented for various reasons.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Your task is to deeply understand the product, gather information from all roles surrounding you, and constantly inquire about the reasons behind certain decisions.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The corporate environment implies that thousands of users will interact with your product. You will likely have time for thorough research and, most importantly, resources and technologies implemented in a company. Often, there is access to target audience testing in any volume and support from UX researchers who will help conduct qualitative and detailed research.</p><h3>Specialization</h3>
<p>As a specialist, you exist not as a singular entity in corporations, and you likely have a narrow specialization. It allows you to work on a specific part of the product at a very detailed and profound level. If you prefer to meticulously handle one aspect, perfecting it and achieving maximum conversion, such a work mode may appeal to you.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>However, consider the downsides: such work often entails many constraints, as each move may depend on another part of the product overseen by someone else. Working on an end-to-end scenario may only sometimes be available. It depends on your luck.</p><h3>Mature Processes</h3>
<p>In large companies, the core processes are already streamlined, and you will need to learn to work within them, with changes being reluctantly accepted. Your suggestion regarding optimizing something may have already been voiced by a colleague who came before you, and it was decided not to implement it.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>It's good when there are reasons that are communicated to you. Sometimes, there simply needed to be more time for it, or there was no initiator ready to lead changes in addition to their current workload rather than just proposing.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>While corporate processes are intricate and resistant to change due to involving numerous stakeholders and interconnected elements, it doesn't mean change is impossible. Be persuasive in advocating for it. May the force be with you.</p><h3>Longer Development Cycle</h3>
<p>Although large companies often apply an Agile approach with sprints, tasks may require a long time for preparation and approval before being included in the development sprint. With an increasing number of stakeholders, the number of interdependencies and areas of interest grows.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Thus, despite being told about two-week development sprints, the path of a task to the sprint can be lengthy.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>The same is true about release and testing: What you finished designing today may appear in production in a few weeks or even a couple of months.</p><h3>Lower Risks of Rapid Job Loss</h3>
<p>Income sources and market positioning are typically well-established in large companies, minimizing the chances of frequent layoffs. Designers in such firms usually experience greater career stability, relying on their employer's resources and authority. However, in exchange, they may face a more moderate pace of career growth.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>It's worth noting that over the last two years, we've witnessed numerous layoffs in major tech companies, but this seems to be more a consequence of post-COVID effects than a new way to do business (I hope).</p><h1>Conclusion</h1>
<p>After all, the choice between these two worlds should align with your career aspirations, work style, and risk tolerance. Some designers may find fulfilment in the dynamic, risky, and high-reward environment of startups, while others may thrive in the stable setting of a large corporation.</p>
<p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>Whichever path you choose, remember that the field of product design is diverse, and both startups and large corporations offer numerous opportunities for individuals with passion, talent, and dedication.</p><p class="line-space"> <br> </p><p>If you are working in a corporation, seek teams that strike the right balance of risk and stability to avoid boredom. In all the corporations I have worked in, finding teams where the startup spirit prevailed was possible.<br></p></div><div style="visibility:hidden" class="sc-1e366be2-7 kZfKay"><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M16 9h1v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1H9v1H8v1H7v1H6v1H0v-6h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1v-1h1V9h1V8h1V7h1V6h1V5h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1zM22 4v2h-1v1h-1v1h-1v1h-1V8h-1V7h-1V6h-1V5h-1V4h-1V3h1V2h1V1h1V0h2v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 3v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5V7h-2v1h-1v1H9v4h1v1h1v1h2v-1h5v1h1v2h1v2h-1v2h-1v1h-5v-1h-1v-2h-1v-2h-1v-1H9v-1H8v-1H7v1H2v-1H1v-2H0v-2h1V8h1V7h5v1h1V7h1V6h1V5h1V3h1V1h1V0h5v1h1v2h1z"></path></svg></button><button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 22" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M14 19v2h-1v1H1v-1H0V5h1V4h3v15h10z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 6v11h-1v1H6v-1H5V1h1V0h8v6h6z"></path><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 4v1h-5V0h1v1h1v1h1v1h1v1h1z"></path></svg></button><a style="margin-left:15px;color:white" href="#commentSection"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 22 19" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M21 6V4h-1V3h-1V2h-2V1h-3V0H8v1H5v1H3v1H2v1H1v2H0v6h1v2h1v2H1v1H0v2h5v-1h1v-1h2v1h6v-1h3v-1h2v-1h1v-1h1v-2h1V6h-1ZM6 13h1v-1h1v-2H6V5h4v8H9v1H6v-1Zm6 0h1v-1h1v-2h-2V5h4v8h-1v1h-3v-1Z"></path></svg></a><button style="margin-right:10px"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="22" style="width:18px;fill:white"><path style="width:18px;fill:white" d="M20 2v12h-1v1h-2v1h-6v-1H4v1H3v4H1V3H0V1h1V0h2v1h1v2H3v1h1V3h7v1h6V3h2V2h1z"></path></svg></button><div class="sc-1e366be2-8 cbbaIe"></div></div></div>

Startups for excitement or big companies for stability? Discover the differences and navigate the twists

Makers