Weekend Briefing No. 542
Fixing AI’s Original Sin - #clientbrag - Making Friends as Adults
Welcome to the weekend.
Prime Numbers
80 — A 13-year-old British patient becomes the first to receive deep brain stimulation implant to address treatment-resistant epilepsy; early results show an 80% reduction in daytime seizures
60 — NYPD helicopter usage soared in 2023, with flights up 60% and costs doubling to $12.4 million since 2021, sparking budget concerns and doubling noise complaints as out-of-city trips increased notably.
80 — Suez Canal traffic plummeted 80% in May 2024 due to Red Sea attacks by Yemeni rebels, forcing ships to take longer, costlier routes around Africa or through Panama, adding 10–14 days to typical East Asia-Europe/East Coast voyages.
Fixing AI’s Original Sin
The New York Times has referred to copyright violation as "AI's Original Sin," highlighting the contentious issue of artificial intelligence (AI) companies using copyrighted material for training without permission. Tim O'Reilly argues that these copyright disputes in AI are solvable. He suggests that this could lead to a new golden age for both AI providers and content creators, proposing that AI companies should train on freely available copyrighted content while respecting signals like paywalls, produce outputs that acknowledge sources, and focus on paying for outputs rather than training data. O'Reilly envisions an "architecture of participation" for AI, similar to the World Wide Web, where different levels of access and monetization can coexist. As an example, he describes how his company, O'Reilly Media, is implementing such a system for their online learning platform, generating AI content while tracking provenance, providing source links, and sharing revenue with authors and publishing partners based on how their content contributes to AI-generated responses. O’Reilly (9 minutes)
#clientbrag
This week, Coder (a provider of cloud development environments, CDEs), raised a substantial $35 million funding round, extending its Series B, with Georgian leading the investment and participation from Uncork Capital, Notable Capital and Redpoint Ventures. This funding will fuel the expansion of Coder's platform, which offers preconfigured cloud environments for enterprise developer use cases, and support its global growth. CDEs are gaining importance in the tech industry by providing remotely hosted software development tools, addressing challenges such as environment conflicts and security risks associated with local development. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 60% of cloud workloads will be built and deployed using CDEs, underscoring the growing significance of platforms like Coder in the software development landscape. We were honored to serve as legal counsel for Coder on this deal. TechCrunch (4 minutes)
More Than a Label
The U.S. surgeon general wants warning labels on social media platforms. In the meantime, millions of young people are reaching out for help right now, on the platforms they use every day. AI-powered nonprofit Koko’s API integrates into platforms like Discord, Giphy, and Tumblr, catching self-harm signals in real-time. Koko delivers immediate, human and human-in-the-loop mental health support. It has intercepted 1.7 million kids and teens at-risk of suicide in the past year. Builders like Koko are taking us a step beyond the warning labels. Subscribe to Fast Forward’s AI for Humanity newsletter for more stories of builders leveraging AI for humanity. Fast Forward (Sponsored).
Making Friends as Adults
Is our obsession with individualism and optimization killing our ability to form deep friendships? This question underlies Anne Helen Peterson’s research on friendship. Here are some emerging themes. 1) Meaningful connections don't require grand gestures; small, consistent actions can build lasting bonds. 2) Physical proximity remains crucial, with many prioritizing living close to friends for spontaneous interactions. 3) Community extends beyond best friendships, encompassing diverse groups that provide a sense of belonging. 4) Establishing routines, like regular meetups, proves more effective than constantly coordinating busy schedules. 5) Taking initiative and "making it happen" is key to nurturing friendships in adulthood. 6) Unlike the expectations set by social media and dating apps, genuine friendship can't be optimized or rushed. Building community is a long-term endeavor requiring patience and persistence. Culture Study (12 minutes)
Yes, Everyone Is Getting Sick After COVID
In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous countries are experiencing a significant increase in various infectious diseases, with at least 13 illnesses surpassing pre-pandemic levels in many regions. One popular explanation for this phenomenon is "immunity debt," which suggests that pandemic lockdowns left people, especially children, more vulnerable to routine pathogens when society reopened. The resurgence spans a wide range of diseases, from common colds to more serious illnesses like tuberculosis and measles, significantly impacting public health, health care systems and economies worldwide. Experts are working to understand this complex situation, considering factors such as decreased vaccination rates, climate change and social inequality, while emphasizing the importance of rebuilding trust in vaccines to address the ongoing challenge. Yahoo News (6 minutes)
Curious Habits
What sets truly curious minds apart from the rest? Curious individuals possess distinct habits that enable them to navigate uncertainty and continuously expand their knowledge. They: 1) Thrive in liminal spaces, embracing the unknown and finding joy in exploring the gaps between what they know and don't know. 2) Excel at forming connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, thinking in networks rather than linear paths. 3) Ask generative, open-ended questions that delve into feelings, motivations and cultural contexts, viewing every interaction as an opportunity to learn and understand more deeply. Ness Labs (7 minutes)
Chaka Khan
When the "Queen of Funk," Chaka Khan, launched into her hit "Sweet Thing" at NPR’s “Tiny Desk concert,” she was visibly taken aback by the audience's enthusiastic sing-along. This moment beautifully illustrates how deeply her music is woven into the fabric of popular culture. The intimate performance exudes pure joy and showcases Khan's enduring impact, offering viewers a delightful glimpse into her legendary artistry. NPR (34 minutes)
Should We Work Together?
Hi! I’m Kyle. This newsletter is my passion project. When I’m not writing, I run a law firm that helps startups move fast without breaking things. Most founders want a trusted legal partner, but they hate surprise legal bills. At Westaway, we take care of your startup’s legal needs for a flat, monthly fee so you can control your costs and focus on scaling your business. If you’re interested, let’s jump on a call to see if you’re a good fit for the firm. Click here to schedule a one-on-one call with me.
Founder Fridays
Check out my other email Founder Fridays — a Friday morning briefing helping startup founders and operators scale smarter.
Weekend Wisdom
Well done is better than well said. -Benjamin Franklin