Weekend Briefing No. 543
Late Bloomers - AI & the Church - Go Woke, Go Broke?
Welcome to the weekend. As many of you are enjoying your 4th of July celebrations, I encourage you to set aside your devices and create lasting memories with your loved ones. The final story in today's briefing, "18 Summers," reminds me of the finitude of life. Often, our most cherished treasures are found in simple moments shared with those we hold dear.
If you’re looking for some music to play in the background, you may want to check out my annual country music playlist. Clocking in just over nine hours, it features some of the best tracks from this year but covers a lot of ‘00s and ‘90s country.
Prime Numbers
419,300 — In May, the median price of existing U.S. homes reached a record $419,300, up 5.8% from a year ago.
20 — Daily multivitamin use shows no association with lower risk of death, including from cancer or heart disease, new research finds; the study tracked almost 400,000 participants over 20 years.
9.7 — YouTube accounted for 9.7% of total TV viewership and 25% of streaming usage in the U.S. in May, according to Nielsen's report.
Late Bloomers
Our society's obsession with youthful success often overshadows the significant achievements of late bloomers. While educational systems and media tend to celebrate prodigies and young entrepreneurs, research reveals that many groundbreaking contributions come from individuals in their 40s and 50s. For instance, the average age of Nobel Prize winners when making their crucial discoveries is 44, and a 45-year-old is twice as likely to produce a scientific breakthrough as a 25-year-old. Late bloomers often possess unique qualities and perspectives that allow them to innovate in unexpected ways, as demonstrated by figures like Julia Child, who published her first cookbook at 50, or Vera Wang, who entered the fashion industry at 40. The Atlantic (32 minutes)
AI & the Church
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence presents a complex challenge for religious institutions and spiritual practices. Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots offer a promising opportunity for people to explore sensitive spiritual questions without fear of judgment, potentially expanding the reach of religious guidance. However, these AI interactions often fall into the "uncanny valley" — a psychological phenomenon where human-like entities that are not quite human evoke feelings of unease or revulsion. In the context of spiritual matters, this effect can manifest as a deep-seated discomfort with AI that seems almost, but not quite, capable of providing genuine spiritual connection. This uncanny valley effect, combined with the inherently impersonal nature of AI, poses significant challenges to the deeply personal connection that is fundamental to many religious experiences. As AI technology continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, religious leaders and communities face an urgent need to adapt, striking a delicate balance between harnessing AI's potential benefits and preserving the irreplaceable human element in matters of faith. Christianity Today (10 minutes)
Election Volatility Rising? Not in Every Market.
With election jitters stronger than ever after the latest debate, investors are looking for election-proof assets—and they may have found one. Over the last seven elections (1995-2023) blue-chip contemporary art has outpaced the S&P 500 by 64%, regardless of the victors. Now, thanks to Masterworks’ art investing platform, you can easily diversify into this asset class without needing millions of dollars, or art knowledge. In fact, you’ll have a real person answering all your questions, and access to a community of 65,000+ other art investors. From their 23 exits so far, Masterworks investors have realized representative annualized net returns like 17.6%, 17.8%, and 21.5%* among assets held for longer than one year. It's easy to get started at Masterworks, and shares can sell out in minutes. Luckily, Weekend Briefing readers can skip the waitlist right away with this exclusive link. Masterworks (Sponsored)
Go Woke, Go Broke?
The ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's challenges the "go woke, go broke" narrative, with founders Cohen and Greenfield asserting that their progressive activism has been key to the company's success. They argue that their outspoken stance on social and political issues has attracted loyal customers, particularly younger consumers who expect brands to engage with topics like war, racism and climate change. Despite strong sales growth, with Ben & Jerry's outperforming Unilever's broader ice cream business in three of the past five years, parent company Unilever's decision to spin off or sell the ice cream division suggests growing corporate discomfort with mixing business and politics. Wall Street Journal (8 minutes)
Micro Nuclear
Rolls-Royce is developing an innovative nuclear micro-reactor capable of generating one to 10 megawatts of power, designed for use in various environments from remote industrial sites to space missions. This compact and transportable reactor can provide both heat and electricity, making it versatile for applications in defense, civil power and industrial sectors. For space exploration, Rolls-Royce aims to have a lunar-ready version by the early 2030s, supported by UK Space Agency funding. This technology not only advances space capabilities but also has the potential to revolutionize power generation in challenging environments, positioning Rolls-Royce at the forefront of next-generation nuclear engineering. Rolls Royce (6 minutes)
The Science of Good Conversation
Here are the key principles for improving conversations and building stronger connections, numbered for clarity: 1) Active listening: Focus on what the other person is saying and ask thoughtful follow-up questions to show genuine interest. 2) Balanced self-disclosure: Share your own thoughts and feelings at a similar depth to your conversation partner. Be willing to open up about more personal topics when appropriate, but also know when to keep things light. This reciprocal sharing helps build trust and closeness. 3) Contextualizing unfamiliar topics: When introducing new subjects, provide enough vivid details and background information to help your conversation partner relate to your experiences. 4) Finding common ground: Seek shared interests and experiences to create a sense of familiarity and connection. 5) Bridging knowledge gaps: Don't avoid important topics just because they're unfamiliar to your conversation partner. Instead, provide sufficient background information to help them understand and engage with the subject. WIRED (9 minutes)
18 Summers
How many summers do you have left with your children, and are you making the most of them? The concept of "18 summers" emphasizes the finite time parents have with their children before they leave home, highlighting the importance of creating meaningful family experiences. As children grow older, families often find themselves nostalgic for past traditions and eager to recreate them, such as revisiting cherished camping activities or shared desserts. Simple pleasures like bike rides, campfire dinners, and game nights can create powerful memories and strengthen family bonds, often surpassing more elaborate or expensive experiences in terms of joy and connection. Friday Forward (5 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
Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed — else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. – Dwight D. Eisenhower