Impact of AI

    

I understand, coding is an area where workforce is heading for something new. For those who follow this profession, there will be a lack of opportunities for much of the pastimes, exchanges, and recreations, AI programmers and helpers keeping them perpetually busy. An ‘artificial intelligence economy’ is going to happen soon, says one editorial.

What was happening all this while? Each one of us have been toiling for hours, while enjoying whatever hours one could manage for progressing one’s interests and affairs, collectively called living. Interests or activity that could take any form, like reading, writing, music, fine arts, or social transactions of whatever genre. Now that AI is poised to eat away the toiling hours, each of us is going to be left with very many hours to follow or progress one’s calling. And it is going to be the same for everyone, however much the calling may differ. Time available for one’s calling will shoot up, occupying the lion’s share of each day.

Remember, one’s calling could only stem out of the same for another one. For example, if reading is my passion, it can happen only when the one whose passion is writing keeps oneself busy in it. And so is it, far all of us. So, when each of us engage with our own calling more an more, every other one also need to do so. As a result, for all, involvement with one’s interests and affairs stand to go down.

Since, AI, more than stealing our jobs, is going to take away the life from each one of us, we need to quickly come up with another one that can take its place.

Book Review: Breaking Democracy's Chains

 Breaking Democracy's Chains by Metin Pekin is a critical look at the practice of democracy; and is quite in line with the ideas I personally hold.

It introduces freedom, something we cherish a lot, as an invisible cage, and democracy, our expression of freedom, a polished illusion of the same. In the first of 14 chapters, the book narrates the initial days of USA and the duel between the federalists, who wanted central control, and the Jeffersonians, who stood for the states. This is the origin of the party system that continue to defeat the ideals of democracy, it adds. The book then goes on to elaborate, how, every evil that happens in a democracy will be having a party behind it, and what, a no-party system can do here. It then shows the nuts and bolts of the next democratic evolution, and suggests a path, specifically for a no-party model. How, responsibility can replace illusion, and let us all out of a cage.

This is a remarkable work with compelling arguments and examples. I agree with the author. Party system, rather than uniting, is turning us into each other. And, we now need to unite, for bringing in a no-party system to replace it.

Book Review: Conspicuous

Conspicuous by Karina Vunnam

This book covers a lot of topics, like culture, consumer psychology, and business analysis to present a dual approach of immersive story-telling and pointed research. The whole discussion is presented as three Acts.

The first one of 8 chapters narrate the emergence of an emotional connection to business, and how it lead to heritage as a value in itself. The next eight chapters form Act II, which dwells into the journey we constantly make through the resulting path, and how the juxtaposing of novelty and our desire at  every step is giving birth to a constant stream of new ideas. Last eight chapters make Act III, which traces how, brands and consumers evolved from all this, like the inter-mingling of exclusivity, craft, and meaning.

I found it a vivid discussion and a page-turner. How our desires are made to associate with certain objects to create images and ideas of luxury that can install heritage as an end. How, elements of modern communication like instagram opened a new avenue for luxury marketing. And how, the meteoric rise in prices driven by inflation, artificial scarcity, and associated fluctuations stand to shape it all. The book also covers more recent developments like localization of luxury and its access, and re-validation and democratization of luxury, while highlighting certain contradictions that go along.

Book Review: Camouflage

 Camouflage by Heather Sweeney is an autobiography of one who wanted to be the heroine of her life, not a victim.
The book is in three parts. In the first part, there is dating, proposal, excitement of becoming a navy wife, getting lost and feeling deserted, and the struggles of getting accustomed to it all, not to speak about amazing weekends and getaways. But, as with all things that go with the military life, nothing stayed the same for long. Her life continued to crumble, and she was frequently getting messages of an impending divorce. Part II begins with a demand from her husband for divorce, and tells how, her life continued with a longing for anything other than the loneliness she often felt. Also, counseling sessions, visits for therapy, the realization that she is with a man she no longer wanted to be married to, and the preparation for legal separation. Part III chronicles the divorce, the travails of adjusting to a new life, and the joy of reclaiming her maiden self to become a heroine.
This book, a page-turner, speaks of it all. A military wife losing her identity while adjusting to a new lifestyle that demanded immense resilience. How she never compromised on what she thought she deserved, and how determined is her efforts to build her own space back from nowhere. Tastefully narrated scenes and events depict the emotional vortex, love can lead one to, and the courage it takes to chart one's own path.

New Book: Lessons Of Violence

We all know, human society is a violent one, and there is nobody who is not concerned. Everybody has a remedy, and all of it borders on the abstract. I feel, a better approach is to learn something from it, and use the lessons profitably. If so, I find, some things and ideas we cherish as distinct human features stands to get axed. Published a  book. (Free copy is there for the asking)

Book Review: Lead To Beat

 Lead To Beat by Jonathan Escobar Marin

It begins by introducing a good and convenient tactic to ensure meeting one's goals - a brutal focus that directs one's strategy to success.

Next chapter talks about distributed leadership, which delivers through the focus, since it can ensure a seamless execution that transcends departmental boundaries and hierarchies. Winning one's goal is examined next, while underlining the need and suggesting ways to be constantly aware of the impact, one's strategies make. Come to chapter four and get introduced to the idea of a rhythm for one's journey to success. How it can eliminate things like political maneuvering, and focus energy on actual value creation. And the book concludes with a brilliant thought - legacy is not what you leave behind; it is the beat that evolves from it.

This is a book full of ideas that generate profound insights. It shows the way to move one's organization toward success, while proceeding straight forward and transforming potential into results. How to focus harder, empower better, move faster and aim higher, every single day. With aptly positioned keywords, tasteful quotations, exhaustive notes, and a useful index, this is a companion of immense value for study as well as for practical implementation.