Don’t look now, but summer is just about over, kids. Wherever you stand on autumn activities (Hockey and football: Yes, please! Pumpkin Spice Latte: Hard pass.) there’s no doubt things are ramping up.
You may have noticed I slacked off a bit on the newsletter for the summer months, so I’ll make it up to you with a quick-fire recap of useful news and a delightful rabbit hole.
Midjourney Makes its Web Debut
Without question, one of the best uses of AI is content creation. Midjourney is one of the most popular and best options for AI image creation, however, many users have been slowed down by the requirement to use a Discord server for prompting. That all changed last Friday when the platform opened its web version for all users.
Visit https://www.midjourney.com/explore to create an account and start exploring. An annual subscription is as low as $8/month.
Top 100 AI Tools… for Now
The landscape of AI and AI tools changes so fast, it’s hard to stay on top of it. To get a sense for what consumers are using, you can check out the Top 100 Gen AI Consumer Apps, which provides the most popular web and mobile applications. This list, released twice yearly, is a great place to find some love for the up-and-coming tools, while also following the state of foundation options including ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Midjourney – among others.
No AI Reviews
It’s easy to assume everything is being written by AI these days but the FTC has recently published their final version of a ruling that bans fake reviews and testimonials. The language includes the sale or purchase of these reviews, including content from hijacked bots and paid social media infulencers.
The new rule goes into effect 60 days after its official publication; read more on the FTC site.
The Insane Engineering of the Gameboy
It’s a classic tale of user experience and accessibility success. [YouTube]
Want a fun detour for your day? Check out this deep dive into the Nintendo Gameboy and learn why its simplicity and “user-first ethos” beat out the more technologically-advanced options of the time.
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AI in Action: Everyday Tools & Prompts
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September 24 ONLINE.
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A Conversation on Sustainable Tech
I’m thrilled to be heading to BLD Southeast next month, joining an esteemed group of B Corporations and responsible businesses discussing ways to improve our world.
I’ll also have the opportunity to facilitate discussion on finding and implementing sustainable technology solutions with an outstanding panel of B Corp businesses owners.
Recent Articles
Some of my recent writing from WRAL TechWire and Cary Magazine.
