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Retro Futures and Who Counts as Human
What lessons does a 1985 Isaac Asimov novel have to teach us about AI and algorithmic bias today? (Issue #180)
Aug 31
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Brad Berens
2
1
Experience Stacks, Romantasy, and Harry Potter Fanfic
A terrific NYT article explored a new genre of big books emerging from online fan fiction and missed a few things along the way. (Issue #179)
Aug 24
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Brad Berens
2
The Paradox of No Choice
An odd VENN diagram of tariffs and AI are narrowing our choices as customers. Will this change be permanent? What are the implications for products and…
Aug 17
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Brad Berens
2
4
Escape the Digital Cocoon
The only way to reduce polarization is to talk with people in real life. Here's one way to do just that *and* find a seat at a coffee bar. Plus, ChatGPT…
Aug 10
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Brad Berens
7
The Distraction Button
What Sydney Sweeney and Jeffrey Epstein have in common, plus why it's time to revive the word "Ridiculous." (Issue #176)
Aug 3
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Brad Berens
4
9
July 2025
What Folks Are Missing About "South Park"
The first episode of season 27 of the iconic animated series lit up media last week, but in the tumult over profane political satire pundits only got…
Jul 27
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Brad Berens
8
5
Bonus Dispatch: Pragmatics—you can only walk through one door at a time
Are you a Who, a Where, or a What? Answering that question honestly can help you through some of life's big decisions. (From 2015)
Jul 16
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Brad Berens
1
AI Double Agents
With all the talk about Agentic AI, there's an important question that people aren't asking: who are these agents working for? (Issue #174)
Jul 13
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Brad Berens
6
6
The Precipitous Decline of Brands
...and the rise of generics because of AI agents and other things. (Issue #173)
Jul 6
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Brad Berens
4
4
June 2025
Grab Bag
AI and Brand Safety, Shoppable Videos, Coffee Mugs on the Oregon Coast, and more! (Issue #172)
Jun 29
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Brad Berens
5
1
A Marketing Win
Since so much of the news is dyspeptic and terrifying, here’s a story about how 1-800-FLOWERS creates happiness and profit at the same time. (Issue…
Jun 22
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Brad Berens
4
1
A Scary Time
Four shorter pieces this time: the so-called L.A. riots, the middle east, more on AI, and what would we call a third party? Plus, a handful of other…
Jun 17
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Brad Berens
6
2
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