NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

Yay or Nay? South Korea’s Foray Into AI Textbooks

Ever noticed how AI innovations always sound so exciting at first? Then reality hits. Here's a thought-provoking scenario for you:

South Korea's government recently announced plans to roll out AI-powered digital textbooks by 2025. The idea is to offer personalized learning, tailoring lessons to each student's needs, and making books more interactive and engaging. Sounds promising, right?

But wait — 50,000 parents disagree. They've signed a petition to block this move. Why? They're worried about increased screen time, their kids' data privacy, and the potential for biased or inaccurate AI-generated content.

So, who's got it right?

I find the concept of personalized education with AI game-changing, especially for underprivileged students. But as a mom myself, I can't tell you how many times I've agonized over screen time.

Here's my take: kids are more vulnerable than any other group of users when it comes to AI. We need to think long and hard about all the potential consequences—good and bad—of exposing children to AI.

What do you think? Are AI textbooks in education a step forward or a step too far?

CASE STUDY

Walmart Uses Generative AI

Who said this? "Without the use of generative AI, this work would have required nearly 100 times the current headcount." 🤯 

It was Doug McMillon, the CEO of Walmart, one of the largest companies in the world by revenue ($611b in 2023) and the largest private employer with over 2.1 million associates worldwide.

So yes, we should pay attention.

Walmart has used generative AI to improve over 850 million pieces of data in their product catalog, helping customers find and buy what they are looking for more easily. And better customer-product matching directly leads to more revenue generation.

Walmart's e-commerce business has soared 22% year-over-year, with Walmart USA CEO John Furner crediting generative AI's impact on their product catalog as a key enabler.

The takeaway is clear: AI's benefits can be tangible, not hype. But realizing AI's full potential requires effective leadership and a systematic methodology for extracting value.

I know because that's my job at our AI consulting firm Addo - building AI solutions that increase productivity and profitability for large enterprises. Ping me if you have any questions! 😎 

WOMAN IN TECH

Meet Lisa Einstein, Chief AI Officer

What an incredible moment for women in AI and cybersecurity! Lisa Einstein was recently appointed as the first Chief AI Officer at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the United States.

CISA, a federal agency responsible for protecting the United States' critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats, plays a crucial role in safeguarding everything from the power grid and transportation systems to financial networks and communication channels.

With the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks and the growing reliance on AI in various sectors, CISA's focus on AI adoption is more important than ever. Einstein's impressive background, from leading the development of CISA's AI Roadmap to conducting AI research at Stanford Intelligent Systems Laboratory, demonstrates her deep understanding of AI.

She was the first person at Stanford to earn a dual master's degree in computer science (with a focus on artificial intelligence) and international policy (specializing in cyber policy and security). 😎 

Fun fact: After earning her BA from Princeton in physics and dance, she spent several years as a professional dancer, including with Camille A. Brown's company.

Congratulations to Lisa Einstein! 🥳 You don't often see women in this male-dominated industry. Great to have you lead the way!

Fun Finds

Do Muscles Equal Market Success? 🏋️‍♂️

On X, Pieter Levels (@levelsio) pointed out an interesting trend when he created the "Deadlift ETF." It's a list of companies led by CEOs who lift weights or train in fight sports. These companies have outperformed the overall stock market (S&P 500) by 140% over the last 4 years!

Perhaps it's time to balance those spreadsheets with some deadlifts!