AD66 – Humans as Batteries for AI

12 October 2024 | Issue #66

In this issue:

Intelligent experiences and intelligent experience design are the future
AI in the workplace: Gallup results
How to license your art
How HEX colors are assigned
Design quote of the week

An ongoing concern with AI is the amount of energy it consumes. I wrote about this a few weeks ago, and it was eye-opening to see how much electricity it took to run a simple prompt.

Microsoft's decision to use Three Mile Island (the site of the most serious nuclear accident in U.S. history) to power its data centers is proof of the estimated energy usage in the future.

Now, a company in Switzerland is working on a way to reduce the need for electricity in AI: bioengineering human brain cells to power AI.

Why do I feel like we will need Neo to save us?

FinalSpark is a company developing a way to power AI using a combination of human brain cells and microchips. The goal is to move away from the 70-year-old silicon chip that has limits.

Scientists and researchers can rent access to the "Neuroplatform," a computer platform made of human organoids (clusters of lab-grown cells) for $500 a month.

According to Scientific American, 34 research universities have already applied for access to the Neuroplatform.

NEWS AT THE INTERSECTION OF AI AND DESIGN

🧑🏽‍💻 Answering Big Workplace Questions: AI’s Role in the Modern Workforce

Gallup explores the major challenges and opportunities AI brings to the workplace, addressing three key questions that companies are grappling with as they integrate AI technologies. These include concerns over job displacement, the importance of change leadership, and how AI can enhance rather than replace human work.

• Job Security and AI: Employees are increasingly worried that AI will lead to fewer jobs, but Gallup emphasizes that with the right leadership, AI can be leveraged to complement human skills rather than replace them.

• Leadership’s Role: To fully realize the benefits of AI, leaders must guide their teams through this transition, ensuring that workers are prepared and empowered to collaborate with AI systems rather than seeing them as a threat to their jobs.

• My Take: Only 6% of employees feel very comfortable using AI in the workplace. More people need to use and feel comfortable using AI.

Keep reading

🤑 Art Licensing for Artists: Turning Creativity Into Consistent Income

Mariana Durst explains how art licensing can provide artists with a sustainable income stream by licensing their existing work to manufacturers. The process allows artists to earn royalties, commissions, or flat fees by permitting their artwork to be used on products like prints, apparel, or home goods.

• Multiple Streams of Income: Licensing enables artists to monetize their work without relying solely on sales.

• Collaboration with Manufacturers: Artists may need to make adjustments to their work to meet manufacturer needs.

• My Take: You may not need this right now, but it's good to have in your back pocket. H/T Keva Epale

Keep reading

NEW RESOURCES FOR YOU

Do you know how Hex colors are assigned?

I didn't until I read a fascinating Thread by Milan Svitek:

Hexadecimal: 0123456789ABCDEF

The 6 characters correspond to RRGGBB values on a scale of 0 (0%) up to 255 (100%)

00=0
01=1
...
0F=15
10=16
11=17
12=18
And so on and so on until
FE=254
FF=255 (100%)

000000 is completely black (0 red, 0 green, 0 blue)

FFFFFF is pure white.

FF0000 is pure red. 0000FF is pure blue. FF00FF is purple.

8080FF is a lavander-ish purple.

Based on that knowledge, you can look at the code 119A32 and estimate roughly what that color should look like.

Design Quote of the Week

“Design brings content into focus; design makes function visible.”

– Jennifer Morla

My AI disclaimer: I write the main stories by hand (with occasional assistance from Grammarly). The quick news hits are articles I've found, which I run through a ChatGPT prompt to generate the synopsis and bullet points. However, I write the My Thoughts bullet. If AI generates the images, I include the prompt so you can see how I got to that image. Nothing in this newsletter, or anything I publish anywhere, reflects the views of my employer.