January updates
I don’t know about you, but I feel like the first two weeks of 2024 have rolled off at such a pace that I don’t seem to have seen the time pass 😱
I’ve spent the week tweaking the new site and adding a few things here and there. One is a mini consulting CV to give people a clearer idea of what I do and what types of projects I can work on. The list isn’t exhaustive and leaves out a few confidential projects I cannot discuss. I’ll take the time to keep this as up-to-date as possible when relevant. Hopefully, it can be a resource people can use to see if I could be a good fit for a project.
Speaking of projects, the proposal is advancing, and we should have something fully drafted by the end of this week if all goes well. I wanted to respond to a call for proposals from Stanford Internet Observatory as this was an opportunity to research the relationship between education and Internet safety in the Caribbean. We have such poor access to data, and in some cases straight up poor data, so for me, this was a potential to continue something that could have ongoing value, particularly given that we would use this as a starting point for another project that I have been trying to get off the ground for a couple of years that has not seen the light simply because funding is required to kick-start it.
Reading
My reading list is growing, and I’m taking the time to read as much as possible when possible.
Doppelgänger is a really good read, and I’m progressing through it, but it requires a little thought and a little reflection, as it is a book that challenges ideas and assumptions and provokes introspection on one’s own life. It is very interesting and very well written. I wish I could write like that.
Of note
I feel that every week there is so much going on, such horrible things, that I have actively started to ensure I don’t get sucked into the downward spiral of Internet shite. I did come across an article from Teen Vogue about the KKK. I thought about the juxtaposition of a teen magazine writing the type of story we would expect the leading papers and magazines to write, but clearly, they are unable to, for whatever reason. There’s something not quite working in a lot of the traditional media. There is hope and many bright spots, but the institution is so fractured you have to follow and pay for dozens of sites, whereas previously, you could get pretty much everything you wanted from a couple. I don’t know if it is better that way, but I do notice a drop in quality from the leading titles, who seem to be chasing eyeballs rather than writing thoughtful and nuanced pieces. It will be fascinating to see where this goes over the year, and I think that 2024 is going to be a crucial year for a lot of tech and products that rely on tech.
I spent a little time during the week presenting to Lycée students at a local establishment. I presented on the topic of AI and the use of AI in the world—nothing too technical, but more of a this-is-what-it-is and its flaws and limitations. My idea is to discuss the things that don’t often get discussed and provoke thoughtful inquiry into these products. The feedback I got was very positive, and I’d love to go into greater detail in the future. Local television stopped by and filmed a lot of my talk and the Q&A section. I was also interviewed for the news, so there’s that. 😀
A busy week ahead; for now, have a great week.
