Iterate Weekly - Issue 109
This week we're looking at the launch of Bluesky, getting overemployed with ChatGPT, Lisbon is cracking down on cars, Apple is working on a health coach, and we're reading Movements!
Welcome to issue 109 of Iterate Weekly!
Hope you’re all doing well. This is just a friendly reminder that you can always reply directly to these messages or leave a comment on the Substack post. Feedback is highly encouraged and I’m happy to answer any and all questions that come up.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Bluesky Launch
I may still be wrapping my head around how to use Substack Notes, but it could be time to start moving on to the latest social media craze.
Jack Dorsey’s long-awaited and highly-anticipated Twitter rival Bluesky is getting closer to reality as they recently launched their Android app.
This comes on the heels of their iOS app and web version going live last month. But like many of these things, you still need to get on the waitlist before you can actually start using it for yourself.
So what makes Bluesky so special? In simple terms, it’s a decentralized version of Twitter. It should be more secure, more authentic, and less filled with nonsense. Essentially, you will be able to move your Bluesky profile to other social media platforms in the future and control what content you see on the service. Here is how the Bluesky team describes it:
"Users will also be able to control the algorithms that determine what content is served to them," the Bluesky team wrote in an October 2022 blog post. "We must have control over our algorithms if we're going to trust in our online spaces."
Having control over the algorithms seems like a great place to start when building a new social platform.
I’m currently on the waiting list and eager to start playing with the Android app. I’m as apprehensive as I am about Substack Notes but competition and choice is certainly a good thing. I’m rooting for Bluesky to succeed.
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
Overemployed with AI
How many jobs do you think you could handle with the help of AI?
Apparently, there are many people who have been becoming “overemployed” with multiple “full-time” jobs aided by the help of ChatGPT.
It doesn’t seem all that farfetched right? We all know that there are many aspects of our jobs that are tedious or just don’t deliver as much value as they should. What if we could automate them to free ourselves up to take on more work with another company?
Remote work has made having multiple sources of income a lot more realistic. When an employee doesn’t physically need to be within the confines of an office, it opens them up to possibilities. Sure, there have always been ambitious hustlers who take on odd jobs or side projects. But with the help of something like ChatGPT, there could be a whole host of new opportunities that open up.
The Vice article linked above gives some fascinating examples of overemployed workers in a variety of industries. It can be a bit of a rabbit hole. One person claimed they could balance 4 full-time jobs but a fifth would just be overkill. I think we all know that the future of work is changing, but it could be happening faster than we ever could have imagined.
Yes, there will still be skills needed for a lot of the marketing or tech jobs mentioned in the article. But it does seem like we’re getting to point where our brains just get the ball rolling and we’re able to hand things off to various AI machines who may be able to execute on the ideas far better than we ever could.
Is this the golden age of employment? A scary time to be alive? Maybe all of the above?
♻️ Health & Environment
Fewer Cars in Lisbon
Add Lisbon to the growing list of European cities who are trying to limit automobile traffic in their downtown corridor.
The city recently announced a trial period where cars would be banned in the heart of the city center.
This move follows similar decisions in Paris and Copenhagen and it makes a ton of sense for other cities around the world.
What I find most interesting are the different “zones” of traffic that Lisbon is declaring. You can see the details in the image below:
The blue line gives a suggested route for general traffic to navigate around the heart of the city. This would allow automobiles to still have a place in getting around and avoiding the most common spots for gridlock. The yellow zone shows an area where restrictions would be put in place between 8 am - 8 pm aside from public transportation and vital deliveries. The center red circle is the no-go zone for any automobiles.
I think we all have a rough idea of a similar approach that could work in our home cities. Densely populated city centers just aren’t the best places for cars in most instances. I’ll be curious to see how the 3-month trial goes in Lisbon and am curious to see if this is something that American cities would be willing to test out.
🛍 Grab Bag
Apple’s Health Coach
There is big money to be had in the world of digital health coaching these days. With nearly everyone wearing some sort of tracking device, it’s wise for companies to better analyze this data to provide actionable advice.
And to no one’s surprise, the service will have an AI component and it won’t be free. The launch of the program may not occur until next year, but Apple seems to be getting things lined up for a big unveiling soon.
With so many people already wearing Apple Watches, this move makes a lot of sense. Apple is already capturing a ton of data from its users. And some of the more ambitious users are making meaningful changes to their heath based on the readings from their watch.
But many casual users just don’t know what to do with all of this data. They’d willingly pay for a clean interface with clear coaching suggestions. And the smarter and more AI-centric, the better.
How much will they be willing to pay for this service is still to be determined however. I can see this being a big hit for Apple if it seamlessly connects with both watches and their rumored new augmented reality headset that figures to add some health tracking capabilities as well.
💬 Quote of the Week
"You're in pretty good shape for the shape you are in."
-Dr. Seuss
📧 Content Recommendation
Movements
My list of sustainability and mobility Substacks continues to grow. It’s nice to receive a variety of perspectives and lately I’ve really been enjoying the work coming from the
publication.
If you’re a nerd about the future of mobility and transportation like I am, I’m sure you’ll really learn a lot from Adam’s writing.
Each week he gives a rundown of new releases in the world of electric vehicles and also shares insights from the business side of the industry as well. I’m always excited to read each edition and encourage you all to check it out!
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
Hey! Could you use some help establishing healthy habits? Do you have a big project or new business that you want to get off the ground but could use some advice? Maybe you could benefit from hiring me as your coach. If you’re interested, read more about my coaching services here, or go ahead and book some time on my calendar to discuss further.
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