Iterate Weekly - Issue 98
This week we look at Google's Bard, Gen Z is rejecting jobs with questionable climate records, Dubai is creating a pedestrian utopia, Plant-based salmon, and Elvis!
Welcome to issue 98 of Iterate Weekly!
Happy Valentine’s Day and I appreciate you showing me some love. Be sure to like this post or reply to the email to let me know what you thought about it!
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Google announces Bard Chatbot
I’m almost hesitant to even write about ChatGPT anymore. It seems like every single person on the internet has given it a spin and shared their opinions.
What I’m more interested in is how ChatGPT is pushing other companies to keep pace. And as a longtime Android user and active participant in the Google ecosystem, I’ve been waiting to see what Google can do to rival the AI power of ChatGPT.
Well it seems like that day has come, and Google is calling its AI rival…Bard.
Yeah, I don’t love the name either. It’s more personal sounding than ChatGPT but still is kind of an ugly name. It makes me think of Shakespeare a bit and also the college of the same name that was very close to where I grew up.
Anyway, let’s put the name aside and just look at some of the things that Bard can do.
At the moment, it’s only available to “a select group of trusted testers” whatever that means. It’s hard to get a sense of how far along the software is, but like many new releases, it will be more publicly available “in the coming weeks”.
We do have a great quote from Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
“Bard can be an outlet for creativity, and a launchpad for curiosity, helping you to explain new discoveries from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to a 9-year-old, or learn more about the best strikers in football right now, and then get drills to build your skills.”
Hmm, that all sounds great doesn’t it? We can play soccer and look at the stars!
All jokes aside, there is still a lot to be determined with Bard. You would think that all of the AI and deep-learning experience that Google has would result in a decent product, but its too early to tell. And maybe more importantly, Bard has already lost that first-mover advantage to ChatGPT. Bard is going to really need to have some “wow” moments out of the gate to keep pace.
I’ll certainly share more as we have more info on Bard and I hope to be able to try it for myself soon!
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
Gen Z is rejecting jobs that don’t meet climate standards
Much has been made about the changing viewpoints on work shared by the Gen Z workforce. They seem less likely to settle for jobs that don’t suit their needs or inspire joy.
But now we’re learning that many young people are turning aside possible employers based on their actions toward climate change and the environment as a whole.
It’s no secret that this generation seems to have a better pulse on the environment than their parents or grandparents. But previous generations often seemed content with jobs that paid well even if they didn’t 100% align with the company’s values. That trend seems to be changing.
In fact, one third of Gen Zers claim to have rejected a job offer because they didn’t agree with the company’s “green credentials”.
That stat is very telling. Money doesn’t seem to be the driving factor of employment anymore and I think that should be applauded. I also love that the article references the term “Climate Quitting” as a play on “Quiet Quitting”. Let’s give as many fun names to quitting as possible I say!
Whether or not you consider yourself to be part of Gen Z, I’m curious if the climate has played a part in your job search before?
♻️ Health & Environment
Dubai wants to create a pedestrian utopia
Just look at that beautiful rendering won’t you? I think pedestrian utopia is the only way to describe it right?
The image comes from a planned new 93km, indoor, climate-controlled highway for walking and cycling that will be built in Dubai.
That description is a mouthful. But it really is a long tube that seems to roll through the desert to allow citizens to recreate and ostensibly commute while avoiding the extreme heat and sun. It’s a worthy undertaking if it actually comes to fruition. It’s always good to take renderings like this with a grain of salt.
I’ve written before about the idyllic nature of “15-minute” cities and this may be the most aggressive approach to this yet. The project will be called “THE LOOP” (I appreciate the ALL-CAPS) and there is really nothing quite like it in the world. Other 15-minute cities have mostly been in established urban areas. But if you’re starting from scratch in a fairly harsh climate, this looks like the way to go.
This video helps give you a better sense of what it may look like:
I particularly like the vertical gardens concept. We all know how important access to green space can be, and it’s even more difficult in a desert. But having a safe place to run, cycle, and play while also growing sustainable food? It seems like a win-win for everyone.
Perhaps other cities could learn something here? Maybe 93km isn’t needed, but smaller versions of this would be great in other cities where the climate may not always cooperate.
🛍 Grab Bag
Would you eat plant-based salmon?
It’s been a while since I’ve written about the latest trend in meatless meat.
Apparently, fake seafood is the next frontier.
You may think that there is nothing wrong with eating real fish (and I mostly support that opinion). But overfishing and climate-related seafood shortages are a real thing that will likely only get worse in the coming decades. Perhaps seafood that actually comes from the sea will start to be more of a treat consumed on occasion rather than a staple of the diet?
I’m particularly curious about the plant-based salmon that you see pictured above. It comes from a new Toronto-based startup called New School Foods (get it? fish usually swim in groups called schools!). We’re not just talking about some soy-based blob dyed pink to look like salmon. There is some serious technology going into replicating the taste, texture, and appearance of an actual salmon fillet. Check out their explainer graphic:
As someone who didn’t eat fish for a majority of his life, I’m really curious to give it a try. These days I do have the occasional meal of real fish, but I really admire the efforts here to make something that is more sustainable while being comparable in taste, appearance, and nutrition.
Anyone else eager to try some plant-based fish?
💬 Quote of the Week
"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
-Charles M. Schulz
🎥 Content Recommendation
Elvis
Yep, I’m still making my way through the best picture nominees for this year’s Oscar’s. And this week I’m talking about “Elvis”.
This film may need the least explaining out of all of the nominees. It profiles the life of Elvis Presley. Maybe more specifically, it looks at Elvis’s complicated relationship with his manager Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks).
I think this movie is worth seeing, but it wasn’t my favorite of the nominees. The realy story is fascinating enough to keep you entertained. Hanks in the role of Parker seemed like a poor use of his talents. Austin Butler was really solid as Elvis himself. There is plenty of great music as you ride along for the ups and downs of Elvis’ career.
It’s a decent movie but not worthy of being in the Best Picture category if you ask me. Honestly, I think it can be tough for any biopic to earn that distinction but that’s just me.
As this is one of the more popular nominees in quite some time, I imagine many of you have seen it. Does it feel like a best picture to you?
POLL
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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