Weekly Digest
March 10, 2025
Every week I like to sit back and reflect on what I have been reading, watching and listening to thanks to my email inbox. This week, six items caught my attention and I am sharing them below. This is not an AI generated exercise, it is me sitting at my computer and pulling together what has stuck with me over the week, imperfections and all, and sharing them with you.
A start-up that can help you build lifelike avatars. On one hand, this is cool. On the other hand, I wonder about our trust in information and the veracity of its authenticity. As an academic and creative, the big question is, do we need authenticity in the creative industries any more, or has that authenticity shifted from the visual physical talent to the ability to create a prompt and use the tools to create a compelling story?
Take a look and tell me what you think,
2. Try this AI conversation tool.
https://www.sesame.com/research/crossing_the_uncanny_valley_of_voice#demo
3. Large Language Models are changing how organisations big and small approach written content. This is an interesting bit of research. I have pasted a part of the introduction of the report below. It is an interesting read.
‘Using a robust population-level statistical framework, we find that LLM usage surged following the release of ChatGPT in November 2022. By late 2024, roughly 18% of financial consumer complaint text appears to be LLM-assisted, with adoption patterns spread broadly across regions and slightly higher in urban areas. For corporate press releases, up to 24% of the text is attributable to LLMs. In job postings, LLM-assisted writing accounts for just below 10% in small firms, and is even more common among younger firms. UN press releases also reflect this trend, with nearly 14% of content being generated or modified by LLMs. Although adoption climbed rapidly post-ChatGPT, growth appears to have stabilized by 2024, reflecting either saturation in LLM adoption or increasing subtlety of more advanced models. Our study shows the emergence of a new reality in which firms, consumers and even international organizations substantially rely on generative AI for communications.’
4. CreativeMornings, www.creativemornings.com, has been my go-to for inspiring morning motivation, insight and conversation. This talk caught my attention because too many of us hold onto ideas until they reach some degree of perfection, when we just need to get the ideas out into the wild!
“I am not interested in perfection at all. If I get an idea, I really just want to get it on the page. I want to share it. I want to get it out in the world.”
Rachal Duggan’s talk on the theme of layers starts whimsical, then goes deep. As an illustrator, she uses humour to spark conversations about body issues. She believes that creating art is critical to coping with life's challenges.
https://creativemornings.com/talks/permission-to-layer?_kx=44SjYRtZEdm9TFNREpgFrg_6a0OUGBtXO6tecueTa7TrDYfHU84yVhdybihYdcc-.XRSfBG
5. How often do any of us as content creators think about the attention diet of our audiences? The two links below are a wonderful way to start thinking about what consumers have the time and desire to consume.
"What's Your Listeners' Attention Diet?".
https://creativitybusiness.substack.com/p/high-quality-attention-diets?utm_source=Pacific%2BContent%2BNewsletter&utm_campaign=5fb8dd3206-NEWSLETTER_2025_03_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_661b1d439c-5fb8dd3206-446078589&ct=t(NEWSLETTER_2025_03_04)
https://pacific-content.com/whats-your-listeners-attention-diet/?utm_source=Pacific+Content+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5fb8dd3206-NEWSLETTER_2025_03_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_661b1d439c-5fb8dd3206-446078589&ct=t(NEWSLETTER_2025_03_04)
6. Tools are everything! Canva has some wonderful tools to help us all think about our content and dare I say this can help us think more clearly about the attention diet of our audience.
https://www.canva.com/designschool/?lid=qw2a8zzm07wt&utm_source=braze&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=multi_trigger_adoption_visualsuite_docs_february25&utm_content=lifecycle
Weekly Digest
James Piecowye's weekly digest highlights recent developments in YouTube Shorts AI video creation, Google's content preferences, AI's impact on leadership, rethinking job applications with Mercor, and Spotify's acceptance of AI-narrated audiobooks.
THEJAMESCASTS Weekly Digest
February 24, 2025
A lot is going on!
Online and offline, here are some things that caught my attention.
THIS WEEK’s Stories that caught my attention.
YouTube Shorts and AI Video Creation
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/13/youtube-shorts-adds-veo-2-so-creators-can-make-gen-ai-videos/
This is an exciting development. You can now create YouTube shorts and add AI-generated videos to your clips. I haven’t given it a good test mostly because I am not sold on how it adds value to my creation, but it looks interesting.
Google Preferences Based on Content
Neil Patel always has good ideas to get you thinking about how you market your content. He shared a handy chart that helps us understand how to get favourable placement on Google. However, podcasts still do not rank on page 1 as much as I would like.
How well do Leaders Understand AI?
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-leaders-playbook-genai-works-usg4f/
This piece from Linkedin says it all about AI and leadership in industry today.
AI is not simply a trend; it's become essential for today's businesses. Despite this, 84% of professionals are unsure how AI will affect their specific industries, and only 12% possess basic AI skills. This creates a significant disparity between those who comprehend AI and those who actively lead with it.
We need digital literacy check-ups across the business ecosystem to help everyone keep up with the change. I am not suggesting we all need to use the latest tools, but we absolutely need to understand them.
Time to Rethink Hiring
https://mercor.com/?utm_source=theneuron&_bhlid=fb3e8f240991bb37f473cd25f64ca47d670c77fa
Anyone exploring employment opportunities will know that there are all sorts of digital postings and application portals. LinkedIn and Indeed are the two I use. There is a problem, and that is the simple fact that employers are posting jobs and getting overwhelmed by applications. They either resort to AI to sort the CVs or ignore most applicants. Technology is making it too easy to apply for jobs randomly.
Now, there is an added twist. Startup Mercor sends your single application to thousands of remote jobs after a 20-minute interview (raised $100M). On the one hand, it is significant that we can now apply for all sorts of jobs, but there is the real issue of not having enough time or desire to review the applications, and thus, good candidates are lost in the wash.
My wife discovered that using Indeed to find job opportunities but then going to the employer's CV and cover letter in hand was far more effective at getting interviews than relying on the platform to get your CV in front of an employer.
Do We Want the Human Interface
Richard Cawood, look him up on LinkedIn or @2ndlightphotograph, has been chronicling the replacement of authentic creative activity by people like you and me and the rise of AI generated content. The creep of AI has only gotten more pervasive in the last 6 months.
Spotify will now accept AI-narrated audiobooks made with ElevenLabs' voices—two years ago, it made a similar deal with Google Play Books. I am not sure the average consumer cares.
Reach out to me James.Piecowye@gmail.com
Catching up with Max Piecowye
Max’s career path has been anything but linear—starting as a lifeguard, transitioning to landscaping, and finally finding his passion in culinary arts. Through trial and exploration, he discovered that fulfillment comes from embracing change and following genuine interests. His advice? Take your time, explore, and don’t rush into a path that doesn’t excite you.
Catching Up with Max: A Father-Son Conversation on Careers and Life Choices
Sitting down with my son Max for an open and honest conversation about career paths and life’s unexpected turns is something I cherish. In this episode of Catching Up, we delve into the many roles he’s taken on, the lessons learned along the way, and where his journey has led him today.
A Career Path Marked by Exploration
Max’s professional journey has been anything but conventional. He began working as a lifeguard, ensuring safety by the poolside and eventually stepping up as an aquatic supervisor. The structured environment gave him valuable leadership experience, but he soon felt the urge to step into something different. Seeking a change of pace, he moved into landscaping—a job that allowed him to work outdoors, build endurance, and develop a different skill set.
Despite these experiences, there was still a lingering sense that something was missing. Encouraged by family and driven by curiosity, Max made a bold move into culinary arts. He enrolled in the Culinary Management program at Algonquin College, diving headfirst into an entirely new industry.
Discovering a Passion for Cooking
Cooking wasn’t just about making food—it was about discipline, creativity, and precision. Through the Culinary Management program, Max was introduced to the rigorous world of professional kitchens, learning knife skills, teamwork, and high-pressure problem-solving. The brigade system, a time-tested approach to kitchen organization, became second nature to him, shaping his confidence and ability in the culinary world.
A Shift in Perspective on the Restaurant Industry
One of the biggest surprises for Max was how differently he viewed the restaurant industry after stepping into it. The economics of dining out, the fast-paced environment, and the cost of fine dining changed his perspective. Since starting school, he has chosen to cook more at home, realizing the value of his skills and the reality of restaurant pricing.
Advice for Young Adults Considering Their Future
Reflecting on his path, Max offers a valuable lesson: higher education is not the only road to success. He urges young adults to take the time to truly understand their passions before making costly commitments to college or university. His journey—filled with trial, error, and unexpected turns—taught him that career fulfillment comes from embracing change and pursuing what genuinely excites you.
Looking Forward
Max’s story is a reminder that career paths are rarely linear. From lifeguarding to landscaping to culinary school, his journey has been a testament to resilience and adaptability. What’s next? That remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—this conversation is far from over.
Stay tuned for the next chapter of Catching Up as we continue to explore life’s evolving paths and personal growth.