Cyndi Coon's Vision of AI and the Future at the El Sailon Series
Newsletter 31
Curt Doty of RealmIQ recently launched the AI Salon Series, entitled El Sailon, a platform dedicated to exploring the evolving relationship between AI and human creativity. The inaugural session featured Cyndi Coon, a prominent Applied Experiential Futurist, who shared her insights on the intersection of futurism, creativity, and AI, highlighting the crucial role humans play in shaping the future.
Coon's lecture delved into her work in "threat casting" and "future casting," methodologies she has developed to analyze data and anticipate potential future scenarios. These techniques allow her to gaze into possible futures and bring back valuable insights to guide present-day decisions. A key takeaway from her talk is the distinction she draws between human and AI capabilities—while AI is a powerful tool, it still lacks the ability to grasp the nuances and deeper meanings embedded in human experience, particularly in the social sciences.
Addressing the public's apprehension towards AI, Coon drew parallels to historical reactions to technological advancements such as photography and the internet. Just as these innovations were once feared but ultimately embraced, she advocates for a similar approach to AI. Coon emphasized that while AI will undoubtedly displace some jobs, it will also create new opportunities for those who harness its potential to enhance creativity and problem-solving.
In a particularly engaging segment of her lecture, Coon urged her audience to embrace AI with a sense of playfulness. She encouraged people to experiment with AI, document their experiences—especially the humorous and imperfect outcomes—and use this experimentation as a way to evolve alongside the technology. She highlighted the case of Jason Allen, an artist who used AI to create art that won a contest, sparking both admiration and controversy. This case, according to Coon, underscores the necessity of human engagement in AI-driven creative processes.
Coon also stressed that an open, playful mindset is key to staying relevant in an AI-driven future. The ability to experiment, learn, and adapt will be the most valuable skill as AI continues to evolve. She warned of an impending rapid adoption of AI technology, suggesting that those familiar with it will have a responsibility to help others adapt. Her closing thoughts centered on the importance of documenting and capturing the current moment in AI history. This, she believes, will serve as a valuable time capsule for future generations, offering them insights into how we navigated the early days of AI integration.
Cyndi Coon's lecture at the El Sailon Series offered a compelling vision of how we can engage with AI as both a tool and a partner in creativity, while keeping humanity at the center of this technological evolution. Her call to embrace AI with curiosity, playfulness, and generosity provides a roadmap for navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Our first El Sailon was a success! Thanks to everyone for attending. Special thanks to Edition One Gallery and Pilar Law for stepping up to the plate to provide the most unique and appropo site for this event. Thanks to Eric D. Renz-Whitmore and the City of Santa Fe for the support. Special thanks to filmmakers Glenn Silber and David Brownlow for documenting the talk. And to our special guest Cyndi Coon, what a way to kick off the series. Thanks so much. Orion Ohev and my wife Debra were instrumental in making this event happen. Deep gratitude. Save the Date for Sept. 10 for our next El Sailon! - Curt Doty
AI Roundup
NATO releases revised AI strategy
Under the new AI strategy, NATO will work to protect against the adversarial use of AI, including through increased strategic foresight and analysis. Glad someone is thinking of this.
As Alexa turns 10, Amazon looks to generative AI
Yes, Alexa was an early form of AI, without the understanding AI now has. Amazon's Alexa division incurred a $10 billion loss in 2022 and laid off staff, highlighting the unsustainability of its loss leader strategy despite the high household penetration. As enthusiasm for smart assistants like Siri and Google Assistant also wanes, Amazon is banking on generative AI to reinvigorate Alexa's capabilities and user engagement. The company's focus is on enhancing conversational interactions and overcoming the "smart timer" limitation. Question, is it still listening, and if so, is that the new data set?
Replika CEO Eugenia Kuyda says the future of AI might mean friendship and marriage with chatbots
Replika CEO Eugenia Kuyda recently discussed her vision for AI companions in human relationships, highlighting the app's role in offering friendship, therapy, or romance through avatars. With the evolution of LLMs, Replika aims to complement, not replace, human interaction, creating a new category of relationships. Despite controversies, such as temporary restrictions on adult content, the app's intent remains to improve users' emotional well-being. Let’s see if a chatbot will be a new option to check in forms; Married, Single, Chatbot!
Suno & Udio: The AI-mpire Strikes Back!
From pundit Peter Csathy. These Silicon Valley Backed AI Music Generators Aren't Just Saying "Fair Use." They're Saying The Major Labels Are The Bad Guys.
Good news on the Alt-tech side, A new competing GenAI platform for music creation is Jen Music focusing on seeking consent and give fair compensation. Social Music done right.
Investment News
Jensen Huang has lost nearly $27 billion in net worth since Nvidia shares peaked in June — here's how to diversify your own portfolio
He’s still worth nearly $100 billion.
Read in Moneywise.com: https://apple.news/AwtJXlW3DQH-R54KXi1lZhg
SXSW Panel Picker – Vote Today!
We are doubly thrilled that two of our sessions are up for consideration at #SXSW2025 via PanelPicker®! Peter Csathy along with Curt Doty, will be offering a fireside chat: “Copy, Paste, Sue: The Tangled Web of AI and Copyright.”
Every vote counts! Vote for our session so we can have an informative discussion on the legal aspects of GenAI.Voting for our panel is available NOW on the SXSW #panelpicker. ➡️ http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/153560
RealmIQ’s other panel is “The New RenAIssance: Creativity in an AI-Driven Workplace.” Executive Coach Orion Ohev and Curt Doty, branding and marketing expert bring you this exciting workshop. C-Suite, leadership, and managers interested in business transformation and building a new skillset for this new age rooted in creativity and innovation, this is for you.
Vote for our session so we can have a dynamic workshop celebrating the aspects of GenAI. Voting is available NOW on the SXSW #panelpicker. Vote here. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gBAyv4wS.
About the Author
Curt Doty specializes in branding, product development, social strategy, integrated marketing, and UXD. He has extensive experience on AI-driven platforms MidJourney, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Murf.ai, and DALL-E. His legacy of entertainment branding: Electronic Arts, EA Sports, ProSieben, SAT.1, WBTV Latin America, Discovery Health, ABC, CBS, A&E, StarTV, Fox, Kabel 1, TV Guide Channel, and Prevue Channel.
He is a sought after public speaker having been featured at Streaming Media NYC, Digital Hollywood, Mobile Growth Association, Mobile Congress, App Growth Summit, Promax, CES, CTIA, NAB, NATPE, MMA Global, New Mexico Angels, Santa Fe Business Incubator, EntrepeneursRx and AI Impact. His AI consultancy RealmIQ helps companies manage the AI Revolution.
© 2024 Curt Doty Company LLC. All rights reserved. RealmIQ is a division of the Curt Doty Company. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher is not responsible for any AI errors or omissions.