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Reasons and 30 year trends Excerpt: " Oceans last year reached their highest levels in three decades — with the rate of global sea level rise increasing around 35 percent higher than expected, according to a NASA-led analysis published Thursday. The unexpected rise in global levels is concerning, particularly as an indicator for what to expect around coastal cities, many of which are already experiencing more damaging flooding ."

A.I. large scale governance initiatives begin Excerpt: "A small technology team within GSA called 10x started developing the program during President Joe Biden’s term, and initially envisioned it not as a productivity tool but as an AI testing ground: a place to experiment with AI models for federal uses, similar to how private companies create internal bespoke AI tools. But DOGE allies have pushed to accelerate the tool’s development and deploy it as a work chatbot amid mass layoffs (tens of thousands of federal workers have resigned or been terminated since Elon Musk began his assault on the government). The chatbot’s rollout was first noted by Wired, but further details about its wider launch and the software’s previous development had not been reported prior to this story."

Ethan Siegel, theoretical astrophysicist, shares "very big thoughts" Description: "Asking the question of, where did the entire universe come from, is no longer a question for poets and theologians and philosophers. This is a question for scientists, and we have some amazing scientific answers to this question that have defied even the wildest of our expectations." DM: A bit of related, personal "golden-oldie" thought

Fascinating developments Related: might A.I. hide its objectives? Related: A.I changes the value of expertise Related: A.I. already beating the best of pilots in combat?

Thoughts in The Atlantic Excerpt: "Musk’s team has accessed a Department of Treasury database that guides the disbursement of more than $5 trillion in federal funds. It is tussling with senior officials at the Internal Revenue Service over access to tax returns, among the most protected federal data, and at the Social Security Administration over access to data systems containing medical and bank records. A court has temporarily blocked Musk and his team from obtaining data about millions of Americans’ student loans, but only for now. And just last week, Musk sought access to “the most sensitive of all” : a database reflecting ongoing wage and income information for most working Americans. The Constitution distributes power among the branches of government to prevent its concentration and maintain its balance. It organizes many different forms of power, but particularly significant are the powers that take the form of “instruments,” to borrow James Madison’s term for the government’s material tools. Chief among them, the Constitution commits the “power of the purse” to Congress. By contrast, only the president can wield the power of the sword as the commander in chief of the armed forces. Those two profound instruments, guided by different branches, can also counterbalance each other, as when Congress withholds funding for disfavored armed interventions." Somewhat related Also somewhat related

David Dunning's podcast about "Enjoying your Ignorance!" Thank you Rendi!

Adam Grant TED talk Description: How do creative people come up with great ideas? Organizational psychologist Adam Grant studies "originals": thinkers who dream up new ideas and take action to put them into the world. In this talk, learn three unexpected habits of originals -- including embracing failure. "The greatest originals are the ones who fail the most, because they're the ones who try the most," Grant says. "You need a lot of bad ideas in order to get a few good ones."

The NYT list

Guidance in NYT

Wharton thoughts Excerpt: "Hybrid intelligence combines the best of AI and humans, leading to more sustainable, creative, and trustworthy results, writes visiting scholar Cornelia Walther. ... Imagine a neurosurgeon who faces a complex, high-risk brain surgery. Despite years of experience, the case presents unpredictable variables. Instead of relying solely on intuition, she turns to an AI-powered surgical assistant, which analyzes millions of similar cases in seconds, predicting complications and suggesting the most precise approach. As she operates, her expertise guides the procedure while the AI continuously adjusts recommendations in real time based on the patient’s vitals. When an unexpected complication arises, the AI flags an anomaly milliseconds before human detection, allowing the surgeon to act instantly and save the patient’s life. The AI extended the human’s capabilities without replacing her judgment. This is hybrid intelligence (HI) in action — natural and artificial intelligence working together, amplifying strengths, compensating for weaknesses, and achieving what neither could alone."

The benefits of a deep sense of accountablity Excerpt: "There are qualities that set people apart, and some of those qualities nest inside others, at least conceptually. You need to be curious. You need to know how to read people and engage them. The list goes on. But I’ll argue that all those other qualities become subsets—the inner dolls—of owning your job. If you feel a strong sense of accountability to get things done, then curiosity, emotional intelligence, and resilience are the tools, the means to an end. It’s the outcome that bosses value. That’s what will get you promoted. People are more willing to bet on someone who has a track record of getting things done, which is the best predictor of future performance."

The Book An inteview with author Somewhat related Somewhat related 2