I argue why GenAI cannot replace human writers. GenAI is not magic, it’s a probabilistic sequence predictor. It is trained on data to predict what is most likely to follow a set of words (prompt). In contrast, human writing is thinking on paper.
Finding Purpose Beyond Work
“What do you do?” How many of us simply announce our profession in response to this question? Work is so central to our identity in the world today that this seems natural. If you identify yourself closely with your work, that’s great. But, for many people, work is simply a means to pay their bills.... Continue Reading →
Art vs Artist
Years ago, I finally met a writer I only knew by his works. His writing oozed satire, irreverence, and iconoclasm. His personality reflected warmth, kindness, and thoughtfulness. The contrast between his writing and social self couldn’t have been sharper. In his magnum opus, “The Story of Philosophy”, Will Durant chronicles the lives of philosophers alongside... Continue Reading →
Looking back at 2024
“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” ― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft Write a newsletter every week: that was my new year resolution for 2024. When I wrote my first newsletter on Jan 6th, 2024, I didn’t know if I... Continue Reading →
Using Deadly Laws as a Proxy for Social Change
I argue why deadly laws cannot be a proxy for social change.
Is Any Publicity Really Good Publicity?
Marketing is a fine art and inexact science
How Elite Imitation Affects Public Policy
In a previous newsletter on marketing fallacies, I argued how we’re prone to the Apex Fallacy the most. It’s widespread because some companies do indeed beat the conventional wisdom and win big. We see it unfolding right in front of us. And, we risk being seen as too soft when we appear skeptical about its... Continue Reading →
The Market for Lemons
Why do people prefer buying used cars from a dealer rather than a private seller? Especially when people know they must pay a premium for dealer’s commission charges over and above the car’s selling price. This is the issue American economist George Akerlof addressed at length in his paper, “The Market for Lemons”. The paper... Continue Reading →
Four Common Fallacies in the Marketing World
Like any other line of work, the marketing function too is prone to logical and cognitive fallacies. While there may be many more, the following 4 fallacies occurred most often in my marketing years. Feel free to write in the comments about the fallacies you encountered the most at work. Let’s dive in straight. 1.... Continue Reading →
Build on Strengths, Not Weaknesses
Should you pursue your passion or go after what begets status and money? This is a question most of us grapple with at some point. However, the happy news is it’s not a binary. In fact, if you replace ‘passion’ with ‘competence’, the question poses a false dilemma. You’re more likely to achieve status and... Continue Reading →
Musings by Madhav 