AI is coming for us. It has already come for celebrities and institutions. Consider these three instances. Case #1: In May 2024, ChatGPT launched an AI voice assistant that sounded like a human. It ended up upsetting actress Scarlett Johansson. Why? The voice sounded eerily similar to her own. In defense, OpenAI claimed it was... Continue Reading →
In Defense of Passive Writing
I cite instances where passive writing is superior to the active voice. If all writers concur that an active voice is better, why is passive writing still in use? If this were such a universal truism, it begs the question as to why so much of the business writing is overwhelmingly passive. I explore this at length and find ways to navigate the politically correct maze and still convey our truth.
Bicycle for your Note-taking
I talk about my experiences in note-making. Because, the 5 most deceptive words in humanity’s history are: “I will remember this later”. I discuss how I came to discover the limitations of note-making in a book. And, why I was forced to go digital.
Are You Addicted to Social Media?
I talk about social media addiction, and how it affects our personal lives. We joined Facebook to connect with long-lost friends across the globe. Only to lose the ability to hold uninterrupted conversations with friends right in front of us. I dig into the perils of phone-based childhood and what young parents can do about it. Also, I briefly share my recent experiments to wean myself away from social media.
How Frugality fuels Creativity
I go down the memory lane, to the 90s where technology was still on the fringes of life. I revisit the days when we exchanged letters, where photos were taken to mark an important event. And, then, I ask whether the abundance of technology has cheapened what ideally should be treasured.
How much knowledge is enough knowledge?
I ask: how much knowledge is enough knowledge? Every year, we see a new list of books that promise to reshape our understanding of how the world works. But to a curious reader, this poses a problem: how much knowledge is enough knowledge? I seek answers to whether there is a reading equivalent of Minimum Effective Dose, the smallest dose that will produce a desired outcome.
Authenticity and Political Correctness in Business Communication
Should you publicly express an opinion that is at odds with the prevailing standards of political correctness? In this article, I seek answers to questions like: - If you self-censor on social media platforms, are you still being authentic? - Are you being authentic if you’re complying with what’s politically correct? - Is there no middle ground between authenticity and political correctness? If you ever held back from expressing an opinion online, this is for you.
Whom are you writing for? Humans or machines
Today, the writing craft is facing a kind of machine pincer attack: AI tools dumb the writing to an extent it’s high on patterns, low on substance; and SEO gods that reward this very writing type and incentivize more of it.
The Future of Reading
The same writing appears dramatically different when you shift your gaze from a printed copy to a digital screen.
Are You a Hedgehog or a Fox?
“The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” ~ Greek poet Archilochus
Musings by Madhav 