AI Legislation, Layoffs, Ancient Texts, and Blind Gamers
Weekly Review of News in Technology, UX and AI
Here’s the latest news, resources, and use cases from the world of product, UX, AI and technology. Let’s go:
📊 Unstructured Data
🇪🇺 AI Legislation
🧑💻 Layoffs
🌍 Ancient Texts
🚶♀️➡️ Walking
🎮 Blind Gamers
Podcast
Structured Thinking for Unstructured Data: A Conversation with Founder Kirk Marple
In this episode of Product by Design, Kyle is joined by Kirk Marple, founder and CEO of Graphlit, to explore the world of unstructured data and how it’s transforming with the rise of LLMs and AI-native tools. Kirk shares his journey from working at Microsoft and General Motors to building Graflit—a platform designed to make unstructured data as usable as structured data.
News and Useful Reads
EU says it will continue rolling out AI legislation on schedule
While the US is rolling back any hope of regulating things that may cause harm or kill people, the EU says it will continue to roll out regulations to avoid “unacceptable risks” via AI and to protect its citizens.
The European Union on Friday said it will stick to its timeline for implementing its landmark AI legislation, in response to a concerted effort by more than a hundred tech companies to delay the bloc’s AI rules, Reuters reported.
Laid-off workers should use AI to manage their emotions, says Xbox exec
If you need a periodic reminder of how out of touch executives are, here you go. Microsoft did a massive layoff this week, and then had one of its executives suggesting on LinkedIn that former employees could use AI to polish up those resumes.
In a now-deleted LinkedIn post captured by Aftermath, Xbox Game Studios’ Matt Turnbull said that he would be “remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances.”
Babylonian text missing for 1,000 years deciphered with AI
Of course, AI has a place still. And one great use is helping to decipher ancient texts, which I’m here for.
A team of ancient literature experts have deciphered a Mesopotamain text that was missing for over 1,000 years. Etched on clay tablets, the Hymn to Babylon describes the ancient megacity in “all of its majesty,” and gives new insights into the everyday lives of those who resided there. The text is detailed in a study published in the journal Iraq.
The science behind the 10-minute brain reset walk
I personally try to take a walk every day. It helps me think more clearly and reset. Even our kids have noticed a difference when we take walks, and often suggest we take the dog for a walk because everyone seems happier after.
What if the simplest tool for mental health was already in your daily routine, you’ve just been overlooking its power all along? Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki reveals how walking can deliver extraordinary benefits for your brain.
Other Interesting Finds
The Blind Leading the Gamers
I’m a staunch believer in making all products—games, apps, everything—accessible. And this is an amazing story of someone focused on making video games accessible to the blind. I hope we continue to see more of these efforts.
Minor has not only figured out how to play (certain) video games. He’s trying to build a career with a singular goal: to make it so blind people can play any game they want…
And to hear Minor tell it, getting people to care about blind-accessible video games is a harder and more complicated task than Olympic-level swimming.