June 16, 2017: Friday News Roundup
It’s really feeling like summer around here. Maybe that’s why we’re lightening the tone for this week’s roundup. Sure, we’ve got the usual dispatches from the world of AI and workplace disruption, but we’ve also got a baby gorilla and Ms. Pac-Man.
3 Trends That Will Disrupt Your Workplace Forever
Business leaders don’t know any better than the rest of us what the future will look like, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be planning for it. Gallup’s research found three main trends driving the disruption, and, yes, the AI revolution is one of them.
To Build Your Resilience, Ask Yourself Two Simple Questions
We all need to be much more adaptable in order to thrive in this brave new world. Udemy’s own research found the pressure to keep up with rapidly changing skills requirements is a major stressor for today’s employees. If resilience isn’t one of your strong suits, this author has some tips for making an attitude adjustment. But you’ve got to keep at it and practice.
Divide and Conquer: How Microsoft Researchers Used AI to Master Ms. Pac-Man
Another week, another story of AI beating us at our favorite games. This feat is notable for how researchers approached the challenge: by dividing “the large problem of mastering Ms. Pac-Man into small pieces, which they then distributed among AI agents.” This mirrors some theories on how the human brain works.
How a Philly Ob-Gyn Ended Up Delivering a Baby Gorilla
We’re including this story as an example of how one skillset can be transferable to a related field in an unexpected way. A doctor who’s performed countless C-sections on humans was called in to perform the surgery on a pregnant primate. Maybe your expertise applies to something you’ve never considered too? (Spoiler alert: Mom and baby are doing fine, and the doctor herself was pregnant at the time.)
Call It a Comeback: Typewriters Attracting New Generation of Fans
While most of us are slaves to our smartphones and glued to our screens, some folks are rediscovering the joys of an antiquated technology: the typewriter. This article even quotes a typewriter repairman (maybe the only one left on earth?) whose business is bustling. Hunting down a vintage machine online or in a thrift store is half the fun.