Starts, starts, and taking action in moments of change
FM (Friday Morning) Reflection #12
Can you tell the difference between a sunrise and a sunset? Light painting the sky with oranges and pinks and purples, and with shadows at long angles—when looking at a photo, it can be hard to tell if we’re seeing the start of something or the end, especially when we’re removed from the specific time and place of the image and it’s devoid of context clues.
Even if we know the answer or can figure it out, what appears to be a sunrise to you or me is also a sunset from another vantage point—it’s a matter of perspective.
The truth is, our world is more complex than we might like to believe, and rarely do we experience clear-cut cycles of beginnings and endings.
Take the world of technology and media right now. We’re witnessing what feels like a sunrise with Generative AI—new tools and capabilities that redefine how we solve problems, create, and grow value. I see the promise of using information to tackle deep-seated challenges and to give more people access to knowledge. There’s the potential for new economic models including ones that better reward a wider range of contributors and creators. These aren’t just new beginnings; they offer chances for real progress on tough problems and unanswered questions of our time.
But along with this dawn, there’s an apparent sunset in other areas that were served by earlier technologies and business models—local television continues its downward economic spiral, local newspapers continue to struggle, and many digital publications are still searching for a sustainable path. Leaders in local radio are recasting their businesses to be about local audio, finding new ways to give voice to the many communities they serve.
The evolution of these businesses to hybrid or digital-only models isn’t a direct transformation, and it’s not new. The writing has been on the wall for years as the service they provide(d) is evolving, and although many have and continue to fail at meeting the moment, some have succeeded and are even in a position to thrive in the days ahead.
What’s clear is that we’re living in a time when many things are true, and some things persist because they meet timeless needs.
Local media, in various forms, is essential in building community and creating a sense of place in the now. In-person connections and events have regained their importance, because even in a digital age, face-to-face interactions have irreplaceable value. These things endure because they meet deeper needs. They help us to know ourselves and our world around us.
This brings us to the question of how we learn and create knowledge. It’s about more than just collecting information; it’s about understanding what matters and what’s noise, and what requires our attention now. Progress often comes from this discernment—from recognizing when old solutions don’t work anymore and from building new knowledge through science, debate, and discovery.
Our current moment with AI requires us to engage in discernment. It’s not just about new tools but about understanding their place in the larger story of human effort.
At the OpenAI Executive Summit this week, I reflected on how access to resources, knowledge and wisdom can be used to shape outcomes for the better. Progress isn’t just about gathering data—it’s about making sense of it, using it wisely, and integrating ethics into our decisions. This journey has many challenges—Generative AI and other technologies come with uncertainties, and balancing innovation with responsibility is key. It’s a reminder that the path to “doing good” is ongoing, requiring reflection and adjustment.
And in all of this, our choices matter. With the upcoming U.S. election, I’m reminded that each of us has a say in the direction we move, whether at the ballot box or through everyday decisions. We always possess the limitless human potential for growth—through learning, experimenting, and adapting—but it’s up to us to turn that potential into action. Even with big challenges, we can contribute to collective progress, even in small, incremental ways.
What We Can Do: A Call to Action
If you’re a regular reader of my column, you know that I believe we can do good when we each work to do better, even if it’s just one act at a time.
Here are some concrete steps we can all take—and because AI is on the brain a lot these days, I’ve included suggestions for how to do this with Generative AI as well:
• Upskill: Take a course, read a book, or try a new tool. Growth starts with expanding your mind and skill set.
Try with AI: Experimenting with AI tools to solve a problem, assist with a creative venture, or challenge your thinking.
• Listen and Connect: Have a real conversation with someone—whether it’s a colleague, a neighbor, or a friend. Listening can lead to unexpected insights and strengthen connections.
Try with AI: Use AI to facilitate your readiness for these connections—learn about a topic that interests someone you want to connect with. If you’re out of practice, ask the AI to take on the role of a long-lost friend and to help you brush up on your conversational skills. Stretch goal: Try an app that can provide live translation to speak with someone in their native language.
• Reflect: Set aside time to think about what’s important and where you’re headed. Even 10 minutes of reflection each day can bring clarity.
Try with AI: Dictate your thoughts into an AI writing assistant to help organize your reflections into a draft.
• Measure Your Progress: Track one thing you want to improve, whether it’s a habit, a skill, or a project. Small measurements can lead to big changes.
Try with AI: Use AI-driven apps to track habits or monitor progress on personal goals. AI can analyze trends and suggest adjustments. Or if you’re just getting started, ask it to help you design a plan that is tailored to you.
• Discover and Create: Try something new or revisit a passion you’ve set aside. Creation isn’t just for artists; it’s a way to explore the world and your place in it.
Try with AI: Use generative AI to draft a story, generate music, or create visual art, based on your original ideas and concepts, or something you’ve already sketched out in concept. Use these AI-powered tools to explore how you might take it forward.
Ultimately, this is all about recognizing the opportunities before us and choosing to act with intention. Whether it’s exploring new tools, deepening connections, or taking a moment to reflect, every choice contributes to change. It’s not about grand gestures, but about steady actions that add up over time, guiding us toward a better future.
Photo Bonus
Sunrise outside my home office window as I wrote last week’s column to share with you. Taken with my Lomography Lomo’Instant Wide camera with Fuji Instax Wide film.