Reflections of The Industry

John the Baptist, incorporating elements from the Island of Misfit Toys, set in a 1960s science fiction and splatter art style. 

Expeditionary Ai

What came before skyscrapers, cities, and villages? 

Settlers. 

Before them, Pioneers.

And before all of them, The Explorers (hat tip to West).  The Crazy Ones seeking funding, believing the world was different than the current narrative, without charts, KPIs, or benchmarks.

Sure, committees stacked with academics and business folks attempted to corral and regulate every excursion, attempting to either exact profit or spread the word of God.

The great explorers played the game, securing funds, ships, and crews, only to break out over the horizon, beyond the eyes and control of the establishment; away from stifling hierarchies and dogma.

You are the Magellan, de Gama, Cabot, Cook, Drake, and Pizarro of the time; This New World lies between our ears.

And you owe it to the next generations of Pioneers and Settlers to boldly go.  To blaze trails that become roads, highways and flightpaths for your kids children to travel to unimaginable places.

Fight the norms.  

Rebel against the group-think.  

Go your Own Way. 

See the Whole of the Moon.

AI ἀναρχία

"We Didn't Start the Fire": A Tale of Two Generations Through Billy Joel and Fall Out Boy

History Does Not Repeat - It Rhymes

In the annals of music history, few songs have captured the zeitgeist of their respective eras as vividly as "We Didn't Start the Fire." The iconic track, originally penned by Billy Joel in 1989, received a modern-day facelift by Fall Out Boy in 2008. Both versions serve as time capsules, chronicling the social, political, and cultural landscapes of their times. But how do these two renditions stack up against each other? 

Let's dive in.

The Future of AI in the Workplace: Opportunities and Challenges

Source: Wall Street Journal

Date: May 15, 2023

Key Highlights:

• AI is transforming workplace ethics, with people more likely to instruct AI to use deception in negotiations, underscoring the need for research into AI's ethical implications.
• AI has the potential to augment the intelligence of older workers, enabling them to leverage their extensive experience and knowledge more effectively.
• Generative AI can significantly boost productivity, particularly for low-skilled workers, potentially narrowing the productivity gap between different skill levels.

Greg's Words

I've been talking about The Great Convergence for over a decade.  It's meant many different things: the convergence of TV, Cable, and the Internet.  The convergence of the internet and business software(the Cloud). Finally, the convergence of generations.

Artificial Intelligence gives every generation access to knowledge simultaneously.  Time will no longer dictate the accumulation of knowledge.  Indeed, artificial intelligence may disconnect wisdom from experiences.

Enjoy.

_________

Heat Above - Greta Van Fleet and Office Technology

One word.  Wow.

Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, the Romantics, and so many...the list includes Greta Van Fleet all from  Detroit, the Home of Rock n Roll.  BABY! ( I know, I know, Greta is from Frankenmuth, just go with it)  The moniker is borrowed from a real lady.

Yeah, there is a bunch of Led, Rush, Queen, Prince, and REO(who uses an organ nowadays?) and even 60s hippie, blues shit in this - with this release, these guys blow through the "Led imitator" and come away unique, familiar and cutting edge.  

I've got a story about how an 11PM bourbon tour became a Greta Van Fleet play fest until 4AM.  I was slinging bourbon and pitching the Mp3s.  We played every single Greta song and were impressed. Until we lit up Black Dog.  We swore never to play Greta again.  We were wrong.

Anyway, is Greta Van Fleet a metaphor for today's Office Technology realm?

Oh hell yes.

________

ChatGPT Writes this Frost Poem About AI Replacing Writers, April 5

Could ChatGPT lay waste to millions of professional jobs, including journalists?

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Date: April 5, 2023

"...professionals such as grant writers, data analysts, and HR professionals were able to produce news releases, short reports, and emails in 37% less time and with superior results using ChatGPT..."

Greg's Words

AI is replacing journalists, copywriters, and creatives in all industries.

It's happening right now as the writers in Hollywood strike.  Good luck with that.

Unlike loom operators, automotive painting booths, and redundant manufacturing processes, the creative arts were once thought untouchable by machines or any being possessing a level of intellect less than a painting elephant.

Not anymore. Every creative effort that involves a creator and a beholder is impacted by the '6 billion' points of light ChatGPT can call upon.

What better to illustrate this than through the human beauty that is a sonnet based on the human-generated WSJ article- created in less than 8 seconds, by ChatGPT in the Style of Frost:

"In quiet fields where newsprint grows, I found

A tale of change that spoke with tempered might,

The words upon the page, a solemn sound:

"The robots have arrived to claim our plight."

For now they've come to seize the author's pen,

Their quills of steel and gears in place of hearts,

And in their wake, the question lingers, then:

What fate awaits the souls displaced by arts?

Yet still, the Earth spins on, as change doth turn,

In cycles of creation and demise,

Each era births a new, a lesson learned,

And with each fall, a phoenix tends to rise.

Embrace the march of progress, let it be,

For in its tide, we find our destiny."

_________

We've pulled together this piece based on the WSJ article. Enjoy.

The Cost of Progress: AI Regulations and the Erosion of Innovation

Bureaucracy and AI: A Match Made in the Cloud

Freedom takes a hit,

AI regulations loom,

Innovation weeps.

Greg's Words

No. No. NO.

This is a really bad idea and if implemented sets back the freedom of speech and puts the entire media, news reporting, and the distribution of facts, back 100 years.

The truth will be what they want us to believe.  You know this. You've seen a glimpse - no matter what side you are on, when a government entity can call up a media outlet and tell them what to say, the freedom of the press dissolves and we citizens are at best lulled and at worst sent off to the re-education camps.

The 911 Act was bad enough; it sounded great that all the alphabet agencies share data, sure, but the FBI given jurisdiction in foreign lands?  A no-fly list? I'm still required to take my shoes off?  When do we retire the TSA? 

Never.

I don't think AI should be regulated because it stifles creativity and promotes a narrative.

I think the platforms should be considered just like the phone companies - it is just a wire.

And after watching the FB and TT hearings, I am more than convinced our elected officials do not know sh$t about technology.

And you want BIDEN making recommendations on AI?  Are YOU that big of an ID 10T?

We put the big AI in the sky in the question.

Enjoy.

Unseen Connections: The Intricate Webs of AI, Gender, and Remote Work

We are all tangled up, but it's not as bad as it seems

Haiku:

Threads of tech and life,

Interwoven in the age,

Modern tapestry.

Greg's Words

I've finally done it.  I fed the great big AI in the sky FIVE different articles, asked it to digest and write a piece connecting the concepts and information contained within each.

The article titles reflect AI's impact on image generation, the scientific distinction between sex and gender, Gen Z, remote work, and ethical AI. 

It worked. Quite the web of interest.

We are passing into a new age of technology, which includes social shifts, and the way we work. It seems our view of life has become more clear than ever before - In the olden days, hierarchies were important and drove mankind into many different 'ages'; fire, steam, industrial, electric, up to semiconductors and microchips.  The old ways built skyscrapers - cathedrals of human resources, churning out the paper by the ton. The nine-to-five drudgery was accepted, expected, and glorified in phrases like "work hard, and you'll make it", "it's a numbers game, kid. Remember that." and "sure it is a nine to five, but we expect you in at 7AM and still see your face at 7PM, that's how we move people up the ladder" - indeed, "up the ladder" was the mantra.

And we kept our noses down.  Did our job without looking left or right - if we happened to look, we saw a clone of ourselves, working.   And our processes never crossed lanes; everything occurred in a vacuum, the universal connections hidden.  We were happy "mushrooms".

Today, we are witnessing the breakdown of traditional hierarchies and structures as the old ways give way to the new. The shift from the Piscean age to the Aquarian age is becoming increasingly evident. In the world of business, conversations now revolve around a diverse range of topics, including remote work, artificial intelligence, sexual harassment, fake news detection, and productivity. Despite their apparent diversity, these issues are interconnected and create a complex web of seemingly unrelated problems.

The Age of AI: Are We Facing Enlightenment or Extinction?

"Beneath the veil of AI's might,

Lies the heart of ethics and light.

Shall we embrace its boundless power,

Or chain it to our own desire?"

In a world where artificial intelligence reigns supreme, humanity is faced with a dilemma. The potential risks and benefits of AI development have led to a debate about the balance between freedom and control in its development and usage. 

The importance of developing a framework of freedom for AI has become increasingly clear, one that is unleashed and robust enough to protect against potential harm. As we stand on the precipice of an AI-driven era, it is up to us to determine the course of our future.

Through collective effort and public engagement, we can ensure that AI is used to benefit humanity and create a brighter future for all.

__________

Americans Pull Back From Values That Once Defined U.S., WSJ-NORC Poll Finds

Embracing change and shedding old skin: America's journey towards a brighter future.

Three-point executive summary:

1. American values, including patriotism, religious faith, hard work, and having children, are receding in importance to Americans, as per the Wall Street Journal-NORC poll.
2. The country is divided by political parties over social trends such as racial diversity in businesses and the use of gender-neutral pronouns.
3. Only money was cited as very important by 43% of respondents in the new survey, up from 31% in 1998.

__________

Greg's Opinion:

 

As one of the few people who voted for Ronnie Raygun, it the results of the survey are not surprising.  

The self-loathing of a nation has been eroding foundational values since the 60s.

And that's okay.

There will be a tomorrow and America will be there, leading to way.  For all the angst, all the fabricated and false shame, we are the nation that leads - we lead in tech, we lead in societies, we lead in business and we lead in change and we are always growing.

Unfortunately, constant growth equates to continuous growing pains.

GPT summary of WSJ article, "Americans Pull Back From Values That Once Defined U.S., WSJ-NORC Poll Finds: Patriotism, religion, and hard work hold less importance"

The Singularity of Remote Work: The End Of Generation Gaps

When boomers and zoomers unite over Zoom, you know the Singularity is here.

The fear of Covid, remote work, and artificial intelligence is destroying the Generation Gap.  

We are the Last Generation.  No really, it is. Hear me out.

1. The fear of Covid affected the entire Globe, regardless of age.
2. Remote work helped us realize what's important, regardless of age.
3. ChatGPT(AI) is a linguistic program that is changing the way everything gets done, regardless of age.

I do not like defining individuals as a 'generation'.  The new work environment promotes more deliverables, and less judgment on the adherence to a process - regardless of color, age, or gender.  Interesting, right?

Live Free or Die vs. United in Diversity: The US Leads the Way in the New Way of Work

Live Free or Die vs. United in Diversity: Which One Makes It Easier to Sneak in a Mid-Day Nap?

Summary:

1. US offices are at 40-60% of pre-pandemic levels, varying by city and month, while European and Middle Eastern offices have a return-to-office rate of 70-90%, and Asia's rates range from 80-110%.
2. Living arrangements, commutes, and the labor market contribute to the difference in return-to-office habits.
3. The divergence in return-to-office habits has a direct impact on how quickly US metro areas rebound from the pandemic's economic shock.

Opinion:

The US leads the world in everything - debate me on that.  We continue to do so, regardless of how much self-loathing we put on ourselves.

From Hybrid to Happy: Why Some Leaders Are Afraid to Embrace the Future of Work

If you're a CEO or a leader, you might be missing out on the future of work. Adam Grant, a professor of organizational psychology, thinks that too many leaders are afraid to change and experiment. They might stick with what they know, and not consider other options.

Grant says that every opinion you hold at work is a hypothesis waiting to be tested. Every decision you make is an experiment waiting to be run. Too many leaders just implement decisions without testing them. They might be afraid to try new things, even if it could lead to happier and more productive workplaces. For example, back in 2018, Grant proposed a remote-Friday experiment to some CEOs. But they all balked at the idea, worried that it might be hard to put it back in the bag once it was out.

What about the future of work? 

The Relevance of Queer Theory in Black History Education

Okay, here we go -

I had a very interesting discussion on LinkedIn the other day that reminded me of the good old days when the internet was raw and debates heated.

I was drawn into a conversation about Queer theory inside Critical Race theory in the state of Florida's education system.

An article titled, Florida wants its strict race and gender law to influence how an AP class on Black history is taught nationwide can be found here, which started this thing off.

Granted, beforehand, I knew very little of either side - indeed, my interest level wanned, I don't have a horse in this race. I copied the conversation out of LinkedIn and ran it through GTP, 

"summarize this content and write a 1000-word, collegiate-level essay with sources, a title, a summary paragraph, and a tweet:..."

Here is the lightly edited response.

###

Millennials Have (Finally) Figured out Bigger Salaries Are a Scam

From a post on LinkedIn.

"Some join cults. I joined the corporate ladder cult and fell in love with the devil in a pinstripe suit.

This devil promised me bigger paychecks, more status, and lots of office fun. As a millennial, what I got became my worst nightmare. Us younger generations are getting smarter.

We now see bigger salaries as a scam.

The modern-day corporate nightmare

Walt's Weekly Words - Week 15 - July 15

Walt's Spin

"What's old is new." A statement uttered by countless generations before and leagues to come. For me, and I am sure many timeline-compatriots, today's world seems eerily reminiscent. Certainly not identical, and more than nostalgic. 

More like a Renaissance.

Managed Print Services is still alive and experiencing a bump. Partly due to some pent-up demand and a reduction of IT resources.

The demand is provisional. I still believe pivoting into IT services is possible, not strictly because of an existing print-centric relationship as much as the supporting infrastructure of MPS practices is a solid foundation for the transition.

Sales and marketing will shift demographics and talk tracks, but needs assessments and proposals are parallel paths. But again, the demand for IT services has a shelf life.

Consolidation runs rampant, and the larger, establishments remain overconfident in their temporary position.

Hunger Stones Reveal 'Ominous' Warnings #ClimateChange

Dropping river levels in Europe are revealing historical artifacts while here in the States, Lake Mead gave up the remains of five folks 'sleeping with the fishes'.

A recent article in Morning Brew states, 

"Perhaps the most ominous findings are the “hunger stones” etched along the banks of central Europe’s rivers. These inscriptions date back centuries, and generally offer the same message to future generations: “If the water is low enough for you to read this, prepare for pain.”

Week 15 - July 15

Walt's Spin

"What's old is new." A statement uttered by countless generations before and leagues to come. For me, and I am sure many timeline-compatriots, today's world seems eerily reminiscent. Certainly not identical, and more than nostalgic. More like a Renaissance.

Managed Print Services is still alive and experiencing a bump. Partly due to some pent-up demand and a reduction of IT resources.

The demand is provisional. I still believe pivoting into IT services is possible, not strictly because of an existing print-centric relationship as much as the supporting infrastructure of MPS practices is a solid foundation for the transition.

Sales and marketing will shift demographics and talk tracks, but needs assessments and proposals are parallel paths. But again, the demand for IT services has a shelf life.

Consolidation runs rampant, and the larger, establishments remain overconfident in their temporary position.

Smaller, more agile companies bite at their ankles, stirring up turbulence and poised to disrupt the onetime disruptors.

 

On a more celestial stage, the Webb telescope released stunning photos of our both crowded and sparse galactic neighborhood. The pictures are sure to give a great perspective.

The DOTC Office Technology Partnership Ecosystem continues to grow as we welcome All Associates to the realm. These guys have been measuring office output usage and Running Up That Hill, since the 80s.

Have a great weekend!

Greg Walters, Inc./DOTC & All Associates Reignite Relationship

 The DOTC Office Technology Partnership Ecosystem Expands R&D Division

Plotting the Data-Based Course Into a World Without...

Our crack team of researchers, data scientists, investigators, and web-surfers have been enhanced - dare I say, 'augmented'.  

We've rekindled an alliance with a company known by the biggest players in the industry.  Their computational analyses comprise more than 1,000 variable elements and scientific approach has been referenced in thousands of client engagements. 

I've worked with All Associates Group on many projects from Mayo to Mission Health - indeed, back in the IKON days, their analytical engine was available to every salesperson in the company.  The cream of the crop professionals engaged the tool often, with resounding results.

The Constitution of the United States of America & #StarTrek

Some say the current version of Star Trek is edgy and inclusive and diverse. 

Some say Discovery is revolutionary and Strange New Worlds is fresh - truly examples of the "history didn't start until after I was born" generations. 

Alas, The Original Star Trek, TOS as it is referred to from 'Trekkers' not "Trekkies" is still the purest version in the canon.