The algorithms and feed recommendations point us toward discussions, debates, and the decline of strong conversations.  An AI version of a discussion about critical thinking between a fake Bill Gates and Socrates could be where we are headed if we allow education and high school debate to continue to decline.  Our hope is it is a wake-up call.

-

Pew Research is an excellent website for fact-based data and analysis.  In this case, Pew may be acting a little too grow-up.  In an article about the Generations, Pew describes a few pitfalls of using descriptions to categorize population segments.  It leans toward using generation descriptors to point out differences and that underserved demographics remain underserved in descriptions.  Another statement in the article says: "Generational categories are not scientifically defined."  We didn't know this was a thing?  We figured a marketing company created the terms for Boomers, Gen-X, and Millennials to sell us stuff.  Yes, the terms for generation probably have something to do with age.  They can be attributed to typical ages for marriages and starting a family, but scientifically based was never a foundation. 

When someone says they are "first generation" American, we assume their parents immigrated from another country.  The first generation is born in a specific place.  When someone says they are "gen-x," we assume they are the coolest, independent thinkers in whatever group you are talking about!  😎😎😎

Using generations to categorize an age group helps to identify a time and a few characteristics.  Yes, we use it positively and negatively; it's just a category and a way to tell a story. 

7 minutes of good cheer every day. Become a Fan to get daily posts and updates.

Kristen Soltis Anderson writes the Substack Codebook, and we recommend it.  Anderson makes us think as part of a healthy dose of getting as many perspectives and thoughts from many different voices.  She writes an essay about high school debate, and we hope it is a warning, not an obituary.  Anderson, a high school debater, and a debate coach, later describes several disturbing trends in high school debate.  From ideological views influencing judges to alternative debate leagues, that could grow into clubs that only take on agreed-upon topics.  Yes, a debate club with nothing to debate? 

Debate and education are the foundation of a democratic republic; in the past, most of our government leaders started in a high school debate, and it was the spark that led to a life of public service.  As our current political environment has exposed, more leaders learned to argue on social media rather than debate in high school.  The more that erodes, the worse our political future could be. 

Using AI to have a prompt conversation with any personality is one thing; adding that same technology to a video and an audio AI program to produce a video that shows an AI version of Bill Gates talking to the AI version of Socrates is remarkable.  The video from Linus popped up in our Twitter feed - In the video, Gates is talking about AI and where it can go, and Socrates has a lot of questions about the true meaning and what could happen if critical thinking is no longer necessary in education or discussion.  It is a fascinating look into the future, and given the current speed of said future, it could be next week.  Who would you talk to?

British Invasion part 2.

Click on the Apple Music image to listen to the song on Apple Music or on the Spotify Image to listen to Spotify.

-

Thank you for spending a few minutes with us. Here’s one for the road!

With A Shout newsletter is written by Johnny Christian with the support of a thousand idea bits and the help of many people.

7 minutes of good cheer every day. Become a Fan to get daily posts and updates.

O/X