BoSacks Readers Speak Out: The AI Revolution—More Insane Than We Realized

Re: BoSacks Speaks Out: The AI Revolution—More Insane (and Power-Hungry) Than We Realized

This is very thoughtful "Speaks Out" piece fromBo Sacks. I'm glad he's writing more.

I recall way back when e-readers were going to free us all from…something, something, evil publishing overlords, the fanboys kept referring to the buggy whip industry and how we all survived the transition from that.

That was fun and ironic and very tweetable but completely missed the point. It’s the same point that I think today's AI fanboys and their funders miss. We don’t work in an industrial economy anymore.

I have no problem if AI could actually manage my screwed up calendar for me. If the apps I see floating around social media could actually flawlessly perform all of the functions they claim they can do to make my work life more productive. I find them mostly ‘meh’.

We humans are completely capable of creating uninspiring, mostly copy cat content all on our own. Just check out the latest ‘original’ offerings on any of the streaming platforms.

No, LLMs should not be trained on the uncompensated work of human creators. It’s a crying shame that our laws and social guardrails can't keep up.

Is there a solution? Maybe? Ideally we will have to, at some point, collectively decide as a society if we want to keep going down this dystopian path, or do we want to meet our human potential and do better?

I would prefer to try the path of doing better. I will probably fall flat on my face, but that’s what I would like to try. (Submitted by a Circulation Consultant)

Re: BoSacks Speaks Out: The AI Revolution—More Insane (and Power-Hungry) Than We Realized

It all boils down to this: if we don’t do it, China will. That trumps every other consideration. There’s no time to set limits or discuss rules because we’re in a mad dash to win (whatever that means in this context). If AI makes billions of people unnecessary, so be it. At least we did it before China. (Submitted by a marketing, technology, operations and fulfillment functions consultant)

Bo’s Reply - Out of all the possible directions one could take after reading what I wrote, your connection to competing with China in the AI race was an unexpected turn. However, I do see the relevance—artificial intelligence is rapidly shaping the future of global innovation, security, and economic power. Staying ahead in AI development is not just about technological prestige; it directly impacts national security, industry leadership, and the ability to dictate ethical standards in the digital age.

That said, the challenge isn’t just about winning the AI race—it’s about ensuring that AI advancements serve society effectively. While global AI competition is fierce, domestic concerns like responsible AI regulation, equitable access to AI-driven tools, and workforce adaptation remain urgent priorities.

The real priority isn’t simply beating another nation in AI—it’s about defining how AI shapes our world and ensuring that it aligns with societal values. AI leadership should not only focus on technological superiority but also on ethical innovation, economic resilience, and ensuring that AI remains a force for collective progress rather than disruption.

Consultants reply - Yes, I agree that we need to shape how AI will affect the world. My point is that as soon as we try to do that (if anyone actually does), the AI companies will say "but China ..." and that will end the conversation. If we can't get past that, no effort to rein in or control AI will ever be successful.

Re: BoSacks Speaks Out: The AI Revolution—More Insane (and Power-Hungry) Than We Realized

Very thoughtful. I also saw xxxx’s comment on it on LinkedIn about we should not worry about stuff like that because we are a race with China. It reminded with the time my kids come to ask for something and I say no, they answer but everybody is doing that, I say if everybody is jumping from a cliff do you jump too? (Submitted by a renowned professor of journalism)

Re: BoSacks Speaks Out: The AI Revolution—More Insane (and Power-Hungry) Than We Realized

We ruined news by adapting instant and fast delivery so our competitors don’t beat us, and now we will ruin our ethics and morals so China will not beat us?

I remember dad, God rest his soul, telling me, “you don’t compete with evil, you just continue doing good.”

Glad you and I are of the same mind set. We care too much about this industry and we want nothing but the best for it. (Submitted by a renowned professor of journalism)

Re: BoSacks Speaks Out: The AI Revolution—More Insane (and Power-Hungry) Than We Realized

Dear Bo, I just finished reading your latest "BoSacks Speaks Out," and I have to say—it’s absolutely brilliant! I greatly enjoyed it. You’ve delivered that unmistakable Bo Sacks punch: provocative, insightful, and refreshingly candid. You should bottle that stuff.

Your analysis of AI, in particular, really stood out to me. You made connections I hadn’t considered before, and your thought-provoking insights have given me a lot to reflect on. This kind of sharp, original thinking is exactly why your work is so essential to me.

I can’t thank you enough for your unwavering commitment to meaningful journalism. For years, your insights have been a cornerstone of my professional growth, guiding me through industry changes and keeping me inspired. Your contributions truly make a difference. Thank you for everything you do. (submitted by a multi-title Publisher)

Re: BoSacks Speaks Out: The AI Revolution—More Insane (and Power-Hungry) Than We Realized

I wish I could believe we will succeed in harnessing the good AI can bring ethically. But there are enough people who are unethical and care only for their own well being and quick profits that I doubt it.

So that great health care AI won't just be used as a tool to help diagnose, but by say a health company who will make desisions based on profit not the patient-and people will suffer.

Nero was rumored to fiddle while Rome burned. Robber barons got rich off the backs of children dying in mines. The likes of Hitler and Stalin left millions of bodies in their wake. It's by no means a new problem for humanity. It's happening fast and now. (Submitted by a Senior Business Analyst)

Re: Ad Serving, Personalized Visits: Where AI Will Take Advertisers

Hi Bo and Samir

I try very hard to manage the information I read, but I am always suspicious of the accuracy or truth that is reported.

Having grown up in the "industry" as a photo engraver, I recollect the only change to original artwork was what was done to alter it by conventional (air-brushing and retouching) to enhance the photo or remove imperfections.

We then moved to the era in the '70's, 80's and ninety's of Electronic systems such as Scitex and its competitors which I was fortunate to see in use. I can also attest that there were almost no images which weren't altered and especially in cosmetic advertising.

Then of course, as you stated, the development of Mac's and Photoshop which made the manipulation of images available to the masses

Now, the theme of AI, I can only hope that my grandchild will be wise enough to distinguish between truth and fiction. As always, thanks for what you do to point out the importance of facts and honesty (Submitted by an industry supplier -Retired but an age-old friend of Bo)

RE: BoSacks Speaks Out: Linotype, the Machine That Saved the Word

I was lucky to have witnessed the conversion from hot type to cold at my first professional job in journalism, which was at Crain Communications in Detroit. This was in the early 1980s.

The Crain building had three or four Linotype machines, plus a Ludlow machine for setting headlines. With the Ludlow, you could have any font you wanted as long as it was Tempo, Tempo Bold, or Tempo Bold Extended. At least, that’s the way I remember it. On the wall above the Ludlow hung a sign that said “A headline is useless if it doesn’t fit.” That sentence was repeated several times, each time set in a larger point size, until the last line read “A headline is usel” to illustrate the point.

The typesetters would hang a “pig” of lead on a chain that hung over a melting pot on each of the Linotype machines. One of them would actually wrap his lunch in foil and warm it over the melting pot, apparently oblivious to any concern about lead poisoning. Watching over the shoulders of the composing room staff, I learned how to read the lead slugs upside down and backwards.

Linotype machines did not use a qwerty keyboard, so when the decision was made to convert to cold type, the typesetters, all of whom had been working in hot type for decades, would sit at typewriters on their lunch hours to learn how to touch-type on a qwerty keyboard.

The day that Crain turned off the Linotype machines for good, one of the typesetters handed me the very last lead slug ever to be set in the building,

along with seven matrices that spell out my last name. I cherish them to this day. (Submitted by a Media Director)