Professor Ari Zoldan - Public and Investor Relations Expert

Here we go again. AI powered misinformation and disinformation impacting the elections. We've covered AI's role in politics since 2016, with each election cycle expanding the scope and raising the stakes. A newsletter and podcast episode for November 5. You'll learn about the AI foot soldiers of misinformation -- bots, cyborgs, deepfakes, shallow fakes, sock puppets. Then comes the interesting part, which is a dive into the neuroscience and craft for getting people to believe BS. https://lnkd.in/gHBZk4jZ

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Governments have long complained about disinformation undermining elections, inciting unrest and deepening societal divides. But major companies (and smaller ones too) are now in the crosshairs and things are only getting messier. AI is being used to produce false material such as deepfake videos and other content more easily which is forcing businesses to move at super-speed to respond to fakery. Has your company been a target of a disinformation attack? How did you respond? Or are you worried about being hit - if so, what are you doing about it? This (not very festive) column was published over the holiday season, so re-upping now:

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Thanks SALMAN QADIR ✨ 🤖 #AI Specialization for pathways of Economic Diversification The Nature Magazine scientific report "AI Specialization for Pathways of Economic Diversification" research by Saurabh Mishra, Robert Koopman, Giuditta De Prato, Anand Rao, Israel Osorio‑Rodarte, Julie Kim, Nikola Spatafora, Keith Strier & Andrea Zaccaria It highlights how #artificialintelligence can drive #economic transformation by enhancing &#productivity and innovation across #industries like #agriculture, #healthcare, #energy, and #manufacturing.

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Batteries, software to make music, genetically engineered seeds: These were the innovations made in Massachusetts that in 2024 scored the biggest bucks from venture capitalists. #Boston #tech #news #massachusetts #vc #deals #venturecapital #funding #fundingalert #fundingnews

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In this week's column: The math at the heart of venture capital is out of whack. Successful exits have become vanishingly few and far between. That’s because it’s been next to impossible for startups to go public, and the regulatory climate for extremely large mergers and acquisitions is generally unfavorable, too. Many venture funds so far have been betting on lower interest rates and better IPO conditions in 2025. But the outlook for lower rates is receding, especially given today's strong jobs report. For many funds, particularly those in the middle quartiles when it comes to assets under management or performance, it’s time to move on with life. To survive, let alone prosper, they need an alternative to the traditional venture capital math based on big-number investments, $1 billion-plus valuations and gargantuan exits. The good news is that current conditions have prevailed since the Fed began raising interest rates in 2022—long enough that a few funds have brought forth alternatives to holding their breath or trying to manifest something better. Touring Capital arrived in 2023 with just such a thought in mind: It has positioned itself as an early growth stage fund with a focus on unconventionally modest Series B rounds. Co-founder and General Partner Nagraj Kashyap knew that startups were staying private for longer, but even he was surprised when research showed IPOs could take 15 years, far too long for venture investors to tie up their capital. And he knew firsthand that billion dollar-plus exits via mergers and acquisitions are exceptionally difficult to achieve. Touring builds relationships with startup founders at an early stage and advises them to take a smaller round of capital than they would traditionally raise, especially at the Series B stage. They get less rocket fuel to underwrite rapid growth, but founders and initial investors’ stakes are also less diluted. That should allow them to ultimately sell their companies for more modest valuations and still make substantial returns on their investment of time and capital. “A larger fund will have to invest in a quantum that is very significant because they can’t do $5 million or $10 million at a time,” Kashyap said. “So they’ll invest between $75 [million] and $100 million. Then you see that that means for the full B round, it becomes $150 million and the dilution for the founder becomes significant. That’s basically the math that goes on, which sometimes artificially takes the pricing higher.” The total size of each B round involving Touring is $30 million to $40 million. But it’s important to see that venture capital, designed to capitalize on “broken” models and experiences in a wide range of markets, is beginning to train its sights on itself, where there’s a pressing need for greater liquidity. 

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𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 #𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁! Here’s another conference byte from the STM conference in Frankfurt! The buzz around AI was unmistakable, with sessions diving into both its immense potential and the critical need for ethical oversight. I caught up with Heather Ruland Staines from Delta Think who was also on a panel. I’m excited to share more insights from my conversation with her and her key take aways. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗧𝗠 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆: 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 1. One of the most fascinating aspects was the participation of experts from beyond our immediate field, like the keynote speaker from the Institute of Defense Analysis. Keep humans in the loop during AI adoption—whether in military or otherwise. The takeaway? 𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀. 2. Discussions centred on how the military is incorporating AI, with strong parallels to research and publishing. Keeping humans involved in critical processes like copy editing, peer review, and content dissemination remains vital, underscoring that 𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. 3. A keynote speaker from Lisbon introduced some flashy new AI tools, but not all of the output seemed to hit the mark. The consensus? Some AI-generated content lacks the soul that human creation brings, making it clear that while AI offers tools, 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 4. Feedback from attendees suggested that while AI's negative aspects were thoroughly covered, future sessions should also focus on its positive applications. There’s a lot of potential for AI to drive change for the better, and it’s essential that 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 5. It was crucial to discuss bridging gaps between the Global North and South. AI is an equalizer, as everyone is learning about it simultaneously. Gracian Chimwaza, the founding director and Executive Director of ITOCA (Information Training & Outreach Centre for Africa), emphasized the importance of 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 6. There’s great excitement around AI-driven learning tools, which can be especially useful for early career researchers. Overall, the STM conference emphasized that while AI is a tool with immense potential, the human element remains irreplaceable. Whether it’s ensuring research integrity, enhancing publishing workflows, or fostering collaboration between regions, humans must remain at the center of AI's development and application. The future of publishing continues to evolve, and with thoughtful. Thank you for your time, Heather Ruland Staines. #STMFrankfurt #AI

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This op-ed we published today at MIT Technology Review provides a helpful reality check on concerns about whether AI will undermine elections worldwide. We're midway through one of the biggest election years ever—give it a read if you want the latest research on this important question. As a journalist, I liked this point in particular: "Overly alarmist narratives about AI’s presumed effects on democracy risk fueling distrust and sowing confusion among the public—potentially further eroding already low levels of trust in reliable news and institutions in many countries."

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JOURNAL-ISMS ROUNDTABLE TO BE SIMULCAST ON FACEBOOK Our next Journal-isms Roundtable will take place via Zoom this coming Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. Eastern, and simulcast on Facebook at < https://lnkd.in/dB3Mh2r > Matthew Lewis died Oct. 2 at age 94. < https://wapo.st/3UopRnd > Matt was the first African American assistant managing editor at The Washington Post. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his photography. Up for discussion: How are the news media doing in creating diverse teams of photographers? (Photo credit: High Point [N.C.] Enterprise) We will also hear from Leonard Pitts Jr., author of the new historical novel “54 Miles,” returning to the Roundtable after moving on from his successful syndicated column at the Miami Herald. “54 Miles” is a historical fictional novel that follows a family forced to confront its tumultuous past during a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. The title references the 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. < https://bit.ly/3A82szJ > And, if news events don’t interfere, Jim Trotter, national columnist for The Athletic, is returning after reaching a settlement with the NFL in exchange for NFL financial support for a scholarship foundation for journalism students at historically Black colleges and universities. < https://bit.ly/485sQ9N > About that election: From PEN America, which “stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide“: -- Tim Richardson, director of PEN’s Journalism and Disinformation program. He has trained journalists in 100 newsrooms nationwide on dealing with disinformation over the last six months < https://lnkd.in/epzZtDAV >, and wrote this piece last week for The Hill: "Journalists can’t win the fight against fake news without citizens’ help." < https://bit.ly/3UkfLni >. -- Henry Hicks, manager, U.S. Free Expressions Programs He will talk about the “trusted messenger” work the team is doing with the community in Miami, Phoenix and Dallas. < https://lnkd.in/eTdRB9NG > From the front page of today's Washington Post print edition: Over 230 Republican candidates have cast doubt on the 2024 election By Clara Ence Morse, Derek Hawkins and Carson TerBush October 23, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. EDT Nearly half of Republican candidates for Congress or top state offices have used social media to cast doubt on the integrity of the 2024 election, according to a Washington Post analysis, highlighting a pervasive effort within the GOP to undermine public trust in the vote ahead of Nov. 5. https://lnkd.in/eqbP463t Hope to see you on Facebook!

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The Responsible Tech community is gathering in NYC on Nov 14th for All Tech Is Human's upcoming Responsible Tech Mixer + Author Series. Join us! We'll be having an interview with Greg Epstein, a NYT-bestselling author + humanist chaplain at Harvard & MIT. Greg will soon be releasing Tech Agnostic: How Technology Became the World's Most Powerful Religion, and Why It Desperately Needs a Reformation. Come meet others who deeply care about tackling thorny tech & society issues, listen to a conversation w/ Greg, and get plugged into the vibrant Responsible Tech movement. All Tech Is Human has a starring role in Tech Agnostic, as it is the subject of a chapter in the upcoming book. I hope to see you there! Our gatherings draw an intentionally broad mix of backgrounds; you'll talk w/ artists, designers, academics, students, attorneys, civil society leaders, journalists, entrepreneurs, Responsible AI practitioners, Trust & Safety professionals, public interest technologists, philosophers, and more. Complex problems require diverse perspectives. Our mixers fill up quickly. Also, the first 50 people to show up on Nov 14th (after registering) will receive a free copy of Tech Agnostic. We'll have a capacity gathering of 200; additional books will be for sale. See you there! #AllTechIsHuman #ResponsibleTech #TechAgnostic https://lnkd.in/eDFNSyBe

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How AI firms and investors are funding and backing JD Vance & Trump in order to slash AI regulation. A must read - https://lnkd.in/eu4H9gpK

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As 2024 comes to end, we invite you to join other Agents of Impact who depend on ImpactAlpha for a daily dose of impact investing news, deals and private Slack channels. Now's a great time to subscribe. I hope you'll click on the link below to learn more about what we have to offer!

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Is #quantumcomputing being ignored by #venturecapital and M&A targets?According to #siliconvalley lawyers, Louis Lehot and André Thiollier, it should not. In their study they show that in 2022, nearly 5,000 patents were granted in quantum technology, with the US leading at 37% of the global total. By January 2024, the US had issued close to 16,000 patents in quantum technology, positioning itself at the forefront of this groundbreaking field. But quantum computing, they say, will also have its legal challenges. It will profoundly disrupt the legal system once it imports large scales efficiencies and speeds to processes, surpassing the capabilities of human intelligence, including that of the very best lawyers. Check out their article in - https://lnkd.in/gqgSvcgf #mergersandacquisitions #vc #techlaw #innovation #quantumcomputing #venturecapital

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Update on the PsiQuantum $940m taxpayer-funded deal from a late night Senate estimates session. It turns out the US-based tech firm was the only quantum computing company subjected to formal due diligence before the funding was awarded, despite another 21 (including Australian-based firms) going through a one-month expressions of interest program. Read the story on The Australian online or in the paper today. #quantumcomputing #australia #techinvestment #startups #governmentfunding #senateestimates Meghan Quinn King & Wood Mallesons Senator Andrew Bragg Deloitte Cameron Dick Ed Husic MP Anthony McGregor

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We at Epicenter NYC have been part of a consortium sharing best AI practices among small publishers, thanks to a grant from the The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. I wanted to share a piece we compiled with an assist from D. Mishra's GovWire, which monitors public meetings and creates an article, summary, transcript, podcast, among other content items. And I share some learnings. Last week, there was a community board meeting in Queens that none of us could get to (a frequent challenge for small, strapped news outlets in big newsy cities). So Carolina V. Valencia and I sent some of the basics to GovWire staff just to see what was possible. The result is this piece that is a combo of humans and tech, and I suspect that is going to be more the norm for publishers like us versus either-or. Some takeaways: - Aspects of AI make the fact-checking process much faster and smoother; in this case, we checked quotes and titles against a transcript. - We found the summary option to be most valuable for users. Traditional articles (inverted pyramid style) are not really how we deliver information because we strive for action and context. - You definitely need subject experts reviewing content to check spellings, offer fuller descriptions of personalities, explain where things go next... - I am bullish on the multiple formats that are suddenly possible like short video and audio, even though we did not use these offerings (yet). - Original reporting after a meeting and the AI summaries might help reporters be more relevant and useful to readers. I found myself interviewing someone and really pushing on the WHAT NOW versus WHAT HAPPENED. - It helps to have an AI skeptic or ethics czar or copy editor in the mix, even if it's a pain in the ass in the moment or slows things down. Explaining how we know something to be true or original feels a crucial difference between independent, thoughtful, useful journalism and the alternatives. - I estimate we saved about 6-8 hours thanks to the tool; the meeting was 3+ hours long and my process of stitching from the AI-generated content to my hybrid piece took about 2 hours total. - I've said this often and will say again: You have to know the rules to break the rules. If I hadn't been doing this for a very long time now, I dunno if I'd have the confidence to approach journalism in this masala way. We editors and managers likely need to get in there so we can make our mistakes and share best practices and ethical models from a more privileged perch versus junior reporters and others on the front lines who can't read our minds. I'll keep sharing as I tinker. https://lnkd.in/e64MqiVk

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I do enjoy the refreshing weekly splash of common sense that arrives in the form of Benedict Evans' newsletter. I’m almost always nodding in agreement, and it usually triggers assorted thoughts. Today, in this post, https://lnkd.in/dYdDJVb8, ”But LLMs might also be a trap: they look like products and they look magic, but they aren’t”. There’s the nod. Check. And assorted thoughts, ... * Heading straight for a public-facing, chat-esque interface into your estate was and remains unwise. All the razzmatazz, yes, but also all the weaknesses/risks. So many and so profound are the weaknesses/risks that it is not (yet) practical. * Internal-facing? Probably ok. * There seems to be a reluctance to use the power of LLMs for _boring_, behind-the-scenes stuff, e.g. basic text parsing and processing. These constrained uses are in fact doable, with minimal risk. Not sexy though. Check.

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