ZD 26.22: Say it ain't so Enzo!
Jony Ive designed an electric Ferrari and the world was not ready for it.
🚗 Ferrari’s Electric Gamble (SatPost by Trung Phan)
Ferrari has an EV and almost everyone hates it. They got on the path because the EU forced their hand. But you can’t just shoehorn a battery into an existing Ferrari frame; you need to build something different. Sir Jony Ive might not have hit the right design note.
🤷 Is AI Going to Destroy our Lives or Not? (Kyla’s Newsletter)
Some advice targeted at new graduates. Is AI a good enough substitute for human labor? Is AI actually cheaper than humans? How many companies are really using AI? Will there be a permanent AI underclass? What can you do to differentiate yourself?
🎬 24 Tips for Great Demonstrations (Product for Engineers)
Excellent tips for how to build an effective product demonstration. Applies to more than just software.
📩 How to Take Your Inbox Back (The Influential Project Manager)
Use the concept of the Commander’s Critical Information Requirements to re-take control of your inbox. Written for construction management but applies to lots of jobs.
🏈 Solving the Quarterback Problem (Think Like A Game Designer )
The Quarterback problem — where one strong player makes all the decisions — is a tough one to design around. Naive approaches like adding unique powers actually make the problem worse. The fix is to build tension into the cooperation, so that the same play is not good for everyone at the table.
⌚ How a Soviet Watch Explains US Defeats (The Multipolarity Substack)
If you are used to western watches, it feels like it is falling apart. But the apparent flaw is a strength — the loose crown is designed to keep the watch alive in circumstances that would smash a Rolex. AK-47s have huge internal clearances that let them work covered in grime. F-15s, by comparison, are finely tuned machines that need a dozen hours of maintenance for every hour in the air.
😀 The Dark History of the Smiley Face (The Playboy Reader)
The emoji we all love started life as a corporate post-layoff morale stunt.
The Look
Analyst and independent thinker Benedict Evans posted an updated version of his AI Eats the World presentation. He is doing interesting work on AI job exposure. And he appeared on Lenny’s podcast this week where he talks about all of this and more.
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