Welcome to this week’s edition of The Vibe! Have you checked out our podcast, The Vibe Unplugged yet? If not, give our latest episode a listen here, and let me know what you think.
The current education system is in dire need of an overhaul. As a former educator who has seen a diverse spectrum of school environments, I know firsthand the shortcomings of our current educational structure. With standardized testing driving teacher performance evaluations and curriculum choices, budget cuts limiting resources, and outdated instruction methods failing to engage today’s students, schools are struggling. Yet transformation seems unlikely given the bureaucracy and politics governing public education. This is where AI could step in—an intelligent software with the potential to revolutionize learning.
AI tutors can offer personalized instruction to each student, identifying gaps in understanding and tailoring lessons to individual needs and interests. Unlike human teachers confined to a one-size-fits-all curriculum, AI tutors continually assess proficiency across topics to focus time on the concepts the student hasn’t yet mastered. They can adjust their teaching style in real time as well, whether that’s changing the way information is presented, providing more examples, or recommending alternate learning resources. Students can learn at their own pace, no longer held back by the progress of the class.
Intelligent tutoring systems also enable continuous learning. Students don’t have to wait for assignments to be graded. Immediate feedback allows them to correct misunderstandings instantly, greatly improving educational outcomes versus delayed feedback. And with no need for artificially-constructed semesters or school years, motivation remains high to reach mastery across subjects. Once competency is achieved, the AI tutor seamlessly moves onto the next topic.
Additionally, AI promises to make learning fun. Gamification elements like points, badges, and leaderboards tap into students’ competitive drive. Immersive simulations and conversational agents ensure they stay focused and engaged. Unlike a lecture they sit through passively, students actively participate in a rewarding, entertaining experience tailored to their needs. And adaptive games guarantee activities remain challenging yet achievable, reducing boredom or frustration.
Such personalization also helps identify special needs students sooner. AI can detect signs of learning disabilities through tasks assessing cognitive abilities. Rather than struggling for years before being tested for dyslexia or ADHD, issues can be addressed proactively. AI even shows promise assisting autistic students; patient, predictable conversations promote communication skills lacking with human teachers.
Outside syllabus constraints, AI opens up unlimited horizons for exploration. Curious students can quench their thirst for knowledge across any topics that spark their interest. AI tutors allow self-directed learning, answering questions, recommending resources, and discussing ideas without judgment. Students also learn vital skills for the modern world like coding or data literacy, areas neglected in our conventional curriculum. Such independent critical thinking and passion for learning may be AI’s most invaluable gift.
Administrators stand to benefit greatly from AI analytics as well. Predictive models identify at-risk students in need of early intervention before falling irrevocably behind. Data analysis also informs curriculum decisions—which subjects students struggle with, which lessons fail to connect, which teachers have the best outcomes—spotlighting areas for improvement. Such objective data may protect schools when allocating limited budgets. Analysis can also optimize class size and composition for the greatest advancement of students.
Teachers gain back valuable time once most lecturing and grading duties are automated. This allows them to focus on mentoring students and one on one instruction, nurturing the socio-emotional skills that AI cannot develop. With software handling administrative tasks as well, they will have more capacity for addressing individual needs. Subject matter experts could also create fantastic AI-powered lessons on their specialties, rivaling that of celebrity teachers or Ivy League schools.
Of course, certain obstacles must be overcome before AI is implemented on a large scale. Most intelligent tutoring systems focus on core subjects like math, reading, and writing; expanding across all disciplines will take time. AI mastery measurements also need alignment with existing competency standards. Then there are ethical concerns of data privacy, emotional wellbeing, and fair treatment that developers must address as usage grows. Proper regulation and oversight are critical.
But the shortcomings of the current system demand we look to innovations like AI to drastically improve outcomes. Every student deserves a quality education tailored to their needs and interests. And a lifetime of opportunity should not be determined by performance on high-stakes standardized tests. AI represents a monumental shift in control over learning—from governments to students themselves. The personalized guidance, unlimited access to knowledge, and focus on actual competency AI provides has potential to not just incrementally improve, but completely revolutionize, education.
Artificial Imagination 💧
Check out this cool image I created using MidJourney. It's a raindrop scene where there's a whole city crammed inside the water droplet. I love playing with notions of scale and perspective. Creating mini worlds is fun. Doesn’t this futuristic city-in-a-raindrop remind you of the universe marble from ‘Men in Black’? What weird and wonderful vistas should I get MidJourney to cook up next?
This is not an actual photo, but one that was totally A.I. generated using a prompt that I created with MidJourney 🤯
Vibe Hack 📱
We all have drawers full of business cards collected over the years that we'll likely never look at again. Never fear, iOS has created a solution to make sharing contact info quick and easy. Simply tap the top of your iPhones together to easily share your contact card with someone else. In just a few seconds, your contact info is securely copied over to the other phone with no need for old school paper cards. It's better for both your productivity and the environment. So, do your contacts and the planet a favor and start tapping to connect today. Just tap, share, and you're done.
My Weekly Vibe
AI Video: AI generated video has been progressing rapidly, but OpenAI just unveiled a game changing text-to-video model that can create videos up to one minute long with incredible quality. They are calling this product Sora and it can create complex scenes with several different characters, lots of details and adhere very closely to the text prompt. It’s being rolled out slowly to a target group to test right now, but soon it’ll be widely available and they are just scraping the surface. I can see a not-too-distant future where entire movies are totally AI generated. Visit the website to see some of the amazing videos that have already been created.
Podcast: I highly recommend listening to the latest episode of The Ben & Marc Show featuring insights from tech luminaries Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen. In an engaging back-and-forth, the two explore practical solutions to overhaul higher education, including ways established institutions can enhance the student experience through more personalized, flexible learning and reduced administrative bloat. They also spot exciting startup ideas that could disrupt higher education as we know it, from alternative universities to next-gen research centers. Whether you work in academia or just care about the future of learning, don’t miss this forward-looking, creativity-sparking discussion on reforming education for the 21st century.
Ring: One of my colleagues recently turned me onto the Oura Ring. It is a sleek, stylish wearable that packs impressive health tracking capabilities. It can monitor your sleep stages, heart rate, body temperature, and more to provide insights into your overall wellness. Unlike most trackers, Oura seamlessly integrates into your life with its ring form factor—simply slide it on your finger and let the automated tracking do its job. With its powerful app and easy set-up, the Oura Ring is the most comprehensive 24/7 health tracker in an inconspicuous package. If you love data like I do, I recommend adding this to your life.
Mobile ID: Your smartphone already contains so much of your personal information. Now it can hold your official ID too with Mobile ID. It provides a convenient, contactless way to verify your identity in seconds for seamless speeding tickets check-ins and transactions. With advanced encryption and security features, Mobile ID keeps your personal data safe, while allowing you to access it instantly when needed. By putting everything conveniently on your phone, Mobile ID makes accessing and protecting your identity easier than ever. Not every state accepts this form of ID yet, so make sure you check yours before relying on it.
Marc Andreessen + Ben Horowitz | 📸 cred: Fortune Magazine
Weekly Muse
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." – Helen Keller
Real Estate
Purchasing property in a high-risk flood zone can be concerning for homeowners due to requirements for costly flood insurance. However, there are options if your structure itself sits above base flood elevation. A property owner can request an elevation certificate showing whether their home sits above the area’s flood level. If the lowest floor (of living area) meets requirements, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may issue a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) to officially remove the property from the high-hazard flood zone.
To start the process, hire a licensed surveyor to complete an Elevation Certificate with precise elevation comparisons of your home to base flood datum from Flood Insurance Rate Maps. They’ll measure key components like the top of the bottom floor, attachments, ductwork, etc. Submit the full documentation to FEMA. If your home meets standards, congratulations—your property gets remapped into a moderate or minimal risk flood zone.
This is excellent news on two fronts. First and foremost, it provides peace of mind that your investment faces lower flood hazard exposure based on FEMA’s updated assessment. Additionally, you’ll likely eliminate any requirements to carry flood insurance policies on that specific property moving forward. This can save thousands of dollars annually that would otherwise fund mandatory flood coverage.
Keep in mind that flood risk conditions can change over time. Always be proactive about weather events and keep vigilant on flood zone notices from local authorities. Though your home sits above current projected levels, it can't hurt to consider flood insurance as an affordable precaution even when not federally required in the highest-risk zones. But either way, securing a LOMA offers protection today and substantial savings for you and future owners.
In the voice of comedian, Daniel Tosh…. “Aight listen up jabronis! This 6.5 mil bachelor pad's loaded with 4 plush bedrooms, space for 5 pimped out rides, and a baller open floor plan perfect for gettin' cray on the DJ tables! Chefs can floss skills in the tricked out kitchen while guests dip in that sweet azzz pool. This 175 acre estate throws down harder than John Daly at the Playboy Mansion! Fresher than Snoop Dogg himself with that fancy new septic system. Now who wants the VIP tour of this party paradise?!” (courtesy of Middleburg Real Estate) *Disclaimer: this is a lovely listing and clearly just a bit of satire, so loosen up and enjoy*
Interesting Find
Research suggests cash is more than just green paper— merely holding money can miraculously reduce pain, giving people superhuman strength to withstand hot water and social anxiety. It's as if cash contains magical pain relief properties, making people impervious to suffering; perhaps we should test having people count money before watching the next Ashton Kutcher movie or getting a root canal. The researcher argues this monetary placebo effect could also have real business applications, from dealing with difficult customers to motivating employees, but skeptics wonder if this just proves what we’ve all been thinking—rich people just don’t suffer the same as us average folk.
📸 cred: Miley Cyrus on X
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