Thought-provoking Things Worth Sharing - Issue #182
Are we going to let AI Shove Us Offline?
In the links below, you’ll see some negativity about AI, which might make you think that I’m being hypocritical about AI since I do work with it.
I’m not. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to see the benefits of AI while also decrying the unbelievable amount of crap posted online by AI.
Welcome to this week’s collection of thought-provoking things. For each issue, I will share information about careers and workplace culture, mental health in the workplace, talent development, and key insights into privacy, security, and legal technology.
You can learn more about me here: Mike McBride Online.
As we enter 2026, though, this is a legitimate question, and I think the author of the original piece (linked in the blog post) makes a valid point about whether all the AI slop and algorithmic outrage is worth being online for.
They also make a good point that we can be better than that.
Worth Reading - Is 2026 The Year We All Decide to Quit the Internet?
I’ve always written under the assumption that people were reading what I put out here and, hopefully, learning something. In the age of AI-slop, I want more of that, and only that. I’m seeking it out and connecting with it. I am not connecting with people who are creating crap content in a chase for attention. Bring your authentic self, or I’m ready to assume your account is AI slop.
I hope you’re looking for that, too, and that I can continue to provide it here. Just a human sharing human knowledge and ideas.
Before we get into the rest of the newsletter, a quick promo for my M365 newsletter and a new community I’m trying to build for subscribers and others interested in M365 and eDiscovery, IG, Security, etc.
Would you be interested in getting together over a Teams channel to discuss M365, eDiscovery, and other related topics with other subscribers? Perhaps even schedule some chats on occasion? (Paid subscribers, I’ve got some ideas just for you as well.) If you are interested, sign up here. If there’s enough interest, we will definitely get this going in the next few weeks.)
Careers and the Workplace
This is about law firms, but it’s applicable everywhere:
This is interesting - Why Mandatory Cameras Can Harm Neurodivergent Employees
As is this - The Problem With Sending Your AI Agent to Meetings, According to Neuroscience
Every conversation I have at work right now feels dumb amid what we are seeing on the news every day. I can’t imagine what this is like:
Artificial Intelligence
Worth Reading - The Achilles’ Heel of AI: The Data That Feeds It
This challenge, in part, is why my job title is now related to Information Governance and Compliance. It's recognizing that data is a valuable asset and a significant risk. Grounding your AI in low-quality data is a massive risk.
Dear lawyers, what are we doing? - AI Hallucinations Cases Are Not Slowing Down, They’re Speeding Up…A Lot
Related from Doug - Why I’m Really Worried by the Negative Trend of Hallucinations Cases (and It’s Not Because of the Ethics Failures)
Worth Reading - Microsoft’s Satya Nadella wants you to stop calling AI “slop” in 2026
The slop problem is the kind of PR problem that kills industries. It’s the Ford Pinto’s exploding gas tank, New Coke, and the iTunes U2 album fiasco all rolled into one. People see all the hype about AI, then experience entire websites and tens of thousands of social media accounts spewing content no one wants, generated by AI.
That’s a perception problem that won’t go away because you want customers to stop talking about it. You have to build a tool that doesn’t create this problem.
On the other hand, Turning AI Concerns into Opportunities.
At least until advertising makes AI utterly useless, right? - Advertising is Coming to AI. It’s Going to Be a Disaster. (Also - OpenAI Reportedly Planning to Make ChatGPT “Prioritize” Advertisers in Conversation)
Gmail Users Losing POP and Getting AI Whether We Like It or Not
Never fear, though. In 2026, Google wouldn't dare let you have a product that doesn't feature AI. So, we're all getting the AI Inbox, and you will have to opt out if you do not want an AI-generated list of to-dos and summaries instead of just reading your email.
Training and Development
This is a cool resource to grab - an ebook of the entire year’s newsletters. Here’s what we wrote about in the Offbeat newsletter in 2025.
When you don’t teach people how to lead, this is what happens - When Good Frontline Workers Make Bad Supervisors.
Mental Health in the Workplace
This article gathers input from multiple experts and continues for 28 paragraphs without once mentioning the employers’ expectation that we do all the things they tell us not to do.
It’s all well and good to point out that setting boundaries, saying no, ending our work day on time, etc., are good ways to avoid burnout. It’s another thing entirely for many of us to have that option in the first place.
Have you admired any art lately?
Simply Viewing Art Can Improve Mental Well-Being, Major Psychological Review Finds
Photography included - Want better mental health in 2026? Look at more photos...
Here’s a head start from my own photo blog - Best of 2025
Privacy, Security, and Legal Tech
Have you gotten random emails about resetting your Instagram password? - A huge Instagram data leak allegedly exposed 17.5 million accounts, and you might have already been targeted.
The details of online age verification are scary - 10 (Not So) Hidden Dangers of Age Verification.
This is something I think about when it comes to lawyers taking client data out of the country on their devices. - Border agents can search your devices. Is a burner phone worth it?
That’s all, folks. If you found something interesting in this week’s newsletter, please share it with your friends. It’s the best way to help support the effort I put into sharing this with you each week.