Thought-provoking Things Worth Sharing - Issue #155
BlueSky is having a moment
Have you started using BlueSky recently? You’re not alone; they are getting around one million new sign-ups per day this week.
Why? Elon has continued to make that other social platform a disaster.
Maybe we shouldn't consider X-Twitter's market-value collapse a horrendous business decision. Perhaps this was always a $44 billion donation in kind to the Trump campaign in exchange for an oversized level of power and influence. Musk turned Twitter into X - a right-wing propaganda machine.
Welcome to this week’s collection of thought-provoking things. For each issue, I’ll share information about careers and workplace culture, mental health in the workplace, talent development, and important information about privacy, security, and legal tech.
You can find out all about me here - Mike McBride Online.
I’m off X. I have been experimenting with other platforms for a few months. If you’re following me through this newsletter, that might not matter much to you. You’re already seeing just about everything I share on social media here.
On the other hand, if you are looking for me, you can find me:
So far, the recent popularity of BlueSky has made that the better experience, but I’m keeping my options open.
BTW, if you are looking at BlueSky - Here’s some cool stuff you can do with Bluesky
How about you?
Careers and the Workplace
Linked - Employees are hiding their AI use from their managers. Here's why
Two reactions from this article:
If using AI is seen as cheating or cutting corners, I'm not likely to want anyone to know about it. In my opinion, this is on employers. They must set the cultural expectations that using AI is intelligent and efficient, not lazy. They also need to provide training on how to use AI effectively so that it is transparent and available to everyone.
….
Given the number of employers telling employees to return to the office because it's better for collaboration and learning, it's interesting that those same employers want us all to use AI, too. If I am expected to ask AI for information and help with questions, why must I be in the office to learn from the other employees?
On a similar note, if voice communication is the future for interacting with AI, the office wasn’t built for that.
This seems like a win-win for employees and management, but I’m sure some CEO-type will tell me how awful it is for everyone! - Workplace flexibility is helping Americans take longer trips this holiday season, report finds.
Artificial Intelligence
10 Things to Include in Your Artificial Intelligence Policy - You have one, right?
The answer is both. - Is Microsoft Copilot a productivity booster or a cybersecurity risk?
This is a good question. I’ve noted how often someone in a session at Microsoft’s Ignite conference stream has said, “And this will only get better” when a new feature is shown this week. What if it doesn’t? - What if AI doesn’t just keep getting better forever?
AI will be added to everything, whether we want it or not - Notepad.exe, now an actively maintained app, has gotten its inevitable AI update.
Training and Development
If you don’t provide training on AI, how do your employees know what you expect them to do with it?
For example, I heard much about this in Ignite sessions: Autonomous agentic AI can shake up workflows, and businesses should prepare now. Are your people comfortable enough with AI to make use of agents effectively?
Mental Health in the Workplace
I’ll be honest about this. I have always considered full-time document review jobs among the worst things I could imagine in legal. I’m sure it’s not as much drudgery as I think, but we should keep this in mind - Mental Health in Legal Document Review: Seven Best Practices for Review Teams.
I’ve worked remotely for years, Long before the pandemic. There’s some truth to the mental health challenges, but they can also be overcome and turned into positives with some thoughtful efforts. - The Link Between Working From Home And The Rise Of Depression: Understanding The Impact And How To Cope.
Privacy, Security, and Legal Tech
Does the new Windows Link desktop make sense in the business world? I’m having a hard time seeing the value in something that isn’t mobile and cannot use non-M365 software. How many business users could get by with this?
It is always good to keep up with what is happening in the courts - Generative AI and eDiscovery – Adoption in the courts – Part 1 and Part 2.
Speaking of eDiscovery - It’s almost December.
The Schedule for E-Discovery Day 2024 is Here!
And, if you’re a CEO, this might encourage you to learn more about this eDiscovery thing - A CEO’s guide to eDiscovery and litigation support: Minimising risk and maximising efficiency.
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 in each week to share this with you.