No #149 | October 13, 2024

by Matthew Boyd

Good morning, welcome to the weekly Lead It Cool newsletter.

But Matt, didn’t you say starting in October, you'd only be sending newsletters out on the first Sunday of each month? So why am I seeing this in my inbox on the SECOND Sunday of October?

Well, it turns out I enjoy writing this every week even more than I thought. So, you're still stuck with me every Sunday morning...

Thank you for being part of this little corner of the internet with me each week.🙏

In this week's Lead It Cool newsletter:

• 🤖We Robot
• 🐾Grounding
• 💡Everyone Will Not Just
• 👻Halloween Decoration
• 😎Cool Links

🤖We, Robot

Earlier this week, Elon Musk presented his ambitious vision of the future at the "We, Robot" event.

Among the highlights was the unveiling of Tesla’s humanoid robots, aptly named Optimus.

These robots, Musk assures us, will be designed to assist in all aspects of daily life, from walking your dog and babysitting your kids (😲) to mowing your lawn. The live interactions with these robots, as captured in attendee videos, were nothing short of jarring (with some questioning if they were actually real).

Musk's choice to reference Will Smith's classic movie Isaac Asimov’s classic book I, Robot adds an ironic layer to the presentation, nodding to the longstanding debate about the ethical complexities of artificial intelligence and robotics.

Asimov's book, a collection of science fiction short stories, explores the dilemmas of AI by introducing a future society where robots are integrated into daily life and are governed by Three Laws of Robotics:

1. A robot may not harm a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given by humans, except where those orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as it does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

One story in I, Robot that I often think about is "Liar!"

In it, a robot named Herbie is faced with a dilemma between the First Law (preventing harm) and telling the truth. To spare people’s feelings, Herbie withholds certain truths, only for this to backfire when the truth is revealed, causing even greater harm.

This narrative insightfully highlights the limitations of Asimov’s laws when applied to complex human emotions. The story also raises the question of what "harm" really means: while we often consider harm as physical, emotional and psychological harm can be equally, if not more, significant.

In conversation with a colleague this week, he reminded me of a quote from Jurassic Park, which seems particularly relevant here in this moment:

With Optimus on the horizon, Musk may have brought the future a little closer, but it’s a future that demands careful consideration, not only of what our technologies can do but of the complex human values and ethical considerations that shape our lives.

*If you enjoy this stuff, I encourage you to also read the The Alignment Problem.

🐾Grounding

Many years ago, after a grueling soccer game during a tournament, our coach instructed us to take off our shoes and socks and go walk around on the grass.

"Why?" we grumbled in unison, exhausted and puzzled.

"It'll help you recover," he replied with a shrug.

I remember peeling off my shoes and stepping onto the cool grass. The moment my barefeet touched the grass I really did feel a sense of calm.

It turns out, this practice has a name: “Grounding.” And while science is still exploring the depths of its benefits, there’s growing evidence that it can indeed have a positive effect on our bodies and minds.

Whether it's reducing stress, aiding in muscle recovery, or simply helping us connect with something bigger than ourselves, grounding has become a go-to recovery method for many. And while it may not scientifically proven, I'm convinced it’s worth a try.

💡Everyone Will Not Just

This is good... if I had a nickel for every time I said this to my kids🤣

👻Halloween Decoration

🤣🤣🤣

😎Cool Links

😊Simon Sinek and Trevor Noah on Friendship, Loneliness and Vulnerability (video). This is an excellent and insightful discussion.

😉How to Get Things Done Even If you Don't Feel Like It.

🗻What we can learn from Sysyphus and his rock. We must learn to embrace our purpose(the rock) in life. And once we accept it as the objective of our being, we should give in everything it takes to achieve it. Sisyphus teaches us to never give in to circumstantial disappointments or try to escape from the failures, rather accept failures the same way we accept our achievements.

🚠The Cablebus Transformed Commutes in Mexico City's Populous Outskirts. The Cablebus system has more than halved trips that used to take an hour and a half by bus or taxi, according to Mexico City's Mobility Ministry. In the sprawling megacity of some 22 million people, faster connections were needed for residents living far from the center and the major subway lines.

Hope everyone in Canada has an excellent Thanksgiving weekend! 🦃

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