eTatos - SmartNews #4: AI Wars
Welcome to the fourth issue of our topic-rich eTatos - SmartNews!
If you are interested in self-improvement, productivity, future tech, tools, apps, inspiring quotes, entertainment, and uplifting news you surely will find benefits in our colorful content.
Additionally, we will present you unique designs from “It’s Brown! It’s Black!”
Let’s get ready to smart up.
Highlights of this issue:
The Ultimate Business Email Course: Smart Mailing & Inbox Zero - Part 3
The AI Revolution: An Unstoppable Arms Race! - AI Tech Roundup
Our Design of the Month: "It's Brown! It's Black!"
5 Good News To Lift You Up
The Ultimate Business Email Course: Smart Mailing & Inbox Zero
Course Content (6 Parts)
Mindsets & Problems - How Emails Destroy Productivity [Issue #2]
Smart Emailing - Creating Emails Correctly [Issue #3]
The Email Charter - 10 Rules Against the Email Spiral [This issue]
The "@1-2-3-Plus-System" - Organizing Emails Wisely
Inbox Zero and the "FASD Principle" - Mastering the Email Inbox
CONCLUSION - The Final Rules to Internalize Effective Mail Management
Part 3 - The Email Charter - 10 Rules Against the Email Spiral
The Email Charter is a set of guidelines for more effective email communication, created by Chris Anderson & Jane Wulf. It was developed in response to the growing problem of email overload and its negative impact on productivity, communication, and work-life balance.
In this part of the email course, we'll dive into each of the 10 guidelines in the Email Charter and provide tips on how to implement them for more productive and positive email communication.
(1) Respect Recipient's Time
The first rule in the Email Charter is to respect the recipient's time. This means being mindful of when and how often we send emails and only sending them when necessary. To put this into practice, consider the tips from part 2 of this course, including:
Think before you send: Before hitting "send," ask yourself if the email is necessary, or if the information could be conveyed in a different way.
Keep it short and sweet: Whenever possible, keep emails concise and to the point.
Use clear subject lines: Be specific and descriptive in your subject lines, so the recipient can quickly determine if the email requires their immediate attention.
Remember: You are responsible for ensuring that the recipient spends as little time as possible processing your e-mail! This means that you may have to invest more time in the creation of the mail.
(2) Short or Slow is not Rude
The second guideline is that it's okay to write short emails, and it's also okay to take time to respond to emails.
Don't take it personally if the email (response) to you is very brief. Or if you get a late response. We all always have too much to do and too little time.
(3) Celebrate Clarity
The third rule is to celebrate clarity. This means writing clear and concise emails that get to the point quickly. To improve the clarity of your emails, try these tips:
Use short sentences and paragraphs: Long, complex sentences and paragraphs can be difficult to read and understand. Keep things simple and to the point.
Use bold and italic text: Use bold or italic text to highlight important information and make it stand out.
Include status categories like [Action] and [FYI] in the clear subject line.
Avoid jargon and acronyms: Not everyone may be familiar with the terminology you use. When in doubt, explain any unfamiliar terms or acronyms.
(4) Quash Open-Ended Questions
Avoid asking open-ended questions in emails that require long or complex responses.
To put this into practice, consider these tips:
Use clear, specific questions: Instead of asking open-ended questions, try to be as specific as possible in your email.
Break up complex questions into smaller parts: If you do need to ask a complex question, break it down into smaller parts to make it easier to digest.
Consider alternative communication methods: For complex or sensitive topics, it may be best to have a face-to-face or phone conversation instead of relying on email.
(5) Slash Surplus cc's
The fifth rule is to be mindful of who you copy (cc) on your emails and to reduce the number of people you include in your email conversations. Here are a few ways to put this guideline into action:
Only include necessary recipients: Before adding someone to the cc field, consider if the information is relevant to them or if they need to be kept in the loop.
Be mindful of the impact on others: Think about how many emails others are receiving and try to limit the number of unnecessary emails they receive.
Use "Reply All" sparingly: Only use "Reply All" when necessary. Often, a response to the original sender is sufficient.
Avoid cc-ing someone for the sake of "covering your bases": Adding unnecessary recipients to an email can create confusion and clutter in their inbox.
Consider using the "Bcc" field: If you're sending an email to a large group of people who don't need to see each other's email addresses, consider using the "Bcc" field.
Be mindful of privacy: Consider if the email contains sensitive information that should not be shared with everyone on the email chain.
(6) Tighten the Thread
Keep email threads organized and easy to follow. Here are some tips for tightening email threads:
Trim unnecessary content: When replying to an email thread, only include the necessary parts of the previous message to keep the conversation streamlined.
Keep conversations in one thread: Avoid starting multiple email threads on the same topic.
Start a new thread if necessary: If the conversation has shifted to a new topic, start a new email thread to keep things organized.
(7) Attack Attachments
Be mindful of file attachments and avoid sending large or unnecessary files. Here are some tips for handling attachments:
Avoid unnecessary attachments: Only include attachments that are necessary and relevant to the email.
Use cloud-based storage: Consider using cloud-based storage (such as Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive) for larger files instead of attaching them to an email.
Name files clearly: Use clear and descriptive file names to make it easy for the recipient to identify what the file contains.
Compress multiple files: If you need to send multiple files, consider compressing them into a single zip file to make it easier for the recipient to download.
(8) Give these Gifts: EOM & NNTR
The eighth guideline in the Email Charter is to use "EOM" (End of Message) and "NNTR" (No Need to Respond) when appropriate. This is how you use them:
Use "EOM" at the end of the subject line. If your email contains all the necessary information in the subject line, use "EOM" to indicate that the recipient doesn't need to open the email.
Use "NNTR" at the end of an email: If you're sending an email that doesn't require a response, add "NNTR" at the end to let the recipient know they don't need to reply.
(9) Cut Contentless Responses
Avoid sending emails that are empty or lack substance. If you have nothing important to add to the conversation, it may be best not to respond at all. Save the recipient and yourself time.
Tip: End your emails with “Thank you in advance.” and you don’t need to reply with another mail saying only “thank you”.
(10) Disconnect
The tenth and final guideline in the Email Charter is to set boundaries and limit email communication outside of work hours.
Here are some tips for disconnecting:
Set clear boundaries: Create specific times when you will not check your email (such as evenings or weekends). Let your colleagues know when you're not available to respond to emails outside of work hours.
Use auto-reply: Consider setting up an auto-reply message for when you are away from your email.
Turn off email notifications: If you have work email on your personal phone, turn off notifications (at least) outside of work hours to avoid feeling pressured to constantly check your email.
Take breaks: Allow yourself and others to disconnect and recharge without feeling the pressure
Allow yourself and others to disconnect and recharge without feeling the pressure to constantly check and respond to emails.
To achieve optimal productivity, it's essential to disconnect from the online world and embrace offline moments.
To be continued next month in SmartNews #5 with Part 4 - The "@1-2-3-Plus-System" - Organizing Emails Wisely
🚀 The AI Revolution: An Unstoppable Arms Race! 🤖
The AI revolution is happening at an INSANE speed, and there's no stopping it now! The arms race between the big players like Microsoft and Google has already started, and they're in full battle mode, fiercely competing. 🔥
Are you ready to catch up with all the important developments from the past weeks?
📰 🌐AI Tech Roundup: From Google Bard to Microsoft Loop, AI is revolutionizing the world of technology
The tech world is abuzz with innovation, and the most recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have taken center stage. In this AI tech roundup, we'll delve into the latest AI-driven tools and services that are shaping the way we live, work, communicate, design, and play.
Google Bard:
Google's recent foray into AI chatbot technology, Bard, opened up its waitlist last month. It’s based on Google’s own language model LaMDA. However, initial feedback suggests that it falls short of expectations when compared to ChatGPT / Bing Chat.AI.com:
OpenAI bought the domain ai.com for $11 million. You can now conveniently access ChatGPT under this URL.GPT-4 is here:
The much-anticipated successor of GPT-3 was released for paying OpenAI users. “GPT-4 is more creative and collaborative than ever before. It can generate, edit, and iterate with users on creative and technical writing tasks, such as composing songs, writing screenplays, or learning a user’s writing style.” Soon it even will accept images as inputs.NVIDIA Foundations:
NVIDIA announced the launch of a new service, allowing companies to create their own large language models using NVIDIA's cloud computers and GPUs. This development erases the need for powerful hardware and could revolutionize the way AI language models are deployed across industries.Adobe Firefly:
Adobe has unveiled its AI image generation model, trained on images from Adobe Stock and Creative Commons. The user-friendly interface makes it easy for users to generate images on demand, offering a fresh take on digital design.Midjourney v5:
Midjourney released version 5 of its text-to-image generator and it’s awesome. The level of detail is unmatched so far. Meanwhile, the company stopped free trials completely, because of massive amounts of people who were making throwaway accounts to get free images.Meta goes AI:
Mark Zuckerberg’s company joins the AI arms race with its own language model LLaMA. They made it available to the AI research community. Stanford researchers already used it and developed a new method to train large language models. The result “Alpaca” is a successfully cloned ChatGPT for just $600, making chatbots more accessible to everyone.Microsoft goes all in:
Microsoft integrated an advanced version of DALL-E into Bing, providing users with AI-powered image generation capabilities for free. It revealed that it was already using the latest version GPT-4 within its Bing Chat and claimed that this large language model showed sparks of general intelligence.
Furthermore, Microsoft unveiled Loop, its AI-powered alternative to Notion, offering a fresh approach to collaborative workspaces.
And last but definitely not least, Microsoft announced the implementation of AI into all of its main office products in form of a so-called Copilot. Quote from the announcement: “Copilot combines the power of large language models (LLMs) with your data in the Microsoft Graph—your calendar, emails, chats, documents, meetings, and more—and the Microsoft 365 apps to turn your words into the most powerful productivity tool on the planet. And it does so within our existing commitments to data security and privacy in the enterprise.”Google strikes back:
Google is also implementing AI in its office suites. To start it’s introducing a first set of AI-powered writing features in Docs and Gmail to trusted testers before making them available publicly. In Google’s own words: “With these features, you’ll be able to draft, reply, summarize, and prioritize your Gmail. Brainstorm, proofread, write, and rewrite in Docs. Bring your creative vision to life with auto-generated images, audio, and video in Slides. Go from raw data to insights and analysis via auto-completion, formula generation, and contextual categorization in Sheets. Generate new backgrounds and capture notes in Meet. And enable workflows for getting things done in Chat.”Work will never be the same again!
Spotify's AI DJ:
Spotify started to implement a new AI-powered “DJ” into its App. The DJ talks to the user and learns about his listening preferences.Canva AI Magic:
The design platform Canva has introduced a range of AI features to its platform. These enhancements promise to make design more accessible to users of all skill levels.GitHub Copilot X:
Microsoft-owned GitHub announced GPT-4 enabled code helper, Copilot X, allowing developers to receive AI assistance for coding problems. This could drastically improve code development and troubleshooting processes.Ubisoft's AI-generated Dialogue:
Ubisoft has developed a new AI tool for generating dialogue for non-playable game characters, speeding up game development and offering a new level of immersion for players.Unreal Engine's new Metahuman:
Unreal Engine showcased its latest version of Metahuman, offering incredibly realistic motion capture and facial expressions using just an iPhone. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the film, gaming, and virtual reality industries.ChatGPT plugins:
OpenAI has announced the introduction of plugins for ChatGPT, allowing users to extend its functionality by combining it with the internet and other tools and services, further unlocking the potential of AI in our daily lives.The “AI app store” might be born!
As AI continues to advance, we can expect these innovations to drive growth and transformation across a multitude of industries. It's an exciting time for technology enthusiasts, and we're eager to see what the future holds.
Design of the month: "It’s Brown! It’s Black!"
Introducing one of our most captivating t-shirt designs: "It's Brown! It's Black!" - a mesmerizing fusion of two powerful colors. This extraordinary piece of wearable art is an ode to the harmonious union of strength and warmth, emanating a sense of sophistication and earthiness that is truly unparalleled.
Our masterful design features a unique pattern that swirls and dances across the fabric, effortlessly weaving together shades of rich, velvety black and deep, earthy brown. This hypnotic design will not only capture the attention of onlookers, but will also be a true reflection of your unique and stylish personality.
You'll find yourself reaching for this versatile piece time and time again, as it effortlessly complements a wide range of outfits, making it the perfect addition to any wardrobe.
Whether you're dressing it up with tailored pants and a blazer for a night out, or keeping it casual with jeans and sneakers for a relaxed weekend look, the "It's Brown! It's Black!" t-shirt promises to make a bold and unforgettable statement. Experience the enchanting allure of this masterpiece and elevate your style to new heights.
Don't miss your chance to own a piece of fashion history. Embrace the power of black and brown and showcase your exquisite taste with the "It's Brown! It's Black!" t-shirt - the ultimate testament to your unparalleled sense of style. Order yours today and let the world know that you're a true trendsetter!
Our news channels are filled with negative headlines: Crimes, wars, deaths, crises, disasters, conflicts... Did you ever think about what this constant flow of negativity causes you? We say it's time for another kind of news. Focused on the positive news the world around us delivers. And a category just perfect for finishing our eTatos - SmartNews.
Here Are 5 GOOD NEWS Curated To Lift You Up:
[1] ‘Emotional experience’: Critically endangered Amur leopard cubs born at San Diego Zoo
The tiny population of critically endangered Amur leopards has increased by two with the birth of twins at the San Diego Zoo.
[2] India celebrates 50 years of project ‘bringing tigers back from brink of extinction’
India is celebrating five decades of tiger conservation as it marked the 50th anniversary of “Project Tiger” on Saturday. With a current population of about 3,000 tigers, India is home to more than 70 percent of the global tiger population and their number is increasing by 6 percent per annum.
[3] Ghanaian turns plastic waste into fuel
An engineering student says he can turn plastic into petrol in Ghana's Wa town. It's a plan he hopes can solve Ghana's plastic waste menace.
[4] Ocean Cleanup removes 200,000 kilograms of plastic from the Pacific Ocean
The Dutch offshore restoration project, Ocean Cleanup, says it has reached a milestone. The organization's plastic-catching efforts have now fished more than 200,000 kilograms of plastic out of the Pacific Ocean.
[5] NASA names first woman and black man on Moon Mission
The US space agency NASA has named the four astronauts who will take humanity back to the Moon, after a 50-year gap. Christina Koch will become the first woman astronaut ever assigned to a lunar mission, while Victor Glover will be the first black astronaut on one.
To Be Continued...
That’s it for our fourth issue. Let us know if you enjoyed it.
Carpe diem & be kind.
Dirk & Raquel
Disclaimer: The content of this newsletter is NO financial or legal advice. All content provided is for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only.