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Oct 15 2019

💡“Like a drunkard uses a lamppost—for support, but not for illumination.”

#99:
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The first couple of articles below echo a similar theme: people trying to game algorithms to manipulate real world information for their ends.

Bit of a conspiracy theory whiff, but interesting nonetheless!
ज्ञान
Spinner invites would-be customers to pay $29 in exchange for it targeting a spouse, family member, friend, or colleague. Customers can choose from a variety of “campaigns,” ranging from the notorious “Initiate sex!” program, to those that encourage targets to quit their jobs, propose marriage, or even buy their kids a dog.
One theory is that Johnson is trying to downplay negative news coverage of events by seeding news stories into Google search results by using similar phrases and key terms that are more positive.

For instance – the hypothesis goes – by saying he was the “model of restraint”, Johnson was attempting to divert attention from stories detailing his alleged affair with former model Jennifer Arcuri, which became less visible in search results for “Boris Johnson model”.
No holes barred interview with Scott Galloway.

In August, he wrote an article titled “WeWTF”. He called WeWork’s $47 billion valuation “insane,” “seriously loco,” and “an illusion.” […] “The lines between vision, bullsh*t, and fraud are pretty narrow,” he wrote. “Something is wrong. Something stinks. Something … Just. Doesn’t. Add. Up.”
Researchers can now send secret audio instructions undetectable to the human ear to Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Assistant.

Inside university labs, the researchers have been able to secretly activate the artificial intelligence systems on smartphones and smart speakers, making them dial phone numbers or open websites. In the wrong hands, the technology could be used to unlock doors, wire money or buy stuff online — simply with music playing over the radio.
The Singhs are famous for expanding their two public firms – hospital operator Fortis Healthcare Ltd. and financial firm Religare Enterprises Ltd.—at breakneck speed after reaping $2 billion from the Ranbaxy sale. Less known is the massive debt they took on to do so, all while they were financing a real-estate portfolio largely owned by their guru’s family.
The Aspen Institute has trained hundreds of the world’s business and political leaders. Linda Kinstler asks whether debating Plato over gourmet dinners can provide an antidote to populism.
Startup Classifieds
  • Seed funded fin-tech startup seeking charismatic product manager of consumer descent
Slide into my DMs if you could be interested.
Other tidbits
Quotable
"Some individuals use statistics as a drunk man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than for illumination."

– A. E. Housman

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