The premise of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cult movie series Terminator is that the American military built a central control system based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Inevitably, as the system grew smarter, its creators were unable to understand it and could only hope it would behave as desired once fully activated. That’s where things went off the rails.
What...
Since civilization began, the ruler of a tribe, community or country often had someone on whom they would rely to enhance their reputation. Those people were good at crafting words or imagery and skilled at anticipating how stories or deeds would be viewed. In modern times, these roles are often occupied by professional communicators, people who understand cause and effect, and advise...
As a first-generation millennial growing up between two cultures, Mexican and American, narratives representative of my reality were difficult to find. Seeing how some cultures were prioritized and celebrated while others were shamed and stereotyped created a sense of exclusion because I couldn’t be proud of my multicultural upbringing. Media continues to define millennials and younger...
The impact each decennial Census has on our country can never be understated. With less than three years before the 2020 U.S. Census, our focus on securing a full and accurate count of all residents living in our country seems to have shifted due to a cacophony of other pressing concerns. So much of our work in public relations, marketing and advertising depends on the big data that is...
As a college professor and mother, I spend a significant amount of time immersed in a world of young people who are consumed by their digital devices. But they are not alone.
Try to remember the last face-to-face conversation with your parent, child, partner or spouse that did not involve the distraction of a smartphone. Many of us might be thinking for a while.
Wireless...
Marketers are making a huge mistake. Focused on reaching the masses with big data, they have forgotten to connect with an entire population of powerful consumers — small-town America.
While marketers think that small towns and rural populations are inconsequential, roughly 25 percent of the U.S. population lives outside of cities and suburbs. Their collective voices are influential —...
The automotive industry is facing a major revolution. Ride sharing, autonomous vehicles, alternative powertrains and other new technology entrants will disrupt a business model that has remained mostly the same for 100 years, and contributes more than $900 billion to the U.S. economy.
But that future won’t be a reality in 2018. What’s impacting the success of automakers in the...
As communicators, the words we choose for ourselves and craft for our organizations and clients are profoundly important. They can unite us or divide us. Engage us or enrage us. Heal us or hurt us. Let there be no mistake — our words matter. But, as the guardians of reputation and the torchbearers of trust for the leaders and organizations we advise and represent, now more than ever it is...