3 receipts from MAICON Day 1: “The risk is not that AI does the work. The risk is that AI does the work and we never learn from it.” – Paul Roetzer quoting Tobi Lutke “In the Google Era, visible = recommended. In the AI Era, visible != recommended.” – Wil Reynolds “America now spends…
Choose good or fast. There’s a knob with two settings when we’re using AI research tools: quality and speed. And there’s no middle setting, because a middle setting would deliver half-assed results that were neither fast nor correct. The more I use AI tools for research, the more I realize that you only get two…
Summary In today's episode, I explain how generative AI can help solve cold cases and why massive evidence archives demand specialized retrieval systems and real-world detective expertise. Here's what this means for you. You can tackle complex investigations by combining targeted AI searches with indexed data, expert-designed questions, and lessons from skilled investigators instead of…
_Almost Timely News: 🗞️ What Are Open Weights Models? (2026-10-18) :: View in Browser_ The Big Plug(s) 🚗 Missed MAICON 2026? You can catch the replay of my session here! ✍️ Enroll in my new course, AI for Writers and learn how to make AI write better. My Unofficial LinkedIn Algorithm Guide is updated for…
Leave Claude set on Opus 5.5 Medium. If you want the best blend of performance price brains and brawn, Anthropic pulled off something magical with Opus 5.5. It’s an extremely smart model, but it is also a parsimonious model. In the Artificial Analysis benchmarks, Opus 5.5 parallels the capabilities of Fable 5.1 in terms of…
Summary In today's episode, I explain how educators can preserve students' independent reasoning and authentic creative voice without banning generative AI or forcing every learner into a standard essay format. Here's what this means for you. You can meet students in the languages and creative formats they already understand, let them think and express ideas…
Use AI at the peak of the previous best. If you want to get the most benefit out of AI without expending the most resources (and cost), here’s a simple rubric for you to remember: use AI at the maximum level of the previous generation. For example, Anthropic released Opus 5.5 yesterday. Record-breaking performance, faster,…
What’s going on with AEO/GEO/AI Visibility/etc.? This week, Ashley Zeckman invited me to come share my POV at the annual Spotlight Summit, and in a blisteringly fast 25 minutes, I walked folks through the three stages of GEO, how agentic is changing search, and the two platforms that provide REAL AI visibility measurements AND are…
Summary In today's episode, I explain why corporate legal teams should prohibit employees from using personal AI subscriptions for proprietary work and how employers can support compliance with approved tools. Here's what this means for you. Unauthorized personal AI use can expose company data, undermine attorney-client privilege, and place sensitive information beyond your control, so…
