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How AI is changing and can change the world

Revisado: 03-29-23

Power and Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence is an highly engaging book that explores the ways in which artificial intelligence is changing the way we live and work. The authors argue that AI is not just a tool that can be used to automate tasks or improve efficiency; it is a powerful force that can disrupt entire industries and create new ones. How? with the power of prediction leveraged using AI, industries can transform their businesses and create disruption that can be unimaginable. The authors site a variety of examples from different industries and explain how a first mover advantage exists for those who adopt quickly AI in their innovations and products. The beauty of the book is that it explains AI in the most simplest term. AI cannot replace humans, they cannot self perpetuate and cause doomsday as we have been imagining or having been forced to think like that because of movies, but they can make some of the most fundamental things available at our fingertips if leveraged properly.

The authors focus on two primordial concepts of judgement and prediction. How making this prediction faster using AI can help improve human decision speed. Here they stress the shift from point system AIs to system thinking with interdependent systems and how it can help improve decision speed for businesses and improving the livelihood of humans. The businesses that leverage this are going to be the disruptors. The luddites will be left behind (Recall Math teachers striking in the 1980s because calculators are being used in the class and it is not helping students cognitively).

Must read for all CEOs, CTOs and product managers. Get the chatGPT plugin soon in your products and applications.

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Get Moving

Revisado: 03-24-23

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman is a well-written and informative book that explores the relationship between exercise and the brain. Ratey, a psychiatrist and Harvard Medical School professor, and Hagerman, a science writer, draw on a wealth of scientific research to support their claims about the benefits of exercise for the brain.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part, "The Science of Exercise and the Brain," provides an overview of the research on the effects of exercise on brain function. The second part, "The Benefits of Exercise for the Brain," discusses the specific benefits of exercise for cognitive function, mood, and mental health. The third part, "The Exercise Prescription," provides practical advice on how to get the most benefits from exercise.

The book is well-organized and easy to read and listen in audible. I did both. Ratey and Hagerman use clear and concise language, and they provide helpful examples to illustrate their points. The book is also well-researched, and the authors provide a wealth of scientific references though some are still from 2000.

Overall, Spark is an excellent book that provides a comprehensive overview of the science of exercise and the brain. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the benefits of exercise for cognitive function, mood, and mental health.

However, there are a few areas where the book could be improved. First, Ratey and Hagerman sometimes make claims that go beyond the evidence. For example, they claim that exercise can "cure" depression and anxiety, but the evidence for this is not strong. Second, the book is quite long, and some readers may find it repetitive. Finally, the book is not always up-to-date, as some of the research it cites is from the early 2000s.

Despite these flaws, Spark is an excellent book that provides a valuable overview of the science of exercise and the brain. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the benefits of exercise for cognitive function, mood, and mental health.

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Starter Story on Immunotherapy

Revisado: 03-24-23

The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer by Charles Graeber is a well-written and informative book that tells the story of the scientific discoveries that have led to the development of immunotherapy, a new form of cancer treatment that is showing great promise. Graeber does an excellent job of explaining the science in a way that is easy to understand, and he also provides a balanced view of the potential benefits and risks of immunotherapy.

One of the strengths of the book is Graeber's ability to tell a compelling story. He profiles a number of patients who have been treated with immunotherapy, and he describes their experiences in vivid detail. This helps the reader to understand the human cost of cancer, and it also makes the science come alive.

Another strength of the book is Graeber's willingness to confront the difficult questions that immunotherapy raises. For example, he discusses the ethical implications of using the immune system to attack healthy cells, and he also raises concerns about the potential for immunotherapy to exacerbate racial disparities in healthcare.

Overall, The Breakthrough is an excellent book that provides a comprehensive overview of the science and history of immunotherapy. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in cancer treatment or in the future of medicine.

However, there are a few areas where the book could be improved. First, Graeber could have done a better job of explaining the technical aspects of immunotherapy. Some of the concepts he discusses are quite complex, and it would have been helpful if he had provided more detail.

Second, Graeber could have been more balanced in his coverage of the potential benefits and risks of immunotherapy. He tends to focus on the potential benefits, and he does not discuss the risks as extensively. This could give the reader a false impression of the risks of immunotherapy.

Overall, The Breakthrough is an excellent book that provides a comprehensive overview of the science and history of immunotherapy. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in cancer treatment or in the future of medicine.

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Riveting history of Mammals

Revisado: 02-21-23

If you have read the authors "The Last days of the Dinosaur", you will not be disappointed by the next great sequel of "The Rise and Reign of the Mammals".

I read this with my 9 year old son. We read and listened every night for an hour and my son enjoyed every minute of this book. Steve takes you through a fascinating story of mammals from where he left in his previous book providing a lot of interesting and entertaining facts. Whenever we think of Paleontology we are easily taken into the world of dinosaurs but this book makes the average and prolific mammalians look like heroes dwarfing the big giants in his own style with his witty and lucid writing.

He leaves you with some profound thoughts but laddened with sad facts on how we are taking this evolution to an extraordinary point in time when our footprint is accelerating the demise of these species to an unprecedented level of extinction and what we can do about it.

Narration is fantastic.

Read it with your kids and you will not be disappointed.

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Another great book from Ed Yong

Revisado: 01-02-23

Ed Yong has created another fabulous book that takes us to the inner working of the animal senses. The beauty of the book is not for us to understand the facts but also the profound appreciation we need to have and the actions we need to take to preserve this ecosystem. Great narration by the author.

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Cell Biology for common folks

Revisado: 11-01-22

Siddhartha Mukherjee is a gifted story teller and a thought leader. This is my third book after Emperor of Maladies and Genes. First audiobook version of his books. The book is about an intimate history on cell biology, traversing history to modern day evolution of our understanding of this fundamental building block of us. Throughout the book he brings the touch of personal stories while making it easier for non medical people with proper metaphors and simple explanations of complex topics. The narrator has done a great job with varying tones to make the listening easier. Not to be missed. Another great book from Siddhartha Mukherjee.

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Excellent Evolutionary Discourse on US Utilities

Revisado: 10-31-21

Excellent analysis of a very complex history and evolution of the US utility enterprise. Gives a very clear economical and historical perspective of the interaction of the complex free market enterprise, bipartisan political regulatory framework and the leaders who have shaped the utility infrastructure. Without a clear understanding of these forces the transition to decarbonization of electrical utility infrastructure is not easy in US. The author gives a lucid analysis without any bias. Great read and Joe Barrett narration makes it lively. Highly recommend it to those interested in energy transition, power industry professionals and entrepreneurs entering power sectors that touches utility operating practices.

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