Generative AI, Blue Checks, and FOMO, Oh My!

Dear Fellow FOMO Sapiens,

It’s been a while since I last wrote, but it’s time to kick back into action. Spring is officially here, a time for new beginnings, and so it’s a perfect time for a new edition of “What Did I Miss?,” the official newsletter of FOMO Sapiens. If you know me, you know that I don’t like to waste your time, so here are the four things you need to know right now:?

1. Why I’m obsessed with generative AI - and why you should be too
2. How blue verification checks jumped the shark
3. I’m on TikTok - just want to be the last one on before it gets banned
4. We have merch

??Plus, we are cooking with gas over at the FOMO Sapiens podcast….read below for a sneak peek of what’s in store for this month.??

1. Let’s talk ChatGPT and generative AI.??Why, you ask? Because this topic has all the things I love: cutting-edge tech + paranoia levels of FOMO. If you haven’t been following things as breathlessly as I have, the arms race between Microsoft and Google (and soon others) to prove who is more advanced in the world of AI is classic FOMO. But with the stakes this high, the rush to get their products into users’ hands also smacks of recklessness. And this is only the start.?I’m bracing myself for when all kinds of non-tech companies claim they are now AI companies.??Just wait for your when favorite consumer brands - I’m thinking McDonald’s, Dunkin', and Nike - are trying to convince you that they're now AI-driven tech companies.?I have three letters for you: LOL. What you need to know:?Now that crypto, NFTs, and the metaverse are out of fashion, generative AI is the flavor of the month. Expect lots of silly behavior to grab headlines and lots of FOMO from investors, companies, and journalists. While there will be lots of thirsty noise, there is clearly some?therethere. Make sure to try out these products - start with ChatGPT and DALL·E - you don’t want to?miss out?on what could be a transformative technology. Crawl around in my brain:?You can hear my?hot take on Chat GPT by checking out this episode of FOMOndays. ?I also have upcoming AI-related episodes with artists/designer Sebastian Errazuris, professors Sheena Iyengar and Jonah Berger, and AI Ethicist Reid Blackman, so stay tuned. What I’m listening to:?This episode with?Ezra Klein talking AI? on Hard Fork is worth your time.
2. Bye, Bye, blue check.?We have reached the end of the era of blue checks meaning something. Just like Soho House went public and lost its exclusive vibe, the pay-to-play shift for verification at Twitter and now FB/Instagram has made blue checks the social media equivalent of eating at a Hard Rock Cafe: If you have money and a high tolerance for pain, have at it! The real question is this: why the heck would anyone who had a blue check before pay for one now? Verification for free is cool, but paying for it, well, that smacks of desperation. At the present moment, things are still a bit fuzzy since Twitter hasn’t removed most people’s free blue checks, but once that happens, it will be clear who is willing to pay $8 for their relevance. And those people will look like saddos.?
3. What you need to know:?Just like the hashtag, which has dwindled in relevance, so goes the blue check. But no one seems to get it. Facebook is copying Twitter and just like it’s forays into AI, Facebook just doesn’t get it: When the cool kids of social media refuse to pay for it (I’m looking at you, Lebron), the herd follows. I predict sites like Twitter will likely make very little off of this move, but will have alienated their core users in the process. Shame on you, Elon.?
4. FOMO Sapiens is on TikTok.?Yes, even I have FOMO….and?I'm thrilled to announce the launch of our new?TikTok channel ?featuring bite-sized excerpts from some of the best FOMO Sapiens interviews. How did this all happen??I met the founder of a company called Podmachine while in Manila and yada yada yada, they’re helping me to put content on the ‘tok.?Head over to TikTok and Instagram and let me know what you think.
5. We have Merch.?If you’re jonesing for the perfect look to kick off spring, look no further than the FOMO Sapiens shop where you can find high-quality hats, t-shirts, and stickers emblazoned with FOMO and FOMO Sapiens.?Every time I wear mine out of the house, I get compliments.?Makes a perfect gift for that special FOMO Sapiens in your life.?Get your FOMO Merch Now!

And finally, here’s a sneak peek on what’s coming at you on FOMO Sapiens throughout April:

Somebody call 9-11 because this season - Season 9 if you’re counting - is???.?I’ve featured entrepreneurs, Shark Tank contestants, a Shark Tank judge, activists, a Super Bowl winner, and many other amazing folks. Listen at?Apple ,?Spotify , or wherever you get your podcasts! And while you’re there, please consider liking, subscribing and leaving a review. Plus, get ready for more episodes coming your way that are devoted to bold thinkers and entrepreneurs:

• April 6th:?Author and Podcaster Morra Aaron-Mele on How to Overcome Anxiety and Even Use it for Good.
• April 13th: Burn the Boats: Unleashing Fearless Entrepreneurship with Matt Higgins
• April 20th: Steven Kotler on Aging Like a FOMO Sapiens
• April 27th: How the Lure of FOMO in Extreme Sports Can Lead to Extreme Disaster

As always, thank you for being a part of the FOMO Sapiens community. I'm excited to continue bringing you valuable content and insights that can help you achieve your goals and overcome your fears.