Cisco at Oak Hill
On April 9, 2023, we reported that Viktor Hovland, one of the Cisco athlete ambassadors, finished in 7th place in the PGA Masters Tournament. Then, on May 21, 2023, he secured a 2nd place finish in the PGA Championship held at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York. Great job, Hovland !
To keep or not to keep ?
Ford CEO Jim Farley announced on Tuesday morning, May 23, that the automaker is reversing its previous plan to remove AM radio from vehicles. This decision comes after discussions with government policy leaders who expressed concerns about the importance of maintaining emergency alerts typically broadcasted on AM stations.
According to reports, BMW and Tesla have start removing AM and FM radio from their latest car models. However, is it possible that one day, just like in the movies, when the internet and cell phone networks break down, we will really need to rely on radio broadcasts for emergency messages?
Meanwhile, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have introduced a bill to prevent automakers from eliminating AM radio in new cars. Named the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023," the bill would mandate manufacturers to incorporate the necessary technology in vehicles, enabling them to tune into stations that exclusively broadcast on AM bands.
They are coming out ! The AI chatbot is no longer self-contained in its own box
More and more companies have adopted the ChatGPT plugin, so the way you can communicate with ChatGPT or other AI ChatBots is no longer limited to the "Send a message..." small box.
Traditionally, chatbots have been designed as self-contained systems that operate within a specific application or platform. However, recent advancements have expanded the capabilities of chatbots, allowing them to integrate and interact with other systems and services beyond their initial boundaries. This trend has resulted in the development of more versatile and interconnected chatbot solutions.
Next month, June 2023, Wendy’s will roll out drive-through service using an AI chatbot at a company-owned restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.
Should we adopt a rating system for social media, similar to how we rate movies ?
The United States Surgeon General has issued a new advisory about the effect social media use has on youth mental health, warning that social media is driving a mental crisis among teenagers.
“At a moment when we are experiencing a national youth mental health crisis, now is the time to act swiftly and decisively to protect children and adolescents from risk of harm,” he wrote.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), social media use among young people is nearly universal, with up to 95% of youth aged 13 to 17 years reporting the use of a social media platform. Additionally, more than one-third of them stated that they use social media "almost constantly."
Studies have found social media use is linked with symptoms of anxiety and depression at a time when there already is a youth mental health crisis, which Dr. Murthy laid out in a 2021 advisory and the AAP has been calling on health officials to address. In addition, users may experience cyberbullying, and nearly half of teens said the platforms make them feel worse about their bodies.
Smart XYZ, XYZ = ?
Nowadays, we have smartphones, smart watches, smart pens, smart bulbs, smart wearables, smart cars, smart homes... you name it. And, of course, there are smart buildings. Cisco PENN1 is an excellent example of one.
