✅ Monday briefing: Phone hacking, teens on screen, EDI basics, downsizing ethics, AI slowdown call, AI white paper, AI tools, mouse leaves metaverse, and more...
Media, insight, artificial intelligence, technology and platforms, and tools
It’s a short newsletter this week and there won’t be a newsletter next week as we’re taking a break for the Easter holidays. We’re heading off to Northumberland in the campervan for a few days. Have a great week and take care of yourselves.
Media
☎️ PHONE HACKING: A group of high profile people including Prince Harry, Elton John and Doreen Lawrence are suing Associated Newspapers, alleging that they were the victims of privacy breaches by The Daily Mail. The judge is expected to rule on whether the case can proceed to court in the coming weeks. Spotted Stephen Waddington
Insight
👱 TEENS ON SCREEN: Kids favour short-form videos on social media according to a new Ofcom report. YouTube is the most popular app, used by 88% of 17-year-olds, although short-form video apps Snapchat (43%) and TikTok (56%) have seen significant rises. Spotted Andy Barr.
🟰 EDI BASICS: A new guide published by the CIPR includes definitions of equality, diversity, and inclusion and associated terms, explains how these apply in practice, and outlines ways to create an equitable future within the public relations industry. It's part of a series of five reports to be published this year. Source Sara Thornhurst.
Artificial intelligence
🖐 DOWNSIZING ETHICS: Tech companies are cutting AI ethics teams at a time they are needed most. Layoffs by Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta, are all part of broader industry cuts. We overlooked the ethical considerations of the internet and social media and look where that’s got us. Source Andrew Bruce Smith.
🔥 AI SLOWDOWN CALL: Amid the downsizing of ethics teams more than 1,000 tech researchers and executives have called for a pause on AI systems. It’s a bit late to shout fire. Platforms such as ChatGPT have already gathered huge reach and applications. Source Andrew Bruce Smith.
📃 AI WHITE PAPER: The UK AI White Paper promises a light touch, flexible approach to suit different situations. It proposes that AI governance is incorporated within existing regulatory authorities. Spotted Stuart Bruce.
🪠 AI TOOLS: This is a list of practical AI tools to try out in your own day-to-day work to help with research, writing, editing and admin. Let me how you get on, and also if there are any tools that I’ve missed that you recommend. Source Stephen Waddington.
Technology and platforms
🐭 MOUSE LEAVES METAVERSE: Disney has shut down its Next Generation Storytelling group focused on the metaverse. The entertainment company has always been at the forefront of innovation in the physical and virtual sphere. Source Micheal Greer.
🖼 AD TRANSPARENCY: A new transparency tool provides insight into who is paying for Google search ads. It provides details of the campaign and its source of funding. Source Alan Morrison
Tools
💷 PAY TO PLAY: You’re going to need to start paying for Twitter if your organisation has a community on the platform or you work in the media or public relations. Twitter may be in slow decline, but love it or hate it, there is no viable alternative. Source Stuart Bruce.