An AI curriculum, the history of board games in America, and how an idea during a bike ride improved semi-truck aerodynamics. Whether it be in the office or on the airplane headed to our next program, we’re always talking about the issues and trends that are shaping the way we learn as well as what interests each of us on the team. Read more below.
Artificial Studies 101
A recent NYT article details efforts to prepare future workforces for the ubiquity of AI tools: large tech companies and the US government alike are increasingly funding education that integrates A.I. literacy into school curricula, teaching students to use and critically evaluate chatbots. Though forward thinking, similar attempts in the past had mixed results. Social media education gave students conceptual knowledge without truly reducing harms like cyberbullying. The tools we prepare for will always change, teaching students to stay curious will remain the key to long terms success.
The aerodynamics of semi trucks
In 1973, NASA aerospace engineer Edwin J. Saltzman noticed something while biking: as semi-trucks passed him, he was first pushed out then sucked back in. Most sane and slightly less engineering minded folks likely saw this as a sign to bike elsewhere, but Saltzman was struck with an idea. He and his team modified a Ford van to test drag-reducing concepts and achieved up to 52% drag reduction and a 15–25% fuel efficiency boost. Their work influenced modern semi-truck designs, proving NASA’s impact extends beyond space exploration. No matter the source of inspiration, see where that next idea takes you.
Board games, America’s past time
In the Wall Street Journal’s ongoing series about America at 250, we learn that board games have been a mirror of our national moods since the early 1800s. From Manifest Destiny to Monopoly, Americans played games about money, morality and culture. Lizzie Magie originally invented Monopoly, a game that was credited to someone else for years, to warn against capitalist greed, which is either deeply ironic or perfectly American, depending on your mood. In spite of the rise of video games, Americans are still regularly rolling dice at the kitchen table because like the second hotel on Boardwalk, personal connection will never lose its value.
Less Attila the Hun, more Ghandi
An excerpt in Big Think from Nilofer Merchant’s book Our Best Work is about the “Gladiator Strategy” which was popular at Microsoft during the Ballmer era for managing team meetings. It pitted employees against each other in boardroom bloodsport to let the strongest ideas survive. While some leaders find this powerful and compelling, Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s current CEO, swapped the Roman Colosseum for a learning culture, and the market rewarded him with a 969% stock surge. A true thumbs up. Great teams don’t avoid fights, they fight the problem instead of each other.
152 years in development
Crews this week placed the final part of the spire on top the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain, completing the exterior of the famed church. While the interior remains under construction, the church is a testament to long term thinking and bold visions. Originally designed in 1883 by Antoni Gaudí, the church is unlike any in the world and now stands as the tallest cathedral in Europe. As the world begins to move faster, shrinking timelines and increasing the rate of change, pause and to think long term.
“A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.”
-D. Elton Trueblood