\/\/ Stories of the Week:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n1.) AI and the Increasing Power of Taste.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\nIn a world of increasing AI generated content and creativity, what role can humans uniquely play? It might be found in our own personal taste and discretion. A recent MIT study has created news<\/a> around the mental impact of AI use – highlighting that students who used AI to write essays showed less identification with their papers and less cognitive connection. While a causal relationship between effort and retention is to be expected, the wider cognitive implications have led to some ringing the alarm on the effects of AI use.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo is AI poised to offer us ease in return for our intellectual ownership and unique thought? Or is there a balance to be found in how we can collaborate with machines? The answer may come from recognizing the power of individual taste, aptly described by the Atlantic as \u2018judgement with style\u2019<\/a>. Similar to how producer Rick Rubin describes his creative process<\/a>, where hard skills are limited but taste is decisive – our defensible value may come from how we pull intangibles together to edit, re-arrange and remix. Similar to creative direction, Rubin may not have created his songs, but his stamp and ownership is clear due to applying taste. In a world of limitless generativity, being the guardian of the \u2018intention\u2019 behind the content may be our most valuable role. <\/p>\n\n\n\nRead More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n2.) Climate Change Takes the Field. <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\nSport is often claimed to be a form of escapism, but recent news from sporting events like Wimbledon and the FIFA Club World Cup have made climate change news inescapable. With news that next year\u2019s World Cup final is considered to start at 9am due to heat<\/a> and Wimbledon players giving out water to spectators due to temperatures<\/a>, climate change has taken center stage in sport. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAs night time marathons increase<\/a> and FIFA\u2019s Club World Cup suffered significant delays<\/a> due to extreme weather, changes in sport mirror changes in the wider environment they\u2019re played in. While 85% of athletes recently said that athletics<\/a> has been affected by climate change, the open question is climate\u2019s impact on sport will drive spectators to also think differently about the issue? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3.) When Does Reading Become \u201cPerformative\u201d?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\nIs it ok to read the \u2018Infinite Jest\u2019 in public? Social media has honed in on \u2018performative readers\u2019, who are accused of reading titles in public for their appearance vs. their content. While Pynchon is easy to pick on (I lost a copy right after buying it in a cab and assumed it was a sign to give it a pass – sorry if you\u2019re reading Thomas<\/a>), it highlights a wider shift from an age of celebrating reading on social accounts like \u2018Hot Dudes Reading\u2019<\/a> to public shaming. However, with almost half of America reportedly not reading a book in the last yea<\/a>r and 40% of Brits saying the same<\/a>, is even \u2018performative\u2019 reading something we should be holding on to? <\/p>\n\n\n\nRead More Here<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\/\/ Chart of the Week: What Does American Pride Look Like? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newclassic.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AD_4nXdgEBBJ8B0RIEV8DLYFkvdk6astnkxBOLlZYFr7nrsNoCOpgkqaWGZnYaWvpMz-xANvYy9XKFDDYYUzYKAyEPXwnmHiOxTIjSP_5m2SK07SQ_fT3dWH5gnjO-Iyucl7Oe7KW203SQ.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs the Fourth of July comes during a time of crisis and hyperpolarization in the US, how do Americans feel about their country, state or hometown? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gallup recently reported a decrease in national pride<\/a> but there may be more to the shift at a community level. YouGov has explored this in their latest research<\/a>, showing that people feel more connected to their communities than they do their country. Overall, 47% of Americans surveyed were \u2018somewhat or very\u2019 proud of their country vs. 58% for their state and 64% for their hometown. City pride didn\u2019t change massively between city dwellers or rural dwellers either (as shown above), with local connections generating a sense of place that the nation currently lacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\/\/ Ads You Might Have Missed: <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
In a world of increasing AI generated content and creativity, what role can humans uniquely play? It might be found in our own personal taste and discretion. A recent MIT study has created news<\/a> around the mental impact of AI use – highlighting that students who used AI to write essays showed less identification with their papers and less cognitive connection. While a causal relationship between effort and retention is to be expected, the wider cognitive implications have led to some ringing the alarm on the effects of AI use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So is AI poised to offer us ease in return for our intellectual ownership and unique thought? Or is there a balance to be found in how we can collaborate with machines? The answer may come from recognizing the power of individual taste, aptly described by the Atlantic as \u2018judgement with style\u2019<\/a>. Similar to how producer Rick Rubin describes his creative process<\/a>, where hard skills are limited but taste is decisive – our defensible value may come from how we pull intangibles together to edit, re-arrange and remix. Similar to creative direction, Rubin may not have created his songs, but his stamp and ownership is clear due to applying taste. In a world of limitless generativity, being the guardian of the \u2018intention\u2019 behind the content may be our most valuable role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sport is often claimed to be a form of escapism, but recent news from sporting events like Wimbledon and the FIFA Club World Cup have made climate change news inescapable. With news that next year\u2019s World Cup final is considered to start at 9am due to heat<\/a> and Wimbledon players giving out water to spectators due to temperatures<\/a>, climate change has taken center stage in sport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As night time marathons increase<\/a> and FIFA\u2019s Club World Cup suffered significant delays<\/a> due to extreme weather, changes in sport mirror changes in the wider environment they\u2019re played in. While 85% of athletes recently said that athletics<\/a> has been affected by climate change, the open question is climate\u2019s impact on sport will drive spectators to also think differently about the issue? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Is it ok to read the \u2018Infinite Jest\u2019 in public? Social media has honed in on \u2018performative readers\u2019, who are accused of reading titles in public for their appearance vs. their content. While Pynchon is easy to pick on (I lost a copy right after buying it in a cab and assumed it was a sign to give it a pass – sorry if you\u2019re reading Thomas<\/a>), it highlights a wider shift from an age of celebrating reading on social accounts like \u2018Hot Dudes Reading\u2019<\/a> to public shaming. However, with almost half of America reportedly not reading a book in the last yea<\/a>r and 40% of Brits saying the same<\/a>, is even \u2018performative\u2019 reading something we should be holding on to? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More Here<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As the Fourth of July comes during a time of crisis and hyperpolarization in the US, how do Americans feel about their country, state or hometown? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gallup recently reported a decrease in national pride<\/a> but there may be more to the shift at a community level. YouGov has explored this in their latest research<\/a>, showing that people feel more connected to their communities than they do their country. Overall, 47% of Americans surveyed were \u2018somewhat or very\u2019 proud of their country vs. 58% for their state and 64% for their hometown. City pride didn\u2019t change massively between city dwellers or rural dwellers either (as shown above), with local connections generating a sense of place that the nation currently lacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n2.) Climate Change Takes the Field. <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
3.) When Does Reading Become \u201cPerformative\u201d?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\/\/ Chart of the Week: What Does American Pride Look Like? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\/\/ Ads You Might Have Missed: <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n