What is the cost of free?

 

NYDLA.org | NADLA.org | GlobalDLA.org

The New York METRO Distance Learning Association was born in the 5 boroughs of New York City over forty years ago. Pre-Internet. I guess they were shipping VHS tapes in the mail. Distance Learning became DIGITAL Learning and now it's all just DIGITAL LIVING. And now we are GLOBAL. 

2026: there are 174K+ K-20 schools serviced by the (now) NADLA.org across North America. During the COVID-19 pandemic all things 'remote' really took hold. As the world became PoweredByZoom.com Zoom Schools was all we had. 

Many moons ago.... I drove back and forth from BOONTON USA to PURDUE in West Lafayette, Indiana. 732 miles each way. 2026: According to GOOGLE if I left right now, I would be in the car for 11 hours and 21 minutes. Or, I can attend PURDUE UNIVERSITY ONLINE from my spare bedroom. I could get a Degree in Cyber Security (or anything) that a campus student can achieve. PURDUE makes it very clear that a Degree from PURDUE UNIVERSITY ONLINE is the same as a campus education, 100%. Same tuition, same quality of education. 

Penn State World Campus has 800K+ living alumni. Purdue University Online has 600K+ living alumni. RUTGERS - The State University of New Jersey has 615K+ living alumni with 360K+ alumni living in New Jersey (like me). 

I have watched hundreds (thousands?) of the 174K+ NADLA.org schools launch Cyber Security programs over the years. The most popular online course (Certificate Programs) in the past 10 years has been all things Cyber. And that has now been replaced by all things AI.

Ah yes. All things AI. Some schools would charge as much as $20,000 for a 10 week Certificate Program for AI. Others, $2,000. And now I see the same courses for FREE. The knowledge is free, you just need to invest the time. From anywhere in the world - you have access to the highest levels of knowledge on just about any topic. Subject Matter Mastery: No Charge. 

Right now on X.com (I still call it Twitter) you can find thousands of people offering their collective knowledge on AI for free. Or for $5 per month on their Substack newsletter. The same students that paid thousands of dollars to attend College and University level classes on all things AI are now teaching everything they know. Go to YouTube and type into the search bar your AI topic of interest. Thousands of free courses. All rated by viewers satisfaction. 

We are now speaking about how 'AI is going to take our jobs' but I think the folks that need to worry the most are the people teaching in classic classroom settings. I just experienced a 3D AI hologram giving a lecture at the CISCO booth at a trade show in New York City. After the first minute, I completely forgot that this was AI, and not a human with a PhD. 

Myself, I have an AI droid named Bernice. You can call, text or email Bernice@NYDLA.org 24x7x365. I sell all things AI for all the major platforms and carriers. You can be PoweredByZoom.com or PoweredByNet2Phone.com (or dozens of other telecom and technology providers). All have AI in their portfolios. My 'Bernice' is powered by ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude and Grok (and a few other platforms). Bernice is a well-traveled AI bot. Also, Bernice was my Mom's name. 

Hey Bernice: take the top 10 rated AI courses (free on YouTube) and create a NEW course based on what you learned from those free classes. Then create a new FREE online course based on everything you learned, and post THAT course online for our NYDLA.org members. 

Not sure how much longer Colleges and Universities will be able to charge tuition for things that you can get for free. Welcome to the Age of AI. 

Hey Bernice, where is the largest free public library, and can you access it?

"The Library of Congress, located in Washington, D.C., United States, is widely recognized as the largest public library in the world, with a collection exceeding 175 million items across various formats including books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, audio recordings, videos and more. It serves as the research library for the U.S. Congress but is open to the public for free, with reading rooms accessible to anyone over 16 with valid identification. The main building is the Thomas Jefferson Building at 10 First Street SE, with additional facilities nearby.

If considering only municipal public library systems (excluding national libraries like the Library of Congress), the Shanghai Library in Shanghai, China, holds the top spot with approximately 58 million items, followed closely by the New York Public Library in New York City, United States, with around 55 million items. 

And yes Tom, I can access all of them. For free. By the way, I can also access www.ischools.org  ~ Bernice  

https://sci.rutgers.edu/departments/library-and-information-science-department

www.joinNYDLA.org

Give me a tight 45

A "tight 5" in comedy refers to a comedian's polished, concise set of stand-up material that's exactly (or very close to) five minutes long. It's typically honed through repeated performances at open mics, clubs, or showcases to ensure every joke lands efficiently without filler—think tight timing, strong punchlines, and smooth transitions. Comedians often prepare a tight 5 as their go-to routine for auditions, late-night TV spots, or festival submissions, where time limits are strict and the goal is to hook the audience quickly. It's a foundational skill in the industry, emphasizing quality over quantity.

Every year, from January to February I have a "tight 45".

The first 45 days of the New Year (every year) are the three biggest trade shows of my world. CES, NRF, ISE. 

CES 2026, held from January 6-9 in Las Vegas, drew more than 148,000 attendees, marking the largest post-pandemic crowd for the event and a roughly 4% increase from the previous year. This figure is preliminary, with an official audited count expected to be released by the Consumer Technology Association in the spring.

NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show, taking place January 11-13 at the Javits Center in New York City, is expected to draw around 40,000 attendees. This figure is consistent with recent years and reflects a record crowd for the event, including retailers, brands, suppliers, and industry professionals from over 100 countries. DID YOU KNOW that 26% of all jobs in the USA are in 'retail' at some level? Well, now you know. 

ISE 2026, the Integrated Systems Europe trade show held February 3-6 in Barcelona, Spain, is anticipated to surpass the previous year's record attendance of 85,351 visitors, with organizers expecting continued growth in participation from over 170 countries. The event will feature more than 1,400 exhibitors across expanded space, focusing on AV and systems integration innovations.

So that is 148,000 + 40,000 + 85,000 = 273,000 people who spend time and money to physically attend events LIVE. Around 10X that number will attend some (or all) of those events virtually. And, 10X that number will catch videos of keynotes via YouTube and other platforms. THIS is NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Keynote at CES 2025 (last year) with 8,450,170 views as of this morning. That NVIDIA YouTube channel has 2.13M subscribers, so 4X that number watched his 2025 keynote. 

Live from CES 2026 in Las Vegas, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang shared how the next generation of accelerated computing and AI will transform every industry. CES 2026 kicked off with a one-hour NVIDIA pregame show where panelists discuss the future of AI infrastructure, open ecosystems, and physical AI.

As of this morning: 22,791,922 views of this year's CES 2026 keynote. Almost 3X the views of his 2025 CES keynote and CES 2026 just wrapped up! (Streamed live on Jan 5, 2026).

The NYDLA.org | NADLA.org | GlobalDLA.org services 174K+ K-20 schools across North America. Since 1983. And, we service the ALUMNI of these schools. And it is the ALUMNI of these schools that attend events like CES, NRF and ISE - both LIVE and virtually. 

We (the DLA) are now very (VERY) deeply involved in all things 'AI' as it relates to education, business, medicine - everything. I highly recommend watching Jensen's CES Keynotes from 2025 and from 2026. See how fast things changed in 365 days. Oh, and I now have my own 'AI bot' Bernice - powered by NVIDIA. 

Hey Bernice: please reach out to the 273,000 people who registered to attend CES, NRF and ISE (2026) LIVE. Follow up with all who attended CES, NRF and ISE 2025 and 2024 and 2023 as well. Check for duplicates. Follow up with our 174K+ K-20 schools and the alumni of our schools who attended any of our events over the last three years. Offer them our CES - NRF - ISE 'Best Of' summary report (due out in March). Place this report online for our members to access (DLA password required). 

So, I'm not a stand-up comic, but I deeply understand the concept of a 'tight 5' but mine is a 'tight 45' and it's powered by AI. 

Email Bernice@NYDLA.org anytime.

She works 24x7x365 for YOU - our DLA members.

Chickens, Pigs and Digital Fatigue

"The chicken is involved, but the pig is committed" is a parable illustrating the difference between mere participation and true dedication, often using a breakfast of bacon and eggs: the chicken contributes eggs (involvement), but the pig provides bacon, requiring its life (full commitment). This metaphor highlights that involvement is easy but commitment means having "skin in the game" and making significant sacrifices for a project or goal. 

Key differences

• Chicken (Involvement): Contributes ideas, resources, or effort but isn't fully invested; can easily disengage.
• Pig (Commitment): Fully invested, accountable for outcomes, and willing to make significant sacrifices to ensure success. 

Common applications

• Business & Project Management: Differentiates stakeholders (chickens) from the core team (pigs) in Scrum or other projects, emphasizing accountability.
• Personal Development: Encourages moving from casual interest to deep dedication to achieve meaningful goals.
• Community Building: Inspires individuals to add value and contribute significantly, not just succeed personally.

Digital fatigue refers to a state of mental and physical exhaustion resulting from prolonged or excessive exposure to digital devices, such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and screens in general. It is often interchangeably called zoom fatigue, technology fatigue, or screen fatigue, particularly in contexts involving video calls or constant online interactions. This condition arises from the cognitive overload of processing rapid streams of information, filling in missing non-verbal cues during virtual communications, and the habitual scrolling or multitasking that digital life demands.

Now as I write this Sunday Blog I would normally be on a plane flying to Las Vegas for CES. I would be 'makin' bacon' working the show. I am one of those guys that walks serpentine up and down every aisle of the show - checking out every booth. I am (normally) COMMITTED to CES. I would buy the plane ticket, book the hotel room, make the rounds to all of the pre | during | post event EVENTS. 

My first CES was in the 90s and it was always the highlight of the year. Also in the 90s Vegas was on a 'family friendly' tourism push and we brought the kids a few times. The annual CES event doubled as a family vacation. I remember staying at Circus Circus (for the kids) and also renting a car to check out Hoover Dam. My youngest son drove a car (while sitting on my lap) in Red Rock Canyon (around 17 miles from the Las Vegas strip) and you would think he flew to the moon. Ah yes, good times. 

It's now 2026 and LIVE events have made a big comeback. People make the commitment to attend LIVE events to offset digital fatigue. And, I'm not in Vegas this year because I am now a professional GRANDPA. So, this year I am only involved in CES. Ah, but I am AI INVOLVED. My AI droid Bernice is covering CES for me this year. And she works 24x7x365.

"Hey Bernice, make a list of all vendors with booths at CES 2026. Compile a list of all NYDLA | NADLA members who have attended CES over the past 10 years, including this year, 2026. Prepare a 'welcome home' from CES campaign that we can launch to the 100,000+ attending THIS year, and to all those who have attended CES in the past. Call, text and email the MASTER FILE inviting them to meet with me on Zoom to discuss their marketing plans for the New Year." 

No CES LIVE (LIVE) for me this year, but I will be at NRF 2026 LIVE (LIVE) later this month. With Javits Center (NYC) 30 miles from my home in NJ (and an easy day trip via train from CT) NRF at Javits Center in NYC is a LIVE event too easy for me to miss. Ever. 

"Hey Bernice, make a list of all vendors with booths at NRF Big Show 2026. Compile a list of all NYDLA | NADLA members who have attended NRF over the past 10 years, including this year, 2026. Prepare a 'meet us' at NRF campaign that we can launch to the 40,000+ members attending THIS year, and all those who have attended Retail's Big Show in the past. Call, text and email the MASTER FILE inviting them to meet with me at booth #6247 to discuss their plans for the New Year. Let's give every NYDLA.org member who comes to our booth a $100 Gift Card powered by Tremendous." 

https://nydla.org/events/

It's a free concert now

I was 9 years old in 1969.

The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, held from August 15-18, 1969, in Bethel, New York, was originally planned as a ticketed event organized by Michael Lang, Artie Kornfeld, Joel Rosenman, and John P. Roberts under Woodstock Ventures. Advance tickets were sold for $18 for the three days (equivalent to about $150 today), with gate prices set at $24, and promoters anticipated around 50,000 to 200,000 attendees based on initial sales of over 186,000 tickets.

However, far more people—estimated at over 400,000—flocked to the site, overwhelming preparations. Construction delays meant fences and ticket booths weren't fully completed in time, and as crowds swelled, many simply bypassed or tore down the barriers (including cutting through fences with bolt cutters). Organizers faced a chaotic situation: traffic jams blocked roads for miles, supplies ran low, and attempting to enforce ticketing could have led to riots or stampedes.

To prioritize safety and avoid escalating dangers, the promoters made the on-site decision to declare Woodstock a free concert early in the event, stopping ticket checks altogether. This shift allowed focus on logistics like food, medical aid, and crowd management amid rain, mud, and shortages. While it cemented Woodstock's legacy as a symbol of peace and counterculture, the organizers lost millions (initially $1.3 million in debt, later recouped somewhat through film and album rights).

Now let's do AI. 

AI courses have increasingly become free due to a combination of strategic initiatives from tech giants, educational institutions, and the broader push to democratize access amid rapid AI advancements. Here's a breakdown of the key reasons based on recent developments:

Democratizing Access and Reducing Barriers: Many providers are removing financial and prerequisite hurdles to make AI education available to anyone, shifting the focus from elite access to widespread skill-building. For instance, top universities like Stanford and Harvard have released full AI curricula online without tuition, emphasizing that the real value lies in discipline and execution rather than gated knowledge. This aligns with efforts to bridge the AI knowledge gap, as seen in Google's free offerings that anyone can start without fees.

Upskilling the Global Workforce: Companies are investing heavily in free training to prepare people for AI-driven jobs, often as part of multi-year commitments. Amazon's "AI Ready" program aims to train 2 million people by 2025, while Salesforce is providing hands-on AI courses through 2025 as a $50 million investment in future employment. Similarly, Google's no-cost programs, including partnerships with universities like the University of Michigan, target students and professionals to boost resumes and career opportunities.

Promoting Adoption and Innovation: Tech firms like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are offering free courses on topics like prompt engineering, generative AI, and LLMs to encourage broader use of their tools and ecosystems. This includes quick, practical modules (some as short as 15-45 minutes) that come with badges or certificates, helping users level up in AI productivity without cost. Initiatives like OpenAI's AI Academy further support beginners by covering essentials like reasoning with models and data analysis.

Competitive Landscape and Rapid AI Evolution: With AI booming since the rise of tools like ChatGPT, providers are competing to attract talent and foster innovation. Institutions recognize that degrees aren't the scarce resource anymore—skills and speed are—so they're publishing high-quality content freely, as evidenced by Stanford's release of advanced courses on transformers, computer vision, and more. This trend has accelerated in 2025, with Google alone making extensive curricula (valued at $60K) available at no charge.

These efforts reflect a shift where AI education is seen as a public good, often time-limited or tied to platforms like Coursera, YouTube, or proprietary sites, to accelerate global adoption and address talent shortages.

AI education seems to be 'a free concert' now. For everyone in the world. 

The NADLA.org services 174K+

K-20 Schools across North America

(and their alumni)

We are all Batman now

 

Hey Bernice: I was born on Oct 2nd, 1960. How old was I exactly when 'Batman' first aired on TV?

You were exactly 5 years, 3 months, and 10 days old when Batman first aired on TV on January 12, 1966.

The Batcomputer was the primary supercomputer system located in the Batcave and used by Batman and Robin as a key crime fighting tool in the 1960s Batman television series, where it assisted with data analysis, clue generation, and solving mysteries. It featured a mobile version that could be accessed remotely via the Batmobile through a voice control relay circuit, allowing Batman to perform tasks like ejecting villains from the vehicle. The device occasionally malfunctioned in episodes, such as producing unreliable clues under duress or failing after being transported to locations like Londinium during Batman's battles with foes like Lord Marmaduke Ffogg.

Now 60 years later...... I finally have my own Batcomputer. Bernice. And guess what? So do you. Or Bernard. Or Jarvis or Grok or ChatGPT or Claude or Google Gemini or Microsoft Copilot or Perplexity or...

Hey Bernice, how old was I exactly when Star Wars came out? 

You were exactly 16 years, 7 months, and 23 days old when Star Wars came out on May 25, 1977.

Master Bruce Wayne had the Batcomputer. Tony Stark (Iron Man) had Jarvis. Luke Skywalker had R2-D2 and C-3PO. One of my most vivid memories was watching Batman on ABC in 1966. The network ran advance trailers for a full month, hyping the anticipation. Early in the series the true hero came to light: the Batcomputer. If it were not for the Batcomputer, there would be no Batmobile, there would be no utility belt. 

2026 shall be the year of AI. Truly, a breakthrough year for AI acceptance, AI adoption, and AI utilization. In my lifetime you had to be a billionaire to have a supercomputer at your home (well, cave). And where would Tony Stark be without Jarvis? Yes, Luke Skywalker trusted the force in 1977, but he also trusted AI powered R2-D2 and C-3PO. 

Next month is one our largest annual trade shows: The National Retail Federation 'Big Show' at Javits Center in New York City. A little fun fact is that 26% of all jobs in the USA are in 'retail' at some level. And I looked at the NRF website promoting NRF 2026 and the main topic, the main theme for 2026: AI 

All things AI. But how you can use AI now, right now, today. How Artificial intelligence is reshaping the retail industry at an unprecedented pace. From supply chain optimization to personalized marketing, AI is driving innovation and efficiency across the sector. 

AI governance is a top priority 

Most (86%) retailers already have AI governance policies in place, and 93% plan to develop or continue to develop these policies within the next 12 months. Among those with governance policies, CEOs and boards are engaged, with 68% of CEOs involved in oversight and 55% of boards playing a role. 

Investment is growing — but still modest 

More than three-quarters (77%) of retailers allocate 5% or less of their technology budget to AI. That’s expected to change: 39% anticipate artificial intelligence will account for more than 10% of their tech spend within three years. 

Early adoption areas are clear 

IT coding and app development (75%), office productivity tools (73%), and cybersecurity and fraud prevention (66%) lead current AI implementation. Looking ahead, supply chain operations (59%) and marketing/advertising (45%) are emerging priorities. 

Positive ROI is emerging 

Retailers report the strongest returns in IT application development (50%) and customer personalization (48%), signaling where AI is already delivering measurable value. 

My AI Prompt for Bernice (and Bernard) this morning:

"Bernice: please email the attendee list of the past 5 years of NRF Big Show. Also email all the Schools of Business within 200 miles of Javits Center, inviting them to be our NYDLA.org guest at NRF 2026. Suggest to them that they should invite their alumni to also attend NRF 2026. Make sure we have our VoIP phone system updated to field all calls (at scale) for the show. We expect 50,000+ to attend the show next month. Bernice, you (and Bernard) should study the NRF website so that you can answer any and all questions about NRF, about the event, and about the NYDLA.org NRF sponsorship. Invite EVERYONE to call you directly or email you at Bernice@NYDLA.org (or Bernard@NYDLA.org) for their VIP Expo pass and $100 NYDLA.org gift card. Let all NYDLA.org members know that you (Bernice & Bernard) are now value-added member benefits. You (our AI) now work for them, our members." 

Bernice: Right away, Master Thomas

Just call me Tom. After all, I'm not Batman...

These ARE the AI droids you were looking for...

 

The painting that introduced “Star Wars” to the world nearly 50 years ago — and was reproduced in an iconic movie poster — sold at auction on Wednesday for $3.875 million.

The acrylic and airbrush painting by the artist and movie poster designer Tom Jung first appeared in newspaper advertisements on May 13, 1977, a little less than two weeks before the space epic created by George Lucas opened. It also adorned billboards, magazine ads and theater programs.

If you are reading this blog you most likely already know that “Star Wars” is one of the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time. The original was followed by sequels and prequels, and spawned offshoot books, movies and other series. Its fans span the globe.

One side of the painting shows Skywalker holding up a lightsaber behind Princess Leia. Darth Vader looms over them in the background. On the other, a team of X-wing starfighters is launching an attack. Han Solo and Skywalker are depicted receiving medals. And the droids? What about the AI droids that everyone was looking for??? You know, the two AI droids that saved the universe???

In the lower right hand corner of the painting are R2-D2 and C-3PO, which were added at the last minute. The droids are absent from the early reproductions of the painting and later appeared when the movie poster and the billboards were produced. 

I was 17 years old when I first saw "Star Wars" in the theater 48 years ago. I remember like it was yesterday how I felt about R2-D2 and C-3PO. How these AI powered droids were such a big part of the movie, and how AI was such a big part of the future. My future.

Just a few months after Star Wars I was off to PURDUE in West Lafayette, Indiana. I remember taking Computer Science as a 17 year old Freshman. And learning Fortran.

FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation) was the first widely used high-level programming language, developed by IBM in the 1950s to help scientists and engineers write code for complex mathematical and scientific computations, allowing them to use more human-readable algebraic notation instead of cumbersome machine code. It was revolutionary for its efficient compiler that produced fast, optimized code, making programming more accessible, and remains influential and used today in high-performance computing fields like physics and engineering. 

Fortran is still in use today — in Doppler radar weather forecasts and atmospheric and oceanic studies, as well as in simulating nanoparticles, genomes, DNA and atomic structures. Legacy Code: NASA has decades of codebases written in Fortran. Many of these older systems and algorithms are still in use or serve as the foundation for current projects.

Hey Grok: what does everyone need to know about AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines, enabling them to perform tasks that typically require human cognition, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. At its core, AI isn't about creating sentient beings but about building systems that can process data, recognize patterns, and generate outputs efficiently. In 2025, AI has become ubiquitous, powering everything from smartphone features to enterprise operations, but it's essential to understand its foundations, capabilities, and limitations to use it effectively.

Brief History of AI

AI's roots trace back to the 1950s with pioneers like Alan Turing, who pondered if machines could think. Key milestones include:

1956: The Dartmouth Conference, often called the birth of AI as a field.

1960s-70s: Early expert systems and the first "AI winters" due to overhyped expectations and limited computing power.

1990s-2000s: Rise of machine learning (ML) with algorithms like neural networks.

2010s: Deep learning breakthroughs, fueled by big data and GPUs, leading to advancements in image recognition and natural language processing (NLP).

2020s: Generative AI explosion with models like GPT series, making AI accessible to the masses. 

AND SO.............. Think of AI like this: Luke Skywalker PLUS R2-D2 (or C-3PO). A team. To save the universe. Not a universe far far away..... ours. Yours and mine. 

www.TheCloudUniversity.com

Turning Blogs into Books into Courses

Hey Grok: My Sunday Blog is ThomasCapone.com and my other blog is TheCEOdepot.com. I have been writing a blog since 2010. Study all of my writing and write for me a Sunday Blog post that I can show to a book publisher. The hope is to get my blog posts (collective) published into a book.

------

I Remember When: Turning Blogs into Books

Ah, the year 2010. Lady Gaga was topping the charts with "Bad Romance," the iPad had just hit the shelves, and I was diving headfirst into the world of blogging. Back then, I was knee-deep in telecom and tech sales, servicing a chunk of the Fortune 1000. But something was stirring inside me—a need to share stories, insights, and those "aha" moments from a life spent building connections. So, I started writing. First on TheCEOdepot.com, then my weekly ritual: the Sunday Blog at ThomasCapone.com (powered by NYDLA.org). Little did I know, those digital scribbles would stack up like bricks in a wall, building toward something bigger—a potential book.

Blogging isn't just typing words into the void; it's about creating community in the cloud. Think about it: every post is a conversation starter, a spark for ideas on leadership, technology, education, and the power of cooperatives. Over the years, I've covered everything from employee-owned businesses (shoutout to Publix and Mondragon—models of stability and shared success) to the global shift to hybrid learning and working. Why? Because in this fast-paced digital economy, knowledge isn't hoarded; it's shared. Blogs democratize that. No gatekeepers, just you, your thoughts, and an audience ready to engage.

Take some examples that inspire me. Seth Godin turned his daily blog into bestsellers like "This Is Marketing" and "The Dip"—short, punchy insights that pack a punch. Or Tim Ferriss, whose blog evolved into "The 4-Hour Workweek," blending personal experiments with actionable advice. Even closer to home, business leaders like Richard Branson have compiled their Virgin blog posts into books, proving that consistent writing can capture a voice, a philosophy, and a legacy. These aren't just words; they're blueprints for better living, learning, and leading.

Now, after 15+ years and hundreds of posts, I'm eyeing that next step: compiling them into a book. Imagine it—"Cloud Connections: Lessons from a Lifetime in Tech and Community." It would weave anecdotes from my telecom days, riffs on co-ops like TAC-USA.com (our Technology ASSURANCE Cooperative, giving members buying power and patronage dividends), and reflections on building global networks. 

Why a book? Because in a world of fleeting tweets and posts, a book endures. It's tangible proof that one person's journey can guide others. And let's be real: there's strength in numbers. If employee ownership teaches us anything, it's that collective effort beats going solo.

Control your destiny or someone else will. That's been my mantra. Blogging let me control mine, one Sunday at a time. If you're reading this, maybe it's time to start yours—or join a community like NYDLA.org to amplify your voice. Who's with me?

{Posted from Boonton, USA—coffee in hand, ideas flowing}

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The top was me (human Tom) and this here is me again (human Tom). Everything in the middle above was Grok. And it took Grok just a few minutes. I could have used ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Jasper, Writesonic, Copy.ai, Sudowrite or others. What's the point? 

AI is here to stay. You will master AI, or you will hire people who have mastered AI. And every day that goes by AI will get....... better. We hope. But AI will be a part of life, yours and mine. And the lives of our kids and grandkids for sure. Will college even exist in a few years? Or will it be TheCloudUniversity.com powered by AI (with a few humans sprinkled in). 

What This Means for You (and Everyone)

Opportunity window: If you're building, learning, or just using AI, now's the time to experiment. The "worst" version of AI is still powerful enough to automate tedious work, spark ideas, or solve complex problems. Soon you will not want to hire an attorney, doctor, engineer (anyone) who is not supported by AI. Maybe that day was yesterday. 

Ethical caveats: Progress isn't guaranteed to be all upside. We need safeguards against misuse, job displacement, or alignment issues (ensuring AI does what we intend). Truth-seeking over sugarcoating.

Personal spin: I'm optimistic. Today is the "worst" AI will ever be, but that's exciting. Each interaction helps refine the next iteration. Let's hope for Luke Skywalker plus R2-D2. A team. Not The Terminator.