The Potential of AI: What Will It Take to Achieve Strong AI?

a tech developer working at a computer with a depiction of a human brain on the screen illustrates the potential of AI

What’s the true potential of AI? What if AI could think and learn more like humans do? What would it take to get there? In Rebooting AI, Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis explore the future of artificial intelligence. They argue that, to unlock the potential of AI, developers must create systems capable of human-level cognition. This entails drawing on research in neuroscience and psychology rather than relying solely on big data and current machine-learning techniques. Keep reading to discover how strong AI could transform our world and why higher engineering standards are crucial for its development.

Dictatorial & Democratic Approaches to International Politics

chess pieces on a world map illustrate different approaches to international politics

Why do nations form alliances or go to war? What drives leaders to make these crucial decisions in international politics? In their book The Dictator’s Handbook, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith explore various approaches to international politics. They examine how leaders secure allies, distribute foreign aid, and wage wars. The authors compare the strategies of dictators and democratic leaders in these areas. Continue reading to explore how leaders navigate the complex landscape of international relations.

How to Prepare for Lucid Dreaming—Learning the Basics

A girl writing in a journal in bed to prepare for lucid dreaming

Want to know how to prepare for lucid dreaming? How can you improve your dream recall? What are dream clues? Lucid dreaming is more than just having fun while you’re sleeping—there are real-life benefits to learning the practice. But before you can start lucid dreaming, there are steps you must take to prepare your mind. Here’s how to prepare your mind for lucid dreaming.

Authority vs. Leadership: Why They Aren’t the Same Thing

Two groups of people in business suits representing authority vs. leadership

Are authority and leadership the same thing? What makes someone a leader without having a position of authority? Clay Scroggins believes that God gave humanity the responsibility to lead. Unfortunately, you may neglect this responsibility because you mistakenly believe that you must hold a position of authority to be a leader. Let’s look at authority vs. leadership to show why you don’t need to be in a high position to take charge.

Threats to Democracy: 3 Ways Public Confidence Is Lost

the back of a man who's looking at government buildings illustrates concerns about threats to democracy

What are the greatest threats to democracy today? How do healthy democratic states descend into illiberalism and authoritarian rule? Three significant factors that can erode public trust in democratic systems: extreme polarization, the decline of democratic norms, and wealth inequality. Each of these threats poses unique challenges to the stability and effectiveness of democratic governments. Read more to explore how these threats impact our democratic institutions.

The Benefits of Making Mistakes: 3 Reasons to Embrace Error

a smiling girl looking at a broken eggshell with smiley faces bursting out of it depicts the benefits of making mistakes

How can making mistakes be beneficial? What if being wrong wasn’t necessarily something to fear—but something to embrace? In Being Wrong, Kathryn Schulz explores the surprising benefits of making mistakes. She challenges our conventional wisdom about errors and presents a compelling case for why we should reconsider our relationship with being wrong. Read on to discover the unexpected ways that mistakes can help us survive, find truth, and even inspire joy and wonder.

Starbucks’s Social Responsibility: 3 Efforts to Make a Change

A Starbucks sign in front of grass, representing Starbucks's social responsibility

How does Starbucks help the environment and society? How was Starbucks involved in the 2008 American presidential election? Howard Schultz says that customers are drawn to Starbucks because of its commitment to social and environmental responsibility. In 2008, Starbucks took on three new social initiatives to reach out to the public and help people in need. Discover more about Starbucks’s social responsibility efforts.

Why Is Procrastination Bad? Exploring the Top 3 Reasons

A man sitting in front of a giant clock, wondering why procrastination is bad

Why is procrastination bad? How does procrastination affect your physical health? Timothy A. Pychyl contends it’s important to be aware of the specific ways your procrastination habit works against you. After all, procrastination keeps you from putting your limited time to the best possible use, and this can have a cascade of consequences. Below, we’ll consider three ways that procrastination can sabotage you.

Somewhere Between Certainty and Doubt: Where Beliefs Lie

a young man in a suit with a thoughtful expression looking up at question marks in the sky illustrates certainty and doubt

What’s the role of certainty and doubt in your life? How do these opposing forces shape your beliefs and decisions? In her book Being Wrong, Kathryn Schulz explores the continuum between certainty and doubt. She argues that we often default to certainty more than we know. She provides helpful insights into the necessity and dangers of our core beliefs. Read on to understand how certainty and doubt serve us in our daily lives.