The hottest Substack posts of Greg’s Sometimes Newsletter

And their main takeaways

Math vs. Magic: will data finally crack marketing efficiency?

19 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
  1. Companies spending trillions on advertising are shifting towards data-driven marketing for efficiency.
  2. Different sectors face unique challenges in leveraging and testing marketing data.
  3. Tools for marketing measurement and data analysis are becoming more accessible but require sustainable advantage for long-term success.

Real World AI: No Success Without Safety

19 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
  1. New trust and safety tooling needed for successful natural language interfaces.
  2. AI systems making critical decisions require proper management to prevent errors.
  3. Natural language interfaces introduce new risks, requiring safety measures to ensure success.

Robot Rembrandts: Generative AI Expands the Marketing Creative World

19 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
  1. Generative AI is revolutionizing marketing creative by automating tasks and providing insights on what works at scale.
  2. AI tools like Runway are simplifying complex video editing tasks like rotoscoping and slow motion effects.
  3. Apps such as Typeface, Photo Room, and Adobe Firefly are democratizing creative creation by enabling non-experts to easily create visuals and design.

New poll reveals a serious gap in public perception among big tech and AI

19 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
  1. Almost 1 in 3 Americans expect to use AI soon, but don't feel positively about it.
  2. Only 5% of Americans know they use AI daily, and have a more positive view of it.
  3. Both Democrats and Republicans agree on the need for better tech regulation, with Republicans feeling more negative about big tech and AI.

How did that political campaign get your number?

19 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
  1. Your email and phone number may have been obtained when you registered to vote.
  2. Campaigns can trade email lists with one another to boost fundraising efforts.
  3. Some companies within the Democratic ecosystem buy and sell email addresses.
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You too can create a marketing data warehouse

1 HN point • 28 Aug 23
  1. With modern data tools, sales and marketing professionals can create data warehouses without deep engineering skills.
  2. This democratization of data allows for advanced analytics and saves time on reporting for marketing teams.
  3. Utilizing tools like dbt and LLMs can help in transforming raw data into readable formats for analysis and visualization.

Your Chatbot Needs a Personality

19 implied HN points • 28 Nov 17
  1. Successful chatbots need to have a personality, not just advanced technology.
  2. Historically, chatbots like ELIZA and SmarterChild thrived due to their personalities.
  3. When designing a chatbot, consider its persona, tone, and interaction style to align with user expectations.

Examining the political threat of AI persuasion bots

0 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
  1. Fear over AI Persuadobots is focusing on potential threats in downballot elections
  2. AI could revolutionize localized political content creation and delivery
  3. Platforms and regulation can be key in mitigating risks related to AI-generated political content

California's insurance crisis: the cash cow slowing climate adaptation

0 implied HN points • 14 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Insurance Policy Climate change Consumer Advocacy Regulatory issues
  1. California has a serious homeowners insurance crisis because many companies aren't selling new policies. This makes it difficult for people to protect their homes.
  2. The problem is linked to climate change and old rules from 1988 that limit how insurance companies can calculate rates. These rules block new methods like predictive modeling that could help assess risks better.
  3. There's a push for change, but some groups are fighting it because they benefit from the old system. This means homeowners may face higher insurance costs, but having insurance is still better than having none.