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All generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) works fundamentally the same: AI neural networks learn from large training sets, gleaning patterns from the contents of those training sets in order to create original content based on their understanding of those patterns. When the companies behind those AI tools use content available on the web for training, do they need to ask permission from the content creators? You and I don’t. We can look at as much as we like and learn as much as we can. Is it the same for AI training sets or is it something else altogether, more akin to Napster using existing music without compensating the artists? Neville and Shel are on opposite sides of the debate. Also in this episode:

• The University of Iowa’s school of business has introduced a program to teach students how to tell stories. Storytelling is a crucial business skill that few businesses value. Communicators can help change that.
• A BBC football analyst — a contractor, not an employee — made some partisan remarks on a social network and was punished for violating standards by which employees are required to abide. It reopened a long-dormant discussion about social media policies.
• Did Silicon Valley Bank communicate too little, contributing to its failure? Or did it communicate too much? Is it possible the bank did both?
• ChatGPT and Midjourney have both been upgraded and the updates are substantial. Midjourney images are scarily photo-realistic and ChatGPT can now create a web page — Javascript included — based on a sketch of a wireframe. And that just scratches the surface of these updates.
• Microsoft has introduced Co-Pilot, the tool that will let users of its software tap into the power of Artificial Intelligence.

Dan York shares news from WordPress, WhatsApp, the world of ChatBots, and more in his Tech Report.

The next monthly, long-form episode of FIR will drop on Monday, April 22.

We host a Communicators Zoom Chat each Thursday at 1 p.m. ET. For credentials needed to participate, contact Shel or Neville directly, request the credentials in our Facebook group, or email fircomments@gmail.com.

Special thanks to Jay Moonah for the opening and closing music.

You can find the stories from which Shel’s FIR content is selected at Shel’s Link Blog. Shel has started a metaverse-focused Flipboard magazine. Neville’s Asides blog is also available.

Links from this report:

• U of Iowa business school students build storytelling skills
• Storytelling in Business: How to Create Engaging Stories | Darden Ideas to Action
• Storytelling Can Make or Break Your Leadership
• Business Storytelling Coaching and Consulting | Leadership Story Lab
• The Moth
• The Moth Podcast
• Ros Atkins on… Gary Lineker and the BBC
• Gary Lineker to return to Match of the Day as BBC announces review of social media rules – BBC News
• BBC to review social media rules for all staff in bid to resolve Gary Lineker row
• BBC to review social media guidelines after reinstating Gary Lineker – SportsPro
• Gary Lineker: BBC to review social media guidelines
• Guidance: Social media (from the BBC)
• Lineker-BBC row: survey shows how different outlets approach their staff’s social media presence
• Communication Choices Played a Major Role in Sinking Silicon Valley Bank — CommPRO
• SVB collapse was driven by ‘the first Twitter-fueled bank run’ | CNN Business
• A battle royal is brewing over copyright and AI
• Devalue or Defend: Generative AI, Artists, and the Law
• AI and Image Generation (Everything is a Remix Part 4)
• Rob Wolf on LinkedIn: #midjourney #ai
• AI-imager Midjourney v5 stuns with photorealistic images—and 5-fingered hands
• What to Know About ChatGPT-4 and How to Use It Right Now
• The makers of ChatGPT just released a new AI that can build websites, among other things
• GPT-4 Developer Livestream
• 5 jaw-dropping things GPT-4 can do that ChatGPT couldn’t | CNN Business
• Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot – your copilot for work – The Official Microsoft Blog
• Microsoft details how AI will change its Office apps
• Microsoft announces Copilot: the AI-powered future of Office documents
• Microsoft adds AI tools to office apps like Outlook, Word
• Clippy evolved: New ‘Microsoft 365 Copilot’ uses AI for text creation | AppleInsider
• WalkingCat Twitter Thread with Copilot Video

Links from Dan York’s Report

• WordPress.com owner Automattic acquires an ActivityPub plugin so blogs can join the Fediverse | TechCrunch
• TechScape: Finally, the UK’s online safety bill gets its day in parliament – here’s what you need to know | Social media | The Guardian
• WhatsApp would not remove end-to-end encryption for UK law, says chief | WhatsApp | The Guardian
• Review of the Computer Misuse Act 1990: consultation and response to call for information
• Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez Contradicts His Own Bill and Department Officials in Effort to Defend Bill C-18
• Just Because ChatBots Can’t Think Doesn’t Mean They Can’t Lie | The Nation
• Yes, Section 230 Should Protect ChatGPT And Other Generative AI Tools | Techdirt

About Shel Holtz

Shel Holtz, ABC (Accredited Business Communicator), is director of Internal Communications at Webcor, a commercial general contractor headquartered in San Francisco. Before joining Webcor, Shel spent 21 years as principal of Holtz Communication + Technology. In addition to integrating technology into communications strategies, his expertise includes strategic communications planning, change management, organizational culture, business initiatives and communications research. Full bio

About Neville Hobson

Neville Hobson is a communicator, social strategist, consultant, digital change agent, writer, and podcaster. He is co-founder and co-host of the 'For Immediate Release' podcast. Since 2000, his career has focused on working with organisations globally to help them leverage his experiences, knowledge and subject-matter expertise of social networks, social media marketing, analytics and insights reporting, to create and build foundations for authentic engagement and to expand online reach and influence. Full bio