Antone Gonsalves

We all write content. This may include books, articles, marketing material, emails, memos, contracts, policies, and other documents. Plain language is valuable in all writing. Get your copy of the ISO #PlainLanguage Standard today. bit.ly/42PqTdA

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Great insights here from Katie Robbert and Paul Roetzer on why #Adobe training #Firefly on unlicensed images is a real problem for enterprise marketers. #AI #GenAI #Digitalmarketing

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In the 16 years that I've been following the anime and manga industry professionally, these new companies like Orange Inc. promising to cut the cost of translation and localization are looking to turn the medium of Japanese manga into a never-ending gristmill of "content". It is nigh impossible to automate and scale localization to the volume that these companies allegedly want to operate at with their "AI-powered" platforms, never mind the volume that the industry itself currently operates at with the advent of simultaneous digital releases. Publishers find themselves with a shrinking labor pool for localization, lettering and editing because of their own refusal to pay living wages, and machine translation, even with the most extensive human editing is not only a poor substitute, it completely undermines the profit motive of publishers seeking to sell their extremely popular works overseas, especially in language pairs that are less common and more difficult to localize and monetize as a result. I have far too many existing and and former colleagues that either scale back their efforts in localization, or leave the business entirely because with every new job they take on, they end up making less money overall because publishers are making the choice to pay less, rather than realize that increased popularity and increased volume means that they must pay more to keep and grow the existing pool of experts. All these initiatives say to me is that Japanese companies are focused too heavily on technological stopgaps that don't even work, and have been demonstrated time and again not to work, because they refuse to recognize that the only way to sustain its current growth is by growing the pool of human experts. One human can do a far better job of localization than any existing or future "AI-powered" language model. If you want to learn why machine translation is ultimately a fool's errand for commercial purposes and not just publishing, this piece is the best one to read.

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At CES 2025, panel experts with backgrounds in law, government affairs, public policy and creative representation emphasized AI’s dual role as a powerful tool for enhancing creativity. But they also noted the potential threat to human authorship and consent, particularly in generative AI’s replication of voices and images. Dr. Moiya M., Lisa Oratz, Chad Hummel, Paul Lekas and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland all contributed important points on the importance of this topic.

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Editing pet peeve: the goofy obsession with the Oxford comma. Oxford enthusiasts—whom I often refer to as "Oxfordnistas"—insist that the serial comma is the ultimate arbiter of clarity and slayer of ambiguity. And they demonstrate this overstated power through a series of reductionist—albeit humorous—memes. Below on the left is one such example. Again, this meme assuredly suggests a moment where a lack of a serial comma may confuse readers. Rather than express a list of the three, the Oxford-less sentence seems to imply an appositive suggesting the exotic dancers are, in fact, Stalin and JFK. But what happens if you change strippers (plural) to stripper (singular). One good contrived strawman argument deserves another, right? On the right is the counterpoint. Here, the sentence with the Oxford comma introduces ambiguity. Is that JFK on stage three collecting singles, or is somebody else? The trick is simple: When in doubt, rewrite. "We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers." See how this is clearly a list of three? See how I didn't need the comma to do so? Ultimately, the Oxford comma is a stylistic convention, so it is a matter of personal preference. You can also write, "We invited JFK, Stalin, and the strippers." That *also* works. Either way, stop pretending that your prescriptivist take on the Oxford comma is holy writ. #Oxfordcomma

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The Power of a Pitch "Publishing credentials, well-researched comp titles, and a bit of personalization will certainly help your case, but your pitch is currency." https://buff.ly/3Yv3wqF #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writerslife #amwriting

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Such an insightful conversation highlighting some of the challenges and opportunities for our industry; breaking down boundaries and evolving to balance the needs of best practice and author experience. Looking forward to the next conversations in this series!

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Fixing the Internet: Tackling Ad Tech and Hate Speech via https://keepgoingpod.com Join us in this eye-opening discussion on ad tech and information disorder! Claire Atkin passionately outlines the urgent need for changes in the internet business, tackling hate speech and financial implications while proposing ethical regulatory solutions. It's time to fix the internet—let's make it fairer together! #AdTech #InformationDisorder #InternetBusiness #HateSpeech #FinancialMarkets #PolicySolutions #FreeSpeech #DigitalEthics #RegulatoryReform #InternetFairness

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It can be fun to see what the consensus of Internet-accessible texts says about you. If human intelligence caught up with artificial intelligence, I'd have more clients. Query: Assess the usefulness and quality of the writing of Andy Oram. ChatGPT said: Andy Oram is a respected writer and editor known for his work in technology, particularly in open-source software, programming, and the intersection of technology with society. Here are some aspects of his writing that reflect its usefulness and quality: Usefulness    In-Depth Analysis: Oram’s work often provides deep insights into complex topics, particularly in the realm of technology. His writings are useful for readers who want to understand the nuances of open-source software, the cultural and technical aspects of programming, and the implications of technology on society.    Practical Relevance: Many of his articles and books focus on real-world applications and implications of technology. This makes his work particularly useful for professionals in the tech industry, as well as for academics and policymakers looking to understand the impact of technological developments.    Educational Value: Oram’s ability to break down complex subjects into more understandable parts makes his work valuable for both beginners and seasoned professionals. He often discusses both theoretical and practical aspects, which can be beneficial for learning and skill development. Quality of Writing    Clarity and Precision: Oram is known for writing with clarity, making complex technical subjects accessible to a broader audience. His language is precise, avoiding unnecessary jargon, which enhances the readability of his work.    Engagement: His writing is engaging, often incorporating anecdotes, historical context, and personal experiences. This helps to maintain the reader's interest, even when the subject matter is dense or technical.    Authoritative Voice: With his extensive background in technology, Oram writes with authority. His insights are well-informed, and he often brings a thoughtful perspective to the subjects he covers. This authoritative voice adds credibility to his work, making it a reliable source of information.    Balanced Perspective: Oram often presents multiple sides of an issue, particularly in discussions around open-source software and the ethics of technology. This balanced approach allows readers to form their own opinions based on a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Conclusion Andy Oram’s writing is both useful and of high quality, particularly for readers interested in technology and its broader societal impacts. His clear, engaging, and authoritative style, combined with his deep knowledge of the subject matter, makes his work valuable to a wide audience.

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New pub: Myths of Origins: Literary and Cultural Patterns Myths of Origins explores the timeless power of origin myths in literature, spanning from ancient texts to contemporary works. This collection of essays delves into the six foundational models of beginnings in Western literature, examining how these frameworks shape narratives across eras. https://lnkd.in/eXDG9Cgu

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Data only goes as far as how it's designed, so this is a huge change in the government's data gathering process that will hopefully yield more nuanced information that will really help cater to the communities that may be falling through the cracks because of being lumped in larger categories. Thanks to the The 19th for reporting on this with more detail, including the continuing challenges moving forward, even with this change. "The federal government announced in March that it had updated its race and ethnicity standards in response to “large societal, political, economic and demographic shifts in the United States,” according to the Office of Management and Budget. Within five years, all federal agencies that collect demographic data will be required to start collecting more detailed race and ethnicity information beyond the current minimum categories... Now, race and ethnicity information will be collected using a single question in which respondents can select multiple categories. Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) will be added as a new category, separate and distinct from the White category. And federal agencies will be required to collect more disaggregated ethnicity data. For example, instead of just providing “Black” as a designation, federal forms will also have to include options to identify as African American, Jamaican, Haitian, Nigerian, Ethiopian or Somali." #data #census https://lnkd.in/g97e2Kbh

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Editors, this ACES workshop on ethics in AI will be worth your time!

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If you’re sliding into DMs, don’t do it on #WhatsApp. Off-channel comms are now public enemy No. 1 for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that’s already dished out more than $3 billion in fines. Now, Commissioner @HesterPeirce is calling it a “cash cow” and that typical cases have nothing to do with fraud. Get the popcorn. The agency will also need to be careful that enforcement actions aren’t punishing new forms of communication, said Bill Singer. “You have to wonder if the just-published settlements are more calculated as a diversion rather than an example,” he told me. “Did they truly merit being placed on the SEC’s front burner?” Plus, active #ETFs are surging among advisors. Nearly 30% of wealth managers had exposure in Q2, up from just 13% in 2022, according to Fidelity Investments. And why Citi found that sinking fees are causing "leaky boats" for asset managers. It’s my pleasure to drop the latest edition of FA Upside from The Daily Upside. If you value what you read, subscribe. https://lnkd.in/eDARvNhV

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Does #ArtificialIntelligence pose a threat to content and digital journalism? Or will it enable the content generation industry to thrive? What will be the impact of #AI on the digital publishing industry? Will ground reporting, in the wake of emergence of #GenAI, succumb or make a spectacular comeback? How will co-existence shape up for this industry? I recently got a chance to speak and share my views with Khushi K. of BestMediaInfo on these concerns and opportunities and more. We don’t know how things will actually pan out in the future but one thing is sure: those who embrace AI, individually and at company-level, will stay ahead of the curve. https://lnkd.in/gHU7ihfp

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