Ankord Memo - March 6, 2024

Hi there, curious friends,

This week across the Ankord portfolio I’ll share my insights on the Google Ed event I attended last week, updates from Audo's recent participation at Web Summit Qatar, interesting philosophical ideas about transhumanism, and so much more. So, get comfortable and please read this newsletter!

Ankord Media:

From Milan the Author:

My manuscript took a fascinating turn this week, delving into the world of transhumanism. In essence, this philosophical movement champions leveraging technology to transcend our current biological limitations, rewriting the very definition of what it means to be human. The potential for lifespan extension and cognitive augmentation, once relegated to the realm of science fiction, is now being seriously considered in the transhumanist sphere. I'm brimming with excitement to share my research and explore the potential implications of this movement with you all. It’s really been a challenge navigating the exciting, but often controversial, frontiers of transhumanism to find a balance for my readers. I think this book is shaping up to be a critical exploration that will challenge our preconceived notions and push the boundaries of human potential.

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

Audo:

As I mentioned in our last newsletter, last week I was in Mountain View at the Google Ed event, representing Audo and learning more about Google’s new AI-driven Gemini Education. At the same time, Ahmad was over in Doha (marginally better weather than the Bay Area) to network with Gulfi leadership at the Qatari Web Summit. He’s currently in Riyadh this week attending the LEAP/DeepFest, building Audo’s presence in the Middle East, where many governments are investing 10x in the education of their people compared to the United States.  

Google ED Event - Audo recently participated in a Google Education event designed for both Google Classroom sales representatives and partners who build and integrate with the platform. The event offered a glimpse into the future of Google Classroom, showcasing a range of pre-release features scheduled for public launch later this year.

One of the most exciting announcements was the upcoming release of premium tools and features for Google Classroom that enable teachers to do their jobs a bit more effortlessly. This powerful suite will allow educators to leverage AI for tasks like:

• Generating quizzes and questions directly from assigned YouTube videos, assessing student comprehension and engagement.

• Creating personalized practice sets using AI, automatically generating text, images, and video based on chosen skills or course suggestions.

• Implementing AI-powered hints and resources within assignments, offering students additional support when needed.

The event also highlighted Classroom Analytics, offering educators insights into student engagement, grade trends, and assignment completion rates. This data empowers teachers to tailor lessons to specific themes or student interests, leveraging automated prompts and suggestions to personalize learning experiences. While the focus was primarily on supporting K-12 educators, Google acknowledged the growing adoption of Classroom in higher education as well. 

Overall, the event underscored the rapid pace of innovation in the education technology landscape. Audo, with its unique AI capabilities and commitment to empowering educators, is well-positioned to play a key role in shaping the future of learning.

The Qatar Web Summit:  Ahmad's recent participation at Web Summit Qatar proved to be a whirlwind of exciting opportunities and promising connections. The event served as a springboard for Audo's potential expansion into the Qatari market, with numerous leads showcasing strong interest in our AI-powered career guidance platform.

While the first day primarily focused on networking and opening ceremonies, Ahmad established valuable connections with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Qatar Foundation. The second and third days were all about making connections and laying the foundations for deals with various parties and governments. 

Ahmad also connected with numerous other organizations, including the Ministry of Labor, Inqbayt, and Edu You. Overall, Web Summit Qatar proved to be a resounding success for Audo. The event not only generated a wealth of potential leads but also provided invaluable insights into the specific needs and opportunities present within the Qatari market. As we move forward, Audo remains committed to forging strategic partnerships and tailoring its offerings to empower individuals in Qatar on their career journeys.

Things I’m Reading:

• I Had an Affair While Pregnant. I’m So Grateful I Did - Part of why I started The Doe so many years ago was to create a space where people can express themselves free of retribution so that people can debate and discuss in powerful personal narratives and ideas that actually move people. This piece on The Doe has really taken hold this week on Instagram, garnering a lot of discussion and debate about women’s empowerment and modern notions of marriage. As we go into Women’s History Month, I’ll be sharing more powerful narratives from The Doe showing the wide range of women’s experiences.

• Meeting Sora - The tech world is abuzz with excitement over OpenAI's recent unveiling of Sora! This groundbreaking AI model takes text descriptions and transforms them into hyper-realistic videos, up to a minute long. Imagine conjuring a late night walk through Tokyo, an undersea world of origami, or pirate ships battling in a cup of coffee  – all with a few well-chosen words. Sora's ability to translate language into such visually stunning and dynamic videos opens up a treasure trove of possibilities, from revolutionizing animation to democratizing video creation.  I, for one, have been glued to my screen, devouring the technical report, watching demos, and soaking up everything I can about this revolutionary new technology. I have a feeling Sora is going to be a game-changer!

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• Pins and Needles (Spotify) - Our very own Guin artist, Asha Imuno, just dropped their sophomore album, Pins and Needles! This release has been a long time coming, with some hot tracks already gaining momentum, and I'm bursting with excitement to celebrate Asha's incredible talent. The album release party was absolutely lit. Check it out and dive into a world of soulful melodies and powerful lyrics – you won't be disappointed! Great work to Misha and team Guin, subscribe to the Guin newsletter here to stay up to date with all new releases.

• The Power Of Psychedelic Therapy For Members Of The Military (NPR) - I’ve also been learning more about therapeutic and practical uses of psychedelics during my research of transhumanism, and I ran across a great NPR talk about some of the latest legislation that will allow researchers to work with soldiers to treat their PTSD. It’s exciting to think about the new therapeutic opportunities with psychedelics, and it's great to see the government stepping up and providing cutting edge support for our active duty soldiers and vets. 

• Some of my favorite music discoveries from the week:

  • Every Time - By Boogie Belgique

  • La Rumba D’el Jefe - The Rumba Foundation

  • Sincerely Yours, D.A.C - Heavy Starch

  • Always on My Mind - Marbert Rocel

  • Baltimore - Nina Simone

Wrapping Up

As this week comes to a close, I wanted to share a stat I got at the Google Ed Event that took my breath away:

• It took 68 years for 50 million people to fly on planes. 

• It took 7 years for 50 million people to adopt the internet. 

• It took 3 years for Facebook to reach 50 million users. 

• It took 5 weeks for Gen AI to reach 50 million users.

It really brings into perspective just how impactful AI has already been, how many people are a part of that - and how many will be in the future!

That wraps it up for this week's letter! As always, the Ankord family is brimming with exciting developments across all our ventures. As you reach the bottom of this letter, know that this letter has been scheduled sent because I’m currently volunteering in prison to help incarcerated people prepare their careers and resumes for life after prison! Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to sharing more with you next week. Until then, stay curious, stay inspired, and keep an eye out for further updates!

Until next week,

Milan Kordestani