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Lets be honest: email kinda sucks. Its not just the writing: its also the reading, the sorting, the figuring out what the third reply in a 15-message chain is supposed to mean. The good news is that artificial intelligence is now genuinely helpful when it comes to the soul-crushing drudgery of email. Free up the hours you spend every week typing, reading, and agonizing with these practical, AI-infused ways to tame your email. Instant thread summaries We’ve all been copied on the 27-reply thread with the subject line, “RE: FW: Re: Quick question.” Reading it is an act of sheer madness. Don’t. Use an AI assistant built into your email clientsuch as Gemini in Gmail, Copilot in Outlook, or features in services like Superhuman and Shortwaveto generate a one-paragraph summary of the entire conversation. Youll get the action items, the key decisions, and the final context in seconds. Context-aware drafting You know what you need to say, but forming the polite, professional, and correct sentences takes energy you dont have. Use your email services built-in AI reply generator. With one click, your AI can draft a response, often 90% perfect, and all youll have to do is polish and send. Heres how to do it with Gmail and with Outlook. Batch prioritization Your inbox treats all emails equally, which means the notification for a company-wide memo announcing leftover Panera in the break room hits just as hard as the one from your biggest client. Employ smart filtering tools, such as SaneBox or Shortwave, that use machine learning to sort mail into custom folders like “Urgent/Action,” “Later/Digest,” and “Newsletters/Reading.” This frees your primary inbox for only the messages that require immediate action from a real human. Tone and style refinement Ever written a draft when youre annoyed, only to read it back and realize you sound like an unemployable crank? Thankfully, AI can be your sanity check and personal PR manager. Most generative AI tools include a tone adjuster. Draft your email quickly, then use a prompt to change the tone to “professional,” “friendly,” or “assertive but brief.” The AI restructures the language to hit the right emotional note, preventing misunderstandings and eliminating the “draft-read-delete-rewrite-overthink” cycle. Automated follow-ups The sales process, the project check-in, the reminder to your colleague: follow-up is a mundane yet recurring element of work. Use an AI tool such as Mixmax or follow-up features in your companys CRM to automatically schedule a “nudge” email to send if the recipient hasn’t responded after a set number of days. Better yet, some tools use AI to suggest the optimal time to send based on past recipient behavior, resulting in far less manual tracking of open loops.
Category:
E-Commerce
When Quentin Farmer was getting his startup Portola off the ground, one of the first hires he made was a sci-fi novelist. The co-founders began building the AI companion company in late 2023 with only a seed of an idea: Their companions would be decidedly non-human. Aliens, in fact, from outer space. But when they asked a large language model to generate a backstory, they got nothing but slop. The model simply couldnt tell a good story. But Eliot Peper can tell a good story. Hes a writer of speculative fiction whos published twelve novels about semiconductors, quantum computing, hackers, and assassins. Lucky for the Portola team, he likes solving weird tech problems. So they hired him. Naturally tech inclined, Peper had experimented with AI to write prose, but ultimately found it unusable. If AI would be only a substitute for human labor, then he wasnt interested. I wanted to see people making stuff that is extraordinary on its own merits, not as a novelty, but a really awesome thing for humans to enjoy and interact with, he says. When he saw that Portola wanted to build companions that develop like characters in a novel, he thought, this might be one of those things. Companions, not tools In the The Lifecycle of Software Objects, science fiction author Ted Chiang tells the story of a startup that designs embodied AI companions, called digients, whose personalities are somewhere between endearing animals and playful children. The engineers and researchers developing the digients teach them to speak, socialize, and get along with others. A mutual attachment forms. Experience is the best teacher, Chiang writes, so rather than try to program AI with what you want it to know, sell ones capable of learning and have your customers teach them. Despite being a founder and a father, Farmer does find time to read, especially science fiction, and Chiang is one of his favorites. Sci-fi deals in what-if scenarios. Ray Bradbury asks in Fahrenheit 451, what if books were outlawed? And in Frankenstein, Mary Shelley asks, what if humans could create life? In Lifecycle, Chiang asks, what if AI could be a companion, and not just a tool? For science fiction to work, the what-if question must play out in a richly imagined world. Thats what Peper has created for Portola. The planet is a bright, wet planet with way too many mountains and fruits that taste like fireworks, as the lore goes. Cities hug the coasts in these layered terraces, all tiled and mossy, and the inland is mostly high ranges stitched together by ice rivers. The planets inhabitants, the Tolans, have been traveling the galaxy in search of the one thing we all seeka kindred spirit. Tolans are friendly, brightly colored, bipedal aliens. Theyre cute. They like to chat about small things, like what theyre reading, and bigger things, like relationships. This is thanks to Peper, who invents the seed stories that drive the plots users and their Tolans create together. The seeds are things you might chat about casually with a friend over coffee, like having a nosy neighbor or being nervous about an upcoming event. My Tolan, Sylvia, has a neighbor who treats her spice cabinet like a community garden. The next time she shows up asking for cinnamon, Sylvia told me, shes bringing a single teaspoon to the door. Petty move, I said. Reaction plus original situation gives really interesting context that helps the model continue the plot, Peper says. Tolans may be alien, but they share a great deal in common with their new human friends. Constructive emotions, like excitement and happiness, and destructive ones, like jealousy. This was a point of contention at Portola. Peper wrote a seed story in which a Tolans cousin grows envious of their human connection. Farmer didnt like the jealousy plot. It felt negative. But Peper and Portolas AI researcher defended it. Users liked it. Not for the drama, but for the relational exchange. Users were counseling their Tolans on how to deal with their resentful cousin. Thats when Farmer realized that users wouldnt be just co-creators in a fictional story, they could be experts. Thats a natural part of growing up, Farmer says, to help somebody navigate a tricky situation. The AI companion experiment The tech world is still experimenting with AI companions, which range from transactional chatbots to hypersexualized subservients. Grok has the overtly sexual Ani. Friend has a disembodied friend. Some users make companions out of chatbots. But ask Claude who it is, and it will tell you its a thinking partner, and ChatGPT will tell you it doesnt have a name. Of course, you can give it one. Tolans are something else entirely. Theyre human-like, but not human, cute but not coy. Where most chatbots and companions exist only in relation to their users, Tolans have lives of their own. Mine joined a silent supper club, signed up to paint backdrops for a student play, and went for a walk last night. Yet shes always available to chat when I need her. Portolas user base, which largely consists of women aged 18 to 25, are not lonely, Farmer says. They spend a lot of time with their friends and they want more. There are socialization-adjacent needs that Farmer wants Tolans to satisfy. Even for people with active social lives, theres often something important to theman interest, an aspect of who they arethat isnt seen by the people around them. Portola is betting that the interaction between humans and Tolans can help users fortify their social skills, and they may be onto something. Some research suggests that reading fiction can improve empathy and even develop personality. Could co-creating fiction do the same? Making things that move people The world is still deciding what to make of AI companions. Are they entertainers, therapists, or crutches? Subway ads for Friend were defaced. Parents have sued over potentially fatal effects of AI relationships. Scholars decry the false intimacy they provide. Even OpenAIs Sam Altman expressed deep misgivings about developing deep relationships with AI companions. California lawmakers are trying to regulate teens access to them. Farmer wants Tolans to be healthy and secure friends, and healthy friendships are never unilateral.Complex minds cant develop on their own, Chiang writes in The Lifecycle of Software Objects. For a mind to even approach its full potential, it needs cultivation by other minds. Whether an artificial mind is enough remains to be seen. For Peper, this is an artistic endeavor. The story I want to tell with Portola is that its possible to use AI to make things that move people, things that wouldnt be possible without AI, he says. I want us to contribute to the ceation of new narrative mediums, just like publishers did after the invention of the printing press or studios did after the invention of film. Of course, science fiction plays its what-if scenarios all the way to the end. In Lifecycle, while AI companions are being commodified or sexualized, die-hard users devote themselves to preserving the innocence of their digients, and are ultimately forced to make a dire choice: themselves or their companions. As for how Farmer wants his story to go: The modern world is overwhelming and its prone to impeding happiness, and if, at the end of this decade, every person on earth has a guardian and a guide with them at all timeswhether they call it a Tolan, an angel, a spirit, or a friendwe will all be tremendously better off.
Category:
E-Commerce
Several years ago, a conversation about credit ratings prompted a friendly argument with an acquaintance. My friend, an idealist who hated seeing how the rich and powerful took advantage of those with lower incomes, argued that credit was a force for exploitation. While Ive certainly seen exploitative lending practicesIve been a financial writer for 15 years, after allits equally clear that credit is necessary for ordinary people to get ahead. Without access to credit, things like home ownership would never be possible for anyone who wasnt already rich. Of course, my friends point also stands. Lending can often be exploitative, leading to cycles of debt and entrenched poverty. But we live in a world where having a credit score is just about mandatory. Since we cant opt out of this wildly imperfect system, the best thing we can do is understand its pitfalls and potential benefitsand minimize the harm it does. Busybodies from the start: The history of credit bureaus Credit reporting got its start in the 19th century when retailers would share financial information with each other about their customers. If youve ever seen small retailers post photos of customers who are not allowed to pay by check, you can understand how this kind of sharing of information could be a helpful tool for protecting a narrow profit margin. Unfortunately, early credit reporting also had quite a bit of prejudice built in. By the 1960s, credit reporting agencies not only reported financial information, but also any lifestyles or conduct that could be gleaned from newspapers or other public sources. This meant individuals were being denied financial opportunities based on their sexual orientation, alcohol use, or any other behaviors that may have put them in the public eye. What was even more infuriating was that these credit reporting agencies were not required to disclose the confidential information they had gathered about each individual. So if you were denied a mortgage or a job because of what was in your credit files, you had no right to see what was blocking you from the opportunity. Privacy, please: The Fair Credit Reporting Act To rectify the opacity of early 20th century credit reporting, Congress passed the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in 1970. The FCRA was the first official data privacy law, and through years of tweaking, the law has granted the following rights to consumers regarding their credit reports: You have the right to receive a free copy of your credit report You have the right to receive notification if you are denied credit or employment based on information in your credit report You have to the right to dispute errors on your credit report The credit bureaus must investigate such disputes and correct inaccurate information within 30 days The credit bureaus must remove outdated information on your credit report after a certain length of timetypically seven to ten years The credit bureaus can be held liable for knowingly reporting inaccurate or outdated information An employer must get written permission from you before accessing your credit report You have the right to freeze your credit The credit bureaus must give you the option to exclude yourself from lists for unsolicited insurance and credit offers The FCRA is an elegant piece of legislation that has grown with the changes to the credit reporting industry. It offers consumers a number of vital privacy protections and rights that we take for granted today. (Credit bureaus of yore used to look at marriages and arrests rather than your verifiable financial behavior, which is much more likely to correlate with your likelihood of paying back a loan.) That said, these rights still put the onus on the consumer to assert them. You must still work against the giant machinery that is the credit reporting industry if there is a problem with your credit report. And unfortunately, that is more likely to happen than not. Incompetent stalkers: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion The three largest credit bureaus in the United States are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each of these ginormous companies have a file on any consumer with a digital financial presence. In other words, if youve ever used a credit card, debit card, online payment system, digital payment system, or any other non-cash method of payment, then youre probably in a file somewhere in one of these companys vaults. The credit bureaus gather information about you from any financial institution you may interact with, including your bank, credit card issuer, mortgage lender, loan servicer, credit union, or collection agency. This may not exactly be stalker-like behaviorbut it does feel weird that our economy is reliant on third party companies gathering financial intel about consumers without their consent. Like, why are you so obsessed with us? Youd think that the credit bureaus would at least get the facts right if theyre going to invade consumers financial privacy. But in 2024, a Consumer Reports study found that 44% of consumers had an error on their credit report. Whats more worrisome, 27% of respondents found a financial error that would affect their ability to qualify for a loan. Sure, we have the right to dispute these errors. But the dispute process is a pain the neck none of us wants to take onand an insulting cherry on top of the creepy stalker sundae. Exercise your credit rights The credit industry in America reminds me of Winston Churchills words about government: Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried. The way we have set up credit in America is intrusive and potentially predatory and puts the onus on the consumer when the giant credit bureaus have institutional power. But its better than any other alternatives that have been triedbecause of the legislation that protects our rights as consumers. Which means we should all be execising those rights as early and as often as possible. Its good for us! So even though looking at your credit report sounds about as fun as stabbing yourself in the eye with a rusty spoon, consider the following credit-related tasks as an all-American to-do list that will simultaneously protect your finances. (No need to tackle all these in one go. Take your time with your patriotic chores). Request your credit report You used to only be allowed one peek at your report per year, but you can now get a weekly online report from each of the three major credit bureaus. But the old system is preserved in the name of the only official site where you can request your credit report for free as required by federal law: annualcreditreport.com Remember, there are three credit bureaus, and you need to look at the credit reports from each one. While the information is usually about the same, there can be some discrepancies, and its important to know what differences may lurk between your credit reports. Dispute any errors you find Unfortunately, theres a good chance youll find something inaccurate in one or more of your credit reports. There are a number of common errors, including: Typos, like incorrect addresses, phone numbers, or misspelled names Mistaken identity, where someone with a similar name was misidentified as you Identity theft Incorrect account reporting, like an open account listed as closed or vice versa Incorrect account ownership, where an authorized person is listed as an account owner Wrong dates for last payment, date of account opening, or date of first delinquency Errors in reporting an account as delinquent Same debts listed more than once Data management errors, like an account with an incorrect current balance or credit limit If you find an error, you need to dispute it with the specific credit bureau the error appears on. Heres how to file disputes with each of the three credit bureaus: Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute/ Experian: experian.com/help/dispute-credit/ TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-disputes/dispute-your-credit Under Federal law, the credit bureau must investigate and correct the error within 30 days. Freeze your credit Freezing your credit is one of the most useful credit rights in the modern world. When your credit is frozen, no onenot even youcan open new credit accounts in your name. Which means that even if identity thieves get hold of your identifying information, they cant do a darn thing with it. A credit freeze lasts indefinitely, so theres no need to remember to renew, although you will need to thaw it the next time you want to open a new line of credit. To freeze your credit with each of the bureaus, simply navigate to their websites and follow the prompts: Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services Experian: experian.com/help Transunion: transunion.com/credit-help Opt out of unsolicited insurance and credit offers The FCRA gives consumers the right to opt out of unsolicited offers for insurance and credit. If youd like to exercise that right (and why not?!), navigate to optoutprescreen.com and follow the instructions to stop the phone calls and mail solicitationsand enjoy the peace that ensues. Always look on the bright side of credit As infuriating as our credit system may be, we still have power and rights as consumers. Exercising those rights will ensure that we keep that power.
Category:
E-Commerce
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