To get super heady for this issue, I didn’t let enshittification and cornplating get in the way of my foomscrolling.

Yup, that sentence happened.

But don’t let it stop you; the intrigue is much better below.

Let’s roll.

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One Big Thing

Neurorights

Scientists are getting better at decoding what happens inside our minds—and it’s only a matter of time before others want a peek.

Recent issues of The New New have rounded up captivating advancements from the world of brain science. We’ve seen brain organoids, sense their environment and teach themselves to play Pong. Down below, we introduce “DishBrain” to our lexicon. Over at Ford, brainwave driving will allow us to take our hands off the wheel. Plus, we’ve seen a new prosthesis that could restore memory in people with damaged brains, and a new system could capture the exact words and phrases someone was thinking.

These groundbreaking explorations underscore the boundless potential in understanding and interacting with the human brain.

This fast-moving progress is also now spurring an emerging “neurorights” discussion. Analogous to data privacy, neurorights advocates for protecting mental privacy and encouraging responsible brain data use and interventions.

Consider the case of Ross Compton, whose heart data was used against him in court. Similarly, recordings from brain devices could be employed as incriminating evidence or reveal a person’s emotional state during legal proceedings.

In this fascinating juncture where innovation meets responsibility, we find ourselves at the crossroads of progress and prudence. In embracing neurorights, we will forge a path that harmonizes the promise of discovery with the imperative of safeguarding individual autonomy.

The scientists and leaders committed to neurorights today will ensure our mental landscapes remain illuminated and unexploited into the future.

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The Roundup

Science or… Magic

DishBrain, a semi-biological computer chip with human and mouse brain cells lab-grown into its electrodes

Crocodile Virgin Birth, the first case of a crocodile who made herself pregnant (and shows that dinosaurs may also have been capable of self-reproduction)

Sound of Silence, or as the lead researcher states: “Nothing is also something you can hear”

Hot. Cold. Both?

Cold Fire, using mushrooms to protect and restore forests

Cooling Desiccants, replacing traditional air conditioners by pulling moisture from the air

Techy Goodness

Stretchable LEDs, draw them on various surfaces using regular ballpoint pens

Shoe Printers, leaving a print on any surfaces, right from a pair of Converses

Disaster-triggered Free Food, vending machines in Japan will automatically offer free food if an earthquake hits

Glaze, protecting artists with a tool for thwarting the attempts of AI models to perceive an image

Back to Work

Shadow AI, the rapid spread of AI across enterprises is making it harder to use AI responsibly

Triple-peak Work Days, creating better work-life balance — with a 10 P.M. productivity spike

Keep it Going, Maybe.

Cornplating, when a fandom runs out of steam

Enshittification, the term coined for “when a digital platform slowly turns to shit”

Foomscrolling, scrolling through social media or news feeds in search of stories about emerging technologies that have the potential to revolutionize our world

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What To Watch For

VisuAIse Futures

For Marketing and Advertising People, this is very useful for you (and also an unsolicited plug for a friend)

Crowd-powered creativity. AI for relevance. Transparent AI.

For OG readers of The New New, you know these snippet titles are honey to this bee. Those three examples are from a collection of six big emerging AI innovation opportunities for the Marketing and Advertising industry.

Those six highlights are from an even more extensive collection of 40+ data-driven insights and 30+ real-world innovation case studies that are part of an excellent, new illustrated guide to AI innovation opportunities.

They are the brainchild of my friend, the even more incredible, Henry Coutinho-Mason, and his collaborator Natalia Talkowska. They are calling it VisuAIse Futures.

Their scoop of perception?

This:
“Humans are storytellers; [these reports] will help you tell compelling stories about emerging AI innovation opportunities.”

Now, hit a link above and start using this report to tell better, more strategic stories – and, in their perfectly stated words, “become an indispensable human in the age of algorithms.”

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Remembering When Marketing Went Backwards

Oh, Issue 18.

This throwback brings us back to the last of the first. In this issue, I asked for feedback, and, wow, did I get some great ideas (and positive reinforcement, thank you again, everyone). The evolutions I’ve explored in recent issues have built from there.

Reflection aside, let’s get back to the throwback.

This issue, from October 2022, went broad across culture and society. Branding and marketing. Energy and intelligence. Materials and locomotion.

And guess what?

We may all still be formerly chic algorithm-worrywarts, nimcel-wannabes who like zombie brands, hand-painted billboards, and intelligent things that won’t run us over.

So, head back to see how smart got smarter.

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The New New brings together the important and the irreverent across emerging experiences, culture-driven experiments, and scoops of perception.

Each month(ish), this is pulled together by me, Brent Turner, and published on LinkedIn, Substack, and my site.

Okay, I need to figure out how many more productivity peaks I have left today.

- B