Bas' Take on Tech: AI assisted Anti Aging, Buzz, Ciler's Thoughts
Hi there,
thanks for reading my tech newsletter about the recent buzz, Python, and DevOps.
In this issue, Ciler Demiralp gives an insight into her current project and shares her goals for the year.
Have a great week ahead!
🪞 AI and Anti Aging
Now, finally, there is a topic that draws the arc between previous topics in this newsletter: Politics, Anti Aging, Generative AI, Mental Health.
How? Well, TikTok introduced a new filter that makes people in videos appear considerably and realistically younger. Anti Aging by AI. It works so well that, on first sight, no difference can be seen between an original video and a filtered one.
Since TikTok is popular in young users, this raises a concern about the distorted self-images of those younger users. We had a decline of mental health, especially in US teen girls, in a previous issue of this newsletter.
To make the news complete, Canada, the US, and the EU banned TikTok from government devices.
🗞️ Buzz
Elon and Mark entering the AI space. Musk openly talks about a ChatGPT rival, while Zuckerberg’s announcement refers vaguely to “generative AI” for their Metaverse. However, Meta reportedly worked on a large language model for a single GPU.
The job market for graduate students is worse than in the financial crisis of 2008.
📚 Interesting Reads
Firecracker internals: a deep dive inside the technology powering AWS Lambda
The Puzzling Gap Between How Old You Are And How Old You Think You Are
🧑💼 Build Your Resume
There are a lot of people on a job hunt now – obviously.
I have created a GitHub repository that allows you to create a professional-looking resume and have that hosted for free on Netlify, along with automatically updated PDF versions. You can learn a bit about GitHub Actions during the process.
Also, networking is essential. Here is my LinkedIn profile if you want to connect!
📝 Ciler’s Perspective
Ciler Demiralp is the founder of Newsletter Circle, a weekly newsletter about newsletters for indie creators. I asked her about her current challenges and long term goals. Here is her answer:
After ten years of experience in the corporate world as a white-collar, I resigned to build a life on my own terms.
I'm growing my newsletter Newsletter Circle since Jan'23, already hit 500 subscribers and met amazing people.
In Newsletter Circle I interview successful creators about how they start, grow and monetize their newsletters.
My goal is to make it reach more people and to be able to sustain a life as a full-time creator in 2023.
I'm excited to see what the future plans for me :)
🚀 What else?
I have changed this newsletter from “occasional” to at least once every two weeks. The new format not only contains curated news and insights from the tech world but also sets the stage for fellow developers.
I will ask people about their journeys in the tech world and also in life. I’m pretty sure there is much to learn from listening to other people’s experiences, and I am excited to share that with you!
Of course, I need your help with this.
Please tell me if you want to share your story with my 500+ readers!
What is something you learned?
What are some books that recently influenced you?
What do you want to share with others about your life, your productivity, your career, and your health?
Reach out to me on this form.
Let me know how I can make the newsletter better.
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It would mean the world to me if you spent a minute or two filling it out!
Best,