3 . ChatGPT is an amazing artificial intelligence tool that has recently been released, along with other mind-blowing generative AI tools like Midjourney and DALL-E. These tools have the potential to revolutionize the way we create digital content, making it faster and cheaper.

However, there is a downside to these AI tools that cannot be ignored. What happens when they start replacing copywriters, journalists, customer service agents, and digital marketers? For years, experts have been warning that AI could threaten white-collar jobs, which were once considered safe from automation. Some even predict that up to 47 percent of jobs in the US could be at risk.

While no one can say for sure whether generative AI will cause mass job loss among highly educated workers, it is clear that it has the potential to disrupt the employment landscape. Tasks that were once considered impossible to automate are now becoming automatable. Whether or not jobs are removed, the essence of these jobs is likely to change.

Companies will always choose machines over humans when they can, and AI has the ability to perform tasks currently done by copywriters, digital content producers, and other professionals. This means that these jobs may soon undergo significant changes. However, it is important to note that AI cannot replace certain aspects of these jobs. It cannot conduct interviews, find historical documents, or assess the quality of studies. It lacks authority, understanding, and the ability to correct itself or generate genuinely new ideas.

This implies that while AI may create a vast amount of simpler content, it could also make original journalism more valuable and investigative journalists more productive. AI may be able to generate listicles and summaries of public meetings, but it is humans who will write in-depth stories. Experts believe that AI will ultimately help people use their expertise more effectively, and allow them to focus on areas where human intelligence is crucial.

While there is a risk that AI technologies could lead to sudden changes in the labor market, it is important to recognize the benefits of having such technology.

5 . “But everyone has one,” begs my son as I tell him that he won’t get a smartphone. Despite my determination, it’s hard not to feel sorry for him. As the end of Year 6 draws closer, the weeks are filled with stories of new classmates whose parents have, as one friend texted recently, “cracked”. Apps are springing up so that friends going to different secondary schools can easily keep in touch. But it pains me to see the anxiety and effect that smartphones cause. So I stick to my decision.

There is research conducted by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) showing that school bullying (欺凌) is more likely to happen on a device rather than face to face. School bullies aren’t new, but their ability to reach the sanctuary (庇护) of the home is a recent development. Headteacher Jon Boyes of Herne Bay High School told parents that they’d have to sort out arguments between pupils that had occurred online.

According to the research, children who were given a phone later went on to experience better mental well-being in relation to their self-confidence and their ability to relate to others. However, those who received a phone at a younger age were more likely to experience sad thoughts, feelings of aggression towards others and the sense that they were separated from reality.

Parents should be willing to consider the idea that it’s possible to refuse to follow the herd (人群) at least until their children are old enough to judge what they find on the Internet. There is power in questioning the idea that a smartphone is the only way to keep a child safe and ensure they have access to important friendships.

My son is only 10. He’s nowhere near ready to deal with the confusing and harmful garbage that he will no doubt find on the Internet. He hasn’t developed the emotional maturity to skillfully avoid the litter along his route. As his parent, why would I believe he could deal with what many adults struggle to get a handle on? Instead, I believe that he can survive with his old-fashioned phone. It turned out that he agreed.

7 . I recently had a conversation with a friend who was feeling very upset about work. Why? He thought his manager didn’t like him. He rarely heard much from his manager, and when his manager said something, it was about correcting some aspects of his work or giving him some constructive advice.

Not surprisingly, given my friend’s understandably anxious view of these workplace dynamics (动态), he was afraid of his annual performance evaluation. He was worried that his boss might even tell him that he wasn’t needed anymore. Accordingly, he considered looking around for another job — not because he really wanted to, as he liked the kind of work he was doing, but because he suffered from the kind of management.

The evaluation day came, and to his great surprise, rather than being harshly critical, his manager told him that he was doing a fine job and gave him a promotion.

The sad truth is, this kind of phenomenon is by no means unusual in the workplace. One recent survey showed that nearly half of the employees have considered leaving a job “due to lack of recognition”. Another similar study found 46 percent of the employees left a job “because they felt unappreciated”.

The good news is that, in this case, the damage was repaired before it was too late — before my friend was out the door and his company began the expensive and time-consuming process of hiring a new employee. But as the research noted above shows, workplace problems related to recognition and appreciation are as common as the office air we breathe.

This conforms with my personal experience; during my decades of corporate management, I saw similar appreciation issues all the time. When a job isn’t done well, nobody deserves anything, of course. But when a job is done well, if you’re an employee, it’s entirely natural to expect at least a bit of appreciation. So if you’re a manager, it’s a good idea to show some. It’s that simple.

8 . Recent research confirms what our farming ancestors have known for centuries about hedges (树篱). They conserve precious soil by acting as windbreaks and absorbing rainwater that would otherwise wash it from the fields. And hedges store carbon, putting them in the front line of our bi d to tackle the climate crisis.

However, hedges have had a tough time in the poor countryside, with farmers encouraged to tear them down in pursuit of maximum production and larger field s to accommodate ever-larger machinery. What’s more, some hedges have been ignored. If left to their own devices, they’ll eventually become a line of trees. Some hedges each year lose their structures and fail to fulfil the primary duty as a barrier. Around a half of the nation’s hedges have disappeared in the past century.

There are signs that “the tide is turning”. The search for net zero has aroused many organizations’ interest in the humble hedge’s role as a carbon sink. The Climate Change Committee is recommending a 40 percent increase in hedges: an additional 200,000 km. Such recommendations are starting to drive policy. Cash-pressed farmers will be encouraged to create new hedges and improve their management of existing ones under the new Environmental Land Management Schemes, which will replace many of the existing agricultural support payments in coming years. Meanwhile, initiatives such as Close the Gap, led by the Tree Council, is providing funding and support to plug the gaps in existing hedges with new planting. There’s even an app to help time-pressed farmers do a quick survey to spot where their hedges need some help.

This is a good time for hedges. Take some of the most pressing challenges facing the countryside, and indeed, the world as a whole — the climate crisis, soil erosion (侵蚀), insect attack and wider biodiversity loss — and hedges are part of the solution.

10 . Here are five common mistakes distance learners make.

Choosing the wrong school.     1     “Diploma mill” schools charge unsuspecting students thousands of dollars for worthless degrees, whereas trustworthy schools are able to give their students diploma they are proud of. Before you enroll in an online school, do some research to find out what type of program, resource and support will be provided.

Putting off things. Many students never finish their degrees because they lack the self-discipline and motivation to sit down and get their work done on a daily basis.     2     Many students have found it beneficial to create a deadline for receiving their degrees and set small monthly, weekly, and daily goals that will allow them to reach that deadline.

Failing to connect with their peers and professors.     3     Building meaningful relationships with your peers and professors can allow you to learn more, stay motivated, and have a way to express your own understanding of the subject matter. So stay connected through message boards, chat rooms, email, and other virtual resources.

Scaring potential employers. More and more people are recognizing the validity (有效性) of online education.     4     Some potential employers may see warning signs if you announce that you have earned your degree through the Internet. Even if you attend a famous school, avoid calling attention to the fact that your studies are done online.

    5     There’s a lot of online material available to help out students. Make sure you know where you can get the help you need. Be aware of the general resources such as virtual dictionaries, online books, and resources that relate to your specialized subject matter.