For a small provision, this feels significant. It brings a modern convenience to an already established domain. And it might be causing a quiet stir.

I haven’t fully embraced email reactions. I’m sure there’s a place for it; I’m still trying to find it. As a millennial, I didn’t make the letter-writing cut-off. I joined the workforce when email communication was normal. And while I’ve taken my fair share of liberties to bend the rules, I’ve always associated emailing with a certain level of etiquette and professionalism.

Does this mean email can’t be fun and casual? Hardly! Emojis show how email communication has evolved with the times to accommodate new forms of expression. I wrote about emojis in a previous post and I’m increasingly using them to add a touch of lightness to my emails.

But email reactions – despite being emojis themselves – have not quite landed for me. Here’s why I think that is.

React versus Respond

I’ve always viewed email as a tool for considered communication, even if it’s casual. Email is a platform where words are the primary means of expression. Everything else (pictures, formatting, emojis and more) enhances the meaning of words; accentuating here and emphasising there. As such, there’s a level of forethought that goes into writing, and receiving emails. This is integral to the email experience. 

Email reactions upend this idea, suggesting we can react to emails rather than respond to them with words. This takes some getting used to. I admit, I’ll need to unlearn some things to fully embrace this opportunity.

I’m happy to share that I’ve started playing around with email reactions. At the moment, I use email reactions to acknowledge messages, mainly in settings where I have a working relationship with the other person. This is typically within my immediate team and colleagues I collaborate with. 

I also limit my reactions to positive gestures: a thumbs up for acknowledgement, a smile for humour and so on. I stay clear of negative reactions like a frown or a surprised look. If I need to differ, I want to use words because they allow for much more clarity.

In these instances, I want to respond to an email, and not react to it.

Wider use

I asked a contact how they use this new feature and they were quite welcoming of it.

.. I like it for responding to group emails. The farewell or congratulation emails that go to distribution lists. 

Considered and professional.

Next, I turned to a Reddit thread for a snapshot of online sentiment. Those familiar will know Reddit for its colourful expression at the very least. There was no shortage of commentary so I used Google’s Gemini to sum it up.

Some people find the feature useful and time-saving. Others find it unprofessional and confusing. Many people are also frustrated with Microsoft’s unpredictable rollout of new features.

Mixed feelings in short. 

This innovation probably has a critical mass of willing users. But it may have another significant challenge in the way of unlocking its full potential: It’s not available to everyone. 

For example, at the time of writing this, email reactions come standard with all Gmail accounts but Microsoft Outlook users need a qualifying subscription to access it. This means that Outlook users on the free tier cannot react to emails they receive from anyone, including Gmail users.

For a feature like this to become mainstream, I believe it needs to be available to everyone at no additional cost. Why? Because we already have free, personal email accounts, and there’s no business case for email reactions as a paid add-on. I hope Microsoft and other providers will follow Google’s lead in this regard.

Looking ahead

For better or worse, email reactions are here to stay. The innovation adds a layer of richness to email communication. There’s nothing wrong with that. 

This feels like an inflexion point in how we relate to email, not unlike the transition away from physical letters many moons ago. There’s bound to be some tension and turbulence as different elements converge to shape how we express ourselves online, and as nostalgia contends with novelty. 

I’m sure we’ll find a way to forge ahead – we always do. To secure my full buy-in, however, I’d propose that a few reactions be added to what looks like a limited set of options in Outlook:

and

These are just some of my favourites, but what’s stopping us from making the full emoji list available for selection? The more the merrier!

I wonder what this conversation would look like for the next generation. Perhaps we’d have an AI agent read the email out loud (or a summary of it), and we’d be debating whether to delegate a response to AI agents or whether that option would be unethical given the environmental cost of AI.

Let’s see!

To start, what an awesome name we have in Copilot. The word is apt. It neatly captures everything we hope this technology could be for us. A resource that’s close enough, so you don’t feel like you’re going out of your way to reach it. Capable, so that you can trust its abilities confidently. And clear on its role, where you set course, and it supports you. Rather like a Copilot. 

As we converge around this exciting technology that is AI, I don’t know that there could be a better-suited partner to lead the way. That wasn’t always the case. It’s no secret that Microsoft has had to evolve both its process and persona to become the organisation we see today. One that has found and reconnected with its soul. I’m inspired by this. I too am working on myself. From one work in progress to another; well done for going on that journey. Your pioneering spirit and service posture earn you my vote of confidence.

Copilot for Windows is probably the closest to having an AI companion that works alongside us. It’s remarkable how much our sense of what’s possible has evolved in the last 18 months. Something that felt like a utopian dream not so long ago now seems reasonable to expect. In a short time, we’ve gone from asking “How on earth?” to “Why not?” 

This feels like a pivotal moment when we embed AI deeply into Windows, the very platform many of us rely on to deliver our life’s work.

I’m hopeful and nervous at the same time. Hear my thoughts. 

Safety first

Let’s address the elephant in the room, safety.

I take comfort in knowing you’ll spare no effort to safeguard user data. To be sure, I think you’re far more capable in this regard than myself, and the average user. However, it is true that despite our best efforts – yours and mine – bad outcomes are still possible, often presenting in ways we least expect. And it’s this residual risk that calls for special care. To make things more interesting, AI is an especially tricky technology to safeguard. Like the digital marketing sector which has perfected the science of targeted ads, AI works best with full access to user data.

Alas, not everyone wants this level of exposure to AI, especially at this stage. Some users want to dip their toes in to make sure the temperature is right for them. Others are more confident, and happy to start with a deep dive. For good measure, some will gladly venture in and make a splash, but need the assurance that the waters are shallow, and if they have to, they can stand and walk away. You get the gist. Comfort levels differ. How we respond to these individual differences can make all the difference. Pun intended.

Here’s an idea that has resonated with me: letting users tell you their comfort levels. From a user perspective, they would be making a direct tradeoff between their exposure to the AI, and the functionality they get from it. Preferences would range between all and nothing. 

One user may limit Copilot to their local files for example, with no app access. Realistically, the value-add in this context would be more like an AI-enhanced filename search. Adding file content access would allow the AI to surface shared themes across different files. One might ask a question like “What do my files say about ESG?” to discover multiple results related to this broad topic within their files. The benefits are outsized for the user who gives the AI full access. 

Building on the notion that users would want to choose how closely they relate to Copilot, here are some ideas for giving users the agency they need to manage their relationship with the AI. 

Copilot and user-agency

Make it easy

A pet peeve of mine is when important settings are buried in layers of sub-menus. Finding them becomes an endurance test, and most users, myself included, are not ready to go above and beyond. The natural solution is to make it easy. With modern UI/UX design at its current level, this is achievable. 

While there’s no precedent for an AI assistant on an operating system, I see natural parallels (and crossovers) between a web browser and Copilot for Windows. Both plug into the internet as part of their normal use. And in so doing, both create the risk of security breaches. As a result, both require robust security tools and controls to mitigate this risk. 

You’ve had some time to practise with security and privacy settings on the Edge browser. For the most part, I think you’ve nailed it on simplicity and usability. This fills me with hope. I trust you’ll bring the same UI/UX design philosophy into Copilot for Windows, enabling users to easily (and precisely) dial in their preferences. 

In simple terms, you want to make it easy for Copilot users to dip their toes, make a splash, or go all in. 

Default to safety

When users haven’t stated their preferences, you often have to make assumptions about them. In these situations, the assumptions we make about user preferences and needs will impact many, and those assumptions should be informed by the right ideas. 

It’s like planning a party for many people. Do you make it interesting and take liberties with the food menu? Or do you accommodate those who may have special dietary needs? This is not an enviable position to be in, I admit. It requires one to balance the risks to a few, against the presumed wants of many. 

It might be possible to achieve both. If we put everything on the table and label all of it, we empower users to make informed choices that work for them. 

In this regard, my advice would be, don’t serve, educate. Bringing this idea to Copilot for Windows, default settings should prioritise safety, and not make assumptions about which risks users are willing to take. Put the options in plain sight, and give users clear choices.

I realise this may seem counterintuitive, especially when there is a financial imperative in play. Ultimately, users will stick to their own choices in the long term. Helping them make those choices is a win-win and builds trust. 

Be transparent

One criticism of AI at the moment is that it’s not explainable. There are inputs and outputs, but the process in between does not follow simple logic. This makes it hard to know exactly what’s happening under the hood. 

As a user, I don’t need to know the details, I probably wouldn’t understand them. I do believe, however, that it would be useful to know what data is feeding into the AI. This would enable me to gauge how extensive the data is, and how effective Copilot is at using it.

User data can be presented in several ways: cumulatively, on a query-by-query basis, periodically (e.g. in each billing cycle) etc. What’s important is that it strikes a balance between simplicity and detail.

In the same vein, users should be able to delete their data permanently, if they wish to. Clear out the cache if you will. 

These are not entirely new concepts. The right of access and right to be forgotten are among several data privacy protections based on the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and similar laws. Data regulators will be pleased to note a healthy alignment with their values. That can only be good for business. 

But something happened just last week. It feels like an official response to Apple’s dominance. In what looks like a choreographed move, several PC makers announced new devices that promise to rival Apple silicon in performance and efficiency. All these devices share a common denominator, they have one of two breakthrough chips from Qualcomm, a leading chip company known for its presence in the mobile space. 

It’s game on from the competition. To appreciate what’s happened here, it helps to reflect briefly on how Apple came to dominate the space.

A brief recap 

The technology behind Apple’s M-series chips that now power their product line wasn’t always first in class for desktop devices. Based on the ARM chipset architecture that is popular in mobile devices due to its minimal power draw, their earliest attempts to power desktop PCs with it failed to keep up with the performance of Intel processors. Indeed, in 2005, Apple made the strategic decision to put Intel processors into their PC lineup.

But being a mobile-first company, they still had use for the ARM-based chips and continued to power their mobile devices with it. Over the years, the team kept improving the technology through successive iterations, until they felt it was ready for the next big thing, and put the M1, an upgraded version of the iPhone chip, into the Mac lineup in 2021. They haven’t looked back. 

The performance of these chips has since given Apple what seemed like an unassailable lead. But that narrative is now in check, with Qualcomm’s newly released chips.

Hello Snapdragon X

In November 2023, Qualcomm’s CEO announced a new ARM-based chip that would establish leadership in the PC device space, with claimed performance benchmarks making headlines. The mobile chip company, best known for its Snapdragon lineup had been building up their capabilities in the PC space. In 2021, they paid $1.4b for NUVIA, a startup founded by former Apple engineers, all of whom worked in senior roles on Apple’s mobile chip technology. A not-so-subtle statement of intent. 

Earlier this week, Microsoft, Lenovo, HP and Dell were among the first to announce products featuring Qualcomm’s new ARM-based chips for PC, the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus. We can reasonably expect more brands to line up for a piece of the action. It’ll be interesting to see how things shape up once these products start shipping to customers very soon.

Notably, the chips are cheaper to produce. As such, the products they power should be cheaper. That’s a significant detail. Since Apple’s devices are often criticised for being overpriced, a technological breakthrough that could reduce the competition’s price only brings this concern into sharper focus. 

It’s also worth noting that the Snapdragon X series chips boast superior battery life and on-device AI capabilities.

Microsoft plans to leverage these AI capabilities through an AI assistant for Windows called Copilot (currently in preview). In a recent announcement, they referred to new AI-enhanced PCs that can take full advantage of the AI in Windows as Copilot+ PCs.

The scene is set for a major showdown. By tuning ARM-based chips for PCs, Apple showed a proof of concept to everyone, and notes were taken. Now Qualcomm is moving to bring the benefits to the wider PC consumer world. But it’s not all roses and red carpets. There are considerable headwinds to contend with.

Some headwinds

For one, PC makers don’t have the same control over their Operating System (Windows) as Apple does with Macs. This makes it hard for PCs to achieve the level of finesse in the overall user experience that Mac owners know and love. Microsoft admittedly has a leg up on other PC makers with their surface line-up, considering they control the OS and the devices. I’m hoping this integration translates to a better user experience.

Staying on user experience, there might be a more significant technical barrier to scale for Windows on ARM. Several experts note that most Windows software in the market today is developed for the other type of chip, that is not ARM. Specifically, the x86 chip architecture which brands like Intel and AMD are synonymous with. The challenge is bringing Windows apps natively to ARM. 

Microsoft rightly anticipated this need. In their recent keynote, they announced Prism, a new ARM emulator on Windows 11. Think of it as a translation layer that helps ARM-based Windows PCs decode apps that were written for x86 chips. It’s true that developers now have an incentive to do the legwork of creating ARM versions of their apps to run natively on the new PCs. But as long as there are apps that can’t run natively on ARM chips, the ability of Prism to plug this gap and keep x86 apps running smoothly on ARM will be significant to the user experience. 

Final thoughts

When Qualcomm CEO, Cristiano Amon, made the initial announcement late last year, he didn’t mince words. 

I’m very pleased to tell you that there’s a new sheriff in town.

I wonder what the next play for x86 chip brands like Intel and AMD would be, all things considered. Whether or not this threat proves existential would depend on their ability to reposition and pivot. I’m not too concerned though, Big Tech companies tend to have a plan. They’ll invest a bunch and make things happen.

To square with you, I don’t have $1.4b in loose change lying around – this economy is something. But that kind of money can certainly buy a wealth of possibility, and do a world of good. And I’m here for it.

Good morning…

Tim Cook began characteristically, after a rather colourful animation sequence.

Welcome to Apple Park.

What followed was thirty-seven minutes of product information, mostly about their new iPad devices. 

For the first time in a while, the iPads got a refresh. And while some might argue that there was no urgent need, many would say it was long overdue – the heart wants what it wants.

For the competition, the message from Apple was loud and clear: catch me if you can. Let’s unpack some of the announcements, and, more importantly, why they matter. 

The iPad Air

A good place to start is the new iPad Air. It gets the M2 chip, which is newer than the M1 Pro chip in the Macbook I’m currently typing this on. While the beefier M2 Pro and M2 Max chips offer more performance, the base M2 chip is no slouch, so this shouldn’t feel like a concession. It’ll breeze through web browsing and media consumption. It can even support more intensive tasks like gaming and 4K video editing. 

Recognizing that this iPad Air would easily suffice for most users, Apple has made the strategic decision to offer it in two sizes. For the first time, the Air is available in the native 11-inch and the new 13-inch version. The idea is to cater to the light user who may not need bleeding-edge capabilities but still appreciates more canvas. With the additional space, a few more use cases open up. Tack on a keyboard for even more versatility. 

Well played Apple.

There was one more big announcement. 

The iPad Pro

For the more discerning customer, the star of the show was the redesigned iPad Pro. Highlight features are its thinness, an OLED display (a first for the iPad), and the next generation of Apple silicon: the M4 chip. It’s the first time Apple debuted their silicon on the iPad. This fourth-generation chip promises even more performance and higher efficiency. 

Pundits argue that putting this much power into a device which is not typically used for CPU-intensive tasks would seem counterintuitive. Indeed “counterintuitive” is often used to describe many of Apple’s strategic choices. Sometimes, it takes the rest of us a moment to make sense of Apple’s bigger vision – Apple TV is a prime example of this. Other times the vision just doesn’t catch on. The 2013 Mac Pro (aka the trash can) evoked strong consumer sentiments and serves as a cautionary tale here.  

For better or worse, the new iPad Pro packs more punch than most of us could possibly need.

Other Announcements

Other significant announcements include the new Apple Pencil Pro. It features a squeeze gesture which users and developers can customise in creative ways. A newly built-in gyroscope allows the Pencil Pro to support a roll gesture, something that sketch artists, calligraphers, and other users who require a high level of precision would appreciate.

Also announced was the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, with a design that now features a function row, an aluminium palm rest, and a larger trackpad. All for an enhanced, richer, iPad experience.

Final Thoughts

All things considered, it would seem like Apple is intentionally expanding the realm of possibilities which the iPad lineup presents. This aligns with their Blue Ocean Strategy of developing uncontested market space, rather than competing for a share of a finite pie. 

One wonders if the competition is happy to be left alone, or jittery at the prospect of being made redundant.

While mobile browsers make the internet more accessible than ever, desktop browsers are far more practical for your ‘serious’ use cases. They have a larger screen and offer more features.  

I’ve researched and curated a list of Google Chrome shortcuts to elevate your browsing experience, and mine. When your workflow involves being online and having multiple tabs open (you know yourself), these shortcuts can save you invaluable time and attention, two priceless resources. 

Click here for the PC Edition of this Article

1. Open a new tab, and jump to it

⌘ + T

If you only take one thing away from here, let it be this. Use the Ctrl + T (for tab) combo to open a blank tab and jump to it. I always open new web pages in a separate tab to avoid losing sight of the tab I’m actively working on. 

2. Jump one tab to the right

Ctrl + Tab

There are several hotkeys to shuffle between your open tabs. The easiest one to remember (for me) is the Ctrl + Tab key. It moves to the tab on the immediate right. If there’s no tab to the immediate right (i.e. you’re on the rightmost tab) it’ll jump back to the leftmost tab. 

Related 

Jump one tab to the right | ⌘ + Option + Right arrow

Jump one tab to the left | ⌘ + Option + Left arrow

3. Close the current tab

⌘ + W

This shortcut is handy for closing the current tab when you’re done with it. 

4. Reopen previously closed tab

⌘ + Shift + T

It’s good to know there’s a quick way to reopen closed tabs, handy when you’ve just closed a tab and need one last peek. This helpful hotkey reopens tabs in order, starting from the most recently closed.

5. Open a link in a new background tab

⌘ + Click a link

You may want to open a link in a new tab while staying on the active tab. This is especially helpful when opening multiple links.

6. Open a link, and jump to it

⌘ + Shift + Click a link

You’ll often want to open a link in a separate tab, and then jump to it. This saves you from having to navigate to the new tab in a separate step. 

7. Save your current webpage as a bookmark

⌘ + D

True to its name the bookmark feature allows you to save a web location for later.

8. Show or hide the Bookmarks bar

⌘ + Shift + B

If you ever need some screen real estate, consider toggling the bookmark bar on and off.

9. Open the History page in a new tab

⌘ + Y

Open your browsing history for a list view of your recent activity. This view also features a handy search box where you can drill down to a specific page you want to revisit. 

10. Open the Downloads page in a new tab

⌘ + Shift + J

Open the downloads page for quick access to recently downloaded files. This saves you from having to access them through your regular file manager. 

11. Open the Find Bar to search the current page

⌘ + F

The search feature is an incredibly nifty tool. It highlights matches of your search terms on the page, making them easy to spot.

Related

Jump to the next match to your Find Bar search | ⌘ + G

Jump to the previous match to your Find Bar search | ⌘ + Shift + G

12. Jump to the address bar

⌘ + L

The address bar is crucial to the web browsing experience. It helps to have this shortcut that gets you to it quickly.

13. Search with your default search engine

Search term + Return

You can enter a search term in the browser’s address bar and hit return to search it. Your browser will search using the default search engine. Since Google is the default search engine in Chrome, there’s no need to go to Google.com for a search.

14. Open a new tab and perform a Google search

Search term + ⌘ + Return

If you ever need to run multiple Google searches, it can feel a bit arduous having to create a new tab for each search. This neat shortcut will save you that hassle. Use it to run a Google search directly from the address bar. The results will appear in a new tab. 

15. Open the Clear Browsing Data options

⌘ + Shift + Delete

As you browse the web, different sites will store little files (called cookies) that enable them to remember you and create a better experience. This takes up valuable memory and slows down your device. It helps to clear your browsing data once in a while. This nifty shortcut will help you get right to it. 

If you found any of that enticing, you may be wanting for more. Here’s a link to the official list of Chrome keyboard shortcuts on Google’s support page. 

While mobile browsers make the internet more accessible than ever, desktop browsers are far more practical for your ‘serious’ use cases. They have a larger screen and offer more features.  

I’ve researched and curated a list of Google Chrome shortcuts to elevate your browsing experience, and mine. When your workflow involves being online and having multiple tabs open (you know yourself), these shortcuts can save you invaluable time and attention, two priceless resources. 

Click here for the Mac Edition of this Article

1. Open a new tab, and jump to it

Ctrl + T

If you only take one thing away from here, let it be this. Use the Ctrl + T (for tab) combo to open a blank tab and jump to it. I always open new web pages in a separate tab to avoid losing sight of the tab I’m actively working on. 

2. Jump one tab to the right

Ctrl + Tab

There are several hotkeys to shuffle between your open tabs. The easiest one to remember (for me) is the Ctrl + Tab key. It moves to the tab on the immediate right. If there’s no tab to the immediate right (i.e. you’re on the rightmost tab) it’ll jump back to the leftmost tab. 

Related 

Jump one tab to the right | Ctrl + PgDn

Jump one tab to the left | Ctrl + PgUp

3. Close the current tab

Ctrl + W or Ctrl + F4

This shortcut is handy for closing the current tab when you’re done with it. 

4. Reopen previously closed tab

Ctrl + Shift + T

It’s good to know there’s a quick way to reopen closed tabs, handy when you’ve just closed a tab and need one last peek. This helpful hotkey reopens tabs in order, starting from the most recently closed.

5. Open a link in a new background tab

Ctrl + Click a link

You may want to open a link in a new tab while staying on the active tab. This is especially handy when opening multiple links.

6. Open a link, and jump to it

Ctrl + Shift + Click a link

You’ll often want to open a link in a separate tab, and then jump to it. This saves you from having to navigate to the new tab in a separate step. 

7. Save your current webpage as a bookmark

Ctrl + D

True to its name the bookmark feature allows you to save a web location for later.

8. Show or hide the Bookmarks bar

Ctrl + Shift + B

If you ever need some screen real estate, consider toggling the bookmark bar on and off.

9. Open the History page in a new tab

Ctrl + H

Open your browsing history for a list view of your recent activity. This view also features a handy search box where you can drill down to a specific page you want to revisit. 

10. Open the Downloads page in a new tab

Ctrl + J

Open the downloads page for quick access to recently downloaded files. This saves you from having to access them through your regular file manager. 

11. Open the Find Bar to search the current page

Ctrl + F or F3

The search feature is an incredibly nifty tool. It highlights matches of your search terms on the page, making them easy to spot.

Related

Jump to the next match to your Find Bar search | Ctrl + G

Jump to the previous match to your Find Bar search | Ctrl + Shift + G

12. Jump to the address bar

Ctrl + L or Alt + D or F6

The address bar is crucial to the web browsing experience. It helps to have this shortcut that gets you to it quickly.

13. Search with your default search engine

Search term + Enter

You can enter a search term in the browser’s address bar and hit enter to search it. Your browser will search using the default search engine. Since Google is the default search engine in Chrome, there’s no need to go to Google.com for a search.

14. Open a new tab and perform a Google search

Search term + Alt + Enter

If you ever need to run multiple Google searches, it can feel a bit arduous having to create a new tab for each search. This neat shortcut will save you that hassle. Use it to run a Google search directly from the address bar. The results will appear in a new tab. 

15. Open the Clear Browsing Data options

Ctrl + Shift + Delete

As you browse the web, different sites will store little files (called cookies) that enable them to remember you and create a better experience. This takes up valuable memory and slows down your device. It helps to clear your browsing data once in a while. This nifty shortcut will help you get right to it.

In this thought, I reflect on the year that’s been through the lens of gratitude – something I’m learning to do more. It’s not been a perfect year per se. But it’s been a great year. Here are five reasons that rank high on the list of things I’m grateful for in 2023. 

Good Health

If there’s one thing you learn to value as you get older, it’s good health. I’m grateful for mine. I didn’t have any serious health concerns this year. That said, there have been challenges in my immediate circle that made health and wellbeing front of mind for me this year. 

A significant factor in this regard is access to good healthcare. I’ve seen the benefits of this up close this year, and I’m immensely grateful for access to good healthcare.

Good health affects life directly and profoundly, not just for the person concerned but also for everyone around them who cares.

There’s also mental health. I’ve taken more ownership of my well-being in this area lately and can say I’m much better for it. Like physical health, I’m learning to embrace the idea that good mental health requires constant effort. 

Meaningful Connection

I’ve enjoyed being nourished by the relationships I’ve had this year. On relationships, I’ve learnt that quality is more important than count. I’ve had the privilege of making new quality connections this year while deepening the existing ones. 

On a personal note, I can share that my most important relationship has undoubtedly been (and remains) with my darling wife. Together, we’ve made light of major headwinds this year.

Meaningful Work

Work has always been important to me. I’m grateful to have produced some of my best work this year, creatively and professionally.

Also, as someone who makes sense of reality through writing, the privilege of being able to share my thoughts on this platform is not lost on me – I couldn’t be more grateful!

I take this positive energy into the year (and years) ahead. 

Peace

While the year has not been without its tremors and turbulences, it’s been relatively calm. I’ve enjoyed having peace this year, sometimes defying my immediate circumstances. I’ve also had multiple opportunities to pause, reflect and gain invaluable perspective. 

Travel

My wife and I travelled this year for leisure for the first time since the pandemic hit. There’s a benefit to travel, especially international travel: It’s a humbling reminder of how big and socially diverse the world is. We got to catch a glimpse of it yet again.

Photo credits: The Hezekiah home

Thankfully, most of us don’t need to do so just yet. Until recently, I haven’t had any real use for ChaptGPT and other chatbot tools. Admittedly, that hasn’t deterred me from spending copious amounts of time being immersed in them – I’ve dabbled my fair share.

Recently, however, I needed to automate a manual spreadsheet task. More specifically, I needed to copy and paste data from different spreadsheets. While it’s true that I could do this manually, I found the repetition to be tedious and draining. That being so, I set out to build version 2.0 of the spreadsheet, with automation to do the heavy lifting.

It was the perfect opportunity to test the waters. Here’s how it went.

A Crash Course In Prompt-Engineering

Using ChatGPT as my tool of choice, I prompted it for a script to “copy and paste data from one sheet to another.” The first few iterations revealed just how vague this instruction was. Some basic questions emerged.

Firstly, the script needed to filter out empty cells before pasting it. This way, I wouldn’t have to delete blank cells whenever the script ran. Also, the content had to go in a specific column. I needed to figure out how to prompt ChatGPT for this in the automation.

These are just two examples of the details I needed to specify in my prompting. I resorted to making a list of steps for the automation to follow. Steps that come naturally to me and are easy to overlook. I eventually got the intended outcome, albeit after an embarrassing number of iterations. I even added other automation features to the spreadsheet. That said, the arduous process of using ChatGPT was quite sobering. It forced me to reflect on the downside of using such a tool.

Not Exactly Flawless

There’s a hard limit to what we can expect from large language models like ChatGPT. While they are remarkably capable, they often fall short in equally remarkable ways. 

In her TED talk titled Why AI is incredibly smart and shockingly stupid, computer scientist Yejin Choi demonstrates how models like ChatGPT and similar LLM tools that have pulled off incredible technical feats, could fail spectacularly in the realm of common sense.

She further explains that language captures only a glimpse of how the world works. Since LLMs are trained on textual and language data, this insight is crucial to understanding why the models have such sizable blind spots. Many unspoken rules of life are not part of our language – such as human norms and values. Hence, training models on even larger data sets will not necessarily result in the human-like reasoning we know and appreciate as common sense.

This concept explains why the situational intelligence needed to translate my basic prompts into detailed instructions was lacking in ChatGPT. I had to refine my prompts, adding more detail with each iteration, to get the desired results. 

That said, we still have an incredible opportunity in LLMs.

Unpacking The Value

Beyond the experiment I shared, there are other ways to extract value from ChatGPT and similar tools. In a recent conversation with an academic, for example, I learned that LLMs are hugely effective at summarising lengthy journal articles, saving researchers countless hours. 

When working with LLMs, we should provide effective prompts with sufficient instruction and context for the best results. Compare this to Google searches, where a single phrase (or sentence) is enough. LLMs need a bit more input. The adage applies: garbage in, garbage out. If you want ChatGPT to write an email, for example, you’ll need to tell it what to write and your preferred writing tone at a minimum. 

What if you’re using the tool to size up a problem or topic? In these situations, the best prompts are clear but open-ended. You want to ask wh-type questions: what, when, who, where and why? I asked ChatGPT to “explain why income inequality is a difficult problem.” The 473-word response featured a brief introduction, 11 well-explained points, and a helpful outro – a great starting point for anyone researching the subject.

In hindsight, I could have applied this idea to my spreadsheet challenge by starting with a better prompt like: 

List the steps needed to copy data from one spreadsheet into another. 

The results would have saved me quite some time. 

AI And You

As exciting as the times may be, they’re just as chaotic. There are uncertainties about how the cards may fall. It is OK to feel anxious about job security and your place in this brave new world of LLMs and Generative AI more broadly.

Regardless of how these concerns may land, it helps to appreciate that the real value lies in what we do next. Channelling that anxiety into curiosity and initiative will help you position yourself to leverage these technologies in profound ways. 

I’m on a journey to learn as much as I can about Gen AI and tech more broadly. As I do so, I hope to see the opportunity it presents more clearly and share it with those around me. 

Your relationship with technology doesn’t need to look like mine. What’s important, however, is to recognise the tidal wave of tech in this moment, and get yourself on the right side of it.

In this thought, I explore 4 notable sign-offs I’ve come across and learnt to appreciate. I look at why they’re impactful, and how they resonate with me. 

Good morning, Good afternoon, or Good evening

Signing out with a greeting is an elegant way of maintaining formality. It brings the same in-person essence you get from ending a face-to-face dialogue in this way.

To avoid confusion, I use this sign-off when communicating with people in the same time zone as myself. This way, I don’t risk saying “Good evening” to someone who is receiving my message in their Morning. 

It’s worth noting that this sign-off has a formal ring to it, especially in the English language. It carries a certain gravitas. I use it sparingly to underscore the seriousness of the message.

With Love

Although I haven’t used this one myself, I’ve been on the receiving end of it. It’s more common among brands that are looking to strike a personal connection with their audience. A rather bold display of affection on an otherwise dull communication channel.

And the results?

For better or worse this sign-off engenders a deeply personal connection. While brands may use it to signal their intended relationship with customers, I would recommend individuals only use it if it’s true to the nature of the existing relationship they share with the recipient/s. 

No Sign-off

Sometimes people skip the sign-off altogether. The idea here is to keep it simple and minimise fluff. This approach typically goes with a brief message that delivers one or two main points. 

If you’re not used to emails that skip the sign-off entirely and end with just a name, this ending can feel incomplete, and leave you wanting for more.

I tend to use this approach in one of two ways.

Firstly, when I receive a message in this style, I maintain it in my response to make the dialogue flow smoothly. Email is notorious for being open to interpretation, so I try to avoid introducing noise by changing the tone of the dialogue where possible. 

In the second use case, I apply this no sign-off approach when I have a brief message and I don’t have the option of sending a chat. It’s a quick way to share a message without the abiding formalities of email etiquette. 

Cheers

For a light-hearted conclusion, “Cheers” is a good way to end things on a friendly note. It’s not as affectionate as saying “With Love,” Nor is it as muted as the customary “Regards.” Many would consider it to be a healthy middle ground. 

I end with Cheers when communicating with colleagues and stakeholders with whom I already have some rapport. This makes it true to the nature of our relationship.

Honourable mentions and final thoughts

Here are a few more recognizable sign-offs for good measure. 

• Regards 
• Best regards
• Warmly
• Warm regards
• Thanks
• Many thanks (my favourite)

The insight for me lies in the variety of options we have for signing off emails. It speaks to how varied we are as individuals, a crucial hint at how accommodating we need to be to build connections across divides.

The PC vs Mac debate is probably one of the most divisive in tech. It is specific enough to point us in the direction of a polarised topic. Yet too vague to help us resolve it definitively. Of course, most of the chatter happens in the grey areas. 

Full disclosure, I use a PC at my day job. And at home, I switch between a 14-inch Macbook Pro and an iMac. So I’m well acquainted with the experience of living and working in both worlds.

In this thought, we’ll attempt to unpack why the PC vs Mac question is so contentious. And we’ll tease out how these options represent vastly different propositions.

But first, let’s agree on definitions.

What is a PC? And what is a Mac?

PC is short for personal computer. This includes desktops and laptops but not mobile devices. So technically, all the products in Apple’s Mac lineup would classify as PCs. While that’s true in principle, the real world is more nuanced. The folks at Apple have worked so hard to create the Mac brand. There shouldn’t be any confusion here.

For the rest of this article, we’ll stick to the street convention.

A PC is any desktop or laptop device running on the Windows operating system. And a Mac is any product in Apple’s Mac lineup. Apple’s desktops and laptop devices share the Mac name, a throwback to the Macintosh – their very first PC. Mac devices run on Apple’s proprietary operating system, Mac OS. 

To state the obvious, a PC is not a Mac. The line that separates the two is well and truly present in many hearts and minds.

Let’s explore that separation a bit further. 

Unpacking the PC

A Statista report puts the Windows market share at 74.14% as of January 2023, with MacOS at 15.33%. Microsoft’s Windows OS dominates the market for good reason. 

What’s more noteworthy, however, is the strategy behind this market position, and how that strategy ties into Microsoft’s proposition.

Simply put, Microsoft has partnered with hardware manufacturers to distribute the Windows Operating System. This is why brands like HP, Acer and Dell can sell Windows PCs. They design, build and sell their brand of computers, running on Windows.

It has proved to be a lucrative arrangement for Microsoft, especially during the PC revolution when fierce competition between brands fostered innovation and exponential market growth. Today there’s practically a PC for every consumer, from the price-sensitive to the power-hungry.

By creating the operating system, Microsoft gives PC manufacturers a platform to build on top of. There is, however, a tradeoff between the benefits of partnership and achieving (let’s call it) peak PC. 

Manufacturing brands are making major concessions to align their product vision with Microsoft’s vision of the Windows operating system.

These tradeoffs are seen and felt most in the everyday PC experience. In many ways, it’s simply unpolished. To be sure, the experience has come a long way from the early days when we had to install drivers for every peripheral – that was brutal. Yet still, the PC experience leaves a lot to be desired. We’re at the point where every PC user knows the first step for troubleshooting any issue – a system reboot. It’s a hint at how much the user experience still needs to mature. 

What if the entire production process converged around the ideal user experience?

Unboxing the Mac

Apple’s mission statement is clear:

..bringing the best user experience to customers through innovative hardware, software, and services.

The aim is simple – the best user experience, period.

If you’ve ever used a Mac device you’ll know the feeling of being catered to. Material choice, design and software decisions all feel deeply considered, leading to an enhanced experience. The best part, things just work! No need to tinker here and fine-tune there. That’s the benefit of making both the operating system, and the products that run on them – the Macs. 

But the proposition doesn’t end there. Beyond the Mac lineup, Apple is also behind the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, and a host of services that elevate the user experience into a new stratosphere. For example, Apple Carplay brings features like messaging, calling, music play, podcasts and hey Siri into the driving experience. At this point, I wouldn’t consider buying a car that doesn’t support Carplay. Other services like Handoff and Airdrop make it easy to transition your workflow – including live calls – from one Apple device to another. Dubbed the Apple ecosystem, this growing list of value-added services make for a rather compelling proposition. 

Apple’s stance on the user experience even extends to their customer service posture. I learnt this when I bought an iMac a few years back. There was a strange screen flicker every few minutes affecting a small number of users. The return and replacement process was incredibly smooth, with no questions asked. Contrast this with some PC brands that subject you to extensive troubleshooting to determine if their manufacturer’s warranty would cover it before a replacement is approved. 

Different Propositions

To date, the Windows PC is the de facto choice for corporations. Most productivity apps are designed to run on Windows. Needless to say that corporations like productivity a lot. And Microsoft, the company behind the PC, is not shy about taking a pro-productivity stance. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal on the opportunity that is ChatGPT and AI, here’s what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had to say. 

We need something that truly changes the productivity curve so that we can have real economic growth.

This statement captures Microsoft’s central ethos of helping people do more with technology. It’s the same idea that fueled the PC revolution many years ago, making Microsoft incredibly popular and valuable. To be sure, it is still as relevant as ever. What we see Microsoft doing with AI is simply a present-day iteration of this idea. They’re helping us all do more with AI.

Apple, on the other hand, has never been about productivity. At least it’s not the primary focus. Their real obsession is the user experience, and finding ways to elevate it. So while team Microsoft may want to help you 10x your output, Apple just wants to make sure you enjoy creating your best work. They strip away complexity and add relevant features at key pain points. The Apple choice prioritises ease and elegance over productivity. 

It is tempting to pit the PC and Mac against each other for a satisfying head-to-head. On closer review, however, we realise how these options represent very different ideas. And that’s OK.