The Navigator, Saturday, May 3, 2025
The Great Language Flattening, AI has replaced my memory, shopping malls make a comeback, Trump is losing his war on democracy—and more
It’s tempting to think we’re failing when the world feels so messy and chaotic. But the Persian poet Sadi of Shiraz, one of the greatest of the classical literary tradition, reminds us otherwise: “Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”
We’re living through an age of disruption, which we feel acutely every day—AI is shaking up jobs, climate is jolting economies, and democracy is wobbling under pressure. Of course, it feels chaotic. That’s how every major leap forward starts. It’s rough, uncertain, and slow.
Throughout history, real progress has always begun in disruption. The Industrial Revolution, the Civil Rights Movement, the shift to the digital age—none of it looked clean or inevitable at the start. And today’s disruptions are no different. The systems we’re fighting to build—smarter, fairer, more resilient—won’t come easily. But patience isn’t about waiting quietly; it’s about pushing through, knowing that hard now is the price of better later.
If we want to bridge the gap between disruption and resilience, we have to stay in the fight. Eyes forward, hands steady, patience on purpose.
As always, thank you for including us in your week. Let us know your thoughts on this week’s events and your input on the new rules emerging for tomorrow.
The Great Language Flattening (The Atlantic)
Chatbots learned from human writing. Now it’s their turn to influence us.
I Recorded Everything I Said for Three Months. AI Has Replaced My Memory. (The Wall Street Journal)
The Bee, Limitless and Plaud wearables record everything you say and use AI to provide summaries, to-do’s—and a slightly terrifying glimpse of the future
Trump is losing his war on democracy (Vox)
Trump’s power grabs are dangerous. But he’s going about them all wrong — and facing effective resistance as a result.
Is It Happening Here? (The New Yorker)
Other countries have watched their democracies slip away gradually, without tanks in the streets. That may be where we’re headed—or where we already are.
How AI, Funding Cuts and Shifting Skills Are Redefining Education — and What It Means for the Future of Work (Entrepreneur)
As AI accelerates and old funding models crumble, the future of education will belong to the bold — not the nostalgic.
Trump’s Push to Defund NPR and PBS is Actually Terrible for Red States (Vanity Fair)
The states most reliant on federal funding for public media are in prime MAGA country.
Russia Is in Demographic Free Fall. Putin Isn’t Helping. (The Atlantic)
The Russian president is enacting one of the world’s most extreme natalism programs—and one of the weirdest.
Something Alarming Is Happening to the Job Market (The Atlantic)
A new sign that AI is competing with college grads
Your Employees Are Disengaged and Lonely. The Cure Is Right Under Your Nose (Inc.)
Inc. has dug into the research to determine how to bring joy back to the workplace—and, no, the answer is not more snacks.
Scientists flabbergasted after observing major change at Earth's North and South Poles: 'More than the effect of ice ages' (The Cool Down)
Future studies may also help scientists and governments plan for adaptations.
Call It by Its Name (Slate)
The Trump tariffs are decimating people’s wallets. I know just the thing to do.
Shopping Malls are Making a Comeback in America (The Economist)
Investors have lately taken a renewed interest in these temples of consumerism, but can they withstand an economic slowdown?
The 2025 Tony Nominees Have Been Announced! See the Full List Here (Vogue)
Another banner Broadway season has come to an end, crammed with blockbuster productions, thrilling Broadway debuts, heralded revivals of more than a few beloved shows. But who and what will take home Tony gold on Sunday, June 8th? Here’s a look at this year’s contenders.