Your Majesty — 10 things

From Elephant Talk to AI Illusions

June 27th · Issue #333
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👋 Hey ,


In this week’s 10Things issue we’re stretching the edges of culture, tech, and communication. From decoding elephant vocalizations with AI, to poetry vending machines, the role of design in political elections, and the rise (and limits) of social-first brands, this week explores how we create, critique, and connect.


Enjoy,

Your Majesty

 

1. AI’s Latest Trick? Elephant Conversation for Conservation

 

A groundbreaking conservation project tracking the sounds and movements of herds in Africa may one day allow us to have a conversation with them.
 

Learn more here

 

2. The End of Publishing As We Know It 

 

A long-read unpacks how chatbot overviews & summary features are keeping users locked into conversations, and threatening media & journalism as we know it.  
 

Read more here

 

3. Championing the CO₂ Transition with Skytree

 

We partnered with Skytree to design and launch a bold new digital home — one that captures their mission to harvest CO₂ from air and fuel a circular future.
 

Learn more here

 

4. The Poem Booth


In city stations, a new AI poetry booth invites passersby to take a photo and receive a personalised poem based on that photo in return.


Read more here

 

5. Everyone’s an Art Critic

 

A new community app, dubbed the Letterboxd of the art world, turns gallery-goers into art critics. Suddenly, anyone with a smartphone can be a voice in the art world. 
 

Learn more here

 

6. The End of the Founder Era?

 

Research from BoF charts the quiet fade of founder-led beauty brands, and what comes next.


See more here

 

7. AI Slop is Everywhere

 

Presenter John Oliver breaks down why generative AI content is flooding our feeds on hid Late Night Show, and what we lose when the web turns to mush.

 

Watch here

 

8. The Illusion of Intellect

 

What does it mean to be smart in an age of performative knowledge? This essay unpacks how AI contributes to a shallow sense of understanding. 


Read more here

 

9. The Power of Social-First Brands

 

Rhode’s $1B exit signals both the power and the plateau of brands built social-first. But are they built for longevity?


See more here

 

10. The New Blueprint for Political Design?

 

Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral merch doesn’t look like politics, it looks like something you’d line up for at Supreme. Here’s why it worked. 


Read more here

“If I fail, or if I succeed, at least I did as I believe.

— Whitney Houston



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