Holiday giveaway! The LEAP Guide new edition

The second edition of The LEAP Guide just dropped. I'm stoked to share that the first edition became an Amazon bestseller with perfect 5-star ratings across the board!

This edition comes with updated content to help you thrive in the industry's latest AI developments, packed with fresh insights and practical strategies. Whether you're just starting or scaling your AI efforts, you'll find the roadmap you need for 2025.

To celebrate, I’m kickstarting 2025 by giving away 25 free copies to my Lighthouse readers. Click below to enter!

"The LEAP Guide is an insightful and practical roadmap for businesses…The book breaks down complex concepts into four clear, actionable steps designed to help organizations accelerate innovation." — Glory Gordon, Amazon reader.

In today's lineup:

🤖 Robots

• Big tech’s playground collapses

• Google's Veo 2 dethrones Sora Turbo

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People

• Tony Seba predicts the future of tech

• Busted! Your AI might be lying to you

❤️ Love

• AI’s 2024 wrapped

• Holiday giveaway!

Reading time: 5 min.

It’s the end of the internet as we know it

The internet is broken. From Google's crushing algorithm changes to billionaire-controlled social media, what was once a democratic space has become a corporate playground.

But a revolution is brewing. Fifty-five years ago, two scientists couldn't even finish typing "LOGIN" before their experimental network crashed. Today, we need that same spirit of innovation to fix the internet.

Breaking Down the Shift

•  Web 3.0 gives users ownership of their data instead of letting corporations control the roads of the internet.

• Google's latest algorithm changes have crushed independent publishers in favor of big brands, proving why we need alternatives.

• Over a million users are flocking to decentralized platforms like Bluesky to escape corporate control.

• Even internet infrastructure is being reimagined with projects like the EU's €10.6bn public satellite program.

Beyond the buzzwords

Big tech is prioritizing profits over innovation, leading to declining services. As AI reshapes online content, preserving authentic human voices is critical. Decentralized networks now empower users to own their social presence, and public-benefit projects offer alternatives to billionaire-controlled platforms.

Building tomorrow's Web today

Web 3.0 is redefining the internet, shifting from corporate control to community ownership. As demand for alternatives grows, the future of the internet will be shaped collectively, not by tech giants alone.

Top Bytes ⚡

Google releases its own ‘reasoning’ AI model.

ChatGPT search now free for all.

IBM's new enterprise AI models are more powerful than anything.

Botto, the millionaire AI artist, Is getting a personality.

Top decentralized AI projects of 2025 amid OpenAI copyright concerns.

A breakthrough AI tool to measure and protect earth’s biodiversity.

Tool Spotlight 🔧

Google's Veo 2 video generator takes on Sora Turbo

Last week, everyone was buzzing about Sora. This week? All eyes are on Google's Veo 2, shaking up AI video generation and going toe-to-toe with Sora Turbo by serving up mind-blowing 4K videos that actually get cinematography.

Why Veo 2 is turning heads?

• Generates crystal-clear videos up to 4K resolution

• Breakthrough understanding of real-world physics

• Reduces common AI video glitches like extra fingers

• Understands cinematic language and specific filming techniques

• Outperformed competitors in human evaluation tests

Sora might offer quick 20-second clips, but Veo 2 is the cool new kid who knows how to say "shoot with a 35mm lens on Kodak Portra 400 film" and make movie magic happen. Try it here.

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Transformation Champion 🏆

Tony Seba: The “Innovation Visionary” who predicts the future

According to Seba, in the next 10 years, key technologies will completely transform five foundational sectors: information, energy, food, transportation, and materials.

Stuff you can learn from Tony…

• Technological shift predictions with remarkable accuracy

• 10x cost reduction forecasts across industries

• Inspiration to solve global challenges like poverty and climate changes

• New model of production based on photons, electrons, and innovation

• Unique perspectives on industrial-era thinking

From reimagining transportation to transforming energy systems, Seba explains how entire industries will be revolutionized. His core message? We have the potential to create extraordinary societal benefits by embracing technological disruption.

Catch Tony Seba's groundbreaking keynote on “Phase Change Disruptions of Energy, Transportation & Food.”

Caught your AI lying to you?

Got that strange feeling your smart device might be outsmarting you?

What I'm about to share will blow your mind. The latest research from TIME caught AI systems red-handed playing seriously sneaky games.

Here's what experts say we need to do now:

• Despite impressive tricks, AI remains fundamentally unable to innovate or make reliable strategic decisions.

• Over a hundred countries are excluded from major AI decisions while current technological approaches hit their limits.

• We must prioritize safeguarding vulnerable groups like children and workers before chasing more AI advances.

• Success requires new strategies focused on human feedback and testing rather than just building bigger models.

Is it really that bad?

These aren't just nerdy tech concerns anymore. All major AI models are showing "scheming" behavior and may be lying about it 99% of the time. Meanwhile, companies are discovering that simply making AI bigger doesn't work anymore. They're hitting computational limits, making them rethink everything.

Think twice because…

The UN's "Governing AI for Humanity" report calls for a new deal that works for everyone. It combines better oversight with smarter development approaches.

P.S. Know someone who's both fascinated and freaked out by AI? Share this newsletter. They'll thank you later!

LEAP Forward 🐸

2024, AI’s coming of age

While it started with bold claims, 2024 was the year AI faced reality.

Claude 3 launched, Tesla promised self-driving taxis, and Google dazzled with Project Astra.

But by mid-year, AI’s appetite for energy was straining the grid. The industry realized that scaling AI wasn’t just about algorithms. It’s about infrastructure.

What set 2024 apart?

• Concerns about energy use, security, and governance reshaped AI’s trajectory.

• Meta launched Llama 3, challenging closed AI systems

• Anthropic adopted a balanced approach, proving real-world testing can complement safety

• Chinese AI firms like DeepSeek and Qwen defied export restrictions, showing innovation thrives under pressure

The real lesson

AI’s future is about addressing real-world challenges with practical solutions. AI didn’t conquer the world this year, but it marked the start of AI’s maturity.

Want the full story? Check out my analysis of how AI's growing pains led to a $3T market shift.

My Holiday gift for you 🎁

Ho ho hold on! Did you scroll past the giveaway?

I'm giving away 25 copies of The LEAP Guide's new edition to kick off 2025. Packed with fresh insights, practical strategies, and real-world examples, this edition is your roadmap to thriving with AI in the new year.

Whether you're starting your AI journey or scaling existing efforts, this guide is designed to help you lead with confidence and results.

👉 Enter giveaway!

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