And Facts

andfacts

TV shows and fiction aside, the present day examples of basic AI are Google Voice, Cortana, Alexa, Siri and chatbots. However, AI isn’t just limited to voice assistants, it’s turning tables in other domains and industries as well. Several restaurants for instance have bots for room service, serving food and carrying luggage. Let’s take a look at some interesting and mind-bending stats and facts on this prevalent technology to give you a better idea of the direction the market is headed. Facts & stats on Artificial Intelligence AI in General 1. According to the Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, AI is one of the most important breakthroughs humanity is working on at the moment. It will be more life-changing than electricity and fire. ( sciencedaily.com ) He said that at a town hall event in San Francisco in January last year and he couldn’t be more right. Today we have robots to help differently-abled people dress up. A robot at the Georgia Institute of Technology is successfully putting hospital gowns on people who can’t do it on their own. 2. In 2018, one of the Microsoft translation system’s machines accomplished human-level accuracy and quality when it translated a news from Chinese to English. ( cdn.aiindex.org ) The team had hired external bilingual human evaluators, who compared Microsoft’s results with two independently produced human translations, to ensure that the results were both accurate and in line with what a human translator had written. 3. Carl Djerassi was one of the first few to create an AI program in 1965. ( forbes.com ) The program goes by the name DENDRAL and it helped unearth many unknown kinds of medications. 4. According to different studies, there are more male employees in AI-related jobs than females. At least 71% are men. ( theregister.co.uk ]) 80% professors too for AI at some of the top universities across Europe and the US are men. It’s not all bad news for ladies albeit, as different workshops are being held by WiML to support women in AI. A 600 percent rise in the overall attendance from 2014 to 2018 has been noticed. 5. In 1980, John Searle, an american philosopher, elucidated the difference between ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ AI. ( cambridge.org ) Weak AI according to him is more focused on one small task, where as the strong AI is what you refer to as ‘human intelligence’. 6. The default voice of an AI is mostly female because according to different studies both women and men like the sound of a female voice better. ( edition.cnn.com ) It’s because most people claim that a female AI is less intimidating to speak to. But for a change could you imagine Casper or any other AI John Doe instead of Cortana, Siri or ALexa? Not me. 7. According to Kathleen Richardson, a social anthropologist, female AIs would be less ‘threatening’ than male AI. ( toptenz.net ) Not sure if it has something to do with the way they are portrayed in films made on AI. However, Samantha in ‘Her’ was definitely a sweetheart compared to Terminator’s AI hellbent on destroying humanity. 8. According to an animal welfare researcher Dr Jean-Loup Rault, by 2025 we are most likely to have robot pets. ( sciencedaily.com ) It gets better, because you would be able to make an emotional connection with them. For people allergic to fur-babies, this is definitely good news. 9. Researchers at the University of Stanford have built a machine learning algorithm that can predict your death with an appalling 90% accuracy. ( express.co.uk ) While it’s morbid, who could ever stop the curiosity cat? 10. Nautilus, a self-learning supercomputer can foretell your future. ( techrepublic.com ) This is the same robot that located Osama Bin Laden and gained popularity right after. It calculated its predictions from the information provided to him. We’re speaking of millions of articles, dating as far back as the 40s. While it’s eerie, when used right AI isn’t as terrifying as films show otherwise (but who knows?). 11. There has been an increase in AI and ML university course enrollment all over the world, specifically at Tsinghua in China. It’s AI and ML 2017 course enrollment has exceeded the number from 2010. ( mitsloan.mit.edu ) The rise was recorded at 16 folds more than it was in 2010. It’s the biggest leap thus far as compared to other international universities in Israel, Canada, or Switzerland. China is well known for aggressively rolling out AI cameras on its streets to catch jaywalkers (sometimes mistakenly) or in restaurants and airports. 12. If you want an AI job, best five countries are China, USA, UK, Japan and India. ( medium.com ) Willing to travel for an artificial intelligence job? Best you choose one of the aforementioned places. 13. There are machines and music-generating algorithms like Watson BEAT that can compose several musical elements to inspire composers. ( theverge.com ) AI helps musicians see and hence create what their audiences want. Source: Artificial Intelligence: Stats and Facts You Should Know in 2020

Artificial Intelligence: Stats and Facts You Should Know in 2020

Nature + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: Mutually Beneficial Partnership

Naturaleza + Biomimetismo + Bitcoin: una alianza mutuamente beneficiosa

Luonto + Biomimikri + Bitcoin: molemminpuolisesti hyödyllinen kumppanuus

प्रकृति + बायोमिमिक्री + बिटकॉइन: पारस्परिक रूप से लाभकारी साझेदारी

Nature + Biomimicry + Bitcoin. փոխշահավետ գործընկերություն

自然 + バイオミミクリー + ビットコイン: 相互に利益のあるパートナーシップ

Nature + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: ორმხრივად მომგებიანი პარტნიორობა

ធម្មជាតិ + Biomimicry + Bitcoin៖ ភាពជាដៃគូដែលមានអត្ថប្រយោជន៍ទៅវិញទៅមក

Natiora + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: Fiaraha-miombon'antoka

Masikirwo + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: Kudyidzana Kunobatsira Kudyidzana

Природа + биомимикрија + биткоин: обострано корисно партнерство

இயற்கை + பயோமிமிக்ரி + பிட்காயின்: பரஸ்பர நன்மை பயக்கும் கூட்டாண்மை

Tabiat + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: O'zaro manfaatli hamkorlik

Have you ever asked someone a question like, "How are you so confident?" only to get a response like, "It just happens, you just get confident, you know?" 🤷 But clearly, they don’t know what they’re talking about. They might be confident unconsciously, but unable to break down how they got there. Here’s the truth: Confidence is a skill, just like any other trait you admire. Whether it’s patience, resilience, or success, these are all skills you can learn. And just being told "Be like James" isn't exactly useful advice. Instead, ask yourself: “What does James do that makes him patient?” List the behaviors. If you don’t know, reverse it—list the things that make you impatient and do the opposite. This approach works for almost anything. Instead of trying to be "successful" (a vague idea), avoid the behaviors that lead to failure, and success will follow. Why I Created Redefyne Dictionary definitions can be tricky—they don’t always tell us how to apply words in real life. That's why I created Redefyne, a platform where we redefine words based on action—what to do. Inspired by Alex Hormozi’s advice to define concepts through action steps, Redefyne takes abstract ideas like confidence, patience, and love, and turns them into practical steps you can use in everyday life. Instead of a dictionary, think of Redefyne as an Operationary—a guide that tells you what actions lead to the traits you want. A Glimpse Into Redefyne’s Words I've already begun populating Redefyne with definitions that make sense in real life. Here are some words I’ve redefined over the last two weeks: Here are the Merriam-Webster and Oxford Languages (dictionary used in google search) definitions for each word. Compare them and let me know which works best for you: 1. Difficult Merriam-Webster: "Hard to do, make, or carry out: arduous." Oxford: "Needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand." Redefyne - Operationary: 2. Truth Merriam-Webster: "The body of real things, events, and facts: actuality." Oxford: "The quality or state of being true." Redefyne - Operationary: 3. Resilience Merriam-Webster: "An ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change." Oxford: "The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness." Redefyne - Operationary: 4. Power Merriam-Webster: "Ability to act or produce an effect." Oxford: "The ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way." Redefyne - Operationary: 5. Straight Merriam-Webster: "Free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities." Oxford: "Extending or moving uniformly in one direction only; without a curve or bend." Redefyne - Operationary: 6. Love Merriam-Webster: "Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties." Oxford: "An intense feeling of deep affection." Redefyne - Operationary: 7. Patience Merriam-Webster: "The capacity, habit, or fact of being patient." Oxford: "The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious." Redefyne - Operationary: 8. Sadness Merriam-Webster: "Affected with or expressive of grief or unhappiness." Oxford: "The condition or quality of being sad." Redefyne - Operationary: 9. Commitment Merriam-Webster: "An agreement or pledge to do something in the future." Oxford: "The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc." Redefyne - Operationary: 10. Trustworthy Merriam-Webster: "Worthy of confidence: dependable." Oxford: "Able to be relied on as honest or truthful." Redefyne - Operationary: Each definition breaks down abstract words into practical steps. These aren’t just meanings—they're actions you can take. How Redefyne Changed My Life For me, Redefyne has been transformative. Understanding that every trait I want to develop is within reach as long as I adjust my behaviors has changed my life. Redefyne is a tool you can use to make those same changes. Building Redefyne for the Future I’m adding new words every day, building features, and aiming to hit 100 definitions by next week. The platform will continue to grow with more functionalities and contributions from the community. Join the Redefyne Community Redefyne is completely free—no costs, no daily limits, no BS. You can check out our community here: t.me/redefyne. Try out the demo at: redefyne.onrender.com Join us and help shape a more practical way to learn and grow. Have you ever asked someone a question like, "How are you so confident?" only to get a response like, "It just happens, you just get confident, you know?" 🤷 Have you ever asked someone a question like, "How are you so confident?" only to get a response like, "It just happens, you just get confident, you know?" 🤷 But clearly, they don’t know what they’re talking about. They might be confident unconsciously, but unable to break down how they got there. Here’s the truth: Confidence is a skill, just like any other trait you admire. Whether it’s patience, resilience, or success, these are all skills you can learn. And just being told "Be like James" isn't exactly useful advice. Instead, ask yourself: “What does James do that makes him patient?” List the behaviors. If you don’t know, reverse it—list the things that make you impatient and do the opposite. This approach works for almost anything. Instead of trying to be "successful" (a vague idea), avoid the behaviors that lead to failure, and success will follow. Why I Created Redefyne Why I Created Redefyne Dictionary definitions can be tricky—they don’t always tell us how to apply words in real life. That's why I created Redefyne, a platform where we redefine words based on action—what to do. Inspired by Alex Hormozi’s advice to define concepts through action steps, Redefyne takes abstract ideas like confidence, patience, and love, and turns them into practical steps you can use in everyday life. Instead of a dictionary, think of Redefyne as an Operationary—a guide that tells you what actions lead to the traits you want. A Glimpse Into Redefyne’s Words A Glimpse Into Redefyne’s Words I've already begun populating Redefyne with definitions that make sense in real life. Here are some words I’ve redefined over the last two weeks: Here are the Merriam-Webster and Oxford Languages (dictionary used in google search) definitions for each word. Compare them and let me know which works best for you: 1. Difficult Difficult Merriam-Webster: "Hard to do, make, or carry out: arduous." Oxford: "Needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand." Redefyne - Operationary: 2. Truth Truth Merriam-Webster: "The body of real things, events, and facts: actuality." Oxford: "The quality or state of being true." Redefyne - Operationary: 3. Resilience Resilience Merriam-Webster: "An ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change." Oxford: "The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness." Redefyne - Operationary: 4. Power Power Merriam-Webster: "Ability to act or produce an effect." Oxford: "The ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way." Redefyne - Operationary: 5. Straight Straight Merriam-Webster: "Free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities." Oxford: "Extending or moving uniformly in one direction only; without a curve or bend." Redefyne - Operationary: 6. Love Love Merriam-Webster: "Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties." Oxford: "An intense feeling of deep affection." Redefyne - Operationary: 7. Patience Patience Merriam-Webster: "The capacity, habit, or fact of being patient." Oxford: "The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious." Redefyne - Operationary: 8. Sadness Sadness Merriam-Webster: "Affected with or expressive of grief or unhappiness." Oxford: "The condition or quality of being sad." Redefyne - Operationary: 9. Commitment Commitment Merriam-Webster: "An agreement or pledge to do something in the future." Oxford: "The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc." Redefyne - Operationary: 10. Trustworthy Trustworthy Merriam-Webster: "Worthy of confidence: dependable." Oxford: "Able to be relied on as honest or truthful." Redefyne - Operationary: Each definition breaks down abstract words into practical steps. These aren’t just meanings—they're actions you can take. How Redefyne Changed My Life How Redefyne Changed My Life For me, Redefyne has been transformative. Understanding that every trait I want to develop is within reach as long as I adjust my behaviors has changed my life. Redefyne is a tool you can use to make those same changes. Building Redefyne for the Future Building Redefyne for the Future I’m adding new words every day, building features, and aiming to hit 100 definitions by next week. The platform will continue to grow with more functionalities and contributions from the community. Join the Redefyne Community Join the Redefyne Community Redefyne is completely free—no costs, no daily limits, no BS. You can check out our community here: t.me/redefyne. Try out the demo at: redefyne.onrender.com Join us and help shape a more practical way to learn and grow.

Don't Let Dictionaries Keep You Stuck: Understand and Conquer the World with Redefyne

The Power of Feedback: Tools and Techniques for Boosting Performance

Die Macht des Feedbacks: Tools und Techniken zur Leistungssteigerung

Feedbackaren boterea: errendimendua areagotzeko tresnak eta teknikak

Le pouvoir du feedback : outils et techniques pour améliorer les performances

Il potere del feedback: strumenti e tecniche per migliorare le prestazioni

De kracht van feedback: hulpmiddelen en technieken om prestaties te verbeteren

O Poder do Feedback: Ferramentas e Técnicas para Aumentar o Desempenho

Science: The Way of Nature

ሳይንስ፡ የተፈጥሮ መንገድ

Ciencia: Naturaleza ukan thakhipa

Наука: Пътят на природата

বিজ্ঞান: প্রকৃতির পথ

Ciencia: El camino de la naturaleza

Zientzia: Naturaren Bidea

מדע: דרך הטבע

科学：自然の道

ວິທະຍາສາດ: ວິທີການຂອງທໍາມະຊາດ

Nauka: Droga Natury

ساینس: د طبیعت لاره

Наука: Пут природе

Using MinIO to Build a Retrieval Augmented Generation Chat Application

Die gebruik van MinIO om 'n herwinningsaansoek vir uitgebreide generasie-klets te bou

استخدام MinIO لبناء تطبيق دردشة يعتمد على الاسترجاع المعزز

Použití MinIO k vytvoření aplikace pro chat s rozšířenou generací načítání

Verwenden von MinIO zum Erstellen einer Retrieval Augmented Generation Chat-Anwendung

Uso de MinIO para crear una aplicación de chat de generación aumentada de recuperación

MinIO を使用して検索拡張生成チャット アプリケーションを構築する

ការប្រើប្រាស់ MinIO ដើម្បីបង្កើតកម្មវិធីជជែកកំសាន្តដែលបង្កើតឡើងវិញ

Mampiasa ny MiniIO hananganana fampiharana amin'ny chat Generation Augmented Retrieval

د ترلاسه کولو وده شوي نسل چیٹ غوښتنلیک جوړولو لپاره MinIO کارول

Použitie MinIO na zostavenie aplikácie na rozhovor s rozšírenou generáciou načítania

MinIO-dan peýdalanyp, gözlegiň giňeldilen nesil söhbetdeşlik programmasyny gurmak

Paggamit ng MiniIO para Bumuo ng Retrieval Augmented Generation Chat Application

In the early 2000s, the concept of evidence-based medicine emerged. Dr. David Sackett defined it as using current best evidence in patient care decisions, and it has gained traction. Despite abundant research, only about 15% of medical decisions are based on evidence, with many relying on outdated knowledge, traditions, experience, and vendor information. Similarly, managers often need to pay more attention to reliable evidence, leading to less effective decision-making. An evidence-based approach in management could provide a competitive edge, though it is challenging due to the variability among organizations and the weaker evidence base. Adopting better logic and evidence in management practices can enhance organizational performance. What is wisdom? When doctors or managers make decisions based on something other than the best evidence, it is often due to reliance on personal experience over research. Practitioners may find firsthand information more convincing than journal data despite acknowledging the limited sample size of their observations. Managers similarly rely on past practices without considering differences between organizations. Specialists often default to familiar treatments, and marketing can skew the information practitioners receive, promoting products with exaggerated benefits. Ideology also affects decisions. For example, stock options are defended as fostering an ownership culture, though evidence shows no consistent performance benefits. The first-mover-advantage myth persists despite mixed evidence, and cultural beliefs further reinforce this notion. Uncritical emulation, or casual benchmarking, is another issue. While benchmarking can be helpful, copying top performers without understanding the underlying logic can be ineffective. Failed attempts by dozens of ride-sharing apps across the globe to imitate Uber’s success are notable examples. Six common substitutes for evidence: outdated knowledge
personal experience
specialist skills
marketing hype
ideology
casual benchmarking Illustrate why evidence-based decision-making is rare. Relying on these substitutes is not optimal for evaluating practices. Evidence-based management can improve outcomes, as demonstrated by companies successfully implementing it. Is Forced Ranking good? At Oxford’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, decision-making starts with framing an answerable question, like whether to adopt forced employee ranking. Popularised by General Electric, this system ranks employees on a bell curve, rewarding the top 20%, developing the middle 70%, and dismissing the bottom 10%. Many companies consider this system due to GE’s success and its promotion in business literature. However, evidence suggests that forced ranking may not be beneficial. Evidence-based management would question if their company is similar enough to GE to expect similar outcomes. They would scrutinize the supporting data, noting flaws such as incorrect causality assumptions in studies like The War for Talent. Negative evidence includes findings that performance improves with team continuity and that wide pay disparities harm productivity and morale. Studies show that forced ranking can decrease collaboration and trust, and pay dispersion correlates with poorer performance, even in sports like baseball. Additionally, research in the auto industry indicates that systems emphasizing teamwork and minimizing status differences outperform those focusing solely on individual talent. This evidence suggests that adopting forced ranking may yield different results than the desired ones. How to reinforce your company with evidence-based managers Implementing evidence-based management is challenging but essential. Managers should prioritize training, technologies, and practices that support informed decision-making. Encouraging a culture of inquiry, where evidence of efficacy is demanded, logic is scrutinized, and experimentation is rewarded, fosters better decisions. Cultivating an "attitude of wisdom" ensures continuous learning and applying the best available knowledge. Here are some tips to create such an environment within a company. Demand evidence Kent Thiry, CEO of DaVita, emphasizes evidence-based management to turn around the struggling company. Thiry and his team implemented systems to track performance, ensuring data-driven decisions. At DaVita Academy, Thiry supports claims of industry-leading treatment quality with specific, quantitative comparisons. Reports start with patient care effectiveness data; monthly reports include a DaVita Quality Index. Missing but important metrics are noted as "not available" to motivate data collection. This focus on evidence contributed to a 50% decrease in voluntary turnover, superior patient care, and strong financial results. Emphasizing evidence-based decision-making in an environment that requires complete transparency is crucial. Scrutinise Logic More than merely requesting research to support proposals are required for accurate, evidence-based management. Managers must examine gaps in logic, exposition, and inference, especially since most management studies are non-experimental. Understanding research limitations and thinking critically are essential. Senior executives should unpack assumptions behind policies or practices, fostering a culture of critical evaluation. They should explore whether assumptions make sense, asking if they align with organizational realities. Be wary of consultant claims; for example, Bain & Company claims that clients outperform the market but lack proof that their advice is the cause. Adopt the Attitude of Wisdom True wisdom in evidence-based management comes from recognizing how much remains unknown. Effective managers act on the best available knowledge while continually questioning their assumptions. This balance of humility and decisiveness can be achieved by supporting ongoing professional education and encouraging inquiry and observation even without rigorous evidence. For example, executives at a struggling computer company discovered product issues firsthand by visiting stores and gathering qualitative data. Such practices demonstrate that real-world observations are crucial for informed decision-making, fostering a culture that values evidence over guesswork and belief. What will be the impact? Like evidence-based medicine, evidence-based management relies on sound data for decision-making. Initial studies show improved medical outcomes, but business settings need broader evidence. The theoretical argument remains strong: decisions grounded in solid evidence foster better outcomes. Practical studies, like those showing stand-up meetings saving time without sacrificing decision quality, exemplify its benefits. However, adopting this approach may challenge traditional power dynamics, as data-driven decisions level hierarchies. Leaders must choose between preserving their status and improving organizational performance. Embracing evidence-based management transforms managerial thinking, leveraging logic and facts for effective leadership and better organizational results. Did you have a chance to work in an evidence-based and managed team? Share your experience in the comments! In the early 2000s, the concept of evidence-based medicine emerged. Dr. David Sackett defined it as using current best evidence in patient care decisions, and it has gained traction. Despite abundant research, only about 15% of medical decisions are based on evidence, with many relying on outdated knowledge, traditions, experience, and vendor information. Similarly, managers often need to pay more attention to reliable evidence, leading to less effective decision-making. An evidence-based approach in management could provide a competitive edge, though it is challenging due to the variability among organizations and the weaker evidence base. Adopting better logic and evidence in management practices can enhance organizational performance. What is wisdom? When doctors or managers make decisions based on something other than the best evidence, it is often due to reliance on personal experience over research. Practitioners may find firsthand information more convincing than journal data despite acknowledging the limited sample size of their observations. Managers similarly rely on past practices without considering differences between organizations. Specialists often default to familiar treatments, and marketing can skew the information practitioners receive, promoting products with exaggerated benefits. Ideology also affects decisions. For example, stock options are defended as fostering an ownership culture, though evidence shows no consistent performance benefits. The first-mover-advantage myth persists despite mixed evidence, and cultural beliefs further reinforce this notion. Uncritical emulation, or casual benchmarking, is another issue. While benchmarking can be helpful, copying top performers without understanding the underlying logic can be ineffective. Failed attempts by dozens of ride-sharing apps across the globe to imitate Uber’s success are notable examples. Six common substitutes for evidence: outdated knowledge personal experience specialist skills marketing hype ideology casual benchmarking outdated knowledge personal experience specialist skills marketing hype ideology casual benchmarking Illustrate why evidence-based decision-making is rare. Relying on these substitutes is not optimal for evaluating practices. Evidence-based management can improve outcomes, as demonstrated by companies successfully implementing it. Is Forced Ranking good? At Oxford’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, decision-making starts with framing an answerable question, like whether to adopt forced employee ranking. Popularised by General Electric, this system ranks employees on a bell curve, rewarding the top 20%, developing the middle 70%, and dismissing the bottom 10%. Many companies consider this system due to GE’s success and its promotion in business literature. However, evidence suggests that forced ranking may not be beneficial. Evidence-based management would question if their company is similar enough to GE to expect similar outcomes. They would scrutinize the supporting data, noting flaws such as incorrect causality assumptions in studies like The War for Talent. Negative evidence includes findings that performance improves with team continuity and that wide pay disparities harm productivity and morale. Studies show that forced ranking can decrease collaboration and trust, and pay dispersion correlates with poorer performance, even in sports like baseball. Additionally, research in the auto industry indicates that systems emphasizing teamwork and minimizing status differences outperform those focusing solely on individual talent. This evidence suggests that adopting forced ranking may yield different results than the desired ones. How to reinforce your company with evidence-based managers Implementing evidence-based management is challenging but essential. Managers should prioritize training, technologies, and practices that support informed decision-making. Encouraging a culture of inquiry, where evidence of efficacy is demanded, logic is scrutinized, and experimentation is rewarded, fosters better decisions. Cultivating an "attitude of wisdom" ensures continuous learning and applying the best available knowledge. Here are some tips to create such an environment within a company. Demand evidence Kent Thiry, CEO of DaVita, emphasizes evidence-based management to turn around the struggling company. Thiry and his team implemented systems to track performance, ensuring data-driven decisions. At DaVita Academy, Thiry supports claims of industry-leading treatment quality with specific, quantitative comparisons. Reports start with patient care effectiveness data; monthly reports include a DaVita Quality Index. Missing but important metrics are noted as "not available" to motivate data collection. This focus on evidence contributed to a 50% decrease in voluntary turnover, superior patient care, and strong financial results. Emphasizing evidence-based decision-making in an environment that requires complete transparency is crucial. Scrutinise Logic More than merely requesting research to support proposals are required for accurate, evidence-based management. Managers must examine gaps in logic, exposition, and inference, especially since most management studies are non-experimental. Understanding research limitations and thinking critically are essential. Senior executives should unpack assumptions behind policies or practices, fostering a culture of critical evaluation. They should explore whether assumptions make sense, asking if they align with organizational realities. Be wary of consultant claims; for example, Bain & Company claims that clients outperform the market but lack proof that their advice is the cause. Adopt the Attitude of Wisdom True wisdom in evidence-based management comes from recognizing how much remains unknown. Effective managers act on the best available knowledge while continually questioning their assumptions. This balance of humility and decisiveness can be achieved by supporting ongoing professional education and encouraging inquiry and observation even without rigorous evidence. For example, executives at a struggling computer company discovered product issues firsthand by visiting stores and gathering qualitative data. Such practices demonstrate that real-world observations are crucial for informed decision-making, fostering a culture that values evidence over guesswork and belief. What will be the impact? Like evidence-based medicine, evidence-based management relies on sound data for decision-making. Initial studies show improved medical outcomes, but business settings need broader evidence. The theoretical argument remains strong: decisions grounded in solid evidence foster better outcomes. Practical studies, like those showing stand-up meetings saving time without sacrificing decision quality, exemplify its benefits. However, adopting this approach may challenge traditional power dynamics, as data-driven decisions level hierarchies. Leaders must choose between preserving their status and improving organizational performance. Embracing evidence-based management transforms managerial thinking, leveraging logic and facts for effective leadership and better organizational results. Did you have a chance to work in an evidence-based and managed team? Share your experience in the comments! Did you have a chance to work in an evidence-based and managed team? Share your experience in the comments!

Evidence-Based Management in Business: Will it make a difference?

Imagine being able to converse with Socrates, Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo, or Einstein. Or what if we were able to communicate with former U.S. Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or Franklin Roosevelt? Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could chat with Mary Queen of Scots, King Henry VIII, or Queen Elizabeth II? Or what if we could just speak again with our loved ones? The idea of using AI to replicate the voice and personality of a deceased person is not new. Some mourners have already begun
using it to cope with their grief. As a recent CNN article notes, “People have wanted to reconnect with deceased loved ones for centuries, whether they’ve visited mediums and spiritualists or leaned on services that preserve their memory. But what’s new now is that AI can make those loved ones say or do things they never said or did in life, raising both ethical concerns and questions around whether this helps or hinders the grieving process.” Some experts say this type of AI technology “raises important questions about the rights, dignities and consenting power of people who are no longer alive” and “poses ethical concerns about whether a program that caters to the bereaved should be advertising other products on its platform, for example.” AI ethicists believe there must be regulation put in place and the business of helping people seemingly communicate with their deceased loved ones must operate according to specified guidelines so as not to cause any harm. A study by the University of Cambridge declares that unscrupulous companies and reckless business practices could cause lasting psychological damage and essentially disrespect the rights of the deceased. Nonetheless, there are many people who seek to use AI to interact with lost loved ones as they mourn and try to heal. The market is particularly strong in China, where several companies now offer such technologies, and thousands of customers have already paid for them. It is likely that psychologists would agree that maintaining a deepfake AI version of a loved one is probably unhealthy in the long run, but in the short term, it is possible that it could assist in grieving as long as it is used in a healthy way. Given that AI and deepfakes are relatively new, it is difficult to gauge where this technology will go. Eventually, a realistic hologram of a loved one could become a possibility, and the ethics of recreating a 3D version of a deceased person will have to be debated and discussed. Recreating the voice or image of a deceased person could be endearing, amusing, or healing, but it should not be used for malicious purposes such as advertising. Companies and customers will need to ensure this type of usage does not take place and regulations should ensure the safety of AI deepfakes as well as the dignity of the people being recreated. Perhaps, deepfake AI technology should focus on reviving dead historical figures with whom we can communicate in an educational way and from whom we can learn history, knowledge, and facts. Schoolchildren around the world would immediately enhance their education if they could talk with their science hero, a famous astrologer or philosopher, or some other historical figure they are learning about. The possibilities are endless – and so are the risks. If we bring the deceased back to life through AI, let’s be sure to do it carefully and with respect. Imagine being able to converse with Socrates, Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo, or Einstein. Or what if we were able to communicate with former U.S. Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or Franklin Roosevelt? Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could chat with Mary Queen of Scots, King Henry VIII, or Queen Elizabeth II? Or what if we could just speak again with our loved ones? The idea of using AI to replicate the voice and personality of a deceased person is not new. Some mourners have already begun
using it to cope with their grief. Some mourners As a recent CNN article notes, “People have wanted to reconnect with deceased loved ones for centuries, whether they’ve visited mediums and spiritualists or leaned on services that preserve their memory. But what’s new now is that AI can make those loved ones say or do things they never said or did in life, raising both ethical concerns and questions around whether this helps or hinders the grieving process.” article Some experts say this type of AI technology “raises important questions about the rights, dignities and consenting power of people who are no longer alive” and “poses ethical concerns about whether a program that caters to the bereaved should be advertising other products on its platform, for example.” Some experts say AI ethicists believe there must be regulation put in place and the business of helping people seemingly communicate with their deceased loved ones must operate according to specified guidelines so as not to cause any harm. AI ethicists believe A study by the University of Cambridge declares that unscrupulous companies and reckless business practices could cause lasting psychological damage and essentially disrespect the rights of the deceased. study by the University of Cambridge Nonetheless, there are many people who seek to use AI to interact with lost loved ones as they mourn and try to heal. The market is particularly strong in China , where several companies now offer such technologies, and thousands of customers have already paid for them. particularly strong in China It is likely that psychologists would agree that maintaining a deepfake AI version of a loved one is probably unhealthy in the long run, but in the short term, it is possible that it could assist in grieving as long as it is used in a healthy way. Given that AI and deepfakes are relatively new, it is difficult to gauge where this technology will go. Eventually, a realistic hologram of a loved one could become a possibility, and the ethics of recreating a 3D version of a deceased person will have to be debated and discussed. Recreating the voice or image of a deceased person could be endearing, amusing, or healing, but it should not be used for malicious purposes such as advertising. Companies and customers will need to ensure this type of usage does not take place and regulations should ensure the safety of AI deepfakes as well as the dignity of the people being recreated. Perhaps, deepfake AI technology should focus on reviving dead historical figures with whom we can communicate in an educational way and from whom we can learn history, knowledge, and facts. Schoolchildren around the world would immediately enhance their education if they could talk with their science hero, a famous astrologer or philosopher, or some other historical figure they are learning about. The possibilities are endless – and so are the risks. If we bring the deceased back to life through AI, let’s be sure to do it carefully and with respect.

Using AI to Bring the Deceased Back to Life

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a raster image file format most often used to create logos, icons, charts, and detailed graphics in web design. Its notable features include: Efficient compression of simple colors, resulting in high-quality static images; Support for over 200 degrees of transparency for images that can be layered over various background colors and other graphics; Easy viewing due to its open format, accessible across various browsers and apps without licensing constraints. While PDF files boast numerous advantages, you may need to use a free PDF-to-PNG converter or perform other manipulations with the files to get your work done more effectively. Unfortunately, some users might not be fully aware of these opportunities, and we aim to broaden their knowledge with three creative uses of free PDF to PNG tools. Extract Images From PDFs Easily With a PDF to PNG Converter Of course, you can find all kinds of images on web platforms offering both paid and free options, not to mention that you can use your own photo libraries or draw something in specialized software for digital artists. However, a simple PDF to PNG converter can give you a faster, cheaper, and sometimes even the only possible way to get the images you need. Say, you have a PDF report full of useful stats and facts packed into visually stunning charts, tables, and infographics that would fit into your project exactly to a tee. You can go to an infographic design website and try to recreate the data visualization or opt for a free online tool that can extract images. In the latter case, you just need to upload a PDF, let the app process the file, and wait a few seconds for the engine to efficiently separate the useful elements and deliver a folder with all the images extracted from the PDF. Surely, you should choose a tool that can save PDF as PNG to get the format required for future use. You will be able to edit the visuals and insert them into your projects in mere minutes instead of spending much more time creating images from scratch or searching for them on the web. Maintain Visual Identity Across Multiple Projects Effortlessly Did you know you can derive various assets from PDF files? This includes logos, fonts, sub-graphics, and other design elements used in a brand’s visual representation. Whether you are an employee designing your profile on LinkedIn or an influencer promoting a brand through your social media pages, it makes sense to incorporate corporate identity elements into your project. In the best-case scenario, you should be provided with all the required assets and, moreover, have them in a form that is easy to use in a digital space. If this is not the case, you can cut corners by extracting everything you need from a brand style guide available in a PDF version or any other PDF file containing the company’s visual identity elements. You just need to connect to a free tool designed to extract different PDF components and convert PDF to PNG to get a full set of graphics for use in your project. Then, you will be able to create multiple types of branded content to insert it into: websites, for example, landing pages, product pages, clients’ testimonials, case studies, and so on; emails, including headers, footers, or branded email signatures; social media platforms, namely, posts, profiles, banners, stickers, comments, and more. Convert PDF to PNG to Showcase Your Work Online Sometimes, one of the main assets you have under your belt is a PDF file itself. Whether you are a designer with a stunning portfolio of creative works or a marketer who crafts visually appealing and meaningful presentations, you are sure to benefit from showcasing your projects to a broader circle of potential clients and employers. Obviously, you can publish your PDF as is on your website, social media, or specialized online platforms designed for professionals, but we all know that multipage PDFs can often be too slow to download and aren’t ideal for viewing. Also, it’s not easy to embed a PDF into a website, and it cannot be layered on top of other graphics since the format doesn’t support transparent backgrounds. But if you choose to convert PDF to PNG free of charge using online tools, you will get high-quality image files that can be incorporated into web pages and digital graphics with no sweat. You can edit the files in any photo editing software, upload them to collage-making platforms, mix and match them to construct a video presentation, or just fit them into an email intended for a prospective client. Bottom Line We have cited just a handful of examples illustrating how a feature-rich PDF-to-PNG converter can make your life easier and even help you unleash your creativity. You just need to explore the pros and cons of different file formats to understand where to use them to the best advantage clearly. With a free online conversion tool, switching between the formats is smooth sailing, providing many ways to utilize your digital assets to the fullest. PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a raster image file format most often used to create logos, icons, charts, and detailed graphics in web design. Its notable features include: PNG Efficient compression of simple colors, resulting in high-quality static images; Efficient compression of simple colors, resulting in high-quality static images; Support for over 200 degrees of transparency for images that can be layered over various background colors and other graphics; Support for over 200 degrees of transparency for images that can be layered over various background colors and other graphics; Easy viewing due to its open format, accessible across various browsers and apps without licensing constraints. Easy viewing due to its open format, accessible across various browsers and apps without licensing constraints. While PDF files boast numerous advantages, you may need to use a free PDF-to-PNG converter or perform other manipulations with the files to get your work done more effectively. Unfortunately, some users might not be fully aware of these opportunities, and we aim to broaden their knowledge with three creative uses of free PDF to PNG tools. free PDF-to-PNG converter free PDF-to-PNG converter Extract Images From PDFs Easily With a PDF to PNG Converter Extract Images From PDFs Easily With a PDF to PNG Converter Of course, you can find all kinds of images on web platforms offering both paid and free options, not to mention that you can use your own photo libraries or draw something in specialized software for digital artists. However, a simple PDF to PNG converter can give you a faster, cheaper, and sometimes even the only possible way to get the images you need. Say, you have a PDF report full of useful stats and facts packed into visually stunning charts, tables, and infographics that would fit into your project exactly to a tee. You can go to an infographic design website and try to recreate the data visualization or opt for a free online tool that can extract images. In the latter case, you just need to upload a PDF, let the app process the file, and wait a few seconds for the engine to efficiently separate the useful elements and deliver a folder with all the images extracted from the PDF. Surely, you should choose a tool that can save PDF as PNG to get the format required for future use. You will be able to edit the visuals and insert them into your projects in mere minutes instead of spending much more time creating images from scratch or searching for them on the web. Maintain Visual Identity Across Multiple Projects Effortlessly Maintain Visual Identity Across Multiple Projects Effortlessly Did you know you can derive various assets from PDF files ? This includes logos, fonts, sub-graphics, and other design elements used in a brand’s visual representation. Whether you are an employee designing your profile on LinkedIn or an influencer promoting a brand through your social media pages, it makes sense to incorporate corporate identity elements into your project. PDF files In the best-case scenario, you should be provided with all the required assets and, moreover, have them in a form that is easy to use in a digital space. If this is not the case, you can cut corners by extracting everything you need from a brand style guide available in a PDF version or any other PDF file containing the company’s visual identity elements. You just need to connect to a free tool designed to extract different PDF components and convert PDF to PNG to get a full set of graphics for use in your project. Then, you will be able to create multiple types of branded content to insert it into: websites, for example, landing pages, product pages, clients’ testimonials, case studies, and so on; websites, for example, landing pages, product pages, clients’ testimonials, case studies, and so on; emails, including headers, footers, or branded email signatures; emails, including headers, footers, or branded email signatures; social media platforms, namely, posts, profiles, banners, stickers, comments, and more. social media platforms, namely, posts, profiles, banners, stickers, comments, and more. Convert PDF to PNG to Showcase Your Work Online Convert PDF to PNG to Showcase Your Work Online Sometimes, one of the main assets you have under your belt is a PDF file itself. Whether you are a designer with a stunning portfolio of creative works or a marketer who crafts visually appealing and meaningful presentations, you are sure to benefit from showcasing your projects to a broader circle of potential clients and employers. Obviously, you can publish your PDF as is on your website, social media, or specialized online platforms designed for professionals, but we all know that multipage PDFs can often be too slow to download and aren’t ideal for viewing. Also, it’s not easy to embed a PDF into a website, and it cannot be layered on top of other graphics since the format doesn’t support transparent backgrounds. But if you choose to convert PDF to PNG free of charge using online tools, you will get high-quality image files that can be incorporated into web pages and digital graphics with no sweat. You can edit the files in any photo editing software, upload them to collage-making platforms, mix and match them to construct a video presentation, or just fit them into an email intended for a prospective client. Bottom Line Bottom Line We have cited just a handful of examples illustrating how a feature-rich PDF-to-PNG converter can make your life easier and even help you unleash your creativity. You just need to explore the pros and cons of different file formats to understand where to use them to the best advantage clearly. With a free online conversion tool, switching between the formats is smooth sailing, providing many ways to utilize your digital assets to the fullest.

Beyond Basic Conversion: Creative Uses of Free PDF to PNG Tools

This paper is available on arxiv under CC 4.0 license.
Authors:
(1) Oded Blumenthal, Software and Information Systems Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Israel;
(2) Guy Shani, Software and Information Systems Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Israel. Table of Links Introduction
Background
Related Work
POMCP for Stochastic Contingent Planning
Domain Independent Heuristics for POMCP
Empirical Evaluation
Conclusion and References Partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDP) are a useful model for decision-making under partial observability and stochastic actions. Partially Observable Monte-Carlo Planning is an online algorithm for deciding on the next action to perform, using a Monte-Carlo tree search approach, based on the UCT (UCB applied to trees) algorithm for fully observable Markov-decision processes. POMCP develops an action-observation tree, and at the leaves, uses a rollout policy to provide a value estimate for the leaf. As such, POMCP is highly dependent on the rollout policy to compute good estimates, and hence identify good actions. Thus, many practitioners who use POMCP are required to create strong, domain-specific heuristics. In this paper, we model POMDPs as stochastic contingent planning problems. This allows us to leverage domain-independent heuristics that were developed in the planning community. We suggest two heuristics, the first is based on the well-known hadd heuristic from classical planning, and the second is computed in belief space, taking the value of information into account. 1 Introduction Many autonomous agents operate in environments where actions have stochastic effects, and important information that is required for obtaining the goal is hidden from the agent. Agents in such environments typically execute actions and sense some observations that result from these actions. Based on the accumulated observations the agents can better estimate their current state and decide on the next action to execute. Such environments are often modeled as partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) [28]. POMPD models allow us to reason about the hidden state of the system, typically using a belief state – a distribution over the possible environment states. The belief state can be updated given the executed action and the received observation. One can compute a policy, a mapping from beliefs to actions, that dictates which action should be executed given the current belief. Many algorithms were suggested for computing such policies [25]. However, in larger environments, it often becomes difficult to maintain a belief state, let alone compute a policy for all possible belief states. In such cases, one can use an online re-planning approach, where after every action is executed, the agent computes which action to execute next. Such online approaches replace the lengthy single policy computation which is done offline, before the agent begins to act, with a sequence of shorter computations, which are executed online, during execution, after each action [21]. POMCP [27] is such an online replanning approach, extending the UCT algorithm for fully observable Markov decision processes (MDPs) to POMDPs. POMCP operates by constructing online a search tree, interleaving decision and observation nodes. The root of the tree is a decision node. Each decision node has an outgoing edge for every possible action, ending at an observation node. Then, the outgoing edges from an observation node denote the possible observations that result from the incoming action. The agent computes a value for each node in the tree, and then, the agent can choose, from the root node, the action associated with the edge leading to the highest value child node. To evaluate the value of leaf nodes, POMCP executes a random walk in belief space, known as a rollout, where the agent selects actions from some rollout policy to construct a trajectory in belief space and obtain an estimation of the quality of the leaf node. Clearly, this evaluation is highly dependant on the ability of the rollout policy to reach the agent goals. In complex problems, obtaining the goal may require a lengthy sequence of actions [16], and until the goal is reached, no meaningful rewards are obtained. Indeed, practitioners that use POMCP often implement complex domain-specific heuristics for the rollout policy. In this paper we focus on suggesting domain-independent heuristics for rollout policies. We leverage work in automated planning, using heuristics defined for classical and contingent planning problems [7, 8, 6]. We thus represent POMDP problems in a structured manner, using boolean facts to capture the state of the environments. This allows both for a compact representation of large problems, compared with standard flat representations that do not scale, as well as the ability to use classical planning heuristics. We begin by suggesting using the well-known hadd heuristic for choosing rollout actions [2]. This heuristic searches forward in a delete relaxation setting, until the goal has been reached. Then, the value of an action is determined by the number of steps in the delete relaxation space following the action, required for obtaining the goal. Next, we observe that any state-based rollout policy is inherently limited in its ability to evaluate the missing information required for reaching the goal, and hence, provide some estimate as to the value of information [12] of an action. We hence suggest a multi-state rollout policy, where actions are executed on a set of states jointly, and observations are used to eliminate states that are incompatible with the observed value. We show that this heuristic is much more informed in domains that require complex information-gathering strategies. For an empirical evaluation, we extend domains from the contingent planning community with stochastic effects. We evaluate our heuristics, comparing them to random rollouts, showing that they allow us to provide significantly better behavior. This paper is available on arxiv under CC 4.0 license. Authors: (1) Oded Blumenthal, Software and Information Systems Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Israel; (2) Guy Shani, Software and Information Systems Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Israel. This paper is available on arxiv under CC 4.0 license. Authors: Authors: (1) Oded Blumenthal, Software and Information Systems Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Israel; (2) Guy Shani, Software and Information Systems Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Israel. Table of Links Introduction Background Related Work POMCP for Stochastic Contingent Planning Domain Independent Heuristics for POMCP Empirical Evaluation Conclusion and References Introduction Introduction Background Background Related Work Related Work POMCP for Stochastic Contingent Planning POMCP for Stochastic Contingent Planning Domain Independent Heuristics for POMCP Domain Independent Heuristics for POMCP Empirical Evaluation Empirical Evaluation Conclusion and References Conclusion and References Partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDP) are a useful model for decision-making under partial observability and stochastic actions. Partially Observable Monte-Carlo Planning is an online algorithm for deciding on the next action to perform, using a Monte-Carlo tree search approach, based on the UCT (UCB applied to trees) algorithm for fully observable Markov-decision processes. POMCP develops an action-observation tree, and at the leaves, uses a rollout policy to provide a value estimate for the leaf. As such, POMCP is highly dependent on the rollout policy to compute good estimates, and hence identify good actions. Thus, many practitioners who use POMCP are required to create strong, domain-specific heuristics. In this paper, we model POMDPs as stochastic contingent planning problems. This allows us to leverage domain-independent heuristics that were developed in the planning community. We suggest two heuristics, the first is based on the well-known h add heuristic from classical planning, and the second is computed in belief space, taking the value of information into account. add 1 Introduction Many autonomous agents operate in environments where actions have stochastic effects, and important information that is required for obtaining the goal is hidden from the agent. Agents in such environments typically execute actions and sense some observations that result from these actions. Based on the accumulated observations the agents can better estimate their current state and decide on the next action to execute. Such environments are often modeled as partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) [28]. POMPD models allow us to reason about the hidden state of the system, typically using a belief state – a distribution over the possible environment states. The belief state can be updated given the executed action and the received observation. One can compute a policy, a mapping from beliefs to actions, that dictates which action should be executed given the current belief. Many algorithms were suggested for computing such policies [25]. However, in larger environments, it often becomes difficult to maintain a belief state, let alone compute a policy for all possible belief states. In such cases, one can use an online re-planning approach, where after every action is executed, the agent computes which action to execute next. Such online approaches replace the lengthy single policy computation which is done offline, before the agent begins to act, with a sequence of shorter computations, which are executed online, during execution, after each action [21]. POMCP [27] is such an online replanning approach, extending the UCT algorithm for fully observable Markov decision processes (MDPs) to POMDPs. POMCP operates by constructing online a search tree, interleaving decision and observation nodes. The root of the tree is a decision node. Each decision node has an outgoing edge for every possible action, ending at an observation node. Then, the outgoing edges from an observation node denote the possible observations that result from the incoming action. The agent computes a value for each node in the tree, and then, the agent can choose, from the root node, the action associated with the edge leading to the highest value child node. To evaluate the value of leaf nodes, POMCP executes a random walk in belief space, known as a rollout, where the agent selects actions from some rollout policy to construct a trajectory in belief space and obtain an estimation of the quality of the leaf node. Clearly, this evaluation is highly dependant on the ability of the rollout policy to reach the agent goals. In complex problems, obtaining the goal may require a lengthy sequence of actions [16], and until the goal is reached, no meaningful rewards are obtained. Indeed, practitioners that use POMCP often implement complex domain-specific heuristics for the rollout policy. In this paper we focus on suggesting domain-independent heuristics for rollout policies. We leverage work in automated planning, using heuristics defined for classical and contingent planning problems [7, 8, 6]. We thus represent POMDP problems in a structured manner, using boolean facts to capture the state of the environments. This allows both for a compact representation of large problems, compared with standard flat representations that do not scale, as well as the ability to use classical planning heuristics. We begin by suggesting using the well-known h add heuristic for choosing rollout actions [2]. This heuristic searches forward in a delete relaxation setting, until the goal has been reached. Then, the value of an action is determined by the number of steps in the delete relaxation space following the action, required for obtaining the goal. add Next, we observe that any state-based rollout policy is inherently limited in its ability to evaluate the missing information required for reaching the goal, and hence, provide some estimate as to the value of information [12] of an action. We hence suggest a multi-state rollout policy, where actions are executed on a set of states jointly, and observations are used to eliminate states that are incompatible with the observed value. We show that this heuristic is much more informed in domains that require complex information-gathering strategies. For an empirical evaluation, we extend domains from the contingent planning community with stochastic effects. We evaluate our heuristics, comparing them to random rollouts, showing that they allow us to provide significantly better behavior.

Rollout Heuristics for Online Stochastic Contingent Planning: Introduction

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