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PROFILES.

— The Apple CEO who wants to save your life [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— The last true movie star
— TV’s hardest-working host
— The design platform using AI to stay on top
— The charm bracelet shop that keeps going viral

PEOPLE TO KNOW.

The Apple CEO who wants to save your life: Apple CEO Tim Cook is well aware that his company has to get AI right. Cook says that Apple has been preparing for the AI revolution all along, and now it’s getting ready to make its debut. Perhaps what most distinguishes Apple’s AI is its focus on privacy, a hallmark of the Cook regime. The AI tools, which are rolling out through software updates on the latest iPhone, will largely run on the device itself—you don’t send your data to the cloud. In this Q&A, Cook explains Apple’s AI ambitions and how the company is conducting research around using AI to potentially flag dangerous medical conditions. (WIRED; alternate link)

“It’s the democratization of health.”

The last true movie star: Despite appearing at age 17 in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and becoming a media fixation a few years later for playing a besotted vampire in all five “Twilight” films, Robert Pattinson remains surprisingly unguarded. He doesn’t take his craft or himself too seriously. Shockingly, Pattison has emerged as one of the last movie stars. “Not in a million years did I think I’d still be doing this when I got my first job,” he says. “I can’t believe this is still going.” (The New York Times; alternate link)

“Hey, you’re the guy from ‘Twilight.’ Why’d you stop acting?”

TV’s hardest-working host: With three TV jobs (and counting), pro football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan makes his days seem longer than 24 hours—and rewards himself with a multimillion-dollar watch collection. But at 53, he’s already dreaming of retiring. Again. (Forbes; alternate link)

“I never expected my career to be what it has been, or continues to be, at all.”

COMPANIES TO WATCH.

The design platform using AI to stay on top: Design platform Canva launched in 2013 with the aim of democratizing visual creation through features like templates and drag-and-drop graphics. It focused on ease, offering a design suite less daunting for nonprofessionals than tools like Adobe’s Photoshop, and simplified access with a web platform and freemium model. Since then, the company has grown to 220 million monthly active users and an 11-figure valuation. But with the advent of generative AI, it’s having to innovate to keep its place. (WIRED; alternate link) (For more, check out Melanie Perkins’ Profile Dossier here.)

“The world’s going to become visual.”

The charm bracelet shop that keeps going viral: By August 2020, Tracie Campbell and Adrienne Nappi were ready to close the New York locations of their business Brooklyn Charm. After a decade of selling make-your-own beaded bracelets, necklaces and earrings for $35 to $75 on average out of a storefront in Williamsburg and a booth in Manhattan’s Chelsea Market, they came up against the Covid-19 pandemic. Foot traffic was down, and they were burnt out. They announced a closing sale on the store’s Instagram account. Here’s how TikTok changed its trajectory. (Bloomberg; alternate link)

“Literally overnight, it was just like the store was slammed for months.”

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MULTIMEDIA.

— Cyan Banister on the value of independent thought
— Brianna Wiest on discovering your inner potential
— Maya Shankar on why change doesn’t have to be scary
— Brunello Cucinelli on the importance of beauty

AUDIO TO HEAR.

Cyan Banister on the value of independent thought: Cyan Banister, who has made early bets on companies including Uber, SpaceX, and Postmates, was once a homeless high-school dropout who believed that corporations were pure evil. One paycheck, she said, is what fundamentally uprooted her entire world view. Here’s why she believes independent thought is so valuable.

Brianna Wiest on discovering your inner potential: Brianna Wiest is a bestselling author, speaker, and advocate for self-reflection and personal growth. Known for transformative works including 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think, The Mountain Is You, and her latest release, The Pivot Year, she has sold over 2 million copies of her books. Here’s why her work resonates so much. In this podcast, she offers insight into emotional intelligence, mental health, and discovering your inner potential.

VIDEOS TO SEE.

Maya Shankar on why change doesn’t have to be scary: Humans would rather know that they are going to 100% be struck by lightning than have a 50% chance of being hit, according to cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar. Intrinsically, uncertainty breeds stress. Yet, stories of a violinist forced to end her career and a budding chef diagnosed with a life-altering disorder alternatively prove our ability to adapt. In this TED Talk, Shankar emphasizes our opportunities for internal growth and a redefinition of self in the face of constant change and unpredictability.

Brunello Cucinelli on the importance of beauty: Everywhere he looks, Cucinelli sees beauty. He often quotes Dostoyevski: "Beauty will save the world." In this fireside chat with Marc Benioff, Cucinelli explains that if something is both beautiful and fair by being manufactured without harming mankind, then that is a spiritual creation. In other words, you cannot create something beautiful by abusing and disrespecting the people around you.

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