Singularity University

Gary A. Bolles is a globally recognized thought leader focused on the rapidly evolving landscape of work, education, and organizational transformation driven by exponential technologies. His acclaimed book, The Next Rules of Work, lays out the essential mindset and skillset needed to lead organizations successfully through disruptive change. Global clients like Google, Novartis, The World Bank, and the U.N. frequently bring him in to share his perspectives. When: Tuesday, July 23rd at 8am PT RSVP: https://lnkd.in/eDcidizg Gary will share a glimpse into his latest thinking and how the Executive Program fits into his work, and will be available for Q&A. Come join us! Learn how the EP can re-frame your perspective, and develop a deeper understanding of the technologies shaping the future at this free session.

Highlighting the extraordinary impact our alumni are making on the world! Today, we’re proud to celebrate Jennifer Verschoor, a Singularity Executive Program alumni and a dedicated teacher who has transcended traditional education to pioneer AI-driven learning. Her transformative work with RVD.AI is revolutionizing how we teach and learn, showcasing the immense potential of AI to enhance and personalize education. Her journey is a testament to the power of human ingenuity converging with exponential technology. Jennifer Verschoor never imagined that an email would drastically change the trajectory of her career. A dedicated teacher with no inclination towards the startup world, Jennifer’s life was confined to the four walls of her classroom. “I had no idea where I was heading,” she recalls. “Startups were not something I ever considered.” But when she received an invitation to join a nascent startup, she found herself at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. She credits her journey into this new realm by her participation in the Singularity Executive Program, where she was the first teacher to receive a scholarship to attend. The experience was nothing short of transformative, introducing her to moonshot thinking and a mindset that embraces expansive, visionary ideas. “It was like stepping into the future,” she says, “and realizing that I had to bring some of that back with me.” Read the full story:

Picture a "souped-up deli meat slicer" to your brain. Did you know how brain mapping was done? Mapping the brain is incredibly difficult and time-consuming. A small chunk of a mouse’s brain, when imaged at single-cell resolution, takes years to process, scan, and reconstruct into 3D computer models. Any trip-ups during the process ruins the product. Mapping the human brain, much larger in size, is far more difficult. This month, a team from MIT developed a “holistic” brain-mapping platform that captures the anatomy of large slices of the human brain with unprecedented resolution and speed, slashing a process that normally takes between a week and a month to a few days. They used the platform to image an Alzheimer’s brain, after physically expanding brain tissues with a hydrogel. The automated system sliced, imaged, and automatically stitched the images together and found myriads of cellular changes and problems with neural connections, including inflammation. Compared to previous brain mapping projects, which often require months or years, the new platform mapped different levels of the brain’s physical makeup—from synapses to local neural circuits and brain-wide connections in slabs of human brain tissue—in just a few days.

Very excited to share this opportunity! Application deadline is in just a few days: 🚀 *¡Aplicaciones abiertas para becas 100% en Exponential Inception LATAM 2024!* Desde *SingularityU Chapter Buenos Aires* diseñamos este programa para inspirar a la siguiente generación de líderes a resolver los grandes desafíos de la humanidad, a través de tecnologías exponenciales. Además, conectarán con la red de Singularity University, presente en +190 países de todo el mundo. 📅 *¿Cuándo?* Septiembre a Noviembre 2024 💻 *Modalidad Virtual* ❓ *¿Para quién?* 40 futur@s líderes y emprendedor@s exponenciales de LATAM, con perfil profesional en - negocios 10x - ciencia y tecnología - impacto social y ambiental 👉🏽 *Aplicá en* https://lnkd.in/eGhY2jNb Un mejor futuro necesita mejores líderes. Más información en https://lnkd.in/e6AvHpnU

We may one day have a cancer-fighting vaccine tailor-made to fit each patient. Do you think we'll eventually be able to stop all cancer with a single poke? Scientists have long sought cancer vaccines that prevent the pesky cells from growing back. Like those targeting viruses, the vaccines would train the body’s immune system to recognize the cancerous cells and attack and eliminate them before they could grow and spread. Despite decades of research into cancer vaccines, the dream has mostly failed. One reason is that every cancer, in every person, is different. So is each person’s immune system. Tailoring vaccines to neutralize cancers for each patient would not only be expensive, but sometimes impossible due to how long they’d take to develop—time is not on cancer patients’ sides. In contrast, mRNA vaccines are far speedier to build. A melanoma patient, Angela had multiple malignant moles removed. Alongside an established immune-stimulating drug, the hope was the duo could fight off any residual cancerous cells and slash the chances of relapse. After they were removed, Angela’s malignant moles were analyzed for specific cancerous “fingerprints” or neoantigens. Based on these proteins, scientists at Moderna—known for their Covid-19 vaccines—built a custom mRNA cancer vaccine to train her immune system to prevent her own cancer from recurring. Angela is part of clinical trial led by pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck to see if malignant skin cancer came back in patients given the treatment. Compared to a standard immunotherapy drug alone, adding a custom mRNA vaccine reduced the chances of cancer returning by roughly 50 percent and increased lifespan.

We are incredibly proud of our partner in Brazil for successfully completing their 12th Executive Program. To all the graduates of this edition, congratulations! This program was truly inspirational, rooted in local opportunities with global implications. It was designed to be actionable, emphasizing the importance of considering the rewards of disruption over the risks of inaction. As leaders, this perspective is invaluable. The experience was holistic, blending big ideas with ancient traditions, music, and the formation of lifelong friendships. We are excited to see how you will apply these insights and connections to drive positive change in your communities and beyond. Congratulations once again to our partner @SingularityUBrazil and futuremakers!

Is Apple entering the chat? Apple's Siri is partnering with OpenAI’s GPT-4o, but how secure will these third-party arrangements be? Explore the AI landscape + other tech news you might have missed in this edition of The Singularity Monthly.

What has been the greatest advice you've been given in your career so far?

Will AI boost creative freedom in the music industry, or lead to more exploitation of the artists? Given the industry’s longstanding exploitation of artists—particularly with the rise of streaming (and Spotify’s chief executive claiming music is almost free to create)—it’s easy to see why the latest developments in AI are frightening some musicians. Recently we have seen the launch of artificial intelligence programs such as SOUNDRAW and Loudly that can create musical compositions in the style of almost any artist. We’re also seeing big stars use AI in their own work, including to replicate others’ voices. Drake, for instance, landed in hot water in April after he released a diss track that used AI to mimic the voice of late rapper Tupac Shakur. And with the new ChatGPT model, GPT-4o, things are set to reach a whole new level. Fast. While it’s true AI will likely disrupt the music industry and even transform how we engage with music, there are some good reasons to suggest human music-making isn’t going anywhere.

The Singularity may only be nearer... but the book launch has officially arrived! 🙌 So excited to start reading #TheSingularityIsNearer A huge congratulations to #RayKurzweil on this milestone, your insights continue to inspire us all. We're looking forward to exploring Ray's latest vision on the revolutionary changes coming our way through exponential technologies. Happy reading - drop a comment with your reflections as you go!