Can AI concoct a better slogan for Apple than "Think Different?" It's just one of the AI-focused stories in the July long-form #FIRpodcast episode. Also: newsrooms and AI, Google's AI news writing app, how people are using ChatGPT, and much more. buff.ly/3O8nIIz

An FIR listener asked Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz how they find quality conversations. We discussed our sources of information for staying current on tech and comms trends in this short midweek episode of the "For Immediate Release" podcast. buff.ly/3KnBJB6

Courtesy of AI, a company is planning to develop a daily 30-minute newscast with AI-generated anchors sharing stories based on each viewer’s interests. Neville Hobson & Shel Holtz ponder the pros and cons of the concept in this short midweek #FIRpodcast episode. buff.ly/45c9gWM

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney brought more to the Wrexham football club than star power. They brought digital media savvy that helped boost the team's profile worldwide. Get the story in this short midweek #FIRpodcat episode. buff.ly/44jhA6s

A useful website that broke no rules is gone because authors panicked thanks to AI hysteria. Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz tell the tale in this short midweek #FIRpodcast episode. buff.ly/45qPx64

Pity marketing is having a moment. Neville Hobson & Shel Holtz analyze it in the monthly long-form episode of the #FIRpodcast. Also: AP's AI guidelines, advertisers using AI, AI in the Gartner hype cycle; motion identities; and a social media issue for brands. buff.ly/47JGRt9

A flood of toy-based movies is in the works, thanks to the success of Barbie. Will they rise to the level of the Barbie flick, or will they just be the schlock we've come to expect? Neville Hobson & Shel Holtz dissect the trend in this short midweek episode. buff.ly/3qHGD5k

The Hollywood Reporter queried a panel of podcasters, producers, and agents about the state & future of podcasting. Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz dig into the results and offer their own thoughts in this short midweek #FIRpodcast episode. buff.ly/3OVDQgQ

With elections affecting some 4 billion people through 2024, AI is poised to become a wild card, especially in the US where it will be a source of disinformation. Should we panic? Neville Hobson & Shel Holtz break down the issues in this short midweek episode. buff.ly/3Ptiw3J

AI Generative Artificial Intelligence has a lot to offer bloggers. It can also let people crank out torrents of posts. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel examine whether blogs are more or less important in the AI era. buff.ly/3qXsBN7

A couple TikTok trends offer a hint of the network disruption that's coming. Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz explore the long arc of network disruption in this short midweek #FIRpodcast episode. firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-356-the-lo…

The September long-form episode of the #FIRpodcast looks at a brief on the state of AI in PR, Acast's rise in podcasting, marketing's continuing focus on diversity, Gen Z journalists, the arrival of deepfakes, and blocking AI web crawlers. firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-357-a-stat…

Big 4 accounting firm EY has unveiled an AI site for its customers and another for its 400,000 employees. Get the story in this short midweek episode of the #FIRpodcast. firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-358-ey-goe…

Your social networks may be about to fill up with synthetic friends and connections. There are opportunities and landmines for business as we move into these uncharted waters. Neville Hobson & Shel Holtz tackle the issue in this #FIRpodcast eposide. firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-359-your-n…

A headmaster in the UK has appointed an AI bot to serve as his headteacher. Should CEOs follow in his footsteps? Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz share their thoughts in this short midweek #FIRpodcast episode. buff.ly/48W9eVN

A new studyFortune 500 Chief Communication Officers about the future of corporate communications. Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz dig into the report in this short midweek episode of our "For Immediate Release" podcast. buff.ly/3MDxX7V

In this short midweek episode, Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz lament the passing of the microblogging platform Pebble, consider the reasons it is shutting down, and ponder what it means for the post-Twitter social media landscape. buff.ly/493qyIm

In the Oct #FIRpodcast episode: Brands can't win in the Israel-Hamas war; wider impacts of Pebble's closure; 10 principles ethical AI principles; LinkedIn influencers are a thing; deploying AI at scale; social networks drop news; & Dan York's tech report. buff.ly/3MnMLaj

Managers have an outsized impact on company culture based on what they communicate to their people. Neville Hobson and I discuss a recent study and its implications for internal comms professionals in this short midweek episode of our #FIRpodcast. buff.ly/460CTdN

When RyanAir's social media manager resigned, he abided by the 90-day quiet period, before applying his skills to share his experience. His posts made headlines. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel explore what this might mean for the airline. buff.ly/3szlAmq