A Message from Our CEO – December 2024

“‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the net,
Not a deepfake was stirring, no algorithms set”

-ChatGPT

It’s never been a good idea to sit on the lap of a strange, “magical” man. Right? This is especially the case with the new AI Santa some companies are using for their Holiday Parties. This bot is definitely making a list and checking it twice. He’s also collecting your biometrics, scanning your retina, and recording your voice as he probes your interest in the hottest gift of the year—the Potato Pal (you can, for the first time ever, upload an image of your face onto a potato). Now he’s ready to make a deep fake of your likeness and steal your identity. Merry Christmas! 

And we haven’t even mentioned the hallucinating tirade of obscenities souring the Christmas joy from this AI Santa Flaws. This is all emblematic of our love/hate relationship with advancing technology. It is beautiful and fascinating but comes with risks. Like fire, it mesmerizes with its warmth and glow but has the potential to cause destruction if left uncontrolled. 

Personally, this time of year, I’ll take peace on earth and goodwill to men (and women). Linus once said, from Luke 2:8-14, “And the angel said unto them, fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” 

This year we are contributing to BeLoved Asheville, a leader in the Hurricane Helene response in the Asheville area. Hurricane Helene was in September 2024, but people are still displaced. Helene absolutely devastated the infrastructure and economy in the heart of Appalachia. My son lives in Asheville, and we frequently vacation there. It has a special place in our hearts. 

Whether you are an AI Enthusiast, a Druid Luddite, or something in between, I encourage you to give your time, talent, and treasure this season to make a difference in people’s lives. 

Love. Conquers. All. 

Warren