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I was watching comedian and political commentator Bill Maher talk about Reverse Improvement (RI), and it struck me how profoundly relevant this idea is to the leadership challenges highlighted in this article and the themes weve explored in my upcoming book, TRANSCEND: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI. Reverse Improvement, as Maher describes it, occurs when technological progress unintentionally diminishes core human skills and values. Mahers idea of RI isnt just about clunky tech updates or frustrating software upgradesits about a much larger, more insidious phenomenon: how technological advancements can subtly, and sometimes drastically, lead to the erosion of fundamental human skills and values. The concept of RI highlights a key dilemma facing leaders in the age of AI: When does technological progress stop being an improvement and start becoming a regression? As AI and automation handle tasks once dependent on human creativity, intuition, and problem-solving, we risk outsourcing not just labor but also our intellectual and emotional core. RI warns us of this subtle decaya decline that happens not in obvious ways but slowly, through overreliance on tools meant to help us. As AI transforms the workplace, its easy to view automation as a form of progress. But if AI makes us less self-aware, less creative, and less empathetic, are we truly improving? Or are we succumbing to RIreplacing meaningful human effort with efficiency at the cost of long-term growth? This tension is exactly why mindful leadership, grounded in principles like self-awareness, right intention, and resilience, is more important than ever. AI, Reverse improvement, and the risks of dependency Not all technological upgrades lead to better outcomes. Many improvements, particularly in the context of AI, can unintentionally diminish the very skills that made us successful in the first place. A leader who once relied on keen observation and strategic thinking may, over time, rely on AI-generated insights without questioning their validity. An employee who once developed persuasive narratives may now rely on AI to draft content, losing the ability to connect ideas creatively. This erosion of skills is why leaders must maintain mindfulness in how they integrate AI into their workflows. Mindfulness, as taught by Eastern and Buddhist philosophy, emphasizes the importance of being present, aware, and intentional. Leaders who embody these qualities recognize when AI is genuinely enhancing their abilities versus when its causing stagnation. Reverse Improvement occurs when leaders fail to pause and evaluate whether technological progress aligns with long-term human development. AI may offer convenience, but convenience can come at the cost of resilience, problem-solving, and self-reflectionskills critical to effective leadership. Recognizing when AI helps vs. when it hurts We dont lose skills all at oncewe lose them gradually, as dependency on AI subtly erodes our mental muscles. Self-awareness, a core tenet of mindfulness, helps leaders recognize when this erosion is happening. Self-aware leaders evaluate whether they are engaging with AI as a tool or relying on it as a crutch.For example, a marketing leader who once crafted compelling campaigns may now rely on AI-driven algorithms to optimize strategies. Without self-awareness, they may stop developing their storytelling abilities, assuming the AI will always know best. But self-aware leaders pause, reflect, and ask: Am I still growing, or am I letting AI take over my creative instincts? Action Plan: Leaders should integrate mindfulness practices directly into their daily routines and team interactions. This can include short reflective meetings where leaders and teams pause to evaluate decisions and their alignment with long-term goals. Additionally, conducting regular assessments of AI’s role within workflows will ensure leaders remain in control, using AI to complement rather than override human judgment. By fostering an environment of ongoing reflection, leaders can continuously recalibrate their strategies to balance innovation with intentional decision-making. Leading with purpose, not automation for automations sake Purpose-driven leadership ensures that leaders consider the ethical, human, and long-term consequences of their decisions. RI occurs when leaders pursue technological upgrades without questioning their value beyond short-term productivity gains. AI should free up human potential for higher-order tasks, such as creative problem-solving and relationship-building. However, when AI is implemented without the right intention, it can lead to the opposite effectde-skilling employees and fostering dependency. Leaders with the right intention ask: How does this technology enhance, rather than replace, human growth? Action Step: Leaders should develop a structured framework for evaluating new AI tools by integrating key criteria such as ethical considerations, employee impact, long-term strategic alignment, innovation potential, and risk management. This framework should assess the tools ability to foster creativity and innovation while identifying potential operational disruptions, ethical risks, and unintended consequences. To ensure comprehensive evaluation, governance protocols should be established to monitor compliance with organizational policies, data privacy standards, and ethical guidelines. In addition, diverse stakeholders across departments should be involved to assess both short-term efficiency gains and long-term human development outcomes. By embedding periodic reviews of AIs effectiveness, leaders can balance technological progress with sustainable, human-centered growth while mitigating risks and driving continuous innovation. Building human strengths alongside technological progress Resilience in leadership means embracing change without losing core strengths. Technological progress can undermine resilience when we allow machines to do the hard work that builds character and cognitive stamina. Leaders who embrace resilience understand that problem-solving, creativity, and emotional intelligence are developed through struggle, effort, and reflectionnot instant solutions.AI can certainly assist with repetitive tasks, but leaders must ensure that the hard, growth-oriented work of leadership remains intact. For example, instead of relying solely on AI to analyze market trends, resilient leaders involve their teams in brainstorming sessions to sharpen their strategic thinking. Action Step: Leaders can prioritize activities that involve manual problem-solving, creative brainstorming, and team collaboration. These exercises help maintain and strengthen cognitive and strategic thinking abilities, preventing skill atrophy in a tech-driven world. Resilience also requires leaders to create a culture that values learning through experience. Rather than shielding teams from challenges by automating solutions, resilient leaders encourage problem-solving, risk-taking, and adaptive learning. By facing difficultieshead-on, teams can strengthen their critical thinking and innovation skills. Balancing AI and humanity: Avoiding RI through the middle way Buddhist philosophys middle way teaches us to avoid extremes and seek balance. In the context of AI and RI, this means integrating technology thoughtfully, ensuring that it complements human effort rather than replacing it. The key to leadership in a tech-driven world is not to reject AI, but to integrate it in ways that amplify human strengths while preserving creativity, empathy, and resilience. Leaders who follow the Middle Way avoid the extremes of either over-relying on AI or rejecting its benefits entirely. They understand that technology can enhance human potential, but only when used with mindful intention and purpose. From reverse improvement to mindful progress Technological progress sometimes can be deceptive. What appears to be an upgrade may, in fact, be a step backward if it causes us to detach from our core human capacities. True progress isn’t measured by how much we automate or accelerateit’s measured by how much we grow, both individually and collectively. Mindful leaders will recognize that AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity and judgment. We must remain devoted to creating a future where technological innovation drives genuine improvementnot just in productivity but in the development of resilient, purposeful, and empathetic individuals.
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Disability rights could be under threat. People with disabilities are protected from discrimination and given equal access to education, healthcare, employment, and public services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. However, Republican attorneys general in 17 states (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia) have sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), asking courts to declare Section 504 unconstitutional. Last May, HHS required that 504 services be provided to people experiencing gender dysphoria. The lawsuit argues that gender dysphoria doesnt fall under the definition of who should get 504 services. However, it then goes on to ask that 504 be eliminated entirely. Because Section 504 is coercive, untethered to the federal interest in disability, and unfairly retroactive, the Rehabilitation Act is not constitutional, the lawsuit argues. What will happen if 504 is eliminated? If 504 is rolled back, it would be up to individual states to decide how much they want to protect people with disabilities from discrimination, as well as which servicesif anythey want to provide. This includes services like 504 plans, in which schools lay out the individual accommodations that students with disabilities will receive (for example, extra time on tests or braille notes) so these students can participate in class. Currently, 8.5 million students in public schools have 504 plans. The first round of legal briefs is due on February 25. How to support disability rights ADDitude magazine is encouraging people to contact their state representatives and senators and voice their support for 504. If you live in a state thats suing to eliminate 504, you can also contact your attorney general and request that your state withdraw from the lawsuit. If you live in a state thats not suing to eliminate 504, you can contact your attorney general and ask that your state submit a brief on the importance of 504 protections.
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Yellowjackets is back with more chaos, more wildernessand a main title that is grungier than ever.Ever since the first season premiered in 2021, the shows opening credits have been one of the most frenetic on television. Blink and youll miss something. Set against the grungy song No Return by Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker, the title is meant to feel like an assault on the senses. It is 90 seconds long, and the longest frame lasts about a second.This makes for a tense intro, in which our brains are bombarded with flickering images faster than we can process them. And thats precisely the point. We want this to be glitched so much that if someone takes a still, they cant really figure it out, says Mason Nicoll, executive creative director of creative studio Digital Kitchen.Digital Kitchen, which has designed main titles for True Blood, Narcos, and Dexter, first dreamed up the concept for the Yellowjackets main title in 2021, when season one premiered. The show is set in the 90s, and the team drew inspiration from 90s skater videos, and drew from the jittery, low-fi aesthetic of the 1999 film The Blair Witch Project. The result was borderline chaotic, but the distressed look provided an additional benefit: it helped disguise key shots by distorting them beyond recognition.[Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]The team has replicated this approach ever since. But with each season, they swap old frames for new ones that hint at whats to come. Season one teased the shows mysterious symbol, season two introduced eerie snowy landscapes and blood-soaked imagery. Season three now features dark caves, an upside-down image of a bleeding Jesus, and a lot of screaming faces. Its also glitchier than ever. We went to town, says Nicoll, noting that the first cut was about 30% more hectic than the final version.Does this hint at even more madness to come? It seems like it, he says. It does feel like every season just escalates and gets crazier.Season 3 title sequence: No context, just vibes The truth is, Nicoll doesnt know what will happen this season. Not exactly. Sometimes, main title designers get a full synopsis to help them sprinkle in clues. Other times, they only see the pilot and work with the showrunners to create the right tone. With Yellowjackets, Nicoll says he knew the most in season oneand the least in season three. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Digital Kitchen (@digitalkitchen)This year, the showrunners sent the team a whopping 70 shots to work with, but Nicoll explains the shots were all out of context, so his team had to piece the story together and interpret it themselves. It goes without saying they have more insight than the average viewer, but when the shots arrive at random, some mystery remains inevitable.[Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]Sometimes, the team gave away too much without even realizing it. Thats what happened when the team initially included a new shot of the Antler Queen from season three in the title sequence. If you remember, the identity of the Antler Queen was shrouded in mystery for the first two seasons. At first, we thought it was Lottie. Thenspoilers aheadwe learned it was actually Natalie.So, when Digital Kitchen added this new shot of the Antler Queen, the showrunners reaction, as Nicoll remembers it, was something along the lines of: hell no! The team quickly reworked the shot, glitching it so much that viewers could no longer tell who was under the antlers. The obscured frame now appears around the one-minute markand we are left to wonder: has the wilderness chosen a new Antler Queen?A Blair Witch Project fever dreamAbout half of the shots in the main title come from the show, but the intro wouldnt be the disquieting fever dream it is today without the other half. From the very beginning, Digital Kitchen leaned into The Blair Witch Projects found footage aesthetic, making it seem like the images were filmed by the high school girls themselves.[Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]To make this footage appear authentic, the team hired lookalike actors in L.A. and shot additional scenes with an old DV camcorder from the 90s. In one scene, art director Rachel Brickel filmed the actors running into a parking lot while she was crouched inside a shopping cart that Nicoll was pushing. I remember thinking I see a speed bump in front of us, and Im like oh man this is going to hurt,' she recalls with a laugh. It did hurt, but she got the shot.[Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]To achieve the look of a worn-out VHS tape with a corrupted signal, Brickels team played the footage through a really old tube TV from the 90s and ran it through special equipment to further remix and distort the picture. Then, they took that altered footage and glitched it even more on the computer. We wanted to show the beauty of glitches, she says.[Image: courtesy Digital Kitchen]The resulting aesthetic of the Yellowjackets season 3 title sequence may not be ideal for someone prone to migraines. I, for one, cant watch it more than twice in a row without needing to rest my eyes. But for the average viewer who isnt poring over every single frame, the intro isnt meant to be fully absorbed in one sitting. Its designed to reveal itself as the season unfoldsand to keep you away from that dreaded skip button.
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