Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Exploring the Intersection of Good Manners, Transcendence, and AI: Emanuel Derman’s Perspective on Human Interaction with LLMs
Emanuel Derman reflects on politeness and the use of AI. Influenced by his upbringing, he emphasizes the importance of good manners, even with devices like Alexa. Derman recounts using ChatGPT to assist with a story about transcendence, finding it surprisingly beneficial and polite. Despite knowing ChatGPT’s limitations, he values politeness, suggesting everyone, even AI, needs…
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Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Hotel Guest Ownership: The Impact of OTAs, Wholesalers, Advisors, and AI
The article, published on August 17, 2026, by Markus Busch, highlights the challenges faced by resorts in directly reaching guests due to intermediaries like OTAs, wholesalers, human advisors, and AI. While OpenAI initially aimed to eliminate these middlemen, it now focuses on search and product discovery, leaving bookings to other platforms. Each intermediary retains control…
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Navigating the Creator Economy: How Mid-Tier Influencers and Hotels Exchange Influence for Experience
In April 2026, Expedia sent livestreamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr. through five Caribbean countries in twelve hours, boosting search demand for Sint Maarten by 70% and Guadeloupe by 50%. With 50 million followers on YouTube and Twitch, Watkins is emblematic of the creator economy’s impact on travel marketing. Mid-tier creators like Gabby Beckford, with 300,000…
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Booking Holdings Reduces Customer Service Costs with AI, But At What Cost to Guest Satisfaction?
Booking Holdings has significantly reduced customer service costs by leveraging AI, achieving double-digit decreases twice in six months. CEO Glenn Fogel emphasized that AI eliminates wait times, lowering service costs per booking. CFO Ewout Steenbergen noted a 10% cost reduction as bookings rose equally. However, no data supports Fogel’s claim that users prefer AI to…
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Booking Holdings Consolidates Room Distribution to Banks and Airlines Under Agoda’s Engine
Booking Holdings is consolidating the operations of Booking.com, Agoda, and Priceline that sell hotel rooms to banks, airlines, and loyalty programs into Agoda’s engine, known as Rocket Travel. This merger, reported by Skift in August 2026, will streamline the distribution process through a unified platform, enhancing the reach of hotel rooms but centralizing control. This…
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Mews Secures E-Money Licence to Enhance Payment Processing, Raises Questions About Financial Safeguards in Hospitality Industry
Mews Financial Services BV received an electronic money license from De Nederlandsche Bank on August 11, 2026. This allows Mews to process guest card payments directly, a task previously handled by Stripe and Adyen. In 2025, $19.7 billion ran through Mews’ platform, covering 42.3 million stays. Starting late 2026, a pilot in the Netherlands will…
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McKinsey’s 2026 Annual Book Recommendations: Discover 12 Must-Read Fiction Works for Your Summer Getaway
The McKinsey & Company article from 2026 highlights their annual book recommendations, featuring 12 works of fiction ideal for summer reading. These selections traverse diverse settings and themes, exploring love, family, history, and identity. Recommended by global leaders, the list includes gripping novels suitable for the beach or long flights. A notable recommendation is a…
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Apple Poised to Overtake NVIDIA in AI Hardware Race as Open-Weight Models Shift to Edge Computing
The article argues that despite NVIDIA’s dominance in AI chip manufacturing, its consumer products are becoming obsolete as AI models and hardware evolve. On July 17, 2026, the author claims that Apple’s unified memory architecture outpaces NVIDIA’s VRAM, providing better performance for AI models at a lower cost and power consumption. The piece highlights a…
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Rising Living Costs Hinder Americans’ Economic Mobility: McKinsey Report
The McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility highlights that rising living costs are the primary challenge hindering Americans’ economic aspirations, surpassing debt and health issues as barriers. The most significant financial strain stems from essential expenses, with nearly 90% of survey respondents identifying groceries and food as major burdens. Housing, transportation, and utilities also contribute significantly…
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How Premium Leisure Travel is Transforming Airline Economics: Insights from McKinsey & Company
The McKinsey & Company article highlights a shift in the airline industry where affluent vacationers are increasingly opting for premium cabin seats, traditionally favored by corporate travelers. This trend is significantly boosting airline profitability. The article underscores the growing impact of premium leisure travel on airline economics, reflecting a broader change in consumer preferences and…
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