Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · 19d

I regret this now

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · 22d

The new version of notification summaries for news apps in iOS 26 solves the problem of introducing errors by being as boring as possible.

1 1 1

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · 22d

Yes! They published a BTS www.wsj.com/business/air...

How the Journal Analyzed More Than One Million FAA Reports

Reporters used machine learning algorithms and large-language models to perform the first analysis of fume-event reports at this scale

www.wsj.com

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · 29d

Today is the 10th anniversary of Apple forcing that U2 album on everyone’s iTunes, and let it be known that, to this day, my two-year-old loves the HomePod because every time he touches it, it plays U2.

2

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Sep 3

Good point, sports talk radio, too!

1

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Sep 2

MSNBC aired several hours of Nicolle Wallace’s podcast on TV last night, thus completing the media singularity. variety.com/2025/tv/news...

Nicolle Wallace's New Podcast Just Became MSNBC's Latest TV Show

MSNBC is filling certain weekend and holiday slots with Nicolle Wallace's new "The Best People" podcast, breaking old rules about what airs on TV

variety.com

2 8

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Aug 22

FaceID not recognizing you is the new someone saying you look tired

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Aug 20

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Aug 19

"GPT-4o wouldn’t do that." @dylanfreedman.nytimes.com talked to ChatGPT users in parasocial relationships with a specific model about what they did when it suddenly went away. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/b...

The Chatbot Updated. Users Lost a Friend.

www.nytimes.com

2 2

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Aug 8

On the internet, nobody knows you're a pelican riding a bicycle.

1

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Aug 8

Incredible deep dive into one man's three-week delusional spiral caused by ChatGPT. @kashhill.bsky.social and @dylanfreedman.nytimes.com analyzed the chats, totaling more than a million words, to explain why this keeps happening and demonstrate that all the major chatbots do it.

Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens.

www.nytimes.com

1 12 20

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Aug 8

Fascinating analysis shows how conservative influencers made a mountain out of American Eagle’s molehill www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/b...

Right-Wing Influence Shaped the Sydney Sweeney Ad Debate - The New York Times

Right-wing commentators suggested there was widespread criticism of Ms. Sweeney over her new ad campaign. There wasn’t, at least at first.

www.nytimes.com

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Aug 8

What kind of chaotic-evil pasta does not provide a recommended cooking time?

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Aug 4

Strati are in

1

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Jul 4

I’ve read a hundred stories about the grass at Wimbledon in my lifetime, and I’ll gladly read a hundred more on.ft.com/4lFmDHm

1 3

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Jun 15

Remembering my dad this weekend, a year after his death. www.zachseward.com/stephen-clar...

Stephen Clark Seward

My eulogy for Dad

www.zachseward.com

3

Reposted by Zach Seward

World Editors Forum @worldeditorsforum.bsky.social · May 30

By building tools based on repeated patterns, @nytimes.com is strategically applying AI as a force multiplier for investigative journalism – while maintaining traditional journalistic standards of accuracy and verification, explains @zachseward.com.
wan-ifra.org/2025/05/divi...

Divining data: How AI invigorates The New York Times' approach to investigative reporting

2025-05-30. By building tools based on repeated patterns, The New York Times is strategically applying AI as a force multiplier for investigative journalism – while maintaining traditional journalisti...

wan-ifra.org

1 1

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · May 30

I spoke to @nikitaroy.bsky.social about the newsroom AI team at @nytimes.com and what we’ve learned after a year exploring latent space. www.newsroomrobots.com/p/how-a-five...

How a Five-Person AI Team Is Powering Innovation at The New York Times: In Conversation with Zach Seward

Plus: Join us at New York University for a Live Podcast Recording, June 3!

www.newsroomrobots.com

1

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · May 22

Live sports on Amazon Prime Video: When you can’t find the game anywhere else, it’s on Prime.

1 1

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · May 12

My contribution to this collection is a mood. www.cjr.org/feature-2/ho...

1 2

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · May 11

What a world

1 4

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Apr 23

Loved this ode to Skype, for the memories and the chance to hear that amazing ringtone, which "was created using a blend of natural sounds like wind, water, and even a human breath to make it feel both familiar and abstract." restofworld.org/2025/skype-s...

When the world connected on Skype

On the eve of its demise, Rest of World readers remember how Skype changed their world.

restofworld.org

2 2

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Apr 14

You may leave here for four days in space
But when you return, it’s the same old place
The pounding of the drums, the pride and disgrace
Hate your next-door neighbor, but don’t forget to say grace

www.theguardian.com/science/live...

Katy Perry, Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez and four others arrive back on Earth after space flight – live | Blue Origin | The Guardian

The Amazon founder’s Blue Origin lands minutes after liftoff at 9.30am ET

www.theguardian.com

1

Reposted by Zach Seward

🎃🎃🎃Mark Yarm🎃🎃🎃 @markyarm.bsky.social · Apr 9

For @longlead.com's Depth Perception, I spoke with the @nytimes.com's first editorial director of artificial intelligence, @zachseward.com, about how the paper is—and is not—using AI. depthperceptionbyll.substack.com/p/zach-sewar...

“Just the tip of the iceberg”: The New York Times’ Zach Seward on embracing AI

The paper’s first editorial director of artificial intelligence initiatives takes us behind the scenes.

depthperceptionbyll.substack.com

4 4

Zach Seward @zachseward.com · Apr 8

I’m quoted in this thoughtful @newyorker.com essay, “Will A.I. Save the News?” www.newyorker.com/culture/open...

1 5