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Asked: 02/10/2025In:

like teaching, design, or journalism

aiindesignaiineducationaiinjournalismcreativeautomationhumanaicollaborationmultimodalai
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

    1. Why Multimodal AI Is Different From Past Technology Transitions Whereas past automation technologies were only repetitive tasks—multimodal AI can consolidate multiple skills at one time. In short, one AI application can: Read a research paper, abstract it, and create an infographic. Write a newsRead more

    1. Why Multimodal AI Is Different From Past Technology Transitions

    Whereas past automation technologies were only repetitive tasks—multimodal AI can consolidate multiple skills at one time. In short, one AI application can:

    • Read a research paper, abstract it, and create an infographic.
    • Write a news story, read an audio report, and produce related visuals.
    • Help a teacher develop lesson plans, as well as adjust content to meet the individual student’s learning style.

    This ability to bridge disciplines is the key to multimodal AI being the industry-disruptor that it is, especially for those who wear “many hats” on the job.

    2. Education: Lecturers to Learning Designers

    Teachers are not just knowledges-educators-teasers, motivators, and planners of curriculum. Multimodal AI can help by:

    • Having quizzes, slides, or interactive simulations create automatically.
    • Creating personalized learning paths for students.
    • Transferring lessons to other media (text, video, audio) as learning demands differ.

    But the human face of learning—motivation, empathy, emotional connection—is something that is still uniquely human. Educators will transition from hours of prep time to more time working directly with students.

    3. Design: From Technical Execution to Creative Direction

    Graphic designers, product designers, and architects will likely contend with technical proficiency (computer skills) and creativity. Multimodal AI is already capable of developing drafts, prototypes, and design alternatives in seconds. This means:

    • Designers might likely spend fewer hours on technical realization and more hours on curation, refining, and setting direction.
    • The job can become more of a creative director role, where the directing of the AI and the creation of its output is the focus.

    Or, freshman design work on iterative production declines.

    4. Journalism: From Reporting to Storytelling

    Journalism involves research, writing, interviewing, and storytelling in a variety of forms. Multimodal AI can:

    • Analyze large data sets for patterns.
    • Write articles or even create multimedia packages.
    • Develop personalized news experiences (text + podcast + short video clip).

    The caveat: Trust, journalistic judgment, and the power to hold powers that be accountable are as important in journalism as AI can rapidly analyze. Journalists will need to think more as investigation, ethics, and contextual reporting—area where human judgment can’t be duplicated.

    5. The Bigger Picture: Redefinition, Not Replacement

    Rather than displacing all such positions, multimodal AI will likely redefine them within the context of higher-order human abilities:

    • Empathy and people-skilling for teachers.
    • Vision and taste for artists.
    • Ethics and fact-finding for journalists.

    But that first-in-line photograph can change overnight. Work that at one time instructed beginners—like trimming articles to size, creating first draft pages, or building lesson plans—will be computer-assigned. This raises the risk of an empty middle, where low-level jobs shrink, and it is harder for people to upgrade to higher-level work.

    6. Preparing for the Change

    Experts in these fields may have to:

    • Learn to collaborate with AI, but not battle with it.
    • Highlight distinctly human skills—empathy, ethics, imagination, and people skills.
    • Reengineer functions so AI handles volume and velocity, but humans add depth and context.

    Final Thought

    Multimodal AI will not displace work like teaching, design, or journalism, but it will change their nature. Instead of spending time on tedious work, the experts may be nearer to the heart of their work: inspiring, designing, and informing in human abundance. The transformation can be painful, but if done with care, it can create space for humans to do more of what they cannot be replaced by.

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daniyasiddiquiImage-Explained
Asked: 02/10/2025In:

creative, logical, and empathetic

aimodelaireasoningconsistencyinaicreativeaiempatheticailogicalai
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

    1. The Nature of AI "Modes" Unlike human beings, who intuitively combine creativity, reason, and empathy in interaction, AI systems like to isolate these functions into distinct response modes. For instance: Logical mode: applying facts, numbers, or step-by-step calculation as reasons. Creative modeRead more

    1. The Nature of AI “Modes”

    Unlike human beings, who intuitively combine creativity, reason, and empathy in interaction, AI systems like to isolate these functions into distinct response modes. For instance:

    • Logical mode: applying facts, numbers, or step-by-step calculation as reasons.
    • Creative mode: generating ideas for fiction, creating images, or creating new ideas.
    • Empathetic mode: providing emotional comfort, reassurance, or comprehension of a person’s emotions.

    Consistency is difficult because these modes depend on various datasets, reasoning systems, and tone. One slipup—such as being overly analytical at a time when empathy is needed—can make the AI seem cold or mechanical.

    2. Why Consistency is Difficult to Attain

    AI never “knows” human values or emotions the way human beings do. It learns patterns of expressions. Mode-switching is a matter of rearranging tone, reason, and even morality in some cases. That creates the opportunity for:

    • Contradictions (sympathetic initially then providing emotionally unfeeling advice).
    • Over-simplifications (pre-digested empathy-talk that is out of context).
    • Loss of user trust if the user perceives the AI as “covering” too much.

    3. Where AI Already Shows Promise

    With rough edges set aside, contemporary AI is unexpectedly adept at combining modes in directed situations:

    • An AI instructor can instruct math (logical mode) while addressing a struggling student (empathetic mode).
    • A design program can generate innovative ideas but similarly scrutinize them with logical advantages and disadvantages.
    • Medical chatbots increasingly blend empathetic voice with plain, fact-based advice.

    This indicates that AI is capable of combining modes, but only with careful design and context sensitivity.

    4. The Human Factor: Why It Matters

    Consistency across modes isn’t a technical issue—it’s ethical. People are more confident in AI when it seems rational and geared toward their requirements. If a system seems to be switching between various “masks” with no unifying persona, it can be faulted on the basis of being manipulative. People not only appreciate correctness but also honesty and coherence in communication.

    5. The Road Ahead

    The possible future of AI would be to create meta-layers of consistency—where the system knows how it reasons and switches effortlessly without violating trust. For instance, AI would have a “core personality” and switch between logical, creative, and empathetic modes—much like a good teacher or leader would.

    Researchers are also looking into guardrails:

    • Ethical limits (to avoid being manipulated when using empathy).
    • Transparency features (so the user has an idea when the AI is changing modes).
    • Personalization options (so users can select how much empathetic or creative ability they require).

    Final Thought

    AI still can’t quite mimic the effortless way humans switch between reason, imagination, and sympathy, but it’s getting there fast. The problem is ensuring that when it does switch mode, it does so in a way that is consistent, reliable, and responsive to human needs. Bravo, this mode-switching might transform AI into an implement no longer, but an ever more natural collaborator in work, learning, and life.

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daniyasiddiquiImage-Explained
Asked: 01/10/2025In:

tariffs affecting inflation and consu ...

consumerpricesglobaleconomyinflationprotectionismsupplychainstariffstradepolicy
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

    How tariffs can raise consumer prices (the mechanics) Direct pass-through to final goods. A tariff is a tax on imported goods. If importers and retailers simply raise the sticker price, consumers pay more. The fraction of the tariff that shows up at the checkout is called the pass-through rate. HighRead more

    How tariffs can raise consumer prices (the mechanics)

    1. Direct pass-through to final goods. A tariff is a tax on imported goods. If importers and retailers simply raise the sticker price, consumers pay more. The fraction of the tariff that shows up at the checkout is called the pass-through rate.

    2. Higher input costs and cascading effects. Many tariffs target intermediate goods (parts, components, machinery). That raises production costs for domestic manufacturers and raises prices across supply chains, not just the tariffed final products.

    3. Substitution and product mix effects. Consumers and firms may switch to more expensive domestic suppliers (trade diversion), which can keep prices elevated even if the tariffed product’s price falls later.

    4. Uncertainty and administrative costs. Frequent changes in tariff policy add uncertainty; firms pay to retool supply chains, hold extra inventory, or hire compliance staff — those costs can be passed on to consumers.

    5. Macro feedback and second-round effects. If tariffs push inflation higher and expectations become unanchored, wages and service prices can reprice, producing a more persistent inflationary effect rather than a one-time rise.

      How tariffs can raise consumer prices (the mechanics)

      1. Direct pass-through to final goods. A tariff is a tax on imported goods. If importers and retailers simply raise the sticker price, consumers pay more. The fraction of the tariff that shows up at the checkout is called the pass-through rate.

      2. Higher input costs and cascading effects. Many tariffs target intermediate goods (parts, components, machinery). That raises production costs for domestic manufacturers and raises prices across supply chains, not just the tariffed final products.

      3. Substitution and product mix effects. Consumers and firms may switch to more expensive domestic suppliers (trade diversion), which can keep prices elevated even if the tariffed product’s price falls later.

      4. Uncertainty and administrative costs. Frequent changes in tariff policy add uncertainty; firms pay to retool supply chains, hold extra inventory, or hire compliance staff — those costs can be passed on to consumers.

      5. Macro feedback and second-round effects. If tariffs push inflation higher and expectations become unanchored, wages and service prices can reprice, producing a more persistent inflationary effect rather than a one-time rise. 

      What the evidence and recent studies show (how big are the effects?)

      • Pass-through varies by product, but is often substantial. Micro-level studies of recent U.S. tariffs find nontrivial pass-through: some estimates put retail pass-through for affected goods in the range of tens of percent up to near full pass-through in the short run for certain categories. One well-known microstudy finds a 20% tariff linked with roughly a 0.7% retail price rise for affected products in its sample—pass-through is heterogeneous. 

      • Recent policy episodes (2025 U.S. tariff episodes) provide real-time estimates. Multiple papers and central-bank notes looking at the 2025 tariff measures conclude the first-round effect is measurable but not massive overall — estimates range from a few tenths of a percentage point up to low single digits in headline/core inflation depending on which scenario is assumed (full pass-through vs partial, scope of tariffs, and whether monetary policy offsets). For example, recent Federal Reserve analysis and Boston Fed back-of-the-envelope work put short-run contributions to core inflation on the order of ~0.1–0.8 percentage points (varies by method and which tariffs are counted). Yale and other research groups that look at sectoral pass-through find higher short-run impacts in heavily affected categories. Federal Reserve+2Federal Reserve Bank of Boston+2

      • Tariffs on investment goods can have outsized effects. Studies highlight that tariffs on capital goods (machinery, semiconductors, tools) raise costs of producing other goods and can therefore have larger effects on investment and longer-term productivity; projected price effects for investment goods are often larger than for consumption goods. 

      One-time level shift vs persistent inflation — which is more likely?

      There are two useful ways to think about the impact:

      • One-time price level effect: If tariffs are a discrete shock and firms simply add the tax to prices, the general price level jumps but inflation (the rate of increase) reverts to trend — a one-off effect.

      • Persistent inflation effect: If tariffs raise firms’ costs, shift bargaining, or alter expectations such that wages and services reprice, the effect can persist. Which occurs depends on how long tariffs remain, whether central banks respond, and whether input costs feed into broad service wages. Recent policy debates (and Fed/central-bank analyses) focus on this distinction because it matters for monetary policy decisions.

      • Short run: A large share of the tariff burden often falls on consumers through higher retail prices, especially for final goods with little cheap domestic supply or close substitutes. Microstudies of past tariff episodes show retailers do not fully absorb tariffs. Medium run: Firms that cannot pass through full costs may absorb some through lower margins, investment cuts, or shifting production. But if tariffs are prolonged, businesses may restructure supply chains (friend-shoring, reshoring), which involves costs that eventually show up in prices or wages.

      • Distributional note: Tariffs are regressive in practice: low-income households spend a higher share of income on traded goods (electronics, clothing, groceries), so price rises hit them proportionally harder.

      Recent real-world examples and context

      • U.S.–China tariffs (2018–2020): Research showed sectoral price increases and some consumer price impacts, but the overall macro inflationary effect was modest; distributional and sectoral effects were important. 

      • 2025 tariff escalations (selective large tariffs): Multiple U.S. measures in 2025 (and reactions by trading partners) have been estimated to add a measurable number of basis points to core inflation in the short run; some think-tank and Fed estimates put first-round impacts between ~0.1% and up to ~1.8% on consumer prices depending on scope and pass-through assumptions. Those numbers illustrate the concept: targeted tariffs can move aggregate prices when they hit big-ticket or widely used inputs.

      Other consequences that amplify (or mute) the inflationary effect

      • Policy uncertainty raises costs. Firms’ inability to plan (frequent rate changes, threats of additional tariffs) increases inventories and compliance spending, which can raise prices even beyond the tariff itself. Recent business surveys report that tariff uncertainty is already increasing costs for many firms. 

      • Trade diversion and higher-cost sourcing. If imports are redirected to higher-cost suppliers to avoid tariffs, consumers pay more even if the tariffed good itself isn’t sold at home.

      • Monetary policy reaction. If central banks tighten to offset tariff-driven inflation, the resulting slower demand can blunt price rises; if central banks look through one-off tariff effects, inflation may persist. That interaction is the crucial policy lever. 

      Practical implications for consumers, businesses and policy

      • For consumers: Expect higher prices in targeted categories (appliances, furniture, specific branded goods, pharmaceuticals where applicable). Substitution (cheaper alternatives, used goods) will dampen some of the pain but not all. Low-income households are likely to feel the pinch more.

      • For firms: Short run — margin pressure or higher retail prices; medium run — supply-chain reconfiguration, higher capital costs if tariffs hit investment goods. Tariff uncertainty is itself costly.

      • For policymakers: Design matters. Narrow, temporary tariffs with clear objectives and sunset clauses reduce the risk of persistent inflation and political capture. Communication with central banks and trading partners helps reduce uncertainty. If tariffs are broad and long lasting, monetary authorities face harder choices to maintain price stability. 

      Bottom line

      Tariffs do raise consumer prices — sometimes only slightly and once, sometimes more significantly and persistently. Empirical work and recent episodes show the effect is heterogeneous: it depends on the tariffs’ size, coverage (final vs intermediate goods), pass-through rates in particular markets, supply-chain links, and how monetary and fiscal authorities respond. In short: tariffs are an inflationary tool when applied at scale, but the real economic pain depends on the details — and on whether those tariffs are temporary, targeted, and paired with policies that limit rent-seeking and supply-chain disruption.

      If you want, I can:

      • prepare a table of recent studies (estimate, scope, implied CPI effect) so you can compare numbers side-by-side, or

      • run a short sectoral deep-dive (e.g., electronics, autos, pharmaceuticals) to show which consumer categories are most likely to see price rises where you live, or

      • draft a two-page brief for a policymaker summarizing the tradeoffs and suggested guardrails.

    What the evidence and recent studies show (how big are the effects?)

    • Pass-through varies by product, but is often substantial. Micro-level studies of recent U.S. tariffs find nontrivial pass-through: some estimates put retail pass-through for affected goods in the range of tens of percent up to near full pass-through in the short run for certain categories. One well-known microstudy finds a 20% tariff linked with roughly a 0.7% retail price rise for affected products in its sample—pass-through is heterogeneous.

    • Recent policy episodes (2025 U.S. tariff episodes) provide real-time estimates. Multiple papers and central-bank notes looking at the 2025 tariff measures conclude the first-round effect is measurable but not massive overall — estimates range from a few tenths of a percentage point up to low single digits in headline/core inflation depending on which scenario is assumed (full pass-through vs partial, scope of tariffs, and whether monetary policy offsets). For example, recent Federal Reserve analysis and Boston Fed back-of-the-envelope work put short-run contributions to core inflation on the order of ~0.1–0.8 percentage points (varies by method and which tariffs are counted). Yale and other research groups that look at sectoral pass-through find higher short-run impacts in heavily affected categories. 

    • Tariffs on investment goods can have outsized effects. Studies highlight that tariffs on capital goods (machinery, semiconductors, tools) raise costs of producing other goods and can therefore have larger effects on investment and longer-term productivity; projected price effects for investment goods are often larger than for consumption goods. 

    One-time level shift vs persistent inflation — which is more likely?

    There are two useful ways to think about the impact:

    • One-time price level effect: If tariffs are a discrete shock and firms simply add the tax to prices, the general price level jumps but inflation (the rate of increase) reverts to trend — a one-off effect.

    • Persistent inflation effect: If tariffs raise firms’ costs, shift bargaining, or alter expectations such that wages and services reprice, the effect can persist. Which occurs depends on how long tariffs remain, whether central banks respond, and whether input costs feed into broad service wages. Recent policy debates (and Fed/central-bank analyses) focus on this distinction because it matters for monetary policy decisions. 

    Who really pays — consumers or firms?

    • Short run: A large share of the tariff burden often falls on consumers through higher retail prices, especially for final goods with little cheap domestic supply or close substitutes. Microstudies of past tariff episodes show retailers do not fully absorb tariffs. 

    • Medium run: Firms that cannot pass through full costs may absorb some through lower margins, investment cuts, or shifting production. But if tariffs are prolonged, businesses may restructure supply chains (friend-shoring, reshoring), which involves costs that eventually show up in prices or wages.

    • Distributional note: Tariffs are regressive in practice: low-income households spend a higher share of income on traded goods (electronics, clothing, groceries), so price rises hit them proportionally harder.

    Recent real-world examples and context

    • U.S.–China tariffs (2018–2020): Research showed sectoral price increases and some consumer price impacts, but the overall macro inflationary effect was modest; distributional and sectoral effects were important.

    • 2025 tariff escalations (selective large tariffs): Multiple U.S. measures in 2025 (and reactions by trading partners) have been estimated to add a measurable number of basis points to core inflation in the short run; some think-tank and Fed estimates put first-round impacts between ~0.1% and up to ~1.8% on consumer prices depending on scope and pass-through assumptions. Those numbers illustrate the concept: targeted tariffs can move aggregate prices when they hit big-ticket or widely used inputs. 

    Other consequences that amplify (or mute) the inflationary effect

    • Policy uncertainty raises costs. Firms’ inability to plan (frequent rate changes, threats of additional tariffs) increases inventories and compliance spending, which can raise prices even beyond the tariff itself. Recent business surveys report that tariff uncertainty is already increasing costs for many firms. 

    • Trade diversion and higher-cost sourcing. If imports are redirected to higher-cost suppliers to avoid tariffs, consumers pay more even if the tariffed good itself isn’t sold at home.

    • Monetary policy reaction. If central banks tighten to offset tariff-driven inflation, the resulting slower demand can blunt price rises; if central banks look through one-off tariff effects, inflation may persist. That interaction is the crucial policy lever. 

    Practical implications for consumers, businesses and policy

    • For consumers: Expect higher prices in targeted categories (appliances, furniture, specific branded goods, pharmaceuticals where applicable). Substitution (cheaper alternatives, used goods) will dampen some of the pain but not all. Low-income households are likely to feel the pinch more.

    • For firms: Short run — margin pressure or higher retail prices; medium run — supply-chain reconfiguration, higher capital costs if tariffs hit investment goods. Tariff uncertainty is itself costly.

    • For policymakers: Design matters. Narrow, temporary tariffs with clear objectives and sunset clauses reduce the risk of persistent inflation and political capture. Communication with central banks and trading partners helps reduce uncertainty. If tariffs are broad and long lasting, monetary authorities face harder choices to maintain price stability. 

    Bottom line

    Tariffs do raise consumer prices — sometimes only slightly and once, sometimes more significantly and persistently. Empirical work and recent episodes show the effect is heterogeneous: it depends on the tariffs’ size, coverage (final vs intermediate goods), pass-through rates in particular markets, supply-chain links, and how monetary and fiscal authorities respond. In short: tariffs are an inflationary tool when applied at scale, but the real economic pain depends on the details — and on whether those tariffs are temporary, targeted, and paired with policies that limit rent-seeking and supply-chain disruption.

    If you want, I can:

    • prepare a table of recent studies (estimate, scope, implied CPI effect) so you can compare numbers side-by-side, or

    • run a short sectoral deep-dive (e.g., electronics, autos, pharmaceuticals) to show which consumer categories are most likely to see price rises where you live, or

    • draft a two-page brief for a policymaker summarizing the tradeoffs and suggested guardrails.

    See less
daniyasiddiquiImage-Explained
Asked: 01/10/2025In:

developing countries use tariffs as a ...

developingeconomieseconomicgrowthindustrialdevelopmentprotectionismtariffstradepolicy
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

    Why people think tariffs can help The infant-industry argument is simple and intuitive: new industries may need temporary shelter from world competition while they learn, reach scale, adopt technology, and get more productive. If you expose them immediately to global rivals with mature factories andRead more

    Why people think tariffs can help

    The infant-industry argument is simple and intuitive: new industries may need temporary shelter from world competition while they learn, reach scale, adopt technology, and get more productive. If you expose them immediately to global rivals with mature factories and deeper pockets, they may never get off the ground. Tariffs can:

    • Give domestic firms breathing room to reach minimum efficient scale.

    • Create incentives for local suppliers and upstream industries to develop.

    • Raise government revenue that can be ploughed into infrastructure, skills, or R&D that support industrialization.

    • Allow governments to pursue strategic goals (e.g., build an electronics base, heavy industry, or green manufacturing) rather than relying only on market signals.

    Historical narratives about late-industrializers like the U.S., Germany, Japan and — in the 20th century — the East Asian tigers emphasize selective protection plus active industrial policy as part of their success stories. But note: these countries rarely relied on blanket tariffs forever; they combined protection with export push, state coordination, and learning targets. 

    Why tariffs often backfire

    Empirical work and recent policy analysis show clear pitfalls. Tariffs can easily produce:

    • Inefficiency and higher prices. Protected firms face less competition and therefore have weaker incentives to innovate or cut costs; consumers pay more. Cross-country studies link long spells of protection to lower productivity growth. 

    • Rent-seeking and capture. Firms lobby to keep protection, political coalitions form, and temporary measures become permanent. That’s how import-substitution regimes in some Latin American countries became stagnation traps.

    • Retaliation and trade diversion. Higher tariffs invite counter-measures or shift trade toward higher-cost suppliers, hurting export competitiveness. Recent episodes show developing countries suffer heavily when big powers raise tariffs.

    • Macroeconomic harm. Tariffs can be inflationary and reduce the efficiency of labor allocation, sometimes contributing to slower overall growth. 

    What the evidence actually says

    The modern empirical literature is nuanced. Broad cross-country evidence warns that long-term, undisciplined protection tends to reduce growth and welfare. But careful industry-level and case-study research shows that time-bound, targeted industrial policy — sometimes including tariffs — plausibly helped South Korea and other East Asian economies build advanced manufacturing capabilities. The difference lies in design, complementary policies, and institutions. Recent IMF and academic work emphasize the conditional success of industrial policy rather than a blanket endorsement of protectionism. 

    Key conditions that make tariff-led industrial policy more likely to succeed

    If a developing country is thinking of using tariffs as one tool toward industrial growth, the following elements matter a lot:

    1. Clear, time-bound objective. Tariffs must be temporary with explicit sunset clauses and measurable performance benchmarks (productivity gains, export competitiveness, R&D targets).

    2. Selective and targeted application. Target sectors where learning-by-doing and scale economies are plausible, not broad protection of low-value activities.

    3. Complementary policies. Tariffs alone rarely build competitiveness. Pair them with subsidies for R&D, workforce training, infrastructure, export promotion, and access to finance.

    4. Strong governance and anti-capture mechanisms. Transparent rules, regular reviews, and independent evaluation reduce the risk of permanent rent extraction.

    5. Export orientation or credible exit strategy. Successful cases combined protection with an eventual push into exports; domestic protection that never leads to export competitiveness is a red flag.

    6. Macro and trade diplomacy awareness. Policymakers must manage exchange-rate, fiscal, and diplomatic implications to avoid harmful retaliation or loss of market access. 

    Practical checklist for policymakers (a short playbook)

    • Define which industries and why (technology challenge, scale, spillovers).

    • Set performance metrics (cost reductions, productivity, export share, R&D intensity) and a strict sunset (3–7 years, extendable only on clear evidence).

    • Offer graduated, conditional support (tariffs + matching R&D grants + export incentives), not unconditional lifelong tariffs.

    • Create an independent evaluation body to audit progress and publish results.

    • Keep trade partners informed and seek carve-outs or temporary arrangements in regional agreements where possible.

    • Combine with education, infrastructure, and competition policy so protection does not create permanent monopolies. 

    Realistic expectations

    Even when well designed, tariffs are only one piece of an industrial strategy. They can buy time and help create space to learn, but they do not automatically create globally competitive industries. Many successful modern industrializers combined a mix of: selective protection, state support for technology adoption, heavy investment in skills and infrastructure, and policies that pushed firms to export or otherwise face competition eventually.

    Bottom line

    Tariffs are a blunt tool: useful in carefully circumscribed, temporary, and well-governed cases where market failures block infant industries from developing. But used as a default policy, or without credible performance rules and complementary interventions, tariffs are much more likely to backfire — producing higher prices, stagnation, and political rents. History and recent research both warn: the how matters far more than the whether. 

    If you want, I can:

    • write a policy brief (2–3 pages) that applies this checklist to a specific country (pick one), or

    • prepare short case studies comparing South Korea, Argentina, and India to show contrasts, or

    • pull a readable list of the best academic/agency resources (WTO, UNCTAD, IMF, World Bank papers) so you can dig deeper.

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daniyasiddiquiImage-Explained
Asked: 01/10/2025In:

text, image, video, voice

aiuxconversationalaihumancomputerinteractionimagerecognitionnaturaluserinterfacevoiceai
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

    Single-Channel to Multi-Sensory Communication Old school engagement: One channel, just once. You typed (text), spoke (voice), or sent a picture. Every interaction was siloed. Multimodal engagement: Multiple channels blended together in beautiful harmony. You might show the AI a picture of your kitchRead more

    Single-Channel to Multi-Sensory Communication

    • Old school engagement: One channel, just once. You typed (text), spoke (voice), or sent a picture. Every interaction was siloed.
    • Multimodal engagement: Multiple channels blended together in beautiful harmony. You might show the AI a picture of your kitchen, say “what can I cook from this?”, and get a voice reply with recipe text and step-by-step video.

    No longer “speaking to a machine” but about engaging with it in the same way that human beings instinctively make use of all their senses.

     Examples of Change in the Real World

    Healthcare

    • Former approach: Doctors once had to work with various systems for imaging scans, patient information, and test results.
    • New way: A multimodal AI can read the scan, interpret what the physician wrote, and even listen to a patient’s voice for signs of stress—then bring it all together into one unified insight.

    Education

    • Old way: Students read books or studied videos in isolation.
    • New way: A student can ask a math problem orally, share a photo of the assignment, and get a step-by-step description in text and pictures. The AI “educates” in multiple modes, differentiating by learning modality.

    Accessibility

    • Old way: Assistive technology was limited—text to speech via screen readers, audio captions.
    • New way: AI narrates what’s in an image, translates voice into text, and even generates visual aids for learning disabilities. It’s a sense-to-sense universal translator.

    Daily Life

    • Old way: You Googled recipes, watched a video, and then read the instructions.
    • New way: You snap a photo of ingredients, say “what’s for dinner?” and get a narrated, personalized recipe video—all done at once.

    The Human Touch: Less Mechanical, More Natural

    Multimodal AI is a case of working with a friend rather than a machine. Instead of making your needs fit into a tool (e.g., typing into a search bar), the tool shapes itself into your needs. It mimics the manner in which humans interact with the world—vision, hearing, language, and context—and makes it easier, especially for those who are not so techie.

    Take grandparents who are not good with smartphones. Instead of navigating menus, they might simply show the AI a medical bill and say: “Explain this to me.” That adjustment makes technology accessible.

    The Challenges We Must Monitor

    So, though, this promise does introduce new challenges:

    • Privacy issues: If AI can “see” and “hear” everything, what’s being recorded and who has control over it?
    • Bias amplification: If an AI is trained on faulty visual or audio inputs, it could misinterpret people’s tone, accent, or appearance.
    • Over-reliance: Will people forget to scrutinize information if the AI always provides an “all-in-one” answer?

    We need strong ethics and openness so that this more natural communication style doesn’t secretly turn into manipulation.

    Multimodal AI is revolutionizing human-machine interactions. It transposes us from tool users to co-creators, with technology holding conversations rather than simply responding to commands.

    Imagine a world where:

    • Travelers communicate using the same AI to interpret spoken language in real time and present cultural nuances in images.
    • Artists collaborate through talking about feelings, sharing drawings, and refining them with images generated by AI.
    • Families preserve memories by inserting aging photographs and voice messages into it, and having the AI create a living “storybook” that springs to life.
    • It’s a leap toward technology that doesn’t just answer questions, but understands experiences.

    Bottom Line: Multimodal AI changes technology from something we “operate” into something we can converse with naturally—using words, pictures, sounds, and gestures together. It’s making digital interaction more human, but it also demands that we handle privacy, ethics, and trust with care.

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daniyasiddiquiImage-Explained
Asked: 01/10/2025In:

persuasive than humans—and what ethic ...

aiaccountabilityaiandethicsaimanipulationaitransparencymultimodalaipersuasiveai
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

     Why Artificial Intelligence Can Be More Convincing Than Human Beings Limitless Versatility One of the things that individuals like about one is a strong communication style—some analytical, some emotional, some motivational. AI can respond in real-time, however. It can give a dry recitation of factRead more

     Why Artificial Intelligence Can Be More Convincing Than Human Beings

    Limitless Versatility

    One of the things that individuals like about one is a strong communication style—some analytical, some emotional, some motivational. AI can respond in real-time, however. It can give a dry recitation of facts to an engineer, a rosy spin to a policymaker, and then switch to soothing tone for a nervous individual—all in the same conversation.

    Data-Driven Personalization

    Unlike humans, AI can draw upon vast reserves of information about what works on people. It can detect patterns of tone, body language (through video), or even usage of words, and adapt in real-time. Imagine a digital assistant that detects your rage building and adjusts its tone, and also rehashes its argument to appeal to your beliefs. That’s influence at scale.

    Tireless Precision

    Humans get tired, get distracted, or get emotional when arguing. AI does not. It can repeat itself ad infinitum without patience, wearing down adversaries in the long run—particularly with susceptible communities.

     The Ethical Conundrum

    This coercive ability is not inherently bad—it could be used for good, such as for promoting healthier lives, promoting further education, or driving climate action. But the same influence could be used for:

    • Stirring up political fervor.
    • Pricing dirty goods.
    • Unfairly influencing money decisions.
    • Make emotional dependency on users.

    The distinction between helpful advice and manipulative bullying is paper-thin.

    What Ethical Bounds Should There Be?

    To avoid exploitation, developers and societies should have robust ethical norms:

    Transparency Regarding Mode Switching

    AI needs to make explicit when it’s switching tone or reasoning style—so users are aware if it’s being sympathetic, convincing, or analytically ruthless. Concealed switches make dishonesty.

    Limits on Persuasion in Sensitive Areas

    AI should never be permitted to override humans in matters relating to politics, religion, or love. They are inextricably tied up with autonomy and identity.

    Informed Consent

    Persuasive modes need to be available for an “opt out” by the users. Think of a switch so that you can respond: “Give me facts, but not persuasion.”

    Safeguards for Vulnerable Groups

    The mentally disordered, elderly, or children need not be the target of adaptive persuasion. Guardrails should safeguard us from exploitation.

    Accountability & Oversight

    If an AI convinces someone to do something dangerous, then who is at fault—the developer, the company, or the AI? We require accountability features, because we have regulations governing advertising or drugs.

    The Human Angle

    Essentially, this is less about machines and more about trust. When the human convinces us, we can feel intent, bias, or honesty. We cannot feel those with AI behind the machines. Unrestrained AI would take away human free will by subtly pushing us down paths we ourselves do not know.

    But in its proper use, persuasive AI can be an empowerment force—reminding us to get back on track, helping us make healthier choices, or getting smarter. It’s about ensuring we’re driving, and not the computer.

    Bottom Line: AI may change modes and be even more convincing than human, but ethics-free persuasion is manipulation. The challenge of the future is creating systems that leverage this capability to augment human decision-making, not supplant it.

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daniyasiddiquiImage-Explained
Asked: 01/10/2025In:

multimodal AI and traditional AI mode

aiexplainedaivstraditionalmodelsartificialintelligencedeeplearningmachinelearningmultimodalai
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

    What is "Multimodal AI," and How Does it Differ from Classic AI Models? Artificial Intelligence has been moving at lightening speed, but one of the greatest advancements has been the emergence of multimodal AI. Simply put, multimodal AI is akin to endowing a machine with sight, hearing, reading, andRead more

    What is “Multimodal AI,” and How Does it Differ from Classic AI Models?

    Artificial Intelligence has been moving at lightening speed, but one of the greatest advancements has been the emergence of multimodal AI. Simply put, multimodal AI is akin to endowing a machine with sight, hearing, reading, and even responding in a manner that weaves together all of those senses in a single coherent response—just like humans.

     Classic AI: One Track Mind

    Classic AI models were typically constructed to deal with only one kind of data at a time:

    • A text model could read and write only text.
    • An image recognition model could only recognize images.
    • A speech recognition model could only recognize audio.

    This made them very strong in a single lane, but could not merge various forms of input by themselves. Like, an old-fashioned AI would say you what is in a photo (e.g., “this is a cat”), but it wouldn’t be able to hear you ask about the cat and then respond back with a description—all in one shot.

     Welcome Multimodal AI: The Human-Like Merge

    Multimodal AI topples those walls. It can process multiple information modes simultaneously—text, images, audio, video, and sometimes even sensory input such as gestures or environmental signals.

    For instance:

    You can display a picture of your refrigerator and type in: “What recipe can I prepare using these ingredients?” The AI can “look” at the ingredients and respond in text afterwards.

    • You might write a scene in words, and it will create an image or video to match.
    • You might upload an audio recording, and it may transcribe it, examine the speaker’s tone, and suggest a response—all in the same exchange.
    • This capability gets us so much closer to the way we, as humans, experience the world. We don’t simply experience life in words—we experience it through sight, sound, and language all at once.

     Key Differences at a Glance

    Input Diversity

    • Traditional AI behavior → one input (text-only, image-only).
    • Multimodal AI behavior → more than one input (text + image + audio, etc.).

    Contextual Comprehension

    • Traditional AI behavior → performs poorly when context spans different types of information.
    • Multimodal AI behavior → combines sources of information to build richer, more human-like understanding.

    Functional Applications

    • Traditional AI behavior → chatbots, spam filters, simple image recognition.
    • Multimodal AI → medical diagnosis (scans + patient records), creative tools (text-to-image/video/music), accessibility aids (describing scenes to visually impaired).

    Why This Matters for the Future

    Multimodal AI isn’t just about making cooler apps. It’s about making AI more natural and useful in daily Consider:

    • Education → Teachers might use AI to teach a science conceplife.  with text, diagrams, and spoken examples in one fluent lesson.
    • Healthcare → A physician would upload an MRI scan, patient history, and lab work, and the AI would put them together to make recommendations of possible diagnoses.
    • Accessibility → Individuals with disabilities would gain from AI that “sees” and “speaks,” advancing digital life to be more inclusive.

     The Human Angle

    The most dramatic change is this: multimodal AI doesn’t feel so much like a “tool” anymore, but rather more like a collaborator. Rather than switching between multiple apps (one for speech-to-text, one for image edit, one for writing), you might have one AI partner who gets you across all formats.

    Of course, this power raises important questions about ethics, privacy, and misuse. If an AI can watch, listen, and talk all at once, who controls what it does with that information? That’s the conversation society is only just beginning to have.

    Briefly: Classic AI was similar to a specialist. Multimodal AI is similar to a balanced generalist—capable of seeing, hearing, talking, and reasoning between various kinds of input, getting us one step closer to human-level intelligence.

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daniyasiddiquiImage-Explained
Asked: 01/10/2025In:

20-point plan with Israeli Prime Mini ...

gazaredevelopmentgazawarplanhostagereleaseisraelpalestineconflictpeaceproposal2025transitionalgovernance
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

    1. Immediate Ceasefire and Release of Hostages Central to the plan is a call for an immediate ceasefire. Hamas would be required to release all the hostages it still holds within 72 hours. To Israel, this was an absolute condition, and to Trump, it provided him with an argument that the plan is notRead more

    1. Immediate Ceasefire and Release of Hostages

    Central to the plan is a call for an immediate ceasefire. Hamas would be required to release all the hostages it still holds within 72 hours. To Israel, this was an absolute condition, and to Trump, it provided him with an argument that the plan is not merely about humanitarian relief, but also about Israeli security.

    2. Gradual Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza

    The proposal has Israel slowly withdrawing its military presence, but with assurances. It is linked to Hamas disarming and security being reorganized under an international umbrella. This is how Trump attempts to reassure Israel that Gaza will never again become a launching pad for attacks.

    3. Demilitarization of Hamas

    Hamas would be required to surrender heavy weapons, destroy its tunnel system, and agree to stop using armed resistance. Critics see this as the main flaw: it requires one side to effectively disarm without any evident path toward long-term political integration.

    4. A New Governance Model: The “Board of Peace”

    Among the most provocative aspects is Trump’s call to establish a “Board of Peace,” led by himself. According to this vision, Gaza would temporarily be ruled by Palestinian technocrats—above-party officials with managerial backgrounds—under international monitoring. Trump proposes being the mediator-in-chief, but critics contend it could end up treating Palestinians as foreigners in their own territory.

    5. Humanitarian and Reconstruction Push

    The package features billions of pledged investment to rebuild Gaza’s destroyed infrastructure—roads, hospitals, schools, homes, and electricity supply. Trump outlined his vision as making Gaza the “Riviera of the Middle East,” a repeat of his previous contentious vision to redevelop the strip as a tourist and economic center. Fans refer to this as bold; critics refer to it as unrealistic unless the underlying political grievances are addressed.

    6. Security Assurances for Israel

    Israel would still have the right to defend itself and control Gaza’s borders under international covenants. The plan basically gives priority to Israel’s security framework first, before Palestinian statehood.

    7. Pathway to Palestinian Self-Determination (Conditional)

    For Palestinians, Trump’s plan leaves a very narrow window open: if Hamas agrees, if technocratic rule succeeds, and security holds firm, then talks about Palestinian autonomy might come. But many Palestinians regard this as pulling sovereignty many years into the future, with no actual promises.

    Why It Matters

    Trump’s 20-point plan matters because it reveals the ways in which he is attempting to redefine U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East. Unlike his predecessors, who relied on international coalitions or two-state negotiations, Trump wishes to take personal charge of the process, nearly as if peace could be “brokered like a business deal.”

    • Israel’s Perspective: Netanyahu accepted it conditionally, viewing it as a means to unify Israel’s military objectives and obtain U.S. support.
    • Hamas’s Predicament: Hamas has yet to acquiesce, but the ultimatum—”accept or meet a sad fate”—places them under tremendous pressure.
    • International Responses: A few Arab countries greeted the ceasefire aspect but deplored the “Board of Peace” concept as subversive of Palestinian autonomy. Human rights organizations fear it seeks geopolitics over justice.

    Humanized View

    Fundamentally, the plan is a manifestation of Trump’s transactional style. He’s proposing a deal—peace and investment—for bowing to Israel’s security conditions. To families in Gaza suffering under bombardment, any ceasefire sounds like promise. To Israeli families concerned about rockets and hostages, the plan sounds like security.

    But Middle East peace has never been so easy as writing a contract. Palestinians seek dignity, sovereignty, and liberation from occupation. Israelis seek security, acknowledgment, and a halt to terror. Trump’s initiative attempts to thread these needles—but whether it actually tackles the human suffering on both sides, or merely covers over more profound wounds, is the true test.

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daniyasiddiquiImage-Explained
Asked: 30/09/2025In:

blood pressure and cholesterol and re ...

cardiovascularhealthcholesterolcontrolhealthyheartheartdiseasepreventionlowerbloodpressure
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

    Step 1: Knowing the Numbers You can't make it different if you don't know what you have. Blood pressure: Ideally below 120/80 mmHg. Uncontrolled high blood pressure quietly crushes your heart and arteries over time. Cholesterol: LDL ("bad" cholesterol) chokes arteries; HDL ("good" cholesterol) washeRead more

    Step 1: Knowing the Numbers

    You can’t make it different if you don’t know what you have.

    • Blood pressure: Ideally below 120/80 mmHg. Uncontrolled high blood pressure quietly crushes your heart and arteries over time.
    • Cholesterol: LDL (“bad” cholesterol) chokes arteries; HDL (“good” cholesterol) washes it out. All about balance.
    • Risk of heart disease: Increases with smoking, diet, lack of activity, stress, and genetics.

    Knowing where you are starting makes progress easier—measurable—and real.

     Step 2: Redefine Food as Medicine

    Food doesn’t just fuel you; it actually determines the fate of your heart. Some self-evident modifications:

    • Boost plants: Vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains—these naturally lower cholesterol.
    • Healthy fats: Olive oil, nuts, seeds, fatty fish guard your arteries.
    • Less salt and sugar: Excessive salt increases blood pressure; excessive sugar leads to weight gain and inflammation.
    • Restrict processed foods: They tend to confine the worst culprits in one package—too much salt, trans fats, and added sugars.

    You don’t have to totally revolutionize your diet overnight. Even substituting one sweetened beverage with water or introducing an extra serving of vegetables daily builds momentum.

     Step 3: Move Your Body, Protect Your Heart

    Exercise is not just a calorie burner—it stretches blood vessels, conditions the heart muscle, and lowers blood pressure without drugs.

    Target: 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week (brisk walking, cycling, dancing).

    • Secret: You don’t need to go to a gym. Walk after meals, take the stairs, dance in your living room, garden—anything.”.
    • Bonus: Exercise also reduces stress since, similar to physical exercise, stress is also a heart risk factor.

    Step 4: Respect Rest and Sleep

    Restless sleep raises blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Sleep 7–9 hours well. Experiment:

    • Creating a regular sleep routine.
    • Limiting screen time before sleep.
    • Having a calming pre-sleep routine (reading, stretching, or meditation).

    Sleeping is not lazy—it’s how your body repairs itself, including your heart.

     Step 5: Cut Smoking and Alcohol

    Smoking destroys blood vessels and accelerates plaque accumulation. Stopping even in middle age cuts risk substantially.

    • Alcohol: Moderate quantities (a glass of red wine with the evening meal) might confer some protection but excess increases blood pressure and slows the heart. If you drink, drink moderately—no more than 1 drink a day for women, 2 for men.

    Step 6: Master Stress Before It Masters You

    Stress not only lives in your head but also raises blood pressure and powers unhealthy coping habits (such as too much eating or too much drinking). Methods that succeed are:

    • Deep breathing techniques.
    • Mindfulness or meditation.
    • Talking it out with friends or a counselor.
    • Playing at something you like every day—music, art, nature, or just play.
    • Think stress management emotional heart care.

     Step 7: Regular Check-Ups and Monitoring

    Even when you feel wonderful, high cholesterol and high blood pressure generally won’t have symptoms until after they’ve caused harm. Regular check-ups find them early. Your doctor might recommend:

    • Following your blood pressure.
    • Screening your lipid profile.
    • Counseling about changing your lifestyle—or, if needed, drugs.

    And if drugs are called for, view them not as defeat but another safety net while you continue developing good habits.

    Final Thought

    Lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease risk isn’t about one heroic, fabulous move—it’s about tiny, achievable steps that add up year by year. It’s the difference between grilling fish instead of frying chicken on one night, walking for 10 minutes instead of scrolling aimlessly, saying no to one more stressful commitment, or going to bed a few minutes sooner.

    Every little decision is a contribution to your heart’s “health savings account.” And they accumulate over time to an ever-stronger, more resilient heart—and an ever-longer, fuller life.

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daniyasiddiquiImage-Explained
Asked: 30/09/2025In: ,

health devices and health-tech tools

digitalhealthfitnesstrackershealthmonitoringhealthtechsmartwearableswearabletech
  1. daniyasiddiqui
    daniyasiddiqui Image-Explained

     The Seduction of Wearables: Why We Purchase Them Few purchase a wearable because they're data nerds—they buy it because they desire change. We want to be cajoled into more walking, improved sleep, or managing stress. A vibrating alarm to rise or a line graph of last night's deep sleep can be a softRead more

     The Seduction of Wearables: Why We Purchase Them

    Few purchase a wearable because they’re data nerds—they buy it because they desire change. We want to be cajoled into more walking, improved sleep, or managing stress. A vibrating alarm to rise or a line graph of last night’s deep sleep can be a soft nudge toward improvement.

    There’s also a psychological aspect: having something on your body is a promise to yourself each day—I’m going to take care of my health.

    The Benefits: When Wearables Really Deliver

    Most people, wearables definitely deliver benefits:

    • Accountability & Motivation: Watching your step count go up can get you on the stairs rather than the elevator.
    • Early Warnings: Certain trackers recognize abnormal heart rhythms, abnormally low oxygen, or even alert for infections when they’re not yet fully developed.
    • Personalized Insights: Rather than making an educated guess about how good you slept, you receive a crude drawing of your night’s sleep. Rather than making an educated guess that you’re “active enough,” you have hard numbers.
    • Behavior Change: Humans underestimate just how much little reminders—”you’ve walked only 3,000 steps today”—encourage long-term behavior change.

    For certain patients (such as those with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or sleep apnea), wearables even enable physicians to track improvements more deeply and refine treatments.

    The Caveats: When They Don’t Deliver

    Wearables are not magic, however. People get bored after the honeymoon phase wears off. Here’s why:

    • Data Overload: There are too many graphs, charts, and numbers to overwhelm, not motivate.
    • Accuracy Problems: Wearables for consumers are excellent at tracking trends, but not ideal for measurements. A fitness band is not a medical-quality ECG.
    • Anxiety Due to Monitoring: Ironically, constant monitoring of heart rate or sleep duration can be more anxiety-causing. Some individuals even develop “sleep anxiety” if the watch informs them that they “did not sleep enough.”
    • Privacy Issues: The information you create—heart rate, sleep patterns, stress levels—is stored in company servers. Not everyone is okay with that.

    The Human Side: It’s Not About the Device, It’s About You

    A wearable is a tool, not a solution. It will remind you to move, but it won’t walk for you. It will tell you about poor sleeping habits, but it won’t tuck you into bed this evening. The benefit comes from how you act on the feedback.

    For instance:

    • When your watch tells you that you have sat for several hours and you get up to stretch, that’s a win.
    • If your sleep tracker tells you to reduce late-night coffee, and you do, you’ve won.
    • If your stress tracker recommends taking a deep breath and you take a moment to do so, the device is working.

    Without those tiny behavioral adjustments, the newest wearable is simply a fashion watch.

     Looking to the Future: Health-Tech Tomorrow

    Health-tech is coming rapidly. Devices tomorrow will be able to detect diseases sooner, customize doses of medicine, or even customize exercise regimens in real time. For those who find it hard to change their lifestyles, a tiny “coach” on the wrist might make healthier living more accessible.

    However, however intelligent they become, these devices will never substitute for human intuition, the doctor’s word of wisdom, or the plain old horse sense of paying attention to your own body.

    Last Thought

    • So are wearable health devices worth it?
    • Yes—if you use them as a helpful guide, not a tyrant.
    • Yes—if they guide you to habits you can realistically stick to.
    • Perhaps not—if you expect them to “heal” your health on their own.

    Think of them like a mirror: they reflect what’s happening, but you’re the one who decides what to do with that reflection. At the end of the day, the true “wearable” is your body itself—it’s always giving signals. Technology just makes those signals easier to see.

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