Is AI a Goldmine

or a Landmine

For Athlete

Brands?

Toby Daniels
Toby Daniels
Co founder ON_Discourse

You’re a sports fan in 2028.

You log into your fitness app and a chat pops up — it’s an AI workout assistant that looks and talks like your favorite NBA star. You input your training goals for this week and get back a personalized diet and training plan based on your needs.

You pop on your VR headset and fire up Madden 2028 — you scroll through a roster of thousands of hyper-realistic AI-generated players from throughout time and create your team. You head onto the field.

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Different

Perspectives,

Together.

ON_Discourse is a private membership community for business leaders to participate in the Discipline of Discourse to cultivate perspectives, decision-making, and meaningful relationships.

Why Does Business
Need Discourse?

Business Culture and the Media Landscape ultimately drive Groupthink.

Discourse overcomes Fake Ideas, Fake News, and Fake Experts.

Discourse fights against Conventional Thinking and Decision-Making Paralysis.

Discourse Exposes Business' Isolated Beliefs.

At the heart of ON_Discourse is our dedication to the idea that the best decisions in business are made when you bring smart people with different perspectives together.

Actions backed
by Values.

1

Provoke

…with trust and empathy by asking questions and challenging each other.

2

Listen

…with curiosity and intellectual honesty by being receptive to other points of view.

3

Change

…with an openness and a commitment to diverse perspectives.

Our members are made up of a community of experts that have…

Published best-selling books on business, technology, culture, politics, etc.

Run digital at the highest level for one of the world’s largest fashion brands

Lead innovation for the world’s largest SaaS company

Run the technology group for the largest US multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate

Built and exited one of the world’s biggest e-commerce sites in the mobile consumer technology space

Launched a billion-dollar digital business for Europe's most important governing bodies in football

Built the developer ecosystems for two of the most influential technology companies

Launched a $100 million venture fund in the climate tech industry with over 100 investments and multiple exits to date

Join the community

What is a
Living Issue?

Living Issues are deep dives into specific business verticals, focused on the most urgent and important topics in business and technology.

We create Living Issues that are important, current, and relevant.

We look for different perspectives and insist on opposing points of view.

We uncover perspectives that evolve into provocations.

We provide these provocations through content that provides education, context, and framing.

We then introduce these new ideas back to the community experts to keep the discourse flowing.

Join the discourse.

and more.

Join our growing community of business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to access new perspectives, better decision-making, and more meaningful relationships.

Applications for 2023 close on December 22.

Apply for Membership

FAQ

Can I attend ON_Discourse events?

Only members can access Living Issues, events, and the community. You can apply for membership here.

Is it only in-person?

No, we operate a hybrid approach to events, which we host online and in person.

Get answers to more FAQs

Do You

Want to

Change

Your

MIND?

Dan Gardner
Co-Founder & Exec Chair, Code and Theory
Co-Founder, ON_Discourse

When was the last time you felt like you had your mind changed?”

When you engaged in a discussion with someone you respect and who has the experience to speak knowledgeably about a topic but had a completely different point of view than your own?

Imagine a space where you would find yourself thinking differently about the most important decisions you make.

As the founder and chairman of a creative and technology-driven consulting business with almost 2,000 employees, I think creating space to be challenged and to be able to challenge others’ perspectives is essential to business success.

So why a member’s media company?

We believe “discourse” has become a bad word in media. In practice, it’s been used as a form of trolling or to express negativity around someone’s opinion, instead of embracing curiosity about a different opinion and understanding that can help make more informed decisions. A trusted space to publish and engage in conversation with those who value discourse is essential to what business leaders need.

We believe that the world of business and technology today is filled with fake experts, often confusing the narrative and, ultimately, decision-making. At ON_Discourse, we bring together practitioners to share perspectives about the work they do day in and day out. They share an understanding that only comes from being on the frontlines of technology. And these people also possess the humility to admit what they know and don’t know. 

We believe a members-only media company relieves us of the problem of prioritizing the wrong KPIs that often plague modern media companies. We don’t want to be focused on the volume of content, clickbait, or a NASCAR-style approach to ads on a page. This economic model allows us to focus on the value of our mission.

ON_Discourse launch event “A Symphony of Disruption” at Fotografiska in New York City

We will provide content that makes you question and helps inform action. We avoid predictable platitudes, the 100th similar take that’s already been written about the latest hot topic, self-help, or motivational essays. 

Whenever we publish something or host a live discussion, we ask ourselves how the content will provide decision-makers, with busy schedules and mission-critical projects, with information that they can use to go directly into meetings and negotiations feeling informed and a step ahead.

These are

our Values

  • Curiosity to go Deeper: We know that very few things are worthy of your time. We publish high-quality, high-impact work that elevates public discourse and provides our readers with unique insights. Volume is not our focus, value and quality are.
  • Diversity of Perspective: We champion intellectual honesty and the courage to acknowledge our own limitations in the pursuit of knowledge. We help our community challenge conventional thinking.
  • Empathy to Opposing Ideas: It’s important that we’re not pandering to our members and are open and honest in our approach to the subjects we cover. We should operate without fear or favor in analyzing and criticizing the issues we address. There can often be a “circle the wagons” approach in the technology space that we should avoid being part of. 
  • Disagreement is Encouraged: In order to offer true value, we need to be free of pressure from members or potential partners. We should be respectful and thoughtful in our approach. Challenge ideas, not people specifically. We expect that from our contributors as well.

We will deliver value through exclusive access to our digital content and exciting and engaging in-person events and experiences. We will bring together the best minds from the top levels of business and create opportunities for real discourse.

That’s the mission of ON_Discourse.

We’re excited to begin this journey with you.

If you’re a member, you can explore our articles through our Discover page.
If you haven’t yet applied for membership you can do so here.

Discover more
Discourse

Sorry, Everybody Can’t Be a Director

Dan Gardner
Co-Founder & Exec Chair,
Code and Theory
Co-Founder, ON_Discourse
This is member only content.

To keep reading this post, apply to join our Member Waitlist. Learn more about the benefits of becoming an ON_Discourse member here.

Apply

Already a member? Login

Different

Perspectives,

Together.

ON_Discourse is a private membership community for business leaders to participate in the Discipline of Discourse to cultivate perspectives, decision-making, and meaningful relationships.

Why Does Business
Need Discourse?

Business Culture and the Media Landscape ultimately drive Groupthink.

Discourse overcomes Fake Ideas, Fake News, and Fake Experts.

Discourse fights against Conventional Thinking and Decision-Making Paralysis.

Discourse Exposes Business' Isolated Beliefs.

At the heart of ON_Discourse is our dedication to the idea that the best decisions in business are made when you bring smart people with different perspectives together.

Actions backed
by Values.

1

Provoke

…with trust and empathy by asking questions and challenging each other.

2

Listen

…with curiosity and intellectual honesty by being receptive to other points of view.

3

Change

…with an openness and a commitment to diverse perspectives.

Our members are made up of a community of experts that have…

Published best-selling books on business, technology, culture, politics, etc.

Run digital at the highest level for one of the world’s largest fashion brands

Lead innovation for the world’s largest SaaS company

Run the technology group for the largest US multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate

Built and exited one of the world’s biggest e-commerce sites in the mobile consumer technology space

Launched a billion-dollar digital business for Europe's most important governing bodies in football

Built the developer ecosystems for two of the most influential technology companies

Launched a $100 million venture fund in the climate tech industry with over 100 investments and multiple exits to date

Join the community

What is a
Living Issue?

Living Issues are deep dives into specific business verticals, focused on the most urgent and important topics in business and technology.

We create Living Issues that are important, current, and relevant.

We look for different perspectives and insist on opposing points of view.

We uncover perspectives that evolve into provocations.

We provide these provocations through content that provides education, context, and framing.

We then introduce these new ideas back to the community experts to keep the discourse flowing.

Join the discourse.

and more.

Join our growing community of business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to access new perspectives, better decision-making, and more meaningful relationships.

Applications for 2023 close on December 22.

Apply for Membership

FAQ

Can I attend ON_Discourse events?

Only members can access Living Issues, events, and the community. You can apply for membership here.

Is it only in-person?

No, we operate a hybrid approach to events, which we host online and in person.

Get answers to more FAQs

AI

Doomerism

is a

Business

Tactic

Anthony DeRosa
Head of Content and Product,
ON_Discourse


Recent warnings from tech leaders that AI could lead to the extinction of humanity have raised eyebrows and reminded me of rhetoric that supports the US military-industrial complex. The apocalyptic scenarios put forth by AI industry titans like Sam Altman may be giving birth to an “AI-industrial complex,” driven by hyperbole rather than a rational evaluation of AI’s potential destructive power.

This is member only content.

To keep reading this post, apply to join our Member Waitlist. Learn more about the benefits of becoming an ON_Discourse member here.

Apply

Already a member? Login

Different

Perspectives,

Together.

ON_Discourse is a private membership community for business leaders to participate in the Discipline of Discourse to cultivate perspectives, decision-making, and meaningful relationships.

Why Does Business
Need Discourse?

Business Culture and the Media Landscape ultimately drive Groupthink.

Discourse overcomes Fake Ideas, Fake News, and Fake Experts.

Discourse fights against Conventional Thinking and Decision-Making Paralysis.

Discourse Exposes Business' Isolated Beliefs.

At the heart of ON_Discourse is our dedication to the idea that the best decisions in business are made when you bring smart people with different perspectives together.

Actions backed
by Values.

1

Provoke

…with trust and empathy by asking questions and challenging each other.

2

Listen

…with curiosity and intellectual honesty by being receptive to other points of view.

3

Change

…with an openness and a commitment to diverse perspectives.

Our members are made up of a community of experts that have…

Published best-selling books on business, technology, culture, politics, etc.

Run digital at the highest level for one of the world’s largest fashion brands

Lead innovation for the world’s largest SaaS company

Run the technology group for the largest US multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate

Built and exited one of the world’s biggest e-commerce sites in the mobile consumer technology space

Launched a billion-dollar digital business for Europe's most important governing bodies in football

Built the developer ecosystems for two of the most influential technology companies

Launched a $100 million venture fund in the climate tech industry with over 100 investments and multiple exits to date

Join the community

What is a
Living Issue?

Living Issues are deep dives into specific business verticals, focused on the most urgent and important topics in business and technology.

We create Living Issues that are important, current, and relevant.

We look for different perspectives and insist on opposing points of view.

We uncover perspectives that evolve into provocations.

We provide these provocations through content that provides education, context, and framing.

We then introduce these new ideas back to the community experts to keep the discourse flowing.

Join the discourse.

and more.

Join our growing community of business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to access new perspectives, better decision-making, and more meaningful relationships.

Applications for 2023 close on December 22.

Apply for Membership

FAQ

Can I attend ON_Discourse events?

Only members can access Living Issues, events, and the community. You can apply for membership here.

Is it only in-person?

No, we operate a hybrid approach to events, which we host online and in person.

Get answers to more FAQs
Michael Nuñez
Editorial director of VentureBeat
Disclosing the use of AI in reporting:
It’s Futile

Across newsrooms, journalists are grappling with an unstoppable force — generative AI tools that are quickly reshaping how stories are reported, written, and edited.

In an editorial memo to our staff, I recently shared my vision for using generative AI as a creative partner, not as a replacement for human judgment. But much is at stake amid this enormous swell of innovation.

Tools like ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Google Bard represent a massive paradigm shift for our profession. These large language models, trained on humanity’s cumulative knowledge, have the potential to dramatically expand journalists’ storytelling abilities and productivity.

But as we embrace these innovations, we also face a dilemma: How do we balance the benefits of AI with the core values of journalism? How do we ensure that our stories are accurate, fair, and ethical, while also taking advantage of the speed and efficiency of AI? How do we preserve the human element of journalism—the empathy and judgment that make our stories meaningful and trustworthy—while also leveraging the power and potential of AI?

These are some of the questions that we at VentureBeat are wrestling with every single day. As one of the leading authorities in AI news coverage, we are at the forefront of exploring and experimenting with generative AI technologies in journalism. We are also committed to sharing our insights and best practices with our peers and our audience.

At VentureBeat, we’ve created several guardrails for the use of AI in the newsroom. We allow our editors and reporters to use tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Bing Chat to suggest article topics, story angles, and facts — but journalists are required to verify all information through traditional research. We do not publish articles solely written by AI models.

This is member only content.

To keep reading this post, apply to join our Member Waitlist. Learn more about the benefits of becoming an ON_Discourse member here.

Apply

Already a member? Login

Different

Perspectives,

Together.

ON_Discourse is a private membership community for business leaders to participate in the Discipline of Discourse to cultivate perspectives, decision-making, and meaningful relationships.

Why Does Business
Need Discourse?

Business Culture and the Media Landscape ultimately drive Groupthink.

Discourse overcomes Fake Ideas, Fake News, and Fake Experts.

Discourse fights against Conventional Thinking and Decision-Making Paralysis.

Discourse Exposes Business' Isolated Beliefs.

At the heart of ON_Discourse is our dedication to the idea that the best decisions in business are made when you bring smart people with different perspectives together.

Actions backed
by Values.

1

Provoke

…with trust and empathy by asking questions and challenging each other.

2

Listen

…with curiosity and intellectual honesty by being receptive to other points of view.

3

Change

…with an openness and a commitment to diverse perspectives.

Our members are made up of a community of experts that have…

Published best-selling books on business, technology, culture, politics, etc.

Run digital at the highest level for one of the world’s largest fashion brands

Lead innovation for the world’s largest SaaS company

Run the technology group for the largest US multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate

Built and exited one of the world’s biggest e-commerce sites in the mobile consumer technology space

Launched a billion-dollar digital business for Europe's most important governing bodies in football

Built the developer ecosystems for two of the most influential technology companies

Launched a $100 million venture fund in the climate tech industry with over 100 investments and multiple exits to date

Join the community

What is a
Living Issue?

Living Issues are deep dives into specific business verticals, focused on the most urgent and important topics in business and technology.

We create Living Issues that are important, current, and relevant.

We look for different perspectives and insist on opposing points of view.

We uncover perspectives that evolve into provocations.

We provide these provocations through content that provides education, context, and framing.

We then introduce these new ideas back to the community experts to keep the discourse flowing.

Join the discourse.

and more.

Join our growing community of business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to access new perspectives, better decision-making, and more meaningful relationships.

Applications for 2023 close on December 22.

Apply for Membership

FAQ

Can I attend ON_Discourse events?

Only members can access Living Issues, events, and the community. You can apply for membership here.

Is it only in-person?

No, we operate a hybrid approach to events, which we host online and in person.

Get answers to more FAQs