THE ALGORITHMIC - Q1-26
Where Human Creativity Meets Machine Capability
This inaugural issue explores how entrepreneurs and creative professionals are navigating the AI revolution—not by surrendering to automation, but by forging a new paradigm where human insight directs machine capability.
In this issue:
- USE CASE 1: Publishing with Purpose—A human-first, AI-assisted methodology
- USE CASE 2: Building Resilience Through Forced Innovation
- USE CASE 3: Marketing & Gamification Beyond Social Media
- The Quarterly Factor: Operational resilience for SMBs in the AI era
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Use Case 1: Publishing with Purpose
The Challenge
In an era flooded with AI-generated content—what we call "AI slop"—a question emerges: How does a small creative team publish meaningful work that stands apart from the noise?
AI SLOP (n.): The massive flood of low-quality, mass-produced digital content generated by artificial intelligence, often lacking meaning, originality, or factual accuracy. Created primarily to exploit online attention and advertising revenue.
Our Approach
We follow a human-first methodology where projects are grounded in human creativity, storytelling instincts, and emotional intelligence. AI supports the editorial process, helping with grammar, output continuity, and structural consistency across multi-book narratives.
Tools that worked:
- Claude for grammatical assistance and context-building
- Canva for design and print production
Key lesson learned: AI story generation tools struggle at scale. Managing 100+ pages across character arcs and narrative continuity requires significant human oversight.
The Result: Six Books in Development
Each crafted with human creativity at its core, spanning thriller, historical fiction, science fiction, and professional development.
01. KLOTSKI: THE PUZZLE (2026 • Thriller)
A cinematic suspense narrative where each chapter serves as a piece of a larger puzzle—a butterfly effect story where every detail matters.
02. REBELS FOR LIFE: CIRCA 1943 (2026 • Historical Fiction)
Set in wartime Poland, this odyssey weaves mystery and adventure as characters navigate clandestine operations in a nation grappling with war's shadows.
03. UNDER.DOG (2026 • Literary Fiction)
A tale of hardship, hope, and resilience, reminding us that within every underdog lies the potential for extraordinary outcomes.
04. NOBLE EARTHS (2026/2027 • Science Fiction)
An interstellar journey where characters grapple with cosmic mysteries on planets harboring secrets as profound as the knowledge they hold.
05. A FUTURE IN RESILIENCE (2027 • Academic)
A research-driven exploration of operational resilience, generative technologies, and risk management frameworks.
06. IN RISK WE TRUST (2026 • Magazine)
A semi-annual publication dissecting emerging risks with academic rigor and practical clarity.
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Use Case 2: Building Resilience Through Forced Innovation
"Rock bottom will teach you things mountaintops never will."
The hardest moments teach lessons that success never could. Those lessons shaped the value I create today.
My Journey
- 2020: Founded Genesis Resiliency to help SMBs hedge against disruptive impacts
- 2020–2021: Pivoted during COVID to volunteer as a business mentor
- 2025: Founded Synth Media Co., an AI-powered operational resilience agency
The Reality of Forced Innovation
We're living in polarizing times, and that's forcing another wave of innovation. The difference now? There's no room to coast. We're measured against standards that become obsolete almost immediately.
AI tools are evolving constantly. I'm learning how to use them to create real value, both personally and for businesses.
The Opportunity
As AI continues to advance, small businesses have unprecedented opportunities:
- Stay competitive in a fast-moving market
- Drive growth and efficiency
- Deliver better customer experiences
The businesses that understand and harness AI today will be the ones thriving tomorrow. Success requires building, testing, and rebuilding—continuous iteration in response to market demands.
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Use Case 3: Marketing & Gamification
"You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."
I've seen too many ideas start with hope, only to fade into obscurity. I've seen businesses attempt to do right but end up in crisis. I've watched trust erode in the blink of an eye, even when intent was correct.
The Gamification Opportunity
Consider a simple wheel-of-fortune game on your website. Users click, spin, and receive discounts based on where it lands. Simple in concept, but profound in its implications for audience engagement.
What we've learned:
- Build systems that understand market needs in real time based on industry type
- Create engagement opportunities that generate meaningful connections with potential customers
- Move beyond traditional social media to create interactive brand experiences
As AI capabilities enhance your ability to develop unique consumer engagement methods and build operational resilience, forced innovation will become prevalent, systematic, and essential.
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The Quarterly Factor: Forced Innovation and Operational Resilience
What does forced innovation mean for SMBs navigating AI uncertainty?
It means the old playbooks are obsolete. The businesses that thrive will embrace continuous adaptation, seeing AI not as a replacement for human creativity but as an amplifier of it.
Throughout this issue, we've explored three distinct approaches to this challenge—creative publishing, entrepreneurial resilience, and marketing innovation. Each demonstrates a common thread: the most successful implementations keep humans at the center while leveraging AI for scale and efficiency.
Key Takeaways
- Quality over quantity: Human oversight prevents AI slop and maintains brand integrity
- Embrace iteration: Forced innovation requires building, testing, and rebuilding
- Strategic augmentation: AI amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it
- Continuous adaptation: What works today may be obsolete tomorrow
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Join the Conversation
Share your thoughts and AI adoption stories for small to medium-sized businesses to be featured in an upcoming issue.
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