Ben Schorr
@bschorr.bsky.social
I help people be successful with Microsoft 365 and AI. Innovation Strategist at Affinity Consulting. Ex-Microsoft. Dad, husband, author, speaker, Ironman triathlete, battleship historian, football coach.
Opinions are mine, and maybe yours.
Opinions are mine, and maybe yours.
Pinned
Have you considered having your AI tool generate a morning briefing for you automatically? What sort of info might you want it to include if you did?
Maybe a list of the highest priority email messages that are waiting for you, a quick update on your day's meetings, maybe top news headlines?
Maybe a list of the highest priority email messages that are waiting for you, a quick update on your day's meetings, maybe top news headlines?
Apparently, the way to prove that you're human after Cloudflare throws this at you eight straight times is to just close the tab in frustration. Because a bot would just keep checking the box, I suppose.
September 26, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Apparently, the way to prove that you're human after Cloudflare throws this at you eight straight times is to just close the tab in frustration. Because a bot would just keep checking the box, I suppose.
"One of my favorite tips, actually, that I started doing last year is maybe once a month, maybe more, I will reach out and connect with somebody on LinkedIn who is completely outside the legal industry, but someone I really admire."
― Erika Pagano on broadening your network
― Erika Pagano on broadening your network
September 26, 2026 at 12:25 PM
"One of my favorite tips, actually, that I started doing last year is maybe once a month, maybe more, I will reach out and connect with somebody on LinkedIn who is completely outside the legal industry, but someone I really admire."
― Erika Pagano on broadening your network
― Erika Pagano on broadening your network
Measurements for understanding the pace of AI development inside frontier labs buff.ly/EmJPtxl
I'm okay with #AI being heavily involved in research and development, but I also believe real human oversight is essential. #R&D
I'm okay with #AI being heavily involved in research and development, but I also believe real human oversight is essential. #R&D
Measurements for understanding the pace of AI development inside frontier labs
Today, the world can’t see what’s going on inside AI labs. Anthropic is proposing new metrics that would give the public visibility into frontier AI development.
buff.ly
September 26, 2026 at 6:13 AM
Measurements for understanding the pace of AI development inside frontier labs buff.ly/EmJPtxl
I'm okay with #AI being heavily involved in research and development, but I also believe real human oversight is essential. #R&D
I'm okay with #AI being heavily involved in research and development, but I also believe real human oversight is essential. #R&D
"I think that if this had been a mistake and they owned up to it, it would be very different."
― Joe Patrice on prosecutor sanctions
If there's one thing we're learning from AI-related sanctions, it's that you're better off admitting it than trying to deceive the court about what you did.
― Joe Patrice on prosecutor sanctions
If there's one thing we're learning from AI-related sanctions, it's that you're better off admitting it than trying to deceive the court about what you did.
September 25, 2026 at 11:48 PM
"I think that if this had been a mistake and they owned up to it, it would be very different."
― Joe Patrice on prosecutor sanctions
If there's one thing we're learning from AI-related sanctions, it's that you're better off admitting it than trying to deceive the court about what you did.
― Joe Patrice on prosecutor sanctions
If there's one thing we're learning from AI-related sanctions, it's that you're better off admitting it than trying to deceive the court about what you did.
Introduction to agents in Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft Support buff.ly/CXciM8e
I realize I'm biased, but this article is a perfect example of what I mean about Microsoft not prioritizing technical content.
I realize I'm biased, but this article is a perfect example of what I mean about Microsoft not prioritizing technical content.
Introduction to agents in Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft Support
Copilot agents are specialized assistants that link to targeted data sources to offer personalized assistance and automate tasks.
buff.ly
September 25, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Introduction to agents in Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft Support buff.ly/CXciM8e
I realize I'm biased, but this article is a perfect example of what I mean about Microsoft not prioritizing technical content.
I realize I'm biased, but this article is a perfect example of what I mean about Microsoft not prioritizing technical content.
Meet Today in Microsoft Copilot buff.ly/ieuZRF9
This video doesn't really show very much. My hot take here is that a lot of Copilot users are already doing this with their own custom prompts.
This video doesn't really show very much. My hot take here is that a lot of Copilot users are already doing this with their own custom prompts.
Meet Today in Microsoft Copilot
Coming soon in Home, Today is a proactive command center across mail, calendar, chats, meetings, and tasks—surfacing what needs attention and moving it forward with drafts and proposals ready for you…
buff.ly
September 25, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Meet Today in Microsoft Copilot buff.ly/ieuZRF9
This video doesn't really show very much. My hot take here is that a lot of Copilot users are already doing this with their own custom prompts.
This video doesn't really show very much. My hot take here is that a lot of Copilot users are already doing this with their own custom prompts.
What's New in Copilot in SharePoint: September 2026 buff.ly/80mFvxc
The Understand Images capability is deceptively big, especially for marketing teams that have a large library of legacy content that is not well organized.
The Understand Images capability is deceptively big, especially for marketing teams that have a large library of legacy content that is not well organized.
What's New in Copilot in SharePoint: September 2026 | Microsoft Community Hub
Your monthly roundup of what's new in Copilot in SharePoint. Copilot in SharePoint helps you do more with your content — ask questions, run workflows, and...
buff.ly
September 25, 2026 at 4:17 PM
What's New in Copilot in SharePoint: September 2026 buff.ly/80mFvxc
The Understand Images capability is deceptively big, especially for marketing teams that have a large library of legacy content that is not well organized.
The Understand Images capability is deceptively big, especially for marketing teams that have a large library of legacy content that is not well organized.
"My checklist is to treat every unsolicited communication with a grain of salt, to independently validate the information, so not using the phone number or the information on like an invoice."
― Marti DeLiema on avoiding #scams
― Marti DeLiema on avoiding #scams
September 25, 2026 at 2:26 PM
"My checklist is to treat every unsolicited communication with a grain of salt, to independently validate the information, so not using the phone number or the information on like an invoice."
― Marti DeLiema on avoiding #scams
― Marti DeLiema on avoiding #scams
Law Firm Launches Legal AI Tool For Creators buff.ly/wAYm3Jz
If your firm specializes in a relatively niche market, there may still be some opportunity for you to lead with an AI tool that people in that market can use.
If your firm specializes in a relatively niche market, there may still be some opportunity for you to lead with an AI tool that people in that market can use.
Law Firm Launches Legal AI Tool For Creators
Lewis Silkin, a UK-based law firm, and its LS Innovations affiliated tech company, have launched Lettu, an AI-powered platform to help ‘creators, talent managers, agencies and brands get commercial…
buff.ly
September 25, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Law Firm Launches Legal AI Tool For Creators buff.ly/wAYm3Jz
If your firm specializes in a relatively niche market, there may still be some opportunity for you to lead with an AI tool that people in that market can use.
If your firm specializes in a relatively niche market, there may still be some opportunity for you to lead with an AI tool that people in that market can use.
"They're a version of failure demand. It's work that only exists because something wasn't handled well somewhere upstream."
― John E. Grant on failure demand and client communication
Sometimes making a process or workflow more efficient involves evaluating what came before it to see if...
― John E. Grant on failure demand and client communication
Sometimes making a process or workflow more efficient involves evaluating what came before it to see if...
September 24, 2026 at 11:05 PM
"They're a version of failure demand. It's work that only exists because something wasn't handled well somewhere upstream."
― John E. Grant on failure demand and client communication
Sometimes making a process or workflow more efficient involves evaluating what came before it to see if...
― John E. Grant on failure demand and client communication
Sometimes making a process or workflow more efficient involves evaluating what came before it to see if...
Build a Local Rye and Spelt Flour… | The Rundown University buff.ly/ZMRTGwK
This is a great example of how using AI can help you rethink the question you're asking and how you approach the workflow.
This is a great example of how using AI can help you rethink the question you're asking and how you approach the workflow.
Build a Local Rye and Spelt Flour… | The Rundown University
Build a Local Rye and Spelt Flour Supply Chain: I built an AI-assisted vertical grain supply-chain resilience workflow after discovering that the rye flour we…
buff.ly
September 24, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Build a Local Rye and Spelt Flour… | The Rundown University buff.ly/ZMRTGwK
This is a great example of how using AI can help you rethink the question you're asking and how you approach the workflow.
This is a great example of how using AI can help you rethink the question you're asking and how you approach the workflow.
Lesson one: Product name. #Microsoft365Copilot
September 24, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Lesson one: Product name. #Microsoft365Copilot
Claude discovers a novel enzyme system buff.ly/V2p6qkk
AI can be good at spotting patterns, and advancing bioscience has exciting potential. Of course, extending one's biological life is only part of the longevity problem but it's an important start.
AI can be good at spotting patterns, and advancing bioscience has exciting potential. Of course, extending one's biological life is only part of the longevity problem but it's an important start.
Claude discovers a novel enzyme system
In early results from our new life sciences research lab, Claude agents found an enzyme system whose function is still unknown.
buff.ly
September 24, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Claude discovers a novel enzyme system buff.ly/V2p6qkk
AI can be good at spotting patterns, and advancing bioscience has exciting potential. Of course, extending one's biological life is only part of the longevity problem but it's an important start.
AI can be good at spotting patterns, and advancing bioscience has exciting potential. Of course, extending one's biological life is only part of the longevity problem but it's an important start.
Rogue OpenAI agent 'infiltrated' Australian government website in world first buff.ly/D9aHSRe
Now is not the time to be investing less in security and alignment.
Now is not the time to be investing less in security and alignment.
Rogue OpenAI agent 'infiltrated' Australian government website in world first
Australia criticised OpenAI for taking "too long" to tell them about the breach which happened in June.
buff.ly
September 24, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Rogue OpenAI agent 'infiltrated' Australian government website in world first buff.ly/D9aHSRe
Now is not the time to be investing less in security and alignment.
Now is not the time to be investing less in security and alignment.
FAA Launches New AI Air Traffic Control Tool buff.ly/aaYpDuo
As long as human controllers are still in charge and have the final word, I'm fine with this.
As long as human controllers are still in charge and have the final word, I'm fine with this.
FAA Launches New AI Air Traffic Control Tool
The FAA has introduced SMART, a new AI tool designed to streamline air traffic control. By centralizing weather, flight paths, and staffing data, this predictive system aims to reduce delays,…
buff.ly
September 24, 2026 at 1:36 PM
FAA Launches New AI Air Traffic Control Tool buff.ly/aaYpDuo
As long as human controllers are still in charge and have the final word, I'm fine with this.
As long as human controllers are still in charge and have the final word, I'm fine with this.
"They looked again at the original survey data and found that specific demographic groups contained a number of respondents who they can now identify as fraudulent."
― Tom Coles on the YouGov retraction
A persistent issue in survey data, but more so on topics that are controversial.
― Tom Coles on the YouGov retraction
A persistent issue in survey data, but more so on topics that are controversial.
September 24, 2026 at 9:17 AM
"They looked again at the original survey data and found that specific demographic groups contained a number of respondents who they can now identify as fraudulent."
― Tom Coles on the YouGov retraction
A persistent issue in survey data, but more so on topics that are controversial.
― Tom Coles on the YouGov retraction
A persistent issue in survey data, but more so on topics that are controversial.
"China seems to be coming up in the world's esteem."
― Waylon Wong on global approval ratings
It turns out that soft power matters too.
― Waylon Wong on global approval ratings
It turns out that soft power matters too.
September 24, 2026 at 3:58 AM
"China seems to be coming up in the world's esteem."
― Waylon Wong on global approval ratings
It turns out that soft power matters too.
― Waylon Wong on global approval ratings
It turns out that soft power matters too.
"I never have the AI write first drafts of anything I do. And in fact, don't engage with an AI until after I've written a draft, but then engage a lot with the AI as an editor."
― Jason Palmer on how he uses AI in writing
I often do the same.
― Jason Palmer on how he uses AI in writing
I often do the same.
September 24, 2026 at 12:05 AM
"I never have the AI write first drafts of anything I do. And in fact, don't engage with an AI until after I've written a draft, but then engage a lot with the AI as an editor."
― Jason Palmer on how he uses AI in writing
I often do the same.
― Jason Palmer on how he uses AI in writing
I often do the same.
"The ROI in the early stages is learning, right?"
― Ted Theodoropoulos on measuring early AI transformation, Heard on Legal Innovation Spotlight
Absolutely.
― Ted Theodoropoulos on measuring early AI transformation, Heard on Legal Innovation Spotlight
Absolutely.
September 23, 2026 at 9:20 PM
"The ROI in the early stages is learning, right?"
― Ted Theodoropoulos on measuring early AI transformation, Heard on Legal Innovation Spotlight
Absolutely.
― Ted Theodoropoulos on measuring early AI transformation, Heard on Legal Innovation Spotlight
Absolutely.
Hmmm...our new Roborock vacuum stopped and said it was "trapped". It doesn't look trapped.
September 23, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Hmmm...our new Roborock vacuum stopped and said it was "trapped". It doesn't look trapped.
More Models, One Copilot | Microsoft Community Hub buff.ly/cD7yXKK
Microsoft has been doing a pretty good job lately keeping the models in #Copilot current.
Microsoft has been doing a pretty good job lately keeping the models in #Copilot current.
More Models, One Copilot | Microsoft Community Hub
Claude Opus 5.5 and GPT-6 Sol are joining model choice in Microsoft Copilot.
buff.ly
September 23, 2026 at 5:04 PM
More Models, One Copilot | Microsoft Community Hub buff.ly/cD7yXKK
Microsoft has been doing a pretty good job lately keeping the models in #Copilot current.
Microsoft has been doing a pretty good job lately keeping the models in #Copilot current.
Harvey Launches Pro Bono Program buff.ly/wHZsHcX
Okay, that's probably a good thing. Curious to see how it looks when it's actually in action. #Legaltech #A2J
Okay, that's probably a good thing. Curious to see how it looks when it's actually in action. #Legaltech #A2J
Harvey Launches Pro Bono Program
Harvey has launched a pro bono program in the UK, Australia, and the US, which seeks to address the reality that today many millions of people still cannot gain access to affordable legal help. The…
buff.ly
September 23, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Harvey Launches Pro Bono Program buff.ly/wHZsHcX
Okay, that's probably a good thing. Curious to see how it looks when it's actually in action. #Legaltech #A2J
Okay, that's probably a good thing. Curious to see how it looks when it's actually in action. #Legaltech #A2J
Introducing Claude Opus 5.5 buff.ly/YUGCK9x
We have reached the point where the big AI model vendors can't compete only on performance anymore. Cost is also a top concern, and seeing both OpenAI and Anthropic lower their price per token is a potentially big deal for customers.
We have reached the point where the big AI model vendors can't compete only on performance anymore. Cost is also a top concern, and seeing both OpenAI and Anthropic lower their price per token is a potentially big deal for customers.
Introducing Claude Opus 5.5
Claude Opus 5.5 leads in agentic coding and knowledge work, and costs 40% less to run than Opus 5 on typical workloads.
buff.ly
September 23, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Introducing Claude Opus 5.5 buff.ly/YUGCK9x
We have reached the point where the big AI model vendors can't compete only on performance anymore. Cost is also a top concern, and seeing both OpenAI and Anthropic lower their price per token is a potentially big deal for customers.
We have reached the point where the big AI model vendors can't compete only on performance anymore. Cost is also a top concern, and seeing both OpenAI and Anthropic lower their price per token is a potentially big deal for customers.
"The effects do not go away. That is, businesses experience a permanent drop in foot traffic and spending."
― Zeke Hernandez on the lasting economic effects of ICE enforcement, Heard on The Indicator from Planet Money
― Zeke Hernandez on the lasting economic effects of ICE enforcement, Heard on The Indicator from Planet Money
September 23, 2026 at 1:19 PM
"The effects do not go away. That is, businesses experience a permanent drop in foot traffic and spending."
― Zeke Hernandez on the lasting economic effects of ICE enforcement, Heard on The Indicator from Planet Money
― Zeke Hernandez on the lasting economic effects of ICE enforcement, Heard on The Indicator from Planet Money