[The Neal Ungerleider Newsletter] Technoptimism Edition

Greetings from Los Angeles, where IT IS RAINING. THERE IS SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINTOPS. This is real, people. This matters.

I've been, as the youth say, busy as hell the past few weeks. Here's what's happening.

1. The good people at Ad Age asked me to write a few articles for their new Future-Of-Smartphones themed issue.

- I wrote about why augmented reality is still more hype than reality for advertising agencies. Because, you see... Pokemon Go is a false idol.

- I also wrote about how deep learning will change smartphones, and how cat videos are leading us down a slippery slope to 24/7 surveillance. For reals.

2. My newest article for IBM ThinkLeaders focuses on how first responders use GIS and mapping software during natural disasters.

3. I went to SXSW with Ayzenberg. That means post-conference coverage at AList Daily for y'all.

- From the Africa House to New Dutch Wave to Casa Argentina, I learned about how SXSW is becoming an international diplomatic hub.

- SXSW Interactive…