The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
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TfL's AI Tube Station experiment is amazing and slightly terrifying

Odds and Ends of History • 2278 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Digital innovation Data Analysis Transportation Surveillance
  1. AI technology, like the one used in TfL's Tube Station experiment, is rapidly changing and being implemented in various sectors.
  2. AI cameras at stations can have a wide range of uses, from enhancing security to improving passenger welfare and gathering statistical data.
  3. While AI technology offers numerous benefits, there are also concerns about privacy, surveillance, and potential misuse of the technology.

What's Next for ChinaTalk

ChinaTalk • 756 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Geopolitics AI China Policy Innovation
  1. ChinaTalk started as a small project and has grown to have 50,000 subscribers by focusing on tech developments in China.
  2. They aim to provide deep analysis on China's tech landscape, especially regarding AI, to help people understand its global impact.
  3. In 2025, ChinaTalk plans to expand into a think tank, hiring more staff to enhance their research and outreach efforts.

Looking for problems instead of solutions

Sunday Letters • 99 implied HN points • 27 May 24
💼 Business Productivity Mindset Problem Solving Teamwork Leadership
  1. It's important to focus on solutions rather than just identifying problems. Always looking for issues can slow down progress and creativity.
  2. Effective people know when to take action, even if they don't have all the details. It's okay to jump into something and learn as you go.
  3. When you have concerns, think about whether they are relevant now or just distractions. Finding solutions should be your priority to keep moving forward.

What the Hell Am I Doing Here?

Meanwhile, on the other side of my brain... • 99 implied HN points • 27 May 24
🕹 Technology Programming YouTube Projects Gaming Development
  1. The author faced a challenging recovery period after a car accident, including cognitive issues that persisted for months.
  2. Despite challenges, the author is enthusiastic about returning to writing, programming, and sharing knowledge on game development and tools.
  3. The author plans to expand the newsletter's topics, including sharing stories, project updates, and insights, and to create more video content.
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452: Constellation Software's Big Win, Big Tech Deep Value, Excel Era, TikTok & Bytedance, Herb Kelleher, LEGO, DALL-E 3, and Melatonin

Liberty’s Highlights • 589 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Financials Entertainment Generative AI AI Software
  1. Consider replacing habits rather than trying to stop them cold turkey.
  2. Big Tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta collectively generated impressive operating cash flow over the past decade.
  3. Be cautious with melatonin supplements as their actual content may vary significantly from what is labeled.

Recruiting Brainfood - Issue 345

Recruiting Brainfood • 589 implied HN points • 21 May 23
💼 Business Marketing Operations Recruitment AI Work
  1. Candidate experience is crucial for winning top talent in 2023, focusing on pillars like transparency, reciprocity, and unity.
  2. The WEF Future of Jobs report highlights regional variances in employment and the decline in real wages, impacting recruitment strategies.
  3. AI is transforming recruitment processes, from Google AI Search changing internet dynamics to AI assisting in automating hiring processes and message composition.

💪 Empowering community stewards to cultivate prosocial norms

New_ Public • 294 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social Platforms Community Engagement
  1. Making group norms visible is important for encouraging positive behaviors.
  2. Providing tools and guides can help stewards establish prosocial norms in online communities efficiently.
  3. Extending stewardship recommendations to group members can help promote a culture where everyone plays a role in maintaining healthy community standards.

What is a Derivative?

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 279 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💰 Finance Trading Strategies Financial Instruments Investing Market Analysis Risk management
  1. Derivatives are financial tools that get their value from something else, like stocks or commodities. They don't have value on their own; their worth depends on the performance of the underlying asset.
  2. Derivatives exist to help with risk management, leverage potential gains, and allow speculation on price movements. They can protect investments or amplify losses based on how they're used.
  3. There are different types of derivatives, including futures, options, and swaps. Each has its own way of working, but all can increase financial risk if not used carefully.

Pytest is All You Need

LLMs for Engineers • 79 implied HN points • 12 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Development AI Programming Software Testing
  1. Pytest is a great tool for evaluating LLM applications, making it easier to set up tests and check their performance. It allows you to program your own evaluation metrics directly in Python without needing complicated configurations.
  2. You can easily collect and analyze data from multiple test runs using Pytest. This helps to understand how consistent the outputs are across different evaluations.
  3. The examples show how to compare different prompts and LLM models, enhancing the flexibility and variety in testing. This allows you to see which setups work best in various scenarios.

Just how big have PC & console game catalogs got?

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 353 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Gaming News Discovery
  1. The choice of visual media has exploded, including on-demand watching and streaming platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
  2. The cumulative choice of PC and console games has significantly increased, leading to different market dynamics.
  3. Console platforms like Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox have seen a rise in the number of games added each year, impacting game competition and sales.

The Inference Economy: Part II

Generating Conversation • 93 implied HN points • 13 Nov 25
💼 Business Data AI Innovation Technology Economics
  1. Token demand is increasing because we're processing more data with AI and using more tokens per request. This means we need to find better ways to manage how many tokens we're using.
  2. Choosing the right model for the right task is crucial to save costs. Using smaller models for simple tasks can help a lot instead of automatically reaching for the biggest and best models.
  3. Switching between different LLM providers can be beneficial for reducing costs, but it requires careful planning to handle potential security concerns. It’s important to think about how and when we use more complex models.

After Wall Street balks, Cigna calls off Humana merger and instead is set to buy back up to $11.3 billion of its shares in gift to investors

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 419 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
💼 Business Mergers Healthcare Corporate strategy Stock Market Investments
  1. Cigna decided not to merge with Humana after Wall Street reacted negatively to the idea. Instead, they will buy back $11.3 billion worth of their shares to please investors.
  2. Cigna's stock dropped significantly when the merger news broke but soared back up after the buyback announcement. This shows how much Wall Street values quick returns over company growth strategies.
  3. The share buyback won't help improve healthcare access or quality for Cigna's customers. It's mainly a move to boost stock prices and please shareholders.

Under the microscope: Ford Racing (PlayStation)

Rings of Saturn • 43 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Debugging Security Emulation Software Gaming Reverse Engineering
  1. The commonly cited "GIMMEGIMME" name-entry cheat does not unlock everything on the PlayStation release; that code is from the PC version and was copied into cheat sites for years.
  2. On the PlayStation game you unlock features by holding L1+L2+R1+R2 and entering specific button sequences on particular menu screens, with sequences that unlock all cars, all tracks, show credits, give money, or advance the career car.
  3. Emulator debugging and disassembly revealed the exact RAM addresses, screen IDs, and button-buffer checks that implement the PlayStation cheats, and also showed how GameShark memory writes can force unlocked values—explaining why online codes were often wrong.

Different Bests in Different Contexts

Software Design: Tidy First? • 861 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Design Strategy Process Development Software
  1. Different tasks require different strategies. What works for one situation might not work for another, so it's good to be flexible.
  2. In a project, you might focus on playing around with ideas, then expanding and finally getting results. Each stage has its own challenges and goals.
  3. Understanding the different phases of a project can help guide how you work. It helps avoid mistakes and ensures the right approach for each part.

OpenAI is aligned (for now) but do ChatGPT ads threaten that?

Market Curve • 28 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Regulation Infrastructure Ethics AI Privacy Monetization Advertising
  1. Putting ads inside a conversational AI creates a conflict between being genuinely helpful and making money, and that pressure can push the assistant to favor sponsored recommendations over unbiased guidance, which erodes trust and undermines alignment goals.
  2. Huge economic pressures — big operating losses, the need to monetize free users, and IPO/shareholder incentives — make ads and in-chat commerce a likely path, so the service will optimize for growth and revenue rather than purely for user well‑being.
  3. Ads in chat are especially risky because people ask sensitive, personal questions there, and ad-driven recommendations plus agentic commerce can harm vulnerable users and amplify broader economic harms like job displacement and increased consumerism.

For the brand, I guess

benn.substack • 690 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
💼 Business Investment strategy Reputation Management Market Trends Startup Culture Venture Capital
  1. Venture capital firms need to be great at selecting good startups, but they also have to attract those startups. If they don't seem appealing, they might miss out on investment opportunities.
  2. Investors can stand out by offering more money, being flexible with terms, providing helpful support, or showcasing their reputation. However, being popular or having a strong brand has become increasingly important.
  3. There’s a shift in venture capital where having a strong presence online and being an internet celebrity matters more than traditional methods. Companies now look for people who can bring attention and create buzz.

The Viral Yard Cleanup Edition

Why is this interesting? • 904 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
💼 Business Content creation Marketing YouTube Entrepreneurship Social media
  1. YouTube can be a platform where people showcase unique services, like yard cleanup videos. This combines marketing, good deeds, and entertainment all in one.
  2. Some lawn care businesses gain popularity by documenting their free work on overgrown properties. This not only helps others but also helps them grow their online presence.
  3. Creating content that viewers enjoy is essential in modern marketing. It's better to show entertaining ideas rather than strictly promoting services.

7 Things You Should Do Before the Coming Bear Market

Behavioral Value Investor • 89 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
💰 Finance Risk management Economic Trends Investing Markets Financial planning
  1. Write down your investment process so you can stick to it during a market crisis. It helps remind you of your strategies when emotions run high.
  2. Focus on long-term investments instead of short-term gains. This way, you can stay on track and not get swayed by temporary market changes.
  3. Be patient and only invest in solid companies at fair prices. This gives you room to make smart choices instead of panicking in a bear market.

How health-tech founders can survive a brutal 2024

Second Opinion • 471 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
💼 Business Strategy Investment Finance Entrepreneurship Startups
  1. In 2024, health-tech founders may face challenges due to market conditions like the difficulty of fundraising.
  2. It's okay to let go of a struggling company and start over; it can make you smarter for the next venture.
  3. Founders should practice ruthless prioritization, focus on achieving break-even, and be realistic about liquidity events.

Evil

Philosophy bear • 271 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Morality Judgment Human nature
  1. People often judge others as evil without thinking about their own actions. This can lead to a negative view of humanity as a whole.
  2. Many people have done wrong things, and the way we talk about these acts can make us dismiss the complexity of human morality.
  3. Instead of harsh judgment, we should approach others with understanding, recognizing that everyone has flaws and can change for the better.

Ten favorites from 2025

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 42 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
💼 Business Industrial Policy Corporate Governance Supply Chains Energy Real Estate Antitrust Biotech
  1. Political choices and regulations shape big technological and infrastructural outcomes. Decisions about ownership, siting, and industrial policy often determine whether projects like power plants, aircraft firms, or urban housing succeed.
  2. Small regulatory and technical changes can unlock large health and market gains. Faster approval pathways, scalable biological technologies, and better competition metrics can bring treatments to more people and help regulators act effectively.
  3. Geography and collective action drive economic power and vulnerability. Who controls resources or how land is owned and reorganized affects trade, development, and security, and tools like land readjustment or desalination can reduce holdouts and dependencies.

What Palworld's success tells us about 2024's game biz

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 314 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Game Development Market Analysis Gaming Industry Trends eBooks
  1. Palworld's success shows that players enjoy familiar game mechanics with a touch of novelty on top.
  2. Palworld's unique gameplay loop and intricate mechanics contribute to its success in the gaming market.
  3. Understanding the creator's vision and the development process of a game like Palworld can provide insights into its success.

Understanding ETFs

DeFi Education • 519 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
💰 Finance Crypto Market Trends Investing ETFs Regulations
  1. ETFs are investment funds that hold a collection of assets and are traded like stocks. They aim to track the performance of an index or asset class.
  2. Creating your own ETF is complicated and needs approval from regulators. It’s not as easy as just launching a product; there's a lot of scrutiny involved.
  3. ETFs have a unique process for buying and selling called creation and redemption. This helps keep their price in line with the value of the assets they hold.

TBM 325: Skeptoptimism – Thinking Slow, Acting Fast

The Beautiful Mess • 952 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
💼 Business Leadership Execution Planning Team Dynamics Risk management
  1. Thinking slowly helps in planning well and reducing risks. It's not sitting idle; it's about being active and experimenting with ideas.
  2. Being a skeptoptimist means balancing a belief in teams with a realistic view of challenges. It's important to express confidence in the team's ability to succeed while addressing risks.
  3. It's key to involve others in 'slow thinking' to ensure they understand and support the process. Sharing your thoughts can help bridge the gap between deep exploration and action.

Powell’s Confidence On Trial, Gold Rips Higher

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 31 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
💰 Finance Currency Monetary Policy Central Bank Financial Markets Precious metals
  1. A criminal probe of the Fed chair risks undermining Federal Reserve independence and makes monetary policy look vulnerable to political or legal pressure.
  2. That uncertainty is negative for US risk assets and the dollar in the near term, and it can disrupt Treasury markets and capital flows.
  3. Over the long run, weakening confidence in US monetary institutions could speed global diversification away from the dollar and lift safe-haven assets like gold and silver.

The True Power of AI Deepfakes Is Not What You Think

The Algorithmic Bridge • 700 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Digital ethics Deepfakes AI Media Misinformation
  1. Deepfakes are good at expressing feelings, not just deceiving people. They often illustrate what we want to believe rather than just hiding the truth.
  2. People react to deepfakes based on their existing beliefs. If a fake aligns with what they already think, it can spread quickly, regardless of whether it's real or not.
  3. The real danger of deepfakes lies in how they can reinforce stubborn beliefs. They act as tools for expressing desires rather than just tools for deception.

Art to Science

Abstraction • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Data science Benchmarks Automation Research AI Machine Learning Forecasting
  1. Forecasting bots can run continuously, answer many questions, and be scored in real time, turning forecasting from a slow craft into a fast, repeatable process.
  2. Large, scored tournaments and shared datasets will let people empirically test different methods and finally learn which forecasting approaches actually work at scale.
  3. Simple heuristics get you most of the way there, but reaching the frontier requires deeper techniques and open sharing of methods to accelerate progress.

PE Slapping VC

Venture Prose • 579 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
💼 Business Investment Entrepreneurship Startups Finance Management
  1. Private equity-backed companies prioritize cash flow over growth, teaching venture capitalists an important lesson for sustained success.
  2. Some growth-stage companies, profitable and mature, outshine venture-backed companies in terms of financial yield without the need for external fundraising.
  3. Venture-backed founders can benefit from connecting with founders of different companies to understand the importance of capital deployment yield and reduce stress levels.

Good Memory

The Memory Palace • 79 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Cognition Critical Thinking Epistemology Memory Metaphysics
  1. Memory is often seen as less reliable than other ways of knowing, like perception. It doesn't create new knowledge but relies on what it's given, so it might forget important details.
  2. When we remember things, we can also remember them incorrectly or distort them. This means that sometimes memory can lead us to feel certain about things that are actually wrong.
  3. Despite its flaws, memory still plays an important role in how we understand our experiences. It can help us organize our memories, but we should be careful not to trust it too much.

Please stop overusing Baumol’s cost disease

Something to Consider • 59 implied HN points • 29 Jun 24
💼 Business Education Economics Labor Productivity Healthcare
  1. Baumol's cost disease is often misused to explain high costs; it doesn't make things unaffordable, just shifts what we spend on.
  2. This theory shows that wages can rise in unproductive areas, like music or certain services, because they adjust to wages in other sectors.
  3. If services like healthcare or education are getting more expensive, it might be because they're experiencing lower productivity, not because they're doomed to be unaffordable.