The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
Category

LSD and the Edge of Human Experience

What's Important? • 83 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Evolution Spirituality Psychedelics Mysticism
  1. Dr. Bache had a lot of intense experiences with LSD, which led him to believe that the universe is a manifestation of a higher intelligence and that we are all connected to it.
  2. He suggests that reality is layered, and our journey involves letting go of our personal ego to reach greater understandings of oneness and collective consciousness.
  3. Bache thinks that exploring these deep ideas can transform our lives and help us understand that life has purpose, even beyond what we currently see.

Import AI 349: Distributed training breaks AI policy; turning GPT4 bad for $245; better weather forecasting through AI

Import AI • 459 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Research Language Models AI Policy
  1. Graph Neural Networks are used to create an advanced weather forecasting system called GraphCast, outperforming traditional weather simulation.
  2. Open Philanthropy offers grants to evaluate large language models like LLM agents for real-world tasks, exploring potential safety risks and impacts.
  3. Neural MMO 2.0 platform enables training AI agents in complex multiplayer games, showcasing the evolving landscape of AI research beyond language models.

Staying in balance ⚖️

André Casal's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 16 Aug 24
💼 Business Personal Development Entrepreneurship Startups Mindset Productivity
  1. Your mindset shapes your life. A strong, positive mindset can lead to happiness, even during tough times.
  2. Pushing yourself can be exciting, but it’s important to balance hard work with self-care and important life activities.
  3. Recognizing where you struggle is key. It's okay to ask for advice on how to stay balanced while pursuing your goals.

Altima NSX

Computer Ads from the Past • 256 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Hardware Software History Innovation Computing
  1. Altima was a computer company that didn't last long, but it made important contributions to the personal computer world. It's a reminder of many small companies that helped shape technology.
  2. The Altima NSX was known for being heavy and bulky compared to other notebooks. While it had good features for its time, like a backlit display, it wasn't very portable.
  3. Despite its short battery life and weight, the NSX included a full-sized keyboard and some unique features like a fax modem. It was a mixed bag in terms of performance and design.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Data Science Weekly - Issue 546

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 119 implied HN points • 10 May 24
🕹 Technology Data Visualization Data science Machine Learning AI Data Engineering
  1. Time-series analysis and Gaussian processes are powerful tools for interpreting data. They allow for flexibility and control in modeling data, making them essential for data practitioners.
  2. Understanding A/B testing is crucial for making informed business decisions. Using a reliable experimentation system can save time and lead to better results.
  3. New advancements in AI and data science are enhancing applications in various fields, like biomedical research and recommendation systems. These innovations help combine human creativity with machine learning capabilities.

Open Source Data Engineering Landscape 2024

Practical Data Engineering Substack • 299 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Open Source Data Integration Data processing Software Tools Data Engineering
  1. The open-source data engineering landscape is growing fast, with many new tools and frameworks emerging. Staying updated on these tools is important for data engineers to pick the best options for their needs.
  2. There are different categories of open-source tools like storage systems, data integration, and workflow management. Each category has established players and new contenders, helping businesses solve specific data challenges.
  3. Emerging trends include decoupling storage and compute resources and the rise of unified data lakehouse layers. These advancements make data storage and processing more efficient and flexible.

Can GPT-4 *Actually* Write Code?

Tyler Glaiel's Blog • 567 HN points • 17 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Algorithms Artificial Intelligence Coding Programming Machine Learning
  1. GPT-4 can write code when given existing algorithms or well-known problems, as it remixes existing solutions.
  2. However, when faced with novel or unique problems, GPT-4 struggles to provide accurate solutions and can make incorrect guesses.
  3. It's crucial to understand that while GPT-4 can generate code, it may not be reliable for solving complex, new problems in programming.

Epstein Unfortunateness. HYP-FREE - A Hypothesis Free Testing Initiative

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Instrumentation Startups Commercialization Biotech Diagnostics Genomics Proteomics
  1. Build sample-to-answer DNA and protein sequencers for hypothesis-free diagnostics so clinics can detect known and novel pathogens or biomarkers without guessing, ideally at qPCR-like cost.
  2. Japan is well positioned to lead this effort because it has strong manufacturing and technical capabilities but currently lacks domestic DNA or protein sequencing platform companies, creating a strategic market opportunity.
  3. Use an SBIR-style, commercialization-first program to fund and spin out startups, prioritize simplified sample prep and advanced sequencing (long reads, protein), and engage investors early to scale devices for global clinical use.

Anthropic's Dario Amodei on AI Competition

ChinaTalk • 681 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Export Controls AI Competition Innovation International relations
  1. The competition in AI between the US and China is becoming more intense, with new players like DeepSeek entering the market. Each country needs to stay ahead to maintain power and safety.
  2. Export controls are important for managing technology sharing and preventing potential misuse of AI by authoritarian regimes. This helps keep a balance while still allowing beneficial uses of AI.
  3. AI has the potential to support democracy and create fairer systems, but it's important to ensure safety and responsible use. The focus should be on how technology is used rather than just who creates it.

Mental models for cybersecurity startup founders and why Microsoft cannot easily force nimble early-stage companies out of business

Venture in Security • 275 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Market Analysis Cybersecurity Startup Strategy Economics Innovation
  1. Large corporations like Microsoft may have resources, but they often struggle to innovate due to the innovator's dilemma.
  2. Startups need to focus on understanding market needs and finding the right distribution channels to succeed.
  3. Cybersecurity founders should consider external factors like market conditions and economic trends when planning their startup journeys.

Agnes Callard's Slavery Poll

Going Awol • 239 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Personal Identity Ethics Debate
  1. Agnes Callard faced backlash for asking if it's better to suffer blamelessly than to live a nice life doing something morally horrifying.
  2. Critics questioned the timing and format of Callard's poll on slavery, suggesting it was inappropriate or limiting choices.
  3. Ayn Rand supporters like Gregory Salmieri criticized Callard's hypothetical scenario for being disconnected from actionable situations.

Towards American Truly Open Models: The ATOM Project

Democratizing Automation • 237 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Geopolitics AI Research Open Source Innovation Model Training
  1. The U.S. needs to focus on developing open AI models to regain its global leadership. This means investing in resources and creating an ecosystem that supports collaboration and research.
  2. China has been gaining ground in AI by using open models that are accessible and flexible. If the U.S. doesn't prioritize open models, American researchers and companies will look elsewhere for innovation.
  3. Building a strong network of multiple labs in the U.S. focused on open model development is crucial. This approach will help encourage growth, innovation, and diversity in AI research.

An Interim Report on My Experience with Dia Browser Use, & MAMLMs More Generally

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 222 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
🕹 Technology AI Software Web Productivity Innovation
  1. Using AI in web browsers, like Dia, can really change how we find and understand information. It feels like having a smart assistant that can help us find answers and even summarize things for us.
  2. While these AI tools are promising, they can also produce unreliable results sometimes. It's important to learn how to ask the right questions to get better answers.
  3. Overall, the goal of AI in browsing is to make it easier to access knowledge without wasting time. This can help us be more productive and improve our understanding of the world.

Open LLMs don’t need to beat OpenAI

The AI Frontier • 119 implied HN points • 09 May 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Data science AI Machine Learning Open Source
  1. Open LLMs, like Llama 3, are getting really good and can perform well in many tasks. This improvement makes them a strong option for various applications.
  2. Fine-tuning open LLMs is becoming more attractive because of their improved quality and lower costs. This means smaller, specialized models can be more easily developed and used.
  3. However, open models likely won't surpass OpenAI's offerings. The proprietary models have a big advantage, but open LLMs can still thrive by focusing on efficiency and specific use cases.

The Broken Leg Check

Abstraction • 34 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Data science MLOps Algorithms AI Machine Learning Forecasting
  1. Do a quick "broken leg" check first because a decisive news event can resolve a question immediately and save the time and cost of running the full forecasting pipeline.
  2. Be cautious: a wrongly triggered broken-leg update is dangerous since proper scoring heavily penalizes confident incorrect forecasts, so false positives can wipe out gains.
  3. Treat it as an empirical trade-off: implement a news-based detector, clearly define what "overwhelmingly resolves" means, track when it fires, and tune thresholds, confidence damping, or disable it if blowouts outweigh the savings.

TBM 335: "Simple" Dependency Coordination

The Beautiful Mess • 753 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
💼 Business Productivity Team Dynamics Project management Collaboration
  1. It's better to focus on fewer tasks and do them well, rather than spreading yourself too thin and making mediocre progress on everything. Aim for a clear main focus.
  2. Collaboration patterns between teams are more effective than just relying on lists of tasks. Discuss how to work together instead of getting bogged down in details.
  3. Starting with a conservative approach is usually smarter. Leaving some room for capacity means you can tackle tasks better rather than cramming everything in and ending up with nothing to show.

Social Conservatism as 4D Chess

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 2048 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Culture Ethics Policy Religion Epistemology
  1. Social conservatives make claims about higher-order effects to justify their positions on issues like abortion and euthanasia, but these claims often lack evidence or are disproven by cross-national comparisons.
  2. Slippery slope arguments can be valid in limited contexts, but broad claims like legalizing prostitution affecting overall societal values need substantial evidence, which is often lacking.
  3. Government policies in free countries have limited influence on shaping culture predictably; the impact is often chaotic and hard to plan for, as seen by historical examples of social policies not aligning with expected cultural changes.

Zelle Thinks I’m Pablo Escobar

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 60 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
💰 Finance Fraud Cryptocurrency Privacy Payments Cash Banking Money Laundering
  1. Banks and payment apps like Zelle often flag and freeze tiny transfers, treating normal gifts as suspicious and disrupting everyday use of money.
  2. The system focuses on policing ordinary users because they’re easy targets, while wealthy actors evade scrutiny through complex methods like shell companies and art deals.
  3. Keeping some control outside the banking system—cash, gold, or decentralized options like bitcoin—helps prevent an algorithm or bank from freezing your finances.

Microsoft Security Copilot Gets Its Own Blog

Rod’s Blog • 337 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Security Blogging IT AI Ethics
  1. A new blog has been launched in Microsoft Tech Community for Microsoft Security Copilot, focusing on insights from experts and tips for security analysts and IT professionals.
  2. The blog covers topics such as education on Security Copilot, building custom workflows, product deep dives into AI architecture, best practices, updates on the roadmap, and responsible AI principles.
  3. Readers are encouraged to engage by sharing feedback and questions with the blog creators.

The One Slide, Most Founders Get Wrong When Fundraising | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 199 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
💼 Business Fundraising Startup funding Venture Capital Investment
  1. The 'ask and use of funds' slide is a crucial opportunity for founders when fundraising; it should clearly state how much money is being raised, for what purpose, and avoid common mistakes like not including a specific dollar amount.
  2. Include SMART goals in the 'use of funds' slide, focusing on product, traction, market validation, and key hires; investors want to see a detailed plan on how the raised funds will contribute to company progress.
  3. Avoid including valuation on the 'ask' slide before securing a lead investor; the focus should be on the amount needed and what it will be used for, rather than terms of investment.

Overpriced Friends

Fake Noûs • 259 implied HN points • 26 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Social Behavior Value theory Friendship Self-perception Ethics
  1. Many people overlook the kindness of their true friends and instead chase after the approval of those who don't appreciate them. This can make us unhappy and lead us to miss out on real connections.
  2. We often value things more if they seem hard to get. This 'Groucho Marx tendency' makes us think that easy friendships are somehow less valuable, which isn't true.
  3. Building strong friendships should focus on how well we connect, not on how hard it is to win someone over. Deep, meaningful relationships are the ones that truly matter.

Some Links

In My Tribe • 212 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
🕹 Technology AI Outsourcing Employment Crime Children
  1. AI is not significantly affecting unemployment rates, as those exposed to AI have similar job trends as others. Workers in India might face more job losses due to cost-saving AI options.
  2. Many kids ages 9 to 12 play games like Roblox but feel restricted by parents from exploring the outside world. This leads them to rely on their phones for socializing.
  3. A study suggests that a notable percentage of men, particularly from non-Western backgrounds, have been convicted of crimes, countering the idea that only a small share of immigrants commit crimes.

Is Silver At $200 Possible?

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 35 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
💰 Finance Macro Commodities Precious metals Markets Investing Futures Trading
  1. CME margin hikes can force leveraged longs to liquidate and cause sharp, temporary price drops, but that mainly transfers exposure from weak hands to deep pockets rather than fixing any physical metal shortage.
  2. Large COMEX deliveries and steady accumulation by well‑capitalized players indicate real physical demand is being removed from the tradable float, tightening supply and making large upside moves — including scenarios that point toward $100–$200 silver — plausible if those forces persist.
  3. Physical silver ownership is fundamentally different from trading paper because metal can’t be margin‑called, and geopolitical/policy trends plus valuation mean‑reversion arguments increase the odds that strategic hoarding could push silver into triple digits over time.

On Dwarkesh's 3rd Podcast with Tyler Cowen

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2195 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Market Dynamics AI Ethics Safety International cooperation
  1. The conversation covered a range of topics from Tyler Cowen's book on economists to discussions about AI and existential risk.
  2. Tyler is praised for his in-depth knowledge and skill of pivoting conversations and asking relevant questions.
  3. The post also focuses on debunking misconceptions and clarifying points made by Tyler Cowen.

The Intrinsic Value of Consciousness

Going Awol • 139 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Beauty Value Consciousness Aesthetics
  1. Intrinsic value is value something has for its own sake, like pleasure or achievement, while instrumental value is value something has as a means to an end, like money.
  2. Consciousness is considered instrumentally valuable as it is a prerequisite for many intrinsically valuable things like forming relationships, feeling happiness, and experiencing beauty.
  3. The aesthetic value of consciousness lies in its beauty and the wonder it inspires, as it is seen as sublime and intricately mysterious.

Sunday Strip: Paranoid lately?

Who is Robert Malone • 41 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Logic Epistemology Ethics Political Philosophy Aesthetics
  1. Sometimes what looks like paranoia is actually a rational response to real facts and information, so suspicion can be justified when evidence lines up.
  2. Those in power control narratives by steering questions and limiting criticism, so who you cannot criticize often indicates who is controlling you.
  3. Paranoia often springs from fear mixed with good sense, and you can either let it make you miserable or use it to make yourself stronger.

Import AI 351: How inevitable is AI?; Distributed shoggoths; ISO an Adam replacement

Import AI • 419 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Decentralization AI
  1. Individuals may feel a sense of agency in the field of AI, but the technology itself is overdetermined and inevitably progresses with rising resources.
  2. Initiatives like Shoggoth Systems challenge centralized control in AI development and distribution, highlighting the ongoing debate of centralization versus decentralization.
  3. Vitalik Buterin's perspective on AI emphasizes the importance of maintaining democratic approaches and avoiding centralization to ensure a balance of power in the AI landscape.

Tech the Heck? - CloudTruth

Cloud Irregular • 2069 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Data Management Software Tech news Startups Product Marketing
  1. Explaining complex tech products in simple language is important for understanding and adoption.
  2. Developers may value different aspects of a tech product compared to business decision-makers, causing a mismatch in communication.
  3. CloudTruth focuses on managing crucial configuration data, highlighting the importance of precision in language and clear communication.

The Trade Desk

Business Breakdowns • 334 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Data Management Technology Advertising Market Dynamics Company growth
  1. The Trade Desk helps ad agencies spend their budgets more effectively by providing a platform for optimizing programmatic advertising.
  2. The company focuses on building strong, recurring relationships with buy-side agencies, leading to a high customer retention rate.
  3. The Trade Desk functions as a data management platform, enabling efficient real-time bidding and liquidity in the digital advertising market.

How to Work With Anyone

Perspectives • 5 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
💼 Business Professional development Management Career Communication Teams Workplace culture Leadership
  1. As your career advances you often can't choose who you work with, so learning to cooperate with a wide range of people becomes essential for success.
  2. Start by understanding what others value and how they are measured, and look for even small commonalities to build trust and align incentives.
  3. Make people look good by sharing genuine, specific praise and credit, and take a team posture by framing challenges as shared problems so others join you rather than defend.

The Freedom Tradeoff

Jay's Data Stream • 29 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
💼 Business Scaling Work Life Startups Fundraising Bootstrapping Founders Entrepreneurship
  1. Bootstrapping buys you control over decisions and the freedom to choose your lifestyle. It also forces you to prioritize immediate profitability and often limits rapid scaling.
  2. Taking venture capital adds constant pressure to grow quickly — a ‘boot on your neck’ — which can drive fast scaling but reduces autonomy and can cause burnout or loss of control.
  3. There’s a clear tradeoff between outsized freedom and outsized growth, so you need to decide what you’re optimizing for. You can try to self-impose urgency to grow, but it’s not the same as the external forcing function investors provide.

Training large language models on my loved ones' data

Reboot • 26 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Ethics AI Data Labor Platforms Policy
  1. Expert data labelers produce the high-quality reasoning traces that power recent LLM advances, yet they work as precarious gig labor with opaque rules, unstable pay, and no real career path.
  2. AI companies capture huge value from this labor and then displace or sideline those workers as models learn to generate synthetic data, causing layoffs and downward pressure on wages.
  3. There are simple, practical protections that could help: portable credentials, transparency about how data is used, the ability for workers to communicate and appeal, and explicit credit or recognition for their contributions.

Steve Jobs: 'The Half-Truth of First-Mover Advantage' | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 319 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💼 Business Funding Updates Market Analysis Job Opportunities Venture Capital
  1. Being the first to market doesn't always guarantee success - focus on product and marketing execution instead of just being the first.
  2. Many pioneers in industries did not become successful despite being first movers, showcasing the importance of execution over timing.
  3. Entering a market after pioneers can provide the advantage of learning from their mistakes and building a better product with secure marketing funds.

Live video on Substack: smarter, simpler, more discoverable

Substack Blog • 309 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Digital Tools User Experience Social media Live Streaming Content creation
  1. Substack has made live video easier to use with tools that help you plan, promote, and share your streams. Now you can invite guests even if they don't have a Substack account.
  2. After your live stream, Substack automatically creates short clips that highlight important moments. These clips can help attract more viewers and subscribers to your content.
  3. You can schedule your live events and even add them to your audience’s calendars, making it simpler for them to join. This way, your streams can keep attracting new audiences even after they end.

Ante Up, SUV Drivers: Paris Triples Parking Rates

The Micromobility Newsletter • 275 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Logistics Transportation Electric Vehicles Bankruptcy Investment
  1. Paris has tripled parking rates for SUVs over 1.6 tonnes and electric vehicles over 2 tonnes to promote a bike-able and walk-able city.
  2. Cake, an e-motorcycle manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy after facing challenges with recalls and losing an investor in funding.
  3. DYU, a prominent e-bike manufacturer in China, raised $14M in a funding round, planning to expand operations and enhance supply chain.