The hottest Substack posts right now

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Why We Must Build World Models

Reasons to Be Optimistic • 6 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Causality Multimodal AI Simulation Robotics Computer Vision Machine Learning
  1. Text-only models are powerful but incomplete because language misses how the world actually looks, moves, and feels; video offers a far richer, high-volume source of physics, sound, and human behavior.
  2. True world models must be causal and action-conditioned, predicting the next state step-by-step under intervention; autoregressive diffusion transformer architectures trained on multimodal video and actions are a promising path.
  3. General world models will turn naive software into systems that understand and interact with the real world, enabling adaptive robots, immersive simulations, new learning tools, and large-scale scientific discovery.

The Bear Cave #256

The Bear Cave • 653 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
💰 Finance Investing Activism Corporate Governance Healthcare Markets
  1. There are serious concerns about AppLovin's business practices, including alleged money laundering and low-quality apps. Activist reports suggest their recent growth is questionable.
  2. TransMedics Group is facing backlash for alleged unethical practices in organ transportation. Reports indicate they may have refused life-saving procedures due to billing issues.
  3. A number of executives in various companies have resigned recently, showing instability in leadership roles. This includes multiple CFOs and the CEO of Hershey, which may impact company performance.

✨ Life in an AI utopia: A Quick Q&A with futurist and philosopher Nick Bostrom

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Artificial Intelligence Futurism Philosophy Ethics
  1. It's often easier for people to imagine a bad future, like in movies, than a good one. This can affect how cultures think about their future.
  2. When thinking about a perfect world, many people share similar ideas, like having peace and cleanliness. But if everything goes perfectly, we might miss out on challenges that give our lives meaning.
  3. The future of artificial intelligence could be really bright or really dark. We need to prepare for both possibilities because we are entering a new era with big changes ahead.

A Winning Strategy

Points And Figures • 932 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
💼 Business Leadership Culture Authenticity Marketing Entrepreneurship
  1. Being authentic is key for leaders. When leaders show their true selves, it helps build trust and culture in their organizations.
  2. Not every leader is suited for every situation. Finding the right fit where authenticity shines can lead to greater success.
  3. People today appreciate genuine leadership. With so much fake behavior around, being authentic stands out and resonates with others.
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Good (Bad) Banks, Good (Bad) Investments: An Investing Perspective

Musings on Markets • 819 implied HN points • 07 May 23
💰 Finance Risk management Investing Banking Valuation Market Analysis
  1. Good banks tend to have stickier deposits, which help them maintain stability. Buying a good bank at a high price might actually lead to losses compared to buying a bad one at a low price.
  2. Valuing banks is tricky because their cash flows and risks are different from other businesses. Instead of using traditional methods, one should often use a dividend discount model or a free cash flow to equity model.
  3. The price of a bank's stock can differ significantly from its actual value. Understanding both the intrinsic value and market price is key to making smart investment decisions.

The internet is for 12-year-olds

Read Max • 2950 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Content creation Internet culture Online Platforms Social media YouTube
  1. Many content creators online are pressured to create content aimed at 12-year-olds due to the large number in the audience.
  2. Internet platforms lack adult mediation between young viewers and content creators, leading to a focus on adolescent content.
  3. Successful creators may reintroduce wholesome content into the online sphere, standing out in a sea of material targeting younger audiences.

AI Roundup 145: Gemini 3

Artificial Ignorance • 71 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Investment Geopolitics Infrastructure Tech Companies AI Models Regulations
  1. Google launched Gemini 3 Pro, a powerful new AI model that improves planning, coding, and judgment skills, marking a significant step forward in AI technology.
  2. There's growing worry among tech leaders about a potential bubble in AI investments, with CEOs openly questioning the sustainability of soaring valuations and massive spending.
  3. An upcoming Executive Order may give the federal government power to override state AI laws, which could lead to legal battles and political pushback from within the Republican Party.

Classification and Method Selection

Abstraction • 29 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Forecasting AI Machine Learning Modeling Systems Design
  1. Match the forecasting method to the question type: classify questions into base-rate, time-series, conditional-chain, or novel-event and route each to a specialized approach.
  2. Use the right technique for each class: use historical reference classes and adjustments for base rates, simulate trajectories for time-series questions, multiply conditional probabilities for conjunctive chains, and apply a Laplace-style prior for unprecedented events.
  3. Track and improve empirically: use an LLM classifier (defaulting to base rate when unsure), choose reference classes and decompositions carefully, and measure which methods are over- or under-confident as you scale.

453: Anthropic, Microsoft Athena AI Chip, Nvidia Strikes Back, Antitrust Catch-22, China vs Wind Power, Nobel Immigrants, EV, and JS Bach

Liberty’s Highlights • 491 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Immigration Energy Antitrust AI
  1. Be skeptical of misinformation during times of tragedy and beware of those who use geopolitical excuses to dehumanize situations.
  2. Don't get attached to beliefs and welcome constructive criticism to identify and correct blind spots over time.
  3. Electric vehicles are more energy-efficient compared to internal combustion engine vehicles, and smart planning is key to meet the increasing electricity demand for transportation needs.

Stablecoins: The Next Financial Platform

The Generalist • 2922 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
💰 Finance Stablecoins Cryptocurrency Business Regulation Innovation
  1. Stablecoins solve real problems like moving value across borders quickly and cheaply.
  2. Stablecoins have signs of product-market fit with $125 billion in circulation and 1 million daily active wallets.
  3. Stablecoins are viewed as a financial infrastructure layer, serving as a platform for open, cheap, and programmable global payments system.

2026 - the year of AGI

davidj.substack • 23 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Developer Tools AI agents LLMs Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence
  1. AGI means an AI that can learn many different tasks and perform many things at least as well as a typical human — it doesn't require sentience or being a superintelligence.
  2. Progress toward AGI will rely more on post-training learning: agents that can learn after deployment, retain skills, and build or use tools, rather than just bigger pretraining runs.
  3. Narrow AGI will appear in specific domains soon via agents that learn and share useful skills while keeping private data local, but these systems will still have clear limits and won't replace all human abilities.

Configurancy

Breaking Smart • 43 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Phenomenology Ontology Existentialism
  1. Heidegger's idea of 'Care' as the basis for understanding existence is too vague and normatively loaded. It's hard to use 'Care' as a foundational concept because it carries so many emotional and ethical meanings.
  2. The new idea of 'Configurancy' is about how things and people relate over time to create a meaningful world. It's a process that describes how worlds and individuals come together without carrying any specific emotional weight.
  3. Configurancy helps us understand existence without tying it to goals or feelings. It shows that meaning arises from relationships and changes, rather than aiming for a fixed purpose.

The D.I.E. Triad - Applied to your Career (and Life)

Resilient Cyber • 279 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
💼 Business Career development Professional networking Agile Methodology Digital Transformation
  1. Building a strong network is important for career resilience. It's not just about who you know, but who knows you and what you bring to the table.
  2. Some core values and work ethics should remain unchanged throughout your career. These qualities, like determination and discipline, help you stay successful as roles and technologies change.
  3. You should treat your personal and professional growth like a product that needs constant improvement. Embrace change and ask for feedback to keep evolving.

Japan’s Yo-Yo GDP

Japan Economy Watch • 399 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
💼 Business Economy GDP Wages Stock Market
  1. Japan's GDP has not seen growth in five years, raising concerns about the country's economic health.
  2. Majority of the recent GDP growth in Japan is attributed to increased government spending.
  3. Real wages in Japan have been declining, impacting employee compensation and consumption, which further influences Bank of Japan policy and the value of the yen.

Money Market Update

Concoda • 183 implied HN points • 14 Aug 25
💰 Finance Interest Rates Investment Strategies Monetary Policy Market Analysis Liquidity management
  1. The RRP is now at zero, meaning that banks are using all their cash effectively without too much excess cash lying around.
  2. Money market rates are stabilizing, and there are more places to lend money again, helping to keep the market from getting too volatile.
  3. Expect at least one interest rate cut soon, as the economic growth is slow and inflation is still a concern.

How Many Investors Should You Talk to in a VC Fund Raise? And How Do You Prioritize? | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 239 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💼 Business Fundraising Job Opportunities Venture Capital Investing Startups
  1. Fundraising is a sales & marketing process that needs careful planning and time management with prioritization of top investors.
  2. Founders should focus on engaging investors who show interest, authority to make decisions, and willingness to continue spending time.
  3. Having a balanced approach in engaging top and bottom of the funnel investors, using marketing techniques, and keeping a healthy pipeline is key to successful fundraising.

Money Market Update

Concoda • 259 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
💰 Finance Debt Instruments Regulatory changes Market Analysis Investment Strategies Economic Trends
  1. Bonds are in a good spot right now, with strong demand from investors despite some market ups and downs. They are seen as safe and still attractive to buy.
  2. The U.S. Treasury is focusing more on short- and middle-term debt instead of long-term bonds, which could impact interest rates. This shift might help them manage national debt more effectively.
  3. There could be some challenges ahead, like the potential for turmoil if debt levels are not managed well, especially as banks and investors navigate new regulations.

AI, or, Shifty Epistemics and Shaky Ontologies

Deep Fix • 491 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Digital economy Artificial General Intelligence AI Epistemology Ontology
  1. AI technology can lead to a breakdown in how we know and understand information, potentially causing chaos and confusion.
  2. The use of AI in an era of eroding trust and extreme ideologies may worsen division and extremism in society.
  3. Concerns exist about the worldviews and intentions of individuals, especially men, behind AI technology, with fears of their impact on society and humanity.

450: Apple's iPhone Pricing, Hyperscalers, Google, Capital-Light Businesses, Rory Sutherland, Norway, Spotify AI, and Hitchcock

Liberty’s Highlights • 491 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
🕹 Technology 3D Printing Apple AI Cloud Computing Nuclear power
  1. Adjusted for inflation, the iPhone 15 is the most affordable since the original in 2007.
  2. The White House may require cloud companies to disclose AI customers for security
  3. Google paid Apple a massive estimated $120 billion since 2010 to be the default search on iOS.

🚀 A Smarter Way to Launch Ebikes

The Micromobility Newsletter • 491 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Innovation Marketing Technology Mobility
  1. Prelaunch.com uses a special reservation system for customers interested in products, offering them a deal on launch.
  2. Prelaunch.com helps ebike inventors gather market feedback, optimize product design, and customize marketing strategies.
  3. Success stories like the FUELL Fllow and other electric mobility products have benefitted from Prelaunch.com's validation platform.

Join me on Notes

The Fintech Blueprint • 491 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. Notes on Substack is a new way to share links, posts, quotes, photos, and more.
  2. Visit substack.com/notes to join the platform and interact with content.
  3. Subscribers to Fintech Blueprint automatically see notes; can like, reply, or share.

Issue #146: PayPal Gets a New CEO, Palmer Luckey's Bank Gets Its Charter, And Experian To Buy Own Up

Fintech Radar • 8 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
💰 Finance Banking Fintech Payments Crypto AI M&A Wealth Regulation
  1. Experian is buying an AI mortgage-shopping platform to move beyond credit reporting and directly steer consumers through mortgage origination, turning its data advantage into a distribution channel for lenders.
  2. A Palmer Luckey–backed neobank won a US national banking charter in under eight months, signaling that regulators are approving new charters much faster and opening a path for more fintechs to become banks.
  3. PayPal replaced its CEO amid board complaints about its pace of change, exposing a deeper identity problem where the company needs a clear strategic direction rather than just new leadership.

Reflections in a Puddle

Fragmentary • 491 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Society Language Culture Ethics AI
  1. Interacting with ChatGPT highlights its limitations and lack of true artificial intelligence.
  2. The hype around large language models as AI may be misleading; they are more like well-executed information tools.
  3. Adding new technologies has societal consequences that should be considered and policies set accordingly.

Greatness or Virtue

Fake Noûs • 289 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Personal Development Ethics Moral Philosophy Human nature Social theory
  1. Many people prioritize success over being virtuous, which shows how we often chase fame and wealth instead of moral goodness.
  2. We tend to measure our moral worth by comparing ourselves to those who are worse, rather than aiming for the best examples of virtue.
  3. While personal success is valuable, true moral respect comes from being virtuous, not just successful; it's important to aim for both.

Online Safety Act: What went wrong

The Rectangle • 226 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Online safety Regulation Consumption Censorship Privacy
  1. The Online Safety Act aimed to protect kids from harmful content online, but it's very hard to enforce. Laws are only effective if there are systems in place to ensure compliance.
  2. Age verification requirements put a lot of personal data at risk without clear privacy protections. People might not trust websites to handle this sensitive information safely.
  3. Regulators need to see online issues as cultural problems, not just technical ones. Education and changing public attitudes are key to keeping kids safe online.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 542

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 139 implied HN points • 12 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Analytics Programming Machine Learning Data science AI
  1. This newsletter provides links and updates about data science, AI, and machine learning. It's a helpful resource for anyone wanting to stay informed in this field.
  2. One article teaches how to handle real questions using Python, which is great for people wanting practical coding skills. Another discusses techniques to make sure AI outputs stay on task.
  3. The newsletter also features resources and courses to help people learn and improve their skills in data science and related areas. It's a good place to find learning opportunities.

Claude 4 and Anthropic's bet on code

Democratizing Automation • 332 implied HN points • 27 May 25
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Data science Tech industry AI Models Software Engineering
  1. Claude 4 is a strong AI model from Anthropic, focused on coding and software tasks. It has a unique personality and improved performance over its predecessors.
  2. The benchmarks for Claude 4 might not look impressive compared to others like ChatGPT and Gemini, which could affect its market position. It's crucial for Anthropic to show real-world utility beyond just numbers.
  3. Anthropic aims to lead in software development, but they fall behind in general benchmarks. This may limit their ability to compete with bigger players like OpenAI and Google in the race for advanced AI.

Stimulation Theory

Malt Liquidity • 24 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
💰 Finance Trading Markets Investing Wealth Management Macro trends Behavioral Finance Fintech
  1. The public internet and algorithm-driven discourse are extremely volatile and risky, producing lots of low-signal, performative conversation that makes maintaining a public profile dangerous.
  2. A better approach is to stop publicly posting trades and performance and instead build a client-focused, scalable wealth management practice that protects proprietary thinking and relies on two-way feedback.
  3. Stimulation theory: aim for an optimal threshold of information so you can make informed decisions without getting fried by toxic constant flow, and build information pipelines that filter signal from noise.