The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
Category
One Useful Thing 1033 implied HN points 20 Feb 24
  1. Advancements in AI, such as larger memory capacity in models like Gemini, are enhancing AI's ability for superhuman recall and performance.
  2. Improvements in speed, like Groq's hardware for quick responses from AI models, are making AI more practical and efficient for various tasks.
  3. Leaders should consider utilizing AI in their organizations by assessing what tasks can be automated, exploring new possibilities made possible by AI, democratizing services, and personalizing offerings for customers.
Natto Thoughts 79 implied HN points 10 Apr 24
  1. Intrusion Truth has a track record of correctly identifying Chinese threat actors tied to APT groups, leading to US DoJ indictments.
  2. Their success stems from starting investigations by leveraging report findings, receiving tips, and exploring science and technology companies in specific regions.
  3. Intrusion Truth's methods showcase the value of outdated research, the importance of community collaboration for threat hunting, and the need for deep understanding of the threat environment.
Bite code! 978 implied HN points 14 Mar 24
  1. Cookie banners on websites are not legally required by any EU law; companies choose to implement them.
  2. American companies do not have to comply with EU laws such as showing cookie banners to users in the USA.
  3. Many cookie banners on websites are actually illegal according to EU law, as they use dark patterns to trick users into tracking consent.
We're Gonna Get Those Bastards 8 implied HN points 21 Jan 26
  1. Money is a tool to buy comfort and freedom, and having enough makes small daily worries disappear.
  2. Save and invest consistently with delayed gratification—anyone can build wealth by living below their means and starting early.
  3. Manage risk by hedging against catastrophic losses and being realistic about investing, since preserving capital can be more important than chasing higher returns.
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Sundman figures it out! 137 implied HN points 04 Feb 24
  1. Dave Karpf's essay examines the techno-optimism surrounding the dot-com and crypto bubbles.
  2. The author recalls building a house for an internet billionaire on a potentially cursed Native American burial ground.
  3. The collapse of the New Economy bubble is attributed to building the house in a place where it shouldn't have been built.
Behavioral Value Investor 7 implied HN points 06 Feb 26
  1. John Neff’s large-cap value approach focused on stable, predictable businesses bought at low P/E ratios, yielding a high batting average, modest winners, small losses, and roughly a 3% annual edge over decades.
  2. This week’s assignment centers on Anthony Bolton’s Investing Against the Tide, with specific questions to map his investment style, link it to his background, and evaluate his best and worst picks.
  3. The seminar is designed to be interactive and practical: participants are asked to submit a single comment with answers, engage with others, and use extra resources like the 10‑Minute Investment Autopsy and the next reading to keep improving.
The Superteam Blog 137 implied HN points 04 Feb 24
  1. The newsletter celebrates Superteam members' achievements like projects hitting milestones and generating revenue.
  2. Community members contributed to ecosystem through code and content in areas like developer tooling and content creation.
  3. Updates on projects shipped in January include Proto App, Saganize SDK, and Little Unusual, highlighting key milestones and activities.
Philosophy bear 328 implied HN points 13 Feb 25
  1. The left often avoids discussing difficult trade-offs because they don't want to upset their supporters. This can lead to a lack of solid plans when they gain power.
  2. There's a problem with administrative spending in universities that the left doesn't address openly. Many unnecessary positions could be cut, but it’s a touchy subject.
  3. Pessimism about the left’s ability to create real change stems from a reluctance to make tough decisions. They need to start thinking about practical economic planning to be effective.
Tanay’s Newsletter 170 implied HN points 10 Jun 25
  1. Stablecoins, like USDC and USDT, are now important for payments, moving large amounts of money much like traditional banking systems. USDC alone has handled over $25 trillion since it started.
  2. Circle, which runs USDC, makes most of its money by investing the dollars that back USDC in U.S. Treasuries. This means if interest rates drop a lot, their profits could take a big hit.
  3. Coinbase plays a huge role in Circle's success by helping to distribute USDC. They share the profits from USDC, so a lot of Circle's earnings are paid to Coinbase as part of their agreement.
DeFi Education 599 implied HN points 08 Mar 23
  1. DeFi is a new way to handle finance without banks, but it comes with risks like hacks and scams. Users need to be aware and do their research to stay safe.
  2. Keeping your own private keys safe is crucial. The saying 'your keys, your Bitcoin' highlights that if you lose access to your private keys, you could lose your crypto forever.
  3. Using hardware wallets and trusted protocols can help protect your funds. It's important to only use tested platforms and to follow good security practices to avoid losses.
VuTrinh. 59 implied HN points 07 May 24
  1. Hybrid transactional/analytical storage combines different types of data processing. This helps companies like Uber manage their data more efficiently.
  2. The shift from predictive to generative AI is changing how companies use machine learning. Uber's Michelangelo platform shows how this new approach can improve AI applications.
  3. Data reliability and observability are important for businesses as their data grows. Companies need tools to quickly find and fix data issues to keep their operations running smoothly.
Parth's Playground 38 implied HN points 12 Nov 25
  1. There isn't a guarantee of tripling your money in new businesses. Startups are still figuring things out, so making precise predictions can be tricky.
  2. Some investors wrongly believe they’re making safe investments like Canada Goose, but in reality, many growth investments fail completely.
  3. It's more effective to look for investments that could potentially return ten times your money instead of trying to pin down a three times return, especially since venture investments often don't follow the same rules as private equity.
Points And Figures 373 implied HN points 14 Jan 25
  1. Startups should keep their investors updated regularly, like every quarter. Simple updates help investors stay engaged and offer support.
  2. When updating, focus on key points like growth rates, income or losses, and any future capital raising. It's best to keep it clear and short.
  3. Investors can be valuable beyond just their money. They can help with introductions and potential partnerships, so it's crucial to communicate effectively with them.
Gentle Nudge 39 implied HN points 08 Jun 24
  1. Make it easy for users to complete a desired action to increase the likelihood of them repeating it in the future. Reduce barriers for users to engage with your product or service.
  2. Users value products more when they perceive effort or work behind the scenes. Consider implementing small delays or visual cues to show the process at work, enhancing user perception.
  3. Adjust the learning curve in your product to match user progress, keeping them engaged by introducing new challenges or surprises over time. Changing the complexity of actions can help maintain user interest.
Workforce Futurist by Andy Spence 390 implied HN points 01 Jan 25
  1. Many employers plan to hire more workers, making 2025 a good year for job opportunities. This growth is seen globally, especially in countries like India and the U.S.
  2. The Misery Index, which measures economic discomfort, is low, suggesting overall economic conditions are relatively stable. However, it doesn't account for every hardship faced by workers.
  3. Remote work is becoming more common, giving people the flexibility to work in comfortable environments. Digital tools are also allowing individuals to create their own businesses, leading to more ways to earn money.
Venture Prose 299 implied HN points 26 Mar 23
  1. To survive as a generalist seed investor, understand founders' emotions and engage with genuine care and support.
  2. When interacting with founders, focus on understanding, asking thought-provoking questions, and articulating key issues to help them progress.
  3. In the world of seed investing, competitiveness matters, but it's crucial to prioritize meaningful connections over unnecessary competition.
Top Carbon Chauvinist 19 implied HN points 19 Jul 24
  1. The Turing Test isn't a good measure of machine intelligence. It's actually more important to see how useful a machine is rather than just how well it imitates human behavior.
  2. People often confuse looking reliable with actually being reliable. A machine can seem smart but still not function correctly in tasks.
  3. We should focus on improving how machines handle calculations and information, rather than just whether they can mimic humans. True effectiveness is more valuable than just good imitation.
The Algorithmic Bridge 414 implied HN points 18 Dec 24
  1. Google's AI video tool, Veo 2, is way ahead of others. It makes better videos than OpenAI's Sora Turbo, which is not as good and feels rushed.
  2. Deepfakes are changing how we see what's real. While they can be fun and creative, they also make it hard to trust what we see, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.
  3. As technology speeds up, we risk forgetting our traditions and customs. This fast pace can leave older generations feeling disconnected from younger ones, so we need to think about what we're losing.
De Pony Sum 255 implied HN points 23 Oct 23
  1. Goodness is often based on moral luck, where circumstances may lead anyone to do wrong.
  2. It's challenging to categorize people as good or bad, making it important to choose how to view humanity as a whole.
  3. Forgiveness and gratitude are crucial, especially in recognizing human struggles and efforts to do good amid suffering.
QTR’s Fringe Finance 23 implied HN points 22 Dec 25
  1. The Fed has stopped shrinking its balance sheet and is restarting quantitative easing to keep reserves ample and preserve policy flexibility.
  2. Huge Treasury deficits and political pressure have pushed up demand for reserves, so the Fed is buying assets to ease policy without formally cutting the federal funds rate.
  3. Restarting QE will help lower government borrowing costs and reduce the Fed’s interest bill, but it risks higher inflation and may look like capitulation to political pressure.
Simon Owens's Media Newsletter 1097 implied HN points 10 Jan 24
  1. Google traffic may not be as valuable as perceived, as it often results in low engagement and conversion rates.
  2. High-quality publishers can leverage brand recognition as a powerful tool to compete in search results dominated by AI-generated content.
  3. Building a strong personal brand in the Creator Economy can lead to burnout and lack of exit options, prompting some creators to launch companies separate from their personal brands.
Elizabeth Laraki 59 implied HN points 06 May 24
  1. Identify who you want to talk to for your research. Focus on people who can actually help answer your questions.
  2. Recruit participants carefully by using screening forms to find the right fit. Make sure your questions are clear and helpful.
  3. Create a detailed research plan and script to guide your sessions. This will help make your research more effective and insightful.
European Straits 15 implied HN points 31 Dec 25
  1. The computing-and-networks era has matured, so value is shifting from pure software to embedding that technology into physical systems like manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure.
  2. Energy production and process knowledge are now central sources of national power — electrification and advanced manufacturing decide strategic advantage, and countries that rebuilt deep industrial ecosystems have leapfrogged rivals.
  3. Global finance and institutions are being rewired after political and regulatory shocks, with the US functioning as a major investment platform and programmable capital/tokenisation poised to remake how assets are issued and traded.
Loeber on Substack 325 implied HN points 09 Feb 25
  1. AI technology is improving faster than most people realize. Many experts believe we could see advanced AI within a few years.
  2. The rise of AI will change jobs significantly. Many current jobs may disappear, but people might also gain more free time as automation increases.
  3. There isn't enough public discussion about the effects of AI on society. Policymakers need to start addressing these changes now to prepare for the future.
Gonzo ML 126 implied HN points 28 Jul 25
  1. The recent ICML 2025 Outstanding Papers show a huge amount of important research in machine learning, but many people feel overwhelmed and can't read everything in-depth.
  2. It's okay to admit that you can't keep up with all the new papers. Using AI tools can help manage the load and ensure you're still getting the important insights you need.
  3. Some of the papers focus on practical issues, like improving predictions and making AI more collaborative, which are vital for real-world applications.
Software Snack Bites 10 implied HN points 16 Jan 26
  1. AI is an enablement shift, not a slow paradigm change — it's making people more capable right now because it’s easy to adopt and useful across skill levels.
  2. We’re still very early: most users treat AI as a simple answer engine, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for self-teaching, new creators, and deeper technical work to come.
  3. Don’t dismiss the momentum — value and spending can grow quickly along an S-curve, and monetization paths like ads, commerce, and healthcare are only beginning to emerge.
Substack 620 implied HN points 15 Aug 24
  1. Publishing on Substack is now much simpler, making it easier to create posts and gain subscribers without any complicated setup.
  2. You can now use Substack's mobile app to write and edit posts directly from your phone, which is great for staying connected while on the go.
  3. Finding specific topics in Substack Notes is easier now, as they added a search filter to help you explore more content across the platform.
Technically Optimistic 39 implied HN points 07 Jun 24
  1. AI's energy consumption is rapidly increasing due to the demand for machine learning models and data processing, raising concerns for the future sustainability of AI technology.
  2. Efforts are being made to address the environmental impact of AI, such as exploring alternative energy sources, water recycling techniques, and more efficient cooling systems for data centers.
  3. Regulators and innovators are seeking solutions to manage AI's energy use, including implementing baseload reliable energy, optimizing power usage during off-peak hours, and demanding transparency from AI developers.
Klement on Investing 3 implied HN points 17 Feb 26
  1. Tariffs and new paperwork between the UK and the EU sharply cut UK goods exports. Exports fell roughly 0.4% per month and about 40% cumulatively.
  2. Other countries redirected imports away from the UK, so EU total imports stayed stable while UK importers faced higher prices and lower supply and UK exporters were stranded.
  3. Even a large economy like the US can be bypassed, so broad US tariffs could similarly hurt American firms as trading partners find alternatives; services trade is much less affected by goods tariffs.
Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots 59 implied HN points 06 May 24
  1. Chatbots use Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to figure out what users want by detecting their intentions and important information.
  2. With Large Language Models (LLMs), chatbots can understand and respond to conversations more naturally, moving away from rigid, rule-based systems.
  3. Building a chatbot now involves using advanced techniques like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to pull in useful information and provide better answers.
Onchain Wizard's Cauldron 137 implied HN points 02 Feb 24
  1. The chainEDGE 3.0 update brings significant improvements for users, including enhanced UI and filtering options.
  2. The new version features tools like auto-filtering of low liquidity tokens and detailed insights into smart money swaps.
  3. chainEDGE 3.0 offers optimized token and wallet pages, along with a Portfolio God dashboard for sorting and filtering smart money holdings.
I Might Be Wrong 22 implied HN points 23 Dec 25
  1. The boss held a surprise all-hands right before the holidays and publicly berated the staff, which was demoralizing and tone-deaf. Yelling at employees in that way rarely motivates and mostly breeds resentment.
  2. The leader who blamed the team was later exposed for long-running fraud, revealing hypocrisy and that leadership, not staff, can be the real problem. Organizational failures often trace back to corrupt or incompetent management.
  3. When someone shows you who they are, believe them — small signs of abusive or unethical behavior can predict much larger issues. Trust your instincts about toxic leadership and prioritize working somewhere healthier.
Data at Depth 79 implied HN points 08 Apr 24
  1. Create impactful data stories by hitting your audience's senses first, then backing it up with solid data and an interesting narrative
  2. Understand Kahneman's System 1 (intuitive) and System 2 (thoughtful) thinking to effectively engage your audience by appealing to both ways of thinking
  3. Utilize color effectively in data visualization to enhance communication, emphasize key points, and leverage pre-attentive attributes to grab and direct viewer attention