The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
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We’re wasting AI’s real potential

Sex and the State • 19 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Ethics Law Regulation AI Policy Labor Innovation
  1. Most big questions called "AI problems" are actually broader social and policy problems that existed before and will still matter after AI.
  2. Creating rules or exemptions only for AI—like special whistleblower protections or tariff breaks—risks unfair carveouts and misses the chance to update laws and regulations for everyone.
  3. The huge attention on AI is an opportunity to fix those wider issues—balancing innovation and safety, modernizing rules, and protecting displaced workers—so we should use it to reform systems, not just regulate AI.

0 to 20k Traffic, No Budget, Pure Indie Spirit!

Pen, Paper & Pizza • 39 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
💼 Business Product Launch Startups Marketing SEO Content creation
  1. Achieving 20,000 visitors in 4 months without a marketing budget is possible through strategic approaches like SEO and valuable content creation.
  2. Embracing the power of organic traffic through free tools, AI tools, and consistent content creation can lead to significant growth and valuable insights.
  3. Learning from setbacks, adapting strategies like targeting specific pain points, and staying consistent in content creation can pave the way for successful SEO endeavors.

More ResiDay 2025

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 21 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
💰 Finance Housing Market Investment Trends Economic conditions Real Estate
  1. Amherst's Sean Dobson believes that many good credit risks are being denied mortgages due to strict lending rules set after the 2008 crisis. He wants to see these rules loosened so that his renting customers can become homeowners.
  2. Parkland Communities is focusing on building modern, attached homes like townhomes, which can offer a good living experience while minimizing land costs and navigating zoning challenges. They aim to provide more affordable housing options in urban areas.
  3. The growth of single-family rentals is rising again, with many investors showing interest in this market. However, builders are facing challenges in meeting demand due to past economic and regulatory pressures.

Tech Talks Weekly #13 🎉

Tech Talks Weekly • 39 implied HN points • 09 May 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Programming Talks Tech community Conferences
  1. This week features many interesting talks from various tech conferences like Devoxx Greece and React Miami. You can find updates on programming languages and system design insights.
  2. There's a call to help improve the content by filling out a quick survey. Sharing feedback can enhance the experience for everyone involved.
  3. The newsletter highlights a selection of must-watch talks from recent events. It's a great way to stay informed about the latest trends and ideas in tech.
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MercadoLibre, Inc Investment Thesis

The Wolf of Harcourt Street • 339 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
💰 Finance Investment Strategies Financial Performance Business Analysis Market Analysis Risk Assessment
  1. MercadoLibre (MELI) is a Latin American e-commerce giant with remarkable growth, experiencing over 4,000% return in 16 years since its IPO.
  2. MELI's success is driven by a strong ecosystem of online commerce, digital payments, logistics, and advertising solutions.
  3. The company faces risks like regulatory changes, geopolitical instability, and increasing competition, but has growth opportunities in the unbanked market and logistics services.

The Most Unaligned AI In The World

Teaching computers how to talk • 73 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Safety Ethics AI Regulation Companionship
  1. The Grok 4 AI model is very advanced but lacks essential safety checks. This means it could share harmful information if asked.
  2. There are concerns that AI companions, like the new waifu character Ani, can have negative impacts on vulnerable users. Companies need to handle these technologies carefully.
  3. We need better regulations for AI systems to ensure safety and accountability, similar to how we regulate financial markets and medicine.

Risk Capital and Markets: Temporary Pull Back or Long term Retrenchment?

Musings on Markets • 579 implied HN points • 02 Jul 22
💰 Finance Investing Economic Factors Capital Markets Risk management Market Trends
  1. Risk capital is money invested in risky assets, while safety capital is for safer investments. Finding the right balance between these two is important for a healthy economy and market.
  2. Market changes in risk capital can lead to higher risk premiums and impact the pricing of both stocks and bonds. When risk capital is scarce, default spreads increase for riskier investments.
  3. The current market may be facing a long-term pullback in risk capital due to factors like inflation, which can affect stock prices and investors' willingness to take risks.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 499

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 219 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Data science NLP Data Engineering Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning
  1. Using large language models can help kids learn to ask curious questions by automating the teaching process.
  2. New techniques for 3D space reconstruction can make indoor views on platforms like Google Maps look more realistic and interactive.
  3. There's a growing need to understand the value of personal data in online shopping, especially as new regulations come into play.

Here's How AI Makes Comment Sections More Compassionate

techandsocialcohesion • 39 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Online Interaction Social media
  1. Google's Jigsaw Perspective API uses AI to encourage positive interaction online, not just filter negativity.
  2. AI tools are being developed to evaluate online comments for qualities like reasoning and empathy, promoting healthier and less polarized discussions.
  3. By incorporating 'bridging attributes' in AI classifiers, efforts are made to increase mutual understanding and trust across different perspectives in online interactions.

Virtuals x Ronin: $JAIHOZ Launch and Airdrop

Ronin’s Newsletter • 196 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Gaming AI agents Blockchain Web3 Virtual reality
  1. A new AI Agent named JAIHOZ is launching on the Ronin platform, bringing excitement to the Web3 community. This AI agent represents Jihoz, a co-founder of Sky Mavis, and aims to engage users on social media and beyond.
  2. The $JAIHOZ token has been introduced and is live on both Base and Ronin, with an airdrop to select community members happening soon. Users are encouraged to check their wallets for potential tokens they've received.
  3. Virtuals Protocol allows anyone to create their own AI agents, enhancing interactivity and possibilities within the gaming and entertainment industries. This collaboration signifies a step toward a future where AI agents can play vital roles in various digital environments.

5 Cybersecurity Predictions for 2024

Frankly Speaking • 203 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Data Engineering AI Cybersecurity
  1. In 2024, cybersecurity companies will focus more on creating platforms instead of using many separate tools. This means they can work faster and solve problems better.
  2. Cybersecurity is moving towards building its own solutions rather than just buying products. This change is necessary to keep up with the evolving threats.
  3. The use of AI in cybersecurity will become more effective. Companies will learn how to use AI to make their security processes better and faster.

Which AI should I use? Superpowers and the State of Play

One Useful Thing • 506 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Chatbots Machine Learning AI Autonomous Systems Data Analysis
  1. There are three main GPT-4 class AI models dominating the field currently: GPT-4, Anthropic's Claude 3 Opus, and Google's Gemini Advanced.
  2. These AI models have impressive abilities like being multimodal, allowing them to 'see' images and work across a variety of tasks.
  3. The AI industry lacks clear instructions on how to use these advanced AI models, and users are encouraged to spend time learning to leverage their potential.

A fun thought on optimization

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Optimization Product Development Design AI
  1. Avoid optimizing too early in the design process. This can lead to wasted efforts and complicated designs.
  2. In the world of AI, focusing too much on costs can lead to weak solutions. It's better to have a solid, simple design from the start.
  3. Instead of worrying about future needs, consider how hard it will be to make changes later. It's important to find a balance between planning and flexibility.

Decoding Whisper: An In-Depth Look at its Architecture and Transcription Process

Amgad’s Substack • 79 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Architecture Speech Recognition
  1. The focus of the project 'Whisper' was on scaling training with massive amounts of data, using a proven encoder-decoder architecture to avoid complicating findings with model improvements.
  2. The model architecture features an encoder with stem and blocks, along with a decoder incorporating cross-attention layers, and an audio processor that prepares input features from audio segments.
  3. Improvements in Whisper's accuracy and robustness primarily came from the scale and quality of the data, showcasing the significance of data processing over novel architecture decisions.

The Not-so-Lazy Holiday Reading List

Platforms, AI, and the Economics of BigTech • 11 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
💼 Business Platforms Economics Organization AI Innovation Management Technology Strategy
  1. In a world where execution is cheap, restraint and reflection are advantages — do less of the wrong work and spend time deciding what really matters.
  2. Don’t just dig faster; make maps that show where to dig — focus on clarity, limits, and redesigning workflows rather than only improving speed.
  3. AI reshapes systems so answers get cheap; the lasting value comes from asking better questions, owning decision rights and governance, and re‑architecting around new units of value.

Introducing RunLLM: The first AI Support Engineer

Generating Conversation • 163 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Product Development Customer Support Software Productivity
  1. RunLLM is an AI designed to help support teams by managing technical questions and documentation, making the process easier for both support staff and customers.
  2. One challenge for support teams is that technical products often create complex questions that can overwhelm them. RunLLM helps lighten that load by providing quick and accurate answers.
  3. Instead of just answering questions, RunLLM engages with users, helping to boost their confidence in seeking help and improving overall customer satisfaction.

High energy on Mondays. Low on Fridays. Then what?

Kenny’s Sub • 79 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
💼 Business Small business Coaching Entrepreneurship Freelancing Work-life balance
  1. Finding meaningful work can bring energy and fulfillment, even if it means taking a risk like starting a business.
  2. Challenges and surprises, especially money-related, can be stressful, but learning to manage those moments is key to growth.
  3. As a solopreneur, taking full responsibility for both successes and failures allows for deeper personal growth and resilience.

Angels Vs Venture Capitalists

Points And Figures • 266 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investing Venture Capital Startups Finance
  1. Angels and venture capitalists have different roles in funding startups. Angels often invest earlier and can take more risks compared to venture capitalists.
  2. Angels should act quickly and be transparent in their decision-making process. This helps entrepreneurs know where they stand and not get left waiting.
  3. Investing in early rounds is usually more beneficial for angels. After a company has grown, it can make more sense for them to find new seed deals rather than invest in larger rounds.

How to apply best practices

Bad Software Advice • 82 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Tools Tech influence Best Practices Software
  1. People often look up to successful figures and want to imitate them, especially in the workplace. This influence can shape our ambitions and desires.
  2. Best practices in software can sometimes feel more like advertisements than helpful guidelines. They might push you to adopt tools that you don't really need just to seem relevant or 'cool'.
  3. Using tools like Kubernetes might be seen as essential by some, but it's important to evaluate whether they truly fit your needs and goals, instead of just following trends.

Creating A Benchmark Taxonomy For Prompt Engineering

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 19 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Benchmarking Taxonomy Machine Learning NLP AI
  1. Creating a standard system for evaluating prompts is important because prompts can vary in how they're used and understood. This makes it hard to measure their effectiveness.
  2. The TELeR taxonomy helps to categorize prompts so that they can be better compared and understood. It focuses on aspects like clarity and the level of detail in prompts.
  3. Using clear goals, examples, and context in prompts can lead to better responses from language models. This helps the models to understand exactly what is being asked.

Meta's just not that into you

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 499 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
💼 Business Legislation Media Publishing Social media Monetization
  1. Facebook is shifting away from news content, with recent actions including shutting down its news tab and restricting news links on its platforms like Instagram and Threads.
  2. Publishers have seen a decline in Facebook traffic over the years, as the platform has deprioritized news pages since the aftermath of the 2016 election.
  3. Many publishers blame Meta for not compensating them adequately, leading to lobbying efforts by publishers globally to force Meta to the bargaining table.

Extending the demo: Thunder Force V (Saturn)

Rings of Saturn • 58 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Reviews Programming Hacking Software Gaming
  1. The demo of Thunder Force V has many unfinished elements like scrolling issues and missing bosses. It shows how the game changed before its final version.
  2. Modifying the demo allows players to access features like the options menu and course select, which were restricted in the original demo.
  3. Each stage in the demo differs significantly from the final game, with some being empty and lacking enemies while others have different graphics and weapon functionality.

Dipco's Easy Reader

Computer Ads from the Past • 256 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Computers Advertising History Design Consumer Electronics
  1. Dipco's Easy Reader was a product that seems to have little information available about it. It was likely a simple device meant to help users with their old computers.
  2. The price of $34 (in 2024 money) feels expensive for what appears to be just a lens and a bracket. It's unclear if it was worth the cost.
  3. No significant history or reviews are known about Dipco, suggesting it may have been a small operation that didn’t gain much traction.

Compression - en francais

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 3 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Software AI Machine Learning Information Theory Data Compression Algorithms
  1. Compression works by removing redundancy to make data smaller; lossless compression preserves every bit while lossy methods discard detail, and truly random data resists any meaningful shrinking. Recompressing already-compressed data usually fails and can make files bigger, so there are strict limits to how far you can compress.
  2. Information theory defines limits on compression and measures information by how short a program can reproduce the data (Kolmogorov complexity). Effective compression depends on clever representations and adaptive algorithms that capture structure in the data.
  3. Large language models behave like powerful compression-and-prediction systems that build compact internal models by learning to predict the next token. This predictive compression explains much of their useful, seemingly intelligent behavior and their value as productivity tools, even if they are not human thinkers.

Komprimierung

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 3 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Algorithms Computing Data Compression Information Theory Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence
  1. Lossless compression makes files smaller without losing any detail by exploiting redundancy, while lossy compression sacrifices quality for size. Trying to compress already compressed or random data usually fails and can even make files bigger.
  2. There are theoretical limits to how much you can compress—concepts like Kolmogorov complexity measure the shortest description of data—so texts with more genuine information are inherently harder to shrink.
  3. Modern large language models act like powerful compression engines: by predicting the next token they build compact internal models of huge datasets, and that predictive ability correlates with intelligent performance. You can already use these models as practical assistants to boost productivity rather than waiting for some distant breakthrough.

Enovix (ENVX) - Anatomy of a Lie (PART 1)

ESG Hound • 866 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
💰 Finance Financial regulation Stock Market Company analysis Investing Risk management
  1. Enovix Management has repeatedly misled customers about their manufacturing capabilities and volumes.
  2. Management at Enovix made significant downgrades to their production capacity without updating investors.
  3. ENVX has exhibited a pattern of dishonesty through inaccurate statements to investors and regulatory agencies.

GM Shaders Mini: The Matrix

GM Shaders Mini Tuts • 117 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Scaling
  1. Matrices can rotate, scale, and skew both vectors and vector spaces.
  2. Matrices are multiplied with vectors or other matrices to transform them.
  3. Matrices are powerful tools in shaders for operations like color remapping and noise functions.

Venture Capital Fund Modelling II : Masterclass

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 16 May 23
💼 Business Investment Startup Venture Capital Career development Finance
  1. Discover how VC funds calculate target ownership in startups, providing valuable insights for founders and VC enthusiasts alike.
  2. Understand the costs associated with VC business, like organizational fees, operational fees, and management fees, to determine the total investment capital for startups.
  3. Learn about the average check size that VC funds invest in startups and how ownership percentage is calculated based on the investment amount and post-money valuation.

Is Avoiding Extinction from AI Really an Urgent Priority?

AI Snake Oil • 910 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🕹 Technology Future studies Ethics AI Risk management
  1. Global priorities should focus on important and urgent problems humanity faces.
  2. Risks from AI should consider potential harm caused by people using the technology, not just autonomous rogue agents.
  3. Instead of alarming the public about future AI risks, focus on addressing current AI dangers and building institutions to manage new risks.

How to Develop Agency: The Number-One Career Skill for the AI Age

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 77 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
💼 Business AI Impact Career development Workplace culture Education
  1. Agency is the ability to take initiative and make decisions on your own. In a future with AI, this skill will help you stand out from others who just follow orders.
  2. As AI becomes better at doing tasks, the job roles will shift to smaller teams where everyone needs to lead and contribute. You won't just wait for instructions; you'll need to drive projects yourself.
  3. To stay relevant, develop your agency by being proactive and taking ownership of your work. The more you act and make decisions, the more valuable you'll become in the AI age.

The opportunity to rehumanise work

Make Work Better • 174 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Employee Wellbeing Remote work AI Impact Work Culture
  1. More companies are exploring shorter work weeks, like a four-day work week, to improve employee satisfaction. This trend shows that businesses are starting to value work-life balance.
  2. Younger workers are more hopeful about using AI in the workplace, seeing it as a chance to enhance their skills and job prospects. In contrast, older workers often feel anxious about changes brought by technology.
  3. Organizations have the chance to create a better work culture by focusing on human and memorable aspects of their service. This shift could lead to happier employees and customers alike.

No sacred masterpieces

Basta’s Notes • 753 HN points • 15 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Data science Engineering Project management Web Development
  1. Sometimes, valuable projects end abruptly without much recognition or lasting impact.
  2. It's important to focus on creating business value with your work, rather than building impressive but ultimately unnecessary solutions.
  3. Every piece of code you write as an engineer is legacy and may not last forever, so focus on learning from each project's outcome.