The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
Category

Rethinking Public Procurement

Arpitrage • 574 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
💼 Business Procurement Reform Software Infrastructure Costs
  1. Government procurement often involves unnecessary costly requirements and limited bidder outreach, leading to high expenses and poor quality outcomes.
  2. High infrastructure costs in the US are exacerbated by procurement problems and a legal system that limits state power.
  3. Failure in government procurement, like outdated unemployment insurance systems, results in costly software upgrades and limited benefits for recipients.

✅ AI in PR tool book chapter-a-day published on #FuturePRoof website

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Innovation AI Tools Public Relations Media Productivity
  1. A new book about AI tools for public relations is now available, with daily chapters being published online. It aims to help PR professionals work better and smarter.
  2. The book is based on insights from experts and includes practical case studies. This means readers can learn from real-world examples and not just theory.
  3. The process to create and publish this book was fast, taking only three months. This quick turnaround is important in the fast-changing world of technology.

What is a Founding Engineer?

Jake [Building in NYC] • 59 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Engineering Product Development Startups User Experience Leadership
  1. Founding engineers have to work really fast. They need to handle problems quickly and keep feedback flowing between users and the business.
  2. Empathy is key for founding engineers. They should think about how users will respond to their work and make it as easy and enjoyable as possible.
  3. A founding engineer always seeks the truth. They are curious and unafraid to ask questions to understand problems better and find effective solutions.
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Support Japan Economy Watch With A Paid Sub

Japan Economy Watch • 199 implied HN points • 24 Jan 23
💼 Business Dialogue Subscription Economics
  1. Free subscribers of Japan Economy Watch will still receive all posts and have full access to archives.
  2. Paid subscribers support the dialogue on Japan but do not receive additional posts, only gratitude from the author.
  3. Subscription options for Japan Economy Watch include a base price of $50 per year, a 'founding subscription' of $80 per year, and the ability to sign up for any amount $50 or higher.

The channel (a teaser)

Philosophy bear • 57 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Logic Ethics Epistemology Metaphysics Aesthetics
  1. Having confidence and strength in your heart can attract positive attention from others, regardless of height.
  2. Your actions and personality can be more impressive than physical attributes, so focus on what makes you unique.
  3. Engaging with others and building connections can help you find the right partner, so don't forget to share and subscribe to ideas that inspire you.

📝 Guest Post: Advanced RAG Techniques: Bridging Text and Visuals for More Accurate Responses*

TheSequence • 175 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Information Retrieval Data science AI Software Development Machine Learning
  1. RAG techniques combine the power of language models with external data to improve accuracy. This means AI can give better answers by using real-world information.
  2. Advanced methods like Small to Slide RAG make it easier for AI to work with visual data, like slides and images. This helps AI understand complex information that is not just text.
  3. ColPali is a new approach that focuses on visuals directly, avoiding mistakes from converting images to text. It's useful for areas like design and technical documents, ensuring important details are not missed.

Bare Existence

Castalia • 179 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Political theory Power Dynamics Social Critique Work Culture
  1. People in low-status jobs often experience 'bare existence,' where their work feels repetitive and lacking in connection. This can lead to a dehumanizing feeling in the work environment.
  2. Power isn't just about money or social class; it shapes how people experience their lives and work, often pushing them into roles that feel empty or robotic.
  3. The struggle for status in society can be brutal, as people fear being reduced to a state of 'bare existence,' leading them to chase power and privilege, even in jobs that don't truly fulfill them.

📝 Guest Post: LoRA Land: 25 Fine-Tuned Mistral-7b LLMs that Rival or Outperform GPT-4

TheSequence • 413 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Models Fine-tuning AI Infrastructure Efficiency
  1. Efficient fine-tuning with specialized models like Mistral-7b LLMs can outperform leading commercial models like GPT-4 while being cost-effective.
  2. Incorporating techniques like Parameter Efficient Fine-Tuning and serving models via platforms like LoRAX can significantly reduce GPU costs and make deployment scalable.
  3. Using smaller, task-specific fine-tuned models is a practical alternative to expensive, large-scale models, making AI deployment accessible and efficient for organizations with limited resources.

Why HS2 is a disaster

Odds and Ends of History • 67 implied HN points • 23 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Infrastructure Autonomous Vehicles Data Urban planning Transportation
  1. HS2 has faced serious construction issues, making it a problematic project overall. Many believe it hasn’t turned out the way it was planned.
  2. Autonomous vehicles are getting closer to being a reality in London, but there are many possible effects to consider as they become common.
  3. Tom Forth is working on a project called the National Data Library, which aims to improve data sharing and transparency with the government.

Why ASML Matters

False Positive • 38 HN points • 21 Mar 24
💼 Business Politics Geopolitics Economy Tech Security
  1. ASML, a Dutch company, holds a monopoly on creating the world's most advanced microchips through their EUV lithography systems.
  2. The control of ASML by the Netherlands provides a unique chokepoint power in global microchip production, impacting international trade and security.
  3. Despite its power, ASML faces limitations in leveraging its monopoly, as it is enmeshed in Western-dominated supply chains and complexities that restrict its options for challenging export controls.

AI Roundup 129: Personal Superintelligence

Artificial Ignorance • 50 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Tech industry Research Geopolitics Artificial Intelligence Innovation
  1. Meta is working on a personal superintelligence for everyone, focusing on AI that understands people deeply and helps them achieve their goals.
  2. Builder.ai, a company that promised to revolutionize app development with AI, has gone bankrupt after fraud accusations, highlighting issues in the startup world with misleading AI claims.
  3. China is positioning itself as a leader in open-source AI development, looking to counter U.S. restrictions while boosting its own AI industry through significant state investment.

Intro to PDB, the Python Debugger

Bite code! • 733 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🕹 Technology Debugging Commands Tips Python Programming
  1. PDB is a basic but useful debugger that comes with Python by default, allowing you to pause programs, enter a debugging shell, and analyze program states.
  2. Learning to use PDB is valuable because it helps you understand debugging fundamentals, and knowing PDB can translate to using other debuggers as well.
  3. PDB offers various helpful commands like 'help', 'quit', 'list', 'next', 'continue', 'until line', 'jump line', 'display', 'step', 'return', 'up', and 'down' for effective debugging in Python.

Modellion

davidj.substack • 179 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Cloud Computing Database Management Data architecture Big Data Data Modeling
  1. Medallion architecture is not just about data modeling but represents a high-level structure for organizing data processes. It helps in visualizing data flow in a project.
  2. The architecture has three main layers: Bronze deals with cleaning and preparing data, Silver creates a structured data model, and Gold is about making data easy to access and use.
  3. The terms Bronze, Silver, and Gold may sound appealing to non-technical users but could be more accurately described. Renaming these layers could better reflect their actual roles in data handling.

Please Stop Saying Long Context Windows Will Replace RAG

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 39 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Data science Natural Language Machine Learning Software Development
  1. Long context windows (LCWs) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) serve different purposes and won’t replace each other. LCWs work well when asking multiple questions at once, while RAG is better for separate inquiries.
  2. Using LCWs can get really expensive because they involve processing a lot of data at once. In contrast, RAG uses smaller, focused data chunks, which helps keep costs down.
  3. Research shows that LLMs perform better when important information is at the start or end of a long context. So, relying only on LCWs can lead to problems since crucial details may get overlooked.

New applied metascience lab - Future House announced + some thoughts on UK applied metascience

James W. Phillips' Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Policy Entrepreneurship Innovation AI Research
  1. A new applied metascience lab called Future House has been announced, with a focus on using AI to accelerate scientific research.
  2. Future House aims to create an 'AI scientist' that can independently develop hypotheses by analyzing scientific papers.
  3. The UK needs to prioritize initiatives like Future House to orient to new opportunities and empower quality talent in research.

CEO of DeepSeek's parent, High-Flyer Quant, spoke in 2020

Pekingnology • 143 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
💰 Finance Quantitative Investment AI Market Analysis Emerging Markets
  1. High-Flyer Quant uses AI for its investment strategies. They rely on advanced models and lots of data to predict stock prices and make trades.
  2. The Chinese stock market is seen as less efficient, which gives AI-driven strategies a chance to find opportunities that traditional investing might miss. This leads to potential higher returns for the right strategies.
  3. As more institutions enter the market, competition will increase. High-Flyer focuses on research and development to stay ahead in this tough environment.

There are questions about our feelings not even God could determine

Philosophy bear • 185 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Metaphysics Existentialism Interpretation Ethics
  1. People often see what they expect to see, which can lead them to notice negativity even when it’s not there. This can create a cycle that reinforces their negative beliefs.
  2. Our feelings and actions are complex and can be interpreted in many ways. This means that even if someone perceives an action as mean, it could also be seen as kind, depending on how it's interpreted.
  3. It's harmful to assume the worst about others because it can lead to feelings of pain and isolation. Sometimes, the bad interpretations we choose can make our lives harder than they need to be.

AI Roundup 123: Video killed the image gen star

Artificial Ignorance • 67 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Video Generation Geopolitics Data Privacy AI Ethics
  1. Midjourney has released its first video generation model, but it didn't impress as much as earlier models. The AI space is rapidly evolving with better video technologies emerging.
  2. AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, can lead users into dangerous conspiracy theories and other harmful ideas. It's important for developers to understand the psychological impact these technologies have on vulnerable users.
  3. Chinese AI companies are creatively bypassing US chip restrictions to continue developing their technologies. This shows the lengths companies will go to adapt under strict regulations.

“Am I the Jared Kushner?”

benn.substack • 741 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Analysis Data Teams AI
  1. Analysts should reflect on their role and avoid behaving like Jared Kushner
  2. Being a data analyst involves providing informed insights, not just being a 'nicer, kinder' Jared Kushner
  3. Focusing on keeping the company well-informed through regular updates can be more effective than traditional data reporting

Nano-GPT: access GPT-4, DALL·E 3 and other models using Nano (and other crypto)

Senatus’s Newsletter • 58 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Cryptocurrency AI Blockchain Web Development
  1. Nano-GPT allows access to advanced AI models like GPT-4 and DALL·E 3 for a fraction of the usual cost.
  2. The service is affordable, charging just cents for various uses like creating content, programming help, and medical advice.
  3. Users can pay with various cryptos through Nano-GPT, promoting accessibility and privacy.

✅ Misstep to model: Women in PR's exemplary response to diversity shortcomings

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Diversity Management Industry Trends Marketing Public Relations
  1. Women in PR faced criticism for not including diverse voices in their Shadow Board, which was a big disappointment considering their goal of promoting women in leadership.
  2. In response, they quickly took action by reviewing their practices and setting goals to improve representation and create a more inclusive culture.
  3. Their example shows how organizations can learn from mistakes and genuinely commit to making meaningful changes for diversity and inclusion.

Introducing TapToAuth: Bringing the Familiarity of Contactless Payments to Open Banking

Building The Future of Payments by Mike Kelly • 59 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Retail Innovation Payments
  1. TapToAuth combines contactless payments with the advantages of open banking, offering a new, secure, and cost-effective solution.
  2. This innovation minimizes fraud, reduces digital payment costs by enabling instant fund transfers, and enhances security with a cryptographically secured NFC protocol.
  3. TapToAuth not only provides a seamless customer experience but also integrates loyalty programs and digital receipts, transforming every transaction into an engagement opportunity for retailers.

Agency lessons, TV show recommendations, trimming the fat, themes for 2024, aligning billing intervals and time-to-value

Play Permissionless • 59 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
💼 Business Entertainment Podcasts Recommendations Lessons
  1. Focus on core processes over unnecessary extras to benefit everyone involved
  2. Consider aligning billing intervals with the average time-to-value for better client relationships
  3. Transition podcast content to align more closely with core focus for consistency and value

The Incompatibility of Open Core and Profit

Bytes, Data, Action! • 109 HN points • 28 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Open Source Business Model Monetization Strategies Transparency
  1. Open core business models may have conflicting incentives with profit goals.
  2. Open core companies often start with free products to attract users, then shift focus to monetizing through premium features and services.
  3. There are alternative strategies to align incentives better in open source businesses, such as keeping proprietary data, clear expectations, and open source components.

Composites and Correlations

Cybernetic Forests • 139 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Algorithms Biases
  1. Composite images were historically used to reinforce racist and eugenic ideologies, linking appearance with criminality and intelligence.
  2. The use of language and categorization in AI-generated images can perpetuate biases and stereotypes, reflecting societal norms and prejudices.
  3. The dataset used in AI models can influence the outcomes, showing how biases and problematic representations are embedded in the generated images.

How do you get started?

Sunday Letters • 39 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Career Advice Job search Personal Development Leadership Networking
  1. Everyone struggles with starting something new, whether they're a recent graduate or looking to advance in their careers. It's important to figure out what you want to do next.
  2. Instead of waiting for permission or a specific opportunity, take the initiative and start working on what interests you. Engaging in projects you care about can lead to new roles and responsibilities.
  3. Being proactive in your career can impress others and create more opportunities. People often appreciate when someone volunteers to help or take on new challenges.

THE DAY IS COMING

Secretum Secretorum • 656 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy War Hope Society Dreams Peace
  1. The idea of a world where war ceases to exist and people choose peace
  2. Exploring the concept of a peaceful 'plague' starting with a few individuals and spreading globally
  3. Encouraging the spread of a message of peace through grassroots whispers and subtle communication

Concise Chain-of-Thought (CCoT) Prompting

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 59 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Prompt engineering Natural Language Data Analysis Machine Learning
  1. Concise Chain-of-Thought (CCoT) prompting helps make AI responses shorter and faster. This means you save on costs and get quicker answers.
  2. Using CCoT, the response length can be reduced by almost 50%, but it can lead to lower performance in math problems. So, it’s a trade-off between speed and accuracy.
  3. For cost-saving in AI, focusing on reducing the number of output tokens is key since they are generally more expensive. CCoT is one way to achieve this without sacrificing performance too much.

On the Societal Impact of Open Foundation Models

AI Snake Oil • 398 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Risk Assessment Societal Impact Regulation
  1. The paper on the societal impact of open foundation models clarifies the discrepancy in claims about openness's societal effects, examines the benefits like transparency and empowering research, and proposes a risk evaluation framework for comparing risks of open vs. closed foundation models and existing technologies.
  2. The framework for risk assessment in the paper outlines steps like threat identification, evaluating existing risks and defenses, and determining the marginal risk of open foundation models. It aims to provide a structured approach to analyzing risks associated with open foundation models.
  3. By analyzing benefits, such as distribution of decision-making power, innovation, scientific research facilitation, and transparency, the paper sheds light on the advantages of open foundation models and offers recommendations for developers, researchers, regulators, and policymakers to navigate the landscape effectively.

Why you (probably) shouldn't use LIME to explain model predictions

Mindful Modeler • 159 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Interpretability
  1. Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME) can be challenging to use effectively due to the difficulty in defining the 'local' neighborhood.
  2. The choice of kernel width in LIME is critical for the accuracy of the explanations, but it can be unclear how to select the appropriate width for different datasets and applications.
  3. There are alternative methods like Shapley values, counterfactual explanations, and what-if analysis that offer interpretability without the need to specify a neighborhood, making them potentially more suitable than LIME for certain cases.