The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
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The Origins Season 11 Final Era is LIVE!

The Lunacian • 46 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Esports Gaming Blockchain Digital Assets Software
  1. The Origins Season 11 Final Era has started, with players competing for a big prize pool of 24,000 AXS. Congrats to Lixh for topping the Mystic Era rankings!
  2. Top players will get rewards based on their performance, with 15,000 players eligible for AXS and an exclusive avatar for the top 30,000 players.
  3. There will be an Elite 8 Tournament on January 12th, where the best players will contest for a share of a 3,000 AXS prize pool.

What Is LangChain Expression Language (LCEL)?

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Applications AI Software Development Programming
  1. LangChain Expression Language (LCEL) helps build applications using large language models. It simplifies the process of creating apps by breaking down components into a clear sequence.
  2. LCEL combines pro-code and low-code approaches, making it easier for developers to create reusable pieces of code. This can save time and help manage complexity in applications.
  3. With LCEL, you can run operations like invoking and batching in a structured way. This makes it easier to manage how different parts of an application work together.

Dealing with AI fatigue

Artificial Ignorance • 121 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Tools Content Future Innovation
  1. Living in the post-ChatGPT era led to a surge in AI news and development, creating a sense of fatigue among researchers and enthusiasts.
  2. Curate relevant and insightful sources to stay informed about AI without feeling overwhelmed by the constant influx of information.
  3. Experiment with new AI tools and technologies, but also know when to step back and not get caught up in trying to keep up with every single update and trend.

The Purpose of a System is What it Does

Cybernetic Forests • 59 implied HN points • 20 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Text generation Social media AI Ethics
  1. The purpose of a system is reflected in what it actually does, not just what it claims to do.
  2. AI systems like Galactica may generate convincing but inaccurate results due to lack of contextual understanding.
  3. Criticism and evaluation of AI technology is crucial to ensure intended purposes align with actual outcomes and potential risks are identified.

Is This the End of Low-Cost Airlines in the U.S.?

Gad’s Newsletter • 50 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
💼 Business Economics Airlines Finance Travel Operations
  1. Low-cost airlines in the U.S. are struggling due to rising costs and operational challenges. These airlines have smaller profit margins, making it hard to survive when problems arise.
  2. Successful low-cost carriers like Frontier and Southwest are adapting by adding premium options and changing their services. They’re evolving to meet customer demands while trying to keep their budget-friendly roots.
  3. In Europe, low-cost airlines are doing well thanks to higher population densities and a culture that accepts budget travel. This shows how different markets can impact the success of low-cost airline models.
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The massive DeepSeek affect

TP’s Substack • 37 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Open Source Cloud Computing Software Development Consumer Electronics AI Models
  1. DeepSeek has gained huge popularity in China, surpassing major competitors and reaching 30 million daily active users. This shows that users really like its features.
  2. Chinese companies are rapidly integrating DeepSeek into their products, from smartphones to cars, suggesting that more devices will soon be using this powerful AI tool.
  3. The rise of DeepSeek is changing how people in China use AI and might even provide better search options compared to existing services like Baidu. It's a big deal for the tech industry there.

What it means to be human

Who is Robert Malone • 19 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Cognition Human nature Animal Behavior Empathy Communication
  1. Humans often assume that animals understand their intentions, but animals react instinctively based on their own perspectives. It's important to remember that what feels friendly to us may be seen as a threat to them.
  2. Thinking in images instead of words can help us connect with our animal side. Animals primarily think in pictures, and accessing that part of our brain can calm us and improve our understanding of other creatures.
  3. Our bigger brains give humans advanced reasoning abilities, but it can also make it harder to relate to animals. Understanding our differences and similarities with other species helps us learn more about being human.

Throwing People Out Windows in the Time of the Plague

Good Reason • 113 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Human nature Justice Morality
  1. People often focus on harm caused by others rather than systemic issues, leading to skewed priorities in addressing problems like disease during historical events.
  2. Our instinct to protect social order and punish those who harm it is crucial for maintaining peace and preventing individuals from causing significant harm.
  3. While outrage at harm caused by people is important, it's also essential to pay attention to systemic issues and larger threats like disease, to prevent neglecting significant problems in society.

A Beginner's Guide to Crypto: Trials and Tribulations of a Web3 Newbie

The Otonomist • 19 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Exchanges DeFi Investing Wallets
  1. The first step in the crypto world is understanding the difference between centralized and decentralized wallets.
  2. When navigating through buying and trading cryptocurrencies, it's important to be mindful of transaction fees and how they can impact your investments.
  3. Crypto offers opportunities beyond traditional payments, such as swapping coins, investing for profit, and exploring the world of decentralized finance (DeFi).

When AI Promises Speed but Delivers Debugging Hell

Nick Savage • 40 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software AI Development Programming Innovation
  1. Codescribble is a new shared text editor that lets multiple people work on the same document at once. It's designed to be fast and easy to use, similar to Google Docs.
  2. Using AI to help build software can be frustrating and messy, especially if you don’t fully understand how it works. This can lead to a lot of debugging and wasted time.
  3. It's crucial to keep a broader perspective while coding. Getting too focused on small tasks can lead to mistakes and delays, so step back and see the bigger picture.

On the Origin of Wealth

Living Fossils • 21 implied HN points • 28 May 25
💰 Finance Beliefs Financial Crisis Economics Wealth Stock Market
  1. Wealth isn't just about physical things; it's also about people's beliefs. If people lose faith in the future, the value of things can disappear even if the items are still there.
  2. Changes in beliefs can lead to big shifts in wealth quickly. For example, if everyone thinks a company's profits will fall, its stock price can drop fast.
  3. Information spreads quickly today, which can impact beliefs and values even more rapidly. This can make economies volatile, as people's perceptions change almost overnight.

A Quick Substack Notes Update: How I will use Notes going forward.

OSINT & Analysis by Oliver Alexander • 222 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media Twitter Platform Substack
  1. Substack Notes will be used for OSINT work that doesn't need a full article.
  2. For some writers, Substack Notes may not add much value, but for OSINT community members like Oliver, it's very beneficial.
  3. Twitter's recent decisions have pushed Oliver to utilize Substack Notes for sharing content he would have previously posted on Twitter.

A New Chapter At FreakTakes

FreakTakes • 43 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
💼 Business Fundraising Technology Research Innovation Philanthropy Organizational
  1. FreakTakes is evolving as a research platform to help people build and grow organizations focused on research and development. The main goal is to connect ambitious researchers with the resources they need.
  2. The blog will expand to include interviews and proposals aimed at fostering new R&D organizations. This expansion is meant to create more opportunities for innovative projects and collaborations.
  3. The author expresses gratitude for the supportive community around FreakTakes and looks forward to translating historical research insights into real-world action at Renaissance Philanthropy, while maintaining the core essence of the blog.

AI and Junior White Collar Automation: Update after EIG’s New Report

State of the Future • 12 implied HN points • 12 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Job Displacement AI Automation Labor Market Data Analysis
  1. AI is changing how work gets done, especially in handling tasks. It makes sense to focus on how AI affects the types of jobs rather than just the number of jobs.
  2. There's evidence that AI hasn't led to big job losses in white-collar roles yet, but it's changing the landscape of entry-level positions. Many jobs for new graduates are declining.
  3. As companies adopt AI, they are starting to shift tasks among current workers instead of laying people off. This means the impact of AI on jobs might show up later as firms adjust their hiring practices.

Lessons for today’s investors from the UK in the 1970s

Klement on Investing • 3 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
💰 Finance Financial history Monetary Policy Fiscal policy Inflation Macroeconomics Investment strategy
  1. Cost-push shocks like big commodity price jumps can become long-lasting inflation when governments boost wages and spending while central banks keep rates too low.
  2. Large fiscal deficits or tax cuts can create a short-term growth 'sugar rush' but risk reigniting inflation later if monetary policy is pressured to stay easy.
  3. Fiscal and monetary coordination is crucial: when fiscal policy is expansionary the central bank must act to anchor inflation expectations or inflation will remain elevated.

A pullback in the S&P 500 has likely not finished yet

Global Markets Investor • 19 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
💰 Finance Stock Markets Market Analysis Economy Investing
  1. The S&P 500 pullback is likely not over yet, with factors like Apple stock's decline and bond yields indicating further decreases.
  2. US bond yields, the US dollar, and the Fear & Greed index suggest that the S&P 500 decline may continue.
  3. Indicators like the percentage of stocks trading above their 50-day moving averages and the VIX levels point towards a possible S&P 500 decline still in progress.

Tokenization, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Vault

Money in Transit • 19 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Tokenization Data Management Payments Security Startups
  1. Tokenization is a powerful way to reduce costs and secure card payments by isolating parts of payment applications for PCI compliance.
  2. Tokens are non-exploitable and require a vault to store the actual data, providing security in case of a breach.
  3. Using Tokenization as a Service providers can strengthen a startup's position by avoiding vendor lock-in and enhancing pricing power.

Let down by our jobs we're ready to take control of our lives

Make Work Better • 54 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
💼 Business Work-life balance Employee Rights Career development Work Culture
  1. Workers really want flexibility in their jobs, especially young people and women. It's important for their work-life balance.
  2. There’s a lot of disappointment with jobs, and many workers feel overwhelmed by their workload. A toxic work environment is the main reason people would quit.
  3. While work used to be a place for friendships, most people feel it lacks social connection now. They hope it will improve in the future.

How TikTok breaks economics [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 29 Oct 22
💰 Finance Economics Data Analysis Government Influence Social media Investment Analysis
  1. TikTok struggles with profitability due to competition, lack of valuable data, and the expensive analysis of user behavior.
  2. The CCP's involvement in ByteDance enables them to fund TikTok despite losses for geopolitical influence, impacting the content promoted and the platform's sustainability.
  3. Banning TikTok may not address the root issues; education on health, mental wellness, skepticism, and maintaining real social connections are vital for healthier social media engagement.

​​DIY Photo frame

Rahul’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Linux DIY Software
  1. Built a DIY photo frame using Raspberry Pi and a portable monitor for better image control.
  2. Software setup is not easy for beginners, but allows for customizing photo display and adding features like clock and metadata.
  3. Advantages include control over displayed images, support for multiple galleries, and advanced features for automation.

Zomato fails to deliver [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 79 implied HN points • 29 Jul 22
💰 Finance Entrepreneurship Stock Market Investing Business Strategies Risk management
  1. Food delivery business is unprofitable globally despite high fees; Zomato suffered major losses without solid plans.
  2. Zomato's acquisition of Blinkit with a massive cash burn was not beneficial due to lack of established cash flows.
  3. Investors should be cautious of hype; Zomato's crash led to retail investors facing significant losses.

Brief thoughts on product management

Logos • 39 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
💼 Business Product Development Organizational Behavior Team Dynamics Leadership Management
  1. The term 'product manager' can mean different things in different companies, which makes it confusing. This lack of clear definition can lead to misunderstandings and inefficiencies.
  2. Many roles within product management can overlap, such as those of engineers, designers, and analysts. It's important to recognize these roles and how they can work together in teams.
  3. A new approach could be to form multi-functional teams without a designated PM role, allowing individuals to grow into leadership positions while keeping their functional expertise.

Intellectual Seat Belts

Investing 101 • 110 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
💼 Business Investing Company Building Risk Assessment Ideas Beliefs
  1. People often use in-group thinking as an 'intellectual seat belt' to feel safe and avoid critically evaluating their beliefs.
  2. Being open to being wrong promotes the pursuit of truth, as it challenges existing beliefs and pressures ideas for improvement.
  3. Questioning mainstream beliefs and pursuing wrongness can reveal potential weaknesses, leading to a deeper understanding and pursuit of truth.

Free, Bad Ideas

Autoscriptorium • 39 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Gadgets Inventions Innovation
  1. The post presents a list of free, unique, and quirky ideas for products or concepts that are described as 'bad', but creative and intriguing.
  2. Ideas range from a vest that recirculates body heat to a device that detects moods through blood samples, offering unconventional solutions to everyday problems.
  3. These ideas showcase creativity, humor, and innovative thinking, encouraging readers to think outside the box and consider unconventional approaches.

Looking at the stock market in terms of money flows

America in Crisis • 59 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
💰 Finance Stock Market Technical Analysis
  1. In the stock market, changes in market cap can be disproportionate to the actual money traded, leading to wealth creation or destruction.
  2. Over time, market changes can cancel each other out, and short-term price fluctuations in a single stock might not reflect actual money flows.
  3. Using money flow analysis can provide insights into stock market valuation and understanding trends over longer periods, accounting for factors like stock buybacks and QE.

How I almost quit because of $75

Leading Developers • 114 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
💼 Business Company Culture Workplace Challenges Personal Growth Team Dynamics Career decisions
  1. Throughout your career, there will be moments where you consider quitting. It's important to weigh the reasons behind your feelings and analyze your options before making a decision.
  2. Sometimes, finding new challenges and growth opportunities can be discovered outside of work. Exploring different avenues and testing your skills in various areas can provide valuable experiences.
  3. Building strong relationships with colleagues and having trust in your team and the direction of your company can be key factors in deciding to stay and overcome challenges at work.

Yes, we took your stuff and are making a killing. Why aren't you happy when we offer you scraps?

Alex's Personal Blog • 131 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Copyright Innovation AI Capitalism
  1. OpenAI is incorporating internet content, including from the New York Times, into its AI models
  2. OpenAI is making deals with publishers to mitigate legal risks and continue using content
  3. The New York Times initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI for using its material without compensation, highlighting the importance of fair compensation in technology innovation

Key Components to Understand the LLM Models

The Beep • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Natural Language Machine Learning Data processing Neural Networks AI Models
  1. Large language models (LLMs) like Llama 2 and GPT-3 use transformer architecture to process and generate text. This helps them understand and predict words based on previous context.
  2. Emergent abilities in LLMs allow them to learn new tasks with just a few examples. This means they can adapt quickly without needing extensive training.
  3. Techniques like Sliding Window Attention help LLMs manage long texts more efficiently by breaking them into smaller parts, making it easier to focus on relevant information.

The myth of Katechon

Demodexio • 132 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Politics Ethics Legislation Government Society
  1. In a fictional scenario of a government run by an ignorant, forgetful mob, passing laws can be improved with a rule of double voting ten years apart.
  2. Redundancy, like multiple voting rounds, can filter out bad laws and ensure long-term benefits for society.
  3. In Katechon, most proposed laws are harmful, but the delayed double voting system helps in passing laws that address long-term needs effectively.