The hottest Substack posts right now

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Power Function in logarithmic time [Technique Tuesdays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 09 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Programming Optimization Tutorials Interviews Algorithms
  1. Optimizing the power function using logarithmic time can be a game-changer, making computations quicker and efficient.
  2. Understanding and applying mathematical tricks like leveraging even and odd numbers can significantly reduce the number of instructions needed to solve a problem.
  3. Learning to optimize algorithms using divide and conquer techniques, such as in the power function example, can enhance problem-solving skills and overall coding proficiency.

Seven reasons why the world should say No to Sam Altman

Marcus on AI • 61 HN points • 10 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Energy Economics Financial risk Human Capital
  1. Investing $7 trillion in AI infrastructure would have significant energy and climate implications, possibly leading to heavy environmental costs.
  2. $7 trillion for AI exceeds the economic resources allocated to critical areas like education or ending world hunger, highlighting potential opportunity costs.
  3. Such a massive financial risk of a $7 trillion project could have severe consequences on the world economy, similar to the impact of the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

My Biological Archive

Reboot • 19 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Personalization Biotech Data Privacy Health tech Digital Culture
  1. Tracking biological data can reveal personal insights, but it can't capture everything about our experiences. Each person's journey with their body is unique and complex.
  2. There are concerns over biotechnology companies misusing genetic data, as shown by incidents like 23andMe's data breach. It's important to think carefully about who we trust with our personal information.
  3. We have more control over our bodily experiences than we might think. Listening to our bodies and prioritizing our personal stories can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves.
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Why the Principle of Sufficient Reason is Self-Evident and its Criticisms are Self-Defeating

Ethics Under Construction • 20 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Determinism Knowledge Reason Truth Existence Logic
  1. The Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) states that everything has a reason for existing. It means for every fact, there's an explanation behind it.
  2. Critics of the PSR often make self-defeating arguments because they need reasons to argue against it. Thus, denying the PSR actually supports its validity.
  3. PSR is important for understanding the world and making sense of knowledge. It encourages us to seek underlying reasons rather than accept things as random.

Revisiting the Cyber 150

The Security Industry • 26 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
💼 Business Startups Investment Market Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Cybersecurity
  1. The Cyber 150 lists cybersecurity companies that have grown their staff by at least 15% this year. They are actively monitored to see how many continue to thrive.
  2. Some companies from the Cyber 150 have secured substantial investments, with fifteen companies raising nearly $1 billion collectively. This shows a strong interest and confidence in cybersecurity ventures.
  3. The Cyber 150 list will be updated at the end of the year for better accuracy, as some companies have changed in size or staffing. The criteria for inclusion may also become less strict to accommodate more companies.

#14: Why Europe Fails to Create Wealth

Loeber on Substack • 70 HN points • 11 Dec 23
💼 Business Globalization Production Innovation Regulation Economic Growth
  1. The AI Act in Europe is criticized for being ineffective and potentially harmful with its regulations at the application-level.
  2. Europe is identified as having a 'providerism' mindset, focused more on consumption than production.
  3. Europe needs to shift towards innovation, deregulation, and encouraging a production mindset to avoid falling behind economically.

How To Deal With Ambiguity As A TPM

Building Rome(s) • 20 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy Management Product Development Operations Leadership
  1. Starting with a clear goal helps the team stay focused and find the right path, even when things get confusing.
  2. Breaking down problems into smaller parts makes them easier to handle and allows the team to address challenges step by step.
  3. It's important to keep moving forward, even when the answers aren't clear. Trusting your gut and adapting quickly can lead to progress.

🔥 48 hours left: Get 40% off Art of TPM

Building Rome(s) • 1 implied HN point • 29 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Careers Tools Professional development Program Management Product AI
  1. There’s a 48-hour limited-time 40% discount on the annual subscription, lowering the price from $80 to $48.
  2. The offering focuses on helping TPMs build judgment, leverage, and clarity to stay relevant as GenAI and new tools reshape the role.
  3. Paid members get practical, real-world resources—like an interview guide, an AI tools guide, and long-form lessons—plus a quiet community of thoughtful TPMs to learn from.

In-App Payments (IAP) FAQ

Substack • 6 implied HN points • 18 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Digital Content Subscriptions Payments Apps Ecommerce
  1. In-app purchases (IAP) on Apple devices allow users to subscribe directly within the app, making it easier for subscribers to sign up.
  2. Users in the U.S. get the option of both IAP and web-based checkout, while international users only see IAP due to Apple’s rules.
  3. Prices for IAP subscriptions may be higher to cover Apple's fees, but Substack ensures you still earn similar payouts as web subscriptions.

Data Quality

Data Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 21 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Data Analysis Data Quality Data Management Information Systems Data Integrity
  1. Data quality is all about how useful the data is for the specific task at hand. What is considered high quality in one situation might not be in another.
  2. There are several key aspects of data quality, including accuracy, completeness, consistency, and uniqueness. Each of these factors helps to determine how reliable the data is.
  3. Improving data quality involves preventing errors, detecting them when they occur, and repairing them. It's about making sure the data is accurate and useful over time.

How to think about social effectiveness to protect creative budgets

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
💼 Business Analytics Marketing Social media Strategy Branding
  1. When discussing social media success, it's important to focus on effectiveness, not just creativity. You need to tell a complete story about how your ideas impact the brand and business.
  2. To have a strong approach, measure three key areas: channel effects, brand effects, and commercial effects. This way, you can show not only how many people saw your content but also how it influenced brand awareness and sales.
  3. Always establish clear success measures before starting a project. This helps everyone understand how to evaluate success and can lead to better budget support in the future.

What if the Current Tech IPO Drought isn't a Drought but the New Normal for Venture?

Venture Reflections • 18 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
💼 Business Finance IPO Investment Startups Venture Capital
  1. The slowdown in tech IPOs might not be a temporary issue, but rather a shift to fewer, larger IPOs that happen less frequently. This could change how we view the IPO landscape.
  2. Many companies are now able to raise enough money privately, so they don't feel the need to go public. This reduces the urgency for IPOs as a source of liquidity.
  3. As companies wait longer to go public, secondary sales could become the main way smaller investors get returns. This change means that the investment landscape might focus more on private equity than on public markets.

Clouded Judgement 8.8.25 - Earnings Season Starts Strong

Clouded Judgement • 7 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
💼 Business Investing Market Trends Earnings Reports Technology Finance
  1. This week saw big AI model releases from Anthropic and OpenAI, with mixed reactions from users. While developers liked some improvements, many felt these were not groundbreaking innovations.
  2. Currently, the software earnings season is showing positive results, with companies generally beating revenue estimates. However, stock prices are not reflecting this optimism, suggesting market concerns.
  3. SaaS companies are often valued based on their revenue multiples because many are not profitable yet. It's a key way to compare companies in this sector.

Software engineering is not going anywhere anytime soon.

The Schematic • 3 HN points • 19 May 24
🕹 Technology AI Coding Future of work Software Engineering
  1. Software engineering is here to stay, despite claims that AI will replace coding jobs.
  2. AI has limitations in generating code and may not fully understand project contexts, making it less helpful in many real-world scenarios.
  3. Coding is a means to an end for software engineers, and increasing code production does not reduce the need for developers.

Serverless Computing 101[Systems Design Sundays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 07 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Serverless Computing Cloud Computing Systems Design
  1. Serverless Computing allows developers to build and run code without managing servers, saving costs and increasing flexibility.
  2. In serverless computing, developers pay for the exact amount of server space they need, eliminating expenses for idle infrastructure.
  3. Large server providers offer servers as a service, benefiting small organizations while ensuring scalability and cost-effectiveness.

The why and how of SaaS Governance

Resilient Cyber • 39 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Risk management Cloud Security Compliance
  1. Organizations need a solid plan to manage the security risks associated with their wide use of Software as a Service (SaaS). This includes knowing what SaaS applications they use and applying security measures.
  2. Many companies focus heavily on securing their infrastructure services like AWS or Azure, but they often overlook the significant risks that come with SaaS applications. This can lead to security breaches.
  3. It's important for businesses to understand the shared responsibility model in cloud security and realize that while SaaS providers handle some security, the ultimate responsibility for data protection still lies with the organization.

Specifying objectives in RLHF

Democratizing Automation • 90 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Research Optimization Algorithms Artificial Intelligence
  1. Reinforcement learning from human feedback involves using proxy objectives, but over-optimizing these proxies can negatively impact the final model performance.
  2. Optimizing reward functions for chatbots with RLHF can be challenging due to the disconnect between objective functions and actual user preferences.
  3. A new paper highlights fundamental problems and limitations in RLHF, emphasizing the need for a multi-stakeholder approach and careful consideration of current technical setups.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Self-Assessments

The Caring Techie Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
💼 Business Professional development Career Advice Performance reviews Self-assessment
  1. Don't assume your manager knows everything you've done. Always remind them of your achievements to help them evaluate your performance.
  2. Be specific when describing your work. Instead of using vague statements, share exact numbers and outcomes to show your real impact.
  3. Keep track of your accomplishments throughout the year. This makes it easier to write your self-assessment and ensures you don't forget important contributions.

The Ill-Defined Space Spacecraft Market and Service Analysis, Pt. 1: 2024

Ill-Defined Space • 19 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Satellites Space Remote Sensing Communications Market Analysis
  1. The spacecraft market is heavily influenced by companies like Starlink, which dominates satellite deployments for internet services. This means many other operators struggle to stand out in the commercial market.
  2. In 2024, over half of the satellites deployed were aimed at providing commercial services. This shows a strong business interest in using satellites for various purposes.
  3. There are still many opportunities for growth in satellite services beyond just communications and optical sensors. New technologies and ideas can create more options in the market.

Welcome Suppli to the Equal Ventures Portfolio

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 26 Jan 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Equal Ventures focuses on partnering with founders building verticalized software platforms like Suppli, tailored to specific industry needs.
  2. Suppli's approach targets digitizing and automating critical workflows unique to the construction industry, such as optimizing procurement and payments processes to enhance the cash flow.
  3. The focus on mid-market distributors with existing relationships and specific pain points presents a strategic advantage for Suppli in the construction materials industry.

Divide and Conquer: Mastering the Art of Spin-Outs

Five Links (and three graphs) by Auren Hoffman • 97 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
💼 Business Management Startups Innovation Investment Entrepreneurship
  1. Spinning out companies can help ideas thrive by focusing on core business and raising additional funds.
  2. Different types of spin-outs include Incubation, Product, Division, and Acquisition spins, each serving a unique purpose.
  3. Success stories like SafeGraph's spin-outs show how effective team leadership is crucial for the new company's success.

Crypto Giant Celsius Overheats into bankruptcy. Investor money left frozen[Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 05 Aug 22
💰 Finance Investment Financial Education Personal Finance Bankruptcy Cryptocurrency
  1. Celsius, a crypto giant, declared bankruptcy, leaving investor money frozen. This impacted many retail investors who may lose money.
  2. When dealing with companies, understand that their main aim is to make money. Always read the fine print and consider the tradeoffs before investing.
  3. Be cautious of celebrity endorsements in financial decisions. It's essential to analyze all messaging and make your conclusions to protect yourself from scams.

Edition 23: A framework to securely use LLMs in companies - Part 3: Securing ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot

Boring AppSec • 84 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Security Software Engineering Data Privacy Productivity Tools Artificial Intelligence
  1. The post discusses a framework for securely using LLMs like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot in companies.
  2. It highlights key risks and security controls for ChatGPT, focusing on data leakage and over-reliance on AI-generated output.
  3. For GitHub Copilot, it addresses risks like sensitive data leakage and license violations, along with suggested security controls.

Artificial General Imaginaries

Cybernetic Forests • 59 implied HN points • 21 Mar 22
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Tech industry Innovation Imagination
  1. Be skeptical when dreams are designed for you by others, especially in discussions about Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
  2. Conversations about AGI can derail problem-solving discussions, shifting the focus to hypotheticals rather than concrete actions
  3. AGI discussions can serve as thought-terminating clich\u00e9s, distracting from the real issues and work that need to be addressed

Is your “coach” or “consultant” label costing you clients?

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 10 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
💼 Business Consulting Entrepreneurship Marketing Career development Coaching
  1. Calling yourself a 'coach' or 'consultant' is too vague and might turn potential clients away. It's important to find a specific label that reflects your unique skills.
  2. Identifying what makes you different can help you attract the right clients. Think about your past experiences and what you're passionate about to define your niche.
  3. Your business position can change over time as you grow and learn. It's okay to adjust your label and services to better match what you offer today.

Embrace your ignorance

Russell’s Index • 8 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
💼 Business Product Management Engineering Startups Technology
  1. Talking to customers is key for product engineers. It helps you understand their problems and create better products.
  2. Admitting what you don't know can actually improve your customer interviews. It encourages them to explain things more clearly.
  3. Asking for specific examples and repeating back what customers say helps clarify understanding and reveals valuable insights.

The Sequence Chat #475: Ed Sim, Forbes Top Tech Investor, on AI Investing, Security, Agents and More

TheSequence • 21 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Cybersecurity Startups Venture Capital Investing
  1. Investing early in AI involves backing technical founders before they even start their company. It's about helping them develop their ideas and getting them the right support as they launch.
  2. Building a startup in the AI space should always begin with creating a great product, no matter how much money you have. It's important to focus on getting user feedback and refining your offering rather than spending excessively.
  3. AI security is becoming crucial as tech evolves. Companies need to be proactive in protecting against AI-driven cyber threats, and there are opportunities for startups to innovate in this space by securing AI implementations in various industries.

Mapping the analogy of institutions as organisms (1)

Space chimp life • 1 HN point • 23 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Systems Thinking Metaphysics Epistemology
  1. Institutions can act like living organisms, but they don't fit neatly into that analogy because humans can belong to multiple institutions and change roles often. This shows that people aren't static and can adapt in many ways.
  2. The way institutions operate can be better understood through concepts from thermodynamics and statistics. This means they can change how they function based on rules and roles assigned to their members, similar to how particles behave in biology.
  3. Institutions perceive the world through their policies and data, rather than physical objects alone. What they 'see' influences their actions and decisions, just like biological organisms react to their environment based on internal processes.

Does social media marketing still matter? Not like you think.

{grow} by Mark Schaefer • 39 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing Social media Community Branding Strategy
  1. Social media marketing is not just about promotion, but about creating emotional connections and customer advocacy.
  2. Social media plays a crucial role in brand marketing by creating emotional meaning and loyalty.
  3. A successful social media strategy should focus on building an audience and ultimately a community for organic advocacy.