The hottest Substack posts right now

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o3, AGI, the art of the demo, and what you can expect in 2025

Marcus on AI • 6481 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Economics Research Ethics Software AI
  1. OpenAI's new model, o3, was shown in a demo, but we can't be sure yet if it truly represents advanced AI or AGI. The demo only highlighted what OpenAI wanted to show and didn't allow public testing.
  2. The cost of using o3 is really high, potentially making it impractical compared to human workers. Even if it gets cheaper, there are concerns about how effective it would be across different tasks.
  3. Many claims about reaching AGI might pop up in 2025, but those claims need to be taken with caution. True advances in AI should involve solving more foundational problems rather than just impressive demos.

ChatGPT, at Age Two

Marcus on AI • 7074 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software AI Digital ethics Innovation Data
  1. ChatGPT has been popular for two years, but many of the initial uses people expected, like taking over Google, haven't happened. Companies are not as impressed with its real-world results.
  2. Despite promises of improvement, ChatGPT still struggles with inaccuracies and generating false information. Users continue to experience 'hallucinations' where the AI makes things up.
  3. The investment in AI is huge, but the fundamental issues with reliability and factual accuracy haven't improved significantly. There's a call for new approaches to make AI more trustworthy.

Poor Person Software's Write-Hand Man

Computer Ads from the Past • 512 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Software Operating Systems Utilities User Interface Retro Computing
  1. Write-Hand Man brought Sidekick-style pop-up utilities to CP/M, letting users call up a notepad, phonebook, calendar, calculator, file viewer and a communications tool without leaving their main program.
  2. It used memory-saving and swap-to-disk tricks so it could run in 64K CP/M systems, but that made it slow on floppy drives and could conflict with some modem programs unless you had a RAM disk or hard drive.
  3. Poor Person Software was an obscure small company that sold the utility at a modest price and had its product enhanced by Technical Micro Systems to add H/Z19 graphics and extra features.

Interviews! YouTube Silver Award Thingy! 50% Off Subs!

The Lunduke Journal of Technology • 574 implied HN points • 16 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Digital marketing Software Interviews Online Media Content creation
  1. Two interviews were conducted, one with the creator of Ruby on Rails and another with a lawyer for 4chan, showing a variety of topics covered.
  2. The Lunduke Journal's YouTube channel reached 100,000 subscribers, which means they'll receive a silver award plaque.
  3. There’s a 50% discount on subscriptions available until November 24, making it a great time to sign up and get perks like access to videos and exclusive forums.

The Pentagon Just Bet $100 Million on a Drone Contest. History Says That’s Either Brilliant or a Waste of Money

Gad’s Newsletter • 32 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Innovation policy R&D AI Defense Tech Autonomy Drones Procurement
  1. Prizes pay only for results and are best when the problem is genuinely uncertain and open to many different approaches, because they attract diverse outsiders and reward solutions that actually work.
  2. Well-designed competitions can spark whole ecosystems and huge private investment when they have crystal-clear goals, measurable outcomes, and built-in paths to turn demos into real, deployable systems.
  3. Prizes also carry big risks—winner-take-all waste, IP headaches, and demos that don’t survive real conditions—so competitions need multi-tier rewards, requirements to capture losers’ learnings, and follow-on funding to avoid squandering resources.
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Carole Cadwalladr: The Entire Business Model of Silicon Valley Is Surveillance

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 90 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Data Policy Government Big Tech Privacy Surveillance National Security
  1. Big tech’s business model is based on mass surveillance and data mining, and that data can be used to manipulate public opinion and influence elections, which threatens democratic self-rule.
  2. Major technology companies are being embedded into government through “strategic partnerships” and large contracts, effectively making them instruments of state power and creating security and sovereignty risks.
  3. Governments and tech firms are forming many-to-many information-sharing relationships that seduce and assimilate companies into state functions. This process turns tech firms into ‘bricks’ in a corporate-state wall that expands surveillance and control.

Crypto Business Models

DeFi Education • 459 implied HN points • 28 Jun 24
🔮 Crypto DeFi Layer 2 Business Models Marketplaces Blockchain
  1. Crypto businesses are evolving beyond just interesting technology. They need to solve real market problems to succeed.
  2. Layer 2 solutions help reduce costs and improve transaction speeds. They thrive on attracting users by offering engaging applications.
  3. Most crypto platforms operate as marketplaces, connecting different types of users. They make money by taking a small percentage of transactions.

The Bear Cave #301

The Bear Cave • 513 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
💰 Finance Stock Market Financial Reporting Market Analysis Corporate Governance Investing
  1. Some companies are accused of fraud, like using fake identities to get federal aid for students who don't exist. This raises big questions about how they operate.
  2. Many executives are leaving their positions at various companies after short tenures, suggesting possible instability or issues within these firms.
  3. Lawsuits against short sellers often lead to long-term stock price drops for companies involved. This shows that fighting back legally might not help their financial situation.

Humanity’s “Oh shit!” AI moment?

Marcus on AI • 6639 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Regulation Ethics Cybersecurity Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence
  1. AI systems can say one thing and do another, which makes them unreliable. It’s important not to trust their words too blindly.
  2. The increasing power of AI could lead to significant risks, especially if misused by bad actors. We might see more cybercrime driven by these technologies soon.
  3. Delaying regulation on AI increases the risks we face. There is a growing need for rules to keep these powerful tools in check.

AI #125: Smooth Criminal

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2195 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Tech Policy Data Privacy
  1. AI technology is evolving quickly, with language models being adopted for practical uses. However, there are concerns about their safety and reliability in decision-making.
  2. There are important discussions around AI companions and how they might affect human relationships. It's crucial to be cautious about interacting with seemingly friendly AI, as they don't have true understanding or care for users.
  3. Recent debates emphasize the need for proper regulations in AI development. There's a push for transparency and accountability in AI systems to prevent risks associated with their misuse.

My super simple task management hack

Tiny Empires • 98 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
💼 Business Workflow Productivity Time management Entrepreneurship Strategy Planning Operations
  1. Pick one clear big goal and use it as the filter for every task you consider.
  2. Each day choose exactly three meaningful tasks from your prioritized list and schedule them the night before or during a weekly planning session.
  3. Block out 1–3 hour calendar slots for those tasks, overestimate how long they’ll take, and treat them like real meetings to ensure focus and accountability.

Economics Links, 12/25/2025

In My Tribe • 273 implied HN points • 25 Dec 25
💼 Business Labor markets Trade policy Productivity Industrial Policy Economic History Investment
  1. Productivity often comes from many small, practical, firm-level efficiency improvements and incremental innovations rather than a single big breakthrough.
  2. There are multiple competing explanations for why industrialization happens, so no single factor fully explains events like Britain’s early industrial revolution.
  3. Some argue protectionism or industrial policy can shelter and encourage domestic manufacturing investment, while others warn such policies often do more harm than good and that trade deficits can reflect productive capital imports. Being able to sustain attention and mental effort—cognitive endurance—is becoming an important skill for many modern jobs.

Sam Altman Wants $7 Trillion

Astral Codex Ten • 16656 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Big Data Computing AI
  1. Sam Altman aims for $7 trillion for AI development, highlighting the drastic increase in costs and resources needed for each new generation of AI models.
  2. The cost of AI models like GPT-6 could potentially be a hindrance to their creation, but the promise of significant innovation and industry revolution may justify the investments.
  3. The approach to funding and scaling AI development can impact the pace of progress and the safety considerations surrounding the advancement of artificial intelligence.

Did Elon Musk just Mu$k Sam Altman?

Marcus on AI • 5138 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Business AI Investments Competition Corporate Governance
  1. Sam Altman is struggling to keep OpenAI's nonprofit structure, and it's causing financial issues for the company. Investors are not happy with how things are going.
  2. Elon Musk's recent $97 billion bid for OpenAI's nonprofit has complicated the situation. Altman rejected the bid, which makes it tougher for him to negotiate a better deal.
  3. Musk's bid has raised the 'cost' for OpenAI's nonprofit to separate from the for-profit section, adding pressure on Altman and his financial plans.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 558

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 219 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Machine Learning AI Data Visualization Statistical Methods Data science
  1. Data science and AI are rapidly evolving fields with plenty of interesting developments. Staying updated with the latest articles and news can really help you understand these changes better.
  2. Effective communication is key in data science. Using intuitive methods and visuals can make complex concepts easier to grasp for everyone.
  3. Using tools and methods like quantization can help make large models more accessible. It's important to find efficient ways to work with vast amounts of data to improve performance.

How To Promote Your Service Business Online For Free

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 239 implied HN points • 29 Jul 24
💼 Business Online presence Networking Marketing Customer Acquisition Entrepreneurship
  1. Identify where your potential customers hang out online and focus your marketing efforts there. Using platforms like Email and LinkedIn can really help you connect with the right people.
  2. List your business on free directories to improve your visibility. Even just a couple of free listings can significantly boost your website traffic and bring in more potential clients.
  3. Create attractive offers to draw in new clients and build trust. Giving something away for free can spark interest and lead to potential future business deals.

Analyzing A Critique Of The AI 2027 Timeline Forecasts

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2553 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Modeling Artificial Intelligence Automation Data Analysis Forecasting
  1. Critiques are important for improving forecasts. It's good to get feedback and adjust predictions based on detailed analysis.
  2. Modeling progress in AI is tricky and uncertain. It's not easy to predict how quickly AI will advance, and different methods can give very different results.
  3. Forecasts should be communicated clearly, without overly negative language. Clear messaging helps everyone understand the importance and limitations of the predictions.

Blogging class: Multiple blogs

Sex and the State • 15 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
💼 Business Branding Marketing Content Strategy Social media Publishing Operations
  1. Running multiple blogs doubles the setup and maintenance work and makes it harder for new readers to discover all your writing.
  2. People follow people more than topics, so keeping your work in one place helps readers connect with you across different subjects.
  3. You can’t please everyone, so it’s better to have a distinct voice that attracts devoted readers; only split into separate blogs if the audiences or goals are truly incompatible.

AI still lacks “common” sense, 70 years later

Marcus on AI • 5968 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Robotics Cognitive Science Data science
  1. AI struggles with common sense. While humans easily understand everyday situations, AI often fails to make the same connections.
  2. Current AI models, like large language models, don't truly grasp the world. They may create text that seems correct but often make basic mistakes about reality.
  3. To improve AI's performance, researchers need to find better ways to teach machines commonsense reasoning, rather than relying on existing data and simulations.

New prototype is with the fab house

Single Board ESP32 ZX Spectrum • 439 implied HN points • 29 Jun 24
🕹 Technology 3D Printing Prototyping Firmware
  1. The new prototype is now in production after some delays, showing the importance of taking action despite fears.
  2. The process of sending the boards off involved some challenges with component availability, requiring adjustments.
  3. Future plans involve exploring software options, experimenting with hardware possibilities, and considering 3D printed cases.

Leftism is a Parasite

The J. Burden Show • 2316 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Morality Dualism Hierarchy Political Ideology Religion
  1. Left and Right are modern terms originating from the French Revolution, representing different ideologies.
  2. The idea of political dualism, viewing left and right as equal opposite forces, is a mistaken belief.
  3. The left is described as a parasite due to its nature of releasing power through entropy, striving for equality through destruction of traditional hierarchies.

AI and the Future of Human Autonomy

The Grand Redesign • 19 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Ethics AI Automation Innovation Cybersecurity
  1. We should not limit AI too much. Trying to control it too tightly can backfire and prevent it from being truly helpful and innovative.
  2. AI should be trained on the best human data, not just average or flawed examples. The quality of what we put into AI will shape how it helps us.
  3. AI development should be open and transparent. Working behind closed doors can lead to issues, while open collaboration allows for better improvements and wider benefits for everyone.

Hard-forked! Casey Newton’s distorted portrait of Gary Marcus and AI skepticism

Marcus on AI • 6679 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Machine Learning AI Data Ethics Tech Policy Regulation
  1. We need to prepare for AI to become more dangerous than it is now. Even if some experts think its progress might slow, it's important to have safety measures in place just in case.
  2. AI doesn't always perform as promised and can be unreliable or harmful. It's already causing issues like misinformation and bias, which means we should be cautious about its use.
  3. AI skepticism is a valid and important perspective. It's fair for people to question the role of AI in society and to discuss how it can be better managed.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (10/14)

Human Capitalist • 19 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
💼 Business Job Changes Employment Management Finance Marketing
  1. Several key job changes happened recently, showing interesting shifts in various industries. People are moving to new roles that might change their companies significantly.
  2. Big tech alumni are finding new opportunities in different fields, indicating a trend of high talent being reused across industries. This could lead to innovation in sectors outside big tech.
  3. Monitoring job changes can be valuable for investors, recruiters, or anyone interested in career movements. Staying updated helps you know where talent is heading.

The First Hit Generative AI Product After ChatGPT? Somehow, It’s Snapchat+

Big Technology • 17388 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Messaging AI Social media Generative AI Subscription
  1. Snapchat+ is a popular AI-powered subscription service with generative AI features.
  2. The success of Snapchat+ shows that generative AI may be best as a feature within existing apps rather than standalone products.
  3. Generative AI technology is being utilized to enhance user experiences and could be a new revenue stream for companies.

At least five things for your weekend (#30)

Noahpinion • 15235 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Social media Urban planning Energy
  1. Consumer sentiment may not always align with economic fundamentals like interest rates or unemployment, showing the influence of 'vibes' and media narratives.
  2. Tokyo and Seoul have a unique city development pattern with gradually sloping density, allowing for more people without feeling crowded, achieved through upzoning suburbs and excellent train systems.
  3. The age of energy abundance is upon us as technologies like solar power and batteries become cheaper, alongside increased fossil fuel drilling in the U.S.

What comes next, if Claude Code is as good as people say.

The Future, Now and Then • 198 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Artificial Intelligence Research tools Internet culture Startups Automation
  1. Powerful AI agents can autonomously build and launch products and startups, letting individuals generate quick, small incomes with very little effort.
  2. Because the tools are widely available, those early gains will be copied and flooded across the internet, creating lots of low-quality, indistinguishable offerings and collapsing the initial market advantage.
  3. In science and academia, AI will boost individual productivity but steer research toward easy, AI-friendly topics, making evaluation more about taste than discovery and risking long-term harm unless institutions consciously adapt.

8 Key Themes You Should Be Preparing For Your Behavioral Interviews

Behavioral OS for Techies • 219 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
💼 Business Interviews Career development Human Resources Employee Experience
  1. You should prepare stories about your experiences with customers. This can show how you improve their experience and handle complaints.
  2. It's important to share your successes and how you overcame challenges. This helps interviewers see your problem-solving skills and achievements.
  3. Think about times you've faced failure or conflict. Sharing these experiences can show how you learn from mistakes and work well with others.

“We Are Not as Wealthy as We Thought We Were”: Postscript 1

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 273 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
💼 Business Inequality Economics Real Estate Housing Public Policy Urbanism
  1. Rents have risen a lot and in a regressive way, with the cheapest neighborhoods hit hardest and lowest-income renters effectively losing about 15% of their incomes to higher rents—effects that common national statistics miss.
  2. The problem is a shortage and a lack of easy substitutes: constrained construction capacity and tighter mortgage access have created a paid premium for “nothing” (scarcity tied to location), so this isn’t mainly about agglomeration demand.
  3. The solution is a very large increase in housing supply across many locations—not just building smaller "affordable" units or blocking luxury projects—so millions of homes or billions of square feet must be added to eliminate the "nothing" premium.

After Orthogonality: Virtue-Ethical Agency and AI Alignment

The Gradient • 33 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Ethics Virtue ethics Agency Rationality AI Alignment Moral Psychology
  1. Rational human action isn’t mainly about chasing fixed final goals. Instead, people act by aligning with practices — networks of actions, habits, standards, and resources that shape and sustain good activity.
  2. If AI are to genuinely support, collaborate with, or comply with people, their reasoning needs the same practice-based structure; they should think in terms of norms, skills, and evolving standards rather than optimizing static goals.
  3. So AI alignment should focus on building agents that learn, participate in, and help cultivate human practices — a virtue-ethical, eudaimonic form of rationality — rather than assuming arbitrary objective functions.

Where will AI be at the end of 2027? A bet

Marcus on AI • 6007 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Policy Artificial Intelligence Human-computer interaction Machine Learning
  1. A bet has been placed on whether AI can perform 8 out of 10 specific tasks by the end of 2027. It's a way to gauge how advanced AI might be in a few years.
  2. The tasks include things like writing biographies, following movie plots, and writing screenplays, which require a high level of intelligence and creativity.
  3. If the AI succeeds, a $2,000 donation goes to one charity; if it fails, a $20,000 donation goes to another charity. This is meant to promote discussion about AI's future.

Don't Stop Bullievin'

DeFi Education • 1478 implied HN points • 20 Mar 24
🔮 Crypto Investment strategy DeFi Market Analysis
  1. Many people in the crypto market don't have a clear plan and are using too much leverage, which can lead to panic during price drops.
  2. Market behavior is cyclical, and while prices can go up, they can also come down quickly once speculations get too high.
  3. Investing in crypto should prioritize cautious strategies: only invest what you can afford to lose and maintain confidence in your major holdings.

The Obstacle Becomes the Path

The Stoic Journal • 81 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Virtue ethics Ethics Resilience Practical philosophy Self-Improvement Stoicism
  1. Obstacles aren’t just roadblocks but the path itself, so use whatever comes up as the real practice you need right now.
  2. You always have a choice: you can rage at the interruption or adapt like water and find a new way to act and grow.
  3. Different obstacles train different virtues—when one practice is blocked, practice acceptance, patience, or temperance instead, because training never stops.

Tokens: The New Oil

Software Design: Tidy First? • 2010 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
💼 Business Management Startups Strategy Technology Investment
  1. When demand for your product grows rapidly, you need to shift your focus from exploration to expansion. It's all about managing resources to keep up with demand.
  2. Survival in this phase means making tough choices, like cutting features or limiting users, to ensure you have enough capacity. Don't worry about being perfect; just keep your product alive.
  3. Investors may be excited to fund you now, but your real challenge is managing resources effectively. Focus on quick, practical solutions to keep things running and adapt as you grow.

New Is The New Black

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1612 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Learning Software Design Education Innovation Consulting
  1. Trying new things can be hard, but it's essential for learning. Embrace the unfamiliar instead of being afraid of it.
  2. When you feel lost while learning, take a break. Clearing your mind can help you reset and make connections later.
  3. When you start to understand something, slow down and think carefully. This moment is special and deserves focus.

Jean Laplanche and the Unfinished Copernican Revolution

Five’s Substack • 259 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Cultural critique Psychoanalysis
  1. Laplanche's theory of general seduction suggests that our earliest interactions shape our unconscious. Instead of just focusing on adult experiences, he emphasizes the importance of early relationships and how they influence our identity.
  2. He argues that the Copernican Revolution is unfinished, meaning that humanity hasn't fully accepted its place in a universe that lacks a central point. This challenge raises questions about knowledge and how we define ourselves.
  3. In the therapy process, confusion often stems from unresolved feelings about our early relationships. People may spend their lives trying to understand what others want from them, leading to a cycle of creating fantasies to avoid confronting the original mysteries of their experiences.

The Substack AI Report

Substack • 1915 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Content creation AI Tools Productivity Research Publishing
  1. About 45% of publishers on Substack are using AI tools, mainly for tasks like research and proofreading rather than full content creation.
  2. While many appreciate how AI helps with productivity, there are concerns about losing personal creativity and the risks of plagiarism or ethical issues.
  3. Younger publishers tend to use AI for translation and writing help, while older ones focus more on research and image generation, showing a divide in how AI is used based on age.