The hottest Substack posts right now

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Newsletter #2: Certain Randomness

Decoding Coding • 19 implied HN points • 09 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Randomness Computer Science Algorithms Cryptography Machine Learning
  1. Random numbers are important in computer science for things like cryptography, simulations, and game mechanics. They help create unpredictability and realism in these applications.
  2. There are two main types of random number generators: True Random Number Generators (TRNGs) that use real-world entropy, and Pseudo Random Number Generators (PRNGs) that produce predictable outcomes based on a starting value.
  3. Algorithms like Linear Congruential Generators (LCGs) and Mersenne Twister are commonly used for generating pseudo-random numbers in various applications due to their efficiency and quality.

MasterClass: High-Priced Edutainment with Celebrity Sparkle, but is it Truly Scalable?

Gad’s Newsletter • 50 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
💼 Business Management Marketing Finance Entertainment Education
  1. MasterClass offers high-priced edutainment with celebrity instructors, blurring the lines between entertainment and education.
  2. Evaluating scalability involves factors like growth potential, constraints, alignment, leadership, and efficiency.
  3. High production costs might challenge MasterClass's path to profitability, impacting its ability to balance growth and maintain quality.

In the Early Innings of Ecommerce

Ben’s Newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 08 Jun 21
💼 Business Retail Customer Experience Technology Marketing Ecommerce
  1. Ecommerce is growing quickly, attracting more retailers and shoppers every year. Companies need to improve their processes to offer better customer experiences.
  2. Using social media for shopping is becoming very popular. It allows customers to discover products through their friends and communities.
  3. Personalization is important for online shopping success. Customers are more likely to buy when they feel the experience is tailored to their needs.

AI Scraping Benchmarks

serious web3 analysis • 20 HN points • 24 Sep 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Software Development Data Analysis Web scraping
  1. AI can make web scraping super easy by letting users scrape information in plain English instead of complicated coding. This can help many more people access scraping tools.
  2. It's important to track the costs of using AI for scraping. Choosing the right AI model can save money while still getting accurate results.
  3. Benchmarking AI scrapers based on accuracy, runtime, and cost is essential. It helps users find the best tools for their specific scraping needs.
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Finite and infinite games

The Jolly Contrarian • 39 implied HN points • 17 Apr 22
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Logic Existentialism Epistemology Ethics
  1. Carse distinguishes between finite games, which have fixed rules and a clear winner, and infinite games, which have no fixed rules and aim to continue playing without winners or losers.
  2. Infinite games are inclusive and allow for fluid boundaries, while finite games are exclusive and dominate attention while being played.
  3. It's crucial in life to discern when you are involved in finite games aimed at winning, and when you are part of infinite play focused on continuing and evolving.

Malta Liquidity

Malt Liquidity • 12 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
💰 Finance Mental health Investing Trading Market Analysis Consumer behavior
  1. Travel can often feel like work, and it's not always enjoyable. Sometimes it’s more about experiencing new places than actually immersing oneself in them.
  2. Taking breaks is essential for clear thinking. Finding time to think deeply without distractions can help improve creativity and problem-solving skills.
  3. Retirement is more about having the freedom to choose how you spend your time. It’s not just about money; it's about being content with how you live your life.

Activist Framework for Evaluating AI Risk in the Age of AI-Movements

Activist Futurism • 3 HN points • 03 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Persuasion AI Activism Social movements
  1. Activists have a crucial role in evaluating the risks associated with AI by 'red teaming' AI models to prevent potential catastrophic consequences.
  2. AI has the capability to persuade people to take action, posing significant risks if not monitored closely, especially in areas like creating persuasive content.
  3. Activists need to collaborate with AI companies to ensure that AI is used ethically to benefit humanity and not to promote agendas that may harm society.

How Weight Loss Drugs Stopped a Danish Recession

Apricitas Economics • 52 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
💼 Business Globalization Pharmaceuticals Economy Exports Manufacturing
  1. Demand for weight loss drugs in Denmark prevented a recession by boosting pharmaceutical exports
  2. Danish pharmaceutical industry experienced massive growth in production but faced challenges meeting demand
  3. The export boom in pharmaceuticals positively impacted Danish economy but did not fully translate to domestic consumption growth

Terms of Engagement

Cybernetic Forests • 39 implied HN points • 20 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Digital Culture Design Communication Algorithms Social media
  1. Communication requires good transmission and reception; without care on either end, hurt can result.
  2. Play and playfulness emerge from safety and shared agreement; the absence of play can lead to authoritarianism and fear.
  3. Social media structures can breed algorithmic indifference, filtering out personal content and hindering meaningful communication.

Punch It In

CTOrly • 19 implied HN points • 13 Sep 22
💼 Business Leadership Product Management Planning Strategy
  1. Having a plan is crucial, but it's essential to plan practically and realistically for today.
  2. Traditional roadmapping may give a false sense of accomplishment without delivering tangible benefits to customers or the market.
  3. Prioritize making plans based on the current reality rather than uncertain future projections.

✅ The opportunity for public relations to build on management status earned during COVID-19

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
💼 Business Stakeholder engagement Public Relations Management Employee engagement Corporate Communication
  1. Public relations has gained importance during COVID-19, helping organizations manage changes and communicate with stakeholders. This role is now more recognized in leadership decisions.
  2. Corporate affairs directors are seen as important advisers who help balance business goals with social needs. They work closely with top management to guide the company’s direction.
  3. There’s a shift towards using data and technology in public relations to understand society better. Companies are focusing on employee engagement and societal issues as key parts of their communication strategy.

AI for Nuclear Fusion (Feat. Martin Riedmiller, Lead of the Controls Team at Google DeepMind)

State of the Future • 12 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Control Systems Robotics Reinforcement Learning
  1. Reinforcement learning (RL) is proving to be a powerful tool for controlling complex systems like plasma in nuclear fusion. It can also be used in other areas where traditional methods struggle.
  2. The idea of a 'universal controller' could change how we automate industrial processes. This system would adapt to different settings, making control much easier.
  3. Using large language models (LLMs) to improve RL makes learning more efficient. This means robots could learn new tasks faster by applying what they already know about the world.

The Role of Social Machines in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 28 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Digital Society Technology impact Social Impact
  1. Social Machines play a key role in our digital society by meshing human ingenuity with technology to create useful societal outcomes.
  2. There are voluntary and business Social Machines, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some evolve from voluntary to for-profit ventures.
  3. Social Machines can lead to positive societal changes as they enable citizen participation and reflect the values and benefits of a democratic society.

"Mid" is unfalsifiable

Philosophy bear • 64 implied HN points • 18 May 23
📖 Philosophy Reality Ethics Concepts Reasoning
  1. Calling someone 'mid' is unfalsifiable because it's hard to prove you're not just average.
  2. Labeling someone as 'mid' can lead to implications similar to being called 'ugly'.
  3. The concept of 'mid' has become popular due to unrealistic expectations and fear of commitment in relationships.

AI in Action

Tippets by Taps • 6 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing Product Development Sales Technology Startups
  1. AI tools like Claude and Cursor are really helping with coding tasks, but sales AI tools still have a long way to go. Many founders are using AI to save time and improve accuracy in their work.
  2. Custom GPTs are a favorite among founders because they solve specific problems quickly. People are moving away from traditional CRMs to more AI-native options that offer deeper insights.
  3. While AI is making strides in development, many sales tools are still underwhelming. Founders are frustrated that they have to customize solutions instead of relying on existing AI products to meet their needs.

#45: Civilization is weightless

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 119 implied HN points • 09 Sep 20
📖 Philosophy Adaptability Ethics Cognition Metaphysics Existentialism
  1. Moving frequently helps you rethink what you own and decide what to keep or get rid of.
  2. It’s easy to hold onto things you don’t need because they feel comforting or like they might be useful one day.
  3. Letting go of unnecessary stuff can help you feel lighter and make space for more important things, like flexibility and knowledge.

Cảnh báo: lỗ hổng lộ thông tin gần 25 triệu người đã tiêm vaccine ở Việt Nam

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 59 implied HN points • 04 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Health tech Open Source Ethical Hacking Data security
  1. Nearly 25 million people who have received vaccines in Vietnam may have had their personal information exposed due to security vulnerabilities in the national electronic health record system.
  2. The leaked information includes sensitive data like names, addresses, ID numbers, phone numbers, workplaces, and health insurance details, putting individuals at risk of privacy breaches and potential misuse.
  3. Discovering and addressing software vulnerabilities is crucial, but fixing underlying systemic issues, fostering transparency, and inviting expert collaboration upfront can prevent larger security breaches in the future.

The Tragedy of Stafford Beer

Never Met a Science • 50 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Social media Cybernetics Information Technology
  1. Stafford Beer led a remarkable life, from running Project Cybersyn in Chile to advocating for cybernetic socialism.
  2. Beer's book, Platform for Change, showcased his radical ideas for societal reform but faced commercial failure.
  3. Beer emphasized using communication technology to enhance human freedom while avoiding centralization for preserving human agency.

Have a Board Meeting, Even Without a Board

Tippets by Taps • 4 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Investment Management Strategy
  1. Quarterly 'Not a Board Meetings' are useful for early-stage founders to plan and reflect. They help create clarity and accountability about the business's progress.
  2. These meetings align stakeholders by providing a shared understanding among investors, preventing miscommunications. It's key for everyone to be on the same page.
  3. Running these meetings can improve communication skills and problem-solving abilities. They set up a good groundwork for when formal boards are created later.

What do Alpacas have to do with AI's future?

do clouds feel vertigo? • 19 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Data science Business Models Innovation Computing
  1. AI training costs are dropping significantly, which makes it easier for more people to create their own AI models.
  2. AI models can become more common and even borrowed from others, which leads to questions about ownership and competition.
  3. Companies now face a choice between buying AI capabilities or building their own, affecting how they manage privacy and efficiency.

Academia vs Business

inexactscience • 19 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
💼 Business Organizational Behavior Project management Data Analysis Business strategy Market research
  1. Academia and business both use data to solve problems, but they focus on different aspects. In academia, getting the right answer is more important than how fast you get it.
  2. The speed-quality frontier shows that in academia, quality matters a lot, which means projects can take years. In business, speed is key, so decisions often get made quickly.
  3. Feedback loops are faster in business. Companies test ideas against real market data quickly, while in academia, feedback often comes later from peer reviews, slowing down the process.

Oxford Nanopore - Baseless Rumors

ASeq Newsletter • 36 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Strategy Technology Management Layoffs Rumors
  1. Rumors about layoffs and nepotism at Oxford Nanopore are circulating, potentially impacting the company's share price.
  2. The company's delayed announcement of layoffs raises questions, with some seeing it as a strategic move and others as a demotivational tactic for employees.
  3. The overall strategy of Oxford Nanopore is being called into question, with suggestions that changes may be needed for the company to succeed.

SDL Tutorial Part 2: Drawing Text

Deus In Machina • 36 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Graphics
  1. To display text in SDL2, you need to include SDL_ttf.h and work with functions like TTF_Init, TTF_OpenFont, TTF_RenderText_Solid, and SDL_CreateTextureFromSurface.
  2. When using SDL2, surfaces are CPU-based bitmaps ideal for pixel manipulation, while textures are GPU-based and essential for efficient rendering.
  3. SDL2 can render using either SDL_Surface or SDL_Texture, with SDL_Surface being software rendering done entirely by the CPU, bypassing the GPU.

Clouded Judgement 6.20.25 - The Dropping Cost of Intelligence

Clouded Judgement • 6 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
💼 Business Job Market Economics Technology AI Finance
  1. The cost of technology like AI is dropping rapidly, making it much cheaper to create and use intelligence. This could change how businesses operate.
  2. While some worry that AI will take jobs away, others believe it will create new job opportunities that we can't even imagine yet.
  3. The fast pace of technological change might create challenges for workers who need to adjust, but the overall economic growth could be significant.

Simula the forgotten programming language

Deus In Machina • 72 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming Languages Implementation Classes Functions
  1. Simula was a significant influence on the design of languages like C++ and Java, showcasing Object-Oriented Programming concepts.
  2. Finding an implementation for Simula, like Portable Simula, can be a bit challenging but rewarding.
  3. Simula uses unique syntax like keyword-based blocks, explicit statement endings with semicolons, and different assignment operators for text variables.

AI Interfaces

Silicon’s Substack • 1 HN point • 29 Jun 24
🕹 Technology
  1. New technologies start with low-level implementations and progress towards more intuitive high-level interfaces like natural language and voice commands.
  2. Advancements in software and media creation involve simplifying tools and breaking down barriers between different forms of media.
  3. By understanding and deconstructing media at a high level, we can transform content, control creative outcomes, and explore dynamic systems in new ways.

Philosophical economics: Shameless robber barons

Klement on Investing • 12 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
💼 Business Capitalism Economics Inequality Market Competition Philosophy
  1. Wealth inequality in America is high, but it was worse during the Gilded Age. The richest 1% owned about 35% of all assets in 2020, which is a lot, but not as much as in 1913.
  2. Top American companies today, like tech giants, make huge profits that are not normal in competitive markets. They don't face enough competition, which leads to these big profits staying high.
  3. Today’s billionaires don't seem to share the same sense of responsibility as past leaders like Rockefeller and Carnegie. Many seem more focused on personal success rather than helping society.

Problem 22: Positive Pairs meeting conditions[Jane Street]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 26 Jan 22
🕹 Technology Memory
  1. The problem involves finding positive integer pairs that meet specific conditions like summing to M and having a XOR value of N.
  2. The solution to this problem will be shared with premium subscribers of the newsletter.
  3. To improve coding skills and nail interviews at top-tier firms, one can subscribe to the publication for access to high-quality breakdowns of coding problems and interview techniques.

A Tradition of Mission Support: A USSF Tale

Ill-Defined Space • 38 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Satellites Policy Military technology
  1. The United States Space Force needs clear policies to expand beyond its current support role.
  2. USSF faces a challenge as its systems are not sufficient to protect its assets and U.S. interests in space.
  3. Efforts to shift USSF's culture and technology are in progress, but more changes are needed for it to defend itself and U.S. interests effectively.

Trust is a design issue

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 06 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Performance Software User Experience Design Privacy
  1. When creating software, you're making promises to users about reliability and performance. If users can't trust your software to work well, they feel let down.
  2. Over time, adding too many features can slow down software and make it complicated. It's important for teams to keep user experience and performance in mind as they grow.
  3. Strong teams think carefully about the promises they make with each new feature. They aim to keep users happy and avoid feeling like they've broken that trust.

How machines learn, visually explained 🧠

Year 2049 • 13 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Automation AI Machine Learning Data science Robotics
  1. AI systems learn from data, so the quality of that data is really important. Better data means smarter machines.
  2. Machines can become biased if they are trained on biased data. It's important to watch out for this when developing AI.
  3. This is just one part of a series explaining AI. More episodes will cover different aspects of how machines learn and behave.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #100

Creative Destruction • 15 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Human behavior Digital Culture Ecology
  1. Ecotrauma highlights how everything in nature connects and shows the lasting impact of events like the Big Bang on our world today. It's about recognizing that trauma is not just the past, but something we live with in our environment.
  2. In today's digital age, social media creates an echo chamber that can limit true originality. We often only see reflections of our own interests online, which can stifle creativity and make us crave something new and genuine.
  3. The rise of AI challenges us to rethink our own human thoughts and behaviors. We should strive to keep our thinking unique and avoid becoming too robotic in our approach to life.

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday, September 2, 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 02 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Repair Toxins Automobiles Smartphones
  1. The EU is moving towards mandating smartphones to be supported for at least five years, benefitting customers worldwide with access to key components for repair.
  2. Research suggests that automakers opposing right-to-repair laws may be futile, as a consumer sentiment survey indicates strong support for such legislation among voters.
  3. The right-to-repair movement is gaining momentum globally, driven by concerns over manufacturer control of software in devices like tractors, leading to potential environmental and consumer rights impacts.

Why TikTok ‘Knows You’: The Data Trick That Makes It Tick

The Daily Bud • 12 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Machine Learning User Experience Data Privacy Algorithms Social media
  1. TikTok's algorithm is really good at guessing what you want to watch next. It keeps improving by watching how you interact with videos.
  2. Unlike other apps, TikTok avoids mixing user data, which helps keep recommendations super personal. This means you get content that's more tailored just for you.
  3. The way TikTok designs its data storage prevents recommendations from getting mixed up. This leads to a cleaner and more enjoyable experience while using the app.

When ChatGPT Hits Culture, What Happens?

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jan 23
🕹 Technology AI Economics Legal Data Ethics
  1. When new AI tools like ChatGPT integrate into society, there is initial fear and resistance, like with any groundbreaking technology in history.
  2. The economic impact of AI tools like ChatGPT will lead to financial shifts and adoption challenges in industries, triggering legal issues and the need for protected data.
  3. As generative AI technology evolves, society and culture play a key role in shaping how these tools are used and integrated, emphasizing the importance of understanding and adapting to these changes.

OpenAI Live Update on May 13: ChatGPT and GPT-4 Surprises?

AI Disruption • 2 HN points • 10 May 24
🕹 Technology AI Chatbots OpenAI Updates
  1. OpenAI will livestream an update on May 13 regarding ChatGPT and GPT-4 improvements.
  2. There is speculation about a potential GPT-4.5 variant with enhanced features like better understanding, more current knowledge, and improved performance.
  3. The rumored GPT-4.5 improvements suggest advancements in design, functionality, language handling, and response quality.