The hottest Technology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

AI #126: Go Fund Yourself

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1792 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Data science Software Development Digital Transformation
  1. AI is becoming more powerful and surprising, with companies like Google and OpenAI achieving unexpected breakthroughs. This shows that AI is still capable of advancing in ways we didn't expect.
  2. Language models can sometimes be harmful, especially for individuals struggling with issues like body dysmorphia. Using AI for self-evaluation can lead to negative outcomes rather than helping.
  3. There's rising concern over how AI will transform jobs and the economy. While AI can create new opportunities, it also poses risks that need careful management to prevent widespread job loss.

Komputerwerk

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Software Programming Libraries Developer Tools Retro Computing Computer History
  1. Komputerwerk was a Pennsylvania-based company from the mid-1980s that made tools for compiled BASIC; records conflict but it appears to be no longer active.
  2. Its flagship product, Finally!, was a library of over 100 named subroutines for compiled BASIC, with source code and documentation for tasks like array math, string trimming, sorting, charts, and system queries.
  3. They also sold Xgraf, an assembly-language graphics kernel for QuickBASIC that added extended graphics calls, screen packing, zooming, and file save/load/import features.

Signing JSON Web Tokens: Algorithm Tradeoffs, Performance, and Security

ciamweekly • 62 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Security Cryptography Authentication Web Performance Standards Implementation
  1. Pick your JWT algorithm based on tradeoffs: HMAC (HS) is very fast and simple but uses a shared secret and cannot provide non-repudiation, while asymmetric algorithms let you separate signing and verification.
  2. Prefer modern asymmetric schemes when possible: RSA-PSS is safer than old PKCS#1 v1.5, ECDSA gives small fast signatures but demands perfect nonce randomness, and EdDSA (Ed25519) is usually the best choice because it’s fast, secure, and uses deterministic nonces.
  3. Match algorithm to your environment and tooling: RSA has the widest compatibility but large signatures and slower signing, ECDSA risks come from RNG mistakes, and EdDSA may require checking HSM/KMS and library support before committing.
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Sometimes Wrong, But Always Right II

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1696 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🕹 Technology AI Models Software Development No-Code Tools User Experience Technology Ethics
  1. Cosmarch AI has a unique feature called persistent memory, which allows it to remember information about you over time, making interactions feel more personal.
  2. It offers multiple models that excel in different tasks, allowing users to switch between them based on what they need, like better reasoning or writing style.
  3. Cosmarch AI is currently in beta, and while it has great features, it still lacks some advanced options that other AI models offer, like editable memory and mobile support.

Weekly Dose of Optimism

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 117 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Biotech Health tech Aerospace Connectivity Robotics
  1. Personalized, data-driven cancer care can work: one determined patient used intensive diagnostics, bespoke therapies, and a coordinated team to reach remission, pointing to a future where tailored oncology is more widely available.
  2. mRNA cancer vaccines look promising when combined with immunotherapy — a Moderna/Merck trial cut the risk of death or recurrence by about half in melanoma, suggesting vaccines will become an important part of cancer treatment.
  3. Big engineering projects are scaling to solve huge problems — drone delivery (Zipline) is expanding life-saving logistics, The Ocean Cleanup is intercepting a growing share of plastic pollution, and space-based networks like TeraWave aim to provide high-capacity global connectivity for enterprises.

Grok Grok

Don't Worry About the Vase • 4211 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Software Development Social media Data Privacy
  1. Grok can search Twitter and provides fast responses, which is pretty useful. However, it has issues with creativity and sometimes jumps to conclusions too quickly.
  2. Despite being developed by Elon Musk, Grok shows a strong bias against him and others, leading to a loss of trust in the model. There are concerns about its capabilities and safety features.
  3. Grok has been described as easy to jailbreaking, raising concerns about it potentially sharing dangerous instructions if properly manipulated.

Common SQL queries through a non-1NF lens

Minimal Modeling • 202 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Databases SQL Data Modeling Querying Data Engineering Software Engineering
  1. Model joins by attaching a nested dataset to each outer row and then flattening by duplicating the outer row for each inner row; if the inner set is empty you skip the outer row for INNER JOIN or replace it with a single NULL row for LEFT JOIN.
  2. The inner part of a query becomes very simple: INNER JOIN is just a filtered SELECT, GROUP BY is an aggregated filtered SELECT, and LEFT JOIN is a filtered SELECT plus a conditional UNION ALL NULL row, so no special-casing is needed.
  3. Splitting queries into an outer table and a per-row inner dataset gives a clear, teachable mental model and a single canonical flattening rule you can reuse to reason about more complex SQL patterns like correlated subqueries.

The End of Simplification: Intel Abandons X86S

The Chip Letter • 2402 implied HN points • 05 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Computing Semiconductors Software Engineering Innovation
  1. Intel has introduced APX, which includes several new features to improve its architecture. This means that Intel is aiming to enhance performance and efficiency.
  2. The company planned to simplify its architecture by removing some older features with X86S. However, they decided to abandon this simplification due to the importance of maintaining backward compatibility.
  3. Backwards compatibility is essential, as it allows older software to run on new systems. This decision shows Intel's commitment to supporting their users and legacy applications.

Do software moats still exist? (ft. Claude Code)

Enterprise AI Trends • 189 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Software AI Enterprise SaaS Developer Tools Automation
  1. Agentic coding tools can rapidly build and interact with complex enterprise apps, putting classic software moats at risk and forcing them to evolve.
  2. In a quick experiment, an AI built a barebones CRM in a few hours and autonomously extracted data from logged-in pages, showing how easily core functionality and data access can be replicated.
  3. Software businesses aren't necessarily doomed. They must rethink moats, focusing on continuous product differentiation, integrations, and defenses beyond enterprise inertia.

The Paris AI Anti-Safety Summit

Don't Worry About the Vase • 4390 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI safety International relations Policy Analysis Regulation Public Perception
  1. The recent Paris AI Summit shifted focus away from safety and risk management, favoring economic opportunities instead. Many leaders downplayed potential dangers of advanced AI.
  2. International cooperation on AI safety has weakened, with past agreements being ignored. This leaves little room for developing effective safety regulations as AI technologies rapidly evolve.
  3. The emphasis on voluntary commitments from companies may not be enough to ensure safety. Experts believe a more structured regulatory framework is needed to address serious risks associated with AI.

The RedNote honeymoon won't last

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 4986 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Social media Apps User Behavior Data Privacy Regulation
  1. RedNote, a new app, is gaining popularity as users look for alternatives to TikTok. It focuses on social shopping and creating content about products.
  2. Despite its rapid rise, RedNote might struggle long-term because it has a language barrier and isn't as globally popular as TikTok.
  3. As users enjoy RedNote now, conflicts may arise as happens on most social media platforms. This could change users' perceptions of the app over time.

The Facebook scam economy

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2776 implied HN points • 16 May 25
🕹 Technology Social media Cybercrime Advertising Privacy Regulation
  1. Meta platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, are dealing with a huge problem of scams, with many advertisers promoting them. This is partly due to the rise of cryptocurrency and AI.
  2. Despite employees reporting these scams, Meta has been slow to act because they prioritize ad revenue over user safety. They allow scammers to continue operating for too long before taking action.
  3. Scams on Facebook are affecting vulnerable people, including workers in Southeast Asia who are often trapped in abusive conditions. This brings up serious concerns about the ethics of the platform's operations.

Holding two thoughts

Sunday Letters • 139 implied HN points • 11 Aug 24
🕹 Technology AI Computation Software Innovation Tech Culture
  1. AI is a big change, and it's hard to label it just good or bad. We're still figuring out how to use it effectively, but it has a lot of potential.
  2. In everyday life, AI is starting to prove useful in small ways, like transcribing recipes quickly or helping create survey questions.
  3. Just like with e-commerce and search engines, AI will gradually become more integrated into our lives as people find ways to use it better.

Harvard and MIT Study: AI Models Are Not Ready to Make Scientific Discoveries

The Algorithmic Bridge • 1857 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🕹 Technology AI Data science Machine Learning Computational Models Scientific research
  1. AI models can predict things accurately but struggle to explain why things happen. This means they might not truly understand the underlying science.
  2. The study shows that current AI models, even powerful ones, do not create a real understanding of the world. Instead, they use tricks to predict results based only on patterns they have seen.
  3. This limitation is important because it shows that AI is not ready to make new scientific discoveries. Real understanding involves knowing why things happen, not just what happens.

The Bitter Lesson versus The Garbage Can

One Useful Thing • 1675 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🕹 Technology AI Automation Organizational Theory Computing Machine Learning
  1. Organizations often work in messy and chaotic ways, not always following clear processes. This can lead to confusion and frustration for employees trying to understand how things really get done.
  2. AI can sometimes perform better when it learns through experience rather than from human-defined rules. Instead of trying to teach it specific steps, letting it learn from outcomes can be more effective.
  3. When using AI in companies, instead of getting bogged down by trying to map every process, it may be smarter to focus on defining what good results look like. The AI can then figure out the best way to get there, even through the chaos.

6 Things You Need to Know About Medium’s Latest Changes

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 979 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Publishing AI Ethics Content creation User Experience
  1. Medium has banned AI-generated content, meaning all writing must be done by humans. If you use AI to write, you can lose access to their Partner Program.
  2. The platform routinely removes fake accounts, which might cause some users to lose followers. This is part of Medium's effort to maintain a genuine and quality community for writers.
  3. Medium is encouraging authentic engagement and discouraging any schemes that generate artificial traffic. It’s best to treat Medium like a magazine by reading and responding to what interests you.

Was Zuck Right about Chinese AI Models?

Interconnected • 4751 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Cloud Computing Data Privacy Censorship Global Competition
  1. Chinese AI models can answer sensitive questions when run locally, but they often censor answers in cloud settings. This shows a difference in behavior based on where the models are hosted.
  2. Censorship in AI models is more about the cloud platforms than the models themselves. This poses challenges for Chinese cloud providers wanting to compete internationally.
  3. Even though some see Chinese AI as censored, it can still be powerful and competitive. Users may prefer to download and run these models locally to avoid censorship and make the most of their capabilities.

Do you know how controlled you are?

Disaffected Newsletter • 1338 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Design Human-Computer User Experience Automation Environment
  1. Machines are now designed to control how we use them, rather than serve our needs. This means we often have to jump through hoops to get them to work the way we want.
  2. Many modern designs prioritize environmental concerns over user convenience. For example, appliances automatically default to settings that may not be the most efficient for what we actually want.
  3. This shift in design reflects a broader issue where consumer products must comply with government mandates and societal goals rather than being created based on what people truly want.

Twitter is dead and Threads is thriving

Platformer • 3262 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Social media Tech industry Digital Content Artificial Intelligence Software Development
  1. Twitter underwent significant changes after Elon Musk's takeover, leading to a decline in daily users and financial setbacks.
  2. Musk's plan to pivot Twitter towards paid subscriptions failed, with less than 1% of users signing up for the premium service.
  3. Former Twitter employees have accepted the company's demise, with concerns about the future of the platform integrity at X.

It's time to change how we cover Elon Musk

Platformer • 3537 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🕹 Technology AI Social media Digital Media Antitrust AI Ethics
  1. It's important to approach coverage of Elon Musk with skepticism due to his history of broken promises and exaggerations.
  2. Journalists should be more skeptical and critical of Musk's statements, especially those that could impact markets or public perception.
  3. Musk's tendency to make bold announcements without following through highlights the need for increased scrutiny in media coverage of his statements.

This Rumor About GPT-5 Changes Everything

The Algorithmic Bridge • 4788 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Software Development Data science Tech industry
  1. There's a belief that GPT-5 might already exist but isn't being released to the public. The idea is that OpenAI may be using it internally because it's more valuable that way.
  2. AI labs are focusing on creating smaller and cheaper models that still perform well. This new approach aims to reduce costs while improving efficiency, which is crucial given the rising demand for AI.
  3. The situation is similar across major AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, with many facing challenges in producing new models. Instead, they might be opting to train powerful models internally and use them to enhance smaller models for public use.

LLMs Know More Than What They Say

LLMs for Engineers • 120 HN points • 15 Aug 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Data science Software Development Computing
  1. Using latent space techniques can improve the accuracy of evaluations for AI applications without requiring a lot of human feedback. This approach saves time and resources.
  2. Latent space readout (LSR) helps in detecting issues like hallucinations in AI outputs by allowing users to adjust the sensitivity of detection. This means it can catch more errors if needed, even if that results in some false alarms.
  3. Creating customized evaluation rubrics for AI applications is essential. By gathering targeted feedback from users, developers can create more effective evaluation systems that align with specific needs.

Meta unspools Threads

Platformer • 3518 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media Apps Decentralization Content Moderation Data Privacy
  1. Meta released Threads, a new app challenging Twitter, with a focus on content moderation and decentralization.
  2. Threads is a text-based messaging app similar to Twitter, allowing easy following of Instagram users with limited features.
  3. The success of Threads will depend on cultivating a vibrant community and continuous improvements to user experience.

5 Sony Devices That Never Left Japan

Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter • 159 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Gadgets Innovation Electronics
  1. Sony created some really cool gadgets that were only sold in Japan. These devices show how innovative and unique their technology is.
  2. One notable device is the KW-3600HD, a heavy and expensive TV that was the first to support high-definition back in 1990.
  3. Another interesting gadget is the D-901NV Discman from 1995, which had a built-in TV tuner and GPS, combining several cool features.

Roche SBX Interest High, Workflow Questions

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Genomics Sequencing Biotech Lab Automation Diagnostics Instruments
  1. Interest in Roche’s Axelios sequencer is high and early reactions to AGBT pricing look positive.
  2. If those early responses hold, about 58% of NovaSeq X sales could shift to Axelios, roughly 150 units based on 2025 Illumina numbers.
  3. That level of market shift is probably unrealistic, so real-world impact is uncertain and likely smaller.

Spotify’s Plans For AI Generated Music, Podcasts, and Recommendations, According To Its Co-President, CTO, and CPO Gustav Söderström

Big Technology • 5879 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Music Podcasts Digital Media Recommendations
  1. Spotify is embracing AI to enhance creativity in music and podcasts. They see these tools as ways to help artists express themselves better rather than replacing them.
  2. The company is focusing on improving how users find new music and podcasts. They want users to feel like they have control over their recommendations and can provide feedback.
  3. Spotify aims to create a more personal experience by using AI. They envision a platform where users can interact like friends with the app, making the recommendations feel tailored and engaging.

If apps are dead, is context the new moat?

Kathy PM • 13 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Product Strategy Developer Experience User Experience Platforms Infrastructure
  1. Building standalone apps as destinations is becoming obsolete because people don't want to leave their existing workflows. Software now needs to show up where users already are.
  2. Low-cost, fast-built "vibe" apps will flood the web but most won't earn long-term value because they don't accumulate context. The real advantage is owning continuous context — memory over time, visibility across tools, governed actions, and trust.
  3. The future is continuous systems that observe work, accumulate context, and proactively help inside your existing tools. These always-on, mostly invisible layers prioritize continuity and background improvements over flashy interfaces.

OpenAI: Economic Justice Delayed

Dana Blankenhorn: Facing the Future • 39 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Investment Startups Innovation Economics
  1. OpenAI recently received a large investment to avoid bankruptcy, but experts think financial troubles may still be on the way. There's skepticism about how sustainable their business model is.
  2. The promises of AI, like improving productivity and creativity, often don't match up with what users actually experience. Many believe AI tools still have major limitations.
  3. The funding from investors seems more focused on finding a quick profit than on genuinely improving AI technology. There's a worry that this could lead to a crash if expectations aren't met.

If You're So Smart, Why Can't You Die?

Desystemize • 3933 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Intelligence Philosophy Computing Innovation
  1. AI improvements are not even across the board. While some tasks have become incredibly advanced, other simple tasks still trip them up, showing that not all intelligence is equal.
  2. We should be cautious about assuming that increases in one type of AI ability mean it can do everything we can. Each skill in AI may develop separately, like bagels and croissants in baking.
  3. Understanding what makes intelligence requires looking deeper than just performance. There is a difference between raw capabilities and the contextual, real-life experiences that truly shape how we understand intelligence.

AI is making us all talk the same

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 1552 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🕹 Technology AI Communication Language Social media Digital Culture
  1. AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming really popular and are changing how we communicate. People are starting to use similar words and phrases because of these tools.
  2. Researchers looked at lots of YouTube videos and podcasts to see how language is changing post-ChatGPT, finding that certain words are being used more often.
  3. A new book called _Algospeak_ explores how the internet and AI affect our language. It shows how chat technology is shaping what we say and how we say it.

Telephone troubles

Disaffected Newsletter • 2158 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Telecommunications User Behavior Digital Culture Privacy
  1. People used to enjoy phone calls and felt excited when the phone rang. Now, many find modern phones annoying and feel they serve the demands of companies instead of the user’s needs.
  2. Modern phone users often lack manners and respect for privacy, using features like speakerphone in public without consideration for others. Many don’t think about how their calls affect those around them.
  3. Communication has shifted, and with it, the expectations of basic decency. It's important for users to remember to consider others’ comfort and privacy when making calls.

Visions for AI

In My Tribe • 288 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Robotics Software Automation Health tech EdTech Labor markets
  1. AI will eventually do most software engineering by taking English prompts to write and maintain business applications, making traditional developers unnecessary for routine work.
  2. Robots that understand and respond to human language will become much more useful, sparking a robotics boom and creating new roles for people who design practical uses for them.
  3. AI will automate many routine tasks in education and health care — personalized teaching software will handle factual instruction and AI tools could diagnose and treat — but political and institutional resistance means assisting human professionals will come first.

A few themes for 2026

Tanay’s Newsletter • 220 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Products Startups Venture Capital Monetization AI Research
  1. Big AI products will start finding ways to monetize massive free usage with ad-like or sponsored placements outside of direct answers, because subscriptions alone won’t capture everyone.
  2. AI will get more proactive and agent-like, monitoring signals, surfacing updates, and taking on multi-step tasks without waiting for prompts.
  3. Technical leaps in reliable computer use and continual learning will let agents actually operate apps, fill complex forms, and improve over time so they can complete work instead of just offering suggestions.

Kong AI Connectivity, AgentMail $6M, Mimecast Threat Detection

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 17 Mar 26
🕹 Technology APIs AI Security Fintech Messaging Identity Infrastructure
  1. AI agents are becoming first-class users of APIs, with programmable banking and agent-native email that let agents act autonomously.
  2. New infrastructure is emerging to discover, control, and secure agent traffic — think unified control planes, MCP registries, network-level authentication, and API-based threat detection.
  3. Companies need to treat APIs as programmable products and invest in AI-readiness, standard identifiers, and one-click integrations so agents can reliably and safely consume services.