Breaking Smart

Breaking Smart explores the impact of technology and AI on society, examining themes such as the nature of intelligence, the influence of narrative technologies, and the evolution of tech ecosystems. It delves into the societal and philosophical implications of technological advancement, including issues of identity, the dynamics of power, and the process of technological integration.

Artificial Intelligence Societal Impact of Technology Philosophy of Technology Technological Evolution Narrative and Identity Power and Authority Technological Ecosystems

The hottest Substack posts of Breaking Smart

And their main takeaways

Every Story is a Degrowth Story!

101 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Society History Philosophy Language Environment
  1. There are three main forces affecting our world: internet nomads, artificial intelligence, and climate change. Each of these will impact our lives in different ways over the next 10 to 15 years.
  2. Internet nomads, like political groups using social media, are likely to peak first and create short-term chaos, but may not last long-term due to their inability to build stable systems.
  3. AI will evolve quickly as technology improves and becomes more common, which might lead to bigger changes in society, while climate change will pose significant challenges, affecting everyday life in profound ways.

Principles for the Permaweird

219 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Theory Culture Politics Strategy
  1. Chiang's Law states that science fiction focuses on strange rules, while fantasy revolves around special people. This idea helps in understanding different storytelling styles.
  2. Chor-Pharn's Law suggests that knowing your identity leads to bigger conflicts, while uncertainty can cause cultural battles. It highlights the importance of self-awareness in societal issues.
  3. Boyd's Razor emphasizes prioritizing integrity over blind loyalty in leadership. This balance fosters a healthier work culture and encourages diverse ideas, preventing toxic environments.

The Modernity Machine

161 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
💾 History Modernity Society Psychology Political History Cultural History
  1. Modernity may have started in the 13th century instead of the 16th, linked to global shifts in culture and politics rather than just Western advances.
  2. Technological changes affected societies worldwide, creating different modern experiences that aren't just Western but globally diverse.
  3. The relationships between classes, like monarchs and workers, have changed over centuries toward more equality, suggesting that trends towards decentralization and empowerment will continue.

The Steppe Function

65 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
📚 Literature Book Reviews History Cultural analysis Literary themes
  1. Venice created a unique society focused on maritime commerce, which was different from traditional agrarian empires. They developed systems of trade that worked more like a machine, allowing them to thrive without needing large territories.
  2. The understanding of history can change based on the lens we use. Instead of focusing on heroes and wars, thinking about Venice as a complex system helps reveal its true nature and success.
  3. The relationship between steppe nomads and horses was crucial for their way of life. Unlike sedentary societies, nomads had dynamic economies based on mobility, which allowed them to harness the potential of horses effectively.

The Gramsci Gap

94 implied HN points • 11 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Political theory Marxism Etymology Cultural critique
  1. The 'Gramsci Gap' talks about a time when old systems are fading and new ones are struggling to emerge. It's a confusing period filled with strange and troubling events.
  2. It connects ideas of power and control, showing how rulers and the rules they create influence society. Both individual actions and larger systems can produce negative effects.
  3. Understanding this gap helps us recognize how both personal decisions and structural issues can create problems, pointing to the need for change in how we govern and relate to one another.
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Monsters and Mediocrity

47 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Literature Art Philosophy Media Mythology
  1. Monsters often need a vital or life-like element to exist, just like Frankenstein's monster needed a 'spark of life' to be animated.
  2. Contraptions and monsters share a relationship where both may lack design integrity and are often unnamed, highlighting their unfinished or imperfect nature.
  3. True monsters are typically derived from living beings, reflecting a recognizable perversion of something familiar, like a giant cockroach.

Engineers and the New Technocracy

110 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Engineering Innovation Society Philosophy Culture
  1. The writer is focusing on engineering ideas and themes in their writing. They believe this reflects their true interests and the world we live in.
  2. They argue that everyone has an engineer inside them. It's not about being an expert, but about engaging with the engineering aspects of human nature.
  3. The writer finds the general concept of technology uninspiring, while they feel strongly about embracing engineering behaviors and identities in everyone.

Contraptionist History Book Club

56 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
💾 History Book Club Historical Analysis
  1. There will be a monthly book club where participants can discuss history and related themes together. This is a fun way to explore interesting books.
  2. The subscription price for the newsletter will increase, but current subscribers can keep their old rate if they stay subscribed. This is to manage costs and encourage ongoing support.
  3. There is a contest where you can share photos of your work environment and a motto for the year. Winners can get free subscription months, making it a creative way to start the year.

We Are the Robots

79 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Design Cultural impact
  1. Robots today are moving in more fluid and organic ways, unlike the stiff, mechanical movements we used to see. They can express emotions that feel similar to human feelings, showing a blend of technology and life.
  2. The arts and technology are evolving together, with artists often inspired by new machine capabilities. This relationship highlights how our understanding of what is human or machinic is gradually shifting.
  3. As machines become more complex and organic, people may feel anxious or fearful of them. Our interactions with technology can influence how we view ourselves and what it means to be human.

As Above, So Garage

83 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Engineering Philosophy Innovation Entrepreneurship Mysticism
  1. Hermeticism blends mysticism with practical engineering. It encourages creativity and experimentation, much like how tinkerers and inventors think today.
  2. Modern technology can sometimes feel dull and overly cautious compared to the adventurous spirit of past inventors. The best innovations often come from taking risks and trusting your gut.
  3. The ideal of the 'garage hacker' symbolizes a deeper, more soul-driven approach to innovation, focusing on passion rather than just profits or strict theories.

Mappy New Year

45 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
📚 Literature Writing Blogging Narrative Publishing Themes
  1. The focus is shifting away from annual summaries to a more thoughtful exploration of writing themes. This change aims to reflect a clearer narrative in the work.
  2. Serialized projects will be replaced by standalone posts, as the writer wants to stay focused and adapt better to the Substack format.
  3. The newsletter price will increase soon, but current subscribers can lock in their rates by subscribing before the change happens.

Miniaturized Economies

89 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Economics Cryptocurrency Robotics Artificial Intelligence
  1. It's possible to create very small economies, even as tiny as a $1 GDP. This challenges our ideas about how big an economy needs to be.
  2. The speed and frequency of transactions can be much higher in miniaturized economies, allowing for new kinds of interactions and creative outputs, like controlling robots in imaginative ways.
  3. Miniaturizing economies might lead to smarter systems, almost like creating a form of intelligence. When economies are highly compacted, they can operate faster and more efficiently, similar to how brains function.

Between Mandala and Machine

76 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Systems Elections Political theory Political Movements
  1. Mandalas and machines represent two different approaches to societal organization. Mandalas focus on human relationships and caring, while machines focus on knowledge and efficiency.
  2. There's an ongoing shift from traditional machine politics to mandala-like systems, which rely on personal connections and shared values rather than strict institutions.
  3. To build a better societal machine, we need a mix of creativity and structure, resulting in a system that's both effective and aware of human needs.

Placemaking vs. Mission-Shaping

70 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Urban Design Community Building Digital Infrastructure Blockchain
  1. Placemaking is about creating welcoming spaces where people can thrive, while mission-shaping focuses on specific goals or projects. These two ideas often compete with each other because one is broad and inclusive, and the other is focused and narrow.
  2. The popup city movement is experimenting with creating communities that don't force a single mission, letting people bring their own projects while still fostering a vibrant environment. It's more about the place existing and supporting different activities rather than being driven by a single purpose.
  3. Cities and startups have different goals. Cities are about nurturing life and managing ongoing experiences, while startups are about efficiently solving specific problems. Mixing the two approaches can lead to mistakes in how we build and think about communities.

Can Machines Slip on Banana Peels?

79 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Design Engineering Systems
  1. It's funny when a self-important person slips on a banana peel because it shows their dignity being challenged. This humor comes from seeing someone with high self-esteem face an embarrassing moment.
  2. Machines can also have moments of failure, just like people. They slip up when their design looks seamless but actually has hidden flaws, similar to someone who overestimates their own abilities.
  3. Understanding the 'Contraption Factor' helps us analyze why machines fail. It shows a difference between how complex something is and how well it's designed, which can lead to unexpected problems.

Ribbonfarm Studio --> Contraptions

67 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Identity Narrative Expression Philosophy Innovation
  1. The newsletter is changing its name from Ribbonfarm Studio to Contraptions. This will help give it a clear identity that reflects the topics it covers.
  2. The writer is currently on a break but plans to resume regular writing soon. They are excited about exploring new themes and ideas under the new name.
  3. During the break, the writer is focused on building physical contraptions and enjoying their time off. They want the newsletter to feel fresh and different when they come back.

A Camera, Not an Engine

218 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
🔬 Science Artificial Intelligence Information Theory
  1. Modern AI is more about discovery than invention, revealing hidden worlds within large datasets.
  2. Intelligence in AI is primarily a function of the data it's trained on, not just the processing mechanisms.
  3. AI is like a powerful camera allowing us to see into computational reality, providing insight into the nature of information and matter.

Fear of Oozification

130 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Evolution AI Technological Change Engineering Fear
  1. Oozification, a process driving technological evolution, is making the future less certain and more complex.
  2. Swamps represent evolutionary vigor and the potential for radical change, showcasing the dual nature of stability and destabilization.
  3. All technology undergoes oozification, transforming into more elemental building blocks and increasing evolutionary potential.

Massed Muddler Intelligence

72 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Engineering Agents Scaling Protocols
  1. The concept of Massed Muddler Intelligence (MMI) entails a new approach to scaling AI, emphasizing the importance of agents, local trial-and-error, and muddling through over monolithic, deterministic training models.
  2. MMIs aim to leverage the principles of embodiment, boundary intelligence, temporality, and personhood to design scalable AI systems that resemble Service-Oriented Architecture in computing.
  3. Building MMIs involves compositing different elements deliberately to create a language of differentiated forms, akin to how reinforced concrete combines materials in defined geometries to achieve specific properties.

In Search of Hardness

90 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Protocols Crypto AI AI safety
  1. A new program called Summer of Protocols has produced a wealth of research output focused on the study of protocols and hardness in technology and the world at large.
  2. The Protocol Kit from the Summer of Protocols is a free publication containing essays, artwork, and tools to spark interest and discussion around protocols.
  3. Thinking in terms of 'hardness' and 'protocols' can be a powerful approach for various fields, from technology to party planning, providing a new perspective on problem-solving and creativity.

A Whole New Cope

107 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Agency
  1. Thanks to globalization and the internet, we now feel more involved in global events.
  2. Our reactions to distant events can be influenced by a sense of general disequilibrium in the world.
  3. The balance between constraint and agency in our lives can be disrupted by external factors, leading to heightened reactions.

The Priest in the Arena

165 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Religion Ideologies Power Society
  1. The man in the arena archetype involves individuals taking risks and making decisions in challenging situations, with potential for great rewards or losses.
  2. Priests in the arena engage in theocratic capture campaigns, seeking to wield unaccountable authority based on supposed privileged knowledge.
  3. Identifying and stopping theocratic capture involves recognizing the influence of cults that demand unquestioning deference and monopolize conversations and institutions.

Rediscovering Narratability

107 implied HN points • 05 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Narration Reality Language Culture Technology
  1. Strong narratability helps us separate macro and micro influences in our lives effectively.
  2. Narrative technologies shape our ability to make sense of reality and influence our decision-making.
  3. Different narrative technologies impact what events are easily understood or confusing based on assumptions about reality and human agency.

Towards a Metaphysics of Worlds

50 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Blockchain Decentralization Programming Gaming
  1. Investigating the nature of worlds using a mix of traditional philosophy concepts and computing tools is important.
  2. Zero-knowledge proof (ZK) technologies are exciting and offer new possibilities in various fields.
  3. ZK technology, combined with blockchain, has opened up new frontiers in software engineering and cryptography.

Does Reality Have a Surprising _Lack_ of Detail?

45 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Coding Data Visualization
  1. The essay discussed contrasting viewpoints on the level of detail present in reality, questioning if there might actually be a surprising lack of detail.
  2. The post highlighted two major AI developments, Sora and Gemini 1.5, emphasizing the importance of boring inference advances over flashy training advances.
  3. The complexity of reality and the intricacies of AI advancements were juxtaposed with simple examples, prompting readers to reconsider their perceptions about reality's level of detail.

This is the New Real World

83 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Reality Life Belief Morality Existence
  1. The 'real' world we live in is a collection of only a few dozen significant worlds that shape our lives.
  2. Not all individual worlds are consequential in shaping the real world - only a few hundred are significant.
  3. The real world is not necessarily more real than private fantasies, but it is vastly more consequential.

Text is All You Need

149 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🕹 Technology AI Text Chatbots Ethics Future
  1. Personhood may be simpler than we thought, becoming evident through AI chatbots like Sydney.
  2. Computers are now good at being mediocore and flawed, which alarms people more than superhuman abilities.
  3. Text is all you need to produce personhood, stripping away the specialness of human identity.

The Physics of Intelligence

99 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🔬 Science Physics AI Intelligence Systems Computation
  1. The physics of intelligence is not substrate dependent, similar to the physics of flight.
  2. The key questions in understanding the physics of intelligence relate to attention, memory, and the relationship between intelligence and information.
  3. Intelligence is not just about computation, but also about embodiment and specific interactions within the universe.

Truth in Inconvenience

90 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Engineering Knowledge Reality
  1. Real-world friction connects big zeitgeist things and teaches about truth in inconvenience.
  2. Meccano vs Lego: Meccano models offer higher realism, messiness and inconveniences, while Legos offer convenience and smoothness.
  3. AI entering the world may encounter a real, high-interest world like a Meccano world, where knowledge shock requires adjusting ambitions to balance design knowledge and friction knowledge.

Silicon Valley Generation Shift

83 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Silicon Valley Geography Chip Design
  1. Silicon Valley is experiencing a generation shift in tech with the return of silicon fabrication to the region.
  2. The passing of Gordon Moore marks a significant moment in the tech industry and highlights the renewal underway.
  3. Actual silicon manufacturing hasn't been a common practice in Silicon Valley for decades, with most fabs moving to Asia.

Spring Break

19 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Newsletter
  1. Ribbonfarm Studio is taking a hiatus until mid-April, so regular programming will resume then.
  2. Billing for paid subscribers will be paused during the break, with the next bill date adjusted accordingly.
  3. New readers won't be able to sign up for paid subscriptions during the hiatus, meaning paywalled archives will be inaccessible to them.