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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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Istanbul Diary

92 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🏝 Travel Experiences Destinations City exploration
  1. Istanbul is a city with deep historical significance and a sense of completeness.
  2. Istanbul's dichotomous nature reflects a blend of resolved contradictions and ritualized memories.
  3. Devconnect in Istanbul is a tech event set in a city entrenched in history and antiquity.

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.

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.

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.

What we seek to save when we seek to save the world

114 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Existence Values Nature
  1. The notion of saving the world involves a complex interplay between biological and temporal scopes
  2. Different types of saviors are motivated by varying definitions of what constitutes the 'world' worth saving
  3. There is an evolving concept of saving the world that involves rewilding the modern technological landscape

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.