Messy Progress

Messy Progress explores the intersection of technology, society, and personal development through diverse angles such as the impact of AI, the structure and influence within organizations, online behavior, and content creation. It critically examines technological advancements, societal issues, and personal growth, offering insights into navigating a complex world.

Technology and Society Organizational Behavior Artificial Intelligence Online Communities and Behavior Content Creation and Consumption Personal and Professional Development Economic and Social Policy Education

The hottest Substack posts of Messy Progress

And their main takeaways

Easy Robotics with a 3D Printer and Raspberry Pi

59 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Robotics 3D Printing Programming DIY Projects Electronics
  1. Making a robot with a 3D printer and a Raspberry Pi is fun and can be done on a budget. You can create many different designs without limits.
  2. A modular design is helpful because it allows for easy changes and quick fixes. This makes it easier for kids to participate and experiment.
  3. Using a Raspberry Pi for controlling your robot opens up many possibilities, like adding cameras or other fun components. You can even use simple coding to operate it.

Mini-Posts Collection 4 - Election Edition

11 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Political theory Democracy Political History Polarization
  1. Elections in the US have grown angrier over the years, with certain decades marked by extreme division and conflict. Historical elections show a pattern of rising tensions, especially in recent years.
  2. Politics often thrives on outrage because it drives donations and engagement. Politicians may take extreme stances to energize their base and keep the funding flowing, rather than aiming for broad consensus.
  3. Remote work could help bridge the social divide in America by allowing people to live in diverse areas while maintaining their jobs. This could foster better understanding and connection between different social and economic groups.
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Simulate the CEO

35 implied HN points • 02 May 23
💼 Business Management Leadership Organization Decision-making AI
  1. Large organizations have a single person who directs others like a CEO, with layers of managers in between.
  2. Middle managers 'simulate the CEO' to guide employees in the absence of direct CEO interaction.
  3. CEO simulation is crucial for roles like Product Managers to influence teams effectively.

How AI Will Change Education

11 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🚌 Education Tech Learning System Society Future
  1. AI is expected to revolutionize education by providing personalized tutoring, making learning more efficient and engaging.
  2. Current education systems may change with AI tools, enabling on-demand skill learning and reducing the need for extensive pre-existing education.
  3. AI has the potential to transform traditional job recruitment processes by offering virtual interviews, possibly reducing the reliance on college degrees as the primary filter.

Highlights from my Quora Writing

11 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Society Life Advice Politics
  1. Writing on Quora can cover diverse topics like Philosophy & Society, Tech & Business, Life Advice, and Politics
  2. Quora writing can offer insights on personal growth, professional advice, and societal issues
  3. Engaging with various Quora posts can provide a range of perspectives and ideas for personal development

GPT is Rather Good at Feed Ranking

3 HN points • 07 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Ranking Bias
  1. GPT makes content-based feed ranking easy and has the potential to shift ranking power to users and groups.
  2. The ChatGPT API simplifies the process of creating content-based ranking models, making it more accessible and efficient.
  3. Using large language models like GPT to generate labels for training small models can lead to practical and cost-effective approaches in content-based ranking.

Chatbots make Search interesting again

3 HN points • 07 Feb 23
  1. Google's revenue relies on maintaining key pillars like information habits, entry points, user interaction data, and dysfunctional markets.
  2. Chatbots have the potential to disrupt Google by changing search habits and user interactions, possibly leading to a shift in online behavior.
  3. User interaction data is crucial for search quality, and chatbots create new feedback loops that could give a competitive edge to products with significant initial traction.

Using Codex Well (Experiences so Far)

0 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Software Coding Productivity Innovation
  1. Managing AI tools like Codex means you have to supervise a team of these agents. It's important to set up checks to catch their mistakes.
  2. Before using Codex, make sure your code is clean and well-organized. This helps the AI do a better job and reduces errors.
  3. Break tasks into smaller parts when working with Codex. It helps the AI understand better and keeps projects on track.

An Introduction

0 implied HN points • 02 Aug 22
  1. Key points should be stated upfront in writing
  2. Admit and correct mistakes openly
  3. Encourage respectful discussion in comments