Reboot

Reboot focuses on exploring the intersection of technology, ethics, and societal impact, advocating for a techno-optimistic future. It covers a range of topics including tech criticism, mental health in tech, AI alignment, internet privacy, domain politics, and the cultural implications of technology through reviews, personal narratives, and critical essays.

Technology & Society Mental Health in the Tech Industry AI Ethics & Alignment Internet Privacy & Security Digital Culture & Media Tech Innovation & Policy Music & Technology Environmental Sustainability in Tech

The hottest Substack posts of Reboot

And their main takeaways

Searching For My City

24 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Community Online Platforms Community Building
  1. Early online communities like Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) fostered local connections and community building through text-based websites and local forums.
  2. Platforms like Yelp and Google Maps have shifted the focus from local community engagement to commercialized consumption, impacting the way we interact with and perceive our cities.
  3. Creating and sustaining place-based digital networks presents challenges, but initiatives like DIY internet radio stations showcase the potential for online communities to embrace local culture and connection.

Out of the Sandbox

32 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🕹 Technology China Politics Hacking Customization
  1. Jailbreaking iPhones was a way to explore the full potential of Apple devices beyond the limitations set by the company.
  2. Jailbreaking in China was not only common but essential for accessing features like multilingual support and blocking spam calls.
  3. Through jailbreaking, individuals found a way to challenge authority, explore political subversiveness, and open up to alternative possibilities.

🍀 WE'RE FEELING LUCKY

9 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Magazine Art Literature Events Community
  1. Kernel Magazine Issue 4 is out now with special foil cover editions available
  2. Launch parties are happening in DC, SF, and NYC - details provided at the end of the post
  3. The magazine explores the theme of luck in various contexts, intertwining technology and chance

The Future is Local

22 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Public Service Elections Local Politics Policy
  1. The future is about engaging in local communities and local politics, even if less glamorous than pursuing opportunities in tech hotspots.
  2. Religion can play a significant role in shaping worldviews and motivating individuals to engage in public service and local civic life.
  3. Finding your own path to civic engagement may involve unexpected detours, exploring diverse interests, and being open to advice while ultimately making decisions that align with your values and passions.

🍀 Coming Soon: Kernel Magazine Issue 4

15 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Magazine Art Music
  1. The Kernel Magazine Issue 4 will explore luck, chance, and probability through stories, essays, poems, and illustrations.
  2. Join the Reboot Community Day on March 23 for creative workshops, group discussions, and the Kernel 4 launch in San Francisco.
  3. Stay tuned for more previews from Kernel 4, including a cover reveal by Kristy Xue Gao.
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On Quitting Spotify

38 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Music Technology Essays Streaming Radio
  1. The author explores quitting Spotify in favor of CDs & radio for a more intentional listening experience.
  2. The obsession with frictionless algorithms on streaming platforms may limit the diversity and depth of music discovery.
  3. Diversifying music consumption with CDs, radio, and live performances can offer unique, fulfilling listening experiences.

On Techno-Optimism

30 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Tech Ethics Social Impact Innovation Progress Society
  1. Technological progress can accelerate human advancement, often underestimated by progressives.
  2. Techno-optimism is about taking action to build tools that benefit collective well-being.
  3. Aligning technology with social, political, and environmental progress is crucial for a better future.

Threat Model

21 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Privacy Security Internet Surveillance Digital ethics
  1. In the age of the internet, it's challenging to disappear in America due to the digital footprint left by basic needs like addresses, bank cards, and online accounts.
  2. There is a small community of tech-savvy individuals focused on extreme privacy, using specialized tools like privacy-focused operating systems, encrypted communication, and anonymous browsing.
  3. Extreme privacy can be isolating and exhausting, leading to a constant balance between the desire for privacy and the inherent risks and limitations of disappearing from the public eye.

Whose Domain Is It?

26 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Internet Domains Sovereignty Economic Implications
  1. Small island nations like Anguilla generate significant government revenue from domain sales.
  2. The history of domain names involves a transition from community-run infrastructure to commodification.
  3. The assignment and management of domain names are political acts that signal autonomy and sovereignty.

The Artificiality of Alignment

26 implied HN points • 19 Aug 23
🕹 Technology AI Research Ethics Market Governance
  1. The current trajectory of AI alignment research seems more focused on building profitable products than preventing widespread harm.
  2. The technical approaches to aligning AI systems with human values may prioritize building better products rather than mitigating long-term risks.
  3. Engaging in nuanced discussions about AI and its potential risks requires considering how algorithms could impact decision-making and societal structures.

Freewheeling Futures

15 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Urbanism AI Governance Emerging technologies
  1. Autonomous vehicles should be deployed responsibly, with full participation of the public.
  2. Car-centric urbanism has negative impacts and it's crucial to prioritize public transportation and mixed-use urbanism.
  3. To ensure optimal benefit to society, emerging technologies like AVs should be governed accountably with input from residents and careful planning.

On Oppenheimer

21 implied HN points • 12 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Film Technology History Politics Literature
  1. The movie Oppenheimer highlights the intertwining of technology with politics and the ethical implications of scientific progress.
  2. Tech discourse often overlooks the political context of innovation and the role of federal funding and policy cooperation in technology development.
  3. Oppenheimer's story reflects the complex relationship between science, politics, and belief systems, emphasizing the need to consider historical context in technological advancements.

Meet the Reboot Editorial Board

22 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Online Culture
  1. Reboot has introduced 6 new people to its editorial board
  2. The new board members come from diverse backgrounds and bring a wide range of expertise to Reboot
  3. Each new member shared a bit about themselves and their interests in tech and writing

⚡️ A Philosophy of Subtraction

19 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
  1. The Ethereum Foundation follows a philosophy of subtraction, focusing on distributing resources and opportunities rather than accumulating them.
  2. Subtraction philosophy in practice for the Ethereum Foundation includes a four-layered structure that delegates funding and decision-making externally.
  3. The effectiveness of subtraction at the Ethereum Foundation is hard to measure, but the approach encourages ecosystem resilience and decentralized coordination.