Rob’s Notes

Rob's Notes, authored by Rob Leathern, focuses on insights from his experiences in big tech, particularly around AI's potential and risks, data privacy, and the impact of technology on society. The Substack covers themes like AI safety, misuse, regulation, the advertising industry, and personal development principles.

Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy Technology and Society Advertising Industry Personal Development Startup Ecosystem

The hottest Substack posts of Rob’s Notes

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19 implied HN points • 31 Dec 20
  1. Sign up for future updates on the provided link.
  2. The author has a background in Facebook and startups.
  3. The content in the newsletter reflects the author's personal views.

Rob's Notes 6: Generative AI Top of Mind

0 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Privacy Regulation Content creation
  1. Generative AI has significant potential but also raises concerns about privacy and safety.
  2. Regulators and companies need to collaborate for better understanding and regulation of AI technologies.
  3. Transparency, privacy, safety mechanisms, and scaling trust and safety teams are crucial aspects to consider in the development and deployment of AI systems.

Rob's Notes 4: On to Building Future-ish Things (2023)

0 implied HN points • 03 Feb 23
  1. Rob is leaving big tech to return to building startups and products that solve real problems.
  2. He values connecting people, growing teams, and helping to address climate challenges.
  3. Rob emphasizes the importance of supporting and collaborating with colleagues in his journey.

Rob's Notes 2: My personal goal: "No Excuses"

0 implied HN points • 09 Sep 21
  1. Having a goal of 'no excuses' means taking responsibility for decisions and actions.
  2. Recognize that hard work involves dealing with fears and barriers, not making excuses.
  3. Success comes from owning mistakes, pushing through challenges, and seeking ways to improve.
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AI Safety: Google and Meta Should Start With Their Own Ads (Rob's Notes 10)

0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Ads Platforms Security Artificial Intelligence
  1. Companies like Google and Meta should prioritize using AI to protect users from deceptive advertising over creating flashy products.
  2. Consumers can now use AI tools like ChatGPT4 to assess if an ad is likely a scam, showing the potential for AI in combating deceptive ads.
  3. Google and Meta need to provide more transparency on how they use AI to prevent harm to users and protect them from scam ads, despite the challenges of financially motivated bad actors.

Rob's Notes 9: Beware Deepfake Scams

0 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Scams Deepfakes AI Social media Online Security
  1. Beware of deepfake scams, especially those using 'celeb-bait' to lure victims into clicking or providing personal information.
  2. Platforms like Facebook and Google are working to remove deceptive ads and scams, but collaboration is needed to combat evolving tactics used by scammers.
  3. Avoid giving out personal information to suspicious websites or ads to protect yourself from potential financial scams and harassment.

Rob's January 2021 Update

0 implied HN points • 12 Jan 21
  1. Rob Leathern is joining Google's Privacy and Data Protection Office to lead product development.
  2. He will work with a team focused on building advanced protections into everyday products.
  3. The work is guided by principles of privacy and security.