Irregular Ideas with Paul Kedrosky & Eric Norlin of SKV

Irregular Ideas is a conversational journey between venture capitalists Paul Kedrosky and Eric Norlin, exploring the intersections of technology, society, and innovation. The Substack delves into the impacts of AI, the future of work, societal shifts, and investment opportunities, providing insights on embracing disruption and understanding emerging trends.

Artificial Intelligence Societal Change Future of Work Technology Innovation Investment Strategies Risk Management Software Development Automation Economic Trends Venture Capital

The hottest Substack posts of Irregular Ideas with Paul Kedrosky & Eric Norlin of SKV

And their main takeaways

AI Isn’t Good Enough

172 HN points • 23 Aug 23
🕹 Technology AI Automation Productivity Tools Data
  1. There is a significant shortage of workers in the U.S. across various industries, leading to the need for automation.
  2. Current AI technology has limitations and is not yet capable of addressing the workforce shortage effectively.
  3. To avoid economic disruptions, future automation needs to focus on delivering high productivity gains that outweigh worker displacement.

Society's Technical Debt and Software's Gutenberg Moment

63 HN points • 21 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Economics Automation Programming
  1. Every wave of technological innovation is triggered by something once costly becoming cheap enough to waste.
  2. Software production has been too complex and costly, leading to society-wide technical debt.
  3. The cost and complexity of software production are collapsing, leading to a dramatic wave of innovation with AI playing a significant role in reshaping the software industry.

Embracing the Ouroboros

1 HN point • 11 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Operating Systems Future
  1. AI-infused applications require a new paradigm for application beyond traditional computing layers.
  2. Future AI-infused apps will be built on a new Ouroboros operating system, blurring old layer distinctions.
  3. The post-AI investment landscape will focus on continuous evolution and interconnected layers, echoing natural growth processes.

Welcome to the Subcritical Society

23 HN points • 14 Jul 20
  1. In the short-run, less will change than people think
  2. In longer-run, we will see a complete rethinking of risk, slack, and societal coupling
  3. Interested in investments that acknowledge, track, and even gain from the wildness and disorder lurking under the thin ice of a newly subcritical society
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Mispriced Lines

0 implied HN points • 08 Jun 21
  1. Sports betting can be profitable and also teach important lessons about risk management and returns.
  2. Investors sometimes underestimate the value of thinking like a sports bettor when it comes to investable edges.
  3. Despite the potential, some investors still speak about investing in a way that resembles gambling.

Adjacency: Episode 2

0 implied HN points • 03 Jun 21
  1. The collapse of trust is being discussed at SK Ventures in a GP meeting.
  2. Despite the dystopian theme, there is optimism about investment opportunities related to this change.
  3. The discussion about the collapse of trust is portrayed as a happy and upbeat talk.

The Third Degree: Ecological Islands and Returning from the Snap

0 implied HN points • 16 Apr 21
  1. John Maynard Keynes proposed a unique way of thinking about investing.
  2. Investing like a beauty contest involves predicting who others will select, rather than choosing the best option.
  3. This post requires a paid subscription to access.

The Subcritical Compilation

0 implied HN points • 11 Jan 21
  1. Pandemics expose cracks in our reality and uncertainty in society.
  2. Predictions include plateauing of cases, faster reopenings, and potential Covid-19 nightmares.
  3. In the short-run, post-pandemic changes may accelerate existing trends and bring a return to normalcy.

Anesthesia Death Spikes and Removing Gates

0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 20
  1. Consider the impact of gates in society.
  2. When reforming, focus on improving rather than worsening.
  3. Access to the full post requires a subscription.

Adjacency: On Wildfire Dynamics

0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 20
  1. The podcast covers topics like the Fire Triangle and Surface vs. Crown fires.
  2. It delves into the history of the use of fire in America.
  3. The podcast also explores the future of fires in forested and populated landscapes.

Silted Dams, Cloud and The Fed

0 implied HN points • 24 Sep 20
  1. The Dallas Federal Reserve reports a decrease in the number of people working entirely from home since May
  2. Discussion with Amy Scott from NPR Marketplace about Cloud Infrastructure
  3. Ongoing feature in Paul & Eric's Backchannel Conversations shared in letters

The Great Certainty Purge & a Python Script

0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 20
  1. Societal focus on certainty for years has shifted to embracing uncertainty.
  2. Uncertainty in science is leading people to question findings and develop their own epistemology.
  3. It's crucial to think in distributions of possible outcomes, even though humans struggle with this concept.

We’re Doing a Thing!

0 implied HN points • 12 Aug 20
  1. SK Ventures is launching a paid email newsletter with irregular posts about venture capital.
  2. The upcoming content will include discussions on societal trends, optimism, and problem-solving in venture capital.
  3. The newsletter aims to share research, graphics, and various content, promising 6-8 posts per year.

The Collapse of Trust

0 implied HN points • 10 May 21
  1. The text discusses the significance of crowds in preventing individual death
  2. It implies that being part of a crowd helps avoid facing death alone
  3. There is a mysterious excerpt mentioned about skating on thin ice in modern life

On Wildfires and Pulmonary Function

0 implied HN points • 18 Sep 20
  1. Paul is interested in the connection between exercise and wildfires
  2. He spoke with an expert from the University of Montana for an informative conversation
  3. The discussion focused on wildfires and pulmonary function

The Full(er) House: Living in Distributions

0 implied HN points • 14 Aug 20
  1. The post discusses living in distributions
  2. It emphasizes the importance of data before theorizing
  3. Access to the full content may require paid subscription

Integrating the Goldman AI Report Into Our Views

0 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Software Tech industry
  1. Goldman Sachs report suggests over 300 million jobs worldwide could be affected by generative AI
  2. The report considers displacement vs augmentation of jobs and identifies occupations less likely to be affected
  3. Goldman's traditional approach contrasts with the belief that generative AI can lead to significant gains, especially in software production