The hottest Automation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Overcoming the frustration of not knowing whether AI will replace your job

Prawfeed Newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
💼 Business Automation
  1. AI uncertainty is real, but you can separate what’s unknowable (like company adoption or regulation) from what you can learn (which tasks are automatable and how your workplace is changing).
  2. Technology usually changes tasks before it eliminates whole jobs, so make your work AI-complementary by owning judgment, handling exceptions, and adding one or two adjacent skills like data basics or clearer communication.
  3. Use a small set of signals and a simple 2–4 week review cadence to stay responsive without obsessing, let AI reduce your mental load, and reframe the question from “will I be replaced?” to “how will my tasks change?”

Work & Leisure, The Debrief

The Novelleist • 564 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🎭️ Culture Automation
  1. Elle Griffin finished a series on work and leisure discussing important topics like AI, automation, and 20-hour workweeks.
  2. Paid subscribers can engage in discussions and be part of debriefs exploring capitalism, sparking insightful conversations.
  3. Community members also shared thought-provoking essays on work and leisure, adding more perspectives to the discourse.

The Year Narrative Ate Reality

Kyla’s Newsletter • 128 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
💼 Business Automation
  1. In 2024, stories became more important than actual events. The way we talk and think about things is now shaping reality instead of just reflecting it.
  2. Social media and algorithms heavily influence our lives and decisions. They can connect us but also create anxiety and a feeling of emptiness, especially among young people.
  3. Automation and technology offer progress but also threaten jobs and meaning in our lives. It's crucial to find a balance and use these tools to enhance human creativity and connection.
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Are the AI Doomers Right?

KERFUFFLE • 37 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Some people believe that super intelligent AI might lead to human extinction, and it's worth taking their concerns seriously. It's important to think carefully about what could happen in the future.
  2. Many worry that AI could replace jobs and make humans less important in the economy, which raises questions about how that might end well.
  3. Thinking about these possibilities isn't just a fun thought experiment anymore; it's crucial for preparing for big changes ahead that could affect everyone.

The midwit home

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 416 HN points • 12 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Smart homes can be complicated and require a lot of technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
  2. Simple, midwit solutions like remote-controlled outlets, motion-sensing bulbs, and mechanical outlet timers can make daily tasks easier and more convenient.
  3. Using basic power control for devices can offer a surprisingly effective and user-friendly home automation experience.

Hallucinations Are Fine, Actually

Artificial Ignorance • 92 implied HN points • 04 Mar 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. AI models can often make mistakes or 'hallucinate' by providing wrong information confidently. It's important for humans to check AI output especially for important tasks.
  2. Even though AI hallucinations are a challenge, they're seen as something we can work to improve rather than an insurmountable problem.
  3. Instead of aiming for AI to do everything on its own, we should use it as a tool to help us do our jobs better, understanding that we need to collaborate with it.

No RSS Feed? No Problem. Using Claude Sync, Claude Projects and GitHub Copilot Workspace to automate everything

Olshansky's Newsletter • 114 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Missing RSS feeds can be a hassle, but there are tools available to create them easily for any blog. Using platforms like Claude Projects and GitHub Copilot, people can automate the feed generation process.
  2. Using AI tools like Claude and GitHub Copilot can make daily tasks more efficient. They help simplify coding tasks and can significantly boost team productivity.
  3. By building custom RSS feed generators, developers can keep track of content from blogs that don’t offer subscription options. This means staying updated on favorite blogs is still possible, even without traditional feeds.

🧰 Steal My Content Distribution Machine

Cagri's Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Automating content distribution can significantly boost visibility and reach for your articles.
  2. Utilizing tools like Google Indexing API, Omega Indexer, and platforms like Medium and social media can streamline the distribution process.
  3. Consistent visibility for content is key in the digital content realm, and automation can help achieve that efficiently.

Microsoft Sentinel SOC 101: How to Detect and Mitigate Supply Chain Attacks with Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 79 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Supply chain attacks target vulnerabilities within the chain, aiming to compromise products or services before reaching end-users. They pose a significant threat due to their indirect nature, multi-stage process, and high impact potential.
  2. Kusto Query Language (KQL) in Microsoft Sentinel is essential for detecting anomalies or patterns linked to supply chain attacks. By using KQL queries, organizations can identify unusual activities and potential threats.
  3. Microsoft Sentinel's integration with various tools and automated response capabilities, such as Playbooks, enables swift detection, investigation, and mitigation of supply chain threats. Leveraging these features enhances security measures.

Update now: Stop Running Playbooks Directly from Analytics Rules

Rod’s Blog • 79 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Microsoft Sentinel is deprecating the capability to assign Playbooks directly to Analytics Rules, encouraging the use of Automation Rules for better efficiency and management.
  2. With Automation Rules, you can manage all your automations from one place, trigger playbooks for multiple analytics rules with a single rule, define playbook execution order, and set expiration dates for playbook runs.
  3. Consider migrating existing Analytics Rules with directly assigned Playbooks to the new Automation Rules method to enhance effectiveness.

Monitor Azure Open AI Deployments with Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 79 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Defender for Cloud Apps can now monitor Azure Open AI activity, making it easier to track and locate activity using Microsoft Sentinel.
  2. Utilize KQL queries to identify Azure Open AI deployments and create a maintained Watchlist in Microsoft Sentinel for easy monitoring.
  3. Automate the updating of the Watchlist with Logic Apps to ensure it always contains the most up-to-date information on Azure Open AI instances.

Links for 2023-02-20

Axis of Ordinary • 78 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. GitHub Copilot is generating over 46% of developers' code on average across all programming languages.
  2. AI skeptics are revisiting the p-zombie argument to question AI uniqueness and capabilities.
  3. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has the potential to revolutionize labor, automation, and wealth distribution.

How to become a Self-Driving Car Engineer in 2023

What's AI Newsletter by Louis-François Bouchard • 78 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. To become a self-driving car engineer, leverage AI and automation to streamline workflows and boost productivity.
  2. Becoming a self-driving car engineer involves diving into the industry, understanding LiDAR technology, and debunking myths.
  3. Developing self-driving cars raises ethical concerns regarding safety, liability, data privacy, and accessibility, requiring collaboration across various stakeholders.

"AI For PE" Startups Are Missing the Point

Fully Distributed by Ori Eldarov • 78 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
💼 Business Automation
  1. The real value in AI for Private Equity is in enhancing portfolio companies, not just investors.
  2. Most AI solutions for Private Equity focusing on automating low-impact tasks may not significantly boost revenues for funds.
  3. The opportunity in AI for Private Equity lies in driving operational efficiencies at the portfolio company level through workflow automation and improved analytics.

Will AI replace 'knowledge workers'?

Nick Merrill • 78 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. AI may replicate work of 'knowledge workers' but many of these jobs may never have been necessary in the first place
  2. Uncertainty about AI replacing jobs is at the core of the discussion, and it's linked to broader societal structures
  3. There could be a possible third path towards liberation for people among the discourse around AI and knowledge work

AGI is Not Multimodal

The Gradient • 49 implied HN points • 04 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Recent AI models have shown impressive capabilities, but they don't represent true human-like intelligence. They succeed because of scaled hardware and not because they think like us.
  2. Trying to combine different AI models into a single system won't lead to real understanding or human-level AI. This approach is flawed and unlikely to work.
  3. Instead of mixing models, we should focus on how AI interacts with the world and learns from it. Understanding AI should be about its actions and experiences in the environment.

No more shell scripts!

Wednesday Wisdom • 94 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Shell scripts used to be great for automating tasks, but they have many limitations now. New programming languages do a better job and are more reliable.
  2. The Unix system made software development easier with tools and commands that could be combined. This modular approach set a solid foundation for coding.
  3. While shell scripts were revolutionary, modern programming languages and libraries have improved our ability to write better and more efficient programs.

The Sequence Knowledge #560: The Amazing World of Agentic Benchmarks

TheSequence • 49 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Agentic benchmarks are new ways to evaluate AI that focus on decision-making rather than just answering questions. They look at how well AI can plan and adapt to different tasks.
  2. Traditional evaluation methods aren't enough for AI that acts like agents. We need tests that measure how AI can handle complex situations and multi-step processes.
  3. One exciting example of these benchmarks is the Web Arena, which helps assess AI's ability to perform tasks on the web. This includes how well they interact with online tools and environments.

Native Speakers

Artificial Ignorance • 92 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. There are two main ways AI is changing our digital world. One way focuses on creating new tools and software that work best for AI, while the other makes AI adapt to the existing tools we already use.
  2. Using structured methods for AI can make software development easier and more efficient. However, there's also a benefit in letting AI learn from messy, human-centered systems which can lead to faster improvements and wider usage.
  3. The future of AI in our daily tasks may not be about choosing one approach over another. Instead, it will likely blend structured and unstructured methods, finding a balance that works for both humans and AIs.

The Impact of AI on the Legal System

Rod’s Blog • 39 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. President Biden's Executive Order outlines key principles and guidelines for AI use in the US legal system.
  2. Generative AI accelerates tasks like idea generation but struggles with intricate problem solving.
  3. AI is transforming legal professions by automating tasks, assisting with legal research, and improving efficiency in legal work.

Things to know about the Tesla Bot.

Jon’s Newsletter • 59 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Tesla is making a humanoid robot called the Tesla Bot, or Optimus, which is expected to cost under $20,000 and be available for orders in about five years.
  2. This robot is designed to take on boring, repetitive, or dangerous tasks, like mowing lawns or helping elderly people.
  3. Tesla is building all the parts for the robot in-house, giving them a potential edge in manufacturing compared to other companies working on robots.

GPT-4o mini and prompt caching, a turning point in debugging?

Matthew’s Substack • 2 HN points • 21 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Prompt caching and the new GPT-4o mini make it cheaper to explore and solve bugs efficiently. This means developers can now recreate and fix issues more easily.
  2. Current debugging tools focus more on understanding the context of a bug than on testing hypotheses about what caused it. There's a real need for better tools to improve the testing phase.
  3. Using LLMs can help generate scripts to recreate complex bugs, offering a fresh approach to understanding and fixing problems in software development.

Rapid Development Of Intelligent Generative AI APIs

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 19 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Intelligent APIs use AI to add advanced features, making it easier for developers to integrate smart tech without deep knowledge of AI. They can improve apps in many areas like e-commerce and healthcare.
  2. Sometimes, just connecting an API to a language model isn't enough. It often needs extra logic or intelligence to function better, enhancing the user experience.
  3. The GALE platform helps automate tasks using generative AI, allowing businesses to streamline processes. This lets teams focus on more important and creative work.

Objects in the AI Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear

American Dreaming • 107 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. AI is advancing very quickly, much faster than humans can keep up. This growth means it can do things we never imagined it could, which can be scary.
  2. Many jobs, especially in white-collar work, are at risk of being replaced by AI since it can do those tasks more efficiently. This change is already happening in various industries.
  3. People often underestimate what AI will be able to do in the future, thinking it can't match human creativity or decision-making. But AI is improving all the time and could eventually excel at these tasks too.

No-Code Deployment & Orchestration Of Open-Sourced Foundation Models

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 19 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Open-sourced language models are easier for everyone to access and can be customized to fit specific needs. This means more people, like researchers or developers, can use them to create unique solutions.
  2. Choosing the right model for each task can improve performance, so it's important to understand what each model does best. Using multiple models together can lead to better results overall.
  3. No-code tools like GALE make it simple to deploy and manage these models without needing deep technical skills. This helps businesses and individuals quickly set up and adapt AI applications.

Genesis Mission challenges for biotechnology

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 8 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🔬 Science Automation
  1. Automating research in high-security labs can make work safer and more efficient. This will help scientists handle dangerous pathogens without direct human contact, which is crucial for preventing accidents.
  2. There is a need for better tools in genetics, specifically for aligning and annotating DNA sequences. Modernizing these tools can lead to faster results and more discoveries in biology.
  3. Improving how quickly patients receive medical care is essential. By using AI to streamline processes and reduce paperwork, we can make healthcare more efficient and improve patient experiences.

Microsoft Sentinel SOC 101: How to Detect and Mitigate Rare Domains Seen in Cloud Logs with Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Rare or malicious domains in cloud logs can be used by attackers for phishing, malware delivery, data exfiltration, and command and control.
  2. Detection and analysis of rare domains in cloud logs can help identify threats like phishing attacks, malware delivery, data exfiltration, and command and control activities.
  3. Microsoft Sentinel offers features like built-in hunting queries, automation rules, and playbooks to help detect, enrich, validate, and respond to rare domains in cloud logs.

The Case For An AI Productivity Suite

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 19 implied HN points • 12 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. An AI productivity suite helps people and businesses work more efficiently by combining tools for tasks like data analysis and automation.
  2. It allows users to automate regular tasks, freeing them to focus on more important work, and offers easy customization through no-code options.
  3. These suites also promote teamwork by improving communication and sharing among team members, leading to better project outcomes.

May Cognition eat Google’s catered lunch

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Intel is struggling to keep up in AI, despite higher revenue. They need to improve their software and systems to match the demands of AI workloads.
  2. Cognition, a new startup, is gaining traction after acquiring talent from Windsurf. They could potentially be valued at $10 billion soon, making them a strong competitor against Google.
  3. The self-driving car market is booming, with Waymo leading the pack. Many people prefer robotaxis to traditional rides because they offer safety and avoid dealing with human drivers.

Can we already grasp the rough outlines of these coming forms, capable of threatening the joys of marketing?

Internal exile • 78 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. AI agents are being marketed as helpers that take care of tasks for us, but they might actually make our lives more complicated and alienate us from real experiences.
  2. The way AI is being portrayed in ads can show a future where human agency is diminished, with technology making decisions for us instead of us making our own choices.
  3. Convenience can lead to a loss of personal will and the ability to make decisions, making it seem easier to let machines dictate our lives rather than engage with them ourselves.

Big AI, Little AI

Dana Blankenhorn: Facing the Future • 59 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Both Big AI and Little AI can be intimidating, with potential privacy concerns.
  2. Autonomous agents in AI are enhancing customer service by solving problems efficiently.
  3. As AI continues to evolve, teaching critical thinking skills will be crucial for individuals to govern AI effectively.

Robot Nags

David Friedman’s Substack • 242 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Technology like smart watches and apps can provide constant reminders or notifications, sometimes without the option to stop them.
  2. Encouraging reading habits through rewards or forced reading can have unintended consequences, such as making reading seem like a chore to children.
  3. Various instances of 'robot nags' exist in everyday technology, aimed at influencing behavior or decision-making, sometimes intrusively.

Mechanical Turk is aptly named

The Counterfactual • 79 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. The Mechanical Turk was a famous hoax in the 18th century that impressed many by pretending to be an intelligent chess-playing machine, but it actually relied on a hidden human operator.
  2. Today, Amazon Mechanical Turk allows people to complete simple tasks that machines struggle with. It's a platform where those who need work can connect with people willing to do it for a small fee.
  3. Recent studies reveal that many tasks on MTurk may not be done by humans at all; a significant portion are actually completed using AI tools, raising questions about the reliability of data collected from such platforms.

eBook: Mastering AI Agents

TheSequence • 77 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. You can learn to create effective AI agents with the right guidance. There's a helpful eBook that covers how these agents work and when to use them.
  2. The book reviews three frameworks for developing AI agents, helping you choose what's best for your needs. It also shares case studies to show real-life applications.
  3. It addresses common reasons AI agents fail and provides solutions to avoid these problems. This can help ensure your AI projects succeed.