The hottest Big Tech Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Long Take: Is Apple's Goldman-powered 4.15% yield account the fintech apocalypse?

The Fintech Blueprint • 491 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
💰 Finance Big Tech
  1. Apple has launched a Savings account with a 4.15% yield through Goldman Sachs, creating a disruptive financial product.
  2. Goldman Sachs plays a significant role in the product's distribution, benefiting from Apple's massive consumer base.
  3. Other big tech companies like Google, PayPal, and Ant Financial have also made inroads into financial services, showcasing a trend towards tech-powered banking.

The End of the Golden Age of Tech Accountability

The Klonickles • 412 implied HN points • 03 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. The economic downturn has impacted the soft power of technology civil society and projects aimed at improving technology and social welfare.
  2. In the last five years, tech companies voluntarily engaged in initiatives for transparency and accountability, which were more significant than perceived.
  3. Despite the progress made, this voluntary cooperation is not enough, and there is a need for regulations to enforce continued efforts by tech companies.

What Google's Leaked Letter tells us about the AI Landscape [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 199 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Open source in AI is successful due to its free nature, promoting quick scaling and diverse contributions.
  2. The rigid hiring practices and systems in Big Tech can stifle innovation by filtering out non-conformists.
  3. The leaked letter questions the value of restrictive models in a landscape where free alternatives are comparable in quality.
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Exposing Big Tech’s Complicity in Genocide | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 226 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Many big tech companies are accused of censoring information about the situation in Gaza, with some employees losing their jobs for speaking out against this censorship.
  2. Employees from companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Apple report that there are double standards when it comes to moderating content, often suppressing pro-Palestinian voices while allowing anti-Palestinian sentiments to thrive.
  3. Some tech companies are deeply involved in supporting military actions in Israel, providing necessary technology and services that could be used in the ongoing conflict.

6 March is DMA-Day

Platform Papers • 59 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) will enforce new rules on major digital platforms starting March 6, 2024, aiming to make markets fairer and more contestable for platforms like Apple, Google, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, and others.
  2. The DMA introduces obligations for gatekeepers to open up ecosystems, ensure fairness for business users, and promote transparency by submitting compliance plans publicly.
  3. The enforcement of DMA rules faces challenges from wealthy companies like Apple resisting compliance and the European Commission needing to balance limited resources with rigorous enforcement, highlighting the need for immediate action and collaboration with national agencies.

Human Intelligence, Inc.

Teaching computers how to talk • 136 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. AI might seem really smart, but it actually just takes a lot of human knowledge and packages it together. It uses data from people who created it, rather than being original itself.
  2. Even though AI can do impressive things, it's not actually intelligent in the way humans are. It often makes mistakes and doesn't understand its own actions.
  3. When we use AI tools, we should remember the hard work of many people behind the scenes who helped create the knowledge that built these technologies.

This is a Netflix world, and we are all living in it. Part #1

Philoinvestor • 58 implied HN points • 16 Sep 23
💼 Business Big Tech
  1. Netflix has seen significant gains while Legacy Media companies like Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, and Paramount have faced declines.
  2. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) pivot has been challenging for Legacy Media companies due to lack of scale and high losses.
  3. Big Tech companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google have disrupted the media space with their robust distribution networks and significant resources.

They Invent, Amazon Re-invents

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Big tech companies are competing to showcase new technologies, trying to outdo each other with better innovations.
  2. AWS has introduced a new chatbot named Q, which is designed for their customers to chat and generate content easily.
  3. AWS Q can be customized to work with various software used by organizations, making it flexible for different business needs.

We Are What We Click

Diane Francis • 399 implied HN points • 04 Mar 21
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Big Tech companies collect and sell our online data, which makes them extremely wealthy and invades our privacy. It’s important to be aware of how much information we share online.
  2. Cookies and algorithms create 'filter bubbles' that limit our exposure to different views and ideas. This can lead to social isolation and political division.
  3. We can take steps to protect our privacy online, like blocking cookies and clearing our search history. However, government regulations are also needed to help keep our data safe.

The Future: Microsoft and OpenAI

aidaily • 39 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. AI piracy is a real thing, with pirates stealing GPT-4 from OpenAI.
  2. Meta's AI music generator is now open-source, paving the way for AI-created music hits.
  3. Microsoft and OpenAI's partnership holds promise to dominate the AI industry.

Why can't I be a dick to AI?

The Rectangle • 113 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. We often treat AI with politeness and empathy because our brains expect something that talks like a human to be human.
  2. Despite AI being just a tool, companies make them human-like to leverage our trust and make us more receptive to their messages.
  3. There's a societal expectation to be decent even towards artificial entities, like AI, even though they're not humans with feelings and consciousness.

Sneaky strategies

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 59 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
💼 Business Big Tech
  1. It's important for innovation to understand and accept uncertainty, especially in public sector work. When organizations ignore not-knowing, they hinder their ability to create new solutions.
  2. Many critical problems in the public sector are complex and difficult to tackle, so innovation is crucial. However, there are obstacles that make it hard for these organizations to embrace uncertainty.
  3. Using creative, low-key tactics can help public sector organizations overcome barriers to innovation. These 'sneaky strategies' can effectively introduce new ways of thinking about challenges.

The asymmetry of nudges

lcamtuf’s thing • 103 HN points • 24 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. It's common to blame big businesses for unethical practices, but often founders and CEOs are genuinely trying to do the right thing.
  2. The development of Manifest V3 in Google Chrome, though controversial, aimed to address major security and privacy risks posed by browser extensions.
  3. The concept of the asymmetry of nudges highlights how well-intentioned changes in tech companies can inadvertently limit user choices or negatively impact user experience.

Big Tech Platforms’ Entry into Healthcare and Education

Platform Papers • 59 implied HN points • 13 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Big Tech platforms like Google and Apple enter regulated industries like healthcare and education by capturing sensitive data, leading to concerns about privacy and competition.
  2. In highly regulated industries, Big Tech firms focus on data capture and analysis, offering insights that can significantly impact incumbent service providers and drive innovation.
  3. For platform strategy, success in regulated industries hinges on superior data analytics capabilities, strategies to access and use sensitive data, and balancing stakeholder interests like privacy and security.

The Ball’s in Your Court

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Big Tech companies are finding clever ways to use internet data for their AI projects, even with new copyright laws in place.
  2. Semiconductor companies are developing chips specifically for the Chinese market that almost meet US rules, showing a creative approach to regulations.
  3. Generative AI tools like GoogleBot and GPTBot are accessing online content unless website owners clearly say no, which raises questions about data usage.

6. Dancing between the physical and digital; big tech and macroeconomics

Insight Axis • 19 implied HN points • 03 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Digital innovation is faster and more flexible than physical innovation, making digital iteration more efficient.
  2. Translating between the physical and digital worlds is essential, requiring 'on-ramps' for data input and 'off-ramps' for implementation.
  3. Information processing is crucial, with 'ramps' serving as gatekeepers between physical and digital realms in big tech and macroeconomics.

The New Fusionism

Reactionary Feminist • 20 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Big Tech
  1. There's a big shift happening in American politics, especially after the recent elections. People are curious about what a Trump victory means for the future.
  2. The coming political landscape will mix traditional social conservatism with the influence of big tech, like what Elon Musk represents. This could change how conservatives think about family and human values.
  3. Some people are worried about new tech affecting society, but there's a sense of hope that not everything will lead to extreme changes, like Trump promising to ban certain medical transitions for youth.

How to Earn Six Figures as a Software Engineer in the UK

The Fat Software Engineer • 72 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
💼 Business Big Tech
  1. Earn six figures in the UK as a software engineer by working hard, smart, and grinding Leetcode.
  2. Consider going to university for benefits beyond education like adulting skills, lifelong friends, and networking.
  3. Transition from a first job at a bigger company to a startup after gaining experience, focusing on learning, negotiating salary, and preparing for big tech roles.

The Pichai Predicament

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, is struggling to keep up with the fast changes in AI technology.
  2. His recent decisions, like the Bard AI launch, have faced criticism from employees, making him a target of jokes.
  3. The backlash has had a significant impact, causing a huge drop in Google's stock value, losing around $100 billion.

Big Tech & Open Source: Where Is the Love? (2020)

Deep-Tech Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 24 Jun 20
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Big Tech heavily contributes to open source projects on GitHub, even though they can influence the project's direction.
  2. Amazon has faced criticism for potentially hindering open source startups by offering competing services on AWS.
  3. Google leads in positive sentiment towards open source, followed closely by Microsoft, while Amazon received a lower score due to recent backlash.

The AI "Race to the Bottom"

Enterprise AI Trends • 1 HN point • 22 May 24
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Big Tech companies like Microsoft and Google are now giving away AI tools for free, which could lower the prices of similar products in the market. This change may make it harder for startups to charge for their AI services.
  2. While AI startups might still thrive for a while, they need to adapt by offering free tiers or lower prices to compete. Users are becoming less interested in paid options when free alternatives are available.
  3. Startups should also manage their expectations about growth and profit. With many free AI tools around, they may not see the big payouts they hoped for and may need to pivot their business plans.

Moving from Big Tech -> Startup

Product Principles Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
💼 Business Big Tech
  1. Talented professionals are migrating from big tech to startups with different expectations and work environments.
  2. Startups are focusing more on unit economics and fundraising standards, leading to funding and valuation corrections.
  3. Product managers at early stage startups will experience a shift from big budgets and tools to a focus on distribution and creating features for existing users.

🤓[DS:Culture] Startup Math and Opportunity Costs

Data Science Daily • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
💼 Business Big Tech
  1. Being recruited by big tech as a data scientist is common due to the high demand for DS professionals.
  2. The opportunity cost of working at a startup versus a big tech company heavily depends on the potential stock gains.
  3. Economic-wise, bigger tech companies offer more stability and higher potential earnings, but working at a startup can offer a more dynamic and problem-solving oriented environment.

Coming soon...

Platform Papers • 0 implied HN points • 30 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Platformpapers will start publishing monthly blog posts in 2022 covering the latest academic research on digital platforms and big tech
  2. The posts will summarize and contextualize articles from the platform papers references database to make the research more accessible to a wider audience
  3. The goal is to engage individuals interested in platforms such as scholars, students, managers, creators, and policy makers

Coming soon

Platform Papers • 0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Platform Papers is a newsletter focused on the latest research about platforms and big tech
  2. The newsletter is coming soon, with updates anticipated
  3. Readers can subscribe through the provided link to stay updated

12/4 Tech Buzz China Insider Digest

Tech Buzz China Insider • 0 implied HN points • 07 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Newsletter schedule changes: Improved open rates on weekends led to a decision to stick to that schedule. Community suggestions were welcomed for further improvements.
  2. Investment opportunity: Accredited investors were encouraged to consider participating in the Tech Buzz China Investment Syndicate for the Hirect Series A funding round.
  3. WeChat updates: WeChat's changes allowing direct access to external links in chats and potential adjustments to e-commerce functionalities signal notable user experience enhancements.

12/4 Tech Buzz China Insider Digest

Tech Buzz China Insider • 0 implied HN points • 07 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Rumors suggest restrictions on VIEs for companies listing location in China, but the ban won't be complete and varies by sector.
  2. Kuaishou's revenue mostly stagnant from livestreaming, showcasing a trend of saturation in the industry.
  3. WeChat is adjusting rules to allow direct access to external links, potentially impacting user drop-off, and has begun somewhat embracing algorithms after staunch resistance.

Big Tech "GenAI" Quarterly Report

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Big tech companies are heavily focused on generative AI, with Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon mentioning it a lot during their earnings calls. In contrast, Apple seems to be staying quiet about AI.
  2. Microsoft is performing really well in the cloud and generative AI space, especially through its partnerships with companies like OpenAI and Meta. This has helped them achieve a significant revenue increase.
  3. Compared to Microsoft, AWS and Google also saw revenue growth in their cloud services, but Microsoft outpaced them with higher growth numbers.

How Irresponsible!

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. AI technology is growing quickly, and there is a growing need for ethical guidelines around it. Companies need to take responsibility for how they use AI.
  2. Despite promises of responsible AI practices, companies like Microsoft are making contradictory moves, like firing their responsible AI team soon after making public commitments.
  3. It's important for tech companies to not just talk about ethics; they must take concrete actions to ensure AI is used safely and responsibly.

Dump Metaverse, Woo AI

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Big Tech
  1. Big tech companies are stepping back from metaverse projects. Recently, Microsoft even shut down parts of its virtual reality teams.
  2. AI and conversational chatbots are becoming the new priority for these companies. Many are excited about these technologies, but it's not just for the fun of it.
  3. The current focus on AI is a shift driven by the need to be practical and competitive, rather than just chasing the latest trends.