The hottest Complex Systems Substack posts right now

Create good problems to have after the flywheel is already spinning, during rapid growth, which motivates the ecosystem to solve problems.
Avoid building perfect technology as it leads to front-loading work, needing an ecosystem flywheel, and inability to anticipate scale problems.
Creating good problems to have encourages co-evolution with the community and provides opportunities for others to contribute.

The attempt to improve science by 'free-access publishing' has led to unintended consequences, like the proliferation of mediocre papers.
The concentration of scientific power in a few elite institutions is not enough to drive innovation and creativity, mirroring the limitations faced by the Roman Empire.
The collapse of science, exemplified by issues in scientific publishing, aligns with systemic collapses and may indicate the need for renewal through unconventional sources and unconventional ideas.

Kevin Ball and Paulo André discussed useful feedback loops for teams.
Surveys and pulse checks can be effective when connecting the dots for people.
Understanding complex systems is crucial for improving and succeeding in teams and organizations.

The post discusses the importance of broad thinking in physics and its application to various fields.
It highlights George Parisi's work on understanding complex systems through physics.
Parisi's contributions have led to breakthroughs in areas like climate modeling and stochastic resonance.

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Israel's high-tech border defenses failed to stop an attack, showing that complex systems can be vulnerable to failure.
Overreliance on technology can lead to overconfidence, strategic rigidity, and a false sense of security.
Simpler and more robust systems can be more reliable, adaptable, and resilient compared to complex, high-tech solutions.

Systems avoid maximization of any variable to maintain complexity
Nature's evolution is open-ended with no fixed goal
Open-ended systems like cities, markets, and the internet foster innovation and adaptability

AI alignment is a topic of growing concern as generative AI advances.
Norbert Wiener explored the challenges of aligning intentions with consequences in his book 'God & Golem, Inc.'
Feedback on intentions is crucial for preventing catastrophic outcomes in intelligent systems.

The book emphasizes that machines will never rule the world, as AGI is fundamentally impossible due to computational limitations.
The definitions of intelligence and machine intelligence play a crucial role in the argument against AGI.
Language, context-dependence, and complex systems are central themes analyzed in the book to challenge the possibility of AGI.

Multiple theories of cognition and value should be used simultaneously for alignment.
Focus on engineering the alignment process rather than trying to solve the alignment problem with a single theory.
Having diversity in approaches across AGI labs can be more beneficial than sticking to a single alignment theory.