The hottest Human factors Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

If AGI Means Everything People Do... What is it That People Do?

Am I Stronger Yet? • 250 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Human factors Automation Robotics
  1. There's a big gap between what AIs can do in tests and what they can do in real life. It shows we need to understand the full range of human tasks before predicting AI's future capabilities.
  2. AIs currently struggle with complex tasks like planning, judgment, and creativity. These areas need improvement before they can replace humans in many jobs.
  3. To really know how far AIs can go, we need to focus on the skills they lack and find better ways to measure those abilities. This will help us understand AI's potential.

brAIn drAIn

The Intrinsic Perspective • 27199 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Cognition Education Psychology Human factors
  1. Using AI can make people less likely to think critically and solve problems on their own. This is especially true for those who trust AI too much.
  2. Young people may struggle to learn and retain information if they rely heavily on AI. Parents and schools should be careful about this dependency.
  3. Being skeptical about AI tools helps people use them healthier. Trusting your own judgment over AI can lead to better thinking and problem-solving skills.

TBM 336: Product OS Design Tips and Principles

The Beautiful Mess • 1414 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
💼 Business Product Design Leadership Organizational Design Human factors
  1. Think of your product operating system like a product itself. It needs to fit everyone's needs and constantly adapt to new challenges.
  2. Senior leaders should take responsibility for the product operating system. Their commitment is crucial to build trust and ensure everyone follows the guidelines.
  3. Start with simple interactions and routines for teams to use regularly. Well-designed rituals help improve communication and decision-making while reducing bureaucracy.

🚀 Missions to Mars: A Quick Q&A with … space analyst Peter Hague

Faster, Please! • 456 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astrophysics Robotics Human factors Colonization
  1. Building a base on Mars is the top priority, as it helps reduce reliance on supplies from Earth. Even though it won't be completely self-sustaining at first, a solid base can support more people and activities.
  2. Many challenges of space travel, like cosmic radiation and machinery reliability, can be managed by sending more mass into space. Adding extra weight can often solve significant issues that seem daunting at first.
  3. Having enough supplies and materials is key to making Mars colonization easier. The more resources we have, the better we can tackle various tasks and ensure a successful mission.

AI Stigma: Why Some Users Resist AI’s Help

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 36 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI User Experience Human factors Collaboration Ethics
  1. Many people are still skeptical about using AI, even when it often performs better than humans. They might rate AI-generated work poorly because they don't trust it.
  2. Collaboration between humans and AI can succeed when they complement each other's strengths. For example, AI can handle data quickly while humans provide deeper understanding.
  3. User attitudes toward AI are influenced by emotions and past experiences. If people have anxiety or distrust toward AI, they might avoid using it or not use it effectively.
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AI's meaning-making problem.

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 119 implied HN points • 22 May 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Human factors Automation Innovation
  1. Humans can make meaning by assigning value to things, which is something AI cannot do. This includes deciding what's good or bad, worth doing, and how different things compare in value.
  2. AI systems depend on humans for meaning-making to produce useful outputs. When using AI, the skill of the user to interpret and edit outputs is essential for effectiveness.
  3. Understanding that meaning-making is a human ability helps in developing better AI systems. It shifts the focus from what AI can do to what humans do that AI cannot.

The Automation Paradox: How More Tech Can Mean More Human Challenges

UX Psychology • 297 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Automation UX Design Human factors Autonomous Vehicles Language Models
  1. Increased automation can lead to unexpected complications for human tasks, creating a paradox where reliance on technology may actually hinder human performance.
  2. The 'Irony of Automation' highlights unintended consequences like automation not reducing human workload, requiring more complex skills for operators, and leading to decreased vigilance.
  3. Strategies like enhancing monitoring systems, maintaining manual and cognitive skills, and thoughtful interface design are crucial for addressing the challenges posed by automation and keeping human factors in focus.

Turing Coda: From The AI Mailbag

Technohumanism • 19 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Human factors Cognitive Science
  1. The term 'artificial intelligence' was created as a marketing concept and doesn’t fully capture the complexities of human consciousness. Imitation isn't the same as true intelligence or awareness.
  2. Desire and emotions are central to human thinking, which machines try to replicate but can't truly understand. It's not enough for a machine to just perform tasks; it must have human-like motivations and feelings.
  3. The debate on whether humans are just machines reveals a longing for certainty in our understanding of consciousness. People act with free will, which challenges the idea that we are purely mechanical beings.

Amadee-24 Chronicles: Mars on Earth - How Do We Prepare for a Mars Mission?

Space Ambition • 79 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astrobiology Robotics Artificial Intelligence Human factors
  1. Analog missions help us practice for going to Mars by simulating life on other planets. These missions are done on Earth to learn about the challenges astronauts might face.
  2. Communication on missions to Mars is tricky because it takes about 10 minutes for messages to travel. This makes astronauts more independent and affects their mental state during the journey.
  3. People can join analog missions to gain experience and be part of the preparation for Mars. These missions are exciting and beneficial for anyone interested in space exploration.

Spotlight: Alon Tenzer – An Analog Astronaut on a Simulated Mars Mission

Space Ambition • 199 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🔬 Science Space Exploration Robotics Human factors
  1. Analog astronauts participate in simulated Mars missions to test technologies and procedures that will be used in real space missions. These missions help prepare for future human exploration of Mars.
  2. The Aouda Spacesuit Simulator is crucial for testing how astronauts will operate on Mars. It mimics real spacesuits and checks if new technologies can be used effectively in harsh conditions.
  3. Training to become an analog astronaut requires a strong background in science and engineering. Participants undergo rigorous training to handle technical challenges and the psychological stress of being isolated from Earth.

Results from poll #2

The Counterfactual • 59 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Readability Human factors Text Analysis Empirical Studies
  1. The poll showed that readers are interested in how well large language models (LLMs) can change the readability of texts. This will be explored further in a detailed study.
  2. The study will involve real people judging how easy or hard the modified texts are to read. This is important because readability is something people understand best.
  3. Updates on the study will be shared about once a month, along with regular posts on other topics related to language processing and understanding.

Commentary: How to write a post-mortem that always blames Terry

Bad Software Advice • 0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Human factors Incident Management
  1. In incident management, avoid blame and focus on process and organizational factors. Blameless post-mortems are crucial.
  2. Consider power dynamics in post-mortems. Allow a separate group to handle incidents to prevent bias and promote improvement.
  3. Incidents rarely have a single root cause. Embrace a more complex root cause analysis to understand the multifaceted reasons behind failures.