The hottest Innovation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

On Good and Bad AI

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 5398 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Machine Learning Automation Digital Culture Innovation
  1. AI can be a tool that helps us, but we should be careful not to let it control us. It's important to use AI wisely and stay in charge of our own decisions.
  2. It's possible to have fun and creative interactions with AI, like making it write funny poems or reimagine famous speeches in different styles. This shows AI's potential for entertainment and creativity.
  3. However, we should also be aware of the challenges that come with AI, such as ethical concerns and the impact on jobs. It's a balance between embracing the technology and understanding its risks.

Satya Nadella and the three stages of scientific truth

Marcus on AI • 6877 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Science Computing Philosophy
  1. New ideas in science often face resistance at first. People may ridicule them before they accept the change.
  2. Scaling laws in deep learning may not last forever. This suggests that other methods may be needed to advance technology.
  3. Many tech leaders are now discussing the limits of scaling laws, showing a shift in thinking towards exploring new approaches.

Nvidia's Unique History and Culture

The Asianometry Newsletter • 3553 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Computers Gaming Innovation Business strategy Corporate culture
  1. NVIDIA's success comes from a strong work ethic and a unique company culture that encourages honesty and speed. They focus on being direct and efficient in their communication.
  2. The leadership of Jensen Huang has been crucial for NVIDIA, as he continuously motivates employees to aim high and pushes the boundaries of what's possible in technology.
  3. Long-term thinking, like the development of CUDA, is key to NVIDIA’s strategy. They invest in innovations that may not pay off immediately, but will lead to big gains in the future.

AI #92: Behind the Curve

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2598 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Tech Policy Programming Innovation
  1. AI language models are improving in utility, specifically for tasks like coding, but they still have some limitations such as being slow or clunky.
  2. Public perception of AI-generated poetry shows that people often prefer it over human-created poetry, indicating a shift in how we view creativity and value in writing.
  3. Conferences and role-playing exercises around AI emphasize the complexities and potential outcomes of AI alignment, highlighting that future AI developments bring both hopeful and concerning possibilities.

One Regulator

Points And Figures • 586 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
💰 Finance Regulation Innovation Cryptocurrency Market structure Bureaucracy
  1. The financial market regulation in the U.S. is complicated and outdated, with many agencies like the SEC and CFTC often conflicting with each other. This can lead to innovation being stifled.
  2. There are concerns that some regulators, like Gary Gensler, may be overly controlling and negatively impact innovative companies, especially in the emerging cryptocurrency space.
  3. Many believe that simplifying the regulatory structure to have one main regulator could boost competition and innovation, but achieving this change seems very challenging.
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The Influence of Bell Labs

Construction Physics • 40086 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Research Innovation Corporations Development Science
  1. Bell Labs was a great mix of academic and industrial research. Scientists could explore their ideas without worrying about making money right away.
  2. Many companies were inspired by Bell Labs to start their own research labs. They saw that basic research could lead to big breakthroughs, like the invention of the transistor.
  3. Over time, the research environment changed, and companies became less willing to fund long-term, unrestricted research like Bell Labs did. Now, research is often more closely tied to immediate business needs.

AI makes scientists more productive and less happy

Philosophy bear • 171 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Research Productivity Innovation Science
  1. AI helps scientists work faster and discover more new materials, increasing their productivity significantly.
  2. However, many scientists feel less happy because they spend less time on creative idea generation, which they found enjoyable.
  3. The gap between top and bottom performers in science has widened, with skilled researchers benefiting more from AI, leading to concerns about inequality in the field.

AI progress has plateaued below GPT-5 level

The Intrinsic Perspective • 31460 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Innovation Data science Computing
  1. AI development seems to have slowed down, with newer models not showing a big leap in intelligence compared to older versions. It feels like many recent upgrades are just small tweaks rather than revolutionary changes.
  2. Researchers believe that the improvements we see are often due to better search techniques rather than smarter algorithms. This suggests we may be returning to methods that dominated AI in earlier decades.
  3. There's still a lot of uncertainty about the future of AI, especially regarding risks and safety. The plateau in advancements might delay the timeline for achieving more advanced AI capabilities.

Battery production is genuinely difficult

Intercalation Station • 99 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Battery tech Manufacturing Sustainability Electric Vehicles Innovation
  1. Making batteries is really hard. Even small mistakes can lead to big problems and waste.
  2. Northvolt faced issues with unrealistic goals and timelines from its management, leading to disorganization and challenges in their production process.
  3. Quality control and procurement problems contributed to the company's struggles, highlighting a need for clear communication and better management practices.

How Virtual Reality Died

The Honest Broker • 29755 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Virtual reality Artificial Intelligence Tech Giants Consumer Electronics Innovation
  1. Major tech companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Apple invested heavily in virtual reality, but it didn't catch on with consumers. People found the headsets uncomfortable and silly.
  2. Despite losing billions, these companies still tried to push virtual reality products, but they had to eventually scale back as demand dropped significantly.
  3. Now they're shifting their focus to artificial intelligence, but there's skepticism about whether this new technology will succeed, given their past failures with VR.

Getting started with AI: Good enough prompting

One Useful Thing • 1807 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Innovation Education Workplace
  1. Most people struggle to use AI correctly because they treat it like a search engine. Instead, it works better when you give it detailed tasks and prompts.
  2. Getting to know AI takes time; spending about 10 hours using it can help you figure out what it can do for your work or daily tasks.
  3. Think of AI as a patient coworker who forgets everything after each chat. Be clear about what you want, ask for many variations, and have a conversation to get the best results.

Irreconcilable Differences

Doomberg • 7398 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Energy Infrastructure Telecommunications Innovation
  1. AI's need for power is too high for current energy grids. This means we might face problems trying to meet that demand.
  2. What if new rules stopped data centers from using the main power grid? This could change how we think about energy sources.
  3. If data centers found their own power, it could ease strain on existing grids. But, it would also create new challenges and shifts in the market.

This New Internet Thing, Chapter 28

Life Since the Baby Boom • 691 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Internet Software Innovation Venture Capital Startups
  1. The author is publishing a new book and sharing it in chapters online, hoping readers will find it interesting enough to buy it later.
  2. The story features characters navigating the early internet business landscape, highlighting their challenges and opportunities.
  3. There's a focus on growth versus profitability, showing the tension between the desire to expand fast and the need to make money.

Where to draw the line?

Subconscious • 949 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Systems Design Engineering Innovation
  1. Breaking problems into smaller pieces helps us manage them better. It's like solving a big puzzle by working on one piece at a time.
  2. Modules or parts of a system allow us to focus on what’s important without worrying about the whole. This makes it easier to change and adapt parts as needed.
  3. Deciding where to draw boundaries in a system can greatly affect its future. It's important to understand what will change and what won’t before setting those boundaries.

Notes From The Progress Studies Conference

Astral Codex Ten • 23813 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Energy Innovation AI Regulation Progress
  1. Progress Studies is a new field aimed at understanding and improving human progress. It's seen as important despite some initial pushback, similar to how other social studies emerged.
  2. Solar energy is rapidly improving and could become very cheap, making it a major player in addressing energy needs. Advances in solar and storage technology are seen as key to a more sustainable future.
  3. Regulations are often seen as a barrier to progress in various sectors, from energy to housing. Many attendees at the conference believe smarter regulation could greatly enhance innovation and development.

The Grand Stand

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Devices History Advertising Innovation
  1. The Grand Stand is a joystick floor stand designed to improve comfort and control while gaming. It helps reduce wrist and elbow fatigue.
  2. It's made of solid wood with a nice finish and was available in two models with different prices. The stand elevates the joystick for better access.
  3. Computer gaming magazines in the early 80s featured this product, noting its benefits for improved gameplay and reduced discomfort.

Notes on Chapter 27

Life Since the Baby Boom • 461 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Internet Software Innovation Startups Investing
  1. IBM partnered with Apple to create Taligent, hoping to finally compete with Microsoft in the PC market. They planned to introduce a 'guest operating system' idea like their mainframes, but not everyone believed it would succeed.
  2. Miriam's divorce from Matt is final, and she's likely to marry someone Matt dislikes. This adds tension to their already complicated relationship.
  3. Len, now a retired investor, is being courted by a VC firm that wants his help with clients. His retirement status makes him less of a threat, allowing him to offer support without competition.

Deep dive in hybrid battery packs

Intercalation Station • 159 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Batteries Energy Electronics Automotive Innovation
  1. Hybrid battery packs mix different battery chemistries to improve performance. This allows for better energy management and potentially raises the accuracy of state-of-charge readings.
  2. These new packs can perform better in low temperatures and support faster charging. By combining different cell types, they can work more efficiently across different conditions.
  3. While hybrid batteries have advantages, they can also be more expensive and heavier. This extra cost might make them less appealing for some applications, though prices for certain battery types are dropping.

Edge 454: Meet Magentic-One, Microsoft's New Framework for Building Multi Agent Systems

TheSequence • 56 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Frameworks Systems Innovation Research
  1. Microsoft has introduced a new framework called Magentic-One for building multi-agent systems. It allows different AI agents to work together on tasks that can change or evolve.
  2. This framework is built upon another Microsoft technology called AutoGen, which helps agents collaborate effectively. It aims to manage tasks using information from the web and files from various fields.
  3. Magentic-One is part of a growing trend in AI where multi-agent systems are gaining popularity. This reflects the diverse and innovative landscape of AI development today.

An epidemic of weirdly precise AI butt facts

Marcus on AI • 4703 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Investments Future Trends Innovation Predictions
  1. Elon Musk and others often make bold claims about AI's future, but many of these predictions lack proper evidence and are overly optimistic.
  2. Investors are drawn to grand stories about AI that promise big returns, even when the details are vague and uncertain.
  3. The exact benefits of advanced AI, like machines being thousands of times smarter, are unclear, and it's important to question how that would actually be useful.

Yes, scientific progress depends on like a thousand people

The Intrinsic Perspective • 9247 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🔬 Science Mentorship Innovation Research
  1. Scientific progress relies heavily on mentorship and connections within a large academic network. Many successful scientists come from the same elite lineage.
  2. Certain families of scientists are particularly influential, as seen with many Nobel Prize winners tracing back to a small number of academic mentors.
  3. While some critique the system as elitist, having a productive cultural substructure in science can be beneficial, and it's important to support this environment for future breakthroughs.

Wafer Scale - Trilogy Systems: Part 2

The Chip Letter • 4149 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Computing Startups Innovation Integration Capital
  1. Trilogy Systems, founded by Gene Amdahl in 1979, aimed to revolutionize the mainframe market with a new technology called Wafer Scale Integration, which promised to be faster and cheaper than existing solutions. However, the company struggled with technical challenges and internal issues.
  2. As delays mounted and financial troubles grew, Trilogy abandoned its mainframe plans and, ultimately, its Wafer Scale technology. Distractions like personal tragedies and a lack of cohesive vision contributed to the company's downfall.
  3. After losing credibility and facing mounting losses, Trilogy merged with Elxsi, but that too did not lead to success. Amdahl felt a deep personal responsibility for the failure, which haunted him even after the company's collapse.

✨ 📈 The AI Paradox: When will artificial intelligence boost US economic growth?

Faster, Please! • 913 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
💼 Business Economics Artificial Intelligence Productivity Innovation Growth
  1. Alan Greenspan raised questions about why technological advances in the 1990s didn't seem to improve productivity statistics. He suggested that it might take time for new technologies to show their full effects.
  2. Greenspan believed that traditional methods of measuring productivity might not capture the real progress happening, especially with services. This mismeasurement could lead to bad decisions on economic policies.
  3. The role of artificial intelligence in boosting productivity is still uncertain. There's hope that AI can help workers produce more, but it's unclear when we will see these benefits reflected in economic growth.

What does slow AI look like?

The Sublime Newsletter • 1941 implied HN points • 12 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Productivity Software Human-Computer Innovation
  1. People often feel stressed because productivity tools are designed to make us work faster, but that doesn't match how we naturally want to create things.
  2. Instead of rushing to produce more content quickly, we should focus on making fewer things but doing them better and with more care.
  3. It's okay to take time in the creative process; in fact, taking time can help us create something truly wonderful.

Notes on Chapter 26

Life Since the Baby Boom • 691 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Internet Computing Corporate Innovation Telecommunications
  1. Grant Avery returns to the story, showcasing his journey from working with Fuji Xerox to facing challenges with global citizenship and personal relationships.
  2. Len and Dan's TV segment highlights the mixed reality of media portrayals and the success they found in pushing Internet investments, despite public misconceptions.
  3. The chapter emphasizes how big companies underestimated the Internet, thinking it was only for niche groups, while it was actually on the brink of becoming mainstream.

The Sequence Chat: The Transition that Changes Everything. From Pretraining to Post-Training in Foundation Models

TheSequence • 49 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Computing Innovation Data science
  1. The transition from pretraining to post-training in AI models is a big deal. This change helps improve how AI can reason and learn from data.
  2. New models like DeepSeek's R1 and Alibaba's QwQ are now using this transition to become smarter and more effective. They can solve complex problems better than before.
  3. The shift is moving away from old methods like reinforcement learning with human feedback. Instead, there are new ways being developed that promise to make AI work even better.

Flying Solo

Software Design: Tidy First? • 441 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Design Development Innovation Research
  1. Time is precious, and we should focus on spending it in meaningful ways. It's important to prioritize what truly matters in our lives.
  2. Stepping down from a role can be a way to reclaim your time and energy. Sometimes, less responsibility can lead to a more fulfilling life.
  3. Believing in a mission or team is important, but personal time and happiness should come first. Balancing passion with personal needs is key.

Five tips to turn startup toys into essential tools

A Bit Gamey • 6 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
💼 Business Startups Innovation Technology Entrepreneurship Product Development
  1. Disruptive technologies often start off looking weak or like toys, but they can evolve into essential tools. It’s important to recognize their potential early on.
  2. Startups should design products with long-term improvements in mind and focus on how they will get better as they are used. This approach can help them meet user needs more effectively.
  3. Ignoring criticism from established companies might mean a startup is onto something important. Founders should understand the difference between sustaining and disruptive technologies to guide their strategies.

AI #89: Trump Card

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1881 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Policy Innovation Regulation Infrastructure
  1. Trump's potential return to office could change AI policy significantly. He plans to revoke existing regulations but may not have a clear replacement, which could impact the tech landscape.
  2. Language models are becoming more important in everyday tasks, but they also face challenges. While they improve productivity, they can also lead to decreased job satisfaction for users.
  3. There is growing concern about AI's influence on politics and decision-making. Studies show that AI models can affect voters' opinions, highlighting the need for caution in how they are used.

🎭✨ Ben Affleck’s wise words on AI

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Economics Innovation Automation Employment
  1. New technology, like AI, can help reduce costs. This can make it easier for more people to access entertainment and creative content.
  2. There's a common fear that robots will take over jobs, but it's important to understand how technology can create new opportunities instead.
  3. Adapting to new technologies can lead to a demand for different skills. Learning and evolving with technology is key to staying relevant in the job market.

Weekly Top Picks #89

The Algorithmic Bridge • 159 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Innovation Data Research
  1. The report discusses the current state of Generative AI in businesses for 2024, highlighting its growth and use.
  2. Large language models (LLMs) mainly focus on approximate retrieval rather than deep reasoning, which affects their performance.
  3. Recent studies indicate that people often prefer AI-generated art and poetry over works created by humans.

Your AI strategy is a waste of time

Generating Conversation • 280 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Tools Digital Transformation Innovation
  1. AI strategies are often unhelpful because things change so quickly. It's better to focus on just using more AI instead of getting stuck in endless planning.
  2. Experts in each department should choose the AI tools they need, rather than leaving it up to a central committee. This way, the people closest to the work can make the best decisions.
  3. Not every AI tool will work perfectly right away, and that's okay. Being open to trying different tools will help teams learn and improve their choices over time.

The Bitter Religion: AI’s Holy War Over Scaling Laws

The Generalist • 920 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Computing Innovation Research Engineering
  1. The AI community is divided over whether achieving higher levels of computation will lead to better artificial intelligence or if there are limits to this approach. Some think more resources will keep helping AI grow, while others fear we might hit a ceiling.
  2. There’s a growing debate about the importance of scaling laws and whether they should continue to guide AI development. People are starting to question if sticking to these beliefs is the best path forward.
  3. If doubt begins to spread about scaling laws, it could impact investment and innovation in AI and related fields, causing changes in how companies approach building new technologies.

Problems Sublime solves—at least for me

The Sublime Newsletter • 554 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Internet Software Productivity Innovation Knowledge Management
  1. Sublime helps you remember important information by letting you save articles, notes, and quotes in one place. This way, you can easily find what you need when you need it.
  2. It collects inspiration from various platforms and organizes it all in one location. This makes it simpler to access ideas without searching through multiple apps.
  3. Sublime is designed to be user-friendly and doesn't require a steep learning curve. It focuses on making knowledge management easy and enjoyable for everyone.

In The Context Of Long Context

Adjacent Possible • 482 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Software Development Innovation Digital Media
  1. A new AI feature can turn a whole book into a fun audio conversation, making learning more engaging. This feature has caught a lot of attention online and even received media coverage.
  2. The ability of the AI to handle large amounts of text—up to 1.5 million words—makes it much more useful for users, allowing for better, more detailed interactions.
  3. Long context models can help organizations make better decisions by recalling important documents and past experiences, adding a new kind of intelligence to team discussions.

Blogging sure has changed in its Silver Age

The Intrinsic Perspective • 4805 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Writing Media Trends Digital Innovation
  1. Blogging today is producing a lot of high-quality content, similar to the Silver Age of comics. Many new writers are sharing well-crafted stories and essays online.
  2. While there's more professionalism in blogging, it's mostly about improving styles and strategies rather than creating new ideas. Writers know how to make their content appealing and consistent.
  3. Just like in comics, the lack of true innovation in blogging can be felt. We need fresh voices and unique stories to take blogging to the next level.

Rivian's CEO on Elon's Influence, The Plan For Profitability, And The Grid’s Risky Future

Big Technology • 750 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Electric Vehicles Sustainability Innovation Manufacturing Energy Policy
  1. Rivian wants to make electric cars appealing to everyone, not just one type of buyer. They're focused on inviting all people into the electrification movement and fostering a diverse community of users.
  2. The company is dealing with challenges in becoming profitable while also launching new vehicles. They're now working on lowering costs and improving supply chains to achieve positive cash flow.
  3. Rivian believes that moving away from fossil fuels is essential for the future. They see a big responsibility in transitioning to renewable energy and are committed to creating products that contribute to this change.

EUV With Fewer Mirrors?

The Asianometry Newsletter • 3214 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Optics Innovation Engineering
  1. A new proposal suggests using fewer mirrors in EUV lithography machines to improve efficiency. This could help capture more light and reduce costs in the chip-making process.
  2. The new system builds on existing technology and aims to complement rather than compete with ASML's machines. It's about making improvements instead of replacing what's already working.
  3. There's still a long way to go before this new design can be a reality. Many technical challenges need to be solved before it can be tested in actual lithography machines.