The hottest Internet Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Are You Living in Musk's Simulation?

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Elon Musk recently acquired a key domain, ai.com, which might shape the future of AI significantly. Controlling AI means having a major influence on global events.
  2. There's a lot of discussion around whether we could be living in a simulation, and Musk has jokingly suggested avoiding those talks in casual settings.
  3. Many believe that whoever controls AI technology controls important aspects of society, which raises questions about power and responsibility.

Paul Sutherland: LARP Politics and Hyperreality

Do Not Research • 4 HN points • 06 May 24
🎭️ Culture Internet
  1. LARPing in politics refers to engaging in political actions that are disconnected from the goal of creating tangible change, often becoming more about aesthetic value and personal style.
  2. The concept of LARPing in the 21st century is tied to Baudrillard's idea of simulation and hyperreality, blurring the lines between the world of images and the world of reality.
  3. Ruptures from the hyperreal world of LARP politics into actual events, like the Capitol Hill riot, showcase the collision between simulated political actions and the real material consequences, leaving society perplexed.

This Week in Vegas: DEF CON Does Repair

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 09 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. DEF CON is a significant hacking conference where cybersecurity community discusses important topics and works towards a more secure future.
  2. The right to repair movement is gaining traction and challenging monopolies on service and repair by big corporations, promoting a circular economy and enhancing security and privacy protections.
  3. Other discussions at DEF CON also focus on the importance of medical device repair and the need for patients to have the ability to modify and improve their own technology.

The generative AI apocalypse turned out different

Meaningful Particulars • 65 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. AI-driven algorithms provide more of what you've already liked, causing further optimization and less variety.
  2. Generative AI may not reach its full potential due to becoming incoherent when fed human responses, resulting in a lukewarm outcome.
  3. AI's development is not a straight path - it faces limitations, and changes in technology and society will alter its course.
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A new coding regime is being created

Sunday Letters • 1 HN point • 21 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Coding has evolved from a simple one-person setup to complex applications that multiple users can access at the same time. This shift has changed how we think about what an application really is.
  2. The arrival of the internet brought new challenges like data outages and scaling issues, leading to new practices like Agile development. This adaptation took time and created many best practices that we now rely on.
  3. With the rise of AI and LLM-based coding, we face new questions about how to create and maintain software. It's crucial to remain open and adaptable as the industry figures this out.

How To Build A Career In Tech

Day One • 159 implied HN points • 27 Jul 20
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Human brilliance is key - you can shape your own world with the right resources and guidance.
  2. Anyone, regardless of location, can pursue a tech career with internet access.
  3. Starting a tech career requires action and willingness, and the internet offers ample learning and job opportunities.

August Open Thread and Data Leak Update (2025)

The Corbett Report • 6 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. There's been a major data leak affecting some users, but luckily no financial info or passwords were exposed. Only names and email addresses were involved.
  2. The response to the leak has been slow, with limited media coverage and the organization behind the service not treating it with the urgency it deserves.
  3. The membership sign-up process is being updated, and there will be new resources released soon on how to better manage email privacy.

Watermark the world

escape the algorithm • 59 implied HN points • 18 Mar 22
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Google Street View is made up of images from various sources, including everyday people, blended together to create a seamless representation of the world.
  2. Watermarks added to Google Street View images are intentional, potentially highlighting the hidden labor behind the scans or symbolizing colonialism by claiming ownership of public spaces.
  3. Question arises: Is the act of watermarking in Google Street View a way to show presence or a form of staking a claim on territory?

no. 44: internet portals

let them eat cake • 79 implied HN points • 12 Sep 21
🎭️ Culture Internet
  1. Restaurants on the internet gain exposure to a wider audience than just their physical visitors, influencing people's choices and behaviors.
  2. The content surrounding restaurants online is often created by sources outside of the restaurants themselves, such as food media and influencers.
  3. The online presence and conversations about restaurants contribute to their significance as creative influencers, tying physical businesses to the digital content economy.

Progressive Ownership: A Model for Application Tokens

Li's Newsletter • 60 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Crypto has evolved through Proof of Work, ICOs, and Airdrops for token distribution, each with lessons on network growth.
  2. The concept of Progressive Ownership suggests using revenue sharing and allowing users to opt into ownership for sustainable growth.
  3. Building products that meet user needs, using revenue sharing, and transitioning loyal users to economic ownership are key steps in implementing Progressive Ownership.

Giá trị của tiền số

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 99 implied HN points • 04 May 21
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. The value of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum can be volatile, leading to potential financial risks and scams in the digital currency market.
  2. Blockchain technology, while initially designed for cryptocurrencies, has been overhyped as a solution for various issues, despite reports questioning its optimal use.
  3. Cryptocurrencies have the potential to revolutionize global financial transactions by providing programmable digital assets, offering benefits like borderless transactions and decentralized finance opportunities.

Fighting for the farm

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 99 implied HN points • 22 Jan 21
🎭️ Culture Internet
  1. Farmville was more than just a game for some people, it was a cherished digital refuge.
  2. Some devoted fans of discontinued websites struggle to move on and find replacements for their lost source of enjoyment.
  3. The last of the Farmville diehards continue to fight for the game's revival, showcasing a unique level of dedication to a game that many have forgotten.

Lobster long-read #1: A short history of unlocking things

Design Lobster • 119 implied HN points • 12 Nov 20
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Locks have evolved over time, from simple mechanisms like holes in doors to more complex designs with pins and tumblers, highlighting the importance of privacy and security in history.
  2. The mental model of a lock, where a key unlocks a 'private' space, is now applied to digital privacy, but the reality is that we entrust our digital possessions to third parties online.
  3. An alternative paradigm for online privacy involves incorporating detection mechanisms, like Apple's iOS alerts, to make visible the handling of our digital data by third parties and promote transparency.

Data is Dead 💀

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Gathering a lot of data is not as valuable as it used to be. New tools are making it easier for competitors to catch up quickly.
  2. Large Language Models (LLMs) are changing the game by allowing companies to use existing data to build similar or competitive products.
  3. Companies should rethink their strategies about data hoarding, as just having a lot of data is no longer a strong advantage.

Space At Sea

Ill-Defined Space • 19 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Space technology is becoming more useful in everyday life, even on cruises. People can now get reliable internet access on ships through Starlink, making it easy to stay connected.
  2. A system called AIS helps ships know where they are and avoid collisions. It sends out information about the ship's location and heading, which anyone with internet access can view on sites like MarineTraffic.
  3. Using space services like GPS and satellite internet makes life easier and safer for everyone, whether they're working at sea or enjoying a vacation on a cruise.

Something a little different and special

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 99 implied HN points • 18 Dec 20
🎭️ Culture Internet
  1. Ambient fireplace videos on YouTube have gained popularity, offering relaxation and stress relief, especially in 2020.
  2. There is a thought-provoking analysis on how the SEO arms race has negatively impacted the internet's content and style.
  3. An interesting profile highlights the experiences of Black influencers in Atlanta's new TikTok collab houses, revealing inequalities in the industry.

Why would we want to be online forever?

Very Fine Day • 42 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Internet
  1. The assumption that the future of media will always be online is flawed as the free internet is declining.
  2. Content creation on the internet is now a crowded space with competition from all age groups and professional creatives.
  3. The future of media and content is uncertain, with possibilities like the resurgence of print and increasing skepticism towards online content.

Under the microscope: Hang-On GP

Rings of Saturn • 14 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Some hidden cheat codes for the game Hang-On GP have been discovered after almost 30 years. These codes can unlock special bikes and game modes.
  2. Players can now easily unlock all tracks and unlimited time in Time Trial mode with specific button sequences. This makes the game more fun and accessible.
  3. The cheat codes seem to have varied availability online, and some might still be missing from popular gaming sites. Players can share and help complete these lists.

What We Learnt Building the Largest GPT-Telegram Bot

Nicolas Bustamante • 75 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Chat-based interfaces are the future of the web, making it easier to get answers than traditional browsing.
  2. Large language models like GPT offer a wide range of capabilities, streamlining tasks and boosting productivity.
  3. The cost of using large language models is expected to decrease over time, making advanced AI more accessible.

no. 53: restaurants on the radio

let them eat cake • 39 implied HN points • 01 May 22
🍲 Food & Drink Internet
  1. Venture-tech has negatively impacted the US restaurant scene by funding delivery services, ghost kitchens, and virtual brands.
  2. The internet has a way of separating content from its physical origins and redirecting the financial flows that content generates.
  3. Technology has been changing the restaurant landscape significantly, impacting how restaurants operate and how they interact with customers.

My favorite reads from the plague year

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 79 implied HN points • 31 Dec 20
🎭️ Culture Internet
  1. The post recommends various interesting reads from the plague year, spanning topics like TikTok, Instagram, internet drama, and unique internet trends.
  2. It expresses gratitude to readers for their support and highlights the essence of the newsletter in curating engaging internet content.
  3. The post also touches on crazy internet phenomena like wolf-kink erotica, right-wing conspiracies, and provides insights into the evolving internet culture and how people utilize the internet now.

Today is riskier than tomorrow

do clouds feel vertigo? • 19 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Today brings a lot of risks and distractions due to the rapid changes in AI, making it harder to keep up. People often feel lost or overwhelmed by all the new possibilities.
  2. Having clear intentions and the ability to ask the right questions is becoming very important with AI tools. It's not just about using them, but knowing how to make the most of them.
  3. The future of creativity may involve more collaboration between people and AI. Instead of one-on-one interactions, we might see team-based conversations that bring ideas together in new ways.

Actually, the internet's always been this bad

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 3 HN points • 21 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Online discourse has remained consistently toxic over the past 30 years, challenging the belief that it has worsened.
  2. Toxicity in conversations tends to increase the longer they go on, involving fewer but more active participants.
  3. Platforms exhibit similar levels of toxic comments, and moderation policies have the potential to influence the spread of toxic content.

You have tout compris

Venture Prose • 79 implied HN points • 07 Sep 20
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. In rural areas with poor wired connections, consider coupling your Free.fr Internet subscription with an unlimited 4G plan for better coverage and speed.
  2. Invest in necessary equipment like a 4G router, antenna, loadbalancer, and mesh network to optimize and distribute your 4G connection throughout your home effectively.
  3. Despite the initial investment in equipment, once set up, the cost for an unlimited 4G plan is relatively affordable at 15.99€, offering improved Internet speed and reliability.

Wishful thinking

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 59 implied HN points • 11 Dec 20
🎭️ Culture Internet
  1. The trend of 'shifting' to alternate realities has gained popularity among teenagers, offering an escape from the challenges of the current times.
  2. Shifting involves a belief in transporting one's consciousness to a different, controllable environment, often inspired by Harry Potter and filled with desired experiences.
  3. Many individuals engage in shifting practices as a means to cope with the restrictions and difficulties of 2020, seeking solace and excitement through this imaginative practice.

Scrolling Toward The Divine

Reactionary Feminist • 10 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Internet
  1. The internet can help people feel a deeper connection to spirituality and religion. Scrolling through online content might actually draw individuals closer to God.
  2. Reading online changes how we think. It helps us recognize patterns in the world that we might have missed with traditional reading methods.
  3. This shift in how we perceive things can lead to various experiences, including a renewed interest in religious matters.

The Dark Forest Anthology of the Internet

The Ideaspace • 21 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Internet
  1. The Dark Forest Anthology of the Internet is a book capturing a critical moment in internet history, exploring the concept of retreating to 'dark forests' online as a response to mainstream internet behaviors.
  2. The book is a limited first-edition run of 1,000 copies available for purchase through Metalabel, offering a beautifully designed narrative of life on the web.
  3. Metalabel is a new platform supporting the selling, releasing, and exhibiting of various creative works, providing a space for creative groups to collaborate and share their work and audiences.

The Handmade Internet

The New Internet by Jeff Morris Jr. • 9 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. People are starting to care more about whether the content they consume online is made by humans or AI. This is similar to how we value handmade crafts for their quality.
  2. As AI tools become more popular, many creatives worry that handmade digital work will fade away. However, some believe there should still be a space for people who create things by hand online.
  3. Finding a balance between using AI tools and keeping the human touch in our digital creations is important. Some things will always feel better when they are made by real people.

Whose Domain Is It?

Reboot • 26 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Small island nations like Anguilla generate significant government revenue from domain sales.
  2. The history of domain names involves a transition from community-run infrastructure to commodification.
  3. The assignment and management of domain names are political acts that signal autonomy and sovereignty.

Áo giáp và thanh gươm

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 59 implied HN points • 20 Jul 20
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Growing up with the internet has shaped the author's worldview, encouraging critical thinking and curiosity that traditional schooling may not have fostered.
  2. Access to the internet has provided the author with valuable knowledge, career opportunities beyond Vietnam's borders, and a broader understanding of the impact of the internet on society.
  3. The Section 230 law in the US, granting websites immunity for content posted by users, has played a significant role in the development of the internet industry, emphasizing the balance between freedom, responsibility, and innovation.

New Internet

Nice Try • 59 implied HN points • 01 Aug 20
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. Getting a new wifi router can be a hassle, especially when it involves complicated setups and registrations. Using your phone can help bypass some frustrations.
  2. The internet can feel new even if the network and password are the same, just like how fresh experiences can bring a sense of renewal.
  3. Life events, like waiting for a job call or a drug test, can seem ordinary yet poignant against the backdrop of personal and global situations, making everyday moments feel significant.

Threat Model

Reboot • 21 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Internet
  1. In the age of the internet, it's challenging to disappear in America due to the digital footprint left by basic needs like addresses, bank cards, and online accounts.
  2. There is a small community of tech-savvy individuals focused on extreme privacy, using specialized tools like privacy-focused operating systems, encrypted communication, and anonymous browsing.
  3. Extreme privacy can be isolating and exhausting, leading to a constant balance between the desire for privacy and the inherent risks and limitations of disappearing from the public eye.