The hottest Progress Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The Formula for the Future

Faster, Please! • 1096 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation Innovation Economy Technology Progress
  1. America's future depends on three key things: strong information processing, abundant energy, and economic freedom. These elements can help society grow and innovate.
  2. Regulatory barriers often slow down progress and innovation. To keep moving forward, it's important to take calculated risks instead of playing it safe.
  3. Embracing technology and overcoming bureaucracy can create a cycle of improvement. More energy and innovation can lead to a better future for everyone.

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.

✨😈 Is AI really a 'deal with the devil?'

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Science fiction Dystopia Progress Ethics
  1. Science fiction often shows us two sides: one where technology helps us thrive and another where it brings doom. It's important to focus on the positive potential of technology, like AI, rather than just the fears.
  2. Many stories about artificial intelligence lean toward the negative, showing it as a threat to humanity. This comes from a long history of tales warning us about the dangers of seeking forbidden knowledge.
  3. The idea of trading something valuable for knowledge is age-old, like in the story of Faust. This shows that while there are risks in technology, curiosity and progress can lead to great benefits if approached wisely.

🚀 What did they take from us, exactly?

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Regulation Progress Digital Economics
  1. Innovation has faced many challenges due to strict regulations and negative attitudes towards progress. This has slowed down our technological advancements and kept us from realizing exciting future possibilities.
  2. There were two major periods of optimism in history that drove technology forward—after World War II and during the digital revolution. During these times, people felt hopeful and invested in new ideas and inventions.
  3. To bring back that spirit of progress, we need to focus on supporting innovation and overcoming barriers that limit potential. It's important to keep believing in a better, more advanced future.
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The techno-optimist's fallacy

Slow Boring • 7429 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Innovation AI Ethics Risk Progress
  1. The fallacy of assuming all technological progress is inherently good is a common mistake.
  2. The nuclear energy industry faced significant opposition in the 1970s, impacting energy policies and environmental outcomes.
  3. While technological progress is vital, it is crucial to acknowledge that technology can have negative impacts that need to be addressed.

Happy 1st Birthday, GPT-4

Marcus on AI • 1383 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Applications Progress Competition
  1. There seems to be a possible plateau in GPT-4's capability, with no one decisively beating it yet.
  2. Despite challenges, there has been progress in discovering applications and putting GPT-4 type models into practice.
  3. Companies are finding putting Large Language Models into real-world use challenging, with many initial expectations proving unrealistic.

Ely Cathedral and the beauty of progress.

The Common Reader • 1098 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Architecture History Progress Beauty
  1. Ely Cathedral showcases the evolution of architectural progress from Romanesque to Gothic styles.
  2. The transition from Romanesque to Gothic architecture highlights the significant engineering improvements that allowed for artistic advancements.
  3. The beauty and grandeur of Gothic architecture in Ely Cathedral represent a high point in Western architectural history.

Progress is not automatic

Play Permissionless • 239 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
💼 Business Progress Development Entrepreneurship Strategy Personal Growth
  1. Progress is not automatic, you can't expect different outcomes by doing the same thing over and over.
  2. Sticking to what you know can lead to stagnation; sometimes a radical change in approach is needed to see significant growth.
  3. To achieve a 10x improvement, you often have to stop doing most of the things you're currently doing and embrace new strategies.

😃⤴ Is a future-optimist Vibe Shift happening?

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Optimism Technology Society Progress Innovation
  1. The concept of vibe shift from pessimism to optimism can be seen in societal attitudes towards progress, innovation, and disruptive technologies.
  2. Up Wing thinking focuses on embracing risk, emphasizing technology's role in progress, and supporting entrepreneurial capitalism to drive positive change.
  3. There is growing evidence of an emerging future-optimist vibe shift, especially in social media content, attitudes towards technologies like nuclear energy, and the performance of the stock market.

The Inner Development Goals on Trial

The Joyous Struggle • 671 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Humanity Critique Progress
  1. The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) were created in response to the failure to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aim to enhance human capacity.
  2. The IDGs are challenged for their perceived emphasis on personal growth as a means of achieving goodness, their modernist perspective, and their alignment with existing power structures.
  3. Critics question whether the IDGs are truly disruptive and transformative or if they reinforce immunity to change by not addressing systemic risks and structural injustices.

My First McSweeney’s Submission

Shades of Greaves • 393 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
📚 Literature Writing Satire Feedback Progress Self-Improvement
  1. The author reflects on their five-year writing journey, from initial rejections to significant career milestones, showing that progress in writing takes time and perseverance.
  2. They compare their first and most recent submissions to McSweeney's, highlighting improvements in storytelling and satire techniques over the years.
  3. Through self-critique and analysis, the author demonstrates the importance of continuously learning and evolving as a writer, emphasizing that growth and skill development in writing occur over years and decades.

How to drive me crazy 🤯

Venture Prose • 379 implied HN points • 28 May 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Failure Progress Mindset
  1. Ownership is key: Acknowledge mistakes, apologize, reflect, and avoid blaming others. It's important to take full responsibility.
  2. Increase awareness: Connect and interact with others, understand their needs, and reflect on yourself. Being self-aware is crucial for healthy relationships.
  3. Embrace progress over success: Failure is part of the journey, and the ability to grow and evolve is vital. Avoid getting stuck in a fixed mindset and strive for continuous improvement.

Crazy Science Idea: Tell People Something Is Possible When You Actually Have No Clue

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 593 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🔬 Science Research Innovation Fraud Discovery Progress
  1. Sometimes telling people something is possible, even if you're unsure, can lead to faster progress in finding solutions.
  2. Encouraging the pursuit of crazy ideas, even if they may not be true, can spark innovation and breakthroughs.
  3. Distorting facts slightly to make crazy ideas seem less crazy could potentially inspire more discovery and creativity.

In Delhi it's the season to choke

The Global Jigsaw • 99 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Air Pollution Environmental policies Public Health Comparison Progress
  1. In Delhi, the air pollution season is a serious health concern causing significant reductions in life expectancy.
  2. Both Beijing and Delhi face severe air pollution issues due to a combination of factors like geography, industrial sources, and weather.
  3. China has made significant progress in addressing air pollution through coordinated efforts including monitoring, pollution abatement, and restrictions on industries like coal-fired power plants.

True Transhumanism Part 2

Extropic Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Transhumanism Perfection Criticism Technology Progress
  1. In transhumanism, the focus is on continual improvement, not on reaching perfection or paradise.
  2. The concept of perfection as a static state goes against the principles of transhumanism, which emphasizes perpetual progress.
  3. Critics often misinterpret transhumanism as seeking a utopia or ideal state, but in reality, transhumanists aim for continuous advancement towards 'extropia'.

In the name of progress ...

Grist Potentia • 39 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🕹 Technology Progress Humanity AI
  1. Technology has been exciting humans for centuries, from basic tools to AI.
  2. Despite fears, humanity embraces technology, believing it leads to job creation and prosperity.
  3. Many techno-optimists have strong faith in the positive impacts of technology.

No smooth discontinuities

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 22 May 22
🕹 Technology Software Development Innovation Engineering Disruption Progress
  1. It's tough to make a big change in software if you're only trying to improve things a little at a time. Sometimes you need to take a big leap to really disrupt the norm.
  2. Incremental progress can help lead to new inventions, but after a big jump, you still have to do a lot of smaller work to make it successful.
  3. Embrace some chaos and messiness in your work. Sometimes these messy moments can lead to amazing results and breakthroughs.

What have I been up to lately?

Basta’s Notes • 40 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🪑 Design Electrification Painting Progress
  1. The author is updating followers about recent activities and plans on their newsletter.
  2. The author is renovating their garage and upgrading for electrification to accommodate new electric vehicles.
  3. The author has purchased a new electric motorcycle and is excited to share more about it and post motorcycle content.

Useful until we're useless

Lowly Midwestern Engineer's Newsletter • 38 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🕹 Technology AI Automation Progress Applications
  1. People expect AI to be perfect now, but we should focus on its value and improvement trends.
  2. AI has already changed lives in various fields like content creation, natural language search, and driving experiences.
  3. AI technology is rapidly improving, with bigger and more efficient models being developed, leading to potential future models that could outperform humans.

Techno-Optimism for Townies

Seeking Tribe • 16 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Optimism Future Innovation Progress Community
  1. Techno-optimists should consider how their ideas can improve the lives of people in small towns and communities.
  2. Progress should not just be about grand technological advancements, but also about improving daily life for everyone.
  3. The best future is one that enables various positive outcomes simultaneously, including greater prosperity and opportunities for all.

Saying Yes

The Permanent Problem • 7 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Progress Gratitude Patriotism
  1. Faith can be a choice, a fundamental relationship with the world around us, defined by saying yes to life despite challenges.
  2. Rediscovering faith in progress can lead to gratitude for past achievements and a sense of obligation to work towards future advancements.
  3. In American civil religion, acknowledging past flaws while embracing the country's founding ideals can help restore faith in the nation and its promise.

Why didn't we get GPT-2 in 2005?

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 3 HN points • 21 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Supercomputers Training Progress Competition
  1. GPT-2 likely required around 10^21 FLOPs to train, involving various estimates and approaches.
  2. The BlueGene/L supercomputer from 2005 could have trained GPT-2 in about 41 days, showcasing the progress in computing power.
  3. The development of large language models like GPT-2 was a gradual process influenced by evolving ideas, funding, and technology, distinct from targeted moon landing projects.

The Challenge for Minority Aspiring Executives

The Uncommon Executive • 0 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Diversity Leadership Progress Challenges Opportunity
  1. Diverse teams bring more innovation and better performance to companies. Having more women executives positively impacts business performance and innovation.
  2. There is still a lack of diversity in top executive positions, with white males dominating Fortune 100 companies. Women and minorities face challenges in advancing to executive roles.
  3. To overcome challenges as a minority aspiring executive, focus on your unique value proposition, break big goals into manageable steps, and find support from like-minded individuals.