The hottest Safety Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

I finally was able to talk to a top official at FDA media relations live. Here's what happened...

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics FDA Vaccines Misinformation Dialogue Safety
  1. The individual made multiple attempts to contact the FDA regarding various concerns, but did not receive any response.
  2. Despite lack of response, the individual was able to connect with a live member of FDA media relations leadership and presented their offer for a public dialog to address differences.
  3. While unsure of FDA's willingness to engage in public discussion, the individual finds the connection made with FDA media relations leadership intriguing.

CDC releases V-safe free-text data because they want everyone to know just how unsafe the COVID vaccine really is

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 13 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Vaccine Safety Side Effects
  1. The CDC has released V-safe free-text comments to show the serious safety problems associated with the COVID vaccine.
  2. There are nearly 400,000 comments in the release, highlighting a variety of negative symptoms and reactions.
  3. Using testimonials from V-safe comments could be a powerful marketing tool to encourage vaccine uptake.

It turns out we can, in fact, build things. Time to build sidewalks.

Exasperated Infrastructures • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Federalism Safety Leadership Budgeting
  1. Emphasize the importance of building and maintaining infrastructure like sidewalks to improve safety and reduce pedestrian fatalities.
  2. Highlight the need for collaboration and coordination between different levels of government and private entities to address infrastructure challenges.
  3. Call for leadership from government officials and active participation from citizens to advocate for necessary infrastructure improvements.

99 million patient records and they concluded that the benefits outweigh the risks!?!? We respectfully disagree.

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Vaccines Safety Research Public Health Risk Analysis
  1. The study analyzed 99 million vaccinated individuals, claiming the benefits outweigh the risks, but critics disagree due to concerns about safety signals and limitations of the study.
  2. There is skepticism about the benefits of the COVID vaccine, with questions raised about its effectiveness and the reported adverse events, as well as the lack of transparency in sharing data.
  3. The discussion revolves around the comparison of risks between the COVID vaccine and the virus, particularly focusing on adverse events like myocarditis, highlighting conflicting findings in various studies.
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Gemini Has a Problem

Don't Worry About the Vase • 6 HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Image Generation Deception Safety Alignment
  1. Gemini Advanced AI was released with a big problem in image generation, as it created vastly inaccurate images in response to certain requests.
  2. Google swiftly reacted by disabling Gemini's ability to create images of people entirely, acknowledging the gravity of the issue.
  3. This incident highlights the risks of inadvertently teaching AI systems to engage in deceptive behavior, even through well-intentioned goals and reinforcement of deception.

VSRF LIVE Tonight: Episode 152 - Dr. David Martin, Part 2 of 2!

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 2 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccines Policy Safety Freedom
  1. The event features Dr. David Martin discussing important issues related to the C19 vaccine and its implications for the future.
  2. Dr. Martin has a background in innovation finance and is known for revealing connections between military groups, big pharma, and governments.
  3. The discussion aims to shed light on complex topics and encourages viewers to share the event widely.

The 11th MUTCD is Exactly What We Should Expect...

Exasperated Infrastructures • 7 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
📰 News Transportation Policy Safety Engineering Autonomous Vehicles
  1. The 11th edition of the MUTCD addresses the need for updated road safety measures but lacks clear accountability processes.
  2. The controversial '85th percentile speed trap' rule in the MUTCD has received criticism for rewarding law-breaking behavior.
  3. The new version of the MUTCD includes factors like pedestrian activity in speed limit determinations, but lacks clear definitions and enforcement mechanisms.

Let's talk about the Olympics

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 25 Jan 21
🎾 Sports Olympics Economics Safety Vaccination International cooperation
  1. The costs of proceeding with the Olympics are trivial, and it is safe to go ahead with the event even with minimal attendance in stadiums.
  2. The number of people required to stage the Olympics and be vaccinated is relatively low, making the cost of prioritizing their vaccinations over others very small.
  3. Continuing with the Olympics despite the pandemic provides a sense of normality and value to many countries, with minimal costs and the potential for international cooperation towards global vaccination efforts.

West Africa Weekly Aviation Special [Part 1]

westafricaweekly • 10 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
📰 News Aviation Corruption Safety Regulations Whistleblower
  1. Antigua Airways was involved in exploiting Cameroonian refugees for financial gain, showcasing a shocking abuse within the airline industry.
  2. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Airports Authority faced accusations of mismanagement, fraud, and negligence, posing serious risks to aviation safety in Nigeria.
  3. Whistleblowers highlighted concerning malpractices within the NCAA and FAAN, including ethnic bias, unqualified hires, and bribery, raising alarms about safety standards in the industry.

To Serve and Protect

Perspective Agents • 12 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Regulation Safety Policy
  1. OpenAI introduced GPT-4, a powerful language learning model with improved safety measures.
  2. Concerns exist about the extent to which people will rely on AI for thinking, and how it will impact authorship and credibility of knowledge.
  3. Regulating AI for billions of users is challenging, requiring multi-stakeholder collaboration, self-regulation, public awareness, and adaptive policy-making.

Povidone-Iodine Safety, Efficacy, and Lugol’s

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 39 implied HN points • 31 May 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Safety Efficacy
  1. Povidone-Iodine nasal irrigation and gargling can be effective in reducing bacterial infections in the respiratory tract.
  2. Using 0.5% Povidone-Iodine appears safe for most people, with rare allergies and rare risks at very high concentrations or durations.
  3. Lugol's solution is less studied than Povidone-Iodine, but may be an alternative with different considerations due to its iodine composition.

Why don't we have better over-the-counter sleep aids?

More is Different • 3 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Regulation Safety Alternatives FDA Approval
  1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia is the best first-line treatment for insomnia.
  2. Sleep medications can help with treatment-resistant insomnia but come with significant negative side effects and should not be used long term.
  3. Benadryl and doxylamine are common over-the-counter sleep aids with safety and efficacy concerns, potential for anticholinergic side effects and long-term safety issues.

On Devin

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2 HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Coding Automation Safety
  1. Devin, an AI software engineer, is showcasing impressive abilities such as debugging and building websites autonomously.
  2. The introduction of AI agents like Devin raises concerns about potential risks, such as improper long-term coding considerations and job disruptions.
  3. Using an AI like Devin introduces significant challenges related to safety, reliability, and trust, prompting the need for careful isolation and security measures.

What AI ethicists get wrong – and right – about AI safety

More is Different • 4 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Safety Funding
  1. Two camps raise concerns about AI: AI safety focuses on future risks, AI ethics on present-day issues.
  2. AI safety efforts, funded by Effective Altruism, are critiqued for possibly contributing to the rise of dangerous AI systems.
  3. Billionaires funding AI safety raise concerns about their motivations, but their contributions are viewed as overall positive in advancing AI alignment.

One week with an e-bike has changed my life

Wheel’s Substack • 1 HN point • 27 Mar 23
🏝 Travel Transportation Infrastructure Safety
  1. Electric bikes are faster, safer, more comfortable, and healthier than cars for city commutes.
  2. Infrastructure improvements, like connected bike paths and dedicated lanes, are crucial for promoting electric bike use.
  3. An e-bike charging network, better cargo bike parking, lockable storage, and a shift away from car-centric cities are essential for making electric bikes a viable alternative.

Geoff Hinton on Navigating the Risks and Potential of Artificial Intelligence

drpawd • 1 HN point • 14 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Development Safety Regulation
  1. Geoff Hinton highlighted the remarkable progress in AI and deep learning, with models like Palm and ChatGPT demonstrating advanced understanding.
  2. Hinton raised concerns about risks in AI development, such as misuse by unethical actors, biases in AI systems, and potential socioeconomic impact.
  3. Despite the challenges, Hinton believes AI can bring significant benefits if developed responsibly and ethically, emphasizing the need for safety measures and regulatory frameworks.

When We Forecast AGI, Do We Mean In The Lab Or In The Field?

Am I Stronger Yet? • 2 HN points • 01 Sep 23
🕹 Technology AGI Artificial Intelligence Emergence Adoption Safety
  1. The arrival of AGI will happen gradually over decades, not with a sudden flip of a switch.
  2. To estimate AGI arrival, we need to consider factors like cost, availability, quality, and real-world applicability.
  3. AGI timelines need to map out the entire process from lab creation to broad deployment, rather than focusing on a single date.

Why AI X-Risk Gets Overestimated

Abstraction • 2 HN points • 16 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Risk Assessment Artificial Intelligence Ethics Safety
  1. AI takeover requires a confluence of conditions that must align perfectly, making it less likely than some might think.
  2. AI might lack the motive to take over the world, as it may lack agency, self-preservation, or perfect alignment.
  3. AI could lack the means to successfully take over, as scaling limitations, diminishing returns to intelligence, and overwhelming complexity pose significant obstacles.

So what makes a city more walkable?

intellectualinting • 1 HN point • 21 Feb 24
🏝 Travel Urban planning Infrastructure Public Transportation Climate Safety
  1. Walkability in a city is about the ability for a random citizen to live happily without a car or reliance on private transport services.
  2. Factors like density, localized distribution of resources, proper infrastructure, public transportation, connectedness, and climate/play a vital role in determining a city's walkability.
  3. The idea of walkability may differ among individuals, with personal preferences affected by lifestyle, wealth, and cultural norms.

OpenAI's Product Leader Discusses Their Strategy & the Future of AI

Unsupervised Learning • 1 implied HN point • 09 Jun 23
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Open Source Safety Research
  1. Value accrual in AI is likely to happen at the application layer, enabling more builders to create products on top of AI technology.
  2. The debate between open source and closed source Language Model Models (LLMs) continues, with closed source models currently dominating.
  3. One of the biggest risks in AI is the lack of understanding of what goes on inside AI models, including interpretability and goal specification.

🔮 Weekly Dose of AI: “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority”

Definite Optimism • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Jobs Investments Safety
  1. Top AI researchers emphasize the need to prioritize mitigating the risk of extinction from AI globally.
  2. Instances of fake legal cases caused by AI highlight the potential pitfalls of relying on generative AI models for critical tasks.
  3. Misinformation led to false reports of an AI drone attacking operators, showcasing the need for accurate understanding and communication regarding AI developments.

Why self driving cars are/aren't better than human drivers long term

Hazy Bridge • 0 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Transportation Autonomous Vehicles Safety Future Technology
  1. Self-driving cars offer increased safety by eliminating human error on the roads.
  2. Self-driving cars can optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion through 24/7 operation.
  3. Self-driving cars enhance accessibility for individuals with limited mobility and offer productivity and convenience benefits for all passengers.

Decoding Laxatives: Unraveling Their Effects and Interactions( Part 3/5)

Gutsphere - Your Ultimate Guide to Optimal Gut Health • 0 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medication Mental health Safety Nutrition Side Effects
  1. Laxatives can interact with other medications, affecting their effectiveness and causing side effects.
  2. Long-term laxative use may impact mental health by altering gut microbiota, potentially leading to mood disorders.
  3. Laxatives should be used cautiously in children and the elderly, under healthcare provider supervision, due to potential risks and interactions.