The hottest Silicon Valley Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Good Lord

benn.substack • 2403 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Discourse Media influence Cultural critique Silicon Valley Power Dynamics
  1. Silicon Valley values thinking outside the box and embracing controversial ideas. This mindset pushes people to challenge standard beliefs and foster creativity.
  2. There are tensions between being a free thinker and accepting certain historical truths, like those presented in the 1619 Project. Some ideas challenge core beliefs and make people uncomfortable.
  3. Tech culture has shifted from reckless excess to a more sober approach, but many still wish to return to the old ways of fun and indulgence despite the need for social responsibility.

Some Say AI Is the Greatest Invention of All Time. I Don’t Get It.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1553 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Innovation Silicon Valley Economic Impact
  1. Many people believe AI is a game-changer, but it's mainly hype and not a real solution to life's problems. AI won't solve the everyday struggles we all face.
  2. The conversation around AI often seems disconnected from reality, with exaggerated claims about its impact. Recent events, like falling stock prices for AI companies, highlight that the excitement may not match what's happening in the real world.
  3. While some powerful figures praise AI as a major invention, skepticism remains. It's important to question if AI really lives up to the lofty expectations set by its advocates.

This New Internet Thing, Chapter 29

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1152 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Internet Software Startups Silicon Valley History
  1. Janet got a job at Netscape and felt nervous about the fast-paced startup culture compared to her old job at 3Com. She was excited but also unsure about how she'd fit in with the younger crowd.
  2. People at Netscape worked really hard, often late into the night, showing their commitment to making their browser successful. They truly believed they could compete with big companies like Microsoft.
  3. Netscape was gaining traction and businesses were interested in licensing the browser for their employees. This surprised Janet because many people assumed the software was only free for individuals.

Notes on Chapter 29

Life Since the Baby Boom • 922 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Internet Software Silicon Valley Corporate strategy
  1. Janet leaves her job at 3Com to work at Netscape during a hectic time in the tech industry. Many developers worked long hours, often staying late into the night.
  2. Netscape was seen as a major threat to Microsoft because of its browser capabilities. The belief was that if everything could be done through a browser, the operating system wouldn’t matter much.
  3. There were shady practices in Silicon Valley, including how Microsoft tried to hinder Netscape's success. This atmosphere led to a sense of distrust among companies during that era.

This New Internet Thing, Chapter 31

Life Since the Baby Boom • 691 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Tech History Silicon Valley Startups Internet Investment
  1. Cassie at Palm is excited about a new product called Touchdown but worries about funding for its launch. They found a partner to help manufacture it, which is a positive step.
  2. Len's career is taking a turn after Netscape's success, leading him to a possible job managing a new Internet-focused mutual fund. He’s starting to realize he enjoys this direction more than retirement.
  3. The bond between Len and his daughter Janet grows as they navigate their new potential successes together. Both are starting to embrace a more ambitious and wealthy future.
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The DeepSeek drama, visually explained 🐳

Year 2049 • 22 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Open Source Data science Silicon Valley
  1. The actual cost to train DeepSeek R1 is unknown, but it’s likely higher than the reported $5.6 million for its base model, DeepSeek V3.
  2. DeepSeek used a different training method called Reinforcement Learning, which lets the model improve itself based on rewards, unlike OpenAI's supervised learning approach.
  3. DeepSeek R1 is open-source and much cheaper to use for developers and businesses, challenging the idea that expensive hardware is necessary for AI model training.

Why the internet isn't fun anymore + A.I. and magic

Read Max • 2186 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Internet Artificial Intelligence Culture Silicon Valley Tech Ethics
  1. Many feel the internet is less fun now because of changing demographics and shifting cultural preferences.
  2. The internet may not be objectively worse, but it is used differently by various audiences.
  3. The embrace of AI in tech culture is influenced by historical themes of hierarchical society and authoritarian politics.

US government bailout of Silicon Valley and banks is $300B gift to rich oligarchs

Geopolitical Economy Report • 518 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Bailout Silicon Valley Federal Reserve Regulation
  1. The US government printed $300 billion in a week to bail out Silicon Valley and banks, ensuring all uninsured deposits were paid, benefitting wealthy oligarchs and venture capital firms.
  2. Silicon Valley Bank, while portrayed as supporting start-ups, actually catered mostly to venture capitalists and had risky practices, ultimately requiring a massive bailout.
  3. The Federal Reserve's $300 billion bailout exposed a double standard: the rich get bailed out while the government resists increased regulation that could prevent future crises, showing a system of privilege for the elite.

Revenge of the Angry Nerds: A More Competitive & Even More Ruthless Time in Silicon Valley

The Hard Fork by Marvin Liao • 216 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Silicon Valley Startups Tech industry Innovation Digital Transformation
  1. Silicon Valley is seeing a shift towards a more masculine, ruthless culture led by powerful men in tech.
  2. Tech companies are moving towards a leaner, more focused approach after facing financial challenges.
  3. Surviving in the current Silicon Valley landscape requires a severe mindset change, frugality, and hard work.

In the World of AI, What Have Engineers Experienced?

AI Disruption • 39 implied HN points • 07 May 24
🕹 Technology AI Engineers Silicon Valley Tech Companies Artificial Intelligence
  1. Silicon Valley AI engineers are burnt out due to high workload and constantly changing priorities.
  2. Many tech companies use AI for the sake of using it, focusing on hype rather than real problem-solving.
  3. The rush to release AI products quickly can lead to failures and negative consequences, highlighting a current bubble in the AI industry.

The Magnet 74: Grab Bag

The Magnet • 176 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Silicon Valley
  1. Psychic surgery can be deceptive and fraudulent, with practitioners often using tricks to appear miraculous.
  2. The HP Garage in Palo Alto is considered the birthplace of Silicon Valley, where Hewlett and Packard started making electronic equipment.
  3. Dr. Frederick Terman's encouragement to students at Stanford University led to the establishment of Silicon Valley by Hewlett and Packard in the 1930s.

Please no more personal assistants

Methexis • 117 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Startups Silicon Valley Artificial Intelligence
  1. Personal assistants are not the ultimate goal of personal computing, but rather a result of social influence and wealth.
  2. Silicon Valley execs have a false consensus bias in assuming everyone needs personal AI assistants like they do.
  3. The market for democratizing personal Chief of Staff roles through AI presents a financially viable startup opportunity.

Silicon Valley Generation Shift

Breaking Smart • 83 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Silicon Valley Geography Chip Design
  1. Silicon Valley is experiencing a generation shift in tech with the return of silicon fabrication to the region.
  2. The passing of Gordon Moore marks a significant moment in the tech industry and highlights the renewal underway.
  3. Actual silicon manufacturing hasn't been a common practice in Silicon Valley for decades, with most fabs moving to Asia.

Lương 6 chữ số

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 19 implied HN points • 04 Apr 16
🕹 Technology Career Opportunities Silicon Valley Programming Tech industry
  1. Fresh graduates from Vietnam have the potential to earn salaries in the six-figure range, especially in the tech industry.
  2. With smart financial planning and opportunities abroad, computer engineers in Vietnam can aim for higher income levels than the local average.
  3. Consider seeking job opportunities at major global tech companies for better financial prospects, surpassing what local companies in Vietnam typically offer.

Is this the future we want, you guys?!

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 27 Oct 16
🕹 Technology Social media Dating Apps Silicon Valley Internet Art
  1. The pre-Internet history of social media was kinder and better, with no commercial mandates or indexes.
  2. Research shows people are becoming less satisfied with dating apps, raising questions about the fault lying in ourselves, phones, or stars.
  3. Silicon Valley is disrupting various aspects of life, including food with innovations like DNA-based meal planning.

Kinh nghiệm tìm việc làm ở Silicon Valley

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 11
🕹 Technology Tech Jobs Job search Interview Preparation Salary Negotiation Silicon Valley
  1. Believe in your abilities - working hard and being disciplined can help you land a good job anywhere in the world.
  2. Effective job search strategy in Silicon Valley includes networking through various channels like LinkedIn, open-source projects, and joining company events.
  3. Prepare well for interviews by honing both technical skills and English proficiency. Have a strong LinkedIn profile and create tailored resumes for different purposes.

Thư ngỏ thứ hai gửi Quốc hội về Dự thảo Luật An Ninh Mạng

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 12 Jun 18
🌍 World Politics Legislation Education Silicon Valley Information Control
  1. The importance of internet freedom in fostering critical thinking and independent thought among individuals, especially in educational settings.
  2. The link between internet freedom, creativity, and economic development, highlighting the role of a free internet in allowing nations to compete globally in the tech industry.
  3. The potential impact of restricted internet access on the talent development, economic growth, and innovative capacity of a country, as seen through examples of Vietnamese students and tech entrepreneurs.