The hottest Tech Culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Tech journalists that hate tech

Machine Learning Everything • 459 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Journalism Criticism Tech Culture Innovation
  1. Some tech journalists seem to focus only on the negative aspects of technology and businesses. This makes their articles feel less relevant to people who actually care about tech advancements.
  2. Independent tech commentators are becoming more popular because they show a real passion for their subjects. They talk about technology in a way that's exciting and authentic, unlike some critics.
  3. Criticism of tech leaders often lacks balance, focusing only on their flaws without acknowledging their successes or innovations. This one-sided view can lead to a misunderstanding of the tech industry.

Holding two thoughts

Sunday Letters • 139 implied HN points • 11 Aug 24
🕹 Technology AI Computation Software Innovation Tech Culture
  1. AI is a big change, and it's hard to label it just good or bad. We're still figuring out how to use it effectively, but it has a lot of potential.
  2. In everyday life, AI is starting to prove useful in small ways, like transcribing recipes quickly or helping create survey questions.
  3. Just like with e-commerce and search engines, AI will gradually become more integrated into our lives as people find ways to use it better.

"Here's the sad state of the cloud"

Cloud Irregular • 3696 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Cloud Computing Artificial Intelligence Tech industry Tech Culture Data Privacy
  1. The cloud landscape is shifting from big hyperscalers to more specialized services like standalone databases and DIY cloud-in-a-box.
  2. Using tools like Nightshade to protect art from being exploited by AI may not be the best strategy, focusing on creating original, high-quality art is key.
  3. Google, despite criticism, remains a significant player in the tech industry, seen as a symbol of intellectual prowess and innovation.

TBM 327: Hot Takes and Parochial Altruism

The Beautiful Mess • 674 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Tech Culture Work dynamics Innovation Social Issues
  1. Many people in tech show strong loyalty to their group but criticize those outside of it. This behavior can create division and blame against those who are seen as different or less capable.
  2. The tech industry is experiencing a lot of mixed emotions, with issues like job losses and pressure to perform leading people to cling to their own groups for support and validation.
  3. It's important to reflect on how our own biases shape our views of others. Being aware of our reactions and the impact of societal pressures can help us respond more thoughtfully to negative talk.
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Small newsletters, big ideas

Artificial Ignorance • 121 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Data science Tech Culture Tech Ethics
  1. There are many small newsletters focusing on AI that offer unique perspectives and insights. They cover topics that go beyond just technical details.
  2. The newsletters featured are all written by humans and aim to provide long-form articles, making them a great choice for those who want to dive deep into AI discussions.
  3. This is a good way to discover hidden gems in the world of AI content, especially from creators with less than 1,000 subscribers.

My favorite 1980's Canadian TV show: Bits and Bytes

Omar’s Writing • 185 HN points • 11 May 24
🕹 Technology Computers Education Tech Culture Digital Literacy
  1. In the 1980's TV show Bits and Bytes, the creators had a high expectation of what the average person could understand about computers, aiming to educate at a very basic level on computer usage.
  2. Explaining technical matters to the average person should avoid oversimplification and strive to provide useful truths, similar to how Bits and Bytes used metaphors while maintaining honesty.
  3. When explaining complex technical matters today, it is important to strike a balance between abstraction and detailed knowledge, recognizing that the average person is capable of understanding if sufficiently motivated.

Create good problems to have

Subconscious • 830 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Tech Culture Community Building Complex Systems Social Networks
  1. Create good problems to have after the flywheel is already spinning, during rapid growth, which motivates the ecosystem to solve problems.
  2. Avoid building perfect technology as it leads to front-loading work, needing an ecosystem flywheel, and inability to anticipate scale problems.
  3. Creating good problems to have encourages co-evolution with the community and provides opportunities for others to contribute.

11 strange sights from Bitcoin Amsterdam

The Rectangle • 28 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🔮 Crypto Cryptocurrency Blockchain Events Tech Culture Digital Currency
  1. At Bitcoin Amsterdam, most prices were in Euros, not Bitcoin. This felt a bit off for an event named after a cryptocurrency.
  2. You couldn't really pay in Bitcoin at the event itself, which was surprising. There was a Bitcoin Lightning option, but many felt that didn't count.
  3. The event had a noticeable gender imbalance, with about 95% of attendees being men, though there were fewer people with dreadlocks than expected.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #81

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 84 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Space Biotech AI Tech Culture Futurism
  1. SpaceX launched a private lander, Odysseus, aiming for the moon on a pioneering mission, marking a significant step in private space exploration and NASA's Artemis program
  2. Researchers in South Korea developed a method to grow beef on rice grains, creating a rice-beef hybrid that can enhance the nutritional value of rice-based diets in many parts of Asia
  3. A breakthrough in quantum technology allows for room-temperature quantum optomechanics, opening doors for practical applications of quantum control and observation

Notes from #WIRED30

The Future, Now and Then • 85 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Futurism AI Internet Tech Culture Digital Media
  1. Tech's center of gravity has shifted in the past 30 years in Silicon Valley, futurism, and WIRED.
  2. Tim Berners-Lee's effort to give users control over data faces challenges from established tech giants.
  3. WIRED is drawing boundary lines around the AI debate, embracing diverse perspectives and urging attention to the limitations of large language models.

#6 Twitter: What's My *Name* Again?

Product Identity • 19 implied HN points • 28 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Social media Product Design User Experience Digital Identity Tech Culture
  1. Twitter, now called X, is facing an identity crisis after Elon Musk's takeover. Users feel confused about the platform's direction and branding changes.
  2. Despite its challenges, Twitter remains a unique place for short-form content and discussions. Its text-first approach has fostered a special community culture.
  3. The introduction of long-form tweets has changed Twitter's essence, moving it away from its original character limit that defined its identity. This could impact the way users engage with content.

On WIRED magazine's startup phase (1993-1997)

The Future, Now and Then • 51 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
💼 Business Startups Magazines Founders Tech Culture Business Models
  1. WIRED magazine's startup phase (1993-1997) was like a tumultuous startup journey, filled with rapid growth and financial struggles.
  2. Louis Rossetto led WIRED as a startup, investing in various ventures but facing financial challenges.
  3. The magazine's early years were marked by rapid expansion, big ambitions, and struggles to adapt to the changing tech landscape.

Who Killed Twitter 1.0?

Tech Ramblings • 39 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media Business strategy Tech Culture Digital marketing Leadership
  1. Twitter struggled to grow because of poor leadership and weak management. Instead of making smart business decisions, they ended up being an easy target for a takeover.
  2. The company failed to innovate and improve, leading to stagnant stock prices. While other tech companies thrived, Twitter's management kept hiring without making meaningful changes.
  3. Even after Musk's takeover, Twitter faces challenges because it still hasn't solved its underlying issues. Competing platforms are emerging, creating a real threat to its future.

Is Your Team a Cost Centre Without Product Understanding?

🔮 Crafting Tech Teams • 19 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
💼 Business Team Dynamics Product Management Engineering Tech Culture Product Development
  1. Product understanding is crucial for a strong team. A team without it may struggle to bring products to market efficiently.
  2. Ensuring a strong product culture is essential. It involves keeping the product team and founders aligned and integrated into the engineering process.
  3. Maintaining a balance between product and engineering value streams is key. This helps in avoiding a disconnect that can make a team function more as a cost center.

Accelerating Code Reviews With Nudges

Engineering Enablement • 19 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Development Productivity Tech Culture Experiment Software Engineering
  1. Code reviews at Meta were taking too long, so they experimented with NudgeBot to speed up the process.
  2. The team identified a correlation between slow code reviews and dissatisfaction, leading to the implementation of NudgeBot.
  3. By using NudgeBot to nudge reviewers to act on 'stale' diffs, Meta successfully reduced the time taken for code reviews.

30 Days of Creative Programming: Day 10 Update

polymathematics • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Programming Creative Coding Digital Art Software Development Tech Culture
  1. Creative programming can be a fun and imaginative way to code. It's about enjoying the process and exploring new ideas.
  2. Updating your online presence can help reflect what you love doing. A catchy bio can attract like-minded people and build a community.
  3. Sharing your projects regularly helps keep you motivated. It’s great to have a goal to create something new every day.

HN blogs - 31/10/24

HackerNews blogs newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software AI Web Development Data science Tech Culture
  1. Women in tech face unique challenges, and it's important to support them in their careers. Encouraging diversity can lead to better teams and ideas.
  2. Understanding what makes a good problem is key to effective problem solving. It's not just about fixing issues, but knowing which problems to tackle.
  3. Typing speed isn't everything when it comes to being productive. Sometimes, taking your time can lead to better thinking and results.

Can The French Do It Better ? Tribe, Yellow, Zenly

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 12 Oct 16
🕹 Technology Startups Apps Investments Entrepreneurs Tech Culture
  1. French apps Tribe, Yellow, and Zenly have attracted millions of downloads and hundreds of thousands of daily active users.
  2. These apps have shown resilience, starting as different products and evolving to their current successful versions with investor support.
  3. To truly succeed, these French apps still need to reach millions of daily active users with strong retention rates.

Navigating the Tech Labyrinth: Welcome to Baby CTO!

Baby CTO • 0 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Tech Culture Entrepreneurship Tech Education
  1. Baby CTO offers a holistic view of technology by combining cultural experiences and technical skills from different countries.
  2. Lessons from entrepreneurial ventures and tech agency work provide valuable insights into the world of startups and technology.
  3. Baby CTO aims to engage readers in in-depth discussions about various aspects of technology, from granular coding details to broad strategic reviews.

Siddharth Venkatesh (Product Management Lead at Anyscale)

The Takeoff • 0 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Product Management Open Source Community Engagement Professional development Tech Culture
  1. Building customer empathy involves engaging various team members early on in the customer engagement process.
  2. Great product managers are informed by data, not attached to their ideas, and blend qualitative and quantitative inputs.
  3. In an open-core company, interacting with a passionate community of developers is essential for product management.