The hottest Technology Substack posts right now

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Pivotal Tech Company: 50% Drop in Orders

COVID Reason • 237 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
💼 Business Technology
  1. ASML, a major company in the semiconductor industry, saw a huge 50% drop in future bookings. This suggests some big challenges in the market right now.
  2. The decline in orders points to larger economic issues that could be affecting many companies. It shows how quickly things can change in the world of tech.
  3. Overall, this situation reveals that the financial landscape can be unpredictable. Companies need to stay alert to these shifts to manage risks properly.

The Epstein Tapes, Part II. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 445 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
📰 News Technology
  1. Newly released law‑enforcement footage from the Jeffrey Epstein investigations shows searches, depositions, and sting operations, and the revelations are still producing fallout like resignations and public apologies.
  2. Fear and uncertainty about AI are roiling markets — a viral essay scared investors and sparked big losses — while tests show some popular AI models can make alarming choices in war simulations, raising safety and governance worries.
  3. Political and cultural tensions are mounting: the administration looks low on new policy ideas, public figures and athletes are getting politicized, and controversies over appointments, intelligence secrecy, and tech decisions (like Starlink) are fueling broader friction.

Watch Those Assumptions!

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1864 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Technology
  1. Population projections for 2050 have been revised downward. Yet global energy demand is still expected to grow a lot, so fewer people doesn't automatically mean less energy use.
  2. Electric vehicle adoption is projected to rise dramatically around the world, especially in developing regions, and that could sharply reduce demand for liquid fuels if it accelerates. Small changes in EV trends can ripple across many other energy projections.
  3. Fossil fuels are likely to remain a large part of the energy mix through mid-century, with oil and gas plateauing and coal declining more slowly than hoped. The fastest way to cut emissions quickly would be to replace coal-fired power plants.

DeFi Roundup + Q&A (September 2024 pt. 1)

DeFi Education • 459 implied HN points • 14 Sep 24
🔮 Crypto Technology
  1. Coinbase is bringing tokenized Bitcoin to the Ethereum network, which could have a big impact on DeFi. This is significant because the Bitcoin network holds a lot of value.
  2. There are updates on Trump’s World Liberty Financial, hinting at its involvement in the DeFi space. This reflects the growing interest from traditional finance figures in decentralized finance.
  3. A bi-weekly Q&A section is included, allowing subscribers to ask questions related to DeFi. This engagement can help the community learn and understand more about developments in the space.

Suddenly, Trait-Based Embryo Selection

Astral Codex Ten • 23538 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Trait-based embryo selection is becoming more common, allowing parents to pick embryos with better health outcomes and predict certain traits. This could mean healthier children with lower risks of diseases like diabetes or cancer.
  2. There are ethical concerns about this technology, including the potential for creating inequality, as only wealthier families might afford these choices. Critics worry this could lead to a divide between those who can enhance their children's traits and those who can't.
  3. While the science behind polygenic embryo selection is still evolving, some argue it may not fully deliver on its promises. It's important for parents to understand both the potential benefits and the limitations as this technology becomes more available.
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5 Ways to Stop AI Cheating

The Honest Broker • 34143 implied HN points • 28 May 25
🚌 Education Technology
  1. AI cheating is a big problem in schools right now, and many believe it's worsening fast. Students often use AI tools to do their work instead of learning.
  2. An old-fashioned education style, like the one at Oxford, could help stop AI cheating. This system relies heavily on handwritten work and face-to-face discussions with teachers.
  3. The Oxford method is tough and demanding, encouraging real understanding and preventing cheating. If used more widely, it could ensure students truly learn and earn their degrees.

Closed Loop

Doomberg • 6214 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. China is investing heavily in coal-to-liquids technology to reduce reliance on foreign oil and improve energy security. They are developing facilities that convert coal into fuels and chemicals, which is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.
  2. There is a booming sector in coal-to-gas production in China, which aims to increase energy independence despite global natural gas being cheaper and more abundant. This focus on coal-derived natural gas has economic and environmental concerns.
  3. China is also making strides in nuclear energy with a new thorium-based reactor, potentially leading to a new source of energy. This aims to enhance their energy resources and reduce dependence on external supplies.

Stop Telling Aliens We’re Here

Yascha Mounk • 1718 implied HN points • 15 Aug 24
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Some scientists are broadcasting messages to possible aliens, but this could be very dangerous for humanity. We don't know if aliens would be friendly or hostile.
  2. If aliens are able to contact us, they would likely be more advanced than us in technology. This raises concerns about their intentions and what could happen if they come here.
  3. Deciding to contact aliens should be a choice made by everyone, not just a few scientists. It's important to consider the potential risks before making such a drastic move.

ACX/Metaculus Prediction Contest 2026

Astral Codex Ten • 4060 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
📰 News Technology
  1. A crowdsourced prediction contest on Metaculus is now live, covering U.S. politics, AI, international affairs, and culture, and you can enter using your regular account or a bot account.
  2. Submit forecasts by January 17 at 11:59 PM PT; a snapshot then determines contest rankings and how the $10,000 prize pool is allocated, and forecasts made after that only affect site leaderboards, not contest rankings.
  3. Organizers announced cash awards for the best question submitters, with the top prize being $700 and several other winners receiving smaller amounts.

Stop pretending you know what AI does to the economy

Noahpinion • 23882 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Many people overreact to the potential negative impacts of AI on jobs and the economy. There's a tendency to jump to conclusions without waiting to see the real effects.
  2. Despite fears, AI hasn't yet shown a clear negative impact on the job market in the U.S., which remains strong. Past alarms about AI harming jobs have often been proven wrong.
  3. It's important to approach discussions about AI with a balanced view and avoid letting panic dictate our understanding of its effects on society and work.

Modern life is good actually

Chris Arnade Walks the World • 3119 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Modern life is much better for most people — longer lives, less poverty, and far better medicine and conveniences.
  2. Technology is largely a net good, but its harms come from how we use it and when it accelerates social isolation instead of strengthening community.
  3. Progress brings painful tradeoffs and displacement that should be managed, but overall moving forward is worth it because it reduces suffering and expands choices.

Jonathan Haidt: The Devil’s Plan to Ruin the Next Generation

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 6014 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Constant convenience and distraction from smartphones and social media quietly erode young people’s attention and wellbeing, functioning like a slow, unnoticed harm.
  2. Researchers have documented a sharp decline in Gen Z mental health since the early 2010s, and growing evidence links that drop to smartphone and social media use.
  3. Early worries about overprotection gave way to a focus on technology, with the age kids first get smartphones emerging as a key factor tied to later mental wellbeing.

It's OK not to be fat

Noahpinion • 30000 implied HN points • 07 Jun 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Technology
  1. Losing weight can be more about paying attention to what you eat rather than just having strong willpower. Being mindful of how much you eat and when you stop can make it easier to lose weight.
  2. Technological solutions, like certain weight-loss drugs, may be better at addressing obesity than social solutions. These medications can help suppress appetite and lead to effective and sustainable weight loss.
  3. Weight loss doesn't have to be a moral or self-worth issue. It's just a matter of managing hunger and attention, and using tools to simplify the process can free up time for more important things.

Top Links 1016 Dassault means trouble. LatAm's labour market. National security muffins & Gadamer's secrets to longevity.

Chartbook • 457 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Technology
  1. Investment in US power generation plateaued in 2024 after political shifts and IRA-related changes. That raises the risk of a power bottleneck that could constrain AI development.
  2. The roundup flags potential trouble at Dassault and provides fresh analysis of Latin America's labour market.
  3. The selection mixes serious national-security and economic reporting with quirky cultural and philosophical pieces, from 'national security muffins' to reflections on Gadamer and longevity.

Open Thread 422.5

Astral Codex Ten • 481 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Open Thread 422.5 is an open-thread entry published on Feb 26, 2026.
  2. The content is paywalled and requires a paid subscription or signing in to read.
  3. The entry shows modest engagement (3 comments and 74 interactions) and provides links to subscribe or sign in.

Pluribus and Our Age of Hive Minds

The Intrinsic Perspective • 5349 implied HN points • 18 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. We live in a world where our thoughts and opinions are influenced by larger groups, like social media or advanced AI, which can feel both overwhelming and entertaining.
  2. The show _Pluribus_ explores a world where everyone is linked in a hive mind, raising questions about privacy and individuality in such a closely connected society.
  3. The idea of a positive hive mind, where everyone is cheerful and helpful, is intriguing but might also come with its own set of problems, like loss of personal freedom and constant scrutiny.

Yao Yang: the post-2018 evolution in China's political economy

Pekingnology • 128 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Technology
  1. Since 2018 China has entered a "new era" where the government is correcting reform-era excesses. It is cracking down on corruption, deleveraging finance, shrinking property speculation, and curbing oversized platform and tutoring industries to reassert state control and redirect resources.
  2. The leadership is doubling down on manufacturing and pushing for technological self-reliance, emphasizing "zero-to-one" breakthrough innovation and building a complete, independent tech ecosystem by around 2035.
  3. Those domestic priorities are closely tied to geopolitics: China aims to win tech competition with the U.S., build military strength from industrial and tech capacity, and press for eventual reunification with Taiwan. Possible bilateral outcomes range from stabilized competition and limited investment openings to a peaceful settlement over Taiwan.

🔥 American hot rocks

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Technology
  1. America’s shale boom was a joint effort: government funded early science and field trials while private companies did the risky tinkering and cost-cutting to make it commercial.
  2. Lawmakers are trying to copy that playbook for advanced (superhot) geothermal by using public funding to absorb early technical risk and spur demonstrations.
  3. If government-backed R&D and private-sector scaling work together again, geothermal could be developed into a large, competitive clean energy source.

Is the Epstein Fallout Spiraling Out of Control? Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 588 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
📰 News Technology
  1. The Epstein files’ release is triggering broad reputational fallout where people with only loose ties are being punished, and guilt by association is blurring the line between true enablers and innocent bystanders.
  2. Marco Rubio pulled off an unexpected diplomatic win in Europe by sharply criticizing its failures yet still earning applause, showing his message landed because many there feel they have few good options left.
  3. AI has advanced so quickly that humans may soon no longer be the smartest things on Earth, a change that raises urgent questions about what roles people will keep and how society should adapt.

When Disney Went Digital

Animation Obsessive • 16325 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Computers changed the way Disney made animations. Instead of using traditional cels, artists began to create and manage animations digitally, which saved time and opened up new creative possibilities.
  2. Disney was initially hesitant about using computer technology. They worried it might take away from the quality of their classic hand-drawn films and even tried to keep the new system a secret for a while.
  3. Despite the initial challenges, the move to digital animation helped Disney produce stunning films with more colors and effects. This technology allowed them to create ambitious scenes that were impossible or too costly with old methods.

Arthur Brooks: Why Are Young People Choosing OnlyFans Over Love?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 561 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Fear is pushing many young people away from messy, real relationships and toward paid, anonymous interactions that feel safer and less vulnerable.
  2. The internet and subscription porn sites offer instant gratification and anonymity, which can deepen loneliness and foster addictive habits instead of building lasting connections.
  3. OnlyFans shows how big and profitable this shift is. Hundreds of millions of users and billions of dollars spent show paid virtual intimacy outcompeting traditional media and even some AI services.

The Looming War with Iran. Brendan Carr’s Free Speech Hypocrisy. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 477 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
📰 News Technology
  1. The U.S. is positioned to strike Iran even as last-minute diplomacy continues, while widespread mourning for protest victims inside Iran could fuel more unrest and make a military conflict more dangerous and drawn-out.
  2. Foreign governments are flooding Washington with lobbyists under the current administration, creating a boom in overseas influence and raising questions about oversight and transparency.
  3. The FCC chair who once defended free speech is now backing efforts to silence critics of the president, revealing a partisan shift and hypocrisy around speech enforcement.

Racket is Hiring

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 1892 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
📰 News Technology
  1. A news outlet is hiring general assignment reporters and columnists who have subject-matter or geographic expertise.
  2. Candidates should have strong reporting skills—good writing, phone reporting, public-records research, and source development—and experience covering beats like Washington politics, defense/intelligence, immigration and law enforcement, regional state politics, or tech and finance is preferred.
  3. Editing or video experience and backgrounds in fields like law, medicine, or academia are helpful. Citizen journalists and independents are welcome, and applicants should submit a brief cover letter, resume, and writing samples.

Doomscroll: Trevor Paglen

Joshua Citarella's Newsletter • 437 implied HN points • 02 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Trevor Paglen discusses how art connects technology and politics, showing us what can often be hidden or ignored. His work helps us think about the important issues behind new tech.
  2. He talks about 'psyops capitalism', where media creates content based on user behavior, which can shape our views and experiences.
  3. Paglen compares early UFO stories to today's social media disinformation, highlighting how misinformation has always been a part of our society.

Monthly Roundup #38: January 2026

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1747 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
📰 News Technology
  1. A proposed California wealth tax that taxes billionaires and illiquid startup equity could drive founders and tech companies out of the state and seriously damage the startup ecosystem.
  2. Saying a large share of taxes just pays interest is misleading; the right things to watch are debt-to-GDP and whether interest rates exceed nominal growth — interest costs are manageable now but the primary deficit is too large.
  3. Burnout isn’t just working too hard but specific mismatches like being always on, lacking control, or losing a sense of mission, and it needs early, targeted fixes like real rest, autonomy, novelty, or clearer goals.

Top Links 1012 Google's investing. The economic cost of Brexit. Adrienne Rich's Sources & "the strangers’ case"

Chartbook • 472 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
💼 Business Technology
  1. Google is dramatically ramping up capital spending — jumping from around $25–30bn to about $185bn in 2026 — indicating a big push into infrastructure and future growth.
  2. Analyses emphasize the economic cost of Brexit, pointing to lasting hits to trade, investment, and overall UK growth.
  3. There’s literary attention on Adrienne Rich’s Sources and the poem "the strangers’ case", which probe themes of identity, belonging, and social critique.

MSTR: Converting index investing into a BTC bid

Jay’s Substack • 219 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🔮 Crypto Technology
  1. MicroStrategy is changing the way they invest by using Bitcoin. This shows a shift from traditional investing to a more crypto-focused strategy.
  2. The company is seeing success by integrating Bitcoin into their business model. This approach may inspire other companies to consider similar moves.
  3. The concept of turning index investing into Bitcoin bids highlights a trend in finance. It’s a sign that people are exploring innovative ways to invest.

Nigeria’s Killing Fields. When a Loved One Gets Kidnapped. Plus . . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 245 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
📰 News Technology
  1. Nigeria is trapped in cyclical, sectarian violence where jihadist groups and militias have killed and displaced large numbers of people, and the crisis gets too little sustained international attention.
  2. When a loved one is kidnapped, families are plunged into a void of fear and helplessness with almost no information or control, and survivors say coping means enduring uncertainty and finding ways to keep going.
  3. Internal documents show Instagram has struggled to protect teens and can amplify harmful content like eating-disorder material, prompting legal scrutiny and questions about whether Meta will change its business model.

🚀 FP! Week In Review, Briefly #21

Faster, Please! • 639 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
📰 News Technology
  1. Fertility is falling in many rich countries and probably won’t bounce back on its own, but the economic hit looks manageable and immigration plus automation can largely offset it.
  2. AI is rapidly transforming education, business, and the economy, offering big gains while also creating bubbles, supply shortages, and political and industry tensions.
  3. Breakthroughs in space, biotech, and quantum computing are accelerating — from lunar factory plans to inhalable gene therapies and ambitious quantum projects — creating major opportunities and strategic competition.

Weekend Update #174: Ukraine Retaking Territory And Starlink

Phillips’s Newsletter • 284 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Technology
  1. Ukrainian forces made measurable territorial gains in February (roughly 165 sq km) by using small, well-trained units, precise intelligence, and tight battlefield communications to secure contested "greyzone" areas.
  2. A reported cut-off of Russian access to Starlink degraded Russian communications and likely helped Ukrainian operations, but it also exposes the danger of relying on privately controlled satellite services and pushes Ukraine to develop backup systems.
  3. Ukraine’s FP-5 Flamingo long-range strike showed improved accuracy and real damage to a Russian missile workshop, offering promise for a strategic strike campaign if production can be scaled, while European leaders are distancing themselves from US/Israeli strikes on Iran and signaling a more independent diplomatic stance that could matter politically for Ukraine.

The State of the Culture, 2024

The Honest Broker • 121016 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. The entertainment industry is facing challenges like Disney in crisis, Paramount laying off employees, and a decline in TV shows, showing a shift towards a post-entertainment culture.
  2. The culture is transitioning towards a focus on distraction and addiction, with tech platforms using stimuli to create addictive cycles, impacting people's brains and happiness levels.
  3. As our culture evolves into a dopamine-driven society, it becomes essential to be mindful of our consumption habits, unplug from technology at times, and appreciate the real world around us.

How Gripen Philosophy Could Beat the F-35

Erik Explores • 614 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Technology
  1. Gripen is built for coordinated, squad-level fighting—its peer-to-peer data sharing and electronic warfare let multiple jets act as a single, flexible unit, while the F-35 focuses on individual stealth and sensor fusion.
  2. Because it’s simpler and cheaper to maintain and produce, Gripen can fly more often, train pilots faster, and stay operational when logistics or supply chains are strained.
  3. Its open, modular electronics, AI-friendly design, and support from long-range sensors like GlobalEye make Gripen easier to upgrade and better suited to adaptive, resource-constrained wars where resilience matters.

How America Blew It on EVs. The Trouble with Eileen Gu. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 445 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
📰 News Technology
  1. America is falling behind in the electric car transition because Detroit didn’t build the kinds of EVs buyers wanted and mishandled the shift from gas-powered models.
  2. The positive coverage of Eileen Gu shows how media can be uncritical when an athlete competes for an authoritarian country, making flattering profiles feel more like soft propaganda than scrutiny.
  3. More young people are turning to risk-free monetized intimacy like OnlyFans instead of messy real relationships, which can reduce exposure to rejection and hinder emotional growth.

The End of an Era

In Bed With Social • 376 implied HN points • 02 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Grief can make us feel heavy and sad, but it also helps us understand what really matters in life. When we lose someone, we start to see everything more clearly and value the little moments.
  2. Technology tries to help us hold on to our loved ones, but it's not the same as real love. We can't replace the feelings we have with digital copies or memories; we need to accept the loss and let love evolve.
  3. True strength comes from learning to live with the idea of impermanence. It’s important to make space for grief, knowing that love will still exist in our memories and shape who we are.

Jon Stewart is bad again (Odds and Ends #86)

Odds and Ends of History • 670 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
📰 News Technology
  1. Jon Stewart has done something controversial again and is attracting criticism.
  2. Driverless cars may have a bigger and more surprising impact than people expect, with effects beyond just safety numbers.
  3. AI looks set to transform many parts of life and government, with wide-ranging disruptive consequences.

Chronological Displacement Syndrome

Anima Mundi • 721 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
📖 Philosophy Technology
  1. Many people now feel "chronological displacement": a persistent sense of not belonging to the present, an inability to imagine a stable future, and exhaustion from constant adaptation.
  2. This feeling comes from rapid technological change combined with the weakening of anchors like religion, tradition, and stable place that used to give lives continuity across generations.
  3. The response must be collective, not just personal: acknowledge the structural problem, reconsider the pace and incentives of change, and build new practices, communities, and identities that make living in permanent flux more bearable.

The Doomsday Trade

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 255 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
💼 Business Technology
  1. A viral memo about AI, presented as a scenario rather than a prediction, still triggered a huge market selloff when investors panicked.
  2. The memo describes rapid AI adoption causing mass white-collar layoffs, collapsing consumer spending, rising unemployment, and a negative feedback loop that could devastate the economy.
  3. The episode shows markets are highly vulnerable to sentiment and viral narratives, able to wipe out hundreds of billions of dollars in value in a single morning.

Power in the Age of Intelligence

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 297 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
💼 Business Technology
  1. New technologies make key inputs abundant, which magnifies the value of scarce, industry-specific assets so a few winners capture a growing share of economic value.
  2. To win you must identify the industry’s bottleneck (the Schwerpunkt), break it, seize the High Ground by owning the scarce defensible asset, and then integrate outward to lock in those gains.
  3. That often means building full‑stack businesses or using hardware and services instead of defaulting to SaaS, and investors must judge bespoke strategy and execution rather than rely on standard SaaS metrics.

Stop speedrunning to a dystopia

The Intrinsic Perspective • 40345 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Big tech companies are doing shady things that can harm users, like creating fake music and using bots to engage with people. This shows a troubling trend toward prioritizing profit over real human connection.
  2. Kids' shows and adult films are being dumbed down to keep viewers engaged without paying full attention. This shift is making entertainment less meaningful and more mindless.
  3. There's a lack of strong critiques about how our media consumption is changing us, and we need more artists to call out these issues. Understanding the risks of being overly entertained is important to avoid a dystopian future.

Write for ChinaTalk!

ChinaTalk • 844 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🌐 International Technology
  1. They’re seeking deeply reported, analytically sharp pitches that go beyond headlines and are willing to pay and edit work from first-time or non-native-English writers.
  2. Priority topics include China’s escalation and economic-coercion options, energy and data-center build-out (and its ties to AI), China’s global tech and infrastructure influence, scientific and biotech progress, and Taiwan’s democratization.
  3. Reporters with local language skills, on-the-ground access, archival finds, or ideas for novel formats (interactive pieces or economic modeling) are especially encouraged and can earn higher pay.