The hottest Technology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

What happened in marketing: Meta is cooked, Microsoft goes big and TikTok's last hope

The Social Juice • 39 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Microsoft is investing heavily in AI, planning to put $80 billion into data centers this year. This shows their commitment to growing their technology influence.
  2. Meta is facing serious challenges and has decided to remove certain AI character accounts, signaling struggles in their strategy.
  3. TikTok is in a critical situation and needs to find new ways to maintain its user engagement and popularity.

What happens if you pause growth, invest in AI, and relaunch?

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Pausing growth to focus on AI development can lead to better products. It allows companies to refine what they offer before trying to grow again.
  2. Investing in creators is becoming a smart business strategy. It helps creators monetize their content while making sure that the investors benefit when creators succeed.
  3. The market is seeing new technology, especially in AI and quantum computing. Companies like Crunchbase are innovating to stay relevant and competitive.

Instacart S-1 Breakdown

Tanay’s Newsletter • 145 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
💼 Business Technology
  1. Instacart offers different products like an online grocery marketplace, an enterprise platform, and advertising services.
  2. The US grocery market has significant online growth potential, and Instacart is a major player in capturing that online market share.
  3. Instacart operates as a three-sided marketplace connecting retailers, customers, and shoppers, along with indirect involvement from CPG brands.

Desire isn't a strategy

Sunday Letters • 139 implied HN points • 13 Mar 22
💼 Business Technology
  1. Desire alone is not a strategy; it lacks specific actions and directions. A clear strategy needs to tell you what steps to take and what to avoid.
  2. Many people confuse goals with strategies. Goals like 'getting rich' are vague, while a strategy like 'specializing in field X' is more actionable.
  3. Successful companies have clear strategies that guide their actions and decisions. If a plan doesn’t outline specific tactics, it’s probably just a wish rather than a real strategy.

Fight the Anti-Narrative with Pro-Science

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 42 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Using 'anti' labels in discussions can over-simplify and misrepresent people's true beliefs. It makes conversations harder and ignores important details.
  2. Questioning vaccines or other technologies doesn't mean being against them; it can be a way to improve them. Critics should be heard instead of labeled negatively.
  3. Curiosity and open-mindedness in science can lead to better understanding and advancements. Engaging with skepticism might help scientists and the public work together more effectively.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Clouded Judgement 7.18.25 - The Return of the Point Solution

Clouded Judgement • 14 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Many successful companies started as simple point solutions before becoming major platforms. This shows that a small idea can grow big with the right execution.
  2. Startups today face fierce competition and larger companies trying to overpower them. It's crucial for new ventures to focus on their niche and execute well.
  3. The recent launch of AI technologies signals a new era for investments, similar to the growth we saw in cloud computing years ago. Timing and strategy will be key for success.

The Business of AI in Life Sciences

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Investing early in life sciences is crucial for innovative ideas to grow. Supporting good inventors helps bring new health solutions to life.
  2. Partnerships with passionate founders are key in building successful startups. Working together can turn great ideas into reality.
  3. The focus on AI in life sciences can lead to breakthroughs that improve healthcare. Technology is changing how we discover and develop new treatments.

The Sundial Theory of History

From the New World • 140 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Technology
  1. The Sundial Theory of History proposes that societal truths are obscured by technological changes over time.
  2. Modern empathy is criticized for its focus on emotional affirmation over control and improvement.
  3. Entrepreneurship plays a key role in uncovering obscured social truths and driving technological advancements.

One Hundred and Twenty-four Speakers

Dada Drummer Almanach • 158 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Technology
  1. Listening to sound in a Sonic Sphere with 124 speakers can be boring and lack immersion.
  2. The manifesto of Sonic Sphere aims to create an immersive experience through technology and architecture.
  3. Despite the technological advancements, like the Sonic Sphere, the experience may not offer significantly new audio experiences compared to everyday surroundings.

What happened in marketing: RIP TikTok, Instagram's weird redesign and next social media app

The Social Juice • 36 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. TikTok is facing a potential ban in the US, but the app is still trying to keep its users engaged. Creators are moving their audiences to other platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
  2. Instagram's redesign has not been well received. Many users are complaining about the new changes, particularly how it displays liked Reels.
  3. Google is facing antitrust issues and struggles with maintaining its search market share. Their new policies and updates are causing confusion among advertisers.

✅ Monday briefing: Horizon scanning and strategy

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
💼 Business Technology
  1. Organizations should use the Three Horizons tool to plan for the future. It helps to identify current issues and predict upcoming trends.
  2. Public trust in police is at an all-time low. There are calls for the police to focus more on community issues and rebuild that trust.
  3. AI technology is growing, but many people still haven't tried it. Concerns also exist about the content generated by AI, which is sometimes seen as lacking quality.

Rethinking “Play” in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 39 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Play is crucial in the digital age as automation advances, helping us innovate and develop new technologies.
  2. Rethinking play is essential as AI integrates into society, impacting knowledge workers and job structures.
  3. Play is important for both children and adults, aiding in creativity, stress reduction, and continuous learning, especially as we live longer and pursue multi-career paths.

Human Identity in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Human identity, personally and collectively, is constantly evolving, and digital technologies play a significant role in this evolution.
  2. Our sense of identity is complex, influenced by various factors like where we come from, socioeconomic conditions, traditions, language, and beliefs.
  3. Communications technologies, particularly social media, are shaping personal and societal identities by enabling the sharing of ideas at a global scale and amplifying social movements.

Heaven Is a Truck

Kneeling Bus • 176 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Twitter urbanism discourse often reflects a dissatisfaction with the physical environment.
  2. The contemporary city has vast voids that shape our frustration with the built environment.
  3. Rethinking traditional urbanist theories is crucial to understanding our evolving cities.

Sailpoint’s lonely IPO accelerates

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. SailPoint is moving forward with its IPO and has increased its share price range, suggesting a positive market for tech companies. This shows there is still interest in new technology offerings despite some hesitation from other firms.
  2. Startups are reaching $100 million in annual recurring revenue faster than before, making it easier to attract investors. This shift indicates that the traditional milestones for going public are changing.
  3. Shopify had strong revenue growth, but its future profit expectations worried some investors. This illustrates the challenges companies face in today's tough market, even if they are performing well.

CG Capital Markets Says Buy Oxford Nanopore

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
💰 Finance Technology
  1. Canaccord Genuity recommends buying shares of Oxford Nanopore with a target price of 180 pence. They think the company has potential, but their analysis might not be fully accurate.
  2. The report mentions improvements in the device's output, specifically increasing throughput to 290 gigabases. However, some argue that this figure is just the maximum and not always achievable.
  3. There are concerns that the analysis lacks critical depth and may take company statements at face value without questioning them. Some models are suggested to be more attractive than Oxford's claims.

The Fat App Thesis

Three quarks • 36 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🔮 Crypto Technology
  1. The value in the blockchain space is shifting from protocols to apps. Apps are becoming more important as they connect users and create real-world value.
  2. Historically, protocols were seen as the main drivers of value, but now apps have stronger user bases and unique offerings that can actually generate revenue.
  3. The recent success of various apps shows that the ecosystem is evolving. Users are drawn to innovative apps, which in turn makes protocols more valuable, creating a partnership rather than competition.

New Discord Link

Disaffected Newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 20 Nov 22
🎙 Podcasts Technology
  1. There's a new link to join the Discord chat server for the community. It's a good idea to use it now since links expire in a week.
  2. The Discord link is available below the paywall only for paid subscribers.
  3. You can subscribe for a 7-day free trial to read more content and keep up with the community.

No Plan B

Fish Food for Thought • 13 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Having no backup plan can be a powerful motivator to pursue your dreams fully. It's like saying you're all-in on your goals, but it's important to be prepared for any bumps along the way.
  2. Experience shows us that things can and do go wrong, especially in complex systems like software. That's why it's smart to have a plan to recover quickly if issues arise.
  3. Leaders need to keep a strong vision while being flexible in their execution. You can be committed to your goals but also ready to adapt and fix problems when they come up.

✅ Monday briefing: Greenwashing, LinkedIn boom, Twitter affiliation tag, podcasting matures, pitching is a bitch, management function, comms tech trends, AI tool research, wellbeing in PR, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 59 implied HN points • 30 Jan 23
💼 Business Technology
  1. Greenwashing is a big issue, where companies falsely claim to be eco-friendly. The UK will be checking how accurate these green claims really are.
  2. LinkedIn is becoming more popular as Twitter loses users. More people are engaging on LinkedIn, especially for job-related networking.
  3. The world of podcasting is stabilizing, with fewer new shows being launched. However, existing podcasts are still producing a lot of new episodes.

Future-proofing Ourselves.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 92 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
💼 Business Technology
  1. Future workplaces are rapidly changing due to technology, distributed work, and global marketplaces. Companies that do not adapt risk falling behind.
  2. To stay relevant, individuals must continuously upgrade their mental skills like cognition, creativity, and curiosity in a connected world.
  3. Effective collaboration, communication, and convincing skills are crucial in the evolving workplace to complement machines and excel in the future.

The Billion Dollar Revenue Club

next big thing • 145 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
💼 Business Technology
  1. The Unicorn era is making way for companies that focus on achieving over $1 billion in annual revenue.
  2. Venture funding should prioritize companies with potential to reach over $1 billion in annual revenue, rather than just a high valuation.
  3. The focus on $1+ billion in annual revenue is seen as a healthier and more sustainable goal for companies than chasing a valuation north of $1 billion.

What happened in marketing: Google's gift to marketers, OpenAI's response to Deepseek and Meta's weird future

The Social Juice • 31 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Google launched a new tool to help marketers measure their advertising effectiveness across different platforms. This tool should make it easier to understand what works best for their campaigns.
  2. OpenAI introduced a smaller version of their AI model, making it available for free. This aims to provide more people access to AI tools for their projects.
  3. There are concerns about privacy and safety in social media, especially with bills being proposed to limit access for kids under 13. This shows a growing tension between tech companies and government regulations.

Curation vs. Consumption

Kyle Chayka Industries • 183 implied HN points • 05 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Curation is replacing creation as a mode of self-expression.
  2. In a world of constant curation, it's important to truly appreciate and dive into what we consume.
  3. Too much focus on projecting an image of the self through curation may lead to narcissism.

#91 The design of sleep

Design Lobster • 139 implied HN points • 25 Oct 21
🪑 Design Technology
  1. Consider incorporating human biological rhythms into your design
  2. Think about how the characteristics of your design would change if scaled up
  3. Design is about imagining beautiful futures and holding onto those visions

Y Combinator Bets on New Space Startups

Space Ambition • 1 HN point • 09 Aug 24
💼 Business Technology
  1. Y Combinator is investing more in SpaceTech startups, with over 30 companies in their portfolio, showing a growing interest in space innovation since 2015.
  2. Most successful startups in Y Combinator's SpaceTech program have founders with aerospace backgrounds, often from well-known companies like SpaceX or NASA, which helps attract funding.
  3. The current accelerator batch has some exciting new startups, including those focusing on data centers in space and advanced weather balloons, indicating fresh ideas in the space sector.

Proof is in the doing

Sunday Letters • 139 implied HN points • 10 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. It's easy to feel like you know something when you only understand it on the surface. True understanding comes from actually doing and applying what you've learned.
  2. Impostor syndrome can affect even the most capable people. It's important to recognize when familiarity is not the same as true competence.
  3. Being familiar with complex subjects is okay for making decisions. However, you should always be cautious not to overestimate your understanding of them.

Why Blackrock invested into FTX[Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 10 Dec 22
💼 Business Technology
  1. Smart money investors may not always thoroughly understand the businesses they invest in, sometimes basing decisions on trends or buzzwords rather than solid research.
  2. Investors like Blackrock may invest in numerous startups, making it feasible for them to overlook losses in some investments if one startup gives a significantly high return.
  3. Investors can get caught up in hype and euphoria, leading them to invest in companies that may not be sound businesses, with the main goal often being a profitable exit rather than the success of the business.

The Rethinking Work Show

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 15 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Work is changing fast, and it's becoming super flexible. More people can choose where they work and how they do it.
  2. Companies that let employees work from anywhere are growing quickly and attracting better talent. Many are realizing that forcing people back to the office isn't beneficial.
  3. Each company should find its own way of working instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach. Different teams might need different styles to succeed.

Bamboo & Fungi in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Bamboo, fungi, DNA, and organic molecules may play a vital role in our survival and growth in the digital age by being integrated into digital technologies.
  2. Using natural materials like bamboo and mycelium in digital technologies can lead to decreased reliance on rare earth materials and reduced environmental impact.
  3. The future of digital technologies may involve embedding information in molecules, utilizing the efficiency of nature, and integrating organic materials for innovative advancements.

Jobs and Opps at The Royal Television Society, The British Library, The Grand Opera House, and Many, Many More🎭

Journo Resources - The Opportunities • 39 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
💼 Business Technology
  1. Retro tech trend with 'dumbphones' is emerging among Gen Z to switch off more effectively
  2. Journalists face challenges in completely switching off due to constant access to work through smartphones
  3. Various job opportunities in journalism and media industry, from editing to content creation roles

($) 10-K's and Geopolitics: AMD, Intel, Meta Edition

Interconnected • 92 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💼 Business Technology
  1. Geopolitics impacts technology investing due to the tension between deglobalization and generative AI.
  2. Annual reports like 10-K filings provide hard numbers to understand company performance and trends.
  3. Analyzing 10-K filings from companies like AMD, Intel, and Meta can offer insights into global commerce dynamics.

Deep State Deconstruction: DOGE and Treasury

Who is Robert Malone • 29 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Technology
  1. DOGE is using advanced technology to map out and uncover corruption in government spending. This can help find waste and improve transparency.
  2. The project aims to make government accountability stronger, which can lead to greater public support for federal agencies.
  3. There is a shift in power dynamics in Washington, and new tools may change how influential networks operate within government departments.

Why Manufacturing Is Harder Than You Think

European Straits • 11 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Manufacturing is really important for a country's economy and security now. It's not just about making stuff anymore; it's about who can create and control new technologies.
  2. The West is struggling to bring back manufacturing because there are a lot of challenges in how the economy works. Simply putting money into factories isn't enough; there are deeper issues to solve.
  3. Despite these challenges, there are still ways forward for manufacturing. Teaming up with others and creating new financial methods can make a big difference.