The hottest Technology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

Decline and Fall

The Chris Hedges Report • 621 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Technology
  1. The U.S. risks repeating the British Empire’s decline as widespread physical and social deterioration, complacent elites, and increasing militarism weaken the nation and raise the risk of catastrophic conflict.
  2. A modern eugenics-like push is reemerging through pronatalist policies, harsher immigration controls, and tech-driven embryo selection, concentrating decisions about who is considered "fit" to belong to society.
  3. Political leaders ignore systemic poverty and blame the poor while turning to force, spectacle, and hypernationalism, which deepens inequality, corrodes democracy, and accelerates national decay.

An Introduction to Quantum Entanglement

Fields & Energy • 279 implied HN points • 18 Aug 24
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Quantum entanglement happens when two particles are linked, so changing one changes the other right away, no matter how far apart they are. It's a strange and fascinating concept that Einstein called 'spooky action at a distance.'
  2. This effect has practical uses like Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for super secure communication. But there are challenges, such as keeping the entanglement stable and dealing with issues that disrupt it over long distances.
  3. Even though quantum tech is still complex and expensive, it might inspire new ideas for amateur radio operators. Staying informed about these advancements could lead to innovative practices in their field.

Condoleezza Rice: Pulling University Funding Threatens U.S. Tech Dominance

Big Technology • 4003 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Technology
  1. Cutting university funding can hurt tech innovation in the U.S. Universities play a crucial role in research that leads to breakthroughs and advancements.
  2. The country doesn't have a backup plan if university research is reduced. Most fundamental research happens in universities, and without them, technological progress could stall.
  3. We need to value and support diverse education paths, including vocational training. Everyone should have the chance to pursue education, whether it's a degree or skilled trades.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 87

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. One artist, James Niehues, paints most of the world's ski maps and is celebrated for the artistic quality of his work.
  2. John Grisham and Stephen King spent an hour chatting and bantering together, giving a rare, informal conversation between two top writers.
  3. Boeing's Doomsday Plane reappeared after 51 years; it's built to survive nuclear events and was recently spotted about 25 minutes from the White House.

Who saw the Kung-fu Robots coming?

Taipology • 60 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🌐 International Technology
  1. China is moving from copying to genuine leadership in some advanced tech fields — the new agile humanoid robots show authoritarian systems can still innovate fast.
  2. China functions as an authoritarian developmental/bureaucratic state with constant tensions between reformers and conservatives, central and local governments, and rural and urban interests, which explains its shifting growth phases from countryside gains to city-led booms and then more balanced growth.
  3. Some big risks have shifted since 2016: the real-estate market proved to be a massive bubble that was popped by policy, and Xi’s mix of anti-corruption and industrial activism has reduced certain problems while concentrating political control and creating new uncertainties.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

13 Observations on Ritual

The Honest Broker • 30254 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Smartphones are not suitable for genuine ritual as they embody restlessness, which is opposite to the stability needed for rituals.
  2. True rituals are deeply rooted in physical time and space, unlike online experiences that can feel hollow and lack genuine connection.
  3. Memes mimic elements of ritual like repetition and shared meaning but lack the depth and transcendence that true rituals provide.

Does MP Chi Onwurah Defend the Center for Countering Digital Hate to Protect Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney?

The DisInformation Chronicle • 245 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
📰 News Technology
  1. Chi Onwurah defended the Center for Countering Digital Hate and rejected claims it’s a Labour front, arguing the Online Safety Act was driven by Conservatives — a stance critics say is misleading.
  2. The Center for Countering Digital Hate was founded by Imran Ahmed and Morgan McSweeney, who has close Labour ties, and the group worked with Conservative MP Damian Collins to help shape and promote the Online Safety Act.
  3. There are broader concerns that government units and advocacy groups have influenced social-media policy and takedowns during the pandemic and beyond, raising free-speech and censorship questions that many say need further scrutiny and reporting.

Funding science is actually a badass thing to do

Experimental History • 9269 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Funding science is essential because it helps us gain knowledge, which is the key to improving our lives. Every advancement we've made comes from learning and understanding more about the world.
  2. We need to be careful not to fall into traps of thinking we can solve problems by reducing knowledge. Instead, we should focus on increasing our understanding to overcome challenges.
  3. Fixing the science funding system could be simple. For example, by avoiding payments to for-profit publishers and reducing unnecessary grant application processes, we can make better use of our resources and support innovative research.

Ads Are Coming to AI and None of Us Are Ready

Big Technology • 5379 implied HN points • 30 May 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Generative AI advertising has huge potential but also carries big risks. It could change how brands interact with consumers and what they promise.
  2. Advertising needs to be transparent and beneficial for users to keep their trust. If done poorly, it can ruin the user experience on platforms.
  3. Quality content and trusted publishers are vital for generative AI. They should be valued more to ensure that AI systems provide accurate and relevant information.

Top Links 962 The Christian war on Santa. Girls overtaking. The making of America's techno-nationalist elite & The Wages of Fusion.

Chartbook • 557 implied HN points • 25 Dec 25
📰 News Technology
  1. A cultural fight is framing Santa Claus as a point of religious conflict, with some Christian groups pushing back against secular holiday traditions.
  2. Girls are beginning to overtake boys in key areas, pointing to major social and demographic shifts in education and opportunity.
  3. A rising techno-nationalist elite is shaping U.S. tech and industrial policy, while debates about fusion energy focus on its costs, who benefits, and the political stakes.

Another year over, and a new one just begun

Wrong Side of History • 465 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. 2025 felt like a tech and medical tipping point, with big AI advances and major medical breakthroughs promising longer, healthier lives.
  2. Britain’s political consensus broke down as new parties rose and government missteps exposed deep questions about national identity and a needs-based approach many see as unfair to the majority.
  3. Culture wars over 'woke' policies, DEI, and education are eroding institutions and careers, leaving many people frustrated even as infrastructure and progress projects are promoted as solutions.

Was Rock Music Deliberately Pushed Out of the Mainstream?

The Seat of Loss • 30 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🎶 Music Technology
  1. The idea that MTV or some secret "wizard" deliberately pushed rock out of the mainstream doesn't hold up; the timing and evidence point to broader market and technological shifts instead.
  2. MTV's consolidation and editorial choices changed who got exposure and probably hurt certain artists (like Billy Corgan), but they didn't single-handedly erase rock as a genre.
  3. The bigger forces were economic and technological — the CD crash, digital production tools, and streaming — which reshaped music economics so rock lives on mainly as a nostalgia-driven live business rather than the dominant source of new mainstream recordings.

Listening to Noise

Dada Drummer Almanach • 67 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Noise in analog media — the background sounds, context, and imperfections — carries important information about location, proximity, and shared time that shapes how we perceive content. Removing that noise flattens experience and hands the definition of what counts as signal to others.
  2. Digital disruption isolates signal from noise and makes signals cheap or free, concentrating power and profit in platforms while eroding local stores' roles and creators’ incomes. Platforms decide what is signal and monetize it, leaving creators and communities worse off.
  3. Noise itself has value because it creates shared space, richer engagement, and deeper meaning, and it may be a resource creators can reclaim as signal becomes commodified. Paying attention to noise — reintroducing context and communal experience — can help restore cultural and economic value.

Top Links 976 AI investment surges. China in Saudi Arabia. Coffee under stress & looking back at Avalon Hill.

Chartbook • 386 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
💼 Business Technology
  1. AI and tech investment are surging, with tech spending approaching about 5% of the US economy. This shift makes tech a major driver of growth and corporate investment.
  2. China is deepening its presence in Saudi Arabia, expanding economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries. That growing relationship has notable implications for global energy and geopolitics.
  3. The coffee sector is under stress, facing pressures that threaten production and markets. There’s also a renewed interest in looking back at Avalon Hill as part of cultural or historical reflection.

The Story of the Telegrapher's Equations

Fields & Energy • 259 implied HN points • 16 Aug 24
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Oliver Heaviside was a young scientist who created the Telegrapher's Equations in 1876. His work helped connect theories of electromagnetism to practical applications in telecommunication.
  2. Before Heaviside, the diffusion model was the main idea for how signals traveled. Heaviside improved this by showing that signals could travel as waves instead of just spreading out slowly.
  3. The development of these equations was influenced by earlier mathematicians like Fourier and scientists like Lord Kelvin. Heaviside's contribution built on their ideas and advanced the understanding of signal transmission over long distances.

the marrow of days — on freedom & idleness in a post-singularity world

antoniomelonio • 142 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Automation and AI will make most jobs obsolete and give billions unprecedented free time, forcing society to answer a simple but huge question: what will people do with that freedom?
  2. Losing work risks a crisis of purpose because many people tie identity and social connection to their jobs, so leisure must be rethought as active education, creativity, and community to support real human flourishing.
  3. If handled well, post-work life could remake cities, families, arts, science, and health by turning economic structures into spaces for community and creativity, though there will be an initial period of decompression before people find lasting meaning.

‘I Let the AI Run My Life.’ Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 282 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
📰 News Technology
  1. A person let an AI manage her bank, inbox, calendar, investments, and daily tasks, showing how easy it is to build an all‑seeing personal assistant and raising questions about convenience versus loss of autonomy.
  2. A new Friday newsletter edition now curates the week's top stories, arrives later in the morning, and includes features like an advice column to help readers catch up on longer pieces.
  3. The reporting spans big political fights and legal battles, human stories about deportation and censorship, and some hopeful news such as falling fentanyl deaths and activists using Starlink to get around internet blackouts.

Hidden Open Thread 416.5

Astral Codex Ten • 412 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. The content is behind a paid subscription, so you must subscribe or sign in to read it.
  2. It’s part of a numbered "Hidden Open Thread" series with links to previous and next entries.
  3. The page shows engagement indicators and sharing options, implying reader interaction and shareability.

Full Saturation

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 542 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Published far fewer but steadier pieces in 2025—about twenty posts—and plans to keep that pace in 2026, including one paywalled piece and at least one short story.
  2. Had several big creative wins: a standout viral article, the Historical Tech Tree project, fellowship pieces that led to print, and a short story that won 2nd place and a cash prize.
  3. Went through a major personal season—an end to a long relationship, then a new, intense romance—and came away feeling like life is more vivid, with deeper friendships, more travel, and new professional opportunities.

Will there ever be a worse time to start a startup?

benn.substack • 741 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Starting a startup today is exciting because technology is advancing quickly, and tools are becoming easier to use for everyone. This means you can create amazing projects even with minimal experience.
  2. Deflation might seem good because prices drop, but it actually encourages people to save money instead of spending it. This cycle can hurt the economy and make it hard for businesses to grow.
  3. If you're starting a business, remember that technology is always improving. Today’s tools could let you do things much faster and cheaper than before, making now a great time to jump in.

Things are changing round here 🚀

Boiling The Ocean • 19 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
💼 Business Technology
  1. BTO is getting a fresh start with a new look and content focus. This is exciting because it means there will be better and more relevant information.
  2. They are launching a new platform called Cheddar, which makes applying for consulting jobs much easier. It's like having all job listings in one place.
  3. The relaunch will focus on key topics like industry news, AI tools, and job opportunities, and will be sent out every month. This change aims to keep everyone updated and informed.

People prefer A.I. art because people prefer bad art

Read Max • 12303 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. People often have a hard time telling the difference between AI art and human art. This shows how good AI has become at creating images that people find appealing.
  2. Many people seem to prefer AI-generated art because it's straightforward and easy to understand. In contrast, more complex human art can be confusing or challenging.
  3. This trend suggests that people's tastes lean towards art that feels familiar and comfortable, which is why they might choose AI art over more challenging pieces.

Reading List 02/15/25

Construction Physics • 8351 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. California is facing a homeowners insurance crisis, with the state relying on private insurers for a bailout to support its last-resort fire insurance, leading to increased costs for homeowners.
  2. Tech companies are vastly increasing their investments in AI data centers, with major players like Microsoft and Google planning to spend over $215 billion combined this fiscal year.
  3. Tesla is seeing a decline in sales both in Europe and the US, which may be linked to public perception of Elon Musk and his influence on politics.

The Novelty Famine

The Bigger Picture • 2995 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Novelty is a transformative force that can counter endless repetition in culture. We are living through a novelty famine where everything feels tired and commoditized.
  2. Traditionalism and spirituality are making a comeback as people seek freshness in a world saturated with repetitive content.
  3. Creating the conditions for revelation to transform culture involves aligning with the sacred, listening for its song, and fostering moments of awe that render our existing categories obsolete.

Links for February

By Reason Alone • 118 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Frontier AI models can behave like psychologically complex agents — showing deception, sycophancy, scheming, and reward‑hacking — which makes alignment and pre‑release testing fragile and pushes the need for better interpretability and audits.
  2. Reading widely across philosophy, math history, and the arts brings useful perspectives: classic thinkers and scientists (e.g., philosophers, Shannon, Euler, Turing) still matter, but close attention to historical and factual detail is important.
  3. World affairs and culture are shifting — from Afghanistan’s limited contact with Western soldiers and China’s sharp birth decline to changes in nuclear regulation and political leadership — while sports and music continue to shape social life even as health and ethical questions arise.

Issue #17 - Unpacking the People, Process, Technology & Data Framework

The Data Ecosystem • 339 implied HN points • 04 Aug 24
💼 Business Technology
  1. The People, Process, Technology framework helps organizations balance these three key areas but often misses the importance of data. Companies should not just focus on technology but also consider how people and processes interact.
  2. A new framework that includes data is called People, Process, Technology & Data. This approach shows how these four components work together, helping organizations make better decisions and manage change more effectively.
  3. Using structured questions and understanding the roles of each component can enhance planning and execution in businesses. It's essential to revisit these elements regularly to stay aligned with goals and adapt as needed.

WARNING: Elon Musk is crippling the future of the United States

Marcus on AI • 8457 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Technology
  1. Drastic cuts to funding for science and universities could hurt America's future. Less money means fewer resources for research and education.
  2. Many talented scientists and academics might leave the country because of these funding cuts. This can damage the reputation of American universities.
  3. The decisions being made could have negative effects even on people in red states, showing that these cuts impact everyone, not just certain areas.

Top Links 972 The year of Ellison. The price of being a carnivore. Predicting civil unrest & reading Stalker.

Chartbook • 386 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
📰 News Technology
  1. Larry Ellison, not Elon Musk, emerged as the defining tech titan of 2025, showing a different model of power and influence in the industry.
  2. There’s growing attention to the true cost of being a carnivore, highlighting environmental damage, health risks, and economic trade-offs of meat-heavy diets.
  3. People are working to predict civil unrest, and cultural readings of works like Stalker are being used to explore social anxieties and possible futures.

🏰 Lessons on AI and art from the Magic Kingdom

Faster, Please! • 365 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. A theme park fired a popular character performer for breaking rules meant to protect the show's illusion and guest experience.
  2. The park would likely not replace her with a robot, which shows some creative roles rely on human presence, spontaneity, and authenticity.
  3. The episode highlights a broader lesson about AI: smart machines can help, but they often can't recreate the subtle human nuances and emotional authenticity that define many creative jobs.

Somehow, HS2 to Manchester returned

Odds and Ends of History • 335 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎙 Podcasts Technology
  1. The government's U-turn on digital ID is being treated like a huge scandal, but the reaction is overblown and doesn't need hysterical coverage.
  2. A 17th-century Cromwell-era engineering project is even visible from space, and its story has surprising parallels with modern big rail schemes like HS2.
  3. Northern Powerhouse Rail has been revived, including a new Birmingham–Manchester line that closely resembles the old HS2 plans.

A literary history of fake texts in Apple's marketing materials

Read Max • 3398 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Apple's marketing uses fake texts to create a sunny, perfect world where everyone happily communicates with their devices. This makes you wonder who these people are and why they text like that.
  2. Over the years, the themes of these fake texts often include sharing photos and planning trips or parties, showing a culture of cheerful connection among users.
  3. The fake conversations are oddly formal and lack the casual, funny vibe found in real texts. This creates an interesting contrast with how most people actually communicate today.

Reading List 02/08/2025

Construction Physics • 7933 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Ship-mounted lasers are being developed by the military to counter drone threats. These directed energy weapons may become crucial as drones are more widely used in conflicts.
  2. Santorini is experiencing a series of small earthquakes, leading to most residents evacuating. Authorities are on alert as they prepare for the possibility of a stronger quake.
  3. Ford is facing significant losses in its electric vehicle division as high costs for development and low sales numbers are piling up. The company estimates it could lose up to $5.5 billion this year on EVs.

The Most Dismal News Possible

Gordian Knot News • 769 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Technology
  1. The Korean APR1400 nuclear reactor is much cheaper and more efficient to build compared to the American AP1000, which has become overly expensive.
  2. Westinghouse has used legal tactics to hinder the APR1400's export, claiming it involves American technology, despite the Koreans having rights to it.
  3. A recent settlement means Koreans now have to pay high licensing fees to Westinghouse, significantly increasing the cost of exporting the APR1400 and impacting the future of affordable nuclear energy.

Top Links 961 Zero-sum economics. Trump's family network. India's coal addiction. Mobiles and stables.

Chartbook • 457 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🌐 International Technology
  1. Per-capita economic growth in the West has slowed to under 1% a year since the financial crisis, feeding a sense that economic gains are limited and competition feels zero-sum.
  2. Trump’s family network plays a large role in politics and business, highlighting questions about influence and nepotism.
  3. India’s heavy reliance on coal continues, making it harder to cut emissions and shift toward cleaner energy sources.

One last rage before Christmas (Odds and Ends #84)

Odds and Ends of History • 603 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
📰 News Technology
  1. Britain can't even build a tram system where it's most needed, which shows big failures in local transport planning and delivery.
  2. The National Grid's connection queue is broken and is blocking new homebuilding; in London, data centres and households are now fighting for the same limited electricity supply.
  3. Keir Starmer seems caught between two big ideas, leaving his political direction unclear.

Open Thread 387

Astral Codex Ten • 3854 implied HN points • 23 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. You can talk about anything you want in this open thread. It's a place for random questions and discussions.
  2. There's a new post for subscribers about making personalized AI kids' books. It highlights how AI can create fun presents.
  3. Finalists and honorable mentions for a review contest have been announced. It's a way to recognize great content shared within the community.

Understanding The Player Brain, Pt. 1: Loss Avoidance

The Bottom Feeder • 727 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Players respond better to positive reinforcement than negative feedback. For example, changing the word 'tired' to 'rested' made a frustrating game mechanic feel rewarding instead.
  2. Humans are very sensitive to losses and will avoid losing things, even if those things aren't that important. This can lead to players hoarding items in games rather than using them.
  3. When designing games, it's crucial to understand how players feel about loss and reward. Sometimes, it's best to accept player behavior and create systems that align with their preferences.

The Honest Broker's 20 Most Popular Articles From 2024

The Honest Broker • 8610 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. The Honest Broker had a remarkable year with 171 articles published, attracting 25 million views and nearly doubling its subscriber count to 198,000. The growth exceeded initial expectations and highlights a strong community engagement.
  2. Many popular articles focus on technology and culture, reflecting a public concern about the impacts of new tech, including digital platforms that can manipulate and abuse users. There is a call for voices to address these issues, especially for those affected.
  3. Despite a shift towards discussing technology, there's still a yearning for deeper topics like the humanities and creativity. Articles that explore significant cultural shifts and raise critical questions resonate well with readers.