Dropping in to share this timely piece on “intelligence” in AI.
“Intelligence has never been an objective quality that can be ascertained the way we measure the (actually increasing) carbon in the atmosphere. It is a political device that preserves power and care for those deemed worthy of it, and which simultaneously withdraws such care from everyone else. Its latest incarnation, with that modifier artificial, asserts its power through programs that wash accountability from the programmers: control, wealth, and power run up to founders and investors while harms run down to the rest of us with no possibility of redress. “
The nice thing about AI hype cycle is now we see people for who they really are.
While I think AI can do a few select things well, the cult obsession with it has been annoying since day 1. I missed this article from last year and it pinpoints my frustration by noting the similarities of Horowitz’s claims regarding AI to those of L Ron Hubbard of Scientology fame. Essentially anyone who disagrees should be punished. Horowitz simply claims those who resist AI are murderers… In any case worth a read if only to understand/ escape the cult. https://archive.is/uvz6d
The real reason all the tech bros are falling all over themselves for AI: groupthink and social signaling. You don’t get to be part of the fascist in-group if you are not parroting the latest hype.
“The latest fad amongst tech CEOs is no longer "founder mode", or taking drugs that they would fire you for taking, or telling everybody to return to the office — it's demanding that all work be AI-first! This is a great idea if you think nobody at your company is great at what they do.”
“There's an orthodoxy in tech tycoon circles that's increasingly referred to, ironically, as "tech optimism". I say "ironically", because there's nothing optimistic about it. The culture is one of deep insecurity, reacting defensively, or even lashing out aggressively, when faced with any critical conversation about new technology.”
Dash goes on to say that smart workers know which technologies to use and when and how and don’t need memos or midnight merges of vibe code to do their job.
https://www.anildash.com/2025/04/19/ai-first-is-the-new-return-to-office/
Follow packs simply reinforce the popularity contest. They do not help people discover new users. Bluesky where this feature originated has the same problem. New users show up and get little to no traction unless they had a presence on X.
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AI is the perfect tool for our era of hyper fragility. “Please tell me I’m right. Never disagree, or if you must make sure my ego is in tact.” So many brilliant minds making mini-synchophants.
Big tech is consuming tons of energy running data centers that fuel AI. Our friends at Media Justice + Kairos are hosting a deep dive series to break down how data centers work, who profits from them + real world impacts on everyday people.
Sign up here: https://mediajustice.zoom.us/webinar/register/1017386973761/WN_piTafZEaQ3CzljIl5wypbQ#/registration
It’s so easy to slip into convenience without thinking about the downstream consequences. Do you really need to ask Claude that question today or can you go for a walk and figure it out or better yet call a friend?
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An excellent breakdown of tariffs + monopoly industries and how this could play out.
Wanted to give a shoutout to a tool that doesn’t get much ❤️ here but is one of the most stable and functional Nostr tools. https://relay.tools allows anyone to create their own relay - even non-technical folks. There are multiple configuration options for public and private relays. If you’ve been thinking about setting up your own relay - check it out!
Best thing I’ve read about the impact of tariffs and how we got here.
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Worth a read from someone who built on Nostr and talked to customers/ end users. There are findings in here that aligned with what I saw as well.
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Check out nostr:npub13qrrw2h4z52m7jh0spefrwtysl4psfkfv6j4j672se5hkhvtyw7qu0almy latest single!
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I thought about zaps after I posted, but the key term is experience. Zaps repurposed an existing experience which has led to all sorts of adoption problems. Not because they are inherently bad - the concept is good, but the experience is problematic on several levels.
Ecash is walking a line of legality that has too many unknowns.
I’m not sure what blossom is - but would be curious to know more.
My understanding of DVMs is that they are custom feeds similar to what Bluesky has. This is playing on the edges of experience innovation, but it’s not enough. Exhibit A is all the chatter on Bluesky about echo chambers and needing to remember to go look at the feed w/ flowers.
It is 1000% amazing that people are experimenting. And it should absolutely continue. There’s so much untapped potential to build new and better experiences from the protocol.
lol. Perhaps I will get inspired to start a newsletter… There’s the easy answer and then there is the question of why is everything here a copy of something else. At a 10,000 ft level ActivityPub and Farcaster innovated with their protocols and experiences. Nostr and ATProtocol only innovated at the protocol level. Both face challenges as a result.
This is deeply concerning bc Trump is likely to do the following:
“Their real interest lies in replacing the dollar with a digital currency that they can control and linking our rights and freedom to it through mass digital surveillance.”
Can someone Explain to me how Bitcoin will not be the digital currency in this scenario.
“Their real interest lies in replacing the dollar with a digital currency that they can control and linking our rights and freedom to it through mass digital surveillance.”
If you follow any sport Global Sports Central is a must follow! See highlights from games you missed, catch lineups for upcoming matches, and so much more. We talk a lot about zaps here and GSC definitely delivers the value.
Show them some ⚡️!
For product books I recommend these two. THE MOM TEST by Rob Fitzpatrick and ESCAPING THE BUILD TRAP by Melissa Perri
