Steve Blank
The Semiconductor Ecosystem – Explained
The last year has seen a ton written about the semiconductor industry: chip shortages, the CHIPS...
over a year ago
The last year has seen a ton written about the semiconductor industry: chip shortages, the CHIPS Act, our dependence on Taiwan and TSMC, China, etc. But despite all this talk about chips and semiconductors, few understand how the industry is structured. I’ve found the best way to...
Rest of World -...
A buy-now-pay-later company is behind the explosion of EVs in Kenya
In just two years, M-Kopa has become the biggest financier for EVs in East Africa’s largest market.
4 months ago
In just two years, M-Kopa has become the biggest financier for EVs in East Africa’s largest market.
Rest of World -...
Bolt’s drive-to-win insurance scheme is putting drivers’ lives at risk
Many drivers who attempted to win health care said they’ve become ill while doing so — and still...
6 months ago
Many drivers who attempted to win health care said they’ve become ill while doing so — and still can’t afford treatment.
Rest of World -...
The augmented-reality app helping Muslims pray toward Mecca
Miqat uses 360-degree views and mapping software to help users determine the exact right direction...
2 months ago
Miqat uses 360-degree views and mapping software to help users determine the exact right direction for their prayers.
Noahpinion
Uphold territorial integrity
An organizing principle for U.S. power in the 21st century.
a year ago
An organizing principle for U.S. power in the 21st century.
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft execs on Apple's music store
We were smoked.
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some thoughts on incumbents
Reposted from Oct 7, 2010 from cdixon.posterous.com By “incumbents” I mean the big companies that...
over a year ago
Reposted from Oct 7, 2010 from cdixon.posterous.com By “incumbents” I mean the big companies that are loosely competitive to your startup…
Rest of World -...
Welcome to Exporter
A new way of thinking about the global tech industry.
a year ago
A new way of thinking about the global tech industry.
David Perell
Beer Mode and Coffee Mode
Creatives have two ways of working: beer mode and coffee mode. Beer mode is a state of unfocused...
over a year ago
Creatives have two ways of working: beer mode and coffee mode. Beer mode is a state of unfocused play where you discover new ideas. In contrast, coffee mode is a state of focus where you work towards a specific outcome. The problem with traditional productivity advice is that...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The most important question to ask before taking seed money
There is a certain well respected venture capital firm (VC) that has a program for fledgling...
over a year ago
There is a certain well respected venture capital firm (VC) that has a program for fledgling entrepreneurs. The teams that are selected…
Rest of World -...
The Mexican senator building a plan for artificial intelligence
Alejandra Lagunes leads Mexico’s National Artificial Intelligence Alliance.
a year ago
Alejandra Lagunes leads Mexico’s National Artificial Intelligence Alliance.
Noahpinion
Sizing up the New Axis
A repost, more relevant than ever.
3 months ago
A repost, more relevant than ever.
Rest of World -...
Last-mile delivery is so normalized that we can’t see the endgame approaching
Latin American delivery businesses are now entering a new phase of consolidation into their own...
a year ago
Latin American delivery businesses are now entering a new phase of consolidation into their own local fiefdoms.
Internal Tech Emails
Steve Jobs emails Bill Gates
They are really going out of their way to say that they intend to kill QuickTime, and are being...
a year ago
They are really going out of their way to say that they intend to kill QuickTime, and are being quite threatening and rude about it.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some ideas for native bitcoin apps
Fred Wilson calls applications built using Bitcoin that couldn't have existed prior to Bitcoin...
over a year ago
Fred Wilson calls applications built using Bitcoin that couldn't have existed prior to Bitcoin "native Bitcoin apps". Most of the…
Rest of World -...
Political campaigns embrace AI to reach voters across language barriers
Advocacy groups like AAPI Victory Alliance are using ChatGPT and Claude to reach speakers of Hindi,...
3 months ago
Advocacy groups like AAPI Victory Alliance are using ChatGPT and Claude to reach speakers of Hindi, Tagalog, and more.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Old VC firms: get ready to be disrupted
If the U.S. economy were a company, the VC industry would be the R&D department. The financing for...
over a year ago
If the U.S. economy were a company, the VC industry would be the R&D department. The financing for the VC industry comes from so-called LPs…
Rest of World -...
Kathmandu is making taxi drivers switch to EVs. Not all drivers can afford one
The Xpres-T, made by Indian carmaker Tata, is the only EV approved for use as a taxi in Nepal. It...
5 months ago
The Xpres-T, made by Indian carmaker Tata, is the only EV approved for use as a taxi in Nepal. It costs $27,000 — several years’ income.
Rest of World -...
The secret to becoming the world’s biggest digital bank: A user-friendly app
From quick credit to digital banking, Nubank bet on an easy app experience to stand out to users and...
a year ago
From quick credit to digital banking, Nubank bet on an easy app experience to stand out to users and criminals alike.
Internal Tech Emails
The Sam Bankman-Fried Files
In LA last weekend, I met with Michael Kives and his firm, K5. He is, probably, the most connected...
a year ago
In LA last weekend, I met with Michael Kives and his firm, K5. He is, probably, the most connected person I’ve ever met. In attendance at the dinner at his house were: 1) Hillary Clinton 2) Doug Emhoff 3) Katy Perry 4) Orlando Bloom 5) Kate Hudson
SatPost by Trung...
The Tale of Two Phones
Notes on trying to break my smartphone addiction: by having a "Cocaine Phone" and a "Kale Phone".
a year ago
Notes on trying to break my smartphone addiction: by having a "Cocaine Phone" and a "Kale Phone".
Internal Tech Emails
Mark Zuckerberg: Could Facebook move faster?
In China there is this strong culture of cloning things quickly and building lots of different...
over a year ago
In China there is this strong culture of cloning things quickly and building lots of different products instead of just focusing on one thing at a time. This allows them to plant lots of seeds, and although it yields lower quality products in the short term as they're cloning and...
SatPost by Trung...
"The Economist" Cover Curse, Explained
PLUS: My Dune 2 review, TikTok Ban and Why Jalapeños are Less Spicy.
9 months ago
PLUS: My Dune 2 review, TikTok Ban and Why Jalapeños are Less Spicy.
Rest of World -...
40 companies that are beating the West
Faster, smarter, more adaptable: These emerging market pioneers are outmaneuvering Silicon Valley...
a year ago
Faster, smarter, more adaptable: These emerging market pioneers are outmaneuvering Silicon Valley for global domination.
Blog posts of...
A model that’s mental
Maybe… This anxiety isn’t anxiety it’s just your raw excitement that you are misunderstanding. This...
over a year ago
Maybe… This anxiety isn’t anxiety it’s just your raw excitement that you are misunderstanding. This creeping imposter syndrome jus...
AVC
Yubikey Authenticator
I got a new Pixel 7 last week and have started the tedious process of moving over to a new phone....
a year ago
I got a new Pixel 7 last week and have started the tedious process of moving over to a new phone. One of the more painful chores in moving from one phone to another is moving the Google Authenticator app and all of the two factor codes to the new phone. My partner Nick told […]
42!
Optimising bank working hours
Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash
This is probably an out of date concept these days, however if...
over a year ago
Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash
This is probably an out of date concept these days, however if you ever ran a traditional business back in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s as I did, one of the most frustrating things ever was trying to get my banking done over the counter.
Almost...
Rest of World -...
At home with Asia’s shopping influencers
In Vietnam, Pakistan, and Indonesia, three livestreamers build well-paid but precarious careers.
a year ago
In Vietnam, Pakistan, and Indonesia, three livestreamers build well-paid but precarious careers.
Noahpinion
Economic development is doing OK
Poor countries aren't catching up as fast as we'd like, but they're catching up faster than before.
a year ago
Poor countries aren't catching up as fast as we'd like, but they're catching up faster than before.
Rest of World -...
Pese a prohibición, apps de préstamos depredadores proliferan en la tienda de Google Play
Google dice que se toma el problema muy en serio, pero más de una docena de apps continúa disponible...
11 months ago
Google dice que se toma el problema muy en serio, pero más de una docena de apps continúa disponible en la tienda.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Regulatory hacks
A common way to think of business regulations is by analogy to sports: the rules are specified up...
over a year ago
A common way to think of business regulations is by analogy to sports: the rules are specified up front, and the players follow the rules…
Platformer
The AI is eating itself
Early notes on how generative AI is affecting the internet
a year ago
Early notes on how generative AI is affecting the internet
SatPost by Trung...
Starbucks' Digital Dilemna
The Starbucks rewards app is an incredible business. However, mobile orders are getting out of...
7 months ago
The Starbucks rewards app is an incredible business. However, mobile orders are getting out of control and hurting the brand's "premium" vibe.
Aaron's Essays
Distributed Capital
In theory, the hard part about finding capital for unproven founders with unproven technologies in...
over a year ago
In theory, the hard part about finding capital for unproven founders with unproven technologies in unproven markets should be that no one wants the risk. There was a time when that was true, but it isn’t anymore.[1] For a founder, the issue is different: venture capital is...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The Internet is for snacking
Web products have followed a steady evolutionary path from the compound to the atomic. Today’s...
over a year ago
Web products have followed a steady evolutionary path from the compound to the atomic. Today’s popular social sites are spin outs of…
Noahpinion
Thoughts on techno-optimism
What it means to me, and why I support it.
a year ago
What it means to me, and why I support it.
Data Boutique
Generic data marketplaces are broken
Misaligned interests and lack of value are the cause
a year ago
Misaligned interests and lack of value are the cause
Aaron's Essays
Fooled by experts
Experts are generally right until they're wrong. Unfortunately, it's very easy to get fooled into...
over a year ago
Experts are generally right until they're wrong. Unfortunately, it's very easy to get fooled into thinking that experts are always right. This is because they are...experts. They are authoritative and knowledgeable. This is especially true when it comes to trying new things in...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Rest of World -...
The political power of an unlikely Tesla factory
How Elon Musk plays politicians from Monterrey to Buffalo.
a year ago
How Elon Musk plays politicians from Monterrey to Buffalo.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Developing new startup ideas
If you want to start a company and are working on new ideas, here’s how I’ve always done it and how...
over a year ago
If you want to start a company and are working on new ideas, here’s how I’ve always done it and how I recommend you do it. Be the opposite…
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
'The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.' Teilhard de Chardin...
6 months ago
'The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.' Teilhard de Chardin 💡Broken Hips This feels like one of these problems that most people have accepted as inevitable but that will be solved soon and we will look back and think how crazy we allowed this...
Stephen Diehl
Exotic Programming Ideas: Part 2 (Term Rewriting)
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Why some franchises go downhill while others stay great
A little break from our typical economics fare.
6 months ago
A little break from our typical economics fare.
Rest of World -...
Traditional sellers in Vietnam still aren’t sold on e-commerce
As online shopping booms, local merchants are struggling to adapt, despite government help.
a month ago
As online shopping booms, local merchants are struggling to adapt, despite government help.
Stephen Diehl
Building a Better Custom Haskell Prelude
over a year ago
Aaron's Essays
Generative AI Might Just Save Venture Capital
Originally published in The Information on November 2.
For the past nine months, nearly every...
over a year ago
Originally published in The Information on November 2.
For the past nine months, nearly every investor with a Twitter account, blog or board seat has been beating a unified and constant refrain: The go-go days are done. Founders were being pushed to build 36 months of runway,...
Noahpinion
Decade of the Battery
A repost with some updates.
6 months ago
A repost with some updates.
Noahpinion
New technologies, new totalitarians
Thanks to smartphones, social media, and globalization, liberalism faces a new and terrifying kind...
9 months ago
Thanks to smartphones, social media, and globalization, liberalism faces a new and terrifying kind of opponent.
Blog posts of...
Drafting your first investment round.
The topic of investing is omnipresent in our startup world. Sooner or later most startup founders...
over a year ago
The topic of investing is omnipresent in our startup world. Sooner or later most startup founders look for external funding. And i...
Blog posts of...
The simplest and most important dashboard for early stage startups.
This blogpost is part of a small series of posts that cover the basics of startup metrics. My...
over a year ago
This blogpost is part of a small series of posts that cover the basics of startup metrics. My personal goal is to help early stage...
Stephen Diehl
Bitcoin: The Postmodern Ponzi
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
A local ride-hailing service can’t beat Uber and Bolt, so its drivers are beating up their rivals
Shesha was launched as a fair-minded local competitor to Western companies in South Africa. It has...
2 months ago
Shesha was launched as a fair-minded local competitor to Western companies in South Africa. It has acquired an ugly reputation for intimidating drivers and passengers.
Rest of World -...
This app makes sure dinner is halal
The Indonesian app Momasa features recipes, cooking lessons, and restaurants that meet the standards...
2 months ago
The Indonesian app Momasa features recipes, cooking lessons, and restaurants that meet the standards of Islamic law.
Essays - Benedict...
There’s no such thing as data
Data is the new oil, we are told. Every country needs a data strategy, and
all of us should own...
over a year ago
Data is the new oil, we are told. Every country needs a data strategy, and
all of us should own our data, and be paid for it. But really, there is no
such thing as data, it’s not yours, and it’s not worth anything.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The enterprise: buyers versus users
Why does most enterprise technology feel like it is a decade behind consumer technology? For the...
over a year ago
Why does most enterprise technology feel like it is a decade behind consumer technology? For the same reason our health care system is…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Firing
Firing is awful. You can try to avoid it, but even the most selective founders make serious...
over a year ago
Firing is awful. You can try to avoid it, but even the most selective founders make serious mistakes. Here are a few things I’ve observed…
Rest of World -...
Stifled at home, Tunisian tech finds success in the West
Acquisitions of InstaDeep and Expensya, which focused on international customers, are inspiring...
a year ago
Acquisitions of InstaDeep and Expensya, which focused on international customers, are inspiring Tunisian entrepreneurs to look outside the country.
Unpacked
Highlights: First Quarter of Unpacked
Bold product moves, AI things accelerate, Tech policy in the front seat, Interesting things...
a year ago
Bold product moves, AI things accelerate, Tech policy in the front seat, Interesting things continue. This post is a bird’s eye view of the seventeen articles published on Unpacked in the past quarter.
Paul Graham: Essays
The Power of the Marginal
over a year ago
Noahpinion
The death (again) of the internet as we know it
A few big changes are making the online world a more boring place to hang out.
7 months ago
A few big changes are making the online world a more boring place to hang out.
Rest of World -...
Chip dreams: Young tech workers are flocking to Taiwan
Southeast Asians are heading to Taiwan to train for semiconductor jobs, which is helping to fill a...
8 months ago
Southeast Asians are heading to Taiwan to train for semiconductor jobs, which is helping to fill a talent gap at the world’s top producer.
SatPost by Trung...
How Hermès Sells "Time"
The ~$250B French luxury giant creates the most sought after leather bags through craftsmanship,...
10 months ago
The ~$250B French luxury giant creates the most sought after leather bags through craftsmanship, heritage and long-term thinking.
Working Theorys
Zero-Sum vs. Positive-Sum Product Theory | Theory No. 25
What kind of product are you building?
11 months ago
What kind of product are you building?
SatPost by Trung...
8 Lessons from "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
What Larry David's legendary sitcom can teach about creativity and work.
10 months ago
What Larry David's legendary sitcom can teach about creativity and work.
SatPost by Trung...
The Science and History of the iPhone Screen
In 2007, one conversation convinced Steve Jobs to pick Corning and Gorilla Glass for the iPhone.
a year ago
In 2007, one conversation convinced Steve Jobs to pick Corning and Gorilla Glass for the iPhone.
tomcritchlow.com
How do You Cultivate Customer-Centric Executives?
summary
The answer is that the most successful companies have a key executive who is...
9 months ago
summary
The answer is that the most successful companies have a key executive who is customer-centric - someone who has a rich mental model for what customers want and is able to step into the customer's shoes.
I theorize that beyond a culture of being customer-centric it's the...
Rest of World -...
Shein overstock is getting a second life in Latin America’s street markets
Resellers are buying garments from Shein’s suppliers in China that would have ended up in a dump.
a year ago
Resellers are buying garments from Shein’s suppliers in China that would have ended up in a dump.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
The slow decline of Meta’s Trusted Partner program
Who trusts the trusted partners?
a year ago
Who trusts the trusted partners?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Entrepreneurs need to learn some law
I recently wrote a post where I said entrepreneurs need to understand term sheets on their own,...
over a year ago
I recently wrote a post where I said entrepreneurs need to understand term sheets on their own, without the assistance of lawyers. I got…
Rest of World -...
The Philippine army is recruiting young tech civilians to fight cyber attacks
The country is among the most vulnerable to online threats, many of them from China. To fight back,...
a month ago
The country is among the most vulnerable to online threats, many of them from China. To fight back, the army is recruiting IT professionals.
SatPost by Trung...
YouTube: The Learning Machine
Can YouTube have a similar impact on education as the printing press did? Yes, and the explosion of...
7 months ago
Can YouTube have a similar impact on education as the printing press did? Yes, and the explosion of sports footage on the platform helps to explain why.
Stephen Diehl
Reflecting on Haskell in 2015
over a year ago
Blog posts of...
How global media communication changes in a transparent world
These are crowdaggregated pictures from Syria (across basically all social media channels). No media...
over a year ago
These are crowdaggregated pictures from Syria (across basically all social media channels). No media publisher inbetween. Authenti...
Paul Graham: Essays
How to Think for Yourself
over a year ago
Platformer
The synthetic social network is coming
Between ChatGPT’s surprisingly human voice and Meta’s AI characters, our feeds may be about to...
a year ago
Between ChatGPT’s surprisingly human voice and Meta’s AI characters, our feeds may be about to change forever
Rest of World -...
Domestic work in Vietnam: The 5-star butler who naps on the steps
She cooks, cleans, and has a key. But she also naps in stairwells and eats in hallways.
a year ago
She cooks, cleans, and has a key. But she also naps in stairwells and eats in hallways.
Rest of World -...
AI image generators have a moderation problem
Tests carried out by Logically confirm these platforms accept 85% of prompts tailored for election...
a year ago
Tests carried out by Logically confirm these platforms accept 85% of prompts tailored for election manipulation.
Rest of World -...
Amid a surge in violence in Tijuana, ride-hailing apps and authorities implement new safety measures
Uber launched a panic button linked to state-run emergency centers to keep drivers and users safe —...
3 months ago
Uber launched a panic button linked to state-run emergency centers to keep drivers and users safe — but violence remains unabated.
Platformer
Five reasons Threads could still go the distance
One week later, engagement is down — but the prize is still there for the taking
a year ago
One week later, engagement is down — but the prize is still there for the taking
Stephen Diehl
Countering the Crypto Lobbyists
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
The CEO who believes Africans must make their own AI tools
Pelonomi Moiloa explains why making AI widely available requires building language models that need...
9 months ago
Pelonomi Moiloa explains why making AI widely available requires building language models that need less data and other resources.
Noahpinion
Mike Bird and Noah Smith debate industrial policy
In which we hash out at least a few of our differences.
a year ago
In which we hash out at least a few of our differences.
David Perell
The Perks of Niche Fame
There are two kinds of fame: Celebrity-Fame and Niche-Fame.
The post The Perks of Niche Fame...
over a year ago
There are two kinds of fame: Celebrity-Fame and Niche-Fame.
The post The Perks of Niche Fame appeared first on David Perell.
Internal Tech Emails
Apple execs on Facebook
On Jul 11, 2011, at 8:03 PM, Steve Jobs wrote: I agree - if we eliminate Fecebooks third proposal it...
a year ago
On Jul 11, 2011, at 8:03 PM, Steve Jobs wrote: I agree - if we eliminate Fecebooks third proposal it sounds reasonable.
Tech + Economics +...
A requiem for Tumblr.
Automattic's recent announcement that Tumblr is being put into maintenance
mode feels like the end...
a year ago
Automattic's recent announcement that Tumblr is being put into maintenance
mode feels like the end of a personal era. Tumblr wasn't just another
social network; it was a cultural phenomenon, a haven for the eclectic and
the expressive, where the internet's fringes found a...
Essays - Benedict...
Ways to think about a metaverse
Your boss wants a metaverse strategy, but what would that be, and what does
metaverse even mean?...
over a year ago
Your boss wants a metaverse strategy, but what would that be, and what does
metaverse even mean? If we strip away the noise, what can we say about
this, and what can we predict?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Every time an engineer joins Google, a startup dies
VC returns over the last decade have been poor. The cause is widely agreed to be an excess of...
over a year ago
VC returns over the last decade have been poor. The cause is widely agreed to be an excess of venture capital dollars to worthy startups…
Rest of World -...
The AI artist who used Bad Bunny’s voice — and shot to fame
Meet the Chilean artist who made it big using others’ voices.
5 months ago
Meet the Chilean artist who made it big using others’ voices.
Platformer
Elon Musk's creep show
Caught in a series of lies about his willingness to fight Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire's...
a year ago
Caught in a series of lies about his willingness to fight Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire's disturbing spiral accelerates
Essays - Benedict...
Looking for AI use-cases
We’ve had ChatGPT for 18 months, but what’s it for? What are the use-cases?
Why isn’t it useful...
8 months ago
We’ve had ChatGPT for 18 months, but what’s it for? What are the use-cases?
Why isn’t it useful for everyone, right now? Do Large Language Models
become universal tools that can do ‘any’ task, or do we wrap them in
single-purpose apps, and build thousands of new companies...
Rest of World -...
The Chinese app where women socialize over their menstrual cycles
On Meet You, women track, discuss, and pray for their periods.
a year ago
On Meet You, women track, discuss, and pray for their periods.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Chris Sacca on the implied user contract
Chris Sacca nicely summarized today’s FB vs Google vs Twitter controversy: It comes down to what...
over a year ago
Chris Sacca nicely summarized today’s FB vs Google vs Twitter controversy: It comes down to what each company has promised its users…
Noahpinion
Harris needs to be Pennsylvania fracking's biggest champion
Biden already boosted fracking. Harris needs to promise more of the same.
3 months ago
Biden already boosted fracking. Harris needs to promise more of the same.
Rest of World -...
How Zimbabwe’s biggest fast-food company became a popular fintech solution
Innbucks started as an app to receive loose change at some restaurants. Now, it’s a licensed...
a year ago
Innbucks started as an app to receive loose change at some restaurants. Now, it’s a licensed microfinance institution.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What carries you up will also bring you down
In Rules of Thumb, Alan Weber quotes legendary venture capitalist John Doerr discussing the original...
over a year ago
In Rules of Thumb, Alan Weber quotes legendary venture capitalist John Doerr discussing the original business plans for companies he…
Stephen Diehl
Functional Programming, Abstraction, and Names
over a year ago
Noahpinion
A bunch of handy charts about climate change
A couple dozen pictures are worth a couple thousand words.
10 months ago
A couple dozen pictures are worth a couple thousand words.
Noahpinion
Some ideas for science fiction in the 2020s
The future ain't what it used to be.
a year ago
The future ain't what it used to be.
Noahpinion
Where does libertarianism go from here?
Deregulation, state capacity, and growth-oriented centrism.
a year ago
Deregulation, state capacity, and growth-oriented centrism.
Rest of World -...
Why thousands of Chinese young people use a pink dinosaur as their alias
Users adopt the alias “momo” as a way to speak more freely, evade harassment and protect personal...
a year ago
Users adopt the alias “momo” as a way to speak more freely, evade harassment and protect personal privacy on Douban and Xiaohongshu.
Rest of World -...
Why Mexico’s delivery workers are ditching food for packages
As the popularity of Chinese e-commerce platforms grows, some gig workers are finding it more...
5 months ago
As the popularity of Chinese e-commerce platforms grows, some gig workers are finding it more appealing to deliver packages than food orders.
Rest of World -...
Uber hates this app that tells drivers whether it’s worth picking you up
Brazil’s StopClub app shows drivers what every minute and mile of your ride is worth.
a year ago
Brazil’s StopClub app shows drivers what every minute and mile of your ride is worth.
Rest of World -...
The TikTok ban is bigger than just ByteDance
The U.S. clampdown on Chinese-owned companies won't end here.
8 months ago
The U.S. clampdown on Chinese-owned companies won't end here.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#11)
"Bullshit jobs", racial depolarization, the YIMBY-union alliance, China's last boosters, Biden's...
a year ago
"Bullshit jobs", racial depolarization, the YIMBY-union alliance, China's last boosters, Biden's foreign policy, low-carbon steel, and Javier Milei
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Come for the tool, stay for the network
A popular strategy for bootstrapping networks is what I like to call “come for the tool, stay for...
over a year ago
A popular strategy for bootstrapping networks is what I like to call “come for the tool, stay for the network.” The idea is to initially…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
“PCs are going to be like trucks”
Steve Jobs in 2010: When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks because that’s what you...
over a year ago
Steve Jobs in 2010: When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks because that’s what you needed on the farms. Cars became more…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Technology predictions
For those of us in the prediction business, it’s sometimes useful to go back and read past...
over a year ago
For those of us in the prediction business, it’s sometimes useful to go back and read past predictions to try to discern patterns in what…
Steve Blank
National Industrial Policy – Private Capital and The America’s Frontier Fund Steps Up
This article previously appeared in The National Interest. Last month the U.S. passed the CHIPS and...
over a year ago
This article previously appeared in The National Interest. Last month the U.S. passed the CHIPS and Science Act, one of the first pieces of national industrial policy – government planning and intervention in a specific industry — in the last 50 years, in this case for...
Nothing Human
Marl Meetups
it is a truth universally acknowledged: a man with a mailing list must organize a meetup
a year ago
it is a truth universally acknowledged: a man with a mailing list must organize a meetup
Rest of World -...
Scale AI’s Remotasks platform is dropping whole countries without explanation
Workers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan were booted off the AI-training service earlier this month.
8 months ago
Workers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan were booted off the AI-training service earlier this month.
Noahpinion
How much can you really learn about a country from visiting it?
Not as much as people think.
6 months ago
Not as much as people think.
Stephen Diehl
From Adjunctions to Monads
over a year ago
Noahpinion
BRICS is fake
It's not an anti-NATO, it's not going to replace the dollar, and it's not going to control global...
a year ago
It's not an anti-NATO, it's not going to replace the dollar, and it's not going to control global economic growth.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
“It is the human friction that makes the sparks”
From Jonah Lehrer, Brainstorming Doesn’t Really Work (via Stowe Boyd): Building 20 [a scene of...
over a year ago
From Jonah Lehrer, Brainstorming Doesn’t Really Work (via Stowe Boyd): Building 20 [a scene of incredible innovation at MIT] and…
Aaron's Essays
Why VCs sometimes push companies to burn
Originally posted on the YC blog,...
over a year ago
Originally posted on the YC blog, here: https://blog.ycombinator.com/why-vcs-sometimes-push-companies-to-burn-too-fast/
In Investors and their incentives, I tried to give a broad breakdown of the incentives that drive the major types of startup investors. I want to dig deeper...
Devmoh
Programming transforms your brain. Here's how.
Knowing how to program has a multitude of positive effects on the brain.
a year ago
Knowing how to program has a multitude of positive effects on the brain.
Rest of World -...
How we’re tracking AI incidents around global elections
Rest of World is collecting examples of AI being used for campaigning, misinformation, and memes in...
8 months ago
Rest of World is collecting examples of AI being used for campaigning, misinformation, and memes in a regularly updated tracker.
David Perell
I Hate Writing (and So Will You)
When I hate writing, it’s because I love it so much. An experienced writer is somebody who knows...
a year ago
When I hate writing, it’s because I love it so much. An experienced writer is somebody who knows when the hatred is temporary.
The post I Hate Writing (and So Will You) appeared first on David Perell.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Inside versus outside financings: the nightclub effect
At some point in the life of a venture-backed startup there typically arises a choice between doing...
over a year ago
At some point in the life of a venture-backed startup there typically arises a choice between doing an inside round, where the existing…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Thales the Milesian
Like a lot of things we think are obvious today, financial options were first invented by a...
over a year ago
Like a lot of things we think are obvious today, financial options were first invented by a philosopher: There is the anecdote of Thales the…
SatPost by Trung...
How does Michelin Guide's business work?
The Michelin tire business does $30B+ a year in revenue. The brand's iconic food review guide is...
4 months ago
The Michelin tire business does $30B+ a year in revenue. The brand's iconic food review guide is 0.1% of sales. An incredible marketing deal.
Platformer
TikTok nears the endgame
Breaking off TikTok from ByteDance might be the right thing to do — but it will come at a high cost....
a year ago
Breaking off TikTok from ByteDance might be the right thing to do — but it will come at a high cost. PLUS: How Twitter keeps competitors off its For You page
Rest of World -...
You can’t play on both sides of the Great Firewall
What the TikTok ban really means for U.S. companies.
9 months ago
What the TikTok ban really means for U.S. companies.
David Perell
Intellectual Loneliness
I have a confession to make: I leave most parties early because I’d rather read a book. That’s not...
over a year ago
I have a confession to make: I leave most parties early because I’d rather read a book. That’s not what I tell people though. Usually, I make up an excuse. Something like “Oh, I have early plans in the morning.” I don’t like being deceptive, but there’s no socially acceptable way...
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
🤠 Democratize Luxury
3 months ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Flow
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1996 on the concept of Flow: [Flow] is being completely involved in an...
over a year ago
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1996 on the concept of Flow: [Flow] is being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls…
Rest of World -...
Jumia Food delivery workers’ final payments are still missing
Jumia says it paid its logistics partners. Logistics partners say they paid all the workers. The...
7 months ago
Jumia says it paid its logistics partners. Logistics partners say they paid all the workers. The workers say they haven’t been paid.
Platformer
Another Facebook content moderation company quits the business
Amid worker unrest and a lawsuit, Sama says it's done. Will others follow?
a year ago
Amid worker unrest and a lawsuit, Sama says it's done. Will others follow?
Noahpinion
Why is China producing so many export goods, anyway?
Six theories.
7 months ago
Working Theorys
caring about newness
we don't create with the intent to recycle
9 months ago
we don't create with the intent to recycle
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Hardware startups
For a long time, entrepreneurs and investors shied away from hardware. This seems to be changing. As...
over a year ago
For a long time, entrepreneurs and investors shied away from hardware. This seems to be changing. As Paul Graham says, there are many…
Noahpinion
Price controls: Too early for a victory lap
Narrative-driven triumphalism does not make for sound policy.
a year ago
Narrative-driven triumphalism does not make for sound policy.
SatPost by Trung...
9 Creative Lessons From Virgil Abloh
Insights from the late designer who went from studying architecture, working with Kanye, founding...
2 months ago
Insights from the late designer who went from studying architecture, working with Kanye, founding Off-White and leading menswear at Louis Vuitton.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
How bundling benefits sellers and buyers
There is a widespread belief in technology circles that bundling of cable TV, newspaper, magazine...
over a year ago
There is a widespread belief in technology circles that bundling of cable TV, newspaper, magazine and other information goods will go away…
Platformer
Microsoft just laid off one of its responsible AI teams
As the company accelerates its push into AI products, the ethics and society team is gone
a year ago
As the company accelerates its push into AI products, the ethics and society team is gone
Noahpinion
The elemental foe
Lifting humanity out of poverty is Job #1.
5 months ago
Lifting humanity out of poverty is Job #1.
Rest of World -...
Stability AI’s plan to counter AI’s Silicon Valley’s bias
“It’d be dystopian if all AI systems had the values of a 35-year-old male in San Francisco.”
a year ago
“It’d be dystopian if all AI systems had the values of a 35-year-old male in San Francisco.”
Rest of World -...
Xiaohongshu has revolutionized Chinese tourism in Southeast Asia
The lifestyle and social media platform, often compared to Instagram, is turning obscure sites into...
2 months ago
The lifestyle and social media platform, often compared to Instagram, is turning obscure sites into must-see attractions.
David Perell
How Learning Happens
From music, we learn what humanity has always known but schools have forgotten: learning begins with...
over a year ago
From music, we learn what humanity has always known but schools have forgotten: learning begins with inspiration.
The post How Learning Happens appeared first on David Perell.
Platformer
How the attacks in Israel are changing Threads
Three months into its existence, the app’s purpose may be coming into focus — if Meta will embrace...
a year ago
Three months into its existence, the app’s purpose may be coming into focus — if Meta will embrace it
Roberto Vitillo's...
Counting at scale
How engaged are users for a certain segment of the population? How many users are actively using a...
over a year ago
How engaged are users for a certain segment of the population? How many users are actively using a new feature? One way to answer that…
Noahpinion
Five things to be optimistic about in America today
Enough doom and gloom, let's allow ourselves a moment of happiness.
8 months ago
Enough doom and gloom, let's allow ourselves a moment of happiness.
Rest of World -...
Apple’s biggest gamble isn’t the Vision Pro — it’s India
Don’t be distracted by this week’s gadget hype cycle.
a year ago
Don’t be distracted by this week’s gadget hype cycle.
Inverted Passion
Notes from the book “Magic Words”
Just finished reading Magic Words by Jonah Berger and my notes follow. 1/ Most of us spend a...
a year ago
Just finished reading Magic Words by Jonah Berger and my notes follow. 1/ Most of us spend a significant amount of time in assembling the thoughts we want to convey, but assume the words to convey them as a given. 2/ This book – written by a professor of business – takes the view...
Rest of World -...
Desperate taxi drivers in Argentina are finally joining Uber
Amid the country’s economic turmoil, thousands of cabbies turn to the Uber Taxi function to make...
a year ago
Amid the country’s economic turmoil, thousands of cabbies turn to the Uber Taxi function to make ends meet.
Rest of World -...
Chinese smartphone maker Transsion’s strategy to win hearts and wallets in small-town India
After big successes in Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, China's Transsion Holdings sets its sights...
9 months ago
After big successes in Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, China's Transsion Holdings sets its sights on India.
Unpacked
Data Scraping in the Spotlight: Are Language Models Overstepping by Training on Everyone's Content?
As I wrapped up the research for this piece and was about to start writing, OpenAI had a perfect...
a year ago
As I wrapped up the research for this piece and was about to start writing, OpenAI had a perfect announcement to go with it - they are temporarily disabling the “Browse with Bing" feature on ChatGPT. If you haven’t used it before, this is a feature available to paying Plus users....
Noahpinion
How did the U.S. achieve a soft landing?
Four simple theories.
a year ago
Rest of World -...
Rest of World’s 2024 reading guide
Global tech leaders share 12 books to add to your must-read pile.
6 months ago
Global tech leaders share 12 books to add to your must-read pile.
Paul Graham: Essays
The Bus Ticket Theory of Genius
over a year ago
David Perell
Annual Review 2022
This year was an emotional odyssey. At times, it was tormenting, at others intoxicating. Here, I...
a year ago
This year was an emotional odyssey. At times, it was tormenting, at others intoxicating. Here, I share my joys and struggles, my dreams and regrets. 2022 completely changed my life.
The post Annual Review 2022 appeared first on David Perell.
Noahpinion
Interview: Heather Boushey, economist and member of the Council of Economic Advisers
In which we talk all about Bidenomics.
a year ago
In which we talk all about Bidenomics.
Rest of World -...
Why Amazon isn’t the Amazon of Latin America
The paradox of e-commerce
a year ago
The paradox of e-commerce
Rest of World -...
Elon Musk said he’d eliminate bots from X. Instead, election influence campaigns are running wild
In a year of global elections, X is making it easy to meddle.
4 months ago
In a year of global elections, X is making it easy to meddle.
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 Athletic Greens used to be a sketchy looking affiliate offer in 2011. Ranked #1 on Clickbank...
a year ago
#1 💡 Athletic Greens used to be a sketchy looking affiliate offer in 2011. Ranked #1 on Clickbank and was promoted by every direct response marketer. Always inspiring to see humble beginnings like this and a good reminder that most businesses are not sexy from day 1.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"The Not So Global Internet"
Fred Wilson writes about how frustrating it is when companies break the internet: We are in the...
over a year ago
Fred Wilson writes about how frustrating it is when companies break the internet: We are in the caribbean this week celebrating the year end…
AVC
Voice Input
Smartphones have had voice input for over a decade now and yet I don’t know that many people who use...
a year ago
Smartphones have had voice input for over a decade now and yet I don’t know that many people who use voice input regularly. I would guess that maybe 10 to 20% of smartphone users are using voice input regularly. That’s a guess based on absolutely no data other than observing...
Noahpinion
How we'll know if Trump is going to sell America out to China
Keep an eye on the export controls. They are the key.
a week ago
Keep an eye on the export controls. They are the key.
Tom Blomfield
Taking Risk
I just spent a week talking with some exceptional students from three of the UK’s top universities;...
7 months ago
I just spent a week talking with some exceptional students from three of the UK’s top universities; Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial College. Along with UCL, these British universities represent 4 of the top 10 universities in the world. The US - a country with 5x more people and...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Always have 18 months of cash in the bank
I was once told by an experienced entrepreneur (I can’t remember who) to always have at least 18...
over a year ago
I was once told by an experienced entrepreneur (I can’t remember who) to always have at least 18 months of cash in the bank. The logic…
David Perell
The TWA Hotel
The core concepts are simple. The implementation is borderline excessive.
The post The TWA Hotel...
over a year ago
The core concepts are simple. The implementation is borderline excessive.
The post The TWA Hotel appeared first on David Perell.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
How We Got To Now
I really enjoyed Steven Johnson's How We Got To Now. I read a lot of history and science books, but...
over a year ago
I really enjoyed Steven Johnson's How We Got To Now. I read a lot of history and science books, but this book stood out because 1) the…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Climbing the wrong hill
I know a brilliant young kid who graduated from college a year ago and now works at a large...
over a year ago
I know a brilliant young kid who graduated from college a year ago and now works at a large investment bank. He has decided he hates Wall…
The Thinking Cap
Please Build More Silly Things
Hacking on fun things with curious co-conspirators is a superpower
a year ago
Hacking on fun things with curious co-conspirators is a superpower
Nadia Asparouhova
The New American University
I had the pleasure of stumbling upon the work of Michael Crow, Arizona State University’s president,...
over a year ago
I had the pleasure of stumbling upon the work of Michael Crow, Arizona State University’s president, earlier this year, and I so enjoyed his thoughts on knowledge production that I immediately wondered how his philosophy would translate to ASU as an organization. Turns out,...
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#40)
Europe's Greens; jobs and the Great Replacement; tariffs and development; rent control; service...
6 months ago
Europe's Greens; jobs and the Great Replacement; tariffs and development; rent control; service costs
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#47)
Germany's mistakes; U.S. political parties; the VC winter; austerity; science and politics; TikTok...
3 months ago
Germany's mistakes; U.S. political parties; the VC winter; austerity; science and politics; TikTok propaganda; desalination
Working Theorys
The Prestige-Prosperity Gap
We expect prestige and wealth to grow in tandem. When status goes up, wealth goes up...
5 months ago
We expect prestige and wealth to grow in tandem. When status goes up, wealth goes up proportionately, and vice versa. But the modern world is a lot messier. There can be bizarre mismatches between prestige and prosperity. Some people have social or professional status far...
Rest of World -...
The tech executive who believes AI needs more voice-based learning systems
Bayo Adekanmbi explains why voice-based learning is the best way to increase AI adoption across...
9 months ago
Bayo Adekanmbi explains why voice-based learning is the best way to increase AI adoption across Africa.
David Perell
Against 3X Speed
Mike boastfully reads 100 books per year. He listens to audiobooks at 3x speed whenever he drives...
over a year ago
Mike boastfully reads 100 books per year. He listens to audiobooks at 3x speed whenever he drives and swears he can remember it all. His browser has a plugin that lets him speed up YouTube videos, and for a while, he listened to podcasts on a special app because of its unique...
Devmoh
How Google Stores 10,000 Petabytes of Data Efficiently
Google Colossus Explained Simply
a year ago
Google Colossus Explained Simply
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Platformer
Microsoft kickstarts the AI arms race
The relaunched Bing does research, writes emails, and just might hit Google where it hurts
a year ago
The relaunched Bing does research, writes emails, and just might hit Google where it hurts
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Are people more willing to pay for digital goods on mobile devices?
Mary Meeker’s [ ](images/screen-shot-2009-12-27-at-11-51-18-am.png) The assertion seems to be that...
over a year ago
Mary Meeker’s [ ](images/screen-shot-2009-12-27-at-11-51-18-am.png) The assertion seems to be that there is something special about the…
Platformer
The AI industry really should slow down a little
This year has given us a bounty of innovations. We could use some time to absorb them
a year ago
This year has given us a bounty of innovations. We could use some time to absorb them
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write...
a year ago
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write this email to share the most interesting trends, frameworks, opportunities, and ideas with you. Let's dive in! #1 💡 It's cool that smartphones have become all-in-one devices. But at...
Rest of World -...
Crime victims, ignored by Venezuela’s broken justice system, turn to influencers
To get the authorities’ attention, victims get help from influencers specialized in niches like...
a year ago
To get the authorities’ attention, victims get help from influencers specialized in niches like corruption and pet justice.
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 Massviews Analysis is a super useful free tool to identify niche trends, whether you’re trying...
11 months ago
#1 💡 Massviews Analysis is a super useful free tool to identify niche trends, whether you’re trying to research content ideas or doing research on business opportunities. You can put in any Wikipedia category, and it will show you what pages inside that category are most...
Internal Tech Emails
Inside Google's negotiations with Apple
I would let them try someone else for search if they don’t like our last offer.
a year ago
I would let them try someone else for search if they don’t like our last offer.
Noahpinion
Yes, we still have to work
The automated luxury paradise is still just science fiction.
5 months ago
The automated luxury paradise is still just science fiction.
Essays - Benedict...
The AI summer
Hundreds of millions of people have tried ChatGPT, but most of them haven’t
been back. Every big...
5 months ago
Hundreds of millions of people have tried ChatGPT, but most of them haven’t
been back. Every big company has done a pilot, but far fewer are in
deployment. Some of this is just a matter of time. But LLMs might also be a
trap: they look like products and they look magic, but...
Rest of World -...
Mexico City has an earthquake alarm system. Millions trust an app more
SkyAlert users turn their phones into personal quake monitors rather than rely on the government’s...
a year ago
SkyAlert users turn their phones into personal quake monitors rather than rely on the government’s loudspeakers.
Tech + Economics +...
Sam Bankman-Fried is a feature, not a bug.
Imagine a philosophy so focused on the ends that it becomes blind to the
means. This is the...
a year ago
Imagine a philosophy so focused on the ends that it becomes blind to the
means. This is the seductive trap of Effective Altruism (EA), a doctrine
born to the rationalist cradle, promising to solve the world's woes through
a calculator. Into this world stepped Sam...
Rest of World -...
Writers and publishers in Singapore reject a government plan to train AI on their work
Singapore's literary community is pushing back against an official effort to train LLMs using their...
7 months ago
Singapore's literary community is pushing back against an official effort to train LLMs using their published works, part of a growing global resistance.
Rest of World -...
How AI shook the world in 2023
With commercial tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney becoming widely available, AI was used for all...
11 months ago
With commercial tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney becoming widely available, AI was used for all things wonderful … and worrying.
Nothing Human
Materialist Conceptions of God
yet another attempt at bridging religion and rationality
10 months ago
yet another attempt at bridging religion and rationality
tomcritchlow.com
Digital Bricolage & Web Foraging
When I reflect on the various lines of inquiry that light me up, there’s one consistent theme:...
a year ago
When I reflect on the various lines of inquiry that light me up, there’s one consistent theme: digital bricolage. Bricolage is “the skill of using whatever is at hand and recombining them to create something new.”
Steve Blank
Lessons for the DoD – From Ukraine and China
Portions of this post previously appeared in War On the Rocks. Looking at a satellite image of...
over a year ago
Portions of this post previously appeared in War On the Rocks. Looking at a satellite image of Ukraine online I realized it was from Capella Space – one of our Hacking for Defense student teams who now has 7 satellites in orbit. National Security is Now Dependent on Commercial...
Rest of World -...
Why Kenya has the potential to be Africa’s EV powerhouse
Jit Bhattacharya discusses the challenges and opportunities of building an EV company in Kenya.
5 months ago
Jit Bhattacharya discusses the challenges and opportunities of building an EV company in Kenya.
David Perell
Thoughts on Free Will
My friend Chris Sparks says: “When it comes to creating your environment, assume you have free will....
over a year ago
My friend Chris Sparks says: “When it comes to creating your environment, assume you have free will. When it comes to living in it, assume you have no free will.” Here’s an example: I lost my love of working out during the pandemic. Before it started, I worked out at a nice,...
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
🪄 Growth Magic
4 months ago
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#43)
Slop wars; Poland and Ukraine; AI bubble; MMT reversal;
5 months ago
Slop wars; Poland and Ukraine; AI bubble; MMT reversal;
Rest of World -...
The secret ingredient to hustle culture: A virtual assistant in the Philippines
How the office grind is being outsourced from Silicon Valley to Manila.
a year ago
How the office grind is being outsourced from Silicon Valley to Manila.
Noahpinion
America's supply chains are a disaster waiting to happen
A guest post by Yann Calvó López and Ben Golub.
2 months ago
A guest post by Yann Calvó López and Ben Golub.
Rest of World -...
A coupon-crazy Brazilian app figured out how to beat Uber Eats
Out-discounting competitors: iFood’s bid to become Latin America's last-mile delivery king.
a year ago
Out-discounting competitors: iFood’s bid to become Latin America's last-mile delivery king.
Working Theorys
Thoughts For Sale
Mass-market intellectualism is an oxymoron, right? Ask Substack.
a month ago
Mass-market intellectualism is an oxymoron, right? Ask Substack.
Rest of World -...
TikTok creators are being arrested for violating religious laws in Nigeria
Digital rights advocates say social media companies like TikTok have a responsibility to protect...
a year ago
Digital rights advocates say social media companies like TikTok have a responsibility to protect their users in these situations.
Rest of World -...
Delivery riders are fighting each other over bike-shares in Brazil
Almost half the riders from Brazil’s largest delivery app now use city bikes to get around.
a year ago
Almost half the riders from Brazil’s largest delivery app now use city bikes to get around.
Stephen Diehl
Exotic Programming Ideas: Part 3 (Effect Systems)
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Machine learning is really good at partially solving just about any problem
There’s a saying in artificial intelligence circles that techniques like machine learning (and NLP)...
over a year ago
There’s a saying in artificial intelligence circles that techniques like machine learning (and NLP) can very quickly get you, say, 80% of…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Incubators
It seems like every successful entrepreneur I know at one point or another kicks around the idea of...
over a year ago
It seems like every successful entrepreneur I know at one point or another kicks around the idea of creating an incubator. The appeal is the…
Rest of World -...
Argentina’s Mercado Pago is like Venmo plus investing
Latin America’s answer to Venmo helps Argentines survive sky-high inflation.
a year ago
Latin America’s answer to Venmo helps Argentines survive sky-high inflation.
Working Theorys
Weekend Theorys No. 1
"Healthy” social apps, the folly of the "one-two punch," and side projects that command respect
11 months ago
"Healthy” social apps, the folly of the "one-two punch," and side projects that command respect
Tech + Economics +...
20 years of tech has made life easier, not better.
Lately, I’ve felt nostalgic for the cluttered aisles of the local video
store. It was more than a...
a year ago
Lately, I’ve felt nostalgic for the cluttered aisles of the local video
store. It was more than a place; it was a portal, a weekend ritual that
promised adventure, laughter, and the thrill of discovery. You would step
inside, greeted by the scent of popcorn and the soft...
AVC
Bi-Directional EV Charging
EV sales in the US are on the rise, reaching 7% of all car sales in Q1 2023, up from 4.6% a year...
a year ago
EV sales in the US are on the rise, reaching 7% of all car sales in Q1 2023, up from 4.6% a year earlier. If that rate of growth continues, EVs will be 10% of the US car market by next year. Most people who own an EV charge it at home, using an EV […]
Noahpinion
Repost: Weebs!
Everything you didn't realize you wanted to know about the non-Japanese people who love Japanese pop...
a year ago
Everything you didn't realize you wanted to know about the non-Japanese people who love Japanese pop culture.
Noahpinion
Why has U.S. manufacturing productivity stagnated for over a decade?
A few hypotheses about a very disturbing trend.
5 months ago
A few hypotheses about a very disturbing trend.
Noahpinion
A three-state solution is the only viable future for Israel and the Palestinians
Ethnic cleansing is off the table, and non-contiguous states just don't work.
a year ago
Ethnic cleansing is off the table, and non-contiguous states just don't work.
Platformer
How the Kids Online Safety Act puts us all at risk
Anti-speech laws are spreading from states to Congress, and the future of online speech could hang...
a year ago
Anti-speech laws are spreading from states to Congress, and the future of online speech could hang in the balance
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Facebook’s response to Yahoo’s patent lawsuit
Like many in tech, I believe all software patents should be abolished. That said, I think Facebook...
over a year ago
Like many in tech, I believe all software patents should be abolished. That said, I think Facebook made the right move by filing a lawsuit…
SatPost by Trung...
Roger Ebert, MKBHD and the Job of a Critic
The best critics (or reviewers) educate, entertain and help us spend our time better.
8 months ago
The best critics (or reviewers) educate, entertain and help us spend our time better.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
“Otherwise do something else”
I remember back when I started my first company, a friend said to me “get ready to have a knot in...
over a year ago
I remember back when I started my first company, a friend said to me “get ready to have a knot in your stomach and feel nauseous for years…
Stephen Diehl
Sunsetting "What I Wish I Knew"
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Chinese EV sellers found a loophole to export cars around the world
A gray market grows for Chinese EVs in Russia, the Middle East, and beyond.
10 months ago
A gray market grows for Chinese EVs in Russia, the Middle East, and beyond.
Working Theorys
About Practice
Learning anything comes down to two things: practice and performance.
3 months ago
Learning anything comes down to two things: practice and performance.
SatPost by Trung...
The speed of information
Putting social media coverage of Israel-Palestine into historical context.
a year ago
Putting social media coverage of Israel-Palestine into historical context.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Financing risk
Startups that raise seed funding face the risk of not being able to raise additional money. This is...
over a year ago
Startups that raise seed funding face the risk of not being able to raise additional money. This is what is sometimes known as “financing…
Rest of World -...
Why Silicon Valley’s biggest AI developers are hiring poets
Training data companies are grabbing writers of fiction, drama, poetry, and also general humanities...
a year ago
Training data companies are grabbing writers of fiction, drama, poetry, and also general humanities experts to improve AI creative writing.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
over a year ago
David Perell
28 Pieces of Life Advice
In honor of my 28th birthday, here are 28 pieces of life advice.
The post 28 Pieces of Life Advice...
over a year ago
In honor of my 28th birthday, here are 28 pieces of life advice.
The post 28 Pieces of Life Advice appeared first on David Perell.
Platformer
How Google's Bard AI could shake up search
Dependence on search traffic has already kickstarted a race to the bottom for publishers. Will...
a year ago
Dependence on search traffic has already kickstarted a race to the bottom for publishers. Will Google's new AI tools accelerate it?
42!
The case of WOPR and the lost code...
I got an email earlier this week from a guy reaching out after he read a post of mine on a gaming...
over a year ago
I got an email earlier this week from a guy reaching out after he read a post of mine on a gaming forum that was posted over two decades ago!
I couldn't for the life of me remember what I had said, but he reiterated that it was about a simulation that I wrote in BASIC that was...
Noahpinion
Why Trump (or Harris) might fail to stand up to China
A very real possibility that more people need to be worried about.
4 months ago
A very real possibility that more people need to be worried about.
SatPost by Trung...
The Reading Unlock
Entrepreneurs influenced by a single read include Joe Coulombe, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Morris Chang,...
a year ago
Entrepreneurs influenced by a single read include Joe Coulombe, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Morris Chang, Sarah Blakely, Chip Wilson and Phil Knight.
Rest of World -...
The capybara influencer revolt
A wildlife influencer’s famous capybara was confiscated by Brazilian authorities. A mass movement...
a year ago
A wildlife influencer’s famous capybara was confiscated by Brazilian authorities. A mass movement ensued.
Noahpinion
Secrets of Japanese urbanism (part 2)
A review of "Emergent Tokyo", by Jorge Almazan and Studiolab
9 months ago
A review of "Emergent Tokyo", by Jorge Almazan and Studiolab
Tech + Economics +...
How to quit capitalism.
Let's start with something controversial: Capitalism is not an economic
system. It is a...
11 months ago
Let's start with something controversial: Capitalism is not an economic
system. It is a philosophical and ideological force that shapes our lives,
environment, and perception of humanity.
It's a behemoth that thrives on relentless growth, often at a devastating
cost....
Essays - Benedict...
Competing in search
A quarter century after ‘don't be evil’ a judge has found that Google is
abusing its monopoly in...
4 months ago
A quarter century after ‘don't be evil’ a judge has found that Google is
abusing its monopoly in search. But no-one knows what happens next, and
whether this ruling will change anything. Will Apple build a search engine?
Will ChatGPT change search? Does it matter?
Unpacked
Apple's (reluctant) App Store changes, and Semafor tries AI news
This week, we dive into two meaty topics. First, we dig into Apple’s recent App Store changes to...
10 months ago
This week, we dive into two meaty topics. First, we dig into Apple’s recent App Store changes to support third party payments in the US (sort of), and additionally support side-loading of apps (i.e. supporting non-Apple app stores) in the EU. Spoiler: Apple is pushing the limits...
Paul Graham: Essays
Let the Other 95% of Great Programmers In
over a year ago
Noahpinion
A Nobel for the big big questions
Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson win a prize for their grand unified theory of development.
2 months ago
Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson win a prize for their grand unified theory of development.
Rest of World -...
Meet Newme, India’s Shein replacement
A year after India banned the Shein app, Newme emerged to fill the gap. Founder Sumit Jasoria talks...
a year ago
A year after India banned the Shein app, Newme emerged to fill the gap. Founder Sumit Jasoria talks about Gen Z fashion in this "country of countries."
Noahpinion
What just happened in San Francisco politics?
A guest post by Armand Domalewski
9 months ago
A guest post by Armand Domalewski
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The thin edge of the wedge for virtual reality
Pius Uzamere argues that virtual reality will succeed first in business applications instead of...
over a year ago
Pius Uzamere argues that virtual reality will succeed first in business applications instead of gaming: The most interesting virtual reality…
Rest of World -...
The regional flavors of labor-on-demand
A new report digs into the social dynamics of gig work.
8 months ago
A new report digs into the social dynamics of gig work.
Rest of World -...
China’s bite-sized soap operas are peddling cheap plots for big profits
Sex scenes, revenge, and cliffhangers are jam-packed into minutes-long smartphone dramas.
a year ago
Sex scenes, revenge, and cliffhangers are jam-packed into minutes-long smartphone dramas.
haseeb qureshi
What explains the rise of AMMs?
Imagine a college friend reached out to you and said, “Hey, I have a business idea. I’m going to run...
over a year ago
Imagine a college friend reached out to you and said, “Hey, I have a business idea. I’m going to run a market making bot. I’ll always quote a price no matter who’s asking, and for my pricing algorithm I’ll use x * y = k. That’s pretty much it. Want to invest?”
You’d run...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Graphs
It has become customary to use “graph” to refer to the underlying data structures at social networks...
over a year ago
It has become customary to use “graph” to refer to the underlying data structures at social networks like Facebook. (Computer scientists…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
VC investment vs Gartner hype cycle
Here is total VC investment over time: And here's the Gartner hype cycle: One reading of this is...
over a year ago
Here is total VC investment over time: And here's the Gartner hype cycle: One reading of this is that the advent of the internet was the…
Essays - Benedict...
AI and the automation of work
ChatGPT and generative AI will change how we work, but how different is
this to all the other...
a year ago
ChatGPT and generative AI will change how we work, but how different is
this to all the other waves of automation of the last 200 years? What does
it mean for employment? Disruption? Coal consumption?
Rest of World -...
Global TikTok creators depend on U.S. viewers. A TikTok ban would be devastating
Without Americans on the app, advertising dollars are at risk.
a year ago
Without Americans on the app, advertising dollars are at risk.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Have We Reached Peak AI?
Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a 10-minute-long interview with OpenAI CTO Mira Murati,...
9 months ago
Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a 10-minute-long interview with OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, with journalist Joanna Stern asking a series of thoughtful yet straightforward questions that Murati failed to satisfactorily answer. When asked about what data was used to train...
Articles - Alex...
Thinking rationally about emotion
In advertising, using emotion is entirely logical. Creative agencies have
made this case...
4 months ago
In advertising, using emotion is entirely logical. Creative agencies have
made this case consistently. But in 2013 Les Binet and Peter Field bought
some much-needed data to the discussion. In their seminal report, The Long
and The Short of It, the duo analysed 30 years of...
Noahpinion
Do poor countries need a new development strategy?
Bangladesh and Southeast Asia are defying the economists who say industrialization is dead.
10 months ago
Bangladesh and Southeast Asia are defying the economists who say industrialization is dead.
Rest of World -...
Catching a break: How gig workers find rest
Rest of World asked over 100 gig workers across 10 cities how they take a break between tasks.
9 months ago
Rest of World asked over 100 gig workers across 10 cities how they take a break between tasks.
Rest of World -...
How a bored NYU graduate captured the absurdity of Chinese diaspora life
Meet the creator behind @dongbeicantbefuckedwith — a private meme stash turned viral Instagram...
a year ago
Meet the creator behind @dongbeicantbefuckedwith — a private meme stash turned viral Instagram account.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
App store shenanigans
I’ve downloaded and tested a few hundred iPhone and iPad apps. One thing that I’ve noticed is that...
over a year ago
I’ve downloaded and tested a few hundred iPhone and iPad apps. One thing that I’ve noticed is that many of the top rated and ranked apps…
Tom Blomfield
Startup Series Part 3: You make what you measure
Merely measuring something has an uncanny tendency to improve it. If you want to make your user...
over a year ago
Merely measuring something has an uncanny tendency to improve it. If you want to make your user numbers go up, put a big piece of paper on your wall and every day plot the number of users. You’ll be delighted when it goes up and disappointed when it goes down. Pretty soon you’ll...
Rest of World -...
Before you start celebrating a possible Tesla factory in India …
There are ecological and economic challenges that the Indian government must not ignore as it woos...
a year ago
There are ecological and economic challenges that the Indian government must not ignore as it woos Elon Musk.
XO Capital - Field...
v2
XO V1 concluded with 10 acquisitions and 1 "fund".
The V1 "conclusion" is really a line in the sand...
8 months ago
XO V1 concluded with 10 acquisitions and 1 "fund".
The V1 "conclusion" is really a line in the sand but it feels right as we continue to offload assets to focus on larger deals using outside capital. This will transition us into v2 which we'
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Equity value
Warren Buffet once said: Buy into a business that’s doing so well an idiot could run it, because...
over a year ago
Warren Buffet once said: Buy into a business that’s doing so well an idiot could run it, because sooner or later, one will. This is a useful…
Data Boutique
Urgency Factor: Why Timing is as Critical as Cost
The Issues of Planning Web Data Projects
a year ago
The Issues of Planning Web Data Projects
Unpacked
StackOverflow's pivot: From disruption to opportunity
OverFlowAI takes the company’s core asset, exposes answers in a highly usable interface, and in turn...
a year ago
OverFlowAI takes the company’s core asset, exposes answers in a highly usable interface, and in turn creates a loop using gen AI to fire up the content engine.
Rest of World -...
The SoftBank-backed fintech that helped Nigerians through a cash crisis is eyeing “innovative...
Olu Akanmu, co-CEO and president of OPay Nigeria, on the importance of cloud infrastructure and the...
a year ago
Olu Akanmu, co-CEO and president of OPay Nigeria, on the importance of cloud infrastructure and the company’s future plans.
Roberto Vitillo's...
Leader election best practices
Sometimes a single process in a system needs to have special powers, like being the only one that...
over a year ago
Sometimes a single process in a system needs to have special powers, like being the only one that can access a shared resource or assign…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Revisited: big VCs investing in seed rounds
A few years ago, the trend of companies raising smaller seed rounds combined with the emergence of...
over a year ago
A few years ago, the trend of companies raising smaller seed rounds combined with the emergence of new seed funds caused many big VCs to…
Rest of World -...
Influencers are getting young Nigerians hooked on online gambling
While sports betting is legal in Nigeria, experts say the government should have more oversight on...
a year ago
While sports betting is legal in Nigeria, experts say the government should have more oversight on the influencer culture.
Steve Blank
Lean Meets Wicked Problems
This post previously appeared in Poets & Quants. I just spent a month and a half at Imperial College...
a year ago
This post previously appeared in Poets & Quants. I just spent a month and a half at Imperial College London co-teaching a “Wicked” Entrepreneurship class. In this case Wicked doesn’t mean morally evil, but refers to really complex problems, ones with multiple moving parts, where...
Stephen Diehl
The Joy and Agony of Haskell in Production
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Google should open source what actually matters: their search ranking algorithm
Websites live or die based on how a small group of programmers at Google decide their sites should...
over a year ago
Websites live or die based on how a small group of programmers at Google decide their sites should rank in Google’s main search results. As…
Rest of World -...
After dating app murders spike in Colombia, Match Group offers to help the police
Tinder’s parent company attended an unprecedented meeting with the U.S. Embassy and local...
9 months ago
Tinder’s parent company attended an unprecedented meeting with the U.S. Embassy and local authorities in Colombia to curb attacks against foreigners.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Collective knowledge systems
I think you could make a strong argument that the most important technologies developed over the...
over a year ago
I think you could make a strong argument that the most important technologies developed over the last decade are a set of systems that are…
Ed Zitron's Where's...
The Cult of Microsoft
At the core of Microsoft, a three-trillion-dollar hardware and software company, lies a kind of...
a month ago
At the core of Microsoft, a three-trillion-dollar hardware and software company, lies a kind of social poison — an ill-defined, cult-like pseudo-scientific concept called 'The Growth Mindset" that drives company decision-making in everything from how products are sold, to how...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Pitching the VC partnership
The last step to raising venture capital is normally a 1 hour pitch to the whole partnership during...
over a year ago
The last step to raising venture capital is normally a 1 hour pitch to the whole partnership during their weekly monday meeting. This is…
Rest of World -...
How different languages laugh online
Laughter is universal, but lol is not.
a year ago
Laughter is universal, but lol is not.
Rest of World -...
The best articles we didn’t publish in 2023
Our favorite global tech stories from publications not named Rest of World.
12 months ago
Our favorite global tech stories from publications not named Rest of World.
Rest of World -...
Kenya’s biggest protest in recent history played out on a walkie-talkie app
More than 40,000 Kenyans have downloaded Zello since protests began against the government’s plan to...
5 months ago
More than 40,000 Kenyans have downloaded Zello since protests began against the government’s plan to raise taxes.
Rest of World -...
How to launch a Chinese smartphone in Mexico
Antonio Tercero is guiding Infinix’s Mexico expansion, facing off against Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo.
11 months ago
Antonio Tercero is guiding Infinix’s Mexico expansion, facing off against Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo.
tomcritchlow.com
Clients Have a Surprising Amount of Detail
There’s a wonderful blog post called “Reality has a surprising amount of detail” which talks about...
a year ago
There’s a wonderful blog post called “Reality has a surprising amount of detail” which talks about how interesting the world is and how much depth there is to every concept. Here’s a quote about boiling water:
cdixon.org RSS Feed
eBay vs Amazon: decentralized vs centralized e-commerce
Note: The company I cofounded, Hunch, was acquired by eBay in November 2011. I am now an eBay...
over a year ago
Note: The company I cofounded, Hunch, was acquired by eBay in November 2011. I am now an eBay employee. But all the opinions expressed below…
Essays - Benedict...
Metaverse! Metaverse? Metaverse!!
‘Metaverse’ is the buzzword of the moment, yet it doesn’t really exist as
more than a label on a...
over a year ago
‘Metaverse’ is the buzzword of the moment, yet it doesn’t really exist as
more than a label on a whiteboard, and many of the ideas it tries to
combine might not happen, or not like that. This might be the new
‘information highway.’ But however it works, some kind of...
Noahpinion
The case of the angry history postdoc
Elite overproduction spotted in the wild.
6 months ago
Elite overproduction spotted in the wild.
Tech + Economics +...
“Walking meetings” are not going to bring people back to the office.
Joy Adan, senior thought leadership manager at Reward Gateway, an
Australian human resource...
a year ago
Joy Adan, senior thought leadership manager at Reward Gateway, an
Australian human resource consulting company, said that connecting with
co-workers and building those relationships were a critical part of
work and should not be trivialised.
“Coffee badging...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Oculus
I've seen a handful of technology demos in my life that made me feel like I was glimpsing into the...
over a year ago
I've seen a handful of technology demos in my life that made me feel like I was glimpsing into the future. The best ones were: the Apple II…
Steve Blank
Quantum Computing – An Update
In March 2022 I wrote a description of the Quantum Technology Ecosystem. I thought this would be a...
2 months ago
In March 2022 I wrote a description of the Quantum Technology Ecosystem. I thought this would be a good time to check in on the progress of building a quantum computer and explain more of the basics. Just as a reminder, Quantum technologies are used in three very different and...
Rest of World -...
Apple and Foxconn lobbied India to relax its labor laws. Unions are fighting back
The business-friendly change extends factory shifts from nine to 12 hours, and allows women to work...
a year ago
The business-friendly change extends factory shifts from nine to 12 hours, and allows women to work overnight.
Rest of World -...
Mexico botched the end of daylight savings
Banal change combined with everyday tech can upend everything in unexpected ways.
a year ago
Banal change combined with everyday tech can upend everything in unexpected ways.
Rest of World -...
Instagram helps Brazilians dodge a national sales ban on vapes
As Brazilian law clashes with Meta’s policies, illegal vapes flood social media and the streets.
2 months ago
As Brazilian law clashes with Meta’s policies, illegal vapes flood social media and the streets.
Paul Graham: Essays
An Alternative Theory of Unions
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Teaching inmates in Argentina to make video games in prison
“Gaming studios need employees, and the formerly incarcerated need a place to work once they’re...
a year ago
“Gaming studios need employees, and the formerly incarcerated need a place to work once they’re released.”
Rest of World -...
Vietnam’s made-to-measure fashion brands are thriving in the TikTok era
As shoppers sour on Chinese fast fashion, more sustainable Vietnamese brands — loved by K-pop...
6 months ago
As shoppers sour on Chinese fast fashion, more sustainable Vietnamese brands — loved by K-pop artists and Western celebrities alike — are booming online.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Competition is overrated
Your #1 competitor starting out will always be the BACK button, nothing else. – Garry Tan Suppose...
over a year ago
Your #1 competitor starting out will always be the BACK button, nothing else. – Garry Tan Suppose you have an idea for a startup, and then…
Rest of World -...
Fake news verification tools fail the test during elections in India
Rest of World tested 11 leading WhatsApp-based chatbots that promise to help Indian voters identify...
7 months ago
Rest of World tested 11 leading WhatsApp-based chatbots that promise to help Indian voters identify misinformation. There were long delays and inconsistencies in responses even for content that can easily be identified as AI-generated and fake.
Steve Blank
Hacking for Defense @ Stanford 2024 – Lessons Learned Presentations
We just finished our 9th annual Hacking for Defense class at Stanford. What a year. Hacking for...
6 months ago
We just finished our 9th annual Hacking for Defense class at Stanford. What a year. Hacking for Defense, now in 60 universities, has teams of students working to understand and help solve national security problems. At Stanford this quarter the 8 teams of 40 students collectively...
Aaron's Essays
Bad Terms
Every startup fundraising process is influenced by the balance of power between the founder and the...
over a year ago
Every startup fundraising process is influenced by the balance of power between the founder and the investor. When the founder has a company that is doing incredibly well, and is being chased by lots of investors, the founder has more leverage. When the founder is inexperienced,...
Full Width 
Shortcuts 
Sign Up 
Log In 
Articles 
Reading List 