Business Brainstorms
Madden ratings for humans, power plus difficulty equals virality, and things that don't work
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! 💡 Madden Ratings for Humans “startup idea: madden ratings for humans if...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Growth curves of startups
Pick whatever metric you want for gauging the success of a particular startup: profits, revenues,...
over a year ago
Pick whatever metric you want for gauging the success of a particular startup: profits, revenues, pageviews, etc. A graph I’d love to see is…
SatPost by Trung...
Sculpting Ourselves
Thoughts on Antoni Gaudí, Etsuro Sotoo, La Sagrada Família and finding the right ideas to work on.
a year ago
Thoughts on Antoni Gaudí, Etsuro Sotoo, La Sagrada Família and finding the right ideas to work on.
Essays - Benedict...
Unbundling AI
ChatGPT and LLMs can do anything, so what can you do with them? How do you
know? Do we move to...
a year ago
ChatGPT and LLMs can do anything, so what can you do with them? How do you
know? Do we move to chat bots as a magical general-purpose interface, or do
we unbundle them back into single-purpose software?
Noahpinion
If this is a bad economy, please tell me what a good economy would look like
We should acknowledge that things are going well, even as we continue to look for problems to solve.
a year ago
We should acknowledge that things are going well, even as we continue to look for problems to solve.
Paul Graham: Essays
How to Make Pittsburgh a Startup Hub
over a year ago
Internal Tech Emails
Steve Jobs emails Adobe's CEO
One of us must change our policy. Please let me know who.
a year ago
One of us must change our policy. Please let me know who.
David Perell
Rob Henderson: An Internet Academic
Rob Henderson is one of my favorite up-and-coming writers. I like him because he’s one of those...
over a year ago
Rob Henderson is one of my favorite up-and-coming writers. I like him because he’s one of those people who doesn’t fit into a category. He’s a Ph.D. candidate in psychology, but I met him in a book club about technological stagnation. He’s spent years in the academy, first at...
Rest of World -...
What we learned in a year of reporting on labor and technology
Rest of World’s four Labor x Tech fellows reflect on their year reporting about the global tech...
7 months ago
Rest of World’s four Labor x Tech fellows reflect on their year reporting about the global tech industry’s impact on its workers.
Rest of World -...
Why Mexico is tweeting at its third- richest citizen to delete his tweets
On August 11, Mexico’s election authority made an unexpected announcement via its official account...
a year ago
On August 11, Mexico’s election authority made an unexpected announcement via its official account on X, formerly known as Twitter: It called for Ricardo Salinas Pliego, Mexico’s third-richest man, to...
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.
Rest of World -...
How this startup bounced back from a crisis
ThriveAgric fell into a crisis when the pandemic hit. Three years later, it has found its way back...
a year ago
ThriveAgric fell into a crisis when the pandemic hit. Three years later, it has found its way back up.
Rest of World -...
Why African governments must prioritize affordable internet and smartphones
Lacina Koné of Smart Africa discusses the continent’s digital transformation and potential.
a year ago
Lacina Koné of Smart Africa discusses the continent’s digital transformation and potential.
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…
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
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"Natural languages are adequate, but that doesn't mean they're optimal"
Languages are something of a mess. They evolve over centuries through an unplanned, democratic...
over a year ago
Languages are something of a mess. They evolve over centuries through an unplanned, democratic process that leaves them teeming with…
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Twitter killed RSS (and that’s a bad thing)
I’ve used Google Reader religiously since it launched. I’m a few days away from quitting it...
over a year ago
I’ve used Google Reader religiously since it launched. I’m a few days away from quitting it forever. Pretty much every blog I read tweets…
Rest of World -...
Apple suppliers are scrambling to fill over 40,000 jobs in Vietnam
Foxconn and Luxshare slashed workers. But under pressure to expand away from China, they suddenly...
a year ago
Foxconn and Luxshare slashed workers. But under pressure to expand away from China, they suddenly need them back.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Between failure and Facebook
Recently, a friend was trying to recruit a programmer to join his early-stage startup. The...
over a year ago
Recently, a friend was trying to recruit a programmer to join his early-stage startup. The programmer had just graduated from college and…
AVC
The New York Tech Sector
The New York Times had a piece yesterday suggesting that tech will no longer be a growth engine for...
a year ago
The New York Times had a piece yesterday suggesting that tech will no longer be a growth engine for NYC and the surrounding metro area as it has been for the last twenty years. I am not going to link to the piece because it is behind a paywall but if you want to read […]
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Matt Stoller Explains Monopolies
The latest episode of my podcast Better Online is a conversation with Matt Stoller — America’s...
3 months ago
The latest episode of my podcast Better Online is a conversation with Matt Stoller — America’s leading voice on monopoly and antitrust matters, and a thoughtful and prolific writer. You can find Matt on Twitter here, and his newsletter here.
It was a timely conversation. At the
Steve Blank
Startups that Have Employees In Offices Grow 3½ Times Faster
This article previously appeared in EIX – Entreprenuers and Innovators Exchange. Data shows that...
a year ago
This article previously appeared in EIX – Entreprenuers and Innovators Exchange. Data shows that pre-seed and seed startups with employees showing up in a physical office have 3½ times higher revenue growth than those that are solely remote. Let the discussion begin. During the...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Rest of World -...
Hong Kong politicians are making a splash on Chinese social media – and finding mainland fans.
Users have responded enthusiastically to their selfies, food pics, and Father’s Day updates.
a year ago
Users have responded enthusiastically to their selfies, food pics, and Father’s Day updates.
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 product lens
There has been a lot of discussion lately about the markets for startup financing. Many of the...
over a year ago
There has been a lot of discussion lately about the markets for startup financing. Many of the discussions use words like “valuations…
Rest of World -...
The AI job interviewer will see you now
AI interview services say they’re eliminating bias — but not everyone agrees.
5 months ago
AI interview services say they’re eliminating bias — but not everyone agrees.
Platformer
A visit to TikTok's transparency center
Few companies have ever made their code so available for inspection. How much will it matter?
a year ago
Few companies have ever made their code so available for inspection. How much will it matter?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Builders and extractors
Tim O’Reilly poses a question every entrepreneur and investor should consider: are you creating more...
over a year ago
Tim O’Reilly poses a question every entrepreneur and investor should consider: are you creating more value for others than you capture for…
Platformer
Meta seeks to hide harms from teens
But to change the conversation, the company will have to do more than tweak its settings
11 months ago
But to change the conversation, the company will have to do more than tweak its settings
Rest of World -...
Tears of a get-rich-quick guru
Influencers like Sunny Ali promote the Amazon seller dream, but not everyone buys the hustlepreneur...
a year ago
Influencers like Sunny Ali promote the Amazon seller dream, but not everyone buys the hustlepreneur fantasy.
Rest of World -...
Nigerian tech workers are going remote, and pricing out locals in smaller cities
Tech workers are leaving Lagos and Abuja — the country’s economic and political hubs, and flocking...
a year ago
Tech workers are leaving Lagos and Abuja — the country’s economic and political hubs, and flocking to cities like Ibadan, Jos, Benin City, Uyo, and Osogbo.
Rest of World -...
Becoming a tech powerhouse is harder than you think
Rio’s gambit to become Latin America’s tech hub is analogous to Brazil and Latin America’s struggle.
a year ago
Rio’s gambit to become Latin America’s tech hub is analogous to Brazil and Latin America’s struggle.
Noahpinion
Europe's fate is in Germany's hands now
That's a scary thought, but not for the reason it used to be.
5 months ago
That's a scary thought, but not for the reason it used to be.
Noahpinion
The perverse incentives of euthanasia
Suggesting that people die is not a good way of saving taxpayer money.
8 months ago
Suggesting that people die is not a good way of saving taxpayer money.
Paul Graham: Essays
What Microsoft Is this the Altair Basic of?
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Google cuts off an $83 million ghost labor contract
Outsourced workers are the first to go when the company looks to reduce costs.
10 months ago
Outsourced workers are the first to go when the company looks to reduce costs.
haseeb qureshi
Launching the Introduction to Cryptocurrency
Today I’m launching Introduction to Cryptocurrency, an online course teaching the basics of...
over a year ago
Today I’m launching Introduction to Cryptocurrency, an online course teaching the basics of programming cryptocurrencies. The first two modules are already released, and the remainder of the course will be coming out over the next few months.
Introduction to Cryptocurrency is a...
Essays - Benedict...
Netflix, Shein and MrBeast
What does Netflix have in common with Shein, and why is MrBeast more
interesting than Disney Plus?
a year ago
What does Netflix have in common with Shein, and why is MrBeast more
interesting than Disney Plus?
SatPost by Trung...
Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Art of Re-invention
The icon's biggest financial film success came from his riskiest bet: the comedy "Twins".
a year ago
The icon's biggest financial film success came from his riskiest bet: the comedy "Twins".
Platformer
13 predictions for platforms in 2023
Twitter! ChatGPT! Content moderation! And more
over a year ago
Twitter! ChatGPT! Content moderation! And more
Noahpinion
Singapore urbanism
Thoughts from a visit to the solarpunk city.
a year ago
Thoughts from a visit to the solarpunk city.
Dustin Curtis
Contribution and abundance
Ben Horowitz gave this remarkable response to a question about joy and happiness on Time Well Spent:...
over a year ago
Ben Horowitz gave this remarkable response to a question about joy and happiness on Time Well Spent:
In my experience there are really two things that lead to happiness and everything else is mostly noise. The two things are contribution and abundance.
Contribution is basically...
Rest of World -...
Five globally successful Chinese companies you’ve never heard of
TikTok and Shein are household names, but ShareIt and Yalla aren't far behind.
a year ago
TikTok and Shein are household names, but ShareIt and Yalla aren't far behind.
Rest of World -...
The company building AI dubbing that preserves original voices
Seamus McAteer, the founder of Speechlab, discusses AI-generated speech and the importance of...
a year ago
Seamus McAteer, the founder of Speechlab, discusses AI-generated speech and the importance of translating accents.
Platformer
How a single engineer brought down Twitter on Monday
The high cost of cutting expenses
a year ago
The high cost of cutting expenses
Tech + Economics +...
OpenSea slashes NFT marketplace staff by 50%
OpenSea, the prominent NFT marketplace startup, has laid off about half
of its staff, the...
a year ago
OpenSea, the prominent NFT marketplace startup, has laid off about half
of its staff, the company confirmed to Decrypt on Friday.
A company representative told Decrypt that approximately 50% of
employees were impacted across the company. The company would not
...
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.
David Perell
How I’ve Studied the Bible
Years ago, I realized that the Bible is the foundational book of Western civilization. If I was...
12 months ago
Years ago, I realized that the Bible is the foundational book of Western civilization. If I was going to be an educated person, I needed to know what it said.
The post How I’ve Studied the Bible appeared first on David Perell.
tomcritchlow.com
Becoming Creative
I just launched a new thing (the NEW MBA) so starting and launching is on my mind. Here are a few...
a year ago
I just launched a new thing (the NEW MBA) so starting and launching is on my mind. Here are a few links that I deeply love about starting, finishing and promoting creative acts…
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…
Data Boutique
How To Improve QA With Data Boutique For In-House Web Scraping
Independent data help you get to 99% reliability
a year ago
Independent data help you get to 99% reliability
Roberto Vitillo's...
Understanding Distributed Systems 1.1
Coordination is expensive as it reduces the availability and performance of distributed applications...
over a year ago
Coordination is expensive as it reduces the availability and performance of distributed applications (PACELC theorem). I have extended…
Noahpinion
All the arguments against EVs are wrong
EVs are just going to win.
a year ago
EVs are just going to win.
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…
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 -...
The new AI assistants may not speak your language
Mind the language gap.
a year ago
Steve Blank
The Department of Defense Is Getting Its Innovation Act Together – But More Can Be Done
This post previously appeared in Defense News and C4SIR. Despite the clear and present danger of...
11 months ago
This post previously appeared in Defense News and C4SIR. Despite the clear and present danger of threats from China and elsewhere, there’s no agreement on what types of adversaries we’ll face; how we’ll fight, organize, and train; and what weapons or systems we’ll need for...
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
Kevin Kelly: Seeing the Future
My guest today is Kevin Kelly, who co-founded Wired Magazine in 1993 and served as its Executive...
over a year ago
My guest today is Kevin Kelly, who co-founded Wired Magazine in 1993 and served as its Executive Editor for the first seven years. As one of the most important futurists of our generation, he’s published a number of books including The Inevitable, What Technology Wants, and New...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Why the integrated approach to mobile devices is winning
Until last week’s announcement of the new Surface tablet, Microsoft had taken the same approach to...
over a year ago
Until last week’s announcement of the new Surface tablet, Microsoft had taken the same approach to mobile devices that they had with PCs…
Rest of World -...
The startup offering free toilets and coffee for delivery workers — in exchange for their data
Argentine startup Nippy aggregates data from gig workers and sells it to companies like Mastercard...
8 months ago
Argentine startup Nippy aggregates data from gig workers and sells it to companies like Mastercard and Movistar, who in turn offer workers their services.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#13)
Climate messaging, antitrust, Chinese consumption, the Fed and inflation, marriage and happiness,...
a year ago
Climate messaging, antitrust, Chinese consumption, the Fed and inflation, marriage and happiness, historical data, and some Star Trek recommendations
Noahpinion
Three holes in the U.S.' economic strategy against China
Legacy chips, drones, and coordination with allies.
6 months ago
Legacy chips, drones, and coordination with allies.
David Perell
What I Got Wrong About Business
Too many people waste years in hollow ‘entrepreneurship’ classes.
Instead, we need to develop the...
over a year ago
Too many people waste years in hollow ‘entrepreneurship’ classes.
Instead, we need to develop the domain expertise that leads to entrepreneurial ideas.
The post What I Got Wrong About Business appeared first on David Perell.
SatPost by Trung...
Second Winds
Why are so many famous YouTubers quitting? A legendary essay by Václav Havel — a Czech playwright...
10 months ago
Why are so many famous YouTubers quitting? A legendary essay by Václav Havel — a Czech playwright and former President — helps to explain this trend.
SatPost by Trung...
Why I love Bluey (and hate Cocomelon)
These are the two most-streamed children's shows. And Joe Brumm's personal touch for Bluey trumps...
8 months ago
These are the two most-streamed children's shows. And Joe Brumm's personal touch for Bluey trumps Cocomelon's engagement-hacking approach.
The Thinking Cap
Attention Traps
Can we find needles of signal in the Web's infinite haystack of noise?
a year ago
Can we find needles of signal in the Web's infinite haystack of noise?
Rest of World -...
Jumia Food’s shutdown left hundreds of drivers jobless, unable to withdraw earnings
Former gig drivers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda are still feeling the pinch after Jumia Food...
8 months ago
Former gig drivers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda are still feeling the pinch after Jumia Food abruptly exited seven African markets.
SatPost by Trung...
The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of Pixar
Revisiting the studio’s early highs (one lunch led to $6B at the box office), creative struggles...
4 months ago
Revisiting the studio’s early highs (one lunch led to $6B at the box office), creative struggles (stale IP, original flops) and why "Inside Out 2" could trigger a renaissance.
David Perell
Saving the Liberal Arts
We start with their history by returning to the origins of Western thought. We argue that splitting...
over a year ago
We start with their history by returning to the origins of Western thought. We argue that splitting education into two halves — Professional and Civilized — is the only way to think about education clearly. We then outline the evolution of the Liberal Arts, from the ancients to...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Stephen Diehl
The Twilight of the Securities Act
over a year ago
Aaron's Essays
The Hindsight Game
There are all kinds of strategies for evaluating startup ideas - investors talk about having a...
a year ago
There are all kinds of strategies for evaluating startup ideas - investors talk about having a “prepared mind,” others build market maps, I like to think about toys, and we could go on. What everyone wants to do is predict the future. That’s honestly impossible. But we can...
Noahpinion
The U.S. would be insane to go it alone on trade and manufacturing
Punching down on our allies will not help the middle class.
8 months ago
Punching down on our allies will not help the middle class.
Platformer
The unbearable slowness of Meta's Oversight Board
A 234-day wait to get a ruling in a case about incitement to violence suggests that something...
a year ago
A 234-day wait to get a ruling in a case about incitement to violence suggests that something important is broken
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft exec on the iPod: "Apple is just so far ahead"
I bought the high end creative labs portable player. It was the NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra. I have to...
over a year ago
I bought the high end creative labs portable player. It was the NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra. I have to tell you my experience with our software and this device is really terrible.
SatPost by Trung...
Francis Ford Coppola: The Entrepreneur
Exploring the legendary director's business career in 8 films, a studio and a winery.
3 months ago
Exploring the legendary director's business career in 8 films, a studio and a winery.
Internal Tech Emails
"I'm on the edge of revolt"
I've been both a supporter and I believe friend to Google and its senior management through all...
a year ago
I've been both a supporter and I believe friend to Google and its senior management through all these years, but I must say I'm on the edge of revolt now that Google's actions are so punitive, not just for Expedia, but also for IAC and all the players that depend upon something...
Rest of World -...
Nigerian businesses increasingly skip traditional banks and turn to Moniepoint
Moniepoint’s payment machines have become ubiquitous across Nigeria. But the company faces...
9 months ago
Moniepoint’s payment machines have become ubiquitous across Nigeria. But the company faces competition from Chinese-backed OPay.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
There are two ways to make large datasets useful
I’ve spent the majority of my career building technologies that try to do useful things with large...
over a year ago
I’ve spent the majority of my career building technologies that try to do useful things with large datasets.* One of the most important…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Who should learn to program?
Recently, there’s been a lot of talk in the tech world and beyond about getting more people to learn...
over a year ago
Recently, there’s been a lot of talk in the tech world and beyond about getting more people to learn computer programming. I think this is a…
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.
Internal Tech Emails
Google looks at acquiring YouTube
can I get a quick analysis of the likely cost of acquiring youtube? Eric
over a year ago
can I get a quick analysis of the likely cost of acquiring youtube? Eric
Rest of World -...
Exclusive: Microsoft Bing’s censorship in China is even “more extreme” than Chinese companies’
New Citizen Lab study comes as U.S. lawmakers scrutinize Microsoft’s willingness to comply with...
5 months ago
New Citizen Lab study comes as U.S. lawmakers scrutinize Microsoft’s willingness to comply with demands from Beijing.
Roberto's blog
Conquer dev environments with Nix
I regularly use different devices with different OSs, such as a MacBook, a Windows desktop with WSL,...
6 months ago
I regularly use different devices with different OSs, such as a MacBook, a Windows desktop with WSL, a couple of Raspberry PIs, and so on. I have a bunch of tools I like to have at my fingertips when I log into a machine, like fd and Neovim. Setting up and maintaining the same...
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?
Noahpinion
Economic losses for our allies are not wins for the U.S.
Stop comparing ourselves to countries who are on our side.
10 months ago
Stop comparing ourselves to countries who are on our side.
Inverted Passion
Notes on how Supercell is run
Supercell, the company behind the massively popular Clash of Clans game, has one of the highest...
a year ago
Supercell, the company behind the massively popular Clash of Clans game, has one of the highest valuation per employee figures out there: they’re valued at $32mn per employee. That’s insane! How do they do it? 1/ What struck me is the sheer number of games they kill each year?...
Unpacked
Epic Games, Google and App Store Monopolies
In a surprise win for the makers of Fortnite, a jury ruled that Google engaged in anti-competitive...
a year ago
In a surprise win for the makers of Fortnite, a jury ruled that Google engaged in anti-competitive conduct by suppressing other app stores and banning alternate payments
Data Boutique
AI Depends Massively on Web Scraping
And web data sourcing is now a critical problem
a year ago
And web data sourcing is now a critical problem
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#34)
Woke capital, university rigidity, social media toxicity, SUVs and pedestrians, and crime and...
8 months ago
Woke capital, university rigidity, social media toxicity, SUVs and pedestrians, and crime and urbanization
Paul Graham: Essays
What I've Learned from Hacker News
over a year ago
Steve Blank
How Saboteurs Threaten Innovation–and What to Do About It
“Only the Paranoid Survive” Andy Grove – Intel CEO 1987-1998 I just had an urgent “can we meet...
2 months ago
“Only the Paranoid Survive” Andy Grove – Intel CEO 1987-1998 I just had an urgent “can we meet today?” coffee with Rohan, an ex-student. His three-year-old startup had been slapped with a notice of patent infringement from a Fortune 500 company. “My lawyers said defending this...
Tech + Economics +...
The Hyperloop was always a scam
Paris Marx:
The tech industry’s move into transportation was not only a failure; it
was...
12 months ago
Paris Marx:
The tech industry’s move into transportation was not only a failure; it
was an active campaign to deny the public access to better transit and
trains because the billionaires of Silicon Valley don’t personally want
to get around that way. The...
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Let Tim Cook
Last week, Apple announced “Apple Intelligence,” a suite of features coming to iOS 18 (the next...
6 months ago
Last week, Apple announced “Apple Intelligence,” a suite of features coming to iOS 18 (the next version of the iPhone’s software) in a presentation that FastCompany called “uninspired,” Futurism called “boring,” and Axios claimed “failed to excite investors.”
The
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
🔀 The Law of Line Extension
3 months ago
🔀 The Law of Line Extension
Inverted Passion
Wealth is not money, it’s the things we use money for
As an entrepreneur, money is obviously a massive motivation for why you’re doing what you’re doing....
a year ago
As an entrepreneur, money is obviously a massive motivation for why you’re doing what you’re doing. However, it’s essential to understand that money is not wealth. Wealth is stuff we want and by that logic, people can be wealthy even if they don’t have a lot of money. In fact,...
Steve Blank
Here’s What Happened When Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks visited Stanford’s Gordian...
It was an honor to host US Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks at Stanford’s Gordian Knot...
over a year ago
It was an honor to host US Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks at Stanford’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. (Think of the Deputy Secretary of Defense as the Chief Operating Officer of a company – but in this case the company has 3 million...
Platformer
Yes, Elon Musk created a special system for showing you all his tweets first
After his Super Bowl tweet did worse numbers than President Biden’s, Twitter’s CEO ordered major...
a year ago
After his Super Bowl tweet did worse numbers than President Biden’s, Twitter’s CEO ordered major changes to the algorithm
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"The business plans of the next 10,000 startups are easy to forecast: Take X and add AI."
Kevin Kelly thinks artificial intelligence is finally ready deliver on its promise: The AI on the...
over a year ago
Kevin Kelly thinks artificial intelligence is finally ready deliver on its promise: The AI on the horizon looks more like Amazon Web…
Noahpinion
How do you deal with real, actual Nazis?
They come back every few decades, spreading the same old lies.
3 months ago
They come back every few decades, spreading the same old lies.
Essays - Benedict...
Leaving Twitter
I was on Twitter since 2007, and built a meaningful part of my career on
it, and I won’t be...
a year ago
I was on Twitter since 2007, and built a meaningful part of my career on
it, and I won’t be posting at all for the foreseeable future
Paul Graham: Essays
What Doesn't Seem Like Work?
over a year ago
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#45)
Intel; Canada's economy; infrastructure and state capacity; East Asian development; race in America;...
4 months ago
Intel; Canada's economy; infrastructure and state capacity; East Asian development; race in America; corrupt nonprofits
Business Brainstorms
Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 The more competitive a market the more buying decisions boil down to vibes. For example, I...
10 months ago
#1 💡 The more competitive a market the more buying decisions boil down to vibes. For example, I recently started looking for an AI meeting note taking software we can use in our sales and clients calls. Fireflies, Fathom, MeetGeek, tl;dv… there are just so many of them and they...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#46)
Morning in America; Trump's bad vibes; Japan's chip industry; Biden and abundance; native-born...
4 months ago
Morning in America; Trump's bad vibes; Japan's chip industry; Biden and abundance; native-born employment; redistribution; transit costs
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Rest of World -...
Nigeria will become a net exporter of tech talent: Nigerian Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani
The tech entrepreneur-turned-bureaucrat spoke to Rest of World about his year in government, his...
2 months ago
The tech entrepreneur-turned-bureaucrat spoke to Rest of World about his year in government, his administration’s priorities for advancing AI in Nigeria, and the difficult task of choosing between allies.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#24)
Economists had a good 2023, degrowthers promising growth, the troubles in the humanities, U.S....
11 months ago
Economists had a good 2023, degrowthers promising growth, the troubles in the humanities, U.S. redistribution, and defense production
Noahpinion
Book Review: "The End of the World is Just the Beginning"
Peter Zeihan gives us his vision of the collapse of globalization.
a year ago
Peter Zeihan gives us his vision of the collapse of globalization.
Tech + Economics +...
This is how you know I’m almost 35.
Woke up.
Feel like absolute hell.
Need coffee. This is me sober, how did I ever function in...
a year ago
Woke up.
Feel like absolute hell.
Need coffee. This is me sober, how did I ever function in the mornings
while I was drinking?
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...
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.
Working Theorys
The Brunch Test | Theory No. 16
A framework for building products that balance familiarity with freshness.
a year ago
A framework for building products that balance familiarity with freshness.
Rest of World -...
Vietnam’s “TikTok monk” gives wisdom on life and love to millions of followers
Gen Z slang and social media trends help Giac Minh Luat connect with Vietnam’s lonely generation.
2 months ago
Gen Z slang and social media trends help Giac Minh Luat connect with Vietnam’s lonely generation.
essay – snarfed.org
So long, Twitter API, and thanks for all the fish
Well, it’s come to this. Twitter is burning, a billionaire owes money, an API will soon get...
a year ago
Well, it’s come to this. Twitter is burning, a billionaire owes money, an API will soon get lobotomized, so Bridgy‘s Twitter support will die within the month is dead. Granary‘s and twitter-atom too. The Twitter API may now be effectively unmaintained, but they still managed to...
Rest of World -...
U.S tech giants are building dozens of huge data centers in Chile. Locals are fighting back
Multiple groups are working to keep Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from doubling the number of...
6 months ago
Multiple groups are working to keep Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from doubling the number of centers in the country, fearing environmental devastation.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Business development: the Goldilocks principle
Background: At Hunch, we switched our focus (“pivoted“) about 14 months ago from B2C to B2B. Over...
over a year ago
Background: At Hunch, we switched our focus (“pivoted“) about 14 months ago from B2C to B2B. Over that time, we pitched over 500 potential…
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.”
AVC
The Freedom To Innovate
Back in 2014, USV got subpoenaed by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) over...
a year ago
Back in 2014, USV got subpoenaed by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) over our web3 investing activities. We hired a law firm, answered the subpoena, and that ultimately landed me in public testimony in front of the DFS staff. In my testimony, I explained...
Working Theorys
Explain It Like I'm One of You
Basketball podcasts, new media, and no more ELI5
8 months ago
Basketball podcasts, new media, and no more ELI5
SatPost by Trung...
The Psychology of Disneyland
From Walt Disney's original vision to Imagineering to pricing strategy.
a year ago
From Walt Disney's original vision to Imagineering to pricing strategy.
Blog posts of...
🇮🇳 India in 2024
In February I made my first business trip to India. Three weeks deep in the Indian tech ecosystem....
8 months ago
In February I made my first business trip to India. Three weeks deep in the Indian tech ecosystem. My summary is simple: I feel like the world needs an update how we view India
Rest of World -...
Building an app that uses AI to interpret dreams
Pandemic isolation inspired Coco Chen to work on the spiritual health platform Dreamore.
a year ago
Pandemic isolation inspired Coco Chen to work on the spiritual health platform Dreamore.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Why is enterprise tech so far behind consumer tech? Because it can be.
Brian Manning put it nicely in a comment to my post yesterday about enterprise software: In my...
over a year ago
Brian Manning put it nicely in a comment to my post yesterday about enterprise software: In my opinion, enterprise technology is WAY behind…
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…
Roberto Vitillo's...
How to conduct a system design interview
The system design interview is a great way to assess the seniority of a candidate in an interview....
over a year ago
The system design interview is a great way to assess the seniority of a candidate in an interview. You can find a lot on the Internet on how…
Rest of World -...
China’s biggest AI model is challenging American dominance
Alibaba’s Qwen has been shining on benchmark tests, despite chip restrictions.
3 months ago
Alibaba’s Qwen has been shining on benchmark tests, despite chip restrictions.
XO Capital - Field...
What business are you really in?
I spoke with an entrepreneur recently who, after 5 years of running a successful and growing...
8 months ago
I spoke with an entrepreneur recently who, after 5 years of running a successful and growing business, said "After 5 years I finally know the real business we're in.".
It means they outwardly do X but on the inside the hard part is Y.
As an
Rest of World -...
What the AI boom is getting wrong (and right), according to Hugging Face’s policy chief
Irene Solaiman on tackling racial bias, language equity, consent, and why there are so many AI...
6 months ago
Irene Solaiman on tackling racial bias, language equity, consent, and why there are so many AI girlfriends.
Rest of World -...
Why Meta still needs China
You can take Facebook out of China, but you can’t take China out of Facebook.
a year ago
You can take Facebook out of China, but you can’t take China out of Facebook.
Tech + Economics +...
Elon Musk’s freedom from consequences is once again denied.
Elon Musk's X Corp. has hit a snag trying to block California's AB 587, a
law that aims to clean...
11 months ago
Elon Musk's X Corp. has hit a snag trying to block California's AB 587, a
law that aims to clean up the online environment by requiring transparency
in content moderation.
Peter Blumberg and Malathi Nayak in Bloomberg
In an eight-page ruling Thursday, a federal...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Rest of World -...
What languages dominate the internet?
The one you’re reading this in, for starters.
a year ago
The one you’re reading this in, for starters.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Selling to enterprises
For some reason when you are selling information technology, big companies are referred to as...
over a year ago
For some reason when you are selling information technology, big companies are referred to as “enterprises.” I’m guessing the word was…
Rest of World -...
Muzz, the world’s largest Muslim dating app, is struggling in India
India is home to 172 million Muslims, and the world’s second-largest market for dating apps. But...
a year ago
India is home to 172 million Muslims, and the world’s second-largest market for dating apps. But Indian women say Muzz is a bad match.
Working Theorys
The Idea That Won't Go Away | Theory No. 24
In a battle of new and old ideas, which one wins?
a year ago
In a battle of new and old ideas, which one wins?
AVC
Threads
Like tens of millions of others, I downloaded Threads onto my phone yesterday and signed up. The...
a year ago
Like tens of millions of others, I downloaded Threads onto my phone yesterday and signed up. The thing that Twitter has been missing since it killed off its ecosystem over a decade ago is competition. And as we all know, lack of competition is a very bad thing. In governments and...
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.
Noahpinion
Don’t Rock the Vote
Democrats are the party that benefits from low voter turnout. They just don’t know it yet. (Guest...
5 months ago
Democrats are the party that benefits from low voter turnout. They just don’t know it yet. (Guest post by Wally Nowinski)
Rest of World -...
23 Rest of World stories that defined 2023
This year, Rest of World published around 500 articles from more than 50 countries. Here are our...
12 months ago
This year, Rest of World published around 500 articles from more than 50 countries. Here are our favorites.
Devmoh
How Google Stores 10,000 Petabytes of Data Efficiently
Google Colossus Explained Simply
a year ago
Google Colossus Explained Simply
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Trusting platforms
In response to my post yesterday about how an internet of people has enabled a new wave of web-based...
over a year ago
In response to my post yesterday about how an internet of people has enabled a new wave of web-based marketplaces, Nick Mango commented…
Essays - Benedict...
Notes on newsletters
Email newsletters unlocked a new way to pay for content, but is this a tool
or a network? You can...
over a year ago
Email newsletters unlocked a new way to pay for content, but is this a tool
or a network? You can write all you like, but how do you get readers? And
is the take rate 10% or 90%?
Rest of World -...
Predatory loan apps are thriving in the Google Play store, despite ban
Google says it takes the problem seriously, but over a dozen loan apps remain available in the...
11 months ago
Google says it takes the problem seriously, but over a dozen loan apps remain available in the store.
Aaron's Essays
Utopia Bets / Apocalypse Bets
I think that it is nearly impossible to figure out the exact changes that new technologies will...
over a year ago
I think that it is nearly impossible to figure out the exact changes that new technologies will create in the world. That's problematic because investing in startups is largely about figuring out whether or not a team with a new technology - or application of existing technology...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Pitch yourself, not your idea
There is a widespread myth that the most important part of building a great company is coming up...
over a year ago
There is a widespread myth that the most important part of building a great company is coming up with a great idea. This myth is reflected…
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.
Noahpinion
Europe is not ready to be a "third superpower"
For that, it would need to act as a unified entity, defend itself against Russia, and embrace new...
a year ago
For that, it would need to act as a unified entity, defend itself against Russia, and embrace new technology.
Aaron's Essays
Carts without horses
Investing in emerging markets such as India, Kenya, and Nigeria isn’t quite what I naively thought...
over a year ago
Investing in emerging markets such as India, Kenya, and Nigeria isn’t quite what I naively thought it would be. Before I started, I thought that finding a good company in an emerging market would just mean copying models that worked in developed markets. All I’d have to do is...
AVC
My Year-End Playlist
As usual, here are some songs that stuck with me this year. fredwilson · Backing It When No One...
over a year ago
As usual, here are some songs that stuck with me this year. fredwilson · Backing It When No One Believed I hope you enjoy it.
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.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Steve Jobs on problem solving
When you start looking at a problem and it seems really simple, you don’t really understand the...
over a year ago
When you start looking at a problem and it seems really simple, you don’t really understand the complexity of the problem. Then you get…
Nothing Human
Prayer over a new smartphone
Hello, phone. For many years, starting today, you will be my most loyal companion and my most...
a year ago
Hello, phone. For many years, starting today, you will be my most loyal companion and my most treasured possession. I will feel your weight in my pocket every moment of every day, a presence as constant as my breath. The muscles and bones of my hand, arm, and shoulder will deform...
Stephen Diehl
Cooking Classes with Datatype Generic Programming
over a year ago
Noahpinion
The elemental foe
Lifting humanity out of poverty is Job #1.
5 months ago
Lifting humanity out of poverty is Job #1.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Good bizdev cannibalizes itself
A few successful websites were built almost entirely through viral growth. The vast majority,...
over a year ago
A few successful websites were built almost entirely through viral growth. The vast majority, however, started off by partnering with other…
David Perell
Should You Write Every Day?
When I started working out, I hated it. I wanted to gain muscle but dreaded working out. Eventually,...
over a year ago
When I started working out, I hated it. I wanted to gain muscle but dreaded working out. Eventually, a friend got fed up with my laziness and told me what I needed to hear: “If you want to build the habit, go to the gym every single day without fail.” So that’s what I did.
The...
Rest of World -...
The truth behind VinFast’s stunning stock market debut
Beware of EV companies bearing SPACs.
a year ago
Beware of EV companies bearing SPACs.
Rest of World -...
Reliance and Disney team up to crush Netflix and Prime Video in India
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and The Walt Disney Company have joined forces creating a hard-to-beat...
9 months ago
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and The Walt Disney Company have joined forces creating a hard-to-beat streaming entity in the country.
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.
Rest of World -...
Apple should tell Indians what it knows about politicians’ phones being hacked
The Silicon Valley giant’s muted public response after several Indian opposition leaders received a...
a year ago
The Silicon Valley giant’s muted public response after several Indian opposition leaders received a message that their devices may be compromised is doing more harm.
42!
Trusting third parties with our information
Photo by Sergiu Nista on Unsplash
We’ve noticed a disturbing trend here at our startup in the past...
a year ago
Photo by Sergiu Nista on Unsplash
We’ve noticed a disturbing trend here at our startup in the past 12 months or so. We’ve been growing and adding new team members, and almost without fail, almost all our new starters are getting hit with a scam email within a few days of...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Dow 10,000 and economic reflexivity
People who criticize Obama’s economic policies forget that, around the beginning of this year, a lot...
over a year ago
People who criticize Obama’s economic policies forget that, around the beginning of this year, a lot of serious people thought we were…
Essays - Benedict...
Generative AI and intellectual property
If you put all the world’s knowledge into an AI model and use it to make
something new, who owns...
a year ago
If you put all the world’s knowledge into an AI model and use it to make
something new, who owns that and who gets paid? This is a completely new
problem that we’ve been arguing about for 500 years.
Noahpinion
How we could return to the productivity growth of the 1990s
A guest post by Preston Mui.
9 months ago
A guest post by Preston Mui.
Noahpinion
The Big Tariffs are here
Biden just slapped a 100% tax on Chinese car imports. Here's what that will and won't accomplish.
7 months ago
Biden just slapped a 100% tax on Chinese car imports. Here's what that will and won't accomplish.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Dustin Curtis
It is link winter on X
We do not know how, why, or when the X algorithm devalues posts with links, but it does—without...
2 weeks ago
We do not know how, why, or when the X algorithm devalues posts with links, but it does—without telling you, and by a lot—and it makes the experience there worse.
Without links, information on X is headlines without stories, commentary without context, magic without the...
Noahpinion
Uh, guys, we really should think about spending more on defense
That's not a message many people want to hear, but it's true.
a year ago
That's not a message many people want to hear, but it's true.
Rest of World -...
You messaged your doctor on WhatsApp. Should that be billed?
Medical practitioners in Latin America say WhatsApp can be a lifesaving tool — and a costly time...
a year ago
Medical practitioners in Latin America say WhatsApp can be a lifesaving tool — and a costly time sink.
Business Brainstorms
Daily briefing AI, Hello Fresh but better, building in a cave, postcard lead gen, controllable input...
Hey, In this issue: idea for an AI-powered Gmail extension to streamline your digital life, private...
a year ago
Hey, In this issue: idea for an AI-powered Gmail extension to streamline your digital life, private prep cooks as a service, startup concepts inspired by Y Combinator data, prompt for SEO optimized articles. Plus, founder insights on the power of focus and advertising channels....
Noahpinion
Sizing up the New Axis
A repost, more relevant than ever.
3 months ago
A repost, more relevant than ever.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Ideal first round funding terms
My last 2 posts were about things to avoid, so I thought it might be helpful to follow up with...
over a year ago
My last 2 posts were about things to avoid, so I thought it might be helpful to follow up with something more positive. Having been part of…
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...
AVC
My Year-End Playlist
Every year I put together a playlist at the end of the year with some of the new music I found and...
a year ago
Every year I put together a playlist at the end of the year with some of the new music I found and got into. Most of these songs are under the radar which is my favorite kind of music. So I hope you find something new that you like in here.
Rest of World -...
The biggest data protection fight you’ve never heard of
Big tech is lobbying around another international trade deal.
11 months ago
Big tech is lobbying around another international trade deal.
Essays - Benedict...
TV, merchant media and the unbundling of advertising
Amazon’s ad business is bigger than YouTube and more profitable than AWS.
Shein is the biggest...
over a year ago
Amazon’s ad business is bigger than YouTube and more profitable than AWS.
Shein is the biggest fast-fashion retailer in the US, with no stores. US
pay TV subscribers have fallen by a third. Where do ad budgets go, where
does rent go, and how many brands will there be?
Blog posts of...
Mindshare 🧠
The hard part now, is to get mindshare with customers.
9 months ago
The hard part now, is to get mindshare with customers.
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft exec: "my recent discussions with Steve [Jobs]"
some stuff has been tense, as I have really been pushing them on a few issues, and I am forcing...
a year ago
some stuff has been tense, as I have really been pushing them on a few issues, and I am forcing Apple to do a lot of stuff they'd rather not do (using Office as leverage)
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Techies and normals
There are techies (if you are reading this blog you are almost certainly one of them) and there are...
over a year ago
There are techies (if you are reading this blog you are almost certainly one of them) and there are mainstream users – some people call them…
XO Capital - Field...
Consolidating Our Portfolio
💡
We've finally rolled out a small community of folks interested in acquiring saas businesses. The...
9 months ago
💡
We've finally rolled out a small community of folks interested in acquiring saas businesses. The first few weeks of it have been a delight. It's the highlight of my week chatting with other people interested in this space. Join us! https://notes.xo.capital/community/
Throwable
How To Estimate An Engineering Project (Or Really Any Project)
There is apparently a cabal of engineers who want you to know that estimating is impossible. Don't...
a year ago
There is apparently a cabal of engineers who want you to know that estimating is impossible. Don't believe 'em.
Noahpinion
Biden should run on a message of abundance
Things are going pretty well in America, and Biden's policies have largely helped.
10 months ago
Things are going pretty well in America, and Biden's policies have largely helped.
Noahpinion
2023 is when the empires strike back
Cold War 2 won't be decided by the opening moves.
a year ago
Cold War 2 won't be decided by the opening moves.
Working Theorys
The Creator Search Fund
Don't buy a company, commercialize a creator.
10 months ago
Don't buy a company, commercialize a creator.
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.
Tech + Economics +...
We’re in our 30’s. We’re not The Girls or The Boys.
A busy morning café. A group of women in their 30s are laughing over
lattes. One of them exclaims,...
a year ago
A busy morning café. A group of women in their 30s are laughing over
lattes. One of them exclaims, "We girls need to do this more often!" Across
town, a group of men clink their glasses in a pub, one of them chuckling,
"It's always a good time with the boys." Adults...
Paul Graham: Essays
Coronavirus and Credibility
over a year ago
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
Rest of World -...
Mother-son YouTubers cook Nepali dishes with sides of nostalgia and ASMR
Started as a pandemic hobby, KanchhiKitchen is giving Nepalis around the world a glimpse of...
a year ago
Started as a pandemic hobby, KanchhiKitchen is giving Nepalis around the world a glimpse of traditional village life.
Working Theorys
The Time-Boxed Startup
What if startups had an expiration date?
9 months ago
What if startups had an expiration date?
Entrepreneur's Edge
Recommended Books
A collection of books that have changed how I think about the world.
a year ago
A collection of books that have changed how I think about the world.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Stickiness is bad for business
It is common to hear entrepreneurs and investors talk about the high level of engagement (what we...
over a year ago
It is common to hear entrepreneurs and investors talk about the high level of engagement (what we used to call “stickiness”) of their…
Noahpinion
Why it's so hard to fix the information ecosystem
Misinformation is a job; correcting misinformation is a hobby.
a year ago
Misinformation is a job; correcting misinformation is a hobby.
AVC
I’ve Moved Onchain
Over the last few years, I’ve moved my internet life from web2 to web3 and rarely use any web2...
7 months ago
Over the last few years, I’ve moved my internet life from web2 to web3 and rarely use any web2 services anymore. So I am starting a series called “I’ve Moved Onchain” to explain this journey to everyone and today’s opening post is about blogging, naturally. I’ve blogged at...
Inverted Passion
You can’t jail an AI
Here’s why I worry about AI. We know that people can get away with anything to pursue their goals...
7 months ago
Here’s why I worry about AI. We know that people can get away with anything to pursue their goals (of profit, power, etc.) as long as they know they can get away with it, without negative consequences. We have had Hitlers, and insider traders. But the world keeps them in check...
Ed Zitron's Where's...
The Rot-Com Bubble
If you enjoy this post, why not subscribe to my podcast Better Offline? This week's a two parter...
6 months ago
If you enjoy this post, why not subscribe to my podcast Better Offline? This week's a two parter that further expands on the Rot-Com Bubble, coming out Wednesday and Friday.
The noxious growth-at-all-costs mindset of the Rot Economy sits at the core of every issue that I'
Noahpinion
Energy Bell: The sketch of an idea
How can we get America back to the forefront of energy research?
5 months ago
How can we get America back to the forefront of energy research?
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Revenue vs margin
Three years ago, Fred Wilson wrote a great blog post called When Talking About Business Models,...
over a year ago
Three years ago, Fred Wilson wrote a great blog post called When Talking About Business Models, Remember that Profits Equal Revenues Minus…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Embrace the medium
An obvious but surprisingly under-practiced design principle is to “embrace the medium.” Applied to...
over a year ago
An obvious but surprisingly under-practiced design principle is to “embrace the medium.” Applied to software, this means building…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Crypto Tokens: A Breakthrough in Open Network Design
It is a wonderful accident of history that the internet and web were created as open platforms that...
over a year ago
It is a wonderful accident of history that the internet and web were created as open platforms that anyone — users, developers…
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.
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…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What if online business model innovation is slowing down?
There is a widely held assumption that new business models will continue to emerge online – that...
over a year ago
There is a widely held assumption that new business models will continue to emerge online – that statements like “how will Twitter ever make…
Essays - Benedict...
The FTC versus tech M&A
The US is fundamentally rethinking its approach to regulating competition,
and M&A, and tech, and...
over a year ago
The US is fundamentally rethinking its approach to regulating competition,
and M&A, and tech, and big tech buying startups. The FTC’s attempt to block
Meta from buying Within is a test case for all of this. So, how many
interesting problems can we count?
Essays - Benedict...
The problem of AI ethics, and laws about AI
Should you try to write laws, or lay down ethical principles, about a
technology that will be used...
9 months ago
Should you try to write laws, or lay down ethical principles, about a
technology that will be used in entirely different ways, for different
purposes, in different industries? How about if it’s changing entirely
every 18 months?
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#25)
Maternal mortality, "living paycheck to paycheck", media negativity, diffusion of the tech industry,...
11 months ago
Maternal mortality, "living paycheck to paycheck", media negativity, diffusion of the tech industry, and the effect of corporate tax cuts
Nadia Asparouhova
The creator economy
I’ve had some lingering thoughts over the past year about what it means to be a “creator,” further...
over a year ago
I’ve had some lingering thoughts over the past year about what it means to be a “creator,” further accelerated by a recent conversation with a friend, and I want to try to unpack those feelings here.
The “creator economy” popped into our vernacular with surprisingly little moral...
Rest of World -...
PETA is building robot elephants for Hindu temples
For centuries, elephants have been captured to live in temples. Animal rights groups say replacing...
2 months ago
For centuries, elephants have been captured to live in temples. Animal rights groups say replacing them with robots will minimize animal cruelty and risks to humans.
Data Boutique
Problems When Disclosing How Data Is Collected
Recent news highlights how in-house data collection might not be taken well by users.
a year ago
Recent news highlights how in-house data collection might not be taken well by users.
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...
Stephen Diehl
SBF is Crypto Personified
over a year ago
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.
Aaron's Essays
Asking questions
Small children are great at asking questions. Their questions are simple, direct, and utterly...
over a year ago
Small children are great at asking questions. Their questions are simple, direct, and utterly without ego. If you spend time with 2-5 year olds, you’ll find yourself answering a near infinite series of progressively more challenging questions. This is one of the main paths by...
Steve Blank
The Quantum Technology Ecosystem – Explained
If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics Richard...
over a year ago
If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics Richard Feynman Tens of billions of public and private capital are being invested in Quantum technologies. Countries across the world have realized that quantum technologies can be a major...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Rest of World -...
Alibaba.com’s U.S. expansion hinges on wooing mom-and-pop shops
President Kuo Zhang tells Rest of World in an exclusive interview that the company is bullish about...
3 months ago
President Kuo Zhang tells Rest of World in an exclusive interview that the company is bullish about the U.S. market.
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
Noahpinion
America's semiconductor policy is missing a key piece
A guest post by Steven Glinert.
7 months ago
A guest post by Steven Glinert.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Full stack startups
Many of today's most exciting startups were tried before in a different form. Suppose you develop a...
over a year ago
Many of today's most exciting startups were tried before in a different form. Suppose you develop a new technology that is valuable to some…
SatPost by Trung...
Jerry Seinfeld, Ichiro Suzuki and the Pursuit of Mastery
Notes from the 1987 Esquire magazine issue that inspired Jerry Seinfeld to "pursue mastery [because]...
7 months ago
Notes from the 1987 Esquire magazine issue that inspired Jerry Seinfeld to "pursue mastery [because] that will fulfill your life".
Tech + Economics +...
The worst part of tech layoffs? The corporate bullshit.
EBay to eliminate about 1,000 jobs, or 9% of full-time workforce
Jamie Iannone, eBay’s CEO,...
11 months ago
EBay to eliminate about 1,000 jobs, or 9% of full-time workforce
Jamie Iannone, eBay’s CEO, told employees in a letter published on a
corporate blog, that the company will also “scale back the number of
contracts we have within our alternate workforce over the...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The importance of asking people questions
Andy Weissman’s blog has the tagline “Maximizing the serendipity around you.” It’s a good...
over a year ago
Andy Weissman’s blog has the tagline “Maximizing the serendipity around you.” It’s a good philosophy. I think one of the simplest ways to…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Keybase: bringing public-key cryptography to mainstream users
Today I’m excited to announce that a16z is leading a $10.8M Series A financing of Keybase, a company...
over a year ago
Today I’m excited to announce that a16z is leading a $10.8M Series A financing of Keybase, a company that is trying to make the internet…
Noahpinion
A data-driven case for productivity optimism
A guest post by Brian Albrecht of Economic Forces.
4 months ago
A guest post by Brian Albrecht of Economic Forces.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The next big thing will start out looking like a toy
One of the amazing things about the internet economy is how different the list of top internet...
over a year ago
One of the amazing things about the internet economy is how different the list of top internet properties today looks from the list ten…
Rest of World -...
African universities are failing to prepare tech graduates for jobs in AI
Dozens of new AI training startups are filling the gap, offering online courses, hackathons, and job...
7 months ago
Dozens of new AI training startups are filling the gap, offering online courses, hackathons, and job placement help.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The tragedy of the anticommons
Seems very relevant to today’s music industry, and potentially relevant to the internet/software...
over a year ago
Seems very relevant to today’s music industry, and potentially relevant to the internet/software industry in the near future as patent…
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 -...
The Chinese founder who is betting on the Western appetite for short soaps
Mega Matrix and FlexTV want to succeed where Quibi has failed by embracing the allure of “so bad...
7 months ago
Mega Matrix and FlexTV want to succeed where Quibi has failed by embracing the allure of “so bad it’s good” shows.
Nothing Human
The Tyranny of the Marginal User
why consumer software gets worse, not better, over time
a year ago
why consumer software gets worse, not better, over time
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.
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
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...
Rest of World -...
This renewable energy startup helps companies decarbonize across the Pacific
Bor Hung Chong from Nefin Group discusses green energy solutions beyond solar panels.
a year ago
Bor Hung Chong from Nefin Group discusses green energy solutions beyond solar panels.
Tech + Economics +...
Is Twitch losing its edge with draconian content regulation?
The Verge: Twitch will ban people pretending to be naked
Twitch is changing its sexual...
11 months ago
The Verge: Twitch will ban people pretending to be naked
Twitch is changing its sexual content policies again, this time to
prohibit implied nudity on the platform. The platform already prohibits
nudity, but Twitch’s new attire policy, which goes into effect...
Noahpinion
Once again: Imports do not subtract from GDP
I've explained it before, and I'll keep explaining it until the world understands.
2 months ago
I've explained it before, and I'll keep explaining it until the world understands.
Blog posts of...
AngelList is the NASDAQ of our generation.
It’s fair to say that Angellist is the most exciting (web/mobile) tech startup in 2013. Even before...
over a year ago
It’s fair to say that Angellist is the most exciting (web/mobile) tech startup in 2013. Even before they launched syndicates, earl...
Tech + Economics +...
Real estate grifters are creating unlivable conditions.
TikTok Real Estate Influencers and ‘Grifters’ Are in Deep Trouble, Short
Seller Says
Philip...
11 months ago
TikTok Real Estate Influencers and ‘Grifters’ Are in Deep Trouble, Short
Seller Says
Philip Garboden, a professor of affordable housing at the University of
Hawaii who has studied the rise of small real estate investors, said
the effects of reckless lending on...
tomcritchlow.com
What are Executive Off-Sites Good For?
A blessed Q4 be upon you. And you as well.
over a year ago
A blessed Q4 be upon you. And you as well.
Data Boutique
Case Study: MatchesFashion Inventory Outflows
Web data for market insights
9 months ago
Web data for market insights
Roberto Vitillo's...
How do you prepare for the system design interview?
I get asked this question a lot. I lost track of people I know that spend all their time brushing up...
over a year ago
I get asked this question a lot. I lost track of people I know that spend all their time brushing up on algorithmic puzzles and barely…
Rest of World -...
It’s never goodbye in South Asia
South Asians don’t like to say goodbye — instead, across the many languages we speak in the region,...
a year ago
South Asians don’t like to say goodbye — instead, across the many languages we speak in the region, we prefer versions of the phrase “see you again."
Rest of World -...
Malaysia’s new data centers create thousands of jobs — and worries about power and water shortages
Data centers for companies like Google, Amazon, and Nvidia are transforming Johor state, with locals...
a month ago
Data centers for companies like Google, Amazon, and Nvidia are transforming Johor state, with locals bracing for higher real estate costs and resource shortages.
Steve Blank
Apple Vision Pro – Tech in the Search of a Market
A version of this article previously appeared in Fortune. If you haven’t been paying attention Apple...
10 months ago
A version of this article previously appeared in Fortune. If you haven’t been paying attention Apple has started shipping its Apple Vision Pro, its take on a headset that combines Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). The product is an amazing technical tour de force....
cdixon.org RSS Feed
As [Edwin] Land ultimately recognized, the adoption of his [polarized headlight] system was fatally…
As Edwin Land ultimately recognized, the adoption of his polarized headlight system was fatally...
over a year ago
As Edwin Land ultimately recognized, the adoption of his polarized headlight system was fatally hampered by the fact that there was no…
Noahpinion
An Age of Austerity is probably on the way
It's not the 2010s anymore.
a year ago
It's not the 2010s anymore.
Noahpinion
Thus passes Robert Lucas
Farewell to the most influential macroeconomist of his generation.
a year ago
Farewell to the most influential macroeconomist of his generation.
Rest of World -...
Clickworkers are turning against each other
Brazil’s online gig workers, who power features like social media moderation and AI training, are...
a year ago
Brazil’s online gig workers, who power features like social media moderation and AI training, are increasingly wary of newcomers.
Roberto Vitillo's...
I am back
It's been three years since my last post on my old Wordpress blog! You can still find my earlier...
over a year ago
It's been three years since my last post on my old Wordpress blog! You can still find my earlier posts there as I was too lazy to move…
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...
Rest of World -...
The fastest-growing shopping app in the world
Meesho is taking on Amazon and Walmart with its focuse on cheaper goods for small-town consumers.
a year ago
Meesho is taking on Amazon and Walmart with its focuse on cheaper goods for small-town consumers.
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…
Noahpinion
A better way to build a downtown
It's time to learn a Japanese word: "zakkyo".
2 months ago
It's time to learn a Japanese word: "zakkyo".
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…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The challenge of creating a new category
One of the hardest things to do as a startup is to create a new category. Bloggers and press have a...
over a year ago
One of the hardest things to do as a startup is to create a new category. Bloggers and press have a natural tendency to “pigeonhole” – to…
Rest of World -...
How 2024’s tech trends changed our lives
From AI-powered classrooms in Mali to EV taxis in Vietnam, people worldwide are seeing opportunities...
2 weeks ago
From AI-powered classrooms in Mali to EV taxis in Vietnam, people worldwide are seeing opportunities from this year’s biggest tech shifts.
Rest of World -...
This Hajj VR simulator helps Muslims prepare for the holy pilgrimage
The pilgrimage can be hard to navigate for first-timers, so Pakistan’s Labbaik VR offers a chance to...
2 months ago
The pilgrimage can be hard to navigate for first-timers, so Pakistan’s Labbaik VR offers a chance to virtually preview holy sites.
Blog posts of...
Joining hypergrowth startups 😬
I am writing this for a friend joining an early-stage breakout startup (year 2; $200M+ valuation). I...
over a year ago
I am writing this for a friend joining an early-stage breakout startup (year 2; $200M+ valuation). I wrote it as bullet points as...
Rest of World -...
The U.S. shouldn’t make its semiconductor policy all about China
American chip policy doesn’t just hurt China. It hurts Taiwan, too.
a year ago
American chip policy doesn’t just hurt China. It hurts Taiwan, too.
Noahpinion
Come see me speak about Japan!
Plus: A bunch of fun posts I've written about Japanese urbanism and Japanese society.
4 months ago
Plus: A bunch of fun posts I've written about Japanese urbanism and Japanese society.
Rest of World -...
Latin American startups embrace OpenAI, but at what cost?
The region’s early-stage startups get less funding than their U.S. counterparts, making AI...
a year ago
The region’s early-stage startups get less funding than their U.S. counterparts, making AI tools-for-hire an onerous new expense.
David Perell
Ash Fontana: Building Artificial Intelligence
Ash Fontana is an entrepreneur, investor, and author. As an entrepreneur, he was only of the early...
over a year ago
Ash Fontana is an entrepreneur, investor, and author. As an entrepreneur, he was only of the early employees at an online investing platform called AngelList. From there, he became the Managing Director at Zetta, the first investment fund focused on artificial intelligence. Now,...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Critics and practitioners
“When art critics get together they talk about Form and Structure and Meaning. When artists get...
over a year ago
“When art critics get together they talk about Form and Structure and Meaning. When artists get together they talk about where you can buy…
Tech + Economics +...
The fuckery.
I start each day with the intention of writing positively about tech and AI
and startups and vc...
a year ago
I start each day with the intention of writing positively about tech and AI
and startups and vc and then I open my laptop and…there it is. There’s the
fuckery.
Platformer
Google unveils Gemini
CEO Sundar Pichai and DeepMind's Demis Hassabis talk to Platformer about the promise — and product...
a year ago
CEO Sundar Pichai and DeepMind's Demis Hassabis talk to Platformer about the promise — and product roadmap — of their answer to GPT-4
Stephen Diehl
Dive into GHC: Intermediate Forms
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
South Africa’s competition watchdog takes aim at Google
The group is pushing Google to do more local business promotion, but experts say this could put the...
a year ago
The group is pushing Google to do more local business promotion, but experts say this could put the country’s digital economy at risk.
Rest of World -...
The entrepreneur trying to make thrifting truly eco-friendly with AI
Nofal Khan is the co-founder and CEO of Swag Kicks, one of Pakistan’s largest online thrift...
7 months ago
Nofal Khan is the co-founder and CEO of Swag Kicks, one of Pakistan’s largest online thrift platforms.
SatPost by Trung...
"Now is the Most Important Time"
Jensen Huang, Cillian Murphy, Michael Jordan, Jerry Seinfeld and Oprah Winfrey on the power of being...
9 months ago
Jensen Huang, Cillian Murphy, Michael Jordan, Jerry Seinfeld and Oprah Winfrey on the power of being present.
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
🛳️ Cruise hustles
4 months ago
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