Archive

This post reveals the evolving nature of the author's Substack as an experimental platform, exploring content creation dynamics and the decision to introduce a paid tier. It discusses insights into audience engagement, the value of paid content, and the implications of AI on content creation and distribution.

Marking its one-year anniversary, this newsletter embarks on a new series "Abstract Strategy," exploring the intricate interplay of technology, human behavior, and strategy in our interconnected world. It offers insights into how abstract strategic thinking can guide us through complex technological and social landscapes.

This article examines the shifting landscape of power in the era of AI, highlighting how technological advancements are redistributing influence from traditional social media companies to those leveraging AI. It explores the role of AI in redefining business identities and the potential impact on the future of work and global power dynamics.

Reflecting on the existential impact of AI, this post draws parallels between the awe inspired by ancient stargazing and the profound questions raised by Large AI Models (LAIMs). It discusses how these technologies challenge our understanding of creativity, value, and our place in the universe, urging a philosophical exploration of these big questions.

This post navigates the evolution of internet content, highlighting the shift from depth to superficiality, and the role of AI in this transformation. It suggests that AI, despite contributing to the flood of shallow content, may also offer a path back to richer, more meaningful interactions and deeper understanding.

Exploring the psychological nuances of fear, this post delves into the complexities of fearing failure and success. It discusses how these fears are not just emotional responses but integral parts of our cognitive toolkit, shaping our actions and perspectives towards achievement and progress.

This article delves into the concept of 'Mindshare Magic' in AI, exemplified by ChatGPT's dominance in public consciousness. It contrasts this with the potential of new AI entrants like Inflection's PI and explores how these technologies capture our imagination and change our interaction with AI.

This post invites readers into a thought-provoking journey about the perception and evolution of AI, contrasting its intangible nature with human form and exploring its impact as a media entity. It reflects on the rapid advancements in AI, using examples like Dall-E and StableDiffusion, and ponders the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

This post invites readers into a thought-provoking journey about the perception and evolution of AI, contrasting its intangible nature with human form and exploring its impact as a media entity. It reflects on the rapid advancements in AI, using examples like Dall-E and StableDiffusion, and ponders the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

This insightful post delves into the dynamic nature of company cultures, drawing parallels with national cultures and religious conversions. It explores the complexities of adapting to and influencing cultural shifts within organizations, using examples from tech giants and historical analogies.

Exploring the essence of innovation, this post delves into the limitations of traditional playbooks in new endeavors. It reflects on the journey of starting unique projects, like this experimental newsletter, emphasizing the value of experimentation over rigid structures. The narrative intertwines personal insights with the quest for originality in content creation.

Exploring the unconventional through experiments in writing and life, this (well, now defunct) Substack newsletter is a dive into the author's journey post-big tech job, covering a range of topics from AI in Islamic art to the metaverse. It's an invitation to join an experimental community, rethinking norms in everything from writing style to company building.

Reflecting on a five-year journey at Facebook, this post shares 10 valuable lessons learned, ranging from the rapid pace of business, skill evolution, embracing challenges, the art of failure, navigating corporate politics, the essence of service, and the balance between work and personal life. These insights offer guidance for thriving in a fast-growing, dynamic corporate environment.

Analyzing the success of Wordle, this post discusses how its simplicity and design, which limits user actions, creates a unique and engaging experience. Comparing it to Flappy Bird, it highlights the power of inaction in game design, inspired by Jinny Uppal's book In/Action: Rethinking the Path to Results, suggesting a new perspective on achieving results through minimalism.

Exploring the evolution of communication, this post discusses the shift from text-based messaging to voice interactions on social media. It introduces 'Talk & Comment,' an experiment that allows voice comments on Facebook, reflecting on its potential to bring fun and emotion back into online interactions.

Analyzing the implications of Andy Rubin stepping down as SVP of Android at Google, this post explores potential reasons for the change, including market competition, Google's strategic decisions, and Rubin's involvement in GoogleX. It speculates on a possible merge between Android and ChromeOS, reflecting on the future of Android.

Tackling the complexities of heavy JavaScript applications, this post introduces an open-source Backbone-AMD Boilerplate, designed to simplify creating modular Backbone-AMD compliant apps. It invites readers to engage with the project through forking, pulling, and suggesting improvements.

Unveiling the secrets behind GoogleIO'13's easter eggs, this post narrates the author's process of deciphering the hidden codes using coding skills and a Chrome extension. It provides a guide to accessing these easter eggs, showcasing the clever interplay between technology, gaming, and curiosity.

Exploring the intriguing question of machine understanding, this post recounts a personal experience with a Mac's White Screen of Death during crucial workshops in Tunisia. It ponders whether machines can communicate on a higher level with humans, beyond random behavior or technical functionality.

Discover LiberTweet, an innovative app that allows longer tweets on Twitter. It seamlessly integrates with Twitter's web and Android clients, now updated to display extended tweets even to followers without the app. Available for Chrome and Android.

Exploring the crucial role of company culture, this post delves into why many businesses lack it and how establishing a strong culture can attract talent without high salaries. It challenges old-school managerial approaches and emphasizes the importance of culture in the modern business landscape.

Discover how Google's integration of social signals into search rankings affects results. This post explains the ranking order, highlighting the importance of social sharing and SEO. Learn an easy way to boost your blog's presence by linking authors' Google+ profiles, and a quick solution for WordPress users.

Exploring why 99% of blogs and businesses fail, this post dives into common pitfalls such as misunderstanding success, impatience, bad measurement, lack of perseverance, and the 'not enough syndrome'. It emphasizes the importance of taking businesses seriously and adopting a patient, persevering approach to ensure success in the competitive digital and business landscapes.