You probably think this is about you. History keeps repeating. So much uncertainty. Say what you think. Connection can happen online too. Anything could happen. AI in conversations.
“The question of whether a machine can think is about as interesting as the question of whether a submarine can swim.”
– Edsger W. Dijkstra(*)
It’s weird. It’s feast or famine. I’m talking about the “Random links” section down below the takeaways. Some weeks there are none at all, and this week I might have the most ever. I kept running into, or being pointed at, some really interesting stuff. Hope you enjoy.
Take care,
1. “Nobody was ever thinking about you to begin with”
Nobody Cares. No, Seriously, Nobody Cares – Tome Greene – (Wit & Wisdom)
We are each the center of our own universe. The hard part is when we come to realize we’re not for anyone else.
The “nobody cares” mantra is even tougher for younger folks to accept. Particularly when so much of their lives are lived on display, constantly seeing affirmation. Seeking moments and images to share with their fans on social media platforms.
The realization, though, can be incredibly freeing. Instead of performing for others, we can focus on what truly makes sense for our own situation and values.
If no one is keeping score, it doesn’t mean nothing matters. It just means the metrics change. Would you have chosen the same schools, careers, friends and jobs? Would you have moved somewhere else? Would you have dated or married the same people? Probably not. Isn’t it interesting how clear the answers are when you realize that nobody cares?
The earlier you can realize this, the more control over your own life you’ll gain.
Do this: Take control.
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2. “Humans do near-identical things, over and over again, across history.”
The Loop: everything has happened before, and everything will happen again – Joan Westenberg – (Blog)
A fascinating, if lengthy, dive into all the different ways that history repeats itself again and again and again. And in so many different ways.
Aside from what feels like the inevitability of it all, there’s one aspect that sticks out:
Every loop has someone who sees it coming, and they’re never believed.
I have to wonder, though, if this is survivorship bias. By that I mean, sure, someone has predicted each loop and been right, but how many other predictions were made that didn’t pan out at all? That one would be correct is no surprise. The difficulty is knowing which prediction to believe.
Do this: Understand the cycle.
3. “Even the experts inventing AI don’t know what will happen next.”
Our Uncertain Uncertainties – Kevin Kelly – (The Technium)
Kelly argues that we’re entering a prolonged period of uncertainty; perhaps more uncertainty than we’ve ever experienced.
AI also forces even the most moderate person to question the truth of what they read, see or hear.
While he starts with AI as perhaps the leading cause or most obvious instance, he goes on to touch on global politics and structure as well. Assuming he’s right, we’ll have a lot to be uncertain about for many, many years to come.
Do this: Per Kelly: “In short, in our age of uncertainty, you have to get good at changing your mind.”
4. “Therapy works because people finally say what they’re actually thinking.”
The basics of becoming wise – Darius Foroux – (Blog)
This isn’t a push for therapy (though many people find it valuable). This comment got my attention because it’s so very true.
Blocked expression is one of the most underrated causes of feeling stuck and unhappy.
When you don’t feel you can say what you feel, or think, or believe, you feel blocked. The solution, of course, is to find a venue where you can do so. Here’s the thing: while a therapist might be a great solution for some, and a trusted friend a solution for others, journaling can also suffice, and is significantly less risky. It truly allows you to express yourself. You can finally say what you’re actually thinking.
The entire essay — a listical of ideas — is worth a scan. While it includes several common thoughts, there were several other valuable insights I hadn’t considered before. I’m particularly fond of “Spend time with older people” for some reason.
Do this: Think about it. Then perhaps write about it.
5. “Children have found a new place to roam”
Have online worlds become the last free places for children? – Eli Stark-Elster – (Psyche)
One of my reactions to the fear of “too much screen time” for children is to wonder what it is they’re doing with it. There’s a very real possibility that not all screen time is bad. In fact, screen time could be making up for the ways that children are now restricted from independent play and exploration.
In fact, for some children, the internet may be one of the last remaining spaces where they can grow up doing what children everywhere have evolved to do: independently play and explore with their peers.
I’m not going to say that all connections are the same, and that some might have more benefits and drawbacks than others, but if a child is using technology — be it online games, communications apps, or something else — to be connected to their peers, that’s not something to be discarded lightly.
platforms and applications for connection can help young people stay in near-constant contact with each other.
Given that isolation and lack of connection are such pervasive worries and topics these days, it’s worth remembering that people can and do connect online as well.
Do this: Connect
6. “Anxiety isn’t a silly mistake about how bad things could get.”
Anything could happen, at any moment (and when it does, you’ll cope) – Oliver Burkeman – (Blog)
Anxiety, of course, has roots in our evolution. There’s less chance you’ll be eaten by the wildlife if you’re always a little on edge that you might be within reach of some critter looking for supper. It doesn’t always map well to modern life, but there’s at least a legitimate basis for it.
My life so far provides zero reason to believe I’ll ever attain the degree of control over the future I always thought I needed. But then again, my track record of not yet having been entirely overwhelmed by existence suggests that maybe I never needed it to begin with.
My wife and I have been saying “we’ll figure it out” to a number of life’s … adventures … of late. Yes, there’s a lot we could be anxious about, and I won’t say we’ve set it all aside. Nonetheless, being able to roll with life’s punches makes life slightly less terrifying.
Do this: Roll with it.
7. “If we don’t understand a subject, then we won’t be qualified to evaluate the summary.”
No one wants to read your AI slop – Cory Doctorow – (Pluralistic)
I found that takeaway above interesting. I’m not certain that it completely negates the value of having AI summarize things, though. I often use AI to summarize lengthy items either a) as a data point to my decision on whether to consume the whole thing, or b) as a kind of confirmation that I got the major points after having consumed the whole thing.
But I also can see the point. One of the places I use AI summaries is on Ask Leo!. After writing an article I’ll ask for a summary which I then use in the “In short” box at the top of the page. But here’s the thing: those summaries rarely go untouched. Since I do understand the subject, I am qualified to evaluate what AI has just given me, and indeed, it often needs tweaking (though, rarely, blatant correction).
What I didn’t realize, and what Doctorow is mostly railing against in this essay, is people who use AI to generate responses that they then share with others intending it to be some kind of meaningful part of the conversation — a conversation in which you may have little to know insight yourself.
Asking a chatbot to contribute on your behalf does not impart insight to you, and it is a gross imposition on people who have taken the time to understand and participate using their own minds and experience
I had no idea people were doing this, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Do this: Use AI responsibly.
Random links
- When Your Digital Life Vanishes – Absolutely fascinating tale of a data recovery service.
- PI HARD | Official Trailer 2026 | AI OR DIE Productions – Absolutely amazing, and VERY funny, AI-generated movie trailer.
- The Mix-up at the Heart of the Supreme Court’s Conversion Therapy Ruling – Good overview of several issues.
- Why AI Agents are either the best or worst thing we’ve ever built – Hannah Fry, awesome overview of AI agents and example of one in action
- A Non-Exhaustive List of Sources for When You Need Real Information, Not Just Content – Very valuable list.
What I’m reading now
- Marsh Mystics – Jana DeLeon
- The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better – Will Storr
- The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive – Brandon Sanderson
- The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke – (Audio)
- The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark – Carl Sagan
My Reading List – everything I’ve read since 2021.
My Sources Page – the common sources I scan/read regularly.
Notes
(*) I asked Claude what its favorite AI quote was. Full response.
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