Lonely but beautiful actions

This is David, neither AI or algorithm, serving you the best of the web, to help you make sense of what’s happening, and imagine what could be.

You're reading the Weekly Filet, the newsletter for curious minds who love when something makes them go «Huh, I never thought of it this way!».

1. Thirty lonely but beautiful actions you can take right now which probably won't magically catalyze a mass movement against Trump but that are still wildly important

I didn't expect too much from this list, so I almost didn't read it. Don't make the same mistake. I found it both empathetic and actionable. It's understandable to hope for larger movements and more powerful actors to «do something». But in doing so, the author argues, «we miss the opportunity to be the lonely voice for justice in our own community, the person who makes it a little easier for a second and third and fourth lonely voice to start perking up by our side.»

Thirty lonely but beautiful actions you can take right now which probably won’t magically catalyze a mass movement against Trump but that are still wildly important

Why? Because others will see you do them, and it will make it easier for them to take their own (slightly less lonely but equally beautiful) action by your side

The White PagesGarrett Bucks

2. The hidden power of introverts: How to thrive without changing who you are

What a great episode, for introverts and extroverts. If you're an introvert, you'll feel seen in this conversation with Susan Cain. You'll hear a lot of helpful advice on how to thrive in contexts where extroversion is favoured. Not by becoming more extroverted yourself, but by leaning into the unique strengths of introversion. If you're not an introvert, you should still listen to this episode. It will help you see potential in people where you might have missed it.

The hidden power of introverts: How to thrive without changing who you are | Susan Cain (author of “Quiet”)

Susan Cain, author of the best-selling book Quiet, shares practical tactics introverts can use to be more successful at work (and in life)

Lenny's NewsletterLenny’s Newsletter

3. AI Slop Is a Brute Force Attack on the Algorithms That Control Reality

Humans, eh? We invent this amazing thing called the internet. Then we invent this amazing thing called artificial intelligence. And what do we do with it? Create stupid fakes, flood the internet with it, and the algorithms we created love it. This is a sobering analysis of where things stand. «There is a near total collapse of the information ecosystem and thus of reality online. [...] Many users seem to have completely lost the ability to tell what is real and what is fake, or simply do not care anymore.»

AI Slop Is a Brute Force Attack on the Algorithms That Control Reality

Generative AI spammers are brute forcing the internet, and it is working.

404 MediaJason Koebler

4. The Government Knows A.G.I. Is Coming

While the web is getting polluted with AI-generated garbage, the race towards artificial general intelligence is real. The Biden administration's AI advisor believes AI could exceed all human cognitive capabilities within the next 2-3 years. Which means: during Trump's presidency. Obviously, other experts disagree with this timeline, but even if it's unlikely yet possible, it's a scenario to take very seriously.

Opinion | The Government Knows A.G.I. Is Coming

The Biden administration’s A.I. adviser Ben Buchanan discusses how the U.S. government is preparing for artificial general intelligence — and all the challenges that remain.

The New York TimesEzra Klein

5. Greening the Solar System

An article on how we could transform Mars into a second home for humanity – that doesn't mention Elon Musk? Count me in.

Greening the Solar System—Asterisk

A future where life flourishes beyond Earth is closer than you think. How, precisely, will we get there?

What else?

Instant-gratification links that make you go wow! or aha! the moment you click.

• The rise of clean energy, as seen from space.
• This chart is wild: Canada's Liberal Party has skyrocketed in the polls.
• This is interesting: a Notion/Google Docs alternative built by the German and French government.
• 386 spray-painted bears, animated.
• Denver International Airport is...huge.
• New album by The Album Leaf – Rotations.

Books for curious minds

Some new ones as I read them, some older ones that continue to inform how I look at the world and myself. More on my digital bookshelf.

Algorithms are invisible and yet ever present in our lives. They are nothing but mathematical operations, and yet anything but neutral. They reflect — and reinforce — all the implicit and explicit biases their makers have. Noble digs deep into the workings of algorithms, specifically search algorithms, and shows how they work against people of color, sometimes in subtle ways, sometimes by being flat-out racist. Buy it here.

A gem from the archive

Memorized Rules: How to give your life direction

A framework for putting advice into action. Use your Memorized Rules to remember rules of thumb for better everyday decision-making.

That's it for this week. Thanks for reading. I wish you a nice weekend and hope to see you again next Friday!

— David