An incoherent, irregular, unpredictable collection of interesting sparks that I came across on the internet. Handpicked by a human, no robots, no AI.
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The very best
Amazing overview by TheJaymo on The Next Internet. From Web 1.0 to Web 3 and back.
The only place we may be able to trust the quality and usefulness of an article is by subscribing to and following real content from real people. And those of us who are still going to keep publishing in public, on the wider web, will need to keep those real people close.
Another one about the other internet: https://syllabusproject.org/syllabus-for-taking-an-internet-walk/
Beneath social media and app hedges, the blossoming internet awaits: a live ecosystem unfolding beneath our footsteps.
A good example of the retreat from platforms is LURK. Focused on “net- and computational culture and politics, proto- and post-free culture practices, (experimental) (sound) (new media) (software) art, and things like that…”
Always good, Venkat aka Ribbonfarm. This time with an overview of the project “The Summer of Protocols” and introducing “The Protocol Kit” - an awesome collection of output from the Summer project. It’s about “hardness”, and it is hard to beat (pun intended)
I don’t know where to put this Summer of Protocols Sofa session with Rafa on Swarms. The whole Summer of Protocols project is worth your attention.
Data & Society
What can an AI do with the data of every person in Denmark? Predict life events. Who consented to giving them these data in the first place?
Innovation
I have known Mickey McManus since I met him at Techonomy 2012 where he launched his book Trillions. He recently delivered a fantastic presentation on how to do disruptive innovation. With full transcript. A must watch/read for any responsible for innovation in your company. How to build a department of strategic surprise.
And here is Dave Gray. He is on to something with his new School Of The Possible. It is similar to The Scaffold in the sense it is also multidisciplinary. He calls it a “Collaboratory”. I focus more on what can be imagined, he focuses on what is possible. We should create magic together.
Dave also has this great concept of “Visual Frameworks”, a pattern language for group facilitation. More than 100 visual frameworks to spark creative thinking. By re-framing, new insights come. Claim your frame!
AI, Robots, Algorithms
About what happens when generative algorithms get incorporated in Robots - by Enrique Dans
It’s going to happen, and sooner rather than later: robots capable of doing the work of people, but better, faster, with fewer errors, 24/7. That second transformation is the one that really counts, and it’s getting closer and closer. Either we redesign our societies to accommodate this, or we will face the consequences. That is the choice we have to make, looking to the future with an awareness of the inevitable, rather than simply trying to foresee what technology is already doing.
This is also deep inside my project New New Babylon, to imagine a city (sector) when all is left for humans is to play and to be creative.
Web3, 4 and 5
10 Highlights From Messari’s Epic ‘Crypto Theses 2024’ — Part 1 - by Lou Kerner
The industry’s most insightful overview of the crypto ecosystem, and a must-read for every crypto enthusiast. TL;DR “Crypto remains inevitable”.
Digital Ethics
A deeper dive into the lawsuit between OpenAI and NYT by Albert Romero: about moral and technical behaviours of both parties.
About the Original Sin of Generative AI - by Eryk Salvaggio
Data is a vital piece of our digital infrastructure. Like all infrastructure, it is deeply entangled with our social worlds. Too often, our technological infrastructure is accumulated, rather than designed. But it is worth making time for care and thoughtful dependencies in our digital lives. Otherwise, we risk building a future in which the pain of others is embedded through neglect.
Art related
Virtual Vermeer 360 in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
A wonderful online course; very good and critical backgrounder/intro for anything related to Generative Art - by Eryk Salvaggio from Cybernetics Forests. With per episode, a great reading list for deeper exploration. I learned so much.
For example, here is a talk by Paul Pangaro on the work of 1950ies Cybernetics artist Gordon Pask about connecting conversations and machines. Truly very enjoyable. Go till the end, including the Q&A section. We know so little…
The M Leuven Museum seems to have a revival. Two interesting expos: one about one of the most important Flemish Masters Dieric Bouts, (ca. 1410-1475), confronting Bout’s Middle-Age works with contemporary image makers, including an interesting side-installation “The Off Hours” in the St Peter’s Church, and another expo “DOKA”, a curation of works that inspire slow and uninhibited viewing. All slow-art if you want.
Aesthetics
What a great idea: draw your museum visits. Some beautiful drawings here. Via Dave Gray
Drawing by Samantha Dion Baker
Harnessing the power of Stable Audio AI to turn text prompts into 3 unique music tracks that drive audio-reactive AI visuals.
Music/Sound
Petervan’s Ride - Dec 2023
Books/Publications
Endless list of book recommendations by Andreessen Horowitz for anything related to crypto
Petervan Studios Update
Here is my update on Petervan Studios for the period March-December 2023