big ideas

You might soon believe in aliens.

You might soon believe in aliens. “Luckily, if you start investigating aliens today, you can be at just the right time to be part of the “early majority” – your friends will remember that you were talking about it just […]

tech, startups, internet

OpenAI vs NYT.

“OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has asked a New York judge to force the NYT to hand over “underlying reporter’s notes, interview memos, records of materials cited, or other ‘files’” to prove its work can be classed as original works […]

tech, startups, internet

How TikTok reads your mind.

The New York Times explains, based on an internal document. “The document, headed “TikTok Algo 101,” was produced by TikTok’s engineering team in Beijing. A company spokeswoman, Hilary McQuaide, confirmed its authenticity, and said it was written to explain to […]

fun facts

The (not failing) New York Times.

A decade ago, the NYT was in rough shape. The business has really turned things around and found its way in the digital age. NYT now has 4x more subscribers than they did at their print-era peak. Presented in slide […]

on the blockchain

Polymarket prediction market in action

There’s a mini-scandal going on between Scott Alexander, pseudonymous author of the popular blog Slate Star Codex, and the New York Times that’s threatened to publish his real name (for no good reason). You can bet on whether NYT publishes […]

retail therapy

James Cash Penney and the ‘golden rule’

From the New York Times in 1971, resurfaced because of the chain’s recent bankruptcy filing. “In an interview on his 93d birthday, he said that the profit sharing plan for employees that he started in 1907 had been largely responsible […]

on the blockchain

Facebook seeking $1B in VC money for crypto project

“Citing sources familiar with the matter, [New York Times tech reporter Nathaniel] Popper states that Facebook is seeking a $1 billion sum to develop its cryptocurrency project. He states that seeking outside investment could keep the project more in line […]

tech, startups, internet

50 future unicorns

“In collaboration with the New York Times, [CB Insights] put together a list of 50 future unicorns (companies that we think will eventually be valued at $1B or more).” | learn more