Society

I saw a video last week that looked completely legitimate. Professional framing, credible-looking sources, the works. Took me maybe thirty seconds before something felt off. Another minute to confirm it was fake. But here’s the thing—I was actively looking for it. I was already suspicious. Most people aren’t. I came across Jacob Landry’s piece on AI-generated hoaxes, and it crystallised something I’ve been mulling over. We keep talking about AI like it’s creating some new category of deception. It’s not. Hoaxes have been around forever. Conspiracy theories, fabricated evidence, elaborate lies—none of this is new. ...

Patrick Bet-David argues that Larry Ellison (and his son David Ellison via Skydance) is quietly assembling one of the most powerful media empires. Through a chain of high-profile deals, Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount and its pursuit of Warner Bros., plus Oracle’s role buying 80% of TikTok’s U.S. operations, the Ellison family could combine IP, networks, streaming, and social data into a unique, vertically integrated media powerhouse. Bet-David compares the potential combined revenue to Disney and Netflix, highlights Oracle’s technical role (data storage, algorithm oversight, equity stake), emphasizes strategic partnerships (Nvidia, OpenAI), and warns this consolidation will yield massive market and political influence. ...

At a time when most technology leaders are forecasting the collapse of white-collar work, Box CEO Aaron Levy offers a different vision: one where AI amplifies human productivity instead of replacing it. His central insight is deceptively simple, jobs aren’t tasks. While AI systems can automate individual tasks with extraordinary speed, work itself is a web of judgment, context, and coordination that still requires people. Lawyers may review contracts twice as fast, but that doesn’t erase the legal department; it raises throughput and expands the company’s capacity to act. Engineers may ship code more quickly, but that acceleration creates new bottlenecks, and new roles, elsewhere. Automation doesn’t extinguish work; it increases demand for it. ...

In 1957, the launch of Sputnik jolted the United States into an era of scientific ambition, triggering massive investment in research and higher education. That anxiety- the fear of falling behind- proved constructive, fueling decades of technological leadership. Today, however, the situation feels inverted. As China quietly consolidates its lead in areas such as energy production and advanced manufacturing, the U.S. response is not urgency but denial. Despite China now generating more than twice America’s electricity, Washington’s political discourse has turned inward, cutting funding for education, science, and renewable energy in the name of culture wars. ...

In an intriguing article, Jeferson Borba discusses the Dead Internet Theory, which suggests that the internet has been overrun by bots, AI-generated content, and algorithmic manipulation since around 2016. He reflects on how platforms like LinkedIn are filled with AI-generated posts that mimic genuine human interaction, making us question whether the internet is truly alive. This theory, which originated in niche online forums, has gained traction as users observe a shift in the nature of engagement on social media and the prevalence of automated accounts that shape public opinion without real human discourse. ...

I came across a video by Dr. John Padfield, a former engineer and state representative, talking about something that stuck with me. He recalls being told, “never get in a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel.” It was a warning for politicians — don’t mess with newspapers. Then he updates it for our time: “Never get in a fight with people who buy network servers by the acre.” ...

Visual Capitalist just released this updated chart of the 50 largest companies in the world (July 2025) — and it’s another reminder that software really did eat the world. The top 5 companies are all in tech: NVIDIA, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet. Together, they’re worth more than most countries’ GDPs. NVIDIA alone — the company powering the AI boom — now sits at $4.2 trillion, ahead of everyone else. ...

Why do we glorify complexity and look down on simplicity — especially in tech? I wanted to share this because it resonates with so much of what I’ve experienced and observed in tech myself. In Joan Westenberg’s thought-provoking piece, “Why Simplicity Offends Tech Elites”, she explores the curious tendency within tech circles to glorify complexity and dismiss simplicity as somehow less valuable. Reading this, I was struck by how deeply embedded this mindset is in startup and developer culture — where convoluted solutions, obscure tools, and overly engineered systems are often seen as badges of honor. Westenberg challenges this mentality, arguing that simplicity should not be mistaken for laziness or lack of depth. In fact, true simplicity is hard-earned — it requires clarity, discipline, and empathy for users. ...

In 2025, digital advertising is looking more like a pyramid scheme than a sustainable marketing model. As John Kilhefner explains in his HackerNoon article, the obsession with pageviews and impressions has led to a bloated, user-hostile web—filled with pop-ups, autoplay videos, and trackers that drive readers away. Publishers chase clicks at the expense of quality, while brands spend millions on ads that users increasingly ignore or block. The result? A fragile ecosystem where trust erodes and ROI quietly collapses under the weight of empty metrics. ...

Much has been said about the Dunning-Kruger effect, where individuals with limited knowledge are convinced they have deep expertise in a subject. When this overconfidence is combined with a more aggressive personality, it creates the perfect storm—leading to challenging dynamics in teams and organizations. Recognizing and addressing this phenomenon is essential for fostering healthy collaboration and continuous learning in the workplace.