Tech

Imagine this: It’s January 2035. You open your son or daughter’s tuition bill, but instead of credit hours, you see charges for “compute hours” and a list of blockchain-verified micro-credentials. This is the potential future of higher education as AI revolutionizes education. The shift is on - from textbooks and lecture halls to computing hours, personalized AI tutors, and human-guided mentorship. Do you prefer to listen instead of read like me? Lucky for you I used NotebookLM to create a podcast out of this post. Listen below: Listen to this post Your browser does not support the audio element. ...

Do you prefer to listen instead of read like me? Lucky for you I used NotebookLM to create a podcast out of this post. Listen below. Listen to this post Your browser does not support the audio element. Google recently made headlines with the Willow quantum chip ( Google’s Announcement)—a tangible sign that we’re edging closer to a new era in computing. While this news is exciting on its own, it got me thinking about the recent surge in drone/UAP sightings lighting up social media. While most sightings are likely just conventional drones, misidentified aircraft, or recycled footage, it’s hard not to wonder: what if something more advanced is quietly taking shape above our heads, hidden in plain sight? ...

Prefer to listen to this idea? Here’s a NotebookLM podcast about it: Listen to this post Your browser does not support the audio element. We’re on the cusp of an exciting era in app development, where AI is making it possible to create powerful, focused apps that solve everyday problems without the complexity of traditional apps. I call these “AI Microapps,” and I believe they have the potential to disrupt incumbent players who are often slow to adopt cutting-edge AI features due to the constraints of their existing user base. ...

Using LLM fusion, I asked the top AI models, including the usual suspects plus gpt 1o-preview, perplexity pro, and grok 2, to help me predict the biggest tech advancements of the next five years. Here is what the consensus was. Prefer to listen to this post? I used Google’s NotebookLM to turn it into a podcast episode. Listen here, or keep reading below: Listen to this post Your browser does not support the audio element. ...

Finally, I had Cat6a wires run in my home so I could set up a proper network, including having ceiling-mount Wi-Fi access points with Cat6a backhaul. This is my first time working with UniFi, and thus far the software (iOS app, web app, etc.) is incredible. I used LLM fusion to submit all of my network hardware, wire runs, and other details to have it plan out my server rack to optimize for spacing, cooling, and wire management. Quite happy with the end result. ...

Looking to upgrade from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max? Here’s a detailed comparison of features and price. Price If you have the iPhone 15 Pro Max 256gb, which has an Apple trade-in value of $650, the net cost of upgrading to iPhone 16 Pro Max 256gb is $549. Feature comparison FeatureiPhone 16 Pro MaxiPhone 15 Pro MaxiPhone 14 Pro MaxDisplay Size6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLEDResolution2868-by-1320-pixel resolution2796-by-1290-pixel resolution2796-by-1290-pixel resolutionChipA18 Pro chipA17 Pro chipA16 Bionic chipCamera System48MP Fusion, 48MP Ultra Wide, and Telephoto48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, and Telephoto48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, and TelephotoVideo Recording4K Dolby Vision at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps, 100 fps (Fusion), 120 fps (Fusion)4K Dolby Vision at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps4K Dolby Vision at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fpsMacro Photography48MP Macro PhotographyMP not specifiedMP not specifiedAnti-Reflective Lens CoatingYesNoNoBattery Life (Video Playback)Up to 33 hoursUp to 29 hoursUp to 29 hoursFast-Charge CapabilityUp to 50% charge in 35 minutesUp to 50% charge in 30 minutesUp to 50% charge in 30 minutesWeight7.99 ounces (227 grams)7.81 ounces (221 grams)8.47 ounces (240 grams)WirelessWi-Fi 7 (802.11be)Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)MagSafe ChargingSupports up to 25WSupports up to 15WSupports up to 15WCamera Control ButtonYesNoNo ...

AI Facebook AI: major updates to their open-source LLM model llama 3.1 and released the S egment Anything Model 2 (SAM2). Runway ML launched Gen-3 Alpha Image to Video and it’s incredible ChatGPT finally started rolling out advanced voice mode (preview only) AI search feature (preview only) Gadgets and Gizmos July was a bad month to work on my gadget addiction: AI assistant hardware: pre-ordered a wearable friend (that’s the actual name!) pre-ordered limitless pendant Sparkling Water: They got me with the Amazon Prime Day deal on the SodaStream Enso (~$160). I am impressed at how easy it is to use and the fact that it doesn’t require any power or cables. Stud finders: Finding studs in ceilings and walls continues to be my least favorite part of my home projects. I got the Walabot DIY 2 which uses radar scanning to see through the walls. It’s cool, but the jury is still out on whether it is any more accurate than my Franklin Sensor M210 ($60) which I got earlier this year and love. I also finally added an awl to my stud-finding toolkit. Charging devices: Added Anker 15W wireless charger to desk ($46). I wonder if anyone other than Matt Mullenweg thinks about charging apparatuses as much as I do. If you read this far I’d be remiss to not point you to my earlier post about 2024 travel gadgets I like. If you can recommend any must-have gadgets, please leave a comment. ...

Leopold Aschenbrenner is a young entrepreneur and researcher who recently founded an investment firm focused on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), after working on the Superalignment team at OpenAI. Graduated as valedictorian from Columbia University at age 19, Aschenbrenner has a background in economic growth research and an interest in securing the future of liberty, particularly through the advancement and responsible development of AI technology. Key Takeaways on the Future of AI from Leopold’s ~160-page Situational Awareness paper (available as a webpage and PDF). ...

What if your laptop could contribute to the AI revolution while earning you passive income? This is becoming a reality that projects like Kuzco are bringing to life through distributed LLM (Large Language Model) inference on the blockchain. In fact, it was exciting enough for me to build an AI mining rig. The GPU Dilemma: Untapped Potential A GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a specialized processor designed to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, making it essential for rendering graphics and accelerating complex computation. ...

I recently dove headfirst into the wild world of AI crypto mining. What is that you ask? It’s a relatively new concept of running AI requests on a global network of home computers, using the blockchain to secure operations and reward participants. My weapon of choice? A custom-built rig optimized to process Llama 3 8B inferences using the Kuzco platform on Solana. Specs Case: Lian Li Dynamic EVO XL (Warning: it’s heavy) CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (Cooled by the monstrous Noctua NH-D15) Motherboard: ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi) Graphics Card: ASUS GeForce RTX 4090 RAM: 128GB (Two 64GB kits) Storage: 2TB SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD Power Supply: Seasonic Focus V3 GX-1000 Case Fans: Lian Li UNI Fan SL-Infinity 120 (2x 3 packs) What I Wish I Knew Before I Started It’s been 15 years since I last built a PC. Here’s what I learned: ...