Eerie news this week – this is what happens when Big Tech runs out of ideas. Not for nothing, but why is it endemic for big companies to stop understanding who their customers are? Do they have a ‘No Ideas’ department, or what? I always thought Big Tech companies had a team inside the company…
There are innovations like time travel that we’ll never enjoy for one simple reason: People are jerks. This is the thought that occurred to me during a hot sleepless night in Eugene. Just as we can’t get our act together for cool things like free mass transit or health care. Innovation is based on a…
Valuable new information on future Mars explorers and the people who love them. Yes, it’s important to look before we leap onto the red planet. Determining the safest Mars caves for future astronauts is part of the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference and yes, they’re serious. Here’s why: Mars has no ozone layer! Did…
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If you want to understand the decisions of AI companies, it’s pretty easy – just think like a psychopath. Safe Superintelligence, Inc. seeks to safely build AI far beyond human capability, according to Ars Technica but the decision smacks less of selfless humanity than it does ‘pivoting to avoid a market risk.’ No AI company…
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This just in – a modest proposal as an update to the Inkican Terms of Service. As I’m sure you’re aware, Terms of Service are changing all the time and Inkican doesn’t want to be left behind in this area. As an author, I didn’t think about this before but my books should have a…
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What is cowardice? Would you recognize a coward if you saw one? What’s the difference between a hero and a coward, between cowardice and heroism? Does our modern science fiction unlock our inner heroes or is it enabling our cowardice? I wrestled with those questions over the three-day weekend. Now I’m jotting down some notes…
The Harrison Butker bruhaha seems to have died down, but I take this moment to remind you that Famous Hot Takes Are a Zero-Sum Game. Scott Adams made a fool of himself last year. Now, Harrison Butker does himself no favors – famous people waxing poetic about social issues? Yeah, just like a forward pass…
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Need some scifi gift suggestions for an upcoming graduation, Bar Mitzvah, or wedding? I came across a treasure trove of scifi, space, video games and geek memorabilia that you’ll want to dig through. F’rinstance – if you’re into video games, you might be interested in Allan Alcorn’s ‘Pong’ prototype, sold back in 2022 for $270K. Space…
Some quick notes on surviving the 2023 Hugos controversy – it’s easy, just channel your Inner Han Solo. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, the Guardian has a comprehensive breakdown on the controversy. The quarrel attacks our rich scifi heritage – going back to the first Hugo Award in 1953. This isn’t…
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I love old blues songs, so I’m happy to use the picture above (Muddy Waters) when talking about how Neuralink muddies the waters of cybernetic technology. News this week highlights an alarming lack of transparency and authenticity when it comes to the world-changing technology of neuro-cybernetic implants. ““This is not like a product launch, We’re…
