December 2023
Hey all,
It's December, and I'm in a giving mood. If you fill out this form before Friday, December 22nd, I'll send you something fun for free. No catch or anything. Stamps are (relatively) cheap, so everyone who wants a holiday surprise is getting a little something.
Happy holidays!
-Dann
⚛️ Schrödinger's boolean
There's a heated debate about the future dangers of Artificial Intelligence. One group of people see it as an existential threat to humanity. In one doomsday scenario, technology just keeps getting better and better, exponentiating once AI learns how to improve itself. In an instant, machines are powerful enough to wipe out humanity, and one tiny miscommunication means we all die.
Another AI scenario is much less exciting. In this future, AI is much more like a smartphone—the technology rapidly improved, year-after-year, until it just sort of...hit the peak it's own design. Now, each new smartphone is just a minor improvement on the last. Maybe, artificial intelligence is just racing to the peak of what AI is able to do.
But as AI has been capturing headlines, there's another group of engineers making progress on a different technology that may be even more impactful. And that's quantum computing.
If you want to quickly get caught up, this 13-minute 60 Minutes segment on Quantum Computing does a decent job at explaining the technology and potential ramifications.
If AI is revolutionizing what a computer can do, quantum computing is doing the same for how fast it can do it. And not just a few multiples, but estimated 100 trillion times faster than current supercomputers.
I'm thinking about quantum computing sort of like Y2K. Prone to hype, but also carrying real dangers. It's a threshold into the unknown that will probably look quaint in hindsight, but is sort of intimidating to stare at head-on.
The thing that I find fascinating about quantum computing is the same thing I find fascinating about AI: the size of the threat. Both are existential threats to humanity. Artificial Intelligence because we may create a beast we can't control, and quantum computing because it could instantly make the very foundations of our technological society obsolete.
So while AI has all the exciting, tangible updates, quantum computing is the silent giant closing in a breakneck speed. Methinks society in ten years will look very different than society today.
📺 Manufactured Reality
Here's a sentence that may surprise you:
There's a new reality TV show that I'm excited about.
Let me explain. I'm no Martin Riese, but reality TV is a lot like bottled water—it's easy to write it off as all the same, but you're missing subtlety, nuance, and quite a bit of (dare I say?) art.
For example, if you haven't seen a season of Survivor since the original season one aired, you've missed a significant evolution of the game. Most people are surprised to hear Survivor is no longer really about surviving in a remote location: it's much more about strategy and social game. And it changes and evolves in material ways each year.
Going back to my original excitement, Netflix made Squid Game into a reality TV show, aptly named Squid Game: The Challenge. The first season felt fun and exciting, in the same way as season one of Survivor.
If you can look past the strange dystopia of the concept of the show (ie by watching this show, we are literally the audience that the original series was skewering), you get a complex and strategic game that's ripe for evolution and growth.
Plus, watching season one is to watch true reality-show masters at work. The challenge was: how do we get the younger generation addicted to reality show contests?
Just watch the first season of Squid Game: The Challenge, and then watch some of the complimentary behind-the-scenes TikTok content deftly posted by popular contestants, and you'll have your answer.
There's the argument for the hype. But let me end this section by tempering expectations. The show isn't going to change anyone's life (except maybe the new millionaire winner). Nor do I even consider it must-watch TV.
I do, however, think it is valid TV. And undeniably entertaining. The context, and how it fits within the wider world of reality TV, is just icing on the cake.
💭 A new lens
Boomers get a lot of hate on the Internet. And in most cases, I say: rightly so. I mean, "not all Boomers," of course, but I think many of the problems society is currently dealing with are a direct result of decisions made by Boomers.
But with that said, I do think it's interesting to think about the Boomer generation through the lens of trauma. This three-minute video explains the the larger context in which the generation was raised, contextualizing it in a way that younger generations might understand and possibly appreciate.
It's no excuse, but is a lens that I find illuminating.
🛶 Face first ahead
I recognize that this newsletter might now be considered just a distribution for Bobby Fingers' videos (I discussed his previous video back in April), but his new creation is too good to not share.
This time, Bobby Fingers made a full-sized row boat in the shape of a hyper-realistic Jeff Bezos head. The humor is dry, the skill level high, and the entire 28-minute video an absolute journey.
My favorite type of creators are ones with incredible mind-blowing talent who use their skills to make the most bizarre things imaginable. Bobby Fingers certainly fits that description.
Plus, who doesn't enjoy a good skewering of a billionaire? Bezos certainly has a knack for inspiring quality art.
🎩 Song and flash man
You've probably heard of Bill Wurtz. His most popular video, history of the entire world, i guess, was published six years ago and has over 163M views. That video (like most of his videos) is a rocket blasting off from earth. His style is singular and unmistakable. He has his own genre.
Because of that, I loved this 26-minute interview with Wurtz. His style is unique, and his approach to creative work completely his own. Listening to him talk gave me a new appreciation for his work, and I love when interviews do that.
End note
If you've enjoyed this, I'd love it if you shared it with a friend. You can send them here to sign up.
I'll be sending out these emails once per month, and I'm happy you're along for the ride. I'm trying to make it one of the best things that arrives in your inbox each month, so thoughts and feedback are always appreciated. You can just reply to this email.
Also, if you find anything interesting, send it my way.
Thanks for reading. Until next time,
Dann
The Dann Chronicles: December 🔔