Something to Keep
“I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do laundry and dishes.”
Joanna Maciejewska
A Second Look
I think a variation of the quote above, usually when Gmail insists on writing my emails, or when I hand-wash my clothes. We live in fascinating times. We have access to unthinkable progress and endless content.
Like Maciejewska, I believe that once we rely on robots and computers to do menial tasks for us, we can then focus our attention on what matters the most. Art and writing fit that, even if most people wouldn’t call themselves artists or writers.
Something I Liked
Lately, I’ve been reading The Book of Elon. This recommendation comes with a caveat, since it’s about Elon Musk. At his best, Musk is a brilliant entrepreneur, but at his worst, he’s a highly polarizing figure. For reference, the “Views of Elon Musk” article on Wikipedia is long, covering topics like his involvement in US politics, his promotion of conspiracy theories, his views on immigration, and so on. There’s even a subsection on white nationalism.
Now, the book doesn’t cover any of that. The Book of Elon distills hundreds of interviews into a digestible read. This isn’t a biography or a self-help book. It’s a book of passion, purpose, and prosperity in Elon Musk’s own words. With that description, you can probably decide if the book’s for you or not. Ultimately, I decided to recommend it because Jorgenson also wrote The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, which I loved. Also, all of Jorgenson’s books are available for free in the format you prefer, so the barrier to entry is almost non-existent.