How to design the future – This insightful essay introduces design fiction as a way to navigate complex technological choices. Instead of pure analysis, imaginative scenarios help us envision the future we truly want. One memorable section describes a 2050 supermarket stocking lab-grown “magic meatballs”, illustrating how creative storytelling can spur richer discussions about emerging tech. By blending speculative ideas with current research, it shows that imagination (not just science) might be our most powerful tool for shaping technology's path.
The Internet with a Human Face – A passionate critique of today’s web, based on a famed conference talk. In the first half, it’s an “incredibly dark rant” about how the Internet is alienating and inhuman, turning us all into lonely monsters. Then it pivots to a hopeful vision for a more humane online world. The author calls for concrete changes – urging us to Regulate and Decentralize our digital spaces – so that technology serves people, not the other way around.
The secret formula for Apple’s rounded corners – A deep dive into the subtle geometry behind Apple’s product designs. It turns out Apple doesn’t just use simple circles for corners but nuanced curves called squircles to make edges look seamless. The article uncovers patterns in Apple’s design DNA – for example, the closer an object is to the human, the rounder it gets (think of the smooth curves of an Apple Watch versus a large monitor). From historical design principles to modern UI, this visually rich piece will change how you look at rounded rectangles everywhere.
Is it OK to make art? – This thought-provoking piece pits artistic creation against the ethics of Effective Altruism. If you spend time on art while others suffer, are you doing anything worthwhile? The author joins die-hard altruists in questioning whether creating a film or painting can ever rival saving lives. From their pragmatic point of view, even a masterpiece is negligible compared to, say, deworming 1,000 children. This essay grapples with that moral dilemma, ultimately defending art’s subtle but vital role in a world focused on measurable good. It’s a nuanced look at why humanity needs art even when facing urgent crises.
Can algorithms create true art, or only imitate? – A deep exploration of creativity in the age of AI. It examines whether machine-learning algorithms that compose music, paint pictures or write prose are genuinely creative or just remixing the past. The author highlights striking examples – such as an algorithm that composes music so convincingly, it fooled listeners into thinking a Bach-style piece was written by a human. The consensus? Today’s creative AIs are “great imitators, just not very good innovators”. This article will make you ponder the nature of creativity and what, if anything, is uniquely human in art.