A Letter from Om. Issue #16/2023

Hi! I am Om, and this is my letter where I share what’s on my mind, my latest writings, articles worth reading from around the web, my recommendations, and some of my photography.

In this issue, I address:

• What am I up to?
• Some of my recent writings.
• 5 articles worth reading.
• My Photography

---

What am I up to?

It is December — a reason to start looking back at the year that has been, and thinking about the year that is to come. It is the month I always take stock of everything — personal and professional. And most importantly, I look back at the year, and think of “change” in our world, especially from a technology perspective. I can’t help it — this is how I am wired to think. Or as W. Somerset Maugham said, “If change is of the essence of existence one would have thought it only sensible to make it the premise of our philosophy.”

The most amazing aspect of our “now” is how quickly it becomes our past, to be replaced by the new. As a result, I have embarked on a special project — putting together an essay that looks at “changes” that have happened that will most certainly define our future. And a big chunk of it would be devoted to augmented intelligence, aka what people are referring to as “artificial intelligence.”

“A.I. is one of the most powerful things humans have ever invented for improving the quality of life of everyone,” Scott said. “But it will take time. It should take time.” He added, “We’ve always tackled super-challenging problems through technology. And so we can either tell ourselves a good story about the future or a bad story about the future—and, whichever one we choose, that’s probably the one that’ll come true.” Kevin Scott, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft.

I am excited about this long essay, and hopefully, it will also allow me to share plans for the next year — when I intend to return to writing as my primary creative focus.

---

My recent writings.

Nostalgia is a curse in life and technology. As we face generational transitions in platforms and technology, we all feel nostalgic. We shouldn’t — history has shown us that we move forward by looking forward.

Amazon’s Thin Client: Wrong Idea, Wrong Time. Here’s Why.Computing is changing right before our eyes, and that’s really why I think this might be another example of bad timing for the “network computer.”

Thank God, the OpenAI drama is over.

Even after Freaky Friday, Microsoft is still AI King.Satya Nadella ensured Microsoft secured what it truly needed from the OpenAI turmoil.

Faux Virtue Signaling: Charlie Munger’s passing resulted in tweets that were nothing more than virtue signaling. This is an all too familiar sight, especially on #TechTwitter.

---

5 Articles Worth Reading

What Ilya Sutskever really wants: Nirit Weiss-Blatt in her newsletter decodes what OpenAI’s co-founder & chief scientist wants. The man who started the OpenAI movement was recently deposed from its board and seems to have been pushed aside by more commercial interests. (Nirit was commenting on Wired’s article, What OpenAI Really Wants. Sadly, it is paywalled, so I am not sure if you can read it.)

Postcard from a driverless San Francisco. A report from the frontlines of the driverless car revolution unfolding in the form of robot taxis. This is a good read, even though you can tell that it is tinged with the all-too-familiar tech cynicism that is now prevalent in all mainstream coverage of technology.

Why making iPhones in India isn’t easy. No matter how much people might want it, decoupling from China and its role in the modern supply chain isn’t going to be easy. Buckle up for a bumpy ride.

The Tour de France winner who saved hundreds of lives in the Second World War. This is such a great adventure story.

The Great Cajun Turtle Heist. Texas Monthly, a national treasure, always focuses on topics that deserve more attention. Also, this story reminds us that humans really are “the invasive species.”

---

My Photography

A series of photos that explore the concept of “Framed,” an “often-used photographic device” where as a photographer you use “the world around you to frame your subjects.” Some examples are on my website, while the rest of them are on my Glass feed.

RIP, Elliott Erwitt and Larry Fink, two photography legends who helped transform photography into something more than itself.

---

December 3, 2023. San Francisco