You can read them in the computer! I read most things in the PC rather than the phone (because otherwise I eventually start scrolling, this fucking clingy slab...)
Generative AI only wins if it addicts users into behavioral loops it can modify and encodify over time and monetize with things like Ads and subscriptions. OpenAI has lost the API marketshare of developers and Enterprise AI, it can only fight the B2C fight now - it's been too slow to make an app ecosystem, build a hardware product, build a healthcare app and all the other wonderful plans and promises it has made. It's not even a good product company at this point. The Sora app is a failure, etc...
Most humans aren't DAUs of Gen AI apps. Many of the people who grew up on mobile, find nostalgia in real life, even if that means going to retail stores instead of shopping online. There's a real nostalgia for being human, in an era where mobile killed love and many suffer from technological loneliness. Recently less College students are using ChatGPT, for the first time ever. Younger GenZ and Alpha cohort or already re-thinking their relationship with AI broadly speaking. Not wanting to get trapped on mobile like their older cousins, older siblings, the stagnant dystopian parts of the digital world they know are noise and addiction.
Alberto, another very insightful essay. I’ve written two books on Heidegger and dozens of essay on philosophy of technology. You are the first, in my recollection, to view human consciousness as a reservoir of attention to be extracted by digital media, AI, etc. This view is reminiscent in some ways of Jürgen Habermas and other critical school thinkers who speak of the “colonization” of the “life world” by capitalism. But these ideas were floated before the digital revolution 20+ years ago. it is crucial to find ways to avoid being sucked dry daily by the digital addict, only to start all over again in the morning. Keep up the good work!
Indeed, the idea of being addicted to the phone is disempowering. I acknowledged that not everyone can simply say "oh, ok, so it's the phone that's addicted, I'm fine now that I know!" but it's a useful reframing to remember this is truer than the inverse.
I misplaced the comment: You can read them on the computer! I read most things on the PC rather than the phone (because otherwise I eventually start scrolling, this fucking clingy slab...)
> This is not the standard behavior of an addict, right?
This is exactly what addicts do!? They commit to “not drinking again”, “no more drinking on weekdays”, “only 2 beers after work”, etc etc. They wake up after a bender and research the cost of rehab and if it’s covered by insurance. Gambling addicts go to the casino without their debit card and a small amount of cash in their pocket to minimize the risk they empty their entire account that evening.
Addiction isn’t loved by the addict, that’s almost the definition of addiction — continuing to do something despite knowing it’s bad for you. One part of you tries to separate from the addictive pattern and then loses to the other part of you that can’t help itself. It’s the same for food, phone, alcohol, gambling, and opiate addictions
I know how it works. You didn't understand the sentence. I'm genuinely making it work through habituation. An addict relapses. That's what the phone does when we put distance: it finds a way to get to us.
You can read them in the computer! I read most things in the PC rather than the phone (because otherwise I eventually start scrolling, this fucking clingy slab...)
Generative AI only wins if it addicts users into behavioral loops it can modify and encodify over time and monetize with things like Ads and subscriptions. OpenAI has lost the API marketshare of developers and Enterprise AI, it can only fight the B2C fight now - it's been too slow to make an app ecosystem, build a hardware product, build a healthcare app and all the other wonderful plans and promises it has made. It's not even a good product company at this point. The Sora app is a failure, etc...
Most humans aren't DAUs of Gen AI apps. Many of the people who grew up on mobile, find nostalgia in real life, even if that means going to retail stores instead of shopping online. There's a real nostalgia for being human, in an era where mobile killed love and many suffer from technological loneliness. Recently less College students are using ChatGPT, for the first time ever. Younger GenZ and Alpha cohort or already re-thinking their relationship with AI broadly speaking. Not wanting to get trapped on mobile like their older cousins, older siblings, the stagnant dystopian parts of the digital world they know are noise and addiction.
WOW 😳 light bulb 💡
Alberto, another very insightful essay. I’ve written two books on Heidegger and dozens of essay on philosophy of technology. You are the first, in my recollection, to view human consciousness as a reservoir of attention to be extracted by digital media, AI, etc. This view is reminiscent in some ways of Jürgen Habermas and other critical school thinkers who speak of the “colonization” of the “life world” by capitalism. But these ideas were floated before the digital revolution 20+ years ago. it is crucial to find ways to avoid being sucked dry daily by the digital addict, only to start all over again in the morning. Keep up the good work!
Really interesting perspective, I enjoyed reading this!
Also fwiw, Brick is great!
So, we are in charge, then, and can make it stop. No excuses, folks.
That’s a clever and useful reframing. I think it's time I cut my phone off for a bit, it's not living a healthy life.
Thank you Dan, I'm trying this thing of getting to work (read or write) first thing in the morning instead of phone and it works wonders.
Sounds like a dream, maybe I should try it!
Very clever and unintuitive take. Thank you for that thought provoking change of perspective.
Thank you, Jan! For some reason, turning a problem on its head sometimes unlocks a freeing perspective.
Best piece you’ve written to date.
I really liked that it came out rather simple vs other times where the ideas are convoluted or extend over 4,000 words lol. Thank you!
Definitely, this narrative gives you more power. Sometimes we scroll to numb the uncomfortable feelings of inadequacy or guilt.
Indeed, the idea of being addicted to the phone is disempowering. I acknowledged that not everyone can simply say "oh, ok, so it's the phone that's addicted, I'm fine now that I know!" but it's a useful reframing to remember this is truer than the inverse.
Can you maybe make your substack an old school newsletter so we don’t have to use our iPhones to read it? Oh the irony!!
I misplaced the comment: You can read them on the computer! I read most things on the PC rather than the phone (because otherwise I eventually start scrolling, this fucking clingy slab...)
> This is not the standard behavior of an addict, right?
This is exactly what addicts do!? They commit to “not drinking again”, “no more drinking on weekdays”, “only 2 beers after work”, etc etc. They wake up after a bender and research the cost of rehab and if it’s covered by insurance. Gambling addicts go to the casino without their debit card and a small amount of cash in their pocket to minimize the risk they empty their entire account that evening.
Addiction isn’t loved by the addict, that’s almost the definition of addiction — continuing to do something despite knowing it’s bad for you. One part of you tries to separate from the addictive pattern and then loses to the other part of you that can’t help itself. It’s the same for food, phone, alcohol, gambling, and opiate addictions
I know how it works. You didn't understand the sentence. I'm genuinely making it work through habituation. An addict relapses. That's what the phone does when we put distance: it finds a way to get to us.