Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

The 1890s Kinetoscope: A Precursor to AI's Loneliness?

2025-02-05

This article draws parallels between the single-user Kinetoscope of the 1890s and today's AI technology, particularly large language models. The article argues that both technologies, while offering mass-produced content, create a simultaneously interconnected yet atomized experience, resulting in a new kind of technological loneliness. The author explores the historical context of Edison's invention and its surprisingly prescient design choice, highlighting the uncanny resemblance to our current reliance on personalized algorithmic feeds and AI companions. It prompts reflection on the direction of technological progress and its impact on individual experience.

(resobscura.substack.com)

AI Loneliness

The Sackler Brothers and LSD: A Tale of Ideals and Profits

2025-01-30

This article unveils the little-known story of the Sackler brothers' involvement in early LSD research during the 1950s. Initially driven by the idealistic goal of curing mental illness, they actively participated in early LSD trials, attempting to link LSD research to their own hormonal imbalance theories. However, over time, their focus shifted to the commercial potential of pharmaceuticals, ultimately leading to infamy for developing and marketing OxyContin. The article highlights the conflict between idealism and profit motives, and the ethical and commercial considerations in technological advancement.

(resobscura.substack.com)

Tech Sackler Brothers Pharmaceutical Research

AI Models Are Now Surprisingly Good Historians

2025-01-26

Leading AI models are demonstrating remarkable capabilities in historical research. Three case studies showcase GPT-4o, o1, and Claude Sonnet 3.5's prowess in transcribing and translating early modern Italian texts, analyzing an 18th-century Mexican medical manuscript, and generating novel historical interpretations. While limitations remain, such as occasional factual inaccuracies, their potential in streamlining research, synthesizing information, and suggesting new research avenues is undeniable. This heralds a transformative shift in how historical research is conducted.

(resobscura.substack.com)

AI historical research

2000-Year-Old Wine: A Taste of the Past

2025-01-16

A Roman tomb unearthed in Carmona, Spain, yielded a remarkable find: a 2,000-year-old glass urn containing five liters of remarkably preserved white wine, predating the previous record holder by three centuries. This discovery, along with other well-preserved artifacts like amber, textiles, and perfume, offers a visceral connection to the past, challenging the typical perception of history as solely comprised of grand events and famous figures. The author argues that such artifacts provide a glimpse into the everyday lives of ordinary people, making the past feel immediate and tangible.

(resobscura.substack.com)

Misc ancient Rome historical artifacts