David McRaney
@davidmcraney.bsky.social
How Minds Change: www.davidmcraney.com | YANSS: http://YouAreNotSoSmart.com | Speaking: https://www.harrywalker.com/speakers/david-mcraney
Reposted by David McRaney
This is the far more likely pathway for how AI will end us all, btw. Not via some superintelligent swarm of paperclip maximizers, but by a cascading sequence of dumb fuckups driven by human beings who have arranged things to be fast-moving and catastrophically fragile while also being really lazy.
That’s a load-bearing assumption, Dr Strangelove. www.cnn.com/2026/09/18/p...
September 18, 2026 at 6:56 PM
This is the far more likely pathway for how AI will end us all, btw. Not via some superintelligent swarm of paperclip maximizers, but by a cascading sequence of dumb fuckups driven by human beings who have arranged things to be fast-moving and catastrophically fragile while also being really lazy.
Headed to Dent 2026 to meet amazing people and give a lecture about how brains make meaning via conceptualization and categorization and, with the word “genius” as my example, how that can lead to the very weird things like the fallacy of reification: dentthefuture.com/conference
The Dent Conference — Dent
dentthefuture.com
September 12, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Headed to Dent 2026 to meet amazing people and give a lecture about how brains make meaning via conceptualization and categorization and, with the word “genius” as my example, how that can lead to the very weird things like the fallacy of reification: dentthefuture.com/conference
Every once in a while, I retrain all my algorithms, especially YouTube, by searching for and clicking on the things that would be in the sections I’d most frequent in a giant, perfect bookstore. I find this comforting in the way one might with gardening or closet organizing.
September 8, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Every once in a while, I retrain all my algorithms, especially YouTube, by searching for and clicking on the things that would be in the sections I’d most frequent in a giant, perfect bookstore. I find this comforting in the way one might with gardening or closet organizing.
Reposted by David McRaney
Out of all the cataclysms we suffer, pandemics alone deny us our most important coping mechanism: each other. To gather, to seek comfort in each other's company, becomes deadly--a vector of the disaster, rather than shelter from it.
And yes, that very obviously fucks with you.
And yes, that very obviously fucks with you.
Pre-Covid, I always thought the 1918 flu memories were just overshadowed by WWI. But now, it’s clearly something about pandemics that just do things to collective memory. I don’t know whether this is unique to modernity but it‘s clear that humans react differently to this type of trauma.
July 29, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Out of all the cataclysms we suffer, pandemics alone deny us our most important coping mechanism: each other. To gather, to seek comfort in each other's company, becomes deadly--a vector of the disaster, rather than shelter from it.
And yes, that very obviously fucks with you.
And yes, that very obviously fucks with you.
I just Shazam-ed “My Life” by Billy Joel, made the huh face to no one, looked around the cafe, the eyes-down non-audience, and was for a moment truly, fully the universe experiencing itself. I will now sit and drink my coffee in an emotional state our language lacks the capacity to express
July 18, 2026 at 4:32 PM
I just Shazam-ed “My Life” by Billy Joel, made the huh face to no one, looked around the cafe, the eyes-down non-audience, and was for a moment truly, fully the universe experiencing itself. I will now sit and drink my coffee in an emotional state our language lacks the capacity to express
For the new book I’m almost done writing, I had to read a lot of hot take collections (philosophical texts) from around 1600 forward, and it’s bonkers how many insights get repeated every 20 years or so by people who assume they are the first person to ever notice X. Note: I am super guilty of same
July 14, 2026 at 7:27 PM
For the new book I’m almost done writing, I had to read a lot of hot take collections (philosophical texts) from around 1600 forward, and it’s bonkers how many insights get repeated every 20 years or so by people who assume they are the first person to ever notice X. Note: I am super guilty of same
Just finished another chapter of this very strange book about collective sensemaking told through the story of a single word (genius). I will now celebrate with a brief interlude in this long writer hermitage by buying coffee in person.
July 13, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Just finished another chapter of this very strange book about collective sensemaking told through the story of a single word (genius). I will now celebrate with a brief interlude in this long writer hermitage by buying coffee in person.
Reposted by David McRaney
Facts don't really matter when it comes to changing beliefs.
Ppl will do anything to keep their 'in-group' strong, even if it means endorsing lies and misinformation.
But there will be a threshold above which individuals start to question what they stand for.
@davidmcraney.bsky.social's book 👇
Ppl will do anything to keep their 'in-group' strong, even if it means endorsing lies and misinformation.
But there will be a threshold above which individuals start to question what they stand for.
@davidmcraney.bsky.social's book 👇
July 10, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Facts don't really matter when it comes to changing beliefs.
Ppl will do anything to keep their 'in-group' strong, even if it means endorsing lies and misinformation.
But there will be a threshold above which individuals start to question what they stand for.
@davidmcraney.bsky.social's book 👇
Ppl will do anything to keep their 'in-group' strong, even if it means endorsing lies and misinformation.
But there will be a threshold above which individuals start to question what they stand for.
@davidmcraney.bsky.social's book 👇
Reposted by David McRaney
Pals! A new @neverpo.st! I read the news and Producer @audreyevans.bsky.social talks with @oddletters.bsky.social and @kissane.myatproto.social about AI hallucinations sweeping the nation, what this means for the production of knowledge, and what Dark Elves have to do w/ it all (a fair amount tbh!)
🆕 Never Post! What Happens When Search Goes Full AI
Producer Audrey talks with Mols Sauter and Erin Kissane about what AI hallucinations actually are
–
* Call us at 651 615 5007 to leave a voicemail
* Drop us a voice memo via airtable
* Or email u...
www.neverpo.st
June 26, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Pals! A new @neverpo.st! I read the news and Producer @audreyevans.bsky.social talks with @oddletters.bsky.social and @kissane.myatproto.social about AI hallucinations sweeping the nation, what this means for the production of knowledge, and what Dark Elves have to do w/ it all (a fair amount tbh!)
Reposted by David McRaney
this summer i am splitting my time between thinking about LLMs + genre theory and wrapping up my book on venture capital policy in the 1970s and as a result i am _moderately crazed_. please enjoy the evidence here!
My new favorite AI metaphors come from @kissane.myatproto.social and @oddletters.bsky.social on the latest @neverpo.st episode
www.neverpo.st/what-happens...
www.neverpo.st/what-happens...
🆕 Never Post! What Happens When Search Goes Full AI
Producer Audrey talks with Mols Sauter and Erin Kissane about what AI hallucinations actually are
–
* Call us at 651 615 5007 to leave a voicemail
* Drop us a voice memo via airtable
* Or email u...
www.neverpo.st
June 26, 2026 at 2:43 PM
this summer i am splitting my time between thinking about LLMs + genre theory and wrapping up my book on venture capital policy in the 1970s and as a result i am _moderately crazed_. please enjoy the evidence here!
Reposted by David McRaney
Looks like the unhinged AI podcast ep with the always-great @oddletters.bsky.social is up! Ty Audrey and co for the chance to talk about LLMs as, you know, demons.
My new favorite AI metaphors come from @kissane.myatproto.social and @oddletters.bsky.social on the latest @neverpo.st episode
www.neverpo.st/what-happens...
www.neverpo.st/what-happens...
🆕 Never Post! What Happens When Search Goes Full AI
Producer Audrey talks with Mols Sauter and Erin Kissane about what AI hallucinations actually are
–
* Call us at 651 615 5007 to leave a voicemail
* Drop us a voice memo via airtable
* Or email u...
www.neverpo.st
June 26, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Looks like the unhinged AI podcast ep with the always-great @oddletters.bsky.social is up! Ty Audrey and co for the chance to talk about LLMs as, you know, demons.
I’m in the just wept in public to Long As I Can See the Light while transcribing an interview with a Shakespearean actor telling me about his Jean Valjean tattoo over chips and salsa in Texas stage of writing this book. Solid.
June 22, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I’m in the just wept in public to Long As I Can See the Light while transcribing an interview with a Shakespearean actor telling me about his Jean Valjean tattoo over chips and salsa in Texas stage of writing this book. Solid.
Huh, this is now the most downloaded episode since my interview with @rushkoff.com about billionaire preppers (episode 242).
youarenotsosmart.com/2026/04/13/y...
youarenotsosmart.com/2026/04/13/y...
YANSS 337 – How to preserve your critical thinking and avoid cognitive surrender when using AI to solve problems, make decisions, and learn new things
How is AI reshaping human reasoning? What is cognitive surrender, and how do we avoid its negative impact? What is system three thinking, and how can we get the most out of it? Artificial intellige…
youarenotsosmart.com
June 1, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Huh, this is now the most downloaded episode since my interview with @rushkoff.com about billionaire preppers (episode 242).
youarenotsosmart.com/2026/04/13/y...
youarenotsosmart.com/2026/04/13/y...
I love that the word “refrigerator” stuck, and now we must live with it.
Also, FYI, the “re” part doesn’t mean “to return to its previous state,” but “to intensely and purposefully make so.” Latin stuff.
Also, FYI, the “re” part doesn’t mean “to return to its previous state,” but “to intensely and purposefully make so.” Latin stuff.
May 23, 2026 at 8:40 PM
I love that the word “refrigerator” stuck, and now we must live with it.
Also, FYI, the “re” part doesn’t mean “to return to its previous state,” but “to intensely and purposefully make so.” Latin stuff.
Also, FYI, the “re” part doesn’t mean “to return to its previous state,” but “to intensely and purposefully make so.” Latin stuff.
All my spam emails have switched over to rather obvious LLM-generated body copy. I'm fascinated by how writing like this now seems, well, obvious. It took a minute, but our innate pattern recognition (much of what brains do) is catching up, maybe even outpacing the spam/slop.
May 11, 2026 at 1:14 PM
All my spam emails have switched over to rather obvious LLM-generated body copy. I'm fascinated by how writing like this now seems, well, obvious. It took a minute, but our innate pattern recognition (much of what brains do) is catching up, maybe even outpacing the spam/slop.
I'm in the wipe-chalk-marker-streaks-off-desk-with-coffee-retrieved-by-pinky-then-post-about-it stage of the writing process.
May 7, 2026 at 12:02 PM
I'm in the wipe-chalk-marker-streaks-off-desk-with-coffee-retrieved-by-pinky-then-post-about-it stage of the writing process.
I'd like to see an alt Spider-Man comic/movie where this is the species of spider that bites him, and these are the extent of the powers he gains:
April 28, 2026 at 2:18 AM
I'd like to see an alt Spider-Man comic/movie where this is the species of spider that bites him, and these are the extent of the powers he gains:
Reposted by David McRaney
This is incredible. I don’t know how else to explain this but it makes the moon look so real. I get that’s a funny thing to say but the clarity and the closeness of the image taken by an actual person changes the perspective I think.
TFW you look out the window and see the Earth disappear
🎥 Astronaut Reid Wiseman
📍 Artemis II from the far side of the Moon
🎥 Astronaut Reid Wiseman
📍 Artemis II from the far side of the Moon
April 20, 2026 at 2:07 AM
This is incredible. I don’t know how else to explain this but it makes the moon look so real. I get that’s a funny thing to say but the clarity and the closeness of the image taken by an actual person changes the perspective I think.
New episode about the latest research into how AI can negatively impact human reasoning and decision making:
youarenotsosmart.com/2026/04/13/y...
youarenotsosmart.com/2026/04/13/y...
YANSS 337 – How to maintain your critical thinking and avoid cognitive surrender when using AI to solve problems, make decisions, and learn new things
How is AI reshaping human reasoning? What is cognitive surrender, and how do we avoid its negative impact? What is system three thinking, and how can we get the most out of it? Artificial intellige…
youarenotsosmart.com
April 13, 2026 at 6:40 PM
New episode about the latest research into how AI can negatively impact human reasoning and decision making:
youarenotsosmart.com/2026/04/13/y...
youarenotsosmart.com/2026/04/13/y...
I strongly suspect AI is not getting better nearly as quickly as it is getting better at convincing users that it is getting better.
April 11, 2026 at 5:17 PM
I strongly suspect AI is not getting better nearly as quickly as it is getting better at convincing users that it is getting better.
Reposted by David McRaney
Splashdown!
Welcome home, Integrity.
Welcome home, Integrity.
April 11, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Splashdown!
Welcome home, Integrity.
Welcome home, Integrity.
Lawd. Happycry over here
April 11, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Lawd. Happycry over here
Reposted by David McRaney
🌎 Watch the return of NASA's Artemis II mission live with us--just an hour to go until the astronauts splash down! www.scientificamerican.com/video/watch-...
April 10, 2026 at 11:07 PM
🌎 Watch the return of NASA's Artemis II mission live with us--just an hour to go until the astronauts splash down! www.scientificamerican.com/video/watch-...
This is so exceedingly rad.
Livestream: www.youtube.com/live/6RwfNBt...
Livestream: www.youtube.com/live/6RwfNBt...
April 10, 2026 at 11:00 PM
This is so exceedingly rad.
Livestream: www.youtube.com/live/6RwfNBt...
Livestream: www.youtube.com/live/6RwfNBt...
Reposted by David McRaney
hey kids
you may want to tune into the NASA livestream for the Artemis 2 mission
it's rapidly approaching home and the earth is getting *big*
they're set to splashdown at 8:07 pm tonight
www.youtube.com/live/6RwfNBt...
you may want to tune into the NASA livestream for the Artemis 2 mission
it's rapidly approaching home and the earth is getting *big*
they're set to splashdown at 8:07 pm tonight
www.youtube.com/live/6RwfNBt...
April 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM
hey kids
you may want to tune into the NASA livestream for the Artemis 2 mission
it's rapidly approaching home and the earth is getting *big*
they're set to splashdown at 8:07 pm tonight
www.youtube.com/live/6RwfNBt...
you may want to tune into the NASA livestream for the Artemis 2 mission
it's rapidly approaching home and the earth is getting *big*
they're set to splashdown at 8:07 pm tonight
www.youtube.com/live/6RwfNBt...