Quantum Computing
Use quantum computing to solve problems that are intractable for classical computers, not as a replacement for them.
A pharmaceutical company was trying to design a new drug. Simulating the complex interactions of a single protein molecule was a task that would take the world’s most powerful supercomputer thousands of years. They turned to a quantum computer. By mapping the problem onto qubits, it was able to run the simulation in a matter of hours. The quantum computer didn’t replace their laptops for email; it tackled a specific, monumentally complex problem that was impossible for any classical computer to solve.
Stop doing hype-driven quantum computing news. Do learn the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics instead.
A person read a sensational headline: “Quantum Computers to Achieve Consciousness!” and was confused and skeptical. Another person, instead of reading hype, watched a short educational video explaining the basics of superposition and entanglement. She didn’t become a quantum physicist, but she understood that quantum computing is about a new way of processing information, not about creating a magical thinking machine. This foundational knowledge allowed her to separate the real potential from the science fiction.
The #1 secret for understanding the potential of quantum computing that most people miss.
The secret is that it’s not just a faster computer; it’s a completely different kind of computer. A person asked, “So is a quantum computer like a thousand classical computers working in parallel?” The answer is no. It’s more like the invention of the lightbulb. It doesn’t just do what a candle does, but better. It enables entirely new possibilities. A quantum computer’s ability to explore a vast space of potential solutions simultaneously is a fundamentally new computational paradigm that will solve problems we don’t even know how to ask yet.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about quantum computers breaking all encryption overnight.
The lie is that as soon as a powerful quantum computer is built, all of our encryption will be instantly broken. The reality is that while a large, fault-tolerant quantum computer could theoretically break today’s common encryption (using Shor’s algorithm), that day is likely still many years away. More importantly, cryptographers are already developing and standardizing “quantum-resistant” encryption algorithms that are secure against both classical and quantum computers. The race is on, but it’s not an overnight apocalypse.
I wish I knew this about the immense engineering challenges of building a fault-tolerant quantum computer.
As a student, I was fascinated by the theory of quantum algorithms. I thought building the computer was just an engineering detail. Then I visited a quantum computing lab. I saw the massive, chandelier-like refrigerators needed to cool the qubits to temperatures colder than deep space. I learned about the extreme sensitivity to noise and vibration. I wish I had known that the primary challenge is not the theory, but the monumental engineering task of isolating and controlling these fragile quantum states.
I’m just going to say it: We are still in the very early days of quantum computing.
People today hear “quantum computing” and imagine a sleek, powerful machine. The reality is that we are in the “Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum” (NISQ) era. This is the equivalent of the vacuum tube era of classical computing. The quantum computers we have today are room-sized, have a small number of “noisy” (error-prone) qubits, and can only run for a fraction of a second before their quantum state decoheres. We are building the very first, foundational machines, and a truly useful, fault-tolerant quantum computer is still a long way off.
99% of people make this one mistake when talking about quantum computing.
The most common mistake is trying to compare a quantum computer to a classical computer using classical metrics like “clock speed” or “gigahertz.” A person will ask, “How fast is it?” This is the wrong question. A quantum computer’s power doesn’t come from performing calculations faster; it comes from performing a different kind of calculation. Its power lies in its ability to leverage quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement to explore a vast number of possibilities at once.
This one small action of learning about qubits and superposition will change your understanding of quantum computing forever.
A person was completely baffled by quantum computing. It seemed like magic. She took ten minutes to watch an animated video explaining the concept of a qubit. The video explained that while a classical bit is either a 0 or a 1, a qubit can be in a “superposition”—a combination of both 0 and 1 at the same time. This one, simple concept was the key. It unlocked her understanding of how a quantum computer can achieve its incredible parallel processing power.
The reason you’re confused about quantum computing is because you’re trying to think about it in classical terms.
A person tried to understand a qubit by imagining it as a spinning coin that is both heads and tails at once. This classical analogy ultimately fails because quantum systems don’t behave like anything in our everyday world. The reason quantum computing is confusing is that our brains have evolved to understand a classical, predictable reality. To begin to understand it, you have to let go of your classical intuition and embrace the strange, probabilistic nature of the quantum world.
If you’re still not paying attention to the developments in quantum computing, you’re losing sight of a technology that will change the world.
In the 1950s, the transistor seemed like a niche scientific curiosity. Most people ignored it. But that one invention went on to power the entire digital revolution. Quantum computing today is in a similar position. It seems abstract and far-off, but it holds the potential to revolutionize medicine, materials science, finance, and artificial intelligence. The foundational work being done today will lead to some of the most profound technological shifts of the 21st century.
Biotechnology
Use biotechnology to improve human health and well-being, not for unethical purposes.
A research team used a new gene therapy technique to successfully cure a child’s previously incurable genetic blood disorder, allowing her to live a normal, healthy life. This is the promise of biotechnology. In a dystopian sci-fi movie, the same technology is used to create a genetically engineered ruling class. The story of biotech is a choice: we can use these powerful tools to alleviate suffering and improve the human condition, or we can use them for purposes that are ethically fraught and dangerous.
Stop doing fear-mongering about GMOs. Do learn about the science of genetic engineering instead.
A person was afraid of eating genetically modified organisms (GMOs), believing they were “unnatural” and dangerous. He then learned about Golden Rice, a type of rice that was genetically engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A. This rice was developed to help prevent childhood blindness in developing countries where Vitamin A deficiency is common. He realized that GMOs are not a monolithic evil, but a scientific tool that, when used responsibly, can solve real-world humanitarian problems.
The #1 secret for understanding the CRISPR revolution.
The secret is to think of it as a “find and replace” function for DNA. Before CRISPR, gene editing was incredibly complex, expensive, and imprecise. A scientist explained CRISPR to a group of students using a simple analogy: imagine a book with a single spelling error. Older techniques were like reprinting the entire book. CRISPR is like a pair of magical scissors and a pen that can find the specific misspelled word, cut it out, and write in the correct one. This precision and ease of use is what made CRISPR a revolutionary tool.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about designer babies.
The lie, often screamed in sensational headlines, is that we are on the verge of creating a generation of “designer babies” where parents can choose their child’s IQ and athletic ability. The reality is that these complex traits are influenced by thousands of genes and environmental factors, and we are nowhere near understanding them well enough to “design” them. The current, real-world focus of human gene editing is on correcting single-gene disorders that cause devastating diseases, not on creating superhuman offspring.
I wish I knew this about the ethical implications of gene editing when I first learned about it.
As a young biology student, I was just amazed by the science of gene editing. I thought it was a purely technical challenge. I wish I had known then that the ethical questions are just as important as the scientific ones. The distinction between using gene editing for “therapy” (curing a disease) versus “enhancement” (making a healthy person “better”) is a profound and blurry line. Understanding that this technology forces us to ask fundamental questions about what it means to be human is a critical part of being a responsible scientist.
I’m just going to say it: Biotechnology will have a bigger impact on our lives than the internet.
The internet and the digital revolution changed how we communicate and access information. It was a revolution of the external world. Biotechnology is a revolution of the internal world. It will change our bodies, our health, our food, and our environment. The ability to read, write, and edit the code of life itself is a power that will have a more fundamental and profound impact on the future of humanity than any communication network ever could.
99% of people make this one mistake when thinking about the future of biotechnology.
The most common mistake is thinking of it as “unnatural.” A person will say that they don’t want to eat a genetically modified apple. That same person, however, has a purebred dog. They fail to realize that humans have been “unnaturally” modifying the genetics of plants and animals for thousands of years through the process of selective breeding. A modern poodle is just as much a product of human-guided genetic modification as a disease-resistant crop. Modern biotechnology is just a more precise and faster version of what we’ve always done.
This one small action of learning about the basics of DNA will change your understanding of biotechnology forever.
A person was intimidated by the concept of biotechnology. It seemed like impossibly complex science. She took 15 minutes to watch a high-quality animated video that explained the basics of DNA: what it is, how it’s a code, and how proteins are built from that code. This one small action of understanding the fundamental building block of life demystified the entire field. Concepts like “gene editing” suddenly made intuitive sense because she understood the language that was being edited.
The reason you’re scared of biotechnology is because of a lack of understanding.
In the 19th century, people were terrified of electricity, believing it was an unnatural and dangerous force. In the 20th century, people were scared of vaccines. Today, many people are scared of biotechnology for the same reason: a lack of understanding. The fear often comes from science fiction stories or misinformation, not from the science itself. When people learn about how these technologies are actually being used to create new medicines and more sustainable agriculture, the fear is often replaced by a sense of hope and excitement.
If you’re still not excited about the potential of biotechnology to cure diseases and improve our lives, you’re losing out on a major scientific revolution.
A person’s father suffered from diabetes, requiring daily insulin injections. A new biotechnology company is developing a one-time gene therapy that could potentially cure the disease by enabling the patient’s own body to produce insulin again. This is not science fiction; it’s the real-world promise of biotechnology. The ability to treat the root cause of genetic diseases, rather than just managing the symptoms, is one of the most exciting and hopeful revolutions in the history of medicine.
Space Exploration
Use private space companies to accelerate the pace of space exploration, not just relying on government agencies.
For decades, space exploration was the sole domain of large, slow-moving government agencies like NASA. The pace was often dictated by politics and budgets. Then, private companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab entered the scene. Driven by competition and commercial incentives, they have innovated at a breathtaking pace, drastically lowering the cost of launching satellites and reigniting public excitement. The partnership between private industry and government agencies is now the driving force behind a new, faster, and more dynamic era of space exploration.
Stop doing romanticizing space travel. Do understand the harsh realities of living and working in space.
A young person dreamed of being an astronaut, imagining floating gracefully in zero gravity. The reality is far more challenging. Astronauts on the International Space Station have to deal with the constant threat of radiation, the atrophy of their muscles and bones, and the immense psychological stress of living in a small, isolated environment for months on end. Being an astronaut is a heroic and inspiring job, but it is also one of the most physically and mentally demanding jobs in existence.
The #1 secret for making humanity a multi-planetary species.
The secret is not a new type of engine or a revolutionary spacecraft design. It’s reusability. For the first 50 years of the space age, we would build a multi-million dollar rocket, use it once, and then throw it away in the ocean. It was like flying from New York to London on a Boeing 747 and then throwing the plane away after one trip. The development of reusable rockets, which can land themselves and be flown again and again, is the key innovation that dramatically lowers the cost of access to space, making the dream of a multi-planetary future economically feasible.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about Mars colonization.
The lie, often seen in optimistic timelines, is that we will have a self-sustaining city on Mars within a few decades. The reality is that the challenges are monumental and largely unsolved. Mars has a thin atmosphere, no magnetic field to protect from radiation, and extremely cold temperatures. We still do not have the technology to create a self-sustaining, closed-loop life support system, nor do we have a way to protect colonists from the long-term health effects of radiation and low gravity. It is a multi-generational challenge, not a short-term project.
I wish I knew this about the importance of reusable rockets when I was a kid dreaming of space.
When I was a kid, I would watch the Space Shuttle launch. I thought it was amazing, but I didn’t understand the economics. I didn’t know that the most expensive part of the rocket, the external tank, was thrown away every single time. Then, as an adult, I watched the first video of a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster landing itself on a drone ship. I instantly understood that this was the moment that changed everything. It was the key that unlocked a future in space that was previously just a dream.
I’m just going to say it: The new space race is not just between countries, but also between companies.
The first space race was a geopolitical competition between two superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union. The new space race is far more complex and dynamic. It’s a race between nations, like the US and China, but it’s also a fierce competition between private companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and a host of smaller startups. This new race is driven not just by national pride, but by commercial interests, innovation, and the ambitions of individual entrepreneurs.
99% of people make this one mistake when thinking about the future of space exploration.
The most common mistake is thinking of it as an “either/or” proposition. A person will say, “Why are we spending money on space when we have problems here on Earth?” This is a false dichotomy. The technologies developed for space exploration have repeatedly led to innovations that benefit life on Earth, from GPS and satellite communication to medical imaging and water purification. Furthermore, the inspiration and scientific knowledge gained from looking outwards often helps us to better understand and appreciate our own home planet.
This one small action of watching a rocket launch will change your perspective on our place in the universe forever.
A person had a passing interest in space. She decided to wake up early to watch a live stream of a rocket launch. As she watched the countdown and saw the massive rocket ignite with unimaginable power and climb into the sky, she was overcome with a sense of awe. The sheer scale of the engineering, the ambition of the project, and the sight of a human-made object leaving our planet gave her a profound and humbling new perspective on human ingenuity and our small place in the vastness of the cosmos.
The reason you’re not more excited about space exploration is because you don’t see how it benefits you directly.
A person thought space exploration was a waste of money. Then her friend pointed out that the GPS in her phone that allows her to navigate, the satellite TV she watches, and the accurate weather forecasts she relies on are all direct results of the space program. The investment in space has created entire industries and technologies that are now seamlessly integrated into our daily lives. The benefits are all around us, even if we don’t always see the connection.
If you’re still not paying attention to the new space race, you’re losing out on one of the most exciting stories of our time.
In a single week, a private company might launch a new batch of satellites, a NASA rover might make a new discovery on Mars, and a new rocket from a startup might have its first test flight. The pace of innovation and activity in space today is faster than at any time since the Apollo era. It’s a story of human ambition, incredible engineering, and the quest to answer our oldest questions about the universe. It’s one of the grandest adventures in human history, and it’s happening right now.
Robotics
Use robots to augment human capabilities, not to replace humans entirely.
A factory implemented a robotic arm on its assembly line. Instead of firing the human worker who used to do the job, they retrained him. The robot could handle the heavy, repetitive lifting, a task that was physically taxing for the human. The worker was now responsible for operating and maintaining the robot, a more skilled and less physically demanding job. This “cobot” approach, where humans and robots work together, leveraged the strengths of both: the robot’s strength and precision, and the human’s adaptability and problem-solving skills.
Stop doing the “Terminator” trope. Do understand the real-world applications of robotics instead.
When many people hear “robotics,” they immediately think of the dystopian sci-fi trope of humanoid robots taking over the world. The reality of robotics today is far more practical and less dramatic. It’s the robotic vacuum cleaner in your house, the robotic arm that assembled your car, and the surgical robot that allows a doctor to perform a complex operation with greater precision. The real world of robotics is about creating tools that can help us with specific tasks, not about creating artificial people.
The #1 secret for building robots that can safely interact with humans.
The secret is not just better AI, but better sensors and control systems. A traditional industrial robot is incredibly powerful but “blind.” It will follow its programmed path with immense force, making it very dangerous for a human to be near. A modern “collaborative robot,” or cobot, is covered in sensors. If it senses an unexpected collision, even a light touch from a human, its control system is designed to stop immediately. This ability to sense and react to its environment is the key to safe human-robot interaction.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about robots taking all of our jobs.
The lie is that robots will create mass unemployment as they take over every human job. While robotics will certainly displace some jobs, particularly those that are repetitive and manual, it will also create new ones. A hundred years ago, a huge percentage of the population worked in agriculture. The mechanization of farming displaced those jobs, but it also created new jobs in fields like engineering, manufacturing, and services. Similarly, the robotics revolution will create new roles in robot design, maintenance, and management.
I wish I knew this about the challenges of building general-purpose robots when I was younger.
When I was a kid watching sci-fi movies, I thought building a humanoid robot that could do anything a human could do was just around the corner. I wish I had known about Moravec’s paradox. This is the observation that it’s relatively easy for computers to do things that humans find hard (like complex math), but it’s incredibly difficult for them to do things that a toddler finds easy (like walking, recognizing objects, and picking up a toy). The challenge of creating a general-purpose robot is far greater than I ever imagined.
I’m just going to say it: We are still a long way from having humanoid robots in our homes.
Every year, we see impressive videos of humanoid robots from companies like Boston Dynamics that can run, jump, and do backflips. This creates the impression that a “Rosie the Robot” for every home is imminent. The reality is that these are incredibly expensive, fragile, and specialized research prototypes. The challenges of creating a robot that can safely and reliably navigate the chaotic and unpredictable environment of a human home, all at an affordable price point, are immense. We are still many, many years away.
99% of people make this one mistake when thinking about the future of robotics.
The most common mistake is assuming that future robots will be humanoid. A person will imagine a robot helper as looking like a person. But the most successful robots are the ones that are designed for their specific function. A robotic vacuum cleaner is a short, round disc because that’s the best shape for navigating under furniture. A factory robot is a single, powerful arm. The future of robotics is likely not a single, humanoid form, but a diverse ecosystem of specialized robots designed perfectly for the task at hand.
This one small action of learning about the different types of robots will change your understanding of the field forever.
A person’s only image of a robot was a walking, talking machine from a movie. He took a few minutes to learn about the different categories of real-world robots. He learned about industrial robots used in manufacturing, logistics robots used in warehouses, medical robots used in surgery, and exploration robots used on other planets. This one small action of understanding the breadth of the field broadened his perspective from science fiction to the real, practical impact that robotics is already having on our world.
The reason you’re scared of robots is because of science fiction movies.
For decades, popular culture has been filled with stories of robots turning against their creators, from HAL 9000 to Skynet. This has created a deep-seated cultural anxiety about robotics. The reality is that a robot is a tool, not a creature. It has no intentions, desires, or emotions. It simply executes the code that a human has written. The ethical questions around robotics are not about what the robots will decide to do, but about how we, as humans, choose to use these powerful tools.
If you’re still not excited about the potential of robots to help us with our daily lives, you’re losing out on a major technological advancement.
An elderly person living alone was struggling with mobility and household chores. A new generation of assistive robots could help her reach items on high shelves, carry groceries, and provide reminders to take her medication. For her, a robot is not a threat; it’s a tool that can provide her with greater independence and a better quality of life. From helping the elderly to performing dangerous jobs, the potential for robotics to improve human lives is immense.
Longevity
Use a scientific approach to longevity, not just relying on unproven anti-aging remedies.
A person spent a fortune on expensive skin creams and “anti-aging” supplements that he saw advertised online, none of which had any scientific evidence to support their claims. Another person, also interested in longevity, focused on a scientific approach. She read studies about the biology of aging and focused her efforts on evidence-backed interventions like a healthy diet, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep. She wasn’t chasing a magic potion; she was making lifestyle choices based on science.
Stop doing the quest for immortality. Do focus on extending our healthspan, not just our lifespan.
A wealthy tech billionaire was obsessed with living forever, funding research into radical life extension. The more realistic and arguably more important goal for longevity science is to extend our “healthspan”—the number of years we live in good health, free from chronic disease. The goal is not just to add more years to our life, but to add more life to our years. A person who lives to be 90 but is active and healthy until 88 has had a better outcome than someone who lives to 100 but spends the last 20 years in sickness.
The #1 secret for living a longer and healthier life that is backed by science.
The secret isn’t a single pill or a superfood; it’s consistent, moderate exercise. A person started a habit of going for a brisk, 30-minute walk every day. This one, simple, and free habit has been shown by countless scientific studies to be one of the most powerful interventions for extending both lifespan and healthspan. It reduces the risk of nearly every major chronic disease, from heart disease and diabetes to cancer and dementia. It’s the closest thing we have to a true anti-aging pill.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about anti-aging supplements.
The lie is that a specific supplement, often sold with dramatic marketing claims, can reverse the aging process. The supplement industry is largely unregulated, and most “anti-aging” products have little to no rigorous scientific evidence to back them up. A person spending hundreds of dollars a month on a trendy supplement would likely get far more benefit by spending that money on a gym membership or fresh, healthy food. For longevity, there are no shortcuts in a bottle.
I wish I knew this about the importance of diet and exercise for longevity when I was younger.
When I was in my twenties, I felt invincible. I ate whatever I wanted, rarely exercised, and never thought about the long-term consequences. Now, in middle age, I’m dealing with the results of those lifestyle choices. I wish I had known then that the habits you build in your youth have a profound and cumulative impact on your health later in life. Building a foundation of good nutrition and regular physical activity when you are young is the single best investment you can make in your future healthspan.
I’m just going to say it: The science of longevity is still in its infancy.
The media is full of exciting headlines about new breakthroughs in longevity research, often from studies in mice or worms. The reality is that translating these findings to humans is an incredibly slow and difficult process. While we have identified several key biological pathways involved in aging, we are still in the very early days of understanding how to safely and effectively target them in humans. We are a long way from having a “cure” for aging.
99% of people make this one mistake when it comes to their health and longevity.
The most common mistake is focusing on a single, trendy diet or exercise fad while ignoring the fundamentals. A person will become obsessed with a specific superfood or a new workout craze, believing it’s a magic bullet. They often do this while neglecting the most important and evidence-backed factors for longevity: not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet rich in plants, getting regular exercise, and fostering strong social connections. There is no secret; the foundations are what matter.
This one small habit of getting enough sleep will change your health and longevity forever.
A person used to pride himself on only needing five hours of sleep a night. He was constantly tired, irritable, and getting sick. He made a conscious effort to prioritize sleep, ensuring he got a consistent seven to eight hours per night. The change was transformative. His energy levels, his mood, and his immune system all improved. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to a host of long-term health problems. Getting adequate sleep is not a luxury; it’s a non-negotiable biological necessity for a long and healthy life.
The reason you’re not living a healthier life is because of your lifestyle choices.
While genetics play a role, the vast majority of what determines our health and longevity is within our control. A person might blame their poor health on “bad genes,” while continuing to smoke, eat a poor diet, and live a sedentary lifestyle. The science is clear: lifestyle choices are the primary driver of most chronic diseases. Taking personal responsibility for these choices is the first and most critical step towards a longer, healthier life.
If you’re still not taking your health and longevity seriously, you’re losing out on a better quality of life.
Two people reached the age of 70. The first person had neglected their health for decades. They were frail, suffering from multiple chronic diseases, and had limited mobility. The second person had made their health a priority throughout their life. They were active, vibrant, and able to travel and enjoy their retirement to the fullest. The investment in your health is not just about living longer; it’s about having the energy and vitality to actually enjoy those extra years.
Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)
Use BCIs to help people with disabilities and to enhance human cognition, not for mind control.
A groundbreaking BCI allowed a person who was paralyzed and unable to speak to control a computer cursor with their thoughts, allowing them to communicate with their family for the first time in years. This is the incredible, real-world promise of BCIs: to restore function and reconnect people with the world. The dystopian, sci-fi fear of BCIs being used for “mind control” is a distraction from the profound, positive impact this technology is already having on people’s lives.
Stop doing the dystopian sci-fi scenarios. Do understand the real potential of BCIs instead.
When people hear “brain-computer interface,” they often jump to dystopian scenarios from movies like “The Matrix.” The reality is far more grounded and focused on medical applications. Scientists are not trying to upload our consciousness to a computer. They are working on creating devices that can help a blind person see by sending signals from a camera directly to the brain, or help a person who has had a stroke to regain control of a limb. The focus is on restoration, not science fiction.
The #1 secret for developing a safe and effective BCI.
The secret is biocompatibility and long-term stability. It’s one thing to create an electrode that can read brain signals for a short time in a lab. It’s an entirely different and much harder challenge to create an implant that can remain in the brain for decades without being rejected by the body or degrading in performance. The biggest challenges in the BCI field are not in the computer science, but in the materials science and neuro-engineering required to create a safe and durable interface with living tissue.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about BCIs.
The lie is that they can “read your thoughts.” A person saw a demonstration of a BCI that allowed someone to type on a screen by thinking about moving their hand. She thought the machine was reading their mind. In reality, the BCI was not reading the person’s “thoughts” about letters. It was reading the raw motor signals from the part of the brain that controls the hand. Current BCIs can detect the intent to move, but they cannot read abstract thoughts, memories, or emotions.
I wish I knew this about the ethical implications of connecting our brains to computers.
When I first learned about BCIs, I was only focused on the technological possibilities. I wish I had immediately considered the profound ethical questions. If a BCI can read signals from the brain, who owns that data? What does privacy mean when a corporation or government could potentially have access to the most intimate information in our minds? As we develop this powerful technology, having a public and philosophical conversation about these ethical guardrails is just as important as the engineering.
I’m just going to say it: BCIs are one of the most important technologies of the 21st century.
While still in its early stages, the development of a safe and high-bandwidth interface between the human brain and a computer will be one of the most consequential technologies ever created. It holds the potential to cure a vast range of neurological disorders, from paralysis and blindness to epilepsy and depression. Beyond medicine, it could fundamentally enhance human cognition and change what it means to learn, to communicate, and to be human.
99% of people make this one mistake when thinking about BCIs.
The most common mistake is thinking of BCIs as a single, monolithic technology. A person will hear “BCI” and think only of invasive brain implants. In reality, BCIs exist on a wide spectrum. There are non-invasive BCIs, like an EEG cap that reads brainwaves from the scalp, which are safe and already in use. There are also semi-invasive and fully invasive implants, each with different levels of risk and signal quality. Understanding this spectrum is key to having a nuanced conversation about the technology.
This one small action of learning about the different types of BCIs will change your understanding of the technology forever.
A person thought BCIs were pure science fiction. He took a few minutes to learn about the different approaches. He learned about non-invasive EEG caps that can be used to control simple games. He then read about the invasive implants that are being used in clinical trials to help paralyzed individuals control robotic arms. This one small action of understanding the different types and their real-world applications transformed his view from a distant sci-fi concept to a real, emerging field of medicine and technology.
The reason you’re scared of BCIs is because of a lack of knowledge.
The idea of a computer “connected to your brain” can sound terrifying if your only context is from dystopian movies. This fear often comes from a lack of knowledge about what the technology actually does. When a person learns that the primary focus of BCI research today is to help a person who has lost their sight to see again, or to help a person who has lost their voice to speak again, the fear is often replaced by a sense of hope and admiration for the scientific progress.
If you’re still not paying attention to the developments in BCIs, you’re losing out on a technology that will change what it means to be human.
In a quiet university lab, a researcher is making a breakthrough in how to decode neural signals. In a hospital, a patient in a clinical trial is controlling a prosthetic limb with her mind. These are not just incremental advances; they are the foundational steps towards a future where we can directly address the most devastating neurological conditions and potentially even enhance the capabilities of the healthy human mind. This is a profound technological revolution that is happening right now, and it deserves our attention.
Sustainable Technology
Use technology to create a more sustainable future, not to further harm the planet.
A tech company designed its products with planned obsolescence, using glued-in batteries and proprietary screws to make them impossible to repair. This business model generated huge profits but also mountains of e-waste. A different, more forward-thinking company designed its products to be modular, upgradable, and easily repaired. They used recycled materials and powered their data centers with renewable energy. They were using their technological prowess not just for profit, but to create a more sustainable and circular economy.
Stop doing greenwashing. Do look for companies and technologies that are truly committed to sustainability.
A company launched a massive marketing campaign about its new “eco-friendly” product. A closer look revealed that the product itself was only marginally better, and the company’s overall carbon footprint was still enormous. This is “greenwashing.” A conscious consumer learned to look past the marketing. She would research a company’s actual sustainability reports, check for third-party certifications, and support companies that were transparent about their supply chain and committed to measurable, science-based targets for reducing their environmental impact.
The #1 secret for building a sustainable tech product.
The secret is to design for longevity. The biggest environmental impact of most electronics comes from their manufacturing. A smartphone that is designed to be thrown away after two years has a much larger lifetime footprint than one that is designed to last for five or seven years. This means using durable materials, making the battery easy to replace, providing long-term software support, and designing for repairability and upgradability. A product that lasts is a product that is sustainable.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about sustainable technology.
The lie is that choosing a sustainable tech product always means sacrificing performance or paying a huge premium. While this was true in the past, it’s no longer the case in many areas. For example, modern electric vehicles are now faster and have lower running costs than their gasoline-powered counterparts. Energy-efficient appliances save you money on your electricity bill. As sustainable technologies mature and scale, they are increasingly becoming the smart choice not just for the planet, but for your wallet as well.
I wish I knew this about the environmental impact of the tech industry when I was younger.
When I was a young tech enthusiast, I only thought about the magic of the devices, not where they came from or where they went. I didn’t think about the energy-intensive data centers that power the cloud, the rare earth minerals that are mined for our smartphones, or the mountains of e-waste created by our constant upgrade cycle. I wish I had known that the tech industry, for all the good it does, has a significant and often hidden environmental footprint.
I’m just going to say it: The tech industry has a huge responsibility to address climate change.
The tech industry is home to some of the wealthiest and most innovative companies in human history. It is also a massive consumer of energy. These companies have not just a responsibility, but a unique opportunity to lead the way in addressing the climate crisis. They can power their massive data centers with 100% renewable energy, invest in carbon removal technologies, and design more energy-efficient products. Given their resources and engineering talent, they can and should be at the forefront of the green transition.
99% of consumers make this one mistake when it comes to sustainable technology.
The most common mistake is focusing only on the energy consumption of a device when it’s in use, while ignoring the much larger “embodied carbon”—the carbon emissions generated during its manufacturing and transportation. A person might feel good about buying an energy-efficient TV, but if they replace it every three years, the environmental impact of manufacturing three new TVs far outweighs the small energy savings. The most sustainable choice is often to use the device you already have for as long as possible.
This one small action of choosing products with a longer lifespan and better repairability will change your environmental impact forever.
A person had a habit of buying cheap, disposable electronics that would break after a year. She decided to change her approach. She spent a bit more on a phone and a laptop from companies that were known for their build quality, long-term software support, and for making their products repairable. This one small shift in her purchasing philosophy meant that she was buying far fewer devices over the course of a decade, significantly reducing her personal contribution to e-waste and the environmental cost of manufacturing.
The reason you’re not more sustainable in your tech habits is because of a lack of awareness.
A person would leave all of his electronic devices plugged in and running 24/7, not realizing the cumulative impact of this “vampire power” on his electricity bill and the environment. He didn’t know that recycling his old phone was easy and important. He wasn’t aware that many companies deliberately make their products difficult to repair. The biggest barrier to more sustainable tech habits is often not a lack of caring, but a simple lack of awareness about the impact of our choices and the better alternatives that are available.
If you’re still not thinking about the sustainability of your tech choices, you’re losing out on a better future for everyone.
The choices we make as consumers and technologists have a real impact on the planet. By choosing to support companies that prioritize sustainability, by demanding the right to repair our own devices, and by being mindful of the energy consumption of our digital lives, we are casting a vote for a better future. A future with less waste, cleaner energy, and a more circular economy is not just a dream; it’s a choice we can collectively make.
The Future of Work
Use technology to create a more flexible and fulfilling work life, not a more stressful one.
Company A used technology to monitor its remote employees, tracking their every keystroke and demanding that they be “online” at all times. The result was a culture of stress and burnout. Company B used technology to enable a more flexible and asynchronous workflow. They used collaboration tools to reduce meetings and allow employees to work at the times that were most productive for them. They used technology to empower their employees, not to micromanage them.
Stop doing the 9-to-5 workday. Do embrace the principles of remote work and asynchronous communication instead.
A team was struggling with remote work because they were trying to replicate the 9-to-5 office environment online. They were stuck in back-to-back video calls all day. They switched to an “asynchronous-first” model. Instead of a live meeting, a discussion would happen in a shared document or a message thread over the course of a day. This allowed people in different time zones to contribute and gave everyone more time for focused, deep work, freeing them from the tyranny of the shared calendar.
The #1 secret for a successful remote work culture.
The secret is trust. A manager who doesn’t trust his employees will try to micromanage them with constant check-ins and surveillance software. This creates a toxic remote work environment. A manager who trusts her team focuses on outcomes, not on hours worked. She gives her team clear goals and the autonomy to figure out the best way to achieve them. This culture of trust and autonomy is the foundation of every successful and high-performing remote team.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about the future of work.
The lie is that the “future of work” means everyone will be a gig worker or a freelancer. While the gig economy is growing, the reality for most people will be a shift towards more flexible and remote-friendly full-time employment. The future of work is not about the end of the stable job; it’s about the end of the rigid, location-dependent, 9-to-5 structure that has dominated the last century. It’s about more flexibility, autonomy, and work-life balance for everyone.
I wish I knew this about the importance of work-life balance when I started my career.
When I started my first job, I bought into the “hustle culture.” I worked late, I answered emails on weekends, and I thought my dedication would be rewarded. The only thing I got was burnout. I wish I had known then that a career is a marathon, not a sprint. The most successful and sustainable careers are built on a foundation of good work-life balance. Taking time for rest, hobbies, and family is not a sign of weakness; it’s essential for long-term creativity and productivity.
I’m just going to say it: The office is dead.
This doesn’t mean that physical offices will disappear entirely. But the idea of the office as the mandatory, five-day-a-week center of work life is dead. A company tried to force all of its employees to return to the office full-time. They lost a third of their best talent to more flexible competitors. The future of the office is as a “collaboration hub,” a place for teams to gather intentionally for specific purposes, like workshops and social events, not as a place to sit quietly and answer emails.
99% of companies make this one mistake when it comes to remote work.
The most common mistake is failing to document their processes. In an office, you can just tap someone on the shoulder to ask a question. This doesn’t work in a remote setting. A company that transitions to remote work without creating a culture of written documentation will struggle. The successful remote company has a “handbook” culture. Important processes are written down, decisions are documented, and information is accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or time zone.
This one small habit of setting clear boundaries between your work and personal life will change your well-being forever.
A remote worker felt like he was living at work. His laptop was always open, and he would answer Slack messages late into the evening. He was heading for burnout. He adopted one small habit: at 6 PM every day, he would close his laptop and put it in a different room. He would not open it again until the next morning. This simple physical act of creating a boundary between his “work space” and his “home space” dramatically improved his ability to disconnect and recharge.
The reason you’re burned out is because of a toxic work culture.
A person was feeling completely exhausted and cynical about her job. She thought the problem was with her. The reality was that she was working in a toxic culture that celebrated long hours, had unclear expectations, and provided no psychological safety. She switched to a new company with a positive and supportive culture. Her feelings of burnout disappeared almost overnight. Burnout is often not a personal failing; it’s a symptom of a dysfunctional work environment.
If you’re still not embracing the future of work, you’re losing out on a more flexible and fulfilling life.
An employee was stuck in a rigid, traditional job that required a long commute and offered no flexibility. She was unhappy. Her friend worked for a modern, remote-first company. She had the flexibility to set her own hours, work from anywhere, and spend more time with her family. She was not only more productive but also significantly happier. The future of work is not just about changing where we work; it’s about creating a system that allows for a better integration of our work and our lives.
The Future of Education
Use technology to create a more personalized and engaging learning experience, not a more standardized one.
A school gave every student the same educational software, which was just a series of digital worksheets. It was a standardized, one-size-fits-all approach. A different school used adaptive learning technology. The software could identify a student’s individual strengths and weaknesses and provide them with personalized exercises and content. This use of technology created a more engaging and effective learning experience because it met each student where they were, instead of forcing them all down the same path.
Stop doing the traditional lecture-based model of education. Do embrace project-based learning and online courses instead.
A university student sat in a large lecture hall, passively listening to a professor for hours. He was bored and retained very little of the information. Another student, taking a modern online course, spent her time actively working on a real-world project. She would watch short video lectures on her own time and then apply what she learned in a collaborative, hands-on environment. This active, project-based approach was far more engaging and led to a much deeper and more practical understanding of the material.
The #1 secret for a successful online learning experience.
The secret is not the quality of the videos, but the quality of the community. A person enrolled in a self-paced online course with no student interaction. He quickly lost motivation and dropped out. He then joined a “cohort-based” online course. He was part of a small group of students who went through the material together. They had live sessions, worked on group projects, and supported each other in a private community. The social connection and accountability were the keys to his success.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about the future of education.
The lie is that technology will replace teachers. A school, trying to cut costs, replaced some of its teachers with educational software. The students’ performance declined. Technology is a powerful tool, but it is not a substitute for a great teacher. The future of education is not about replacing teachers, but about empowering them. Technology can automate the boring parts of teaching, like grading, and provide teachers with better data, freeing them up to do what they do best: mentor, inspire, and connect with their students.
I wish I knew this about the power of self-directed learning when I was a student.
As a student, I just followed the curriculum that was given to me. I thought that learning was something that happened in a classroom. I wish I had known about the power of self-directed learning. The internet has made it possible to learn almost anything for free. I could have taught myself to code, learned a new language, or studied philosophy, all on my own time. The ability to be a curious, lifelong, self-directed learner is the most important skill you can have in the 21st century.
I’m just going to say it: A college degree is not the only path to a successful career.
For generations, a four-year college degree was seen as the golden ticket to a good job. That is no longer universally true. A person spent four years and went deep into debt to get a degree in a field with few job prospects. His friend, instead of going to college, spent a year in an intensive coding bootcamp. She got a high-paying job as a software developer before her friend had even graduated. For many modern, skill-based careers, alternative forms of education can be a faster, cheaper, and more effective path.
99% of students make this one mistake when learning online.
The most common mistake is being a passive consumer of content. A student will watch hours of video lectures without taking notes or engaging with the material. This is like trying to get fit by watching workout videos from the couch. To actually learn something, you have to be an active participant. This means taking notes, working through the exercises, trying to apply the concepts to your own projects, and discussing the material with other learners.
This one small habit of setting learning goals will change your educational journey forever.
A person wanted to “learn Python.” This goal was too vague, and he quickly lost motivation. He changed his approach. He set a small, specific, and achievable learning goal: “This week, I will build a simple web scraper that can extract the headlines from a news website.” This clear, project-based goal gave him the focus and motivation he needed to learn the specific skills required. By breaking down a large topic into a series of small, concrete projects, he was able to make steady and satisfying progress.
The reason you’re not learning effectively is because you’re not engaged with the material.
A student was trying to memorize facts from a textbook for an exam. The information went in one ear and out the other. The reason he wasn’t learning was because he wasn’t engaged. Learning happens when you are actively wrestling with a problem or trying to create something. The student who is building a robot to learn about physics will have a much deeper and more lasting understanding than the student who is just trying to memorize the formulas from a book.
If you’re still not taking advantage of the vast resources for online learning, you’re losing out on a world of knowledge.
A person wanted to learn a new skill but thought she couldn’t afford to go back to school. She discovered the world of online learning. She found high-quality, university-level courses on platforms like Coursera and edX, practical tutorials on YouTube, and a wealth of free documentation and articles. She realized that with an internet connection and a bit of self-discipline, she had access to a greater library of knowledge than any king or queen in human history.
The Future of Humanity
Use technology to solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges, not to create new ones.
A team of brilliant engineers used their skills to create a social media algorithm that was incredibly effective at addicting users to their platform. Another team of brilliant engineers used their skills to create a new, low-cost water purification system that could save millions of lives in developing countries. Technology is a lever. We can use it to amplify our worst tendencies for profit, or we can use it to solve our most pressing shared challenges, like poverty, disease, and climate change.
Stop doing pessimism and despair. Do have a hopeful and optimistic vision for the future of humanity.
A person consumed a constant diet of negative news and became convinced that the world was collapsing. He felt hopeless. His friend, while acknowledging the world’s many serious problems, chose to focus on the progress. She pointed to the dramatic global decline in extreme poverty, the advances in medicine, and the rise of clean energy. Acknowledging that we have solved immense problems in the past gives us the hopeful and optimistic vision we need to believe that we can solve the problems of the future.
The #1 secret for creating a better future for everyone.
The secret is cooperation. Humanity’s greatest achievements—from landing on the moon to eradicating smallpox—were not the work of a single individual or a single nation. They were the result of massive, collaborative efforts. The biggest challenges we face today, like climate change and pandemics, are global problems that require global cooperation. The ability to work together, across borders and cultures, is the single most important skill for our species’ long-term survival and flourishing.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about the future of humanity.
The lie is that the future is predetermined. A person will look at a negative trend and extrapolate it into a dystopian future, believing that our fate is sealed. The reality is that the future is not a destination we are heading towards, but a place we are creating through our actions in the present. The future is not written. It is a story that we are all writing together, every day, through the choices we make.
I wish I knew this about the power of collective action when I was younger.
When I was young, I was passionate about environmental issues, but I felt powerless. I thought that my individual actions, like recycling, didn’t make a difference. I wish I had known then about the power of collective action. When I joined a local environmental group, I realized that when thousands of individuals all take small actions together, they can create a movement that can change laws, shift corporate behavior, and create real, large-scale change. Your individual action, when combined with others, is incredibly powerful.
I’m just going to say it: The future is not something that happens to us, but something that we create.
Many people feel like they are passive observers of history, just watching the future unfold on the news. This is a disempowering mindset. The reality is that every person has agency. The entrepreneur who starts a new company, the activist who organizes a protest, the scientist who makes a new discovery, and the citizen who casts a vote are all actively shaping the future. The future is not a spectator sport; it’s a participatory one.
99% of people make this one mistake when thinking about the future of humanity.
The most common mistake is linear thinking. A person will look at the technology of today and imagine the future as just a slightly faster or shinier version of the present. They fail to account for exponential change and paradigm shifts. Nobody in 1990, looking at the slow, text-based internet, could have predicted the world of instant global communication and smartphones we have today. The future is often not a straight line, but a series of surprising, exponential curves.
This one small action of getting involved in a cause you care about will change the future for the better forever.
A person was worried about the state of her local community but didn’t know what to do. She took one small action: she volunteered for a few hours at a local food bank. There, she met other passionate people, learned about the root causes of the problem, and became part of a team that was making a tangible difference. That one small action led to a lifetime of community involvement. The first step to changing the world is to find one small corner of it that you care about and get involved.
The reason you’re worried about the future is because you feel powerless to change it.
Anxiety about the future often stems from a feeling of powerlessness. You see large, systemic problems on the news and feel like you are just one small person who can’t possibly make a difference. The antidote to this despair is action. By joining a group, starting a project, or even just having a conversation with a neighbor, you begin to exercise your own agency. The act of trying to create a better future, no matter how small the scale, is the most powerful way to overcome the fear of it.
If you’re still not hopeful about the future of humanity, you’re losing out on the greatest adventure of all time.
It is easy to be cynical. But to be hopeful is to recognize that the story of humanity is one of overcoming immense challenges. We have survived ice ages, cured plagues, and risen from the ashes of devastating wars. The challenges we face today are great, but so is our capacity for ingenuity, compassion, and cooperation. To be hopeful is to choose to be a participant in the greatest adventure of all: the ongoing, difficult, but ultimately inspiring project of building a better future.