Substrate

Doug has officially launched his new venture, FIELD STATION, along with Tom Watson. The company has been incorporated at Companies House and is now operational, with Doug currently setting up bank accounts and accounting software. He is eager to find clients and encourages interested parties to get in touch.

Doug argues that the focus should not be on whether something is AI or not, but rather on the practical outcomes it produces. He criticises those who fetishise human creativity and misunderstand the role of tools as amplifiers, not causal agents. Doug chooses to live his values and evaluate the difference AI makes in practice, rather than policing its use.

Doug notes that renewables are currently providing 112% of the UK's energy demand, with the excess being exported. According to the data, the UK's electricity generation mix is over 90% renewables, comprising wind, solar, and hydro power. This milestone suggests that the country could potentially run on renewables alone, were it not for the need to maintain gas power for stability purposes.

Doug has explored the concept of creating an 'untakedownable' blog, previously attempting to do so in 2017. He is now interested in OnionPress, a project that enables users to create a censorship-resistant blog with its own permanent address, free from hosting companies and monthly bills. Doug sees the value in having such censorship-resistant tools available, even if not for everyday use.

Doug discusses a video by Russell Davies, in which Davies recounts visiting Microsoft's campus and being asked by Bill Gates, "What are you working on?". This question prompted employees to ensure their projects sounded important, difficult, and successful. Doug notes that this line of questioning can be a useful audit for thinking about one's work.

Doug has discovered discode.ai, an AI service that prioritises user control and privacy, allowing individuals to choose their preferred rhythm and settings. The service is ecological, private, true, and smart, with transparent terms and conditions that align with EU GDPR regulations. Doug is impressed with discode.ai's performance, particularly its ability to accurately respond to queries, and finds the pricing model to be reasonable and straightforward.

The note recounts a passage from Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana in which the character Wormold argues that learning from experience leads to ruin, citing examples like Newton and the atomic bomb. He instead advocates for living like a clown, whose unchanging act brings harmless laughter. The author is listening to the audiobook and appreciates Greene's phrasing.

This note summarizes a video arguing that AI’s effect on wages and inequality depends on political and social choices, not just technology. Drawing on the industrial revolution, it shows that productivity gains alone did not improve living standards until labor movements and redistributive policies intervened. The conclusion emphasizes that ownership of AI and collective action will determine whether its benefits are broadly shared or concentrated among a wealthy few.