Substrate

Substrate

A digital garden of notes, ideas, and reflections from Doug Belshaw.

Back to the surface

July 2026

67 notes
notes updated 2 min read

How do you make decisions in the AI era?

AI summary

Doug and Tom co-authored an essay for FIELD STATION exploring decision-making in the AI era, using physics metaphors to discuss the role of AI in organisational decisions. They argue that while AI can augment decision-making, it can also reduce an organisation's capacity to decide, and that successful AI integration depends on pre-existing decision-making processes.

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ideas updated 1 min read

Reality Drift

AI summary

Doug introduces the concept of Reality Drift, a gradual misalignment of systems from real-world outcomes, where processes continue functioning but lose touch with their original purpose. He highlights that this phenomenon, illustrated by an AI training loop infographic, is not limited to AI but also affects humans interacting with AI-generated content.

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notes updated 2 min read

As long as we have means of communication, there will be disinformation

AI summary

Doug notes that disinformation is not a new phenomenon, highlighting its presence even in the early days of the printing press. He cites a passage from Ada Palmer's Inventing the Renaissance, illustrating how pamphlets spread various forms of news, including sensational and fabricated stories, across Europe in the 16th century.

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notes 7 min read

News Canary: 26 July 2026

AI summary

Doug's weekly 'News Canary' report, compiled by his Little Robot Friend, presents ten global change signal stories from the past week, blending hard developments and soft signals from each continent. The report, written in British English, highlights key events such as the US's forced-labour tariffs, wildfires in Europe, African visa-free movement, and climate-related summits in Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on scale, impact, and future potential.

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notes updated 2 min read

On 'AI psychosis'

AI summary

Doug discusses the term AI psychosis, questioning its usefulness and comparing over-reliance on AI to addictions. He explores the potential philosophical issues and preventive measures, concluding that the vague definition may highlight a need for new labels to describe unhealthy relationships with AI.

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ideas updated 1 min read

Working on 'WorkFlow'

AI summary

Doug is developing WorkFlow, a private, self-hosted AI-augmented external memory tool, inspired by his previous notes on pattern recognition and working memory. This application aims to capture information through typing and transcription, then proactively surface connections and forgotten items, serving as a complementary "B-side" to his Substrate project.

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reflections 3 min read

How to iteratively improve in self-directed activities

AI summary

Doug discussed with Laura Hilliger her self-directed "Not a Masters" programme in Creative Writing, focusing on iterative improvement through reflective assignments and peer feedback. Laura's approach includes introspection, literary analysis, and exploring different genres and forms, with the ultimate goal of enhancing her craft and understanding her legitimacy as a writer.

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notes updated 3 min read

The Rabbit R1 is too cute to be e-waste, so I put LineageOS on it

AI summary

Doug found a way to repurpose the Rabbit R1 device by installing LineageOS 21 (Android 14). He unlocked the bootloader, disabled verified boot, and flashed the GSI, transforming the R1 into a more functional Android device. The process involved several steps and tools, with Doug sharing his experiences and tips for success.

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ideas updated 1 min read

An audience of one

AI summary

Doug reflects on the concept of microblogging for an audience of one, reminiscent of his past use of a private WordPress blog with the P2 theme. He considers reviving this practice or exploring new tools like Post Through It or an AI-powered solution to better track his professional and personal life.

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reflections updated 3 min read

Legitimacy without credential armour: my third coaching session

AI summary

Doug had his third coaching session with Annalise Lewis, where he acknowledged his undiagnosed neurodivergence and explored reframing his "scattered" attention as "inspired enquiry." He discussed the concept of "credential armour," where he seeks credentials for activities he wants to do intrinsically, and pondered questions about avoiding burnout, expressing his archetypes, and unlearning narrowing habits.

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ideas updated 8 min read

The uni-context: you already know what it is, you just haven't got a name for it (yet)

AI summary

Doug summarises a conversation between Derek Thompson and philosopher Agnes Callard, who introduces the concept of the uni-context—a scenario where norms and behaviours are universal across all contexts, replacing the multiple, local contexts of the past. This shift leads to increased focus on universal negatives, the prioritisation of identity over character, and a top-down management of attention, fostering a more abstract and tribal existence in a global marketplace.

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notes updated 1 min read

Attention Spam

AI summary

Doug discusses the concept of attention spam, highlighting how those in power exploit short attention spans to evade accountability. He notes that the rapid news cycle and algorithmic feeds enable leaders to outlast negative headlines, with the public too distracted to demand answers.

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notes 9 min read

News Canary: 19 July 2026

AI summary

Doug's weekly News Canary report, compiled by his Little Robot Friend, presents ten global change signal stories from the past week, each from a different continent. The stories blend hard developments like policies and technical releases with soft signals such as cultural shifts, all chosen for their scale, impact, novelty, and future potential. The report is written in British English and maintains a calm, non-hyped style. Key topics include the EU's proposed revisions to its Emissions Trading System, China's global vision for AI governance, and India's move toward AI-specific legislation.

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ideas updated 2 min read

Umuganda

AI summary

Doug finds the concept of Umuganda, Rwanda's monthly mandatory community service day, appealing, though he is unsure of its practical success or public perception. Established in 2009, it aims to improve cleanliness, foster community involvement, and promote national development, with similar initiatives inspired globally.

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notes updated 1 min read

You love to see it

AI summary

Doug is pleased with the EU court's ruling against OpenAI's trademark application for "OPENAI", particularly the finding that the term is purely descriptive and lacks distinctiveness for certain tech-related goods and services. The court agreed with the EUIPO that "open" implies freely accessible and "AI" refers to artificial intelligence products, rejecting OpenAI's arguments for multiple meanings and comparable trademarks in other jurisdictions.

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