The last year for technology and our shared future has been insane, to say the least.

The Good Insane:

  • Generative AI has evolved from "neat party trick" to driving the economy.
  • Humanoid robots are advancing at breakneck speed (hopefully not at the cost of our necks).
  • VR/AR/XR is finally starting to become something more than an expensive way to get motion sickness.

The Bad Insane:

  • Software has gone from "you buy it once" to "you rent it forever, and we'll change the UI every month because someone needs a promotion." (looking at you, Spotify)
  • Social media has evolved from "look at this photo of my cat" to "algorithmic dopamine casino."
  • Washington's revolving door between the public sector and government spins so fast it could power a small city (I thought they didnt like renewable energy?)

We are in wild times, to say the least.

Enter Technonomicon

That's where Technonomicon comes in. It's here to help you stay informed, grounded, and optimistic about the future we're building, even if it sometimes seems like there's no end in sight.

Ultimately, this newsletter is about emerging technology. But it also explores how tech impacts us every day, whether in politics, business, or your local community.

Below are some guiding principals that I believe and will lead the opinion of Technonomicon:

  1. Tech should serve the users, not the shareholders. I am optimistic about technology's potential, but we are currently going down the highway of consumer hell.
  2. The power balance is fucked. Everything seems like it's designed in a way to trick you, restrict you, or block you from actually accessing the thing you want or need.
  3. Living in a cyberpunk dystopia is not as cool as reading or watching about it. I love cyberpunk as a sub-genre of science fiction, not as an instruction manual. Corporate feudalism, surveillance capitalism, and digital divides aren't inevitable; they're choices we're actively making. (and can be undone)
  4. Humor ≠ Bullshit. While I joke a lot, I'll always make sure you know the facts, never sacrificing accuracy.
  5. Progress requires change. When we find better ways to do things, we need to embrace it. Stagnation kills and is boring.
  6. Hype Bros™ are exhausting. For every genuine technological breakthrough, there are a hundred influencers declaring the end of all human problems. We'll separate legitimate advancements from the exaggerated claims of those who profit from perpetual hype cycles. The loudest voices in tech are rarely the most insightful.

What to Expect

Expect to receive the newsletter on Fridays, generally covering the past week of news, with:

  • A main story, thought, or idea
  • Curated links and/or quick takes
  • A highlight of a company/startup/tool
  • Some closing thoughts

All delivered with the usual irreverent tone and plenty of poking fun at things.

A Note on AI

As a supporter and optimist around generative AI, you bet I'll be using AI to help with the newsletter. No, it won't write it for me, but it will be used as a tool to assist in creating quality content. For those interested, I'll list the tools/models used each week at the bottom of the newsletter.

Let's Connect

Feel free to respond to any newsletter emails with feedback, comments, questions, corrections (facts, typos, broken links, etc.), or just to say hi =). You can also email me directly: brady@technonomicon.io.

Other "Official" Technonomicon handles:

Have a good week!

(Also, I pulled this list from previous technonomicon subscribers, if you want to unsubscribe, feel free below or reply and I will take you off the list.)