Author: Colin Henderson

Progress in era of productivity
AGI, AI

The classical key to the AI revolution

Colin Henderson

Source Engelsberg ideas Since the time of Socrates, philosophy has operated as a small and badly funded intellectual insurgency against the hype and nonsense that inevitably afflicts our public discourse. Today, there is no greater prompt for hype and nonsense than AI technology. One important variant of AI hype centres on democracy. On a pessimistic view, prominent in circles such as the World Economic Forum, AI threatens the annihilation of democracy. AI algorithms supercharge the spread of misinformation and disinformation online. They intensify political polarisation through micro-targeting and social-media echo chambers. All this corrodes both the epistemic ecosystem and the ethos … Continue reading The classical key to the AI revolution

Economy, Growth, US

Monetary Policy 5 Yr Fed Framework Review

Colin Henderson

August 22, 2025 Chair Jerome H. Powell At “Labor Markets in Transition: Demographics, Productivity, and Macroeconomic Policy,” an economic symposium sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Jackson Hole, WyomingWatch Live Over the course of this year, the U.S. economy has shown resilience in a context of sweeping changes in economic policy. In terms of the Fed’s dual-mandate goals, the labor market remains near maximum employment, and inflation, though still somewhat elevated, has come down a great deal from its post-pandemic highs. At the same time, the balance of risks appears to be shifting. In my remarks today, … Continue reading Monetary Policy 5 Yr Fed Framework Review

Economics, Economy, Growth

Federal Reserve Consensus Review – August 2025

Colin Henderson

Source: perplexity.ai Key Outcomes of the 2025 Policy Framework Review Interest Rate Policy and Immediate Outlook Economic Context Strategic Shifts Consensus Summary Table Aspect 2025 Review Outcomefederalreserve+2 Rate Policy Expectationsforbes+3 Framework Philosophy Flexible inflation targeting, balanced dual mandate, anchored expectations Early signals for 1-2 cuts (25bp each) in H2 2025 Inflation Target Remains at 2%, no change June: 2.7% headline, 2.9% core Employment Target No numeric goal; balanced approach Rate cuts contingent on labor weakness Current Rate Not addressed in review 4.50% (August 2025) Consensus Forecast Strong chance of September cut, possible December follow-up Rates trend to 3.75% in 2026, … Continue reading Federal Reserve Consensus Review – August 2025

AI, Geopolitics

Here is a formal, evidence-based summary of how credible news sources are interpreting the proposed Europe–US–UK security guarantee for Ukraine, and its likely consequences for military escalation if Russian attacks continue.

Colin Henderson

Source Perplexity Nature of the Security Guarantee Interpretation by News Sources Likelihood of Military Action If Russia Continues Bombing Conclusion Aspect Current Interpretation Guarantee Type NATO-style, outside formal NATO; details pending Key Parties US, UK, Europe (non-NATO, “coalition of the willing”) Russian Position Reportedly accepted limited, Article 5-like guarantee in talks Likelihood of Military Action Low without further escalation or formal agreement trigger Main Deterrence Political/military support, non-automatic (not full NATO Article 5) This reflects prevailing interpretations among leading Western news and analysis outlets as of August 2025. Sources[1] Putin agrees that US, EU could offer NATO-style security … https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41688930.html%5B2%5D … Continue reading Here is a formal, evidence-based summary of how credible news sources are interpreting the proposed Europe–US–UK security guarantee for Ukraine, and its likely consequences for military escalation if Russian attacks continue.

AI

Behind Wall Street’s Abrupt Flip on Crypto

Colin Henderson

The reversal risks declawing a century of consumer financial protections and replacing the backbone of bank accounts. By Rob Copeland Rob Copeland has been covering Wall Street’s posture on cryptocurrency for more than a decade. Aug. 13, 2025Updated 6:12 p.m. ET Sign up for the Audio newsletter, for Times subscribers only.  Our editors share their favorite listens from the New York Times Audio app. Get it sent to your inbox. Listen to this article with reporter commentary 13:45 Not long ago, bank executives would compete with one another to be the loudest critic of cryptocurrencies. Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, once … Continue reading Behind Wall Street’s Abrupt Flip on Crypto

AI

What is behind the staggering ascent of Palantir?

Colin Henderson

The unorthodox firm is profiting from the AI and Trumpian revolutions Source The Economist May 8th 2025|PALO ALTO|5 min readListen to this story ALEX KARP acts like everyone hates him. As the boss of Palantir strutted the stage at a recent gathering of clients, he got a kick out of sounding perverse, in his tousle-haired, punk-professor way. He used words like “masturbation” and “self-pleasuring”. He berated Silicon Valley, though he was speaking in Palo Alto, its heartland. At the last minute, he cancelled an interview with The Economist, though he used to sit on its parent company’s board; he did not like … Continue reading What is behind the staggering ascent of Palantir?

AI

Technology Trends, Product Launches, and Innovations from the Past Week (August 5-11, 2025)

Colin Henderson

Source perplexity.ai with presentation from Sonnet 4 Based on the latest technology developments from the past week, here are the most significant trends, product launches, and innovations: Major Big Tech Developments OpenAI and AI Advancements OpenAI launched GPT-5, its latest and most advanced AI model, making it available to all ChatGPT users. The company also announced that Apple Intelligence’s ChatGPT integration will use GPT-5 starting with iOS 26, though users will need to wait for this integration.theverge+1 Microsoft’s AI Integration Expansion Microsoft quietly launched Copilot 3D as an experimental feature that converts 2D images into 3D models. The company is … Continue reading Technology Trends, Product Launches, and Innovations from the Past Week (August 5-11, 2025)

AGI

How will AGI deal with Objective and Subjective morality | coding, training, self-examination?

Colin Henderson

This is a thought experiment following a weekend read of CS Lewis ‘The Abolition of Man’. To frame the context here Lewis book written in 1945, is a philosophical work that discusses the concept of truth and the distinction between reality and opinion, objective and subjective morality. I make no pretense as a philosopher but I do understanding this framework will have influence on AGI and how decisions are made by AGI. While this sounds esoteric, consider 1. Donald Trump and Peter Hegseth as compared to 2. Ursula von Leyen, and Ulf Kristersson. Group 1. have strong hard core beliefs … Continue reading How will AGI deal with Objective and Subjective morality | coding, training, self-examination?

Geopolitics, Military

Inside China’s dangerous nuclear game

Colin Henderson

This article is part of Engelsberg Ideas’ latest series, ‘The Nuclear World Transformed’, in which our writers explore the history and current state of the global nuclear landscape, and how it is being reshaped by a new age of great-power competition.  Between 1990 and 2001 something happened in China that is unthinkable in today’s tense world. In short, an American wandered through the Chinese nuclear archipelago and came out to tell the tale. It sounds like a novel but it is a lesson in game theory and it is pure fact. The American was the director of the Technical Intelligence Division … Continue reading Inside China’s dangerous nuclear game

AI

Comet browser review

Colin Henderson

Here is a user who persevered with comet browser and the tight integration with perplexity is evident. I tried it but went back to Safari due to the obvious connection comet shares with Chrome. But worth another shot based on this user. Google search is not even in my lexicon and this is an obvious next step. https://www.reddit.com/r/perplexity_ai/s/DekmRvIueB I wasn’t planning to switch browsers but after I got the invite I wanted to see what Comet could do, so I messed around with it on netflix, had it make a spotify playlist, made it play chess for me.etcIt was fun … Continue reading Comet browser review