In his three Laws, science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke stated the following: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Ten or twenty years ago, creating a video from a still image—like A Girl Running in the Rain on … Continue reading The “Holy-Fuck Moment” of New Technologies
In 1968, Polish photographer Zbyszko Siemaszko took a now-iconic photograph showing a barefoot girl running down a street in the gray rain. Siemaszko documented Warsaw, where he had moved after the end of World War II, and portrayed it as a modern and stylish city in the 1950s and 1960s. Time and again, he photographed passersby in everyday street scenes, such as in the image of the girl running in the rain. The photograph itself captivates viewers because it shows the young woman walking barefoot from behind in the pouring summer rain. Hardly anyone is carrying an umbrella or any … Continue reading A Girl Running in the Rain on Puławska Street
Without even realizing it, I had been devouring books and articles on human behavior for years. Books with titles like *Nudge*, *Predictably Irrational*, and *Why Women Have Sex* fascinated me and found their way onto my bookshelves. Then, around 2010, … Continue reading Addictive AI Slop
We refer to artificial intelligence as “sycophantic” when, in the form of e.g. a chatbot, it tends to agree with the user time and again—even when it really shouldn’t, or when humans would certainly not take the user’s side. Let’s … Continue reading How Sycophantic AI Encourages Antisocial Behavior
If you’ve ever thought about Harry Potter and wished for a sorting hat that could read the thoughts and feelings of new students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, your wish has now come true. Palo Alto-based startup Sabi … Continue reading The Beanie That Reads Minds
An almost unbelievable story unfolded in Australia, offering a glimpse into the potential that people have to achieve great things with AI and use it for good. In 2019, Australian AI entrepreneur Paul Steven Conyngham adopted Rosie, an eight-year-old mixed-breed … Continue reading Dog Has Cancer; Owner Uses AI to Design a Drug
With all the skepticism that artificial intelligence regularly encounters in the public eye, it is easy to overlook how it is increasingly becoming a creative tool in the hands of artists. The most recent example is the creative use of … Continue reading A Thousand-Year-Old Painting Is Brought To Life With AI
I have identified more than 140 manufacturers of humanoid robots for my upcoming book. Around 30 manufacturers were represented at CES 2026 in Las Vegas with 40 humanoids, plus just as many companies that manufacture robot components for them. And … Continue reading Round 1: How Robot Companies Troll Each Other
For months, German media such as Handelsblatt, manager-magazin, and other media outlets in Europe have been painting a picture of impending disaster: the AI bubble will soon burst, leading to an AI crash. These warnings are primarily being voiced by … Continue reading Why the AI Bubble Isn’t Bursting After All
Humanoid robots are on the rise, if the countless videos currently appearing in social media feeds are to be believed. In preparation for my book Homo Syntheticus, which will be published in spring 2026, I have actually identified over 100 … Continue reading Is This Robotics Company Experiencing a Humane AI Pin Style Disaster?