Brad Berens

Do We Already Think AIs Are Conscious? When an AI Agent wrote a hit piece about a human, the press paid attention. But they didn’t look at the user comments. Here’s what they missed. (Issue #201)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, what the coverage of an AI written hit piece on a human coder missed. Plus, a blast from the Palm Springs past, funny videos, and more! (Issue #201)
bradberens.substack.com/p/do-we-alre...

Wonder Moments When something makes you notice and appreciate the technological marvels that we all take for granted, pay attention. Plus, lots of goodies and things worth your attention. (Issue #200)

When something makes you notice and appreciate the technological marvels that we all take for granted, pay attention. Plus, composting instead of burial and cremation, professors on food stamps, my latest ear worm, a book recommendation, and more! (Issue #200)
bradberens.substack.com/p/wonder-mom...

Interpersonalization Does the marketing dream of AI-generated ads for every person make sense? Plus, Shakespeare on “The Late Show,” my town’s little theater gets into hot water with Amazon, Muppets, & more! (Issue #199)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, does the marketing dream of AI-generated ads for every person make sense? Plus, Shakespeare on “The Late Show,” my town’s little theater gets into hot water with Amazon, Muppets, and more! (Issue #199)
bradberens.substack.com/p/interperso...

Amazon Pulls ‘Melania’ From Movie Theater Due to Jokes on Its Marquee An Oregon theater poked fun at Melania Trump and Amazon wasn't amused.

My favorite thing today is this Hollywood Reporter piece about my home town theater getting the big foot from Amazon:
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

Thought Flavors Different tools can unleash different kinds of thinking, including fountain pens (a recent interest). Plus, a roundup of AI stories, fun finds from social media, and more!

The new Dispatch is out! This time: different tools can unleash different kinds of thinking, including fountain pens (a recent interest). Plus, a roundup of AI stories, fun finds from social media, thoughts on the opening weekend of “Melania,” and more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/thought-fl...

Will Teach for Food: a Mini Memoir Today's job market for recent college grads eerily resembles the academic job market in the 1990s: what are the lessons? (Issue #197)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, a mini-memoir comparing today's constricted job market for recent college grads to my own post-grad experience many years ago. Plus, "Hamnet," Mel Brooks, my latest earworm, and more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/will-teach...

The new Dispatch is out! This time, how to escape closed-loop thinking. (Hint: it's not logic.) Plus, surveillance pricing, prices up at Walmart, early thumbs up on "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," and more! (Issue #196)
bradberens.substack.com/p/leaps-of-f...

Shakespeare and the Attacks on Venezuela Recent political events intriguingly resemble a moment from “King Henry IV, Part Two.” Plus, a new book about attention, a picture from CES, why ADHD rates seem to be on the rise, puppy yoga, and more

The new Dispatch is out! This time: recent political events intriguingly resemble a moment from “King Henry IV, Part Two.” Plus, a new book about attention, a picture from CES, why ADHD rates seem to be on the rise, puppy yoga, and more! (Issue #195)
bradberens.substack.com/p/shakespear...

My 2025 in Books My annual journey across the books I read over the year. If you’re looking for a good read (or books to avoid) then you’ve come to the right place!

The new Dispatch is out! This time: my annual journey across the books I read over the year. If you’re looking for a good read (or books to avoid) then you’ve come to the right place!
bradberens.substack.com/p/my-2025-in...

Trust is Analog, revisited A handshake is worth 100 Zoom calls and a hug is worth 1,000. This has implications for going back to the office, building corporate culture, and democracy. (Issue #193)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, a look back at "Trust is Analog," plus dating bootcamp, wearable brain tech, a hilarious "Hipster Barista Assessment," and more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/trust-is-a...

Do We REALLY Need More Storytellers? Corporations are creating storyteller positions, but can this work? Plus, the impact of SNAP reductions on grocers and retail media, best breakup lines, can Crocs be cool, and more! (Issue #192)

Corporations are creating storyteller positions, but can this work? Plus, the impact of SNAP reductions on grocers and retail media, best breakup lines, can Crocs be cool, and more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/do-we-real...

The AI Lies We Tell Ourselves We have to get real about when human skills are better than AI... and if anybody cares. Plus, news on the news, more on smart glasses, romantasy, Aretha Franklin, and more! (Issue #191

The new Dispatch is out! This time, the AI lies we tell ourselves. Plus, news on the news, more on smart glasses, romantasy, Aretha Franklin, and more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/the-ai-lie...

Face: The Final Frontier A decade after Google Glass, are smart glasses finally becoming a thing? Plus, my takes on the Olivia Nuzzi/RFK Jr. imbroglio, Netflix buying Warner Bros., and lots more! (Issue #190)

The new Dispatch is out! This time: a decade after Google Glass, are smart glasses finally becoming a thing? Plus, my takes on the Olivia Nuzzi/RFK Jr. imbroglio, Netflix buying Warner Bros., and lots more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/face-the-f...

Ha!

From Heathrow: a Grab Bag I’ve been on the road the last two Sundays. Now, with a moment to catch my breath, a batch of goodies while I’m waiting for my plane to board. (Issue #189)

The new Dispatch is out (a day late, but I hope worth the wait). This time, a basket of goodies... including selfies from my London/Paris trip.
bradberens.substack.com/p/from-heath...

Why Don't We Have This Already?—Streaming In a new thread about technologies and services that should already exist, I ask why—with all the data streamers have about us—it's so hard to find something to watch together? (Issue #187)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, I'm launching a new thread about technologies that we *should* already have, but don't, starting with why streamers don't make it easier for us to watch things together. Plus lots of other goodies!
bradberens.substack.com/p/why-dont-w...

I love coffee more than the average bear, but even *I* balk at paying $80 for a *half* pound of Jamaica Blue Mountain.

Many Americans say they often come across inaccurate news – and have a hard time knowing what’s true Those who report often encountering inaccurate news are more likely than those who rarely or never do to say it’s hard to know what is true (59% vs. 31%).

A large majority of U.S. adults now get news digitally, but nondigital news consumers are less likely to say they extremely often or often encounter inaccurate news.

Read more on Americans’ views of information accuracy and distinguishing truth from fiction:

Not-Safe-For-Work AI Deepfake Review I look at fake Pixar previews, allegedly "banned" dirty song recordings, and a disturbingly-convincing Star Trek blooper. How long can reality last? (Issue #187)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, an NSFW AI Deepfake Review! Plus, I dig into why these things are disturbing. Plus, lots of goodies.
bradberens.substack.com/p/not-safe-f...

3 Simple Rules to Make Email Suck Less Too many emails overwhelm us all the time, but we can stop the madness or at least slow it down! Here are easy ways to reduce email volume and information overload. (Issue #161)

I am monumentally frustrated by email today. Why, why, why won’t people change the subject line when they change the topic? This is the hill that I will die on. Grrr. bradberens.substack.com/p/3-simple-r...

“Change Your Life” Productivity Tools & How to Use Them In our age of information overload, here—newly revised and updated—are the everyday tools I use to manage the chaos. (Issue #186)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, I revisit and update my collection of killer productivity tools and how to use them. Plus entertainment news, two interesting AI stories, and a terrific, Star Wars-themed flash mob.
bradberens.substack.com/p/change-you...

Am I Becoming an iPhone Recluse? I started experiencing profound relief every night when I powered down my smartphone. Why is that? Plus: news from the “We No Longer Know What is Real” Department, our quest to adopt a dog, and more!

I started experiencing profound relief every night when I powered down my smartphone. Why is that? Plus: news from the “We No Longer Know What is Real” Department, our quest to adopt a dog, and more! (Issue #185)
bradberens.substack.com/p/am-i-becom...

Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones' appeal of $1.4-billion defamation judgment in Sandy Hook shooting The Infowars host had argued that a judge was wrong to find him liable for defamation and infliction of emotional distress without holding a trial on the merits of allegations lodged by relatives of v...

Justice does exist, sometimes:
www.latimes.com/world-nation...

Keyword: Satisficing There’s a difference between making “good enough” decisions and always trying to make the best decision, which is exhausting. (Issue #184)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, I continue my "Keywords" thread with "Satisficing." Plus little bits about TikTok, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Carol Burnett, and a bizarrely named establishment.
bradberens.substack.com/p/keyword-sa...

How TikTok keeps its users scrolling for hours a day Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.

Today’s TERRIFYING #DontMiss:

www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...

Off the Grid: Is it Possible? Until recently, evading some forms of digital surveillance was as easy as leaving your phone at home. That’s no longer the case. (Issue #183)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, can we ever really be "off the grid" in today's technological society? Plus, my take on "Gen V," a delightful profile of Judd Apatow, how many Americans get news from TikTok (scary), and more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/off-the-gr...

The Ride, a Microfiction Trix returns! When her CEO needs to chat with a privacy-protecting board member, Trix combines detective work with drones to find a way in. (Issue #182)

Trix returns! When her CEO needs to chat with a privacy-protecting board member, Trix combines detective work with drones to find a way in. Plus, more on Kimmelgate, a PowerPoint about Hamlet, and a blast from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer past. (Issue #182)
bradberens.substack.com/p/the-ride-a...

Lower Than Cowards The surrender of America’s elites

Today's #DontMiss by Adam Serwer in The Atlantic: "Lower Than Cowards
The surrender of America’s elites." My favorite sentence: "As it turns out, you can’t sell your soul to Trump and keep your spine; they’re a package deal."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

BREAKING: The Trump Administration is "Reviewing" Abortion Pills The FDA and HHS just announced their next move in the war against mifepristone

Today's #dontmiss jessica.substack.com/p/breaking-t...