The Culture Decoder

Bricks, Mortar & Microchips Even those who keep just an occasional eye on the news will be aware that the AI industry is expanding fast, and key to this is the infrastructure that supports it. To support this growth, the AI data...

I feel like it's a good time to talk about all that investment in AI infrastructure. Thoughts right here in the latest Culture Decoder newsletter. #tech #culture #insight

www.linkedin.com/pulse/bricks...

Costferatu - Money, Plasma & The Middle Class Every once in a while, I happen across a headline that I assume is from longstanding media satirists The Onion only to realise I'm looking at reality - and it's getting more regular a feeling. The mos...

The latest Culture Decoder newsletter reports on a disturbing socioeconomic trend in the US - and a concerning sign of the times.

lnkd.in/eJJE9csv

Coming next week (an article, not the asteroid!).

Teen-AI-gers? Thoughts on Moltbook, the AI social network. In the past week you may have spotted mention of Moltbook, a social network where AI agents can meet and discuss without the need of pesky human interaction. So far, key outcomes have been the creatio...

Is Moltbook the next stage of hashtag #LLM evolution - or just pre-configured AI slop? Here's my thoughts in the latest Culture Decoder newsletter.

Please like and subscribe if you're into it!

#Tech #Media #Culture #Insights #Moltbook

www.linkedin.com/pulse/teen-a...

Attention Hyperinflation – automated eyeballs and the attention economy. We can all accept by now that we're living in an attention economy in which media and tech giants battle for and President’s rule by. As with traditional economies, such a precious resource should hav...

The latest from the 'Culture Decoder' newsletter - what if traditional economic rules and risks also apply to the attention economy? And what does that have to do with robots?

#culture #technology #media #automation #social

www.linkedin.com/pulse/attent...

Less an AI bubble and more an AI balloon, which deflates with an embarrassing noise

The 'don't know's have it. Which is why it's a pointless exercise in distraction in the US and globally.

Had its moments but I'm more of a 'less is more' kinda guy when it comes to movies and storytelling

Bit of a let down too - overlong and convoluted to the point I ended up just not caring.

2026: Regression (if we're not careful) It is believed that, for many centuries after the decline of the Roman Empire, cultures looked to the past and not the future. With the exception of the ever-present end times, it took the enlightenme...

I wish I could end the year, and this series of 2026 predictions, on a more positive note, but this one is too vital to not call out.

www.linkedin.com/pulse/2026-r...

@Grok show me an example of overcorrection.

2026: Ad-GPT For decades now, the model for digital services has been free access in exchange for featured ads which are targeted to audiences based on harvested data. The more they use, the more efficient the tar...

Next year will see a major challenge for OpenAI as they struggle to monetise with advertising vs competition who already dominate the space.

Find out more in the Culture Decoder newsletter.

www.linkedin.com/pulse/2026-a...

#ai #advertising #adGPT

No longer a serious country.

2026: Gamblification Everywhere is Vegas in 2026...

If there is one certain bet I would make on culture in 2026, it will be the rise of #Gamblification

open.substack.com/pub/thecultu...

2026: Ad-GPT AI may seem ubiquitous now, but its huge costs and inability to find a natural path to profit will result in a play for advertising revenue.

The latest in my 2026 predictions covers the inevitability of #advertising as part of #AI services.

open.substack.com/pub/thecultu...

Die Hard Nien is.

2026 Artificial Reality In the first my articles on culture in 2026 I explore the risks of improving AI image and video tools.

In the first my articles on culture in 2026 I explore the risks of improving #AI image and video tools...

theculturedecoder.substack.com/p/2026-artif...

Adaption or Sustainability? As the challenge of climate change draws nearer, a powerful public figure is calling for a different approach, and this will inevitably have an impact...

As the challenge of climate change draws nearer, a powerful public figure is calling for a different approach, and this will inevitably have an impact...

#Sustainability #Adaption #Culture

theculturedecoder.substack.com/p/adaption-o...

‘Peggy’ was not even on that plane.

Muppet-ness maybe?

You cannot print time in the attention economy like you can print money in the real one.

There are only so many hours and eyeballs.

He has flunkies for that - half a nation of them.

Cop30 live: conference centre evacuated as fire breaks out UN secretary-general António Guterres earlier used speech at Belem summit to urge countries to find compromises in final hours of negotiations

The only sense of urgency we’re seeing from most at COP30…

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Or they did and ended up in a gulag.

I IV I surely?

This release of the Epstein files isn’t the win you think it is.

The Republicans will use it to flood the zone & their media pals will focus attention on Democrats & their current & former business allies mentioned in the files - many of whom would have been more involved than a reality TV star.

Huge spike in demand for sharpies and black ink in Washington this week. Wonder why? 😀

As the newly minted saying goes - ChatGPT is now telling the most stupid person you know their ideas are ‘great!’.

We need to reconsider how we categorise social media - as much of it isn't 'social' any more...

No - he’s hoping there is more to damn the Democrats than him.