My 200th Lindahl Letter

Thank you for tuning in this week. Not only will this not be an audio only presentation this week and you will have to check YouTube at some point in the not so distant future for more details on that, but also I have tweaked the noise gate in GarageBand to improve the overall audio quality. This is week 200 of the Lindahl Letter publication. A new edition arrives every Friday. This week, the topic under consideration for the Lindahl Letter is, “My 200th Lindahl Letter Explained.”

My very first Substack post was published on January 26, 2021, at 5:44 p.m. We can safely say that was about 236 weeks and 3 days ago at the point I started this draft. You probably have figured out that 36 weeks in that window did not receive any Lindahl Letter. That inaction does reflect a series of gaps in my publishing schedule. It happened. It happens. It might very well happen again at some point. Sometimes that is the way things go during an ongoing writing project. Today, however, you are getting the 200th cumulative week of my writing efforts for the Lindahl Letter publication. We have arrived at this major milestone in my writing efforts, and we should take a moment and celebrate. It is pretty exciting. I had compiled the previous years into manuscripts you can find online. At this point, it would probably make sense to assemble the year 4 edition of that writing project.

For this 200th milestone post, it really does make sense to spotlight five topics that capture both the breadth of coverage and the depth of research that have defined the Lindahl Letter. Those weekly research notes don’t self-generate.

The first topic would be from our recent shift to understanding quantum computing. It was a big shift from covering AI/ML to talking about quantum computing. That series included posts such as Magic state distillation explained and Quantum computing near Denver, which showcased detailed explorations of cutting-edge hardware breakthroughs and the regional tech ecosystem. I really do think that quantum computing is getting near a key breakthrough point where it will be more accessible. I’m not talking about it being widespread or used for everyday compute, but we are getting very close to the edge of possibility where quantum workloads are going to be a part of daily processes.

The second topic relates to machines that build machines, a series examining advanced robotics, automation, and manufacturing systems that has been a defining theme of the current season. As we move forward, understanding prototyping and building the means of manufacturing is important to the next phase of building. We are going to see a movement from 3D printing to small-scale prototyping. Generally, I do not provide the same talk over and over again, but I think my elevator pitch on this topic needs some work.

Third, we spent a lot of time discussing AI governance and ethics. That effort has been among the most engaged-with posts, offering insights into regulation, societal impact, and the responsible development of large language models. This topic just seems to be a known thing that we need, but it just does not end up being at the forefront of considerations.

The fourth topic would have to be my all-time favorite topic to consider. That would be the intersection of technology and modernity, a recurring theme that connects technology trends to broader cultural and societal contexts. At some point, I plan on finishing my magnum opus on that topic. It should be a good read.

Finally, the fifth topic would be worth rewinding back to my earliest foundational topics that were all just adapted talks, including my very first post in January 2021, which ultimately would provide you with a clear sense of how far the publication has evolved over 200 weeks. That key foundational topic was all about ROI and how to ensure you are aligning your priorities with actual dollars from the budget.

As we move forward, the Lindahl Letter will continue along this new trajectory of research based on focusing on 3 topics: quantum computing, robotics, and enabled agents. I’m not sure if I will end up writing another 200 Lindahl Letters, but it is an interesting moment to consider having reached 200 of them and still be considering what’s next. I have considered moving to a monthly cadence where a paper is produced vs. a weekly research note. We will see where that ends up going during the next few weeks.

What’s next for the Lindahl Letter? New editions arrive every Friday. If you are still listening at this point and enjoyed this content, then please take a moment and share it with a friend. If you are new to the Lindahl Letter, then please consider subscribing. Make sure to stay curious, stay informed, and enjoy the week ahead!