The Hillsberg Report

Quote of the week

"Battle not with monsters
lest you become a monster
and if you gaze into the abyss
the abyss gazes into you"

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Two Perspectives

The pessimistic perspective:

Many fear that AI will take jobs, and that fear is justified — it has already begun. But AI alone is not my greatest concern.

Optimists often point to past technological revolutions as proof that new advancements lead to job creation, economic expansion, and overall prosperity. Historically, these revolutions eliminated specific jobs but eventually gave rise to new ones, increasing overall productivity and wealth.

However, AI alone is not the true disruptor. AI paired with specialized robotics is. That is my greatest fear. Every past revolution introduced powerful tools, but none could think, adapt, or perform everything a human can. AI and robotics, together, will reach that level—and beyond.

The optimistic perspective:

Disruptions of this magnitude typically bring immense productivity gains, leading to significant economic growth. If every American becomes 10 times more productive, imagine the challenges we could solve.

We might witness a Cambrian explosion of new businesses and entrepreneurship. Advances in AI and automation could drive breakthroughs in health, well-being, and even food security. Hunger in America—and perhaps globally—could become a thing of the past.

We could be on the verge of a new golden age, one where people are free to pursue what they want to do, rather than being bound by what they need to do.

Meme of the week

Quick Tip

F*cking tired of those annoying AI summaries that Google provides? Adding expletives to your searches prevent them from appearing.

Good News

Three countries have fully eliminated diseases already in 2025: Niger has become the first African country to eliminate river blindness, a disease that once affected 8.5 million people. Meanwhile, Georgia has become the 46th country to eliminate malaria, moving Europe closer to becoming the world’s first malaria-free region. Additionally, Guinea has eradicated sleeping sickness, joining 15 other African nations in achieving this milestone.

England has become the first country to approve a CRISPR-based gene-editing treatment for severe sickle cell disease. The therapy works by modifying a patient’s blood stem cells before reinfusing them, offering a potential cure for those with severe complications. It will be available through the NHS for patients aged 12 and older who are eligible for stem cell transplants but lack a suitable donor. Experts describe the approval as a major breakthrough in the treatment of the disease.

Apologies for the short newsletter this week - I've been battling a virus all week. Back to normal length next week. Oh, and Go Birds!

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