In April, SYLVAIN released an open letter of resistance in response to the chaos of the moment we're in. This is a live reading of that letter, and a reminder that resistance is ongoing.

Too many in our industry have been quiet in the face of injustice and uncertainty. Too many important conversations have been relegated to back channels. So we put pen to paper, naming simple truths that have guided our company and actions for 15 years—and will continue to guide us.

Have a listen or read the open letter at impact.sylvain.co

What universal truths do you believe in?

This week, Joey and Jess talk about database shapes, LLMs, collective human intelligence, apple eating, folk wisdom, and Pi. They don’t talk about apple pie, though.

references

• West End Girls
• Ethan Mollic on the "universal geometry" of meaning
• The Platonic Representation Hypothesis
• Doctor Dillamond’s Classroom
• Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language
• Study: Association Between Apple Consumption and Physician Visits
• Honeycrisp apples

How do you feel about no-phone zones?

This week, Joey and Aaron talk about AI, parenting, over-responsibility, constant access, bluetooth speakers, and biking while texting. They don’t talk about Nowadays.

references

• Rabbit r1 AI agent
• The Humane AI Pin
• The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
• The Last Sun by K. D. Edwards
• The Bobiverse
• The Traitors
• Quad Press Release: "81% of Gen Z report wishing it was easier to disconnect from digital devices"