interesthings - #2

Welcome to another edition of interesthings. This year I am planning to buy myself a van to live in during the winters, and last week a lot of vans came my way. When you need something, the things you need suddenly start popping up around you. Just as when you think of a red car, you only see red cars. Funny how life works.

The coming weeks I will be preparing for my workation to Gran Canaria, really excited to bring my bike on the plane and explore the island.

This week in Interesthings I wanted to share some of my maintenance tips and give a view on the impact that AI is having on the future of Google.

Cycling - A starters guide to maintenance

Riding your bike is a great way to stay active and get around, riding a lot also means that your bike needs regular maintenance and repairs. When I first started cycling in 2020, I found myself bringing my bike to the shop frequently. Luckily, we had a local friend who was able to help me with repairs and keep the costs low. But even with that help, the expenses added up.

Over the past year, I've started learning more about how to maintain and repair my own bike. I've discovered that some tasks are actually quite simple, like switching out the cassette, swapping out chains, and cleaning the bike. Of course, there's still a lot more for me to learn, but taking on these tasks myself has been a great way to save money in the long run.

If you're interested in learning how to maintain and repair your own bike, here are a few tips to get you started:

• Invest in some good cleaning gear, like the Muc-Off Cleaning Spray.

• Make sure you have a special drivetrain cleaner on hand.

• Rounded bolts can be a real pain, so check out this guide from ParkTool for tips on dealing with them.

Remember, taking care of your bike is an ongoing process, but with a little bit of know-how and the right tools, you'll be able to keep your bike running smoothly and save money in the long run. Happy cycling!

Thoughts - Could AI kill Google

Since the launch of ChatGPT, we've seen the potential impact that AI can have on our daily lives. From social media platforms to professional networks, discussions about AI are becoming increasingly prevalent. However, one major player in the tech industry has been relatively quiet on the topic: Google.

Despite being a pioneer in technology for the past two decades, Google has yet to release its own AI model, LaMDA, to the public. According to The Verge, this is due to the company's concerns about the potential reputational risks of failure.

Meanwhile, ChatGPT and other AI models are gaining traction and becoming more widely adopted. This poses a significant threat to Google, especially as competitors like Microsoft are investing heavily in the field. Reports indicate that Microsoft plans to invest 10 billion dollars in OpenAI, positioning itself as a major player in the AI battle.

Search engines, in particular, are likely to be impacted by AI in the coming years. As Google is primarily a search engine company that relies heavily on advertising, it is at a significant disadvantage if it fails to implement AI in its search engine. If other companies are able to do so first, they may take market share from Google. Microsoft is planning to release GPT-3 to Bing in March 2023.

In summary, Google has its own AI model but is hesitant to release it to the public. The speculated acquisition of OpenAI by Microsoft positions them as a strong contender in the AI market, and the use of search engines is likely to change dramatically in the near future. The coming months will be crucial in determining the future of search engines and AI, and it remains to be seen which company will come out on top.

Things

• Getting daily highlights of your books with Readwise. Every day, I receive a mail from Readwise with some highlights from books I have read. This helps me to actively keep learning with books I read. Use this link to get your first month for free!

• An beginners tool to enter the world of specialty coffee, the Aeropress. A ingenious and easy way to brew your own fresh-ground coffee.

• Simplify your task management with checklist.gg and generate AI checklists in seconds.

• Improve your branding with this directory of type foundries. Discover new and exciting fonts for your website, and even find out which companies offer trial fonts for use during the design phase.

• If you're in the market for a new browser, try the Arc browser. I've been using it for a few weeks and it's exceeded my expectations. Sign up on the referral lottery to get an invite.

Songs - Bones by Jason Waterfalls

I don't typically listen to rock music, but the song "Bones" by Jason Waterfalls is an exception. It was recommended to me on Apple Music, and I was immediately impressed by the epic feel of the song. It has a powerful energy that makes it perfect for listening to while driving. I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Listen to Bones by Jason Waterfalls on Spotify or Apple Music