by Filip Molcan
Adventures in Tech & Travel Exclusively upbeat news from the world’s forests, hills and meadows, with a sprinkling of digital minimalism. <br/><br/><a href="https://newsfromthewoods.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">newsfromthewoods.substack.com</a>
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10/6/2024
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April 19, 2025
<p>It's starting to get a bit cliché to begin every newsletter with artificial intelligence, but there's no way around it, I apologize. Let's skip what's new in the last 2 weeks, or we'd never get past the introduction. What's resonating most on the internet is the <a target="_blank" href="https://ai-2027.com">AI 2027</a> prediction, which "nicely," quite realistically and credibly depicts what Earth will look like in 2035. It will be an interesting planet where humans no longer live. The prediction comes partly from Daniel Kokotaljo, who left OpenAI last year because he stopped believing the organization cared about building safe and responsible artificial intelligence. So did he get offended and is now drawing apocalyptic forecasts as revenge? The troubling thing is that he wrote a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/6Xgy6CAf2jqHhynHL/what-2026-looks-like">prediction in 2021</a> that's turning out to be fairly accurate...</p><p>I'm more optimistic, as they say - these predictions are made so they don't become reality. But I won't lie, it's been rattling around in my head for a few days...</p><p>Business & Technology 👨💻</p><p>* Google is working on AI that aims <a target="_blank" href="https://blog.google/technology/ai/dolphingemma/">to learn to communicate with dolphins</a>. I'm curious what we'll discover...</p><p>* On the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.goeuropean.org/">Go European</a> website, you'll find alternatives to American products, from phones to software to jeans and Cola.</p><p>* What do people <a target="_blank" href="https://hbr.org/2025/04/how-people-are-really-using-gen-ai-in-2025">use AI for most</a> frequently?</p><p>* Are we approaching a time when <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2025/3/13/apple-innovation-and-execution">Apple will become a boring company again</a>?</p><p>* Why will humanoid robots <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ted.com/talks/bernt_bornich_meet_neo_your_robot_butler_in_training">soon be in our homes</a>? Because they can't learn anything in factories.</p><p>* China is now filing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wired.com/story/stanford-study-global-artificial-intelligence-index/">more AI patents than the USA</a>.</p><p>Travel 🧳</p><p>* The most <a target="_blank" href="https://www.loveexploring.com/gallerylist/95345/rainbow-world-amazing-images-of-earths-most-colourful-natural-wonders">colorful places in the world</a>.</p><p>* Uber released a ranking of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uber.com/newsroom/the-2025-uber-lost-found-index">the craziest things forgotten in taxis</a>.</p><p>* Do your feet hurt? Get an <a target="_blank" href="https://eu.hypershell.tech/">exoskeleton for hikers</a> and you can run through mountains like you were young again...</p><p>* Six days in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XEpK6FpNZc">Canadian wilderness</a>.</p><p>Do you like Bytes & Backpacks? A lot? You can <a target="_blank" href="https://buymeacoffee.com/fipa">buy me a coffee</a>! ☕️</p><p>Nature ⛰️</p><p>* Brown, black, blonde. This <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7jQFeixUcp/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ca16a4f1-dfd9-49d4-9700-e4b6c77f87b8">bear family</a> has style.</p><p>* Amazing photos of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.popsci.com/environment/wildlife-images-sony-world-photography-awards-open-competition/">wild animals</a>.</p><p>* Do you also ask small children <a target="_blank" href="https://pudding.cool/2025/03/language/">how a cat goes</a>? Do you know how it's said in other languages? And for other animals?</p><p>* Listen to an eleven-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder who has perfectly learned to mimic the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oklahoma-boy-astounds-classmates-with-his-ability-to-do-50-different-bird-calls/">sounds of 50 birds</a>. Wow.</p><p>* Dogs have a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/10/pet-dogs-have-extensive-and-multifarious-impact-on-environment-new-research-finds"> bigger impact on the environment</a> than we thought.</p><p>Unclassifiable 🧠</p><p>* An orchestra that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/03/05/austria-Guinness-World-Records-vegetable-orchestra/2061741209064/">plays only on vegetables</a>.</p><p>* Japan has a new hit. A guy started creating <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainment/middle-aged-man-trading-cards-go-viral-in-japan/">playing cards featuring real neighbors</a> with their abilities.</p><p>* You buy a house and after a few years <a target="_blank" href="https://scoop.upworthy.com/couple-receives-letter-from-last-surviving-member-revealing-secret-rooms-in-130-year-old-house-ex2">you receive a letter</a> from the previous owners... telling you where the secret passages and hidden rooms are.</p><p>* Got the worst desk at work. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manager-office-desk-move-demotion-employment-tribunal-2025-3">Sued the employer</a>. Won.</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/">What is this thing</a>?</p><p>Tips 💡</p><p>What I'm reading: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gatesnotes.com/meet-bill/source-code">Bill Gates - Source Code</a>What I'm listening to: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxHAa9C5xJA">You Are My Sunshine</a>What I'm watching: Another session of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE_MzBIMz50">1923</a>Interesting app: <a target="_blank" href="http://deq.io">Deq</a></p><p>Photo greetings 📷</p><p>Things are starting to get nicely green here in Bohemian Switzerland...</p><p>Thank you very much for your support and have a great day!</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://newsfromthewoods.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">newsfromthewoods.substack.com</a>
April 6, 2025
<p>I love technology, innovation, and everything around it. When I was 13 (back in 1994), I started publishing my own magazine called Computer. I think that was the same year when the "big" Computer magazine from CPress started coming out. I bought an issue and found some inaccuracies in one of the articles. I took a piece of paper (yes, I didn't have email or internet yet) and wrote to the editorial office about their mistake. A few days later, I received a letter from the editor-in-chief saying I was right and asking if I wanted to write for them. I didn't refuse. Thanks for that, Pavel!</p><p>Why am I telling you this? Because I've been passionate about technology since my childhood, spending many (actually more and more) hours each week studying trends and innovations. Lately, I'm almost afraid to look at what's new each morning. So much is happening. AI, robotics, augmented reality, quantum computers, biological computers... I tell you, it's crazy! Exponential growth is here.</p><p>So if you feel like you can't keep up, don't worry - you're not alone!</p><p>Business & Technology 👨💻</p><p>* Robot dogs are getting a bit boring. Robot bees have been around for a while too. How about a <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/minchoi/status/1908521169214382348?s=46">robot horse</a>? Or a <a target="_blank" href="https://techxplore.com/news/2025-03-squirrel-robot-limb.html#google_vignette">squirrel</a>?</p><p>* There's a great <a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/ZachGoldberg/Startup-CTO-Handbook/blob/main/StartupCTOHandbook.md">guide for startup CTOs</a> on GitHub.</p><p>* It took me several weeks to (somewhat) understand how a quantum computer works. And now imagine that there are already computers (somewhat simplified) where <a target="_blank" href="https://corticallabs.com/">one of the components is a human brain</a>.</p><p>* Interested in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualized-daily-internet-activity-in-2025/">what happens on the internet</a> every single day?</p><p>* Imagine wanting to learn how to dance and all you need is for someone to show you once. That's how robots do it. I'm a bit jealous...</p><p>Travel 🧳</p><p>* Ales, a wheelchair user from Czechia, is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.chairriders.cz/">traveling from the Czech Republic to Kyrgyzstan</a> on a handbike, accompanied by his companion Sarka on a bicycle. Now that's what I call a trip.</p><p>* A new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.croatiaweek.com/camino-zadar-a-new-pilgrim-route-in-croatia-opens/">Camino Zadar</a> route has been created near Zadar, and more are appearing across Croatia. Routes inspired by ancient pilgrim paths.</p><p>* Two guys in New Zealand are walking a long journey <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesnorbury_/?utm_source=ig_embed">dressed as hobbits</a> carrying the Ring and recording funny videos along the way.</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/travel/train-routes-europe.html">5 train routes in Europe</a> that The New York Times says are worth traveling. </p><p>* What was served in Wild West saloons?</p><p>Do you like Bytes & Backpacks? A lot? You can <a target="_blank" href="https://buymeacoffee.com/fipa">buy me a coffee</a>! ☕️</p><p>Nature ⛰️</p><p>* Scientists are gradually discovering that <a target="_blank" href="https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/animals-are-more-rational-than-you-think/">animals are probably much "smarter" than we think</a>. They likely even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(09)01129-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982209011294%3Fshowall%3Dtrue">have a sense of humor</a>.</p><p>* They built a <a target="_blank" href="https://blooloop.com/animals/news/new-england-aquarium-penguin-retirement-home/">retirement home for penguins</a> in Boston. Nice, but we could use one too!</p><p>* An octopus riding on a shark's head in the ocean. Sounds like something from the next Finding Nemo movie. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.newser.com/story/366103/behold-the-sharktopus.html">But it's not</a>.</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.popsci.com/environment/british-wildlife-photography-awards-2025/">11 beautiful photos</a> from the new British Wildlife Awards.</p><p>Miscellaneous 🧠</p><p>* A camera that doesn't take photos <a target="_blank" href="https://poetry.camera/">but prints a poem</a> based on the scene it sees. The future is now!</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/01/ive-spent-12-years-studying-happiness-my-little-hacks-for-a-happy-successful-uncomplicated-life.html">25 tips for a simpler life</a>. I don't usually like these articles, but this time there are some really interesting hints.</p><p>* Are we the last generation that needs to know <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wCml0g2mRE">how to read and write</a>? An interesting reflection that sounds crazy, but...</p><p>* Do you <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uniformfreak.com/index.html">love flight attendant uniforms</a>?</p><p>Tips 💡</p><p>What I'm reading: Greek language lexiconWhat I'm listening to: <a target="_blank" href="https://music.apple.com/cz/album/let-your-horses-run/1794888449">Let Your Horses Run</a>What I'm watching: Another session of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE_MzBIMz50">1923</a>Interesting app: <a target="_blank" href="http://deq.ai/">Deq</a></p><p>Photo greetings 📷</p><p>My wife ran out of spices for tzatziki, so I headed to the southeast of Peloponnese to restock. I didn't find the spices, but... you'll find out something soon! :-)</p><p>Thank you very much for your support and have a great day!</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://newsfromthewoods.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">newsfromthewoods.substack.com</a>
March 15, 2025
<p>Two weeks ago, I sold all the stocks and crypto from my portfolio. It had quite a big response on Twitter. Why did I do it? Am I afraid of what Trump might still do? Yes. Am I afraid that Trump could eventually be the cause of bitcoin's end? A little. But the main reason is continuing to <a target="_blank" href="https://11houses.substack.com">search for property abroad</a> and my uncertainty about the future development of tech companies. I've always only invested in companies that I at least somewhat understood. In the coming years, several technologies will intersect that could fundamentally change our entire world. AI + quantum computers + robotics + vr/xr/ar (should I write more about this?). And right now, I can't bet on who will win.</p><p>So we'd rather be warming ourselves somewhere at the end of the world than stressing about American stocks and the geopolitical situation.</p><p>Business & Technology 👨💻</p><p>* Duolingo published a <a target="_blank" href="https://blog.duolingo.com/handbook/">book</a> - about their approach to business.</p><p>* Wifi routers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/14zvxwz/wifi_routers_can_see_people_through_walls/">can see people</a> through walls</p><p>* Scientists have a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250228214827.htm">new device</a> that allows you to taste different flavors in virtual reality. The Matrix is here.</p><p>* BYD has a drone in the car roof that flies out to show you the way or simply record a nice road trip.</p><p>Travel 🧳</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/02/27/travel/things-to-do-Kathmandu.html">36 hours in Kathmandu</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmdt1xiUc44">Hiking and discovering</a> original pueblo cultures (thanks for the tip, Zbyněk!)</p><p>* If Apple made a camera, I think it would look <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sigma-global.com/en/cameras/bf/">something like this</a>.</p><p>* At New Zealand's airport, the hugging time when saying goodbye is limited to 3 minutes. <a target="_blank" href="https://dunedinairport.co.nz/news/drop-off-faq">Only 3 minutes</a>?!</p><p>Nature ⛰️</p><p>* We will revive that mammoth one day. For now, we have a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00684-1">mammoth mouse</a>, but that's progress too.</p><p>* An <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo/one-of-a-kind-orange-snowy-owl-leaves-scientists-scratching-their-heads">orange snowy owl</a> appeared in Michigan.</p><p>* Dogs already have an <a target="_blank" href="https://people.com/anti-aging-pill-for-dogs-one-step-closer-to-being-on-the-market-11687470">anti-aging pill</a>.</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.peter-ksen.com/">Peter Ksen</a> creates various home accessories from electronic waste. I want that.</p><p>* In Egypt, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.perplexity.ai/page/first-spotted-hyena-in-egypt-i-1oBeLzu_S8ChOlTbPbiPKg">hyena was seen</a> again after 5000 years.</p><p>* My friend Petr Juračka went to Antarctica. And that could only turn out like this:</p><p>Miscellaneous 🧠</p><p>* Yesterday was Pi Day, so here are <a target="_blank" href="https://pi-clock.com/">Pi clocks</a>.</p><p>* Is screen time setting not enough for you? Here's an <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/14/kayak-founder-returns-with-steppin-an-app-that-locks-you-out-of-social-media-until-you-go-for-a-walk/">app</a> that only lets you on social media after taking a walk.</p><p>* His Majesty <a target="_blank" href="https://music.apple.com/cz/playlist/his-majesty-king-charles-iiis-playlist/pl.6ca1a1569435431b99162a1b268c8734">published a playlist</a> of favorite songs. And if Charles can, so can <a target="_blank" href="https://music.apple.com/cz/playlist/bytes-backpacks-songs/pl.u-KVXBvzJFd5xa9">little old me</a>!</p><p>* A new trend is trending on social media - <a target="_blank" href="https://flipboard.com/@buzz60/buzz60-videos-1b4dm80dz/what-in-the-world-is-hurkle-durkling-in-the-morning-and-why-it-might-be-benefi/a-xDPsOW2zQK223uLSyD4GYw%3Aa%3A3483386377-521149830b%2Fflipboard.com">hurkle-durkling</a>. Or rolling around in bed in the morning and doing nothing. Finally something useful!</p><p>Tips 💡</p><p>What I'm reading: New Wired What I'm listening to: Espaňa Circo Este What I'm watching: Landman Interesting app: Superhuman AI</p><p>Photo greetings 📷</p><p>I've completed another business mission, this time to SXSW in Texas.</p><p>Thank you very much for your support and have a great day!</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://newsfromthewoods.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">newsfromthewoods.substack.com</a>
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