Autumn seems upon us, like a squirrel I’ve already been busy collecting hazelnuts in the Amsterdam parks for my winter supplies. In the meantime also ‘collecting’ nodes with my new Meshtastic device, only to conclude that my area really needs better coverage.
Meshtastic is an open source, off-grid, decentralized, mesh network which allows you to send text messages or sensor data. Great as a backup, but I also like it for the chance interaction with complete strangers. During our November workshop we’ll explain the basics and help you configure your device! Due to sickness this was postponed to January and will focus on MeshCore.
Hope to see you there, or… at the Things Conference. Once upon a time a few Sensemakers initiated The Things Network, and this year at The Things Conference we celebrate it’s 10th anniversary. Really looking forward to this reunion!
RANDOM READ/LEARN/DO
- This Science & Technology (S&T) Macro Trends Report from Nato provides an overview of the socio-technical trends that will shape the technology landscape from 2025 to 2045. It analyses links between emerging and disruptive S&T areas and their macro-economic, geopolitical, and societal effects and enablers;
- Ultra-Wideband is an incredible technology that allows for precise distance measurements, it’s now reasonably affordable and easy to apply in makerprojects! https://youtu.be/fpTaFBbadyE;
- Being innovative isn’t about following the latest hype. When something becomes incredibly popular, it’s better to wait patiently and learn from the experiences of others, like Klarna and DuoLingo, who had to reverse their AI-First strategies.
- Research from MIT shows that 95 percent of generative AI projects remain stuck in pilots and fail to deliver measurable impact. The report is also interesting because it debunks several myths.
- Meanwhile, the use of so-called Shadow AI is increasing, with individual employees using unauthorized AI to enhance their own productivity. This poses various (security) risks. On the one hand, it’s recommended to monitor your own infrastructure more closely. On the other hand, organizations could learn from this and try to meet this need and add value in a more secure way.
- And last on AI, a study that shows how people really use AI, mostly as a companion, for therapy and guidance. That worries me given the rise in incidents concerning mentally confused people. Relevant links:
- https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/the-ai-dilemma.
- https://futurism.com/sycophancy-chatbots-ai-problem
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/connecting-with-coincidence/202504/are-chatbots-too-certain-and-too-nice
- https://www.axios.com/2025/07/07/ai-sycophancy-chatbots-mental-health
- A documentary on the history of Python
- What began as a side project in Amsterdam during the 1990s became the software powering artificial intelligence, data science and some of the world’s biggest companies.
- Top 10 online platforms to practice Python every dev should know
- From plant behaviour to plant intelligence
- No easy reading, but important to accept that plants cannot be reduced to passive matter or abstract environment. Living, sensing, and able to learn and to solve problems, they persevere in their being and can also play an important role in the human and non-human community.
- Are animals conscious? How new research is (hopefully) changing & opening minds
- Google maps under fire? Or how to use it to your advantage😊
- Most people use navigation systems like Google Maps. The latter measures traffic density based on the number of phones and their speed. This creates a digital twin, an approximation of the real physical environment that is also easy to manipulate if you understand how it works. A Berlin artist realized this and caused a traffic jam on Google Maps by walking across a bridge with a cart full of phones. In May there was sudden chaos on German autobahns because Google Maps wrongly indicated they were closed. I wonder who’s behind this… And in June Zandvoort residents manipulated their streets on Google Maps to prevent tourists from driving in the area during busy periods.