Iskander Smit
@iskandersmit.nl
Futures explorations via weekly newsletter iskandr.nl -
Research, experiment, co-design human-intelligent technology partnerships in Citiesofthings.org -
Curating, organising responsible tech and beyond - ThingsCon https://bsky.app/profile/thingscon.org
Research, experiment, co-design human-intelligent technology partnerships in Citiesofthings.org -
Curating, organising responsible tech and beyond - ThingsCon https://bsky.app/profile/thingscon.org
Weeknotes 363 - Thinking about the relations with our chore assistants, learning from humanoid experiments. And more from the news of last week on human-AI interactions.
www.iskandr.nl/morphing-app...
www.iskandr.nl/morphing-app...
Morphing appearances of our future chore assistants
Weeknotes 363 - Morphing appearances of our future chore assistants
Thinking about the relations with our chore assistants, learning from humanoid experiments. And more from the news of last week on ...
www.iskandr.nl
November 11, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Weeknotes 363 - Thinking about the relations with our chore assistants, learning from humanoid experiments. And more from the news of last week on human-AI interactions.
www.iskandr.nl/morphing-app...
www.iskandr.nl/morphing-app...
From Immersive to Permeating: How AI Quietly Transforms Our Lives
Weeknotes 362 - Thinking about adding to the "immersive AI" narrative, the more subtle reality of AI gradually "permeating" our daily lives. Learning from Neo and other news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/from-immersi...
Weeknotes 362 - Thinking about adding to the "immersive AI" narrative, the more subtle reality of AI gradually "permeating" our daily lives. Learning from Neo and other news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/from-immersi...
From immersive to permeating AI entering our lives
Weeknotes 362 - Thinking about adding to the "immersive AI" narrative a the more subtle reality of AI gradually "permeating" our daily lives. Learning from Neo and other news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl
November 4, 2025 at 8:53 AM
From Immersive to Permeating: How AI Quietly Transforms Our Lives
Weeknotes 362 - Thinking about adding to the "immersive AI" narrative, the more subtle reality of AI gradually "permeating" our daily lives. Learning from Neo and other news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/from-immersi...
Weeknotes 362 - Thinking about adding to the "immersive AI" narrative, the more subtle reality of AI gradually "permeating" our daily lives. Learning from Neo and other news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/from-immersi...
Reposted by Iskander Smit
Looking forward to the ThingsCon Salon in collaboration with the Human Values for Smarter Cities program and Smart City The Hague. Today 16:00 in Scheveningen.
"Maintaining good intentions in the smart city"
www.meetup.com/thingscon-sa...
"Maintaining good intentions in the smart city"
www.meetup.com/thingscon-sa...
ThingsCon Salon; maintaining good intentions in the smart city, Wed, Oct 29, 2025, 4:00 PM | Meetup
# **From ambition to execution: maintaining good intentions in the smart city**
When you interact with the municipality, you often first encounter a digital tool: a websit
www.meetup.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Looking forward to the ThingsCon Salon in collaboration with the Human Values for Smarter Cities program and Smart City The Hague. Today 16:00 in Scheveningen.
"Maintaining good intentions in the smart city"
www.meetup.com/thingscon-sa...
"Maintaining good intentions in the smart city"
www.meetup.com/thingscon-sa...
Building a collaborative society with Fifth Order AI
Weeknotes 361 - A design debate discussing the usual edges, triggered thoughts on the next AI society. And lots of other news from last week captured.
www.iskandr.nl/building-a-c...
Weeknotes 361 - A design debate discussing the usual edges, triggered thoughts on the next AI society. And lots of other news from last week captured.
www.iskandr.nl/building-a-c...
Building a collaborative society with Fifth Order AI
Weeknotes 361 - A design debate discussing the usual edges, triggered thoughts on the next AI society. And lots of other news from last week captured.
www.iskandr.nl
October 28, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Building a collaborative society with Fifth Order AI
Weeknotes 361 - A design debate discussing the usual edges, triggered thoughts on the next AI society. And lots of other news from last week captured.
www.iskandr.nl/building-a-c...
Weeknotes 361 - A design debate discussing the usual edges, triggered thoughts on the next AI society. And lots of other news from last week captured.
www.iskandr.nl/building-a-c...
Weeknotes 360 - Making AI tools for reshaping personal realities
Wondering how engaging vibe tools will potentially lead to hyperstition cases. Looking back (and ahead) at events and news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/making-ai-to...
Wondering how engaging vibe tools will potentially lead to hyperstition cases. Looking back (and ahead) at events and news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/making-ai-to...
Making AI tools for reshaping personal realities
Weeknotes 360 - Making AI tools for reshaping personal realities
Wondering how engaging vibe tools will potentially lead to hyperstition cases. Looking back (and ahead) at events and news of last we...
www.iskandr.nl
October 22, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Weeknotes 360 - Making AI tools for reshaping personal realities
Wondering how engaging vibe tools will potentially lead to hyperstition cases. Looking back (and ahead) at events and news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/making-ai-to...
Wondering how engaging vibe tools will potentially lead to hyperstition cases. Looking back (and ahead) at events and news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/making-ai-to...
Weeknotes 359 - Friction of Creation for Social Dynamics of AI Tools
What is the needed friction, and what social mechanics are driving tools like Sora 2? And the latest news of last week in human-AI-things co-performances.
www.iskandr.nl/friction-of-...
What is the needed friction, and what social mechanics are driving tools like Sora 2? And the latest news of last week in human-AI-things co-performances.
www.iskandr.nl/friction-of-...
Friction of Creation for Social Dynamics of AI Tools
Weeknotes 359 - Friction of Creation for Social Dynamics of AI Tools - What is the needed friction, and what social mechanics are driving tools like Sora 2? And the latest news of last week in human-A...
www.iskandr.nl
October 14, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Weeknotes 359 - Friction of Creation for Social Dynamics of AI Tools
What is the needed friction, and what social mechanics are driving tools like Sora 2? And the latest news of last week in human-AI-things co-performances.
www.iskandr.nl/friction-of-...
What is the needed friction, and what social mechanics are driving tools like Sora 2? And the latest news of last week in human-AI-things co-performances.
www.iskandr.nl/friction-of-...
Alien intelligence shaping human connections
Weeknotes 358 - in between short edition
www.iskandr.nl
October 7, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Weeknotes 357: AI's stochastic nature and our interface confusion - a shorter edition thinking about the Apple event and relation with AI knowledge triages.
www.iskandr.nl/ais-stochast...
www.iskandr.nl/ais-stochast...
AI's stochastic nature and our interface confusion
Weeknotes 357 - A short newsletter announcing a vacation break and short thoughts of the last weeks.
www.iskandr.nl
September 23, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Weeknotes 357: AI's stochastic nature and our interface confusion - a shorter edition thinking about the Apple event and relation with AI knowledge triages.
www.iskandr.nl/ais-stochast...
www.iskandr.nl/ais-stochast...
August Reflections: From Tools to Companions to Immersive Presences.
Annotating a future agentic thing from August news reflections
open.substack.com/pub/citiesof...
Annotating a future agentic thing from August news reflections
open.substack.com/pub/citiesof...
August Reflections: From Tools to Companions to Immersive Presences.
Annotating a future agentic thing from August news reflections
open.substack.com
September 10, 2025 at 9:31 AM
August Reflections: From Tools to Companions to Immersive Presences.
Annotating a future agentic thing from August news reflections
open.substack.com/pub/citiesof...
Annotating a future agentic thing from August news reflections
open.substack.com/pub/citiesof...
Weeknotes 356 - Building the RealOS through hybrid intelligent layers -
Looking for hints in the presentation of the new iPhones and beyond, connecting human with physical AI. And more from the news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/building-the...
Looking for hints in the presentation of the new iPhones and beyond, connecting human with physical AI. And more from the news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/building-the...
Building the RealOS through hybrid intelligent layers
Weeknotes 356 - Building the RealOS through hybrid intelligent layers -
Looking for hints in the presentation of the new iPhones and beyond, connecting human with physical AI. And more from the news...
www.iskandr.nl
September 9, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Weeknotes 356 - Building the RealOS through hybrid intelligent layers -
Looking for hints in the presentation of the new iPhones and beyond, connecting human with physical AI. And more from the news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/building-the...
Looking for hints in the presentation of the new iPhones and beyond, connecting human with physical AI. And more from the news of last week.
www.iskandr.nl/building-the...
“The to more efficiency makes the world a worse place”
@romanmars.bsky.social
@romanmars.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 7:31 AM
“The to more efficiency makes the world a worse place”
@romanmars.bsky.social
@romanmars.bsky.social
Reposted by Iskander Smit
Nieuwe BBB-minister onderwijs (én emancipatie) Gouke Moes zet regenboogpad op 1 lijn met hakenkruis. Laat even doordringen. Nazi-symbool op gelijke hoogte met LHBTIQ+-emancipatie
Extreemrechtse haatzaaierij en antisemitisme in centrum van de macht. VVD moet dit blokkeren. Zo niet, is het aan Kamer
Extreemrechtse haatzaaierij en antisemitisme in centrum van de macht. VVD moet dit blokkeren. Zo niet, is het aan Kamer
Nieuwe BBB-minister van Onderwijs Gouke Moes vergeleek regenboogsymbool met hakenkruis - Joop - BNNVARA
De partijen in de Groningse Provinciale Staten distantieerden zich van de schokkende uitlatingen.
www.bnnvara.nl
September 2, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Nieuwe BBB-minister onderwijs (én emancipatie) Gouke Moes zet regenboogpad op 1 lijn met hakenkruis. Laat even doordringen. Nazi-symbool op gelijke hoogte met LHBTIQ+-emancipatie
Extreemrechtse haatzaaierij en antisemitisme in centrum van de macht. VVD moet dit blokkeren. Zo niet, is het aan Kamer
Extreemrechtse haatzaaierij en antisemitisme in centrum van de macht. VVD moet dit blokkeren. Zo niet, is het aan Kamer
Weeknotes 355 - Mass intelligence immerses in physical reality
Designing for meaningful conversations and immersive behaviors. And more on human-AI-things collabs.
www.iskandr.nl/mass-intelli...
Designing for meaningful conversations and immersive behaviors. And more on human-AI-things collabs.
www.iskandr.nl/mass-intelli...
Mass intelligence immerses in physical reality
Mass intelligence immerses in physical reality - Designing for meaningful conversations and immersive behaviors. And more on human-AI-things collabs.
www.iskandr.nl
September 2, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Weeknotes 355 - Mass intelligence immerses in physical reality
Designing for meaningful conversations and immersive behaviors. And more on human-AI-things collabs.
www.iskandr.nl/mass-intelli...
Designing for meaningful conversations and immersive behaviors. And more on human-AI-things collabs.
www.iskandr.nl/mass-intelli...
Be aware of agent burn outs; be lured into a feeling of can make everything but create unmanageable monsters.
Fresh take again by Nate.
youtu.be/zRr24Mku3r4?...
Fresh take again by Nate.
youtu.be/zRr24Mku3r4?...
n8n: How to build AI agents that don't break
YouTube video by AI News & Strategy Daily | Nate B Jones
youtu.be
September 1, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Be aware of agent burn outs; be lured into a feeling of can make everything but create unmanageable monsters.
Fresh take again by Nate.
youtu.be/zRr24Mku3r4?...
Fresh take again by Nate.
youtu.be/zRr24Mku3r4?...
Inspiring post by @genmon.fyi . AI interface conceptually as DWIM (Do What I Mean). As we lose the concept of syntax errors in dialogs with AI, the errors become hidden in misinterpretations of meaning. We no longer learn from interactions with our machines.
interconnected.org/home/2025/08...
interconnected.org/home/2025/08...
The destination for AI interfaces is Do What I Mean
Posted on Friday 29 Aug 2025. 840 words, 10 links. By Matt Webb.
interconnected.org
August 31, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Inspiring post by @genmon.fyi . AI interface conceptually as DWIM (Do What I Mean). As we lose the concept of syntax errors in dialogs with AI, the errors become hidden in misinterpretations of meaning. We no longer learn from interactions with our machines.
interconnected.org/home/2025/08...
interconnected.org/home/2025/08...
Mass intelligence and ubiquitous intelligence changing our everyday reality.
Had to think of a camera surveillance system that is prompted to slightly adjust the output based on politcal motives.
Had to think of a camera surveillance system that is prompted to slightly adjust the output based on politcal motives.
I wrote about the era of Mass Intelligence.
GPT-5 and Nano Banana are examples of how advanced AI is now making their way to many users, at scale, as both performance & efficiency keep improving. We are going to see a lot of weird things happening, all at once www.oneusefulthing.org/p/mass-intel...
GPT-5 and Nano Banana are examples of how advanced AI is now making their way to many users, at scale, as both performance & efficiency keep improving. We are going to see a lot of weird things happening, all at once www.oneusefulthing.org/p/mass-intel...
Mass Intelligence
From GPT-5 to nano banana: everyone is getting access to powerful AI
www.oneusefulthing.org
August 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Mass intelligence and ubiquitous intelligence changing our everyday reality.
Had to think of a camera surveillance system that is prompted to slightly adjust the output based on politcal motives.
Had to think of a camera surveillance system that is prompted to slightly adjust the output based on politcal motives.
Reposted by Iskander Smit
Stigmatizing people is both shameful and disgusting. GOP is instigating violence against minorities in America.
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/08/gop-...
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/08/gop-...
GOP Rep. calls for LGBTQ+ activists to be classified as terrorists - LGBTQ Nation
Montana state Rep. Lukas Schubert's statement is both dangerous and possible.
www.lgbtqnation.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Stigmatizing people is both shameful and disgusting. GOP is instigating violence against minorities in America.
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/08/gop-...
www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/08/gop-...
Weeknotes 354 - Relations over functions will define AI-collabs
What if we find ways to build relations with AI that make sense? Some thoughts, and some nice articles found in the news of last week. Check it out in the weeknotes.
www.iskandr.nl/relations-ov...
What if we find ways to build relations with AI that make sense? Some thoughts, and some nice articles found in the news of last week. Check it out in the weeknotes.
www.iskandr.nl/relations-ov...
Relations over functions will define AI-collabs
Weeknotes 354 - Relations over functions will define AI-collabs - What if we find ways to build relations with AI that make sense? Some thoughts, and some nice articles found in the news of last week....
www.iskandr.nl
August 27, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Weeknotes 354 - Relations over functions will define AI-collabs
What if we find ways to build relations with AI that make sense? Some thoughts, and some nice articles found in the news of last week. Check it out in the weeknotes.
www.iskandr.nl/relations-ov...
What if we find ways to build relations with AI that make sense? Some thoughts, and some nice articles found in the news of last week. Check it out in the weeknotes.
www.iskandr.nl/relations-ov...
I was hesitant to submit a proposal for the SXSW Panelpicker this year for several reasons. I decided to do it anyway. It is a great way to reflect on your current focus and what you'll focus on in the coming year.
Today is the last to vote :-)
www.iskandr.nl/crafting-col...
Today is the last to vote :-)
www.iskandr.nl/crafting-col...
Crafting Collective Protocols for Immersive AI Worlds
Proposal for SXSW 2026 on Crafting Collective Protocols for Immersive AI Worlds
www.iskandr.nl
August 24, 2025 at 11:41 AM
I was hesitant to submit a proposal for the SXSW Panelpicker this year for several reasons. I decided to do it anyway. It is a great way to reflect on your current focus and what you'll focus on in the coming year.
Today is the last to vote :-)
www.iskandr.nl/crafting-col...
Today is the last to vote :-)
www.iskandr.nl/crafting-col...
Weeknotes 353 - Towards expressive relations as technological mediation -
Combining technology philosophy concepts and AI learning, breaking the fourth wall. And lots of other news on AI in the physical space and beyond.
www.iskandr.nl/towards-expr...
Combining technology philosophy concepts and AI learning, breaking the fourth wall. And lots of other news on AI in the physical space and beyond.
www.iskandr.nl/towards-expr...
Towards expressive relations as technological mediation
Weeknotes 353 - Towards expressive relations as technological mediation - Combining technology philosophy concepts and AI learning, breaking the fourth wall. And other news.
www.iskandr.nl
August 19, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Weeknotes 353 - Towards expressive relations as technological mediation -
Combining technology philosophy concepts and AI learning, breaking the fourth wall. And lots of other news on AI in the physical space and beyond.
www.iskandr.nl/towards-expr...
Combining technology philosophy concepts and AI learning, breaking the fourth wall. And lots of other news on AI in the physical space and beyond.
www.iskandr.nl/towards-expr...
Reposted by Iskander Smit
The meeting was a disaster for everyone except two people. Trump got his photo op and his ego boost.
Putin got his photo op, whitewashing of war crimes and no sanctions.
No one in Ukraine, Europe or the United States benefited in any way.
Putin got his photo op, whitewashing of war crimes and no sanctions.
No one in Ukraine, Europe or the United States benefited in any way.
August 16, 2025 at 4:12 AM
The meeting was a disaster for everyone except two people. Trump got his photo op and his ego boost.
Putin got his photo op, whitewashing of war crimes and no sanctions.
No one in Ukraine, Europe or the United States benefited in any way.
Putin got his photo op, whitewashing of war crimes and no sanctions.
No one in Ukraine, Europe or the United States benefited in any way.
Reposted by Iskander Smit
'Zelf benoemt Van Gelder beslist zaken. Het probleem is dat hij er niks van weet. Hij weet niks van asiel. Niks van Gaza. Niks van wonen. Niks van Europa. Hij produceert hoogstens een ‘best of’ van zijn X-tijdlijn.' @kustaw.bsky.social
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-van-...
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-van-...
Nee, Henri Bontenbal, je door een hysterische Jack van Gelder laten besproeien met drek is niet iets ‘dat erbij hoort’
www.volkskrant.nl
August 16, 2025 at 6:44 AM
'Zelf benoemt Van Gelder beslist zaken. Het probleem is dat hij er niks van weet. Hij weet niks van asiel. Niks van Gaza. Niks van wonen. Niks van Europa. Hij produceert hoogstens een ‘best of’ van zijn X-tijdlijn.' @kustaw.bsky.social
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-van-...
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-van-...
Weeknotes 352 - Companion Paradox: agency in the age of relatable AI - GPT-5 is everywhere in the news. It delivers and it underwhelms, depending who you ask. I dived in two the impact on being a relatable AI.
www.iskandr.nl/companion-pa...
www.iskandr.nl/companion-pa...
Companion Paradox: agency in the age of relatable AI
Weeknotes 352 - Companion Paradox: agency in the age of relatable AI - GPT-5 is everywhere in the news. It delivers and it underwhelms, depending who you ask. I dived in two the impact on being a relatable AI.
www.iskandr.nl
August 12, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Weeknotes 352 - Companion Paradox: agency in the age of relatable AI - GPT-5 is everywhere in the news. It delivers and it underwhelms, depending who you ask. I dived in two the impact on being a relatable AI.
www.iskandr.nl/companion-pa...
www.iskandr.nl/companion-pa...
Reposted by Iskander Smit
The degree to which the US economy now runs on open bribery continues to amaze
Sources: Nvidia and AMD agreed to pay the US government 15% of revenues from H20 and MI308 chip sales in China to obtain export licenses granted last week (Financial Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
August 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
The degree to which the US economy now runs on open bribery continues to amaze
Every month I think of a speculative thing that can representate the weekly thoughts from my newsletter, published via Cities of Things. In a collab with my AI writing buddy.
citiesofthings.nl/july-reflect...
citiesofthings.nl/july-reflect...
July reflections: think with us: friction, agency, and the networked self - Cities of Things
The weekly reflections on the news in human-AI co-performances are brought to life via a story from the future of living with agentic things in the city. Morning, with headlines Maya scrolls the morning headlines with her thumb, the screen casting a cool light across the kitchen table. War, elections, the price of olives. She pauses on […]
citiesofthings.nl
August 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Every month I think of a speculative thing that can representate the weekly thoughts from my newsletter, published via Cities of Things. In a collab with my AI writing buddy.
citiesofthings.nl/july-reflect...
citiesofthings.nl/july-reflect...