Sergio Visinoni
@piffio.bsky.social
Passionate about books, engineering leadership and helping others grow.
Check out my website https://sergiovisinoni.com or my newsletter https://makemeacto.substack.com
Please share your reading suggestions
Check out my website https://sergiovisinoni.com or my newsletter https://makemeacto.substack.com
Please share your reading suggestions
Reposted by Sergio Visinoni
Possibly, indeed, take to heart the words of the person who only three weeks ago wrote this about OpenAI, a certain @anildash.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Possibly, indeed, take to heart the words of the person who only three weeks ago wrote this about OpenAI, a certain @anildash.com
Reposted by Sergio Visinoni
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
I was honestly disappointed when I read one of the most recent pieces from Will Larson.
That triggered my most recent article.
I think it's time to reclaim the definition of what good leadership in tech means from the greedy hands of the broligarchs
makemeacto.substack.com/p/tech-leade...
That triggered my most recent article.
I think it's time to reclaim the definition of what good leadership in tech means from the greedy hands of the broligarchs
makemeacto.substack.com/p/tech-leade...
Tech leaders are turning leadership into a fad
But I don't intend this to pass so easily. You should resist too.
makemeacto.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:24 AM
I was honestly disappointed when I read one of the most recent pieces from Will Larson.
That triggered my most recent article.
I think it's time to reclaim the definition of what good leadership in tech means from the greedy hands of the broligarchs
makemeacto.substack.com/p/tech-leade...
That triggered my most recent article.
I think it's time to reclaim the definition of what good leadership in tech means from the greedy hands of the broligarchs
makemeacto.substack.com/p/tech-leade...
Loved the recent piece from @edzitron.com .
Ed, I think you should make an article comparing the current insanity and what happened with the 1999 dotCom bubble.
Too many people seem to believe this is just "another dotCom bubble", but I don't think they get the proportions!
Ed, I think you should make an article comparing the current insanity and what happened with the 1999 dotCom bubble.
Too many people seem to believe this is just "another dotCom bubble", but I don't think they get the proportions!
October 21, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Loved the recent piece from @edzitron.com .
Ed, I think you should make an article comparing the current insanity and what happened with the 1999 dotCom bubble.
Too many people seem to believe this is just "another dotCom bubble", but I don't think they get the proportions!
Ed, I think you should make an article comparing the current insanity and what happened with the 1999 dotCom bubble.
Too many people seem to believe this is just "another dotCom bubble", but I don't think they get the proportions!
In January, I sold my Tesla shares.
Today I just did the same with some NVIDIA shares I bought years ago.
The reason is the same: financial benefits are less important than moral stances.
Today I just did the same with some NVIDIA shares I bought years ago.
The reason is the same: financial benefits are less important than moral stances.
October 3, 2025 at 1:41 PM
In January, I sold my Tesla shares.
Today I just did the same with some NVIDIA shares I bought years ago.
The reason is the same: financial benefits are less important than moral stances.
Today I just did the same with some NVIDIA shares I bought years ago.
The reason is the same: financial benefits are less important than moral stances.
Wrote about a couple of unrelated topics lately, both quite personal.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
A Humbling Experience, Lessons Learned, and Adventures in Self-Hosting
How a recent hubmling experience helped me identify a major gap, and why I'm going all in with self-hosting my own services.
open.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Wrote about a couple of unrelated topics lately, both quite personal.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
The usual monthly review of the books I just read is out.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
This one features the awesome Blood in the Machine from @bcmerchant.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
This one features the awesome Blood in the Machine from @bcmerchant.bsky.social
📚 Books I read in August 2025
I open this month's segment on summer reads with a great highligh, followed by a couple less demanding reads.
open.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The usual monthly review of the books I just read is out.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
This one features the awesome Blood in the Machine from @bcmerchant.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
This one features the awesome Blood in the Machine from @bcmerchant.bsky.social
Reposted by Sergio Visinoni
My video about how LLMs are not search engines has led to many, MANY comments telling me that I should be using Perplexity. Some insisting that Perplexity does not hallucinate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
August 23, 2025 at 5:54 PM
My video about how LLMs are not search engines has led to many, MANY comments telling me that I should be using Perplexity. Some insisting that Perplexity does not hallucinate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Look Ma', I'm famous
This video was recorded months ago, when I was publishing my article 'Is AI Digital Cocaine?'.
It just went live now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0k7...
This video was recorded months ago, when I was publishing my article 'Is AI Digital Cocaine?'.
It just went live now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0k7...
Is GenAI Digital Cocaine? Lessons from a CTO with Sergio Visinoni
YouTube video by Shipping Excellence
www.youtube.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Look Ma', I'm famous
This video was recorded months ago, when I was publishing my article 'Is AI Digital Cocaine?'.
It just went live now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0k7...
This video was recorded months ago, when I was publishing my article 'Is AI Digital Cocaine?'.
It just went live now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0k7...
Deploying from your IDE (and ignoring years of good practices) is a bug, not a feature.
Yet, most vibe-coding "products" keep encouraging such stupid practices, motivated by myopic growth calculations.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Yet, most vibe-coding "products" keep encouraging such stupid practices, motivated by myopic growth calculations.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Deploying from your IDE is a bug, not a feature
Turning an anti-pattern into an easily accessible feature makes it worse, not better.
open.substack.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Deploying from your IDE (and ignoring years of good practices) is a bug, not a feature.
Yet, most vibe-coding "products" keep encouraging such stupid practices, motivated by myopic growth calculations.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Yet, most vibe-coding "products" keep encouraging such stupid practices, motivated by myopic growth calculations.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Reposted by Sergio Visinoni
“Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty.” ― Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism
August 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
“Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty.” ― Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism
Reposted by Sergio Visinoni
I’m looking for my next role! Ideally in tech/web leadership. I’m very interested in web accessibility, privacy & standards as leader. I’m also open to mid-level browser engineering roles.
My full CV is: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
🧵Below is a thread of cool things I’m currently doing
My full CV is: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
🧵Below is a thread of cool things I’m currently doing
[Q3] Lola Odelola CV 2025
Lola Odelola lolaslab.co | lola@lolaslab.co | github.com/lolaodelola Technical Leader | Strategist | Educator Web standards expert and technologist with a proven track record of shaping the future of ...
docs.google.com
August 21, 2025 at 6:17 AM
I’m looking for my next role! Ideally in tech/web leadership. I’m very interested in web accessibility, privacy & standards as leader. I’m also open to mid-level browser engineering roles.
My full CV is: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
🧵Below is a thread of cool things I’m currently doing
My full CV is: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
🧵Below is a thread of cool things I’m currently doing
A community member recently shared a dilemma he faced.
Hire the expert software engineer, cautious about AI, or the AI enthusiast with big gaps in CS fundamentals and reasoning abilities?
My default rule: the expert SWE. I explain why in today's article.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Hire the expert software engineer, cautious about AI, or the AI enthusiast with big gaps in CS fundamentals and reasoning abilities?
My default rule: the expert SWE. I explain why in today's article.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Expertise vs AI proficiency: a hiring dilemma
A true story dilemma: Who do you hire? The seasoned expert with deep domain knowledge who is hesitant about AI, or the junior, AI-native enthusiast who may lack fundamental skills?
open.substack.com
August 20, 2025 at 6:30 AM
A community member recently shared a dilemma he faced.
Hire the expert software engineer, cautious about AI, or the AI enthusiast with big gaps in CS fundamentals and reasoning abilities?
My default rule: the expert SWE. I explain why in today's article.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Hire the expert software engineer, cautious about AI, or the AI enthusiast with big gaps in CS fundamentals and reasoning abilities?
My default rule: the expert SWE. I explain why in today's article.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Just read this awesome article from @edzitron.com
I would feel better if I knew he was wrong, but I'm afraid he might be right.
I'd love for someone in the "optimist" camp to come up with an equally detailed analysis.
Not counting on it anytime soon.
www.wheresyoured.at/ai-is-a-mone...
I would feel better if I knew he was wrong, but I'm afraid he might be right.
I'd love for someone in the "optimist" camp to come up with an equally detailed analysis.
Not counting on it anytime soon.
www.wheresyoured.at/ai-is-a-mone...
AI Is A Money Trap
In the last week, we’ve had no less than three different pieces asking whether the massive proliferation of data centers is a massive bubble, and though they, at times, seem to take the default positi...
www.wheresyoured.at
August 19, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Just read this awesome article from @edzitron.com
I would feel better if I knew he was wrong, but I'm afraid he might be right.
I'd love for someone in the "optimist" camp to come up with an equally detailed analysis.
Not counting on it anytime soon.
www.wheresyoured.at/ai-is-a-mone...
I would feel better if I knew he was wrong, but I'm afraid he might be right.
I'd love for someone in the "optimist" camp to come up with an equally detailed analysis.
Not counting on it anytime soon.
www.wheresyoured.at/ai-is-a-mone...
Reposted by Sergio Visinoni
Climate models since the 1970s nailed it—most predicted global warming almost exactly as it happened.
August 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Climate models since the 1970s nailed it—most predicted global warming almost exactly as it happened.
Another brilliant and depressing article from Brian Merchant.
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/gpt-5-is-a...
The closing reminded me of the excellent TED talk by @scott.hanselman.com , particularly the part on people reporting having fewer and fewer close friends.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVG8...
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/gpt-5-is-a...
The closing reminded me of the excellent TED talk by @scott.hanselman.com , particularly the part on people reporting having fewer and fewer close friends.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVG8...
GPT-5 is a joke. Will it matter?
How the fraught release of the most-hyped AI product yet clarifies the stakes.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
August 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Another brilliant and depressing article from Brian Merchant.
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/gpt-5-is-a...
The closing reminded me of the excellent TED talk by @scott.hanselman.com , particularly the part on people reporting having fewer and fewer close friends.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVG8...
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/gpt-5-is-a...
The closing reminded me of the excellent TED talk by @scott.hanselman.com , particularly the part on people reporting having fewer and fewer close friends.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVG8...
My 2 favorite things about this recent summer break:
1. I skipped a few weeks of AI hype online content and didn't miss it for a second
2. I read a bunch of good books.
If you're interested in 2, you can read up on my latest post: makemeacto.substack.com/p/books-i-re...
#books
1. I skipped a few weeks of AI hype online content and didn't miss it for a second
2. I read a bunch of good books.
If you're interested in 2, you can read up on my latest post: makemeacto.substack.com/p/books-i-re...
#books
📚 Books I read in June and July 2026
Back from a long summer break with some reading recommendations for all my readers.
makemeacto.substack.com
August 13, 2025 at 9:20 AM
My 2 favorite things about this recent summer break:
1. I skipped a few weeks of AI hype online content and didn't miss it for a second
2. I read a bunch of good books.
If you're interested in 2, you can read up on my latest post: makemeacto.substack.com/p/books-i-re...
#books
1. I skipped a few weeks of AI hype online content and didn't miss it for a second
2. I read a bunch of good books.
If you're interested in 2, you can read up on my latest post: makemeacto.substack.com/p/books-i-re...
#books
My 2 favorite things about this recent summer break:
1. I skilled a few weeks of AI hype online content and didn't miss it for a second
2. I got to read a bunch of interesting books.
If you're interested about 2, you can read up on my latest post: makemeacto.substack.com/p/books-i-re...
#books
1. I skilled a few weeks of AI hype online content and didn't miss it for a second
2. I got to read a bunch of interesting books.
If you're interested about 2, you can read up on my latest post: makemeacto.substack.com/p/books-i-re...
#books
📚 Books I read in June and July 2026
Back from a long summer break with some reading recommendations for all my readers.
makemeacto.substack.com
August 13, 2025 at 9:20 AM
My 2 favorite things about this recent summer break:
1. I skilled a few weeks of AI hype online content and didn't miss it for a second
2. I got to read a bunch of interesting books.
If you're interested about 2, you can read up on my latest post: makemeacto.substack.com/p/books-i-re...
#books
1. I skilled a few weeks of AI hype online content and didn't miss it for a second
2. I got to read a bunch of interesting books.
If you're interested about 2, you can read up on my latest post: makemeacto.substack.com/p/books-i-re...
#books
Reposted by Sergio Visinoni
Nice FT citing Ireland, where data centre power demand has massively outpaced clean power growth - meaning increased burning of fossil fuels
You can't rely on an assumption of infinite, exponential, unstoppable renewable energy to excuse data centre expansionism.
www.ft.com/content/0f61...
You can't rely on an assumption of infinite, exponential, unstoppable renewable energy to excuse data centre expansionism.
www.ft.com/content/0f61...
August 10, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Nice FT citing Ireland, where data centre power demand has massively outpaced clean power growth - meaning increased burning of fossil fuels
You can't rely on an assumption of infinite, exponential, unstoppable renewable energy to excuse data centre expansionism.
www.ft.com/content/0f61...
You can't rely on an assumption of infinite, exponential, unstoppable renewable energy to excuse data centre expansionism.
www.ft.com/content/0f61...
@lethain.com I'm reading up on your excellent material on engineering strategy and found an area where I'm having a hard time agreeing with the proposed sequence.
Specifically, your recommendation to start with Exploration.
lethain.com/exploring-fo...
Specifically, your recommendation to start with Exploration.
lethain.com/exploring-fo...
Exploring for strategy.
A surprising number of strategies are doomed from inception
because their authors get attached to one particular approach
without considering alternatives that would work better for
their current circ...
lethain.com
July 8, 2025 at 10:38 AM
@lethain.com I'm reading up on your excellent material on engineering strategy and found an area where I'm having a hard time agreeing with the proposed sequence.
Specifically, your recommendation to start with Exploration.
lethain.com/exploring-fo...
Specifically, your recommendation to start with Exploration.
lethain.com/exploring-fo...
Reposted by Sergio Visinoni
$219 Springer Nature AI textbook was written with a chatbot
pivot-to-ai.com/2025/07/01/2... - text
pivottoai.libsyn.com/20250701-219... - podcast
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seNi... - video
pivot-to-ai.com/2025/07/01/2... - text
pivottoai.libsyn.com/20250701-219... - podcast
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seNi... - video
$219 Springer Nature AI textbook was written with a chatbot
“Mastering Machine Learning: From Basics to Advanced” by Govindakumar Madhavan was published in April by Springer Nature. It’s $169 as an ebook, or $219 as a hardback. [Springer, archive] Retractio…
pivot-to-ai.com
July 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
$219 Springer Nature AI textbook was written with a chatbot
pivot-to-ai.com/2025/07/01/2... - text
pivottoai.libsyn.com/20250701-219... - podcast
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seNi... - video
pivot-to-ai.com/2025/07/01/2... - text
pivottoai.libsyn.com/20250701-219... - podcast
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seNi... - video
Q2 just closed, so I wrote up the usual review of how my “solo” business has been going and plans for the upcoming quarter.
Bonus: week 2 of the summer promo for the Sudo Make Me a CTO Community.
Happy reading!
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Bonus: week 2 of the summer promo for the Sudo Make Me a CTO Community.
Happy reading!
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Year half empty, or year half full?
As we're passing this year's turning point, I'm back with the regular quarterly update on how my solo business journey is progressing. Not to forget the next installment of the Summer Promo!
open.substack.com
July 2, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Q2 just closed, so I wrote up the usual review of how my “solo” business has been going and plans for the upcoming quarter.
Bonus: week 2 of the summer promo for the Sudo Make Me a CTO Community.
Happy reading!
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Bonus: week 2 of the summer promo for the Sudo Make Me a CTO Community.
Happy reading!
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Have you ever been in the situation of having to do a performance review shortly after joining a new team?
Or having a very limited budget for salary increases?
In today’s article we discuss both situations, as they’re more common than people might believe.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Or having a very limited budget for salary increases?
In today’s article we discuss both situations, as they’re more common than people might believe.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
The New Manager's Dilemma: How to Run Fair Performance Reviews with No Budget and Little Context
You've recently joined a new company as a manager, and you're faced with the challenge of reviewing people and rewarding them with a small envelope. How do you handle that effectively?
open.substack.com
June 25, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Have you ever been in the situation of having to do a performance review shortly after joining a new team?
Or having a very limited budget for salary increases?
In today’s article we discuss both situations, as they’re more common than people might believe.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Or having a very limited budget for salary increases?
In today’s article we discuss both situations, as they’re more common than people might believe.
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
I’ve reached another major milestone in the building-in-public process for CTOBox.
In today’s article, I share an update on where I am with the development, and I’m opening up the free early access to a new cohort of engineering leaders!
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Happy reading!
In today’s article, I share an update on where I am with the development, and I’m opening up the free early access to a new cohort of engineering leaders!
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Happy reading!
Need help with growing individuals in your team?
Introducing Career Architect in CTOBox, the most comprehensive and effective way to define career ladders for your team.
open.substack.com
June 18, 2025 at 8:09 AM
I’ve reached another major milestone in the building-in-public process for CTOBox.
In today’s article, I share an update on where I am with the development, and I’m opening up the free early access to a new cohort of engineering leaders!
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Happy reading!
In today’s article, I share an update on where I am with the development, and I’m opening up the free early access to a new cohort of engineering leaders!
open.substack.com/pub/makemeac...
Happy reading!