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Jul 30, 2026

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Links For July 2026 (Part 2)

39 min • 5,973 words • 315 comments • 152 likes

Scott's monthly links roundup covering AI progress, the coming flood of philanthropic funding to effective altruism from AI companies, new research on persuasion and forecasting, and various scientific and cultural topics ranging from dementia prevention to Romanian politicians' embarrassing quotes. Longer summary

This is the second part of Scott Alexander's monthly links roundup for July 2026, covering a wide range of topics including AI developments, effective altruism funding waves, healthcare research, and cultural curiosities. Major themes include Chinese AI models catching up to the US (though still 6-12 months behind), the coming "third wave" of American philanthropy from AI company equity donations potentially flooding effective altruism with $40 billion/year, AI systems now outperforming humans at persuasion in specific contexts, and various scientific findings from dementia prevention to infinite ethics. The post maintains Scott's characteristic style of jumping between serious technical analysis, historical oddities, and humorous observations, with extensive linking to sources and ongoing debates in the rationalist and effective altruist communities. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: effective altruism (99), forecasting (87), AI safety (71), links (62), Metaculus (34), utilitarianism (31), OpenAI (28), links roundup (28), AI capabilities (21), philanthropy (14), Anthropic (13), persuasion (6), Freddie deBoer (5), PEPFAR (2), dementia prevention (2)

Jul 22, 2026

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Links For July 2026 (Part 1)

25 min • 3,748 words • 440 comments • 217 likes

Scott shares his monthly collection of interesting links from around the internet, covering topics from Jeremy Bentham's linguistic legacy to AI developments, with characteristic commentary and fact-checking caveats. Longer summary

This is Scott's monthly 'Links' post, a curated collection of interesting articles, studies, and social media posts from around the internet. The links span a wide range of topics including historical curiosities (Jeremy Bentham's word inventions, beard-wearing persecution in 19th century America), scientific oddities (a mushroom that causes gnome hallucinations), AI developments (mathematical proofs, constrained writing, dating apps), current events (Berkeley's housing permits, GLP-1 weight retention), and cultural phenomena (the Monet/AI art prank). Scott includes his typical epistemic disclaimers about not having verified all links independently and provides commentary throughout. The post ends with a note that he accumulated too many links and will publish the second half next week. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), links (62), internet culture (34), cognitive bias (34), consciousness (33), links roundup (28), Manifold Markets (12), predictive coding (11), AI art (6), historical curiosities (5), mathematics (5), GLP-1 drugs (3), dating apps (3), sperm count (2), trapped priors (2)

Apr 23, 2026

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Links For April 2026

53 min • 8,070 words • 588 comments • 272 likes • podcast (47 min)

Scott Alexander's April 2026 links roundup covers diverse topics including Venn diagram complexity, flag desecration laws, AI developments, political analysis, scientific studies, and various cultural curiosities. Longer summary

This monthly links post compiles interesting articles, studies, and observations from across the internet in April 2026. Major themes include AI progress and policy (including discussions of AI alignment, capabilities, and regulation), political developments (Trump administration actions, election analysis), scientific findings (from evolutionary psychology to medical treatments), and various cultural oddities. Scott provides brief commentary on each link while noting that he hasn't independently verified all claims and that commenters typically find errors in a few links per post. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: prediction markets (85), media criticism (76), links (62), medical research (52), link roundup (35), internet culture (34), AI alignment (32), evolutionary psychology (30), AI progress (15), AI policy (12), education policy (12), political analysis (10), scientific studies (7), cultural commentary (3), religious phenomena (2)

Feb 05, 2026

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Links For February 2026

48 min • 7,419 words • 658 comments • 257 likes • podcast (49 min)

A monthly collection of diverse links covering AI developments and regulation, COVID origins debates, healthcare policy, cultural phenomena, scientific research, and internet curiosities, maintaining Scott's characteristic blend of serious analysis and entertaining observations. Longer summary

Scott Alexander's February 2026 links collection covers a wide range of topics including AI developments, politics, science, culture, and internet phenomena. Major themes include updates on AI capabilities and regulation (with discussions of OpenAI, Anthropic, and various political machinations around AI policy), the ongoing COVID lab leak debate and related prediction markets, healthcare and drug development issues, cultural observations from around the world, and various scientific and academic findings. The post maintains Scott's characteristic style of jumping between serious policy discussions, academic research, internet curiosities, and cultural commentary, with particular attention to AI safety concerns, rationalist community topics, and interesting historical or linguistic oddities. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: forecasting (87), prediction markets (85), scientific research (64), links (62), rationalist community (38), internet culture (34), AI alignment (32), OpenAI (28), links roundup (28), AI development (23), AI capabilities (21), healthcare policy (20), dating (18), drug development (18), AI regulation (15), crime statistics (13), Anthropic (13), AI policy (12), COVID-19 origins (6), lab leak theory (3), political influence (2), cultural observations (2)

Dec 10, 2025

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Links For December 2025

51 min • 7,776 words • 592 comments • 260 likes • podcast (52 min)

Scott's monthly roundup of interesting links covering AI policy developments, technology news, cultural observations, and scientific research from December 2025. Longer summary

This is Scott Alexander's monthly collection of links and commentary covering diverse topics. Major themes include AI policy battles (chip sales to China, regulation debates, political campaigns), startup news (Substrate fraud allegations, Tornyol mosquito drones), and scientific updates (COVID origins, Hitler's DNA, lactose intolerance). The post also covers cultural topics like the first millennial saint, Dimes Square commentary, and political polling about ideal Democratic candidates. Scott provides his characteristic mix of straightforward reporting, skeptical analysis, and occasional humor throughout the 53 linked items. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: politics (89), scientific research (64), links (62), links roundup (28), OpenAI (28), AI regulation (15), Donald Trump (14), basic income (12), AI policy (12), embryo selection (6), COVID-19 origins (6), startup funding (4), fraud (4), technology news (3), cultural commentary (3)

Oct 30, 2025

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Links For October 2025

42 min • 6,423 words • 803 comments • 211 likes • podcast (38 min)

Scott Alexander presents 51 links covering AI progress and safety, political developments, scientific research, cultural oddities, and ongoing philosophical debates about miracles and education reform. Longer summary

Scott Alexander shares 51 links covering diverse topics including AI developments (agents, safety, consciousness research), political news (Ukraine policy, UK politics, Trump administration), science updates (climate predictions, genetics, bacteriophages), cultural curiosities (Shakespeare superfan plastic surgery, Soviet naming conventions, flag cones), health research (Alzheimer's prevention, shingles vaccine reducing dementia, kidney donation), and philosophical debates (Hume's argument against miracles, the Fatima miracle discussion). The post maintains Scott's characteristic blend of serious analysis and quirky observations, touching on everything from Bach's descendants in Oklahoma to the mystery of why AI still struggles with laundry folding despite mastering protein folding. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: book review (213), AI safety (71), links (62), genetics (58), climate change (33), Eliezer Yudkowsky (30), links roundup (28), OpenAI (28), AI progress (15), Anthropic (13), education reform (7), Richard Hanania (5), Freddie deBoer (5), kidney donation (3), cultural history (2), Curtis Yarvin (2), David Hume (2), political news (2), Kelsey Piper (2), NVIDIA (2), dementia prevention (2)

Sep 04, 2025

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Links For September 2025

54 min • 8,283 words • 918 comments • 233 likes • podcast (45 min)

Scott Alexander presents his monthly collection of interesting links and developments across technology, science, culture, and policy, with personal commentary on each item. Longer summary

Scott Alexander shares a collection of 61 interesting links, spanning topics from AI development and scientific studies to cultural observations and policy discussions. The post covers diverse subjects including GPT-5's reception, genetic research, religious demographics, urban development, mental health studies, and various scientific discoveries. Scott provides commentary and analysis on many of these items, often connecting them to broader themes or offering his perspective on controversial issues. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: study critique (268), AI (110), science (85), psychiatry (73), links (62), genetics (58), healthcare (56), religion (43), urban planning (23)

Jul 01, 2025

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Links For July 2025

28 min • 4,200 words • 581 comments • 210 likes • podcast (32 min)

Scott shares his monthly collection of 56 interesting links and developments from July 2025, covering AI, politics, science, and culture, with brief commentary on each. Longer summary

This is a collection of 56 interesting links and news items from July 2025, covering topics from AI development to politics to scientific research. The post includes updates on OpenAI's status, developments in AI regulation, new medical treatments, cultural trends, and various scientific findings. Scott maintains his usual style of presenting these with brief commentary and occasional humor, while being careful to note that he hasn't independently verified all links. Some notable items include Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill", new AI safety developments, trends in social media usage, and various medical breakthroughs. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: study critique (268), AI (110), politics (89), science (85), links (62), healthcare (56), social media (42), OpenAI (28), Trump (22)

Apr 22, 2025

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Links For April 2025

26 min • 3,899 words • 1,017 comments • 220 likes • podcast (26 min)

A collection of 41 interesting links and news items from April 2025, covering AI, politics, culture, and science, with Scott's commentary on each. Longer summary

This is a links roundup post featuring various interesting news, studies, and curiosities from April 2025. The post covers a wide range of topics including AI developments (particularly around OpenAI and truth-seeking AI), political updates (about Trump, immigration policy, and minimum wage effects), cultural items (like etymology of cowboy terms and medieval perception), and scientific findings. Scott maintains a light, sometimes humorous tone while sharing these diverse pieces of information, occasionally adding his own analysis or perspective on controversial topics. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: politics (89), links (62), medieval history (11), minimum wage (10), study analysis (9), immigration policy (5), cultural history (2)

Feb 27, 2025

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Links For February 2025

45 min • 6,840 words • 933 comments • 212 likes • podcast (43 min)

Scott shares 50 diverse links covering topics from AI developments to policy changes, with commentary on current events, research findings, and societal trends. Longer summary

In this monthly links roundup, Scott Alexander covers a wide range of topics including AI developments, public policy changes, scientific research, and current events. The post follows a numbered format presenting each item with Scott's characteristic analysis and often humorous commentary. Notable topics include AI safety developments, changes in government policy, climate change updates, and various social and technological trends. The tone alternates between analytical and personal reflection, particularly when discussing potentially concerning political developments. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: links (62), social media (42), climate change (33), current events (28), link collection (23), AI development (23), research (16), political analysis (10), Trump administration (6), policy changes (2)

Jan 17, 2025

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Links For January 2025

35 min • 5,422 words • 873 comments • 236 likes • podcast (32 min)

Scott shares various interesting links and news items from January 2025, covering topics from AI development and politics to historical curiosities and economic trends. Longer summary

This links post covers a wide array of topics from January 2025, with Scott providing commentary and analysis on each. The links include discussions about running for Congress, AI development and safety, dating advice, psychiatric diagnoses, and various economic and technological developments. Scott often adds his own insights and sometimes skepticism to the claims being discussed. The post also includes several historical curiosities and social observations, maintaining a mix of serious analysis and lighter interesting facts. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: study critique (268), AI (110), economics (103), politics (89), links (62), healthcare (56), dating (18), blog (17)

Dec 17, 2024

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Links For December 2024

36 min • 5,568 words • 644 comments • 210 likes • podcast (34 min)

Scott shares 55 interesting links covering topics from AI poetry to religious movements, including updates on various projects, unusual historical events, and current developments in technology, politics, and society. Longer summary

This is Scott's monthly links post for December 2024, collecting various interesting stories and developments. The links cover a wide range of topics, from Steven Seagal's bizarre life trajectory to developments in AI and technology, including updates on previous ACX topics and grants. Many links relate to ongoing discussions in the rationalist and EA communities, including debates about effective altruism and charitable giving. The post also includes various curiosities from history, culture, and current events, with Scott often providing his own analysis or perspective on the items shared. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), effective altruism (99), links (62), religion (43), links roundup (28), charitable giving (26), philanthropy (14), cultural criticism (12), crypto (2)

Aug 09, 2023

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Links For August 2023

26 min • 3,927 words • 754 comments • 137 likes • podcast (25 min)

Scott Alexander presents a diverse collection of 38 links and news items, covering topics from book reviews and religious history to AI developments and political trends, with brief summaries and comments on each. Longer summary

This post is a collection of 38 diverse links and news items covering topics such as book reviews, religious history, economic forecasts, libertarianism, crime statistics, scientific studies, AI developments, educational policies, and political trends. Scott Alexander provides brief summaries or comments on each item, often with a mix of factual information and his own perspective. The links range from academic studies to social media posts, covering current events, historical anecdotes, and ongoing debates in various fields. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), economics (103), education (90), politics (89), science (85), links (62), healthcare (56), libertarianism (27), culture war (22), crime statistics (13), religious history (4)

Jul 06, 2023

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Links For July 2023

24 min • 3,581 words • 495 comments • 117 likes • podcast (19 min)

A diverse collection of links and news items from July 2023, covering topics from historical curiosities to current technological and social developments. Longer summary

This post is a collection of interesting links and news items from July 2023. It covers a wide range of topics including historical curiosities, scientific studies, social issues, technological advancements, and current events. The post touches on subjects such as town naming, polyamory research, AI developments, and political decisions. It also includes some humorous and unusual facts, as well as commentary on social and cultural trends. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), politics (89), science (85), technology (63), links (62), culture (45), social justice (26), history (25), polyamory (16)

Jun 01, 2023

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Links For May 2023

24 min • 3,615 words • 682 comments • 125 likes • podcast (23 min)

Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of links and news items, covering topics from architecture and history to AI developments and scientific studies, with brief commentary on many items. Longer summary

This post is a collection of various links and news items curated by Scott Alexander. It covers a wide range of topics including architecture, history, animal welfare, optical illusions, scientific studies, AI developments, demographics, and more. Scott provides brief commentary on many of the items, sometimes expressing his personal opinions or highlighting interesting aspects. The post includes both light-hearted topics (like unusual baby names) and more serious discussions (such as AI safety concerns and research on gender bias in academia). Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), politics (89), science (85), psychology (70), links (62), culture (45), history (25), demographics (18)

Apr 20, 2023

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Links For April 2023

25 min • 3,799 words • 706 comments • 115 likes • podcast (23 min)

Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of interesting links and news items for April 2023, covering topics from unusual stories and scientific research to AI developments and global trends. Longer summary

Scott Alexander presents a collection of interesting links and news items for April 2023. The post covers a wide range of topics, including unusual stories, scientific research, political developments, AI progress and concerns, cultural phenomena, and more. Notable items include a real-life 'Cocaine Bear' story, an adversarial collaboration on income and happiness, concerns about AI development, and updates on global trends like birth rates in Africa. The post also includes several short fiction recommendations and humorous AI-related anecdotes. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), economics (103), politics (89), science (85), links (62), culture (45), fiction (35), urban planning (23), demographics (18)

Mar 10, 2023

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Links For March 2023

27 min • 4,178 words • 783 comments • 123 likes • podcast (23 min)

Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of links and brief discussions on topics including AI developments, social trends, scientific studies, and cultural phenomena. Longer summary

This post is a collection of diverse links and brief discussions on various topics. Scott Alexander covers AI developments, historical events, social trends, scientific studies, and cultural phenomena. He touches on subjects like AI safety concerns, social media effects on mental health, mask efficacy debates, and potential shifts in 'woke' culture. The post also includes interesting anecdotes, thought experiments, and statistical analyses on topics ranging from medieval Mali to modern dating dynamics. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), mental health (68), links (62), social media (42), culture war (22), dating (18), scientific studies (7), historical anecdotes (6), mask efficacy (2)

Feb 09, 2023

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Links For February 2023

40 min • 6,180 words • 1,041 comments • 146 likes • podcast (41 min)

Scott Alexander presents a diverse collection of 49 links and brief commentaries on various topics, ranging from cultured meat to AI developments and current events. Longer summary

This post is a collection of 49 diverse links and brief commentaries on various topics, including cultured meat, government policies, scientific studies, historical anecdotes, AI developments, and current events. The author, Scott Alexander, provides his thoughts and observations on each item, often with a mix of humor, skepticism, and analysis. The links cover a wide range of subjects from technology and economics to politics and culture, reflecting the broad interests of the blog's readership. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), economics (103), scientific research (64), technology (63), links (62), links roundup (28), current events (28), social commentary (9), government policy (6), historical anecdotes (6)

Dec 28, 2022

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Links For December 2022

35 min • 5,333 words • 650 comments • 124 likes • podcast (35 min)

Scott Alexander shares 57 diverse links and brief commentaries on topics ranging from politics and psychology to technology and culture. Longer summary

Scott Alexander presents a collection of 57 interesting links and brief commentaries on various topics, including politics, psychology, technology, culture, and science. The post covers a wide range of subjects, from corporate takeovers and European stereotypes to psychedelic research and AI developments. It also includes discussions on mental health, education, and current events. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), education (90), politics (89), science (85), psychology (70), technology (63), links (62), healthcare (56), culture (45)

Oct 12, 2022

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Links For October

21 min • 3,111 words • 561 comments • 91 likes • podcast (24 min)

Scott Alexander presents a curated list of 41 diverse links and news items, covering topics from linguistics and technology to politics and popular culture, with brief commentary on each. Longer summary

This post is a collection of 41 diverse links and news items curated by Scott Alexander. The topics range from linguistics, technology, and politics to economics, science, and popular culture. Scott provides brief commentary on each item, often with a touch of humor or skepticism. The post includes updates on current events, interesting scientific findings, cultural trends, and academic debates. It also features some visual content like graphs, images, and embedded tweets. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: economics (103), politics (89), science (85), AI safety (71), technology (63), links (62), culture (45), current events (28), linguistics (8), social trends (6)

Sep 06, 2022

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Links For September 2022

19 min • 2,870 words • 519 comments • 79 likes • podcast (23 min)

Scott Alexander shares 40 diverse and intriguing links and news items from September 2022, covering topics from AI advancements to political analysis and cultural observations. Longer summary

Scott Alexander presents a collection of 40 interesting links and news items from September 2022. The topics range from AI developments and their implications, to political analysis, scientific discoveries, and cultural observations. He covers subjects like image generation AI, conspiracy theories, the political situation in South Africa, nuclear power in California, and language models' capabilities. The post also includes personal anecdotes, book reviews, and interesting statistical findings. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: book review (213), AI (110), effective altruism (99), politics (89), science (85), links (62), culture (45), conspiracy theories (32), cryptocurrency (30), nuclear energy (5)

Jul 29, 2022

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Links For July

20 min • 3,007 words • 433 comments • 92 likes • podcast (24 min)

Scott Alexander presents a diverse collection of interesting links and news items from July, covering topics from linguistics and AI to politics and economics. Longer summary

This post is a collection of interesting links and news items from July. Topics range from linguistic analysis of Reddit insults, to COVID-19 learning loss, to AI art generation, to political and economic news. Scott also comments on recent scientific studies, technological developments, and cultural phenomena. The tone is informative and occasionally humorous, with Scott providing brief commentary or context for many of the items. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), economics (103), education (90), politics (89), links (62), COVID-19 (53), social media (42), linguistics (8), scientific studies (7)

Jul 01, 2022

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Links For June

24 min • 3,695 words • 576 comments • 88 likes • podcast (31 min)

Scott Alexander shares 57 diverse links on topics including politics, science, technology, and culture, providing brief summaries and commentary on each. Longer summary

This post is a collection of 57 diverse links covering various topics including politics, science, technology, culture, and society. Scott Alexander briefly summarizes each link, often adding his own commentary or thoughts. The links range from scientific studies and political polls to interesting cultural phenomena and technological advancements. Some notable topics include AI development, environmental issues, mental health, and social trends. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), politics (89), science (85), mental health (68), links (62), culture (45), social trends (6), environmental issues (4)

Apr 14, 2022

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Links For April

15 min • 2,290 words • 380 comments • 66 likes • podcast (17 min)

Scott Alexander shares 33 diverse links on topics ranging from history and science to technology and politics, offering brief summaries and commentary on each. Longer summary

This post is a collection of 33 diverse links and brief summaries on various topics, including history, science, technology, politics, and culture. Scott Alexander covers a wide range of subjects, from the history of garlic and magnets to AI-generated art, touching on topics like language models, Nobel laureates by state, ivermectin studies, nuclear weapons, and unusual legal cases. The post showcases interesting facts, recent studies, and thought-provoking ideas across multiple disciplines. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), politics (89), science (85), technology (63), links (62), healthcare (56), statistics (54), culture (45), history (25)

Feb 22, 2022

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Links For February

27 min • 4,149 words • 561 comments • 65 likes • podcast (32 min)

Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of links on topics ranging from scientific studies to cultural phenomena, with brief commentary on each. Longer summary

This post is a collection of links to various interesting articles, studies, and topics. Scott covers a wide range of subjects including scientific studies, cultural phenomena, economic trends, AI developments, and current events. The post includes commentary on each link, often with Scott's personal insights or opinions. Some recurring themes include AI progress, social science research, economic inequality, and cultural shifts. The tone is informative and slightly humorous, with Scott occasionally adding caveats about the reliability of certain claims or studies. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: AI (110), economics (103), politics (89), psychology (70), scientific research (64), technology (63), links (62), social issues (14), cultural trends (5)

Tag: links