Hello,Today’s edition of First Thing Monday comes with a healthy dose of AI skepticism. It’s certainly in the air. Here are the best of the best things I read this week.
Staring with this killer quote. “AI is the asbestos we are shoveling into the walls of our society and our descendants will be digging it out for generations” - Cory Doctorow on why the real (economic) AI apocalypse is nigh.
Context Engineering for Non Engineers - sound advice as always from Christina Wodtke.
Great to hear Dhanji Prasanna on this week’s edition of Lenny’s podcast, talk about how Block is becoming the most AI-native enterprise in the world.
Anil Dash on The Majority AI View.
A Cup of Coffee and States of UI Screens - I honestly revisit this article every time I design a new digital thing. I brought it out again this week.
I like this metaphor of using AI to Code like a surgeon.
Nic Hodges on The Takeoff and Landing Problem (or… why the AI revolution is copy and paste).
A lot to chew on in this new piece by Frank Chimero - Beyond the Machine - Creative agency in the AI landscape.
And if you’re craving something analogue, might I suggest these 2026 diaries, wall planners and calendars, from Present and Correct?Thanks friends. Until next week.Ben