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Issue 277: Looking for what's next

Here at Stack Overflow, we try to keep our community central to what we do. We've got a bunch of products, sure, but the public site has been the core, and we're kicking off efforts to align our brand—the idea of us we present to the world—with all the things we do. Check out the blog and meta post announcing it. To stick with the community theme, our community management department is giving you a peek into what they do all day. XX

Besides that, we've had a busy week. Check out why Algorand thinks TypeScript is the best way to build on blockchains. COO of LinearB Dan Lines talks with Ben Matthews and Ben Popper about moving from development velocity to impact. The SO podcast learns about orchestrating microservices. For all you robots afraid we'd skip AI this week, worry not: we chat with Abby Kearns of Alembic about using AI and contact tracing techniques to find which 50% of your marketing budget is worthless. XX

Around the network and the web, information is popping (do the kids still say that?). Is AI pushing people into messianic delusions? Do the Middle Earthlings know that Frodo actually botched the job? What do you call those without sin? And did network science predict the next pope?

From the blog

Using AI to find patient zero in marketing campaigns

Ben Popper chats with CTO Abby Kearns about how Alembic is using composite AI and lessons learned from contract tracing and epidemiology to help companies map customer journeys and understand the ROI of their marketing spend. Ben and Abby also talk about where open-source models have the edge and the challenges startups face in building trust with big companies and securing the resources they need to grow.

Best practices for third-party data acquisition: powering AI context

This post explores crucial lessons learned in the trenches of data licensing, drawing insights from Stack Overflow and the growing importance of socially responsible data practices in a changing internet landscape.

A new look for what’s next

The world has changed a lot since Stack Overflow started. It's time for our brand to change with it.

Moving beyond velocity: Measuring real business impact

How can engineering teams move beyond traditional metrics like velocity to create real business impact?

Behind the scenes: Community “management” at Stack Overflow

Community “management” at its core is supporting and enabling communities to manage themselves.

The consensus is TypeScript is the easiest way to build on blockchain

You might already be familiar with the programming language best suited to building on blockchains.

Mastering microservices with a former Uber and Netflix architect

Ryan welcomes Jeu George, cofounder and CEO of Orkes, to the show for a conversation about microservices orchestration. They talk through the evolution of microservices, the role of orchestration tools, and the importance of reliability in distributed systems. Their discussion also touches on the transition from open-source solutions to managed services, integration opportunities for AI agents, and the future of microservices in cloud computing.

Discover, Compose, Deploy and Evaluate AI Agents with AGNTCY

Multi-agent software is hard to build – agents can’t find each other, frameworks don’t talk to each other. The AGNTCY is here to change that with an open sourced, interoperable Internet of Agents. Explore, fork and contribute to the AGNTCY collective.

Interesting questions

What is the adjective for a person that doesn't have any vices or sin

Boring.

Why is it that the Brother P-Touch Editor 5.4 gradually becomes slow when switching between documents or their tabs?

Kill your darlings.

Do the people in Middle-earth realize that Frodo technically failed?

Task failed successfully.

How do we know what's IDEAL if we have never seen it?

If no one's ever seen a spherical cow, how can we include it in physics examples?

Links from around the web

In the network of the conclave

Network science did a pretty good job of guessing the next pope.

The Curse of knowing how, or; Fixing everything

The question is never could we build it; it's should we.

Accents in latent spaces: How AI hears accent strength in English

Teaching machines to understand the nuances of spoken language.

People are losing loved ones to AI-fueled spiritual fantasies

When your data set uses a lot of fan fiction, don't be surprised when it treats you like a Mary Sue.

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