In the early days of the automobile industry, competition was driven by engineering. Faster engines, better suspensions, and more reliable cars won customers. But by the 1950s, something changed. America’s highway system had matured, and most cars were already fast enough for the roads people actually drove on. Competition shifted away from performance and toward … Continue reading
Category Archives: about business
My memoir, The Flight of a Wild Duck, is now free on Substack — thanks to Claude Cowork.
https://avram.substack.com/p/the-flight-of-a-wild-duck-start-here It took me three years to write my memoir. The first year was spent doing research, the second writing, and the third editing. I enjoyed the process immensely. I had three audiences in mind while writing it. The first was people like me or parents of people like me who could not follow the … Continue reading
AI / Avram's Past / longevity
The Decline and Ascension of Avram Miller
My body is slowing down as my brain speeds up. It is quite a dilemma. It is understandable that my body would be slowing down. After all, I am 81 years old. But why is my brain speeding up? That is not to be expected. Now, I feel like I felt when I was an … Continue reading
Rethinking how I use Facebook
I’ve been on Facebook since it opened to anyone in September 2006. Before that it was limited to certain universities. Incredibly. I’ve been on the platform for almost twenty years. Throughout that time I’ve averaged about a thousand “friends.” There’s been churn, of course: people drop off, new ones entered. I had one rule I … Continue reading
Ted Turner: One of the Last of the Big Characters
When I learned that Ted Turner had died, I felt unexpectedly sad. I met Ted several times during the 1990s, mostly around the Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley. The first time may have been at a party or event where he was with his then wife, Jane Fonda. Like many people, I already … Continue reading
The Next Era of AI Is Personal
Like many of you, I’m deeply immersed in learning and using AI. It’s not an exaggeration to say it has been life-changing for me. Right now, AI is largely synonymous with Large Language Models — ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude (my current favorite), and even Grok. But I suspect that in the not-so-distant future, we’ll look … Continue reading
Fiber internet in Lecce
I decided to upgrade my internet to fiber. There is one company that does all the fiber for the city of Lecce (Open Fiber). Then there are various companies like TIM, FastWeb that “rent” the fiber. The Open Fiber people came out to bring the fiber into our home. The fiber connects to a device … Continue reading
Apple / Avram's Past / Intel
Apple at 50 — A Tribute to the Genius and Tenacity of Steve Jobs
Apple turned out to be the most influential computer company since IBM and it continues. So while we celebrate its 50th year, we need to take amount to recognize the genius of the man who was responsible for that, Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs entered my life in 1982 and remained a recurring presence—sometimes directly, sometimes … Continue reading
Brain Tech 60 years later
There is a growing interest in coupling technology with the human brain, from devices that monitor brain activity and help relax or stimulate the mind, to the more ambitious goal of creating high‑speed connections between brains and computers. This year, CES in Las Vegas made it clear that brain technology is becoming one of the … Continue reading
about business / AI / AI / Longevity / Technology / The Post PC Period
My First Speech in 27 Years — And Likely My Last
A while back, I was invited to speak at an event connected to the World Business Forum conference in Milan which was sponsored by the Italian Institute of Technology. At the time, I was beginning a relationship with the organization. Having recently moved to Italy, I was looking for a way to stay connected to technology … Continue reading
Two Thirds Done 