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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭

@benbackx.com
191 followers 707 following 139 posts

Trying to turn my personal data into a superpower || Dad x2 || Long suffering Spurs fan || Built the Mimoto app

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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Most TV is just this now.
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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Marc Rico Ludwig @marcrludwig.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
BEAR HUNT, the new geopolitical thriller from the creators of Sherlock & Co.,  is the No. 1 Drama podcast in 12+ countries!! I am so lucky to be part of such another awesome project by these folks! Search for BEAR HUNT wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 19/05/2026
DataIsBeautiful #Mimoto
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 12/05/2026
Can we make email addresses fun again?
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 10/05/2026
Been really enjoying playing around with some more graphics heavy visuals for Mimoto, starting with this one to capture “chat energy” change over time.
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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Hiro Ohta @xlix.me · 08/05/2026
Nothing moves. Yet everything is changing.
Photo by Lukas Hartmann. A lone, slender tree rises from the still waters of a lake, its branches leaning gracefully toward the sky. The surface mirrors the tree and surrounding hills, creating a quiet symmetry beneath a sky of soft, moving clouds. Distant mountains frame the scene, their muted greens and grays blending into the tranquil reflection below.
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 01/09/2025
When exploring my Google Takeout data I discovered that I’ve searched “how to reheat rice in the microwave” 11 times in 11 years… my brain refuses to commit the answer to memory
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 20/08/2025
Underrated aspect of having kids. When they use your YouTube profile to watch some vids, your subsequent recommendations for the next week are epic… worlds biggest container ships ✅, triceratops vs 3 tyrannosaurus ✅, paper aeroplane tutorials ✅. Yes please!!
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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Peter W🤓 @wang.social · 10/08/2025
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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 02/08/2025
If [design] = [art] + [constraint], then [strategy] = [business design] = [inspiration] + [constraint]. The decisions you make, both the + and - consequences of that, are the constraints. These are often called enabling constraints. Articulate, and embrace them. Here is how:
youtu.be
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Eduardo Ustaran @eustaran.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
If you are planning to release in Europe a big #AI model any time soon, today is an important day…
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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 27/07/2025
Just published a new article! 👇🏾 Your company will stop growing sooner than you think. The "Max MRR" metric predicts revenue plateaus based on churn and new revenue. Many thanks for spreading the love with ❤️ and 🔁!
longform.asmartbear.com
Max MRR: Your growth ceiling
Your company will stop growing sooner than you think. The “Max MRR” metric predicts revenue plateaus based on churn and new revenue.
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 20/07/2025
Cool to see Mimoto featured in the Observer this week. Just a few scrolls down from the guy using ChatGPT for, er… size advice. Not quite the context I imagined, but hey - all publicity, right? 😅 observer.co.uk/style/featur...
observer.co.uk
You, me and ChatGPT | The Observer
We're using AI in the most unexpected ways. But do its answers raise even bigger questions?
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 19/07/2025
2018: “Our token will revolutionize food distribution in post-conflict regions. Here’s our white paper.” 2025: “It’s a dog. On fire. With sunglasses.” Send ETH.
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Ed Zitron @edzitron.com · 13/07/2025
You're so close dude. You are nearly there
r/vibecoding
u/davidlover • 2d
Why does Al complicate things so much?
Join
I am currently using Claude Code to help me develop a mobile app (I have no swift experience) while I handle the backend. Every time I ask it to build me a new feature with plan mode, it comes up with an elaborate scheme that involves re-writing things, building new views, models, etc.
Even without knowing swift / Apple development, I can see that half the stuff it is proposing is unnecessarily complex.
For example, I am currently implementing pagination for data in the analytics page of my app. I say:
"The skeleton animation works good on the page when awaiting the initial data fetch, but for pagination it just deletes the info cards and then replaces them with the new data (looks bad). I just want to have the existing skeletons show up for that async fetch period"
To this Claude tried to get a pagination manager with an integrated date period and search function that also manages the loading state and animations. All it needed to do was reuse the existing code it wrote that manages the skeletons animations and have them display during the fetch.
This happens so much it is frustrating (even after adding multiple lines in claude.md about overcomplication).
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Simon Willison @simonwillison.net · 28/06/2025
I think "context engineering" is going to stick - unlike "prompt engineering" it has an inferred definition that's much closer to the intended meaning, which is to carefully and skillfully construct the right context to get great results from LLMs simonwillison.net/2025/Jun/27/...
simonwillison.net
Context engineering
The term context engineering has recently started to gain traction as a better alternative to prompt engineering. I like it. I think this one may have sticking power. Here's an …
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 26/06/2025
There’s a lot of discussion around energy usage and general inefficiency of LLMs, but I haven’t seen much commentary yet around model routing/prompt re-writing using local models in order to direct a more concise request to an appropriately sized model. Anyone working on this?
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 26/06/2025
Is there a way to filter out AI generated/tagged content on platforms? I used to enjoy finding music/DJs on YouTube but now all the recommendations seem to be AI-generated slop 🤦‍♂️
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Eugene Yan @eugeneyan.com · 15/04/2025
Great example of generate -> validate loop + error analysis > "the most effective route to improve outcomes was brute force: retry steps until they passed or reached a limit. We give the validation errors ... to the LLM and built a loop runner"
airbnb generate-validate loop
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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 23/03/2025
Just published a new article! 👇🏾 How to discern which models of companies, strategy, markets, and organizations are wise, and which just look good on a PowerPoint slide. Many thanks for spreading the love with ❤️ and 🔁!
longform.asmartbear.com
All pretty models are wrong, but some ugly models are useful
Identifying useful frameworks for companies, strategy, markets, and organizations, instead of those that just look pretty in PowerPoint.
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Alex Selby-Boothroyd @alexselbyb.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Hoping the Severance finale ties up some loose ends. And middles. And beginnings.
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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 19/03/2025
When planning the next few sprints, what strategic objectives you’re addressing, even while also addressing current obstacles? And don’t say “growth” because that’s an outcome. Need help? Here’s a framework:
longform.asmartbear.com
Quarterly strategic planning using the fairytale structure
Traditional fairytale structure fits naturally in our brains, and thus can guide strategic problem-analysis, and a plan that everyone understands.
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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Eugene Yan @eugeneyan.com · 19/03/2025
Search & recsys have historically drawn inspiration from language modeling, such as Word2vec for item embeddings, and GRUs and BERT for sequential models. LLMs are no different and have led to updates in model architecture, training data & paradigms, etc. eugeneyan.com/writing/recs...
eugeneyan.com
Improving Recommendation Systems & Search in the Age of LLMs
Model architectures, data generation, training paradigms, and unified frameworks inspired by LLMs.
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 14/03/2025
Recommended watching for anyone working in the space. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAEq...
youtube.com
Generative AI's Greatest Flaw - Computerphile
YouTube video by Computerphile
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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 14/03/2025
When we compare ourselves to outliers, we're setting ourselves up for misery. Your company has specific challenges and benefits that are uniquely yours. Focus on the best thing 𝘺𝘰𝘶 can do with what's in front of 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
longform.asmartbear.com
The wrongness of relativism
Comparing yourself to other startups? Focus on yourself instead.
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 07/03/2025
Thoroughly recommended www.imdb.com/title/tt2809...
imdb.com
Common Side Effects (TV Series 2024– ) ⭐ 8.7 | Animation, Comedy, Drama
| TV-MA
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Andrea Chalupa @andreachalupa.com · 17/02/2025
U.K. firm cracks the code to convert harmful methane emissions into useful hydrogen and graphene www.cbsnews.com/news/methane...
cbsnews.com
U.K. firm cracks the code to convert harmful methane emissions into useful hydrogen and graphene
Methane is one of the climate-damaging gases emitted by industry, but a British firm has found a way to give it a major makeover.
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Reposted by Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭
Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 23/02/2025
Just republished a classic article! 👇🏾 Competing against big firms? Their revenue streams are their Achilles heel. Learn how smaller startups have a shot. Many thanks for spreading the love with ❤️ and 🔁!
longform.asmartbear.com
Why it’s nice to compete against a large, profitable company
Competing against big firms? Their revenue streams are their Achilles heel. Learn how smaller startups have a shot.
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Grace Lindsay @neurograce.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Just putting this here in the hopes that people will post it back to me every couple of days 🫠 www.scientificamerican.com/article/feel...
scientificamerican.com
Why the News Feels Overwhelming—And How to Cope
An explanation of the science behind news fatigue, plus expert advice to take control and protect your well-being while staying engaged
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 03/01/2025
Proud to have Mimoto app featured 💪 thanks @wabetainfo.com
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WABetaInfo @wabetainfo.com · 03/01/2025
Project reveals a feature to generate advanced analytics for WhatsApp chats and groups! 🔗 wabetainfo.com/project-reveals-a-fe…
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The Economist @economist.com · 13/12/2024
The fall of a tyrant must be celebrated. And while Syria faces great uncertainty, a nation exhausted by war could yet choose the long road towards peace. Here is how econ.st/4feXK1w
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Evelina Parrou @parabole.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Animated #dataviz 📊 we recently created this fun Sankey for ONE and it made it to the UN General Assembly 😱 Check it out at data.one.org
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Jouko Ahvenainen @jahven.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
The aftermath of authoritarian leaders often leads to complex outcomes. The situation in Syria highlights how unpredictable such scenarios can be. @missiongrey.bsky.social provides the tools to analyze these impacts. #MissionGrey #Geopolitics #Geoeconomics #Syria #RiskManagement #BusinessScenarios
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Kyle Chayka @chaykak.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
"In the cozy era, our screens and the related accoutrements of digital life fulfill all of our emotional and sensory needs." Rereading my column on cozy technology; I'll be on CBC at 8:30 AM ET discussing it www.newyorker.com/culture/infi...
newyorker.com
The Fantasy of Cozy Tech
From the “cozy gaming” trend to a new generation of A.I. companions, our devices are trying to swathe us in a digital and physical cocoon.
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 05/12/2024
Appreciate that they’re not exactly going to invest in any marketing of this for obvious reason, but there’s so much untapped potential (and value!!) within these new data portability APIs… prototype time 😁 👨‍💻 developers.google.com/data-portabi...
developers.google.com
Data Portability API  |  Google for Developers
Allows for portability of user data.
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Pierre @pierresauvignon.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
I wish I had the time to write long essays on things like the UX of LEGO interface panels... 😀 interactionmagic.com/UX-LEGO-Inte...
interactionmagic.com
The UX of LEGO Interface Panels
LEGO interface panels are beautiful, iconic, and great for learning interface design basics. I bought 52 of them from BrickLink to explore the design, layout and organisation of complex interfaces.
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Ilja @xzilja.dev · 03/12/2024
Really cool website that showcases references on how to use swift's various formatting tools for numbers, dates etc. to achieve very specific localized string formats 🔗 fuckingformatstyle.com
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 03/12/2024
Still one of my all time most recommended books, in case anyone needs some Xmas ideas. www.goodreads.com/book/show/28...
goodreads.com
Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Intern…
Foreword by Steven Pinker Blending the informed analys…
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caffeinated for your safety @brianpiercy.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
#adtech
digiday.com
Decoding the jargon behind Google's antitrust ad tech trial: a glossary for the confused
From industry terms like "header bidding" to "AdX" to "DSPs" to internal Google terms, such as "Jedi Blue," there's a lot to wrap your head around.
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Scott Galloway @profgalloway.com · 02/12/2024
The video edition of this week’s #ProfGMarkets…
youtu.be
The Art of Spending Money | Prof G Markets
YouTube video by The Prof G Show – Scott Galloway
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Matt Navarra @mattnavarra.com · 27/11/2024
25 of the funniest posts we've seen on Bluesky this week www.thepoke.com/2024/11/27/2...
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Jouko Ahvenainen @jahven.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Interesting conclusions, and they match onto personal experiences - how earlier experiences impact on financial decisions and risk taking neurosciencenews.com/memory-decis... #memories #risktaking #finance #saving
neurosciencenews.com
How Memories Shape Decisions and Future Well-Being - Neuroscience News
A new framework integrates psychology and economics to show how memorable experiences influence long-term decision-making.
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 27/11/2024
Passed the 1,000 upvote mark on the latest Reddit post 💪 #buildinpublic www.reddit.com/r/SideProjec...
reddit.com
From the SideProject community on Reddit: Built an app that can generate detailed relationship reports from WhatsApp chats. Processed securely on device without data leaving the phone.
Explore this post and more from the SideProject community
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90s Football @90sfootball.com · 26/11/2024
Who remembers running away from the ref on FIFA? 😂
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Matt Navarra @mattnavarra.com · 27/11/2024
Someone Made a Dataset of One Million Bluesky Posts for 'Machine Learning Research' A Hugging Face employee made a huge dataset of Bluesky posts, and it’s already very popular. Each post contains text content, metadata, and information about media attachments and reply relationships.
404media.co
Someone Made a Dataset of One Million Bluesky Posts for 'Machine Learning Research'
A Hugging Face employee made a huge dataset of Bluesky posts, and it’s already very popular.
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Jakob Jelling @jakobjelling.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Productivity hack 1. Turn on your computer 2. Log in 3. Build something
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Ben Backx 🇬🇧🇹🇭 @benbackx.com · 24/11/2024
10+ years of messaging my wife on WhatsApp #personaldata #dataanalysis #mimotoapp
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Jouko Ahvenainen @jahven.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
AI is not only for Tech Giants, it is also for smaller companies that make niche solutions to combine user's data and external use for user's own needs and cases. aijourn.com/who-manages-... #AI #genAI #verticalAI #personaldata #riskmanagement #geopolitics #AItwin #privacy
aijourn.com
Who Manages Data, Manages AI – And It’s More Complex Than You Think | The AI Journal
The AI giants, OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and others, are racing to develop world-dominating AI models. To achieve this, they aim to harness as much data as
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