Weekly Dose of Optimism #211

Packy McCormick · 18 Sept 2026

Packy McCormick did not write this page.

Every claim below was made in this piece, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.

Our reading
Building AI models to better understand the planet, so we can intervene in it the way we intervene in the human body, is a worthwhile goal.

Their wordsUsing models to better understand our planet so that we can intervene, like we do with our own bodies, is an ambitious goal, and I think a worthy one.
Our reading
As AI gets cheaper and more efficient, people will use more of it rather than less.

Their wordsThe tools keep getting better! As it gets cheaper and more efficient, we'll use more of it.
Our reading
When people can keep their health insurer across job changes, insurers have more incentive to invest in their long-term health.

Their wordsAnd if someone can keep their insurer when they change jobs, the insurer has more reason to invest in keeping them healthy over time.

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