ZD 24.31: Will Port Automation Work?
Is automation the fix America's ports actually need?
In this issue: What is happening with WordPress; web forum knowledge; unready AI; pop cravings; will automation actually make US ports better?
Is Automating the Ports a Win?
US Longshoremen went on strike over two issues — wages and a wish to ban port automation. Wages have been agreed upon and work has resumed. Automation remains on the bargaining table and discussions are continuing until mid-January. Many are saying that enabling automation will unlock efficiency at US Ports overnight. Brian Potter looks at the whole picture around US cargo port throughput and illustrates that there are no silver bullets in anything this complicated.
The Distilled Spirit
🌐Matt Mullenweg: Protecting WordPress or Overstepping? (The Torment Nexus)
WordPress runs around half the sites on the internet. In case you were not following it, there has been an implosion in that world as Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine, the largest WordPress host, have fallen into a disagreement. I have been waiting to share something on this as there has been little that captured the depth of the story, but Matthew Ingraham does a good job of capturing all the threads and getting to the bottom of it.
🔊Web Forums FTW (Aftermath)
If you ever want to go very, very deep on a given subject there is an internet forum for you. These places were here before twitter and tiktok and they will likely survive the implosion of social media when and if that should happen. Check out the list of active forums broken down by topic from Aftermath to start your deep dive today.
🤖 AI Apps Are Not ‘Ready’ ()
Artificial intelligence today is like early cars or electricity—exciting, but far from seamless. While AI tools are already used daily, their performance reminds us that the technology is still developing. Many applications aren't yet mature enough for true product-market fit, much like cars before paved roads or reliable engines. We are back in the 1920s where many of the modern technologies we rely upon existed but they were not quite baked nor safe.
🍾 Pop Craving (Garbage Day)
Pop Crave isn't just influencing elections—it's reshaping global pop culture by curating viral content that drives trends across music, movies, and celebrity culture. Ryan Broderick illustrates how these update accounts have transformed how we engage with and digest news, replacing long-form journalism with a constant stream of snackable, viral moments that often set the agenda for both mainstream media and online conversations.
The Look
Lebanon is in the news these days for all the wrong reasons. It sits at the crossroads of empires and has a long and fascinating history and geography leading to it feeling a bit like a cultural kaleidoscope. Learn more about it on Uncharted Territories.
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