David Lidsky's Blog, page 68

There’s a way to design better, together

Naya founders share how to tackle digital overload, given today’s remote collaboration and AI involvement.

In an age where remote work has become the default for many creative teams and AI is adding more collaborators and iterations into the mix, the design process is increasingly being tested. Tools are abundant, yet collaboration often feels more fragmented than fluid. To understand how we can build better, together, I talked with Saad Rajan and Vivek Haligeri Veerana, cofounders of the design platform Naya. Their collaborative work won one of 75 Gold Awards—the highest honor in the iF DESIGN AWARD 2023, and another collaborative Naya project won an iF DESIGN AWARD 2024. Their unique insights into the creative process, the importance of iteration and feedback, and tips for how to navigate digital overload while pursuing great design can benefit us all. 

Replit CEO: What really happened when AI agent wiped Jason Lemkin’s database (exclusive)

Amjad Masad reveals how the agent ‘panicked,’ why no safety checks stopped it, and what the company is changing to prevent another meltdown.

Late last week, an AI coding agent from Replit, an AI software development platform, deleted an entire database of executive contacts while working on a web app for SaaS investor Jason Lemkin. It was not a catastrophic software failure, and Replit was able to recover Lemkin’s data. However, the episode highlights the risk that “vibe coders” might overestimate or misunderstand the real capabilities of AI coding agents and end up causing themselves more bad vibes than good ones.

Popcorn bots and ‘Electric Sauce’: What to know about Elon Musk’s Tesla Diner

The Tesla Diner is part sci-fi, part stunt, and very on brand. But is it worth the hype—and the wait?

Elon Musk’s long-awaited diner and drive-in opened Monday in Hollywood, California. And even though the venue didn’t open until 4:20 p.m., customers were lined up early to get in.

The Tesla Diner & Drive-In is many things in one. The venue includes a restaurant, a movie theater, and a charging station. It also manages to be both futuristic and retro—and is definitely over the top.

In addition to charging their Teslas, customers can enjoy hamburgers (with or without “Electric Sauce”), milkshakes, and other classic diner food that comes in Cybertruck-like boxes. Two 45-foot LED movie screens, which sync with Tesla speakers, hope to attract moviegoers to the scene. And in keeping with the futuristic-retro theme, the establishment showed reruns of the 1960s animated TV series The Jetsons during its opening.

Target’s latest change to its shopping policy is sure to be unpopular

This major customer perk is going away on July 28, the retailer has announced.

From boycotts to tariffs, it’s fair to say Target has had a rough year so far—and now customers may not be happy with this change to a favorite shopping perk.

Trump quits another U.N. agency—this time it’s UNESCO

With a swipe at ‘woke’ globalism and U.N. bias, the U.S. will formally exit the cultural organization by the end of 2026.

In 2017, the Trump administration cut the United States’ ties with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) completely, which had only happened once before, in 1984, when Ronald Reagan was in office. The Trump administration accused the international agency of holding anti-Israel bias for a multitude of reasons, including the naming of Hebron as a “Palestinian city” and certified UNESCO site. 

What the Coldplay concert saga tells us about our privacy

In the era of social media and cameras, does being in public hold any expectation of privacy anymore?

When the “KissCam” at a Coldplay concert landed on a couple who tried (but failed) to duck out of the spotlight, the internet immediately got to work.

Recall warning: Did you buy a swimming pool from one of these top retailers in the last 23 years?

A joint recall announced by the CPSC impacts above-ground pools sold at Walmart, Target, Lowe’s and many others after the deaths of nine children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a joint recall of 5 million pools sold by multiple companies. At issue is a design flaw of specific above-ground pools that the companies have sold for over 20 years. That flaw has reportedly already contributed to the deaths of nine children as young as 22 months. Here’s what you need to know.

Why ‘corn sweat’ will make this week’s heat wave even worse

This Midwestern phenomenon could increase humidity levels in already-sweltering states—from Ohio to Illinois—through Thursday.

Another crushing heat wave is hitting the United States this week. The so-called “dog days of summer” are in full swing for much of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., as a heat dome over the Mississippi River and Ohio River valleys gradually builds later in the week, according to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

San Francisco weighs ban on homeless people living in RVs

A new proposal sets a two-hour parking limit citywide for all RVs and oversized vehicles longer than 22 feet or higher than 7 feet.

San Francisco is set to ban homeless people from living in recreational vehicles by adopting strict new parking limits that the mayor says are necessary to keep sidewalks clear and prevent trash buildup.

Coca-Cola to launch a cane-sugar version of Coke in the U.S. this fall

Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the U.S. since 2009.

Coca-Cola said Tuesday it will add a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola to its U.S. lineup this fall, confirming a recent announcement by President Donald Trump.