The Dann Chronicles: April 🐇
A terrifying AI prediction, an official movie recommendation, reviewing the reviewers, a human kaleidoscope, and a way to save your laptop battery
April 2025
Hey all,
I love side projects. This newsletter is one. So is my YouTube channel (did you see my Function Health review?), along with my website and my Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood blog.
If you haven’t experienced the blissful zen of a good side project, I highly recommend it.
What I like most about these passion projects is the freedom to focus my energy when I’m inspired—and the ability to not work when I’m not. A day job demands steady effort with occasional spikes of increased focus. My independent work waits patiently for the moment I’m ready.
For me, the joy is creating content and releasing it to the world. Your side project might be different—maybe a hobby, or a long-term undertaking that won’t be public for years.
If you don't yet have a side project, you may need some time to explore your options and find one that's the right fit for you. Today is a great day to start that journey.
—Dann
⚠️ The very near future
I'm in a strange headspace since reading this new prediction about AI. I think this feeling is...terror? I feel compelled to share this with a wider audience (which is what I'm doing here) while recognizing that sharing this report likely won't change anything. There are literally only a handful of people who have the power to influence this prediction, and the rest of us are just along for the ride.
It's called AI 2027, and it was created by a non-profit called the A.I. Futures Project. The project is led by Daniel Kokotajlo, a researcher with a compelling track record in AI:
In 2021 (before ChatGPT), he published What 2026 Looks Like. From our vantage point in 2025, he was largely correct—about everything—with what were crazy-sounding predictions at the time
A year later, OpenAI hired Kokotajlo to their policy team. It was a smart move: the company gained access to his continued research while limiting his ability to speculate publicly
In mid-2024, Kokotajlo and OpenAI had a dramatic split when he refused to sign a non-disparagement clause (which at the time threatened his $1.7M in vested equity, although this led to a policy change at OpenAI)
Shortly after leaving, he founded the A.I. Futures Project with other leading experts in the AI space, dedicated to forecasting the future of AI
This month, they published their first release: AI 2027
The scenario is written as an extremely compelling fictional narrative (thanks to Scott Alexander of Astral Codex Ten). But it's really the supplemental research that elevates this from cool story to research-based debate contribution.
Right now, the tech world is split into warring factions debating the future of AI while the rest of the population goes about their lives as normal. If you're in the latter camp (dabbling with AI here and there but not following the news), you may be horrified to learn where we are today and what some of the brightest minds in the space think is right around the corner.
That's because none of the scary predictions that gained wide audience attention after ChatGPT's launch have yet been proven wrong. In fact, the pace has been accelerating even faster than most of those timelines predicted.
I recognize that doomsday predictions have been around since the beginning of time—divine intervention, natural disasters, Y2K computer collapse, astronomical events, or aliens. The human brain is programmed to latch onto such stories.
It's possible that AI 2027 is another prophecy that will fail to materialize. I certainly hope so. But unlike those other scenarios, this prediction is based on extensive research and data, which makes me concerned that this one might just be the winner.
Supplemental reading: for anyone who gets sucked down this rabbit hole like I did, you might also enjoy this New York Times (gift) article about AI 2027 and Scott Alexander's personal takeaways from the project.
🐻 Feel-good film
I turned 39 in March, and to celebrate, I invited a small group of friends over to watch one of my favorite movies: Brigsby Bear (2017). After the movie, I hosted a short trivia game about the film. It was a fantastic way to spend my birthday.
I'm mentioning this because there's a really good chance you've never seen Brigsby Bear, and I implore you to remedy that as soon as possible.
Maybe you'll want to watch the trailer first. If you do that, you'll probably think, "What the hell is this movie?" I urge you to push past that feeling. You'll be rewarded with one of the most heartfelt, feel-good—and yes, funny—films ever made.
I often share my opinions on movies in this newsletter, but it's very rare for those to become an outright recommendation. Brigsby Bear is officially a recommendation.
It's available on multiple streaming services, mostly as a rental for just a few dollars. But I promise, it'll be the best $4 you'l spend that month.
📦 Reviewing the Reviewers
I’ve always loved a well-made YouTube tech review. As a former Reviews Editor at The Verge and an occasional YouTuber myself, I have a soft spot for creators who consistently turn out high-quality videos.
Lately, more tech YouTubers have started launching products of their own. And when that happens, who reviews the reviewers?
YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss tackles exactly that question in his video, “I Tested Every YouTuber Tech Product.” It’s such a clever premise that I’m a little annoyed I didn’t think of it first.
I don’t own any of these YouTuber-branded gadgets—and, after watching the video, that probably won’t change—but it’s fascinating to see how each creator chooses to step into the physical-product world.
🎸 The band the mirror
Somehow, the band OK Go is still coming up with new ideas. I shared their previous music video just a few short months ago, and they're back again with an even better video.
"Love" turns the studio into a living kaleidoscope in a way that can’t really be expressed in words. It’s worth a watch.
I think one of the reasons I find OK Go so interesting is their massive and very public pivot after the viral success of OK Go on Treadmills in 2006. I still remember when the band had the hit single "Get Over It" in 2002. OK Go spent several years as a regular band with decent radio play before they released the treadmill video and their whole strategy changed.
Similarly, Sugar Ray—today known for beachy, feel-good, sing-along music—started as a funk-metal band. Then the song "Fly" topped the charts (the only song on Floored that sounded like that), and from that moment on it was all light and poppy.
When I was younger, I would have called this "selling out." Today, I see it differently.
I've had several drastic career changes over the course of my life—from retail to journalism to technology. There's a skill in being able to identify a nearby branch and take the leap.
All four members of OK Go were in the band before the viral treadmill video. The instant that video hit the cultural zeitgeist, the group went from creating music to creating viral videos that featured their music.
Back in high school, I had "Get Over It" burned on a mix CD, but none of OK Go's recent songs make my playlists today. Still, you can bet I'll continue sharing these videos when they're released. Because life is circuitous, and it's fun to see the different paths people take.
🚰 Down the drain
A few months ago, I traded in my old laptop for a new MacBook Air. One of the biggest quality-of-life upgrades was the battery life. My old machine would only last 90 minutes or so before needing a charge—less if I was doing resource-intensive work.
There's a scientific reason phone and laptop batteries slowly lose capacity: as they age, some lithium becomes trapped and parts of the cell wear out, making it harder to store and move energy.
You can slow that decline by avoiding full charges (never above 80%) and deep discharges (never below 20%), but doing that manually is tough.
That’s why I installed AlDente Pro. It lets you set automatic charging rules, keeping lithium-ion levels in the optimal range.
Several months (and 44 charge cycles) later, my battery health and capacity are still at 100 percent. Sure, it’s a young laptop, but I’m hopeful this app will extend the battery’s life far beyond my last device.
AlDente offers free and paid tiers, depending on your needs. If you're constantly annoyed by shrinking battery life, it might be worth a download.
End note
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I send these newsletters once per month, and I'm happy you're along for the ride. I'm trying to make it one of the best things that arrives in your inbox each month, so thoughts and feedback are always appreciated. You can just reply to this email.
Also, if you find anything interesting, send it my way.
Thanks for reading. Until next time,
Dann
Interesting red, Dan - Thanks