Hey there,

We're back with the 36th edition of Paragraph Picks, highlighting a few hand-selected pieces from the past couple of weeks.

Check them out & let us know which is your favorite!

IP is Dead...

@austin-hurwitz argues that traditional intellectual property enforcement is crumbling in the face of AI and remix culture, and creators should embrace collaborative, data-driven ecosystems to build enduring value.

In a world where everything is derivative and everything is a remix, the winners won’t be those with the most aggressive legal teams.

Klarna, Capitalism+ and Feudalism

@bobhale critiques the growing absurdities of modern economic systems, arguing that the rise of installment-based consumption, big tech dominance, and eroding ownership reflect a shift from capitalism to a dystopian, digital form of techno-feudalism.

Maybe we should name it Capitalism+, as if it is a subscription service in itself.

AI Won’t Kill Junior Roles, But It Will Squeeze the Middle

@epr argues that while AI won’t eliminate entry-level jobs, it will erode mid-level roles, forcing junior employees to take on greater responsibilities without adequate support or training.

AI doesn’t eliminate the need for training. It just raises the baseline for what ‘entry-level’ looks like, without updating the systems that help people get there.

Grok’s Million Dollar Moment is Loading

@mleejr chronicles the groundbreaking launch of an AI agent, Grok, and its token $DRB, which — through transparent, onchain mechanics powered by Bankr, Clanker, and Privy — has generated nearly $1M in under a month.

Grok isn’t just an AI chat bot—it’s a preview of a new economic paradigm.

What AI Can’t Learn: A Case for Preserving Nomadic Culture

@adrienne reflects on her connection to Mongolian nomads and warns that AI’s rapid progress risks erasing traditional, embodied wisdom that can’t be digitized, making cultural preservation more urgent than ever.

With loss of cultural and tribal knowledge, we lose more than just a lifestyle — we lose insight into different ways of being human.

The Paradox of Open Innovation

@AndreyDidovskiy explores the immense potential and inherent risks of open innovation, arguing that while collaboration and shared knowledge can drive exponential progress, they also expose systems to manipulation, instability, and moral hazards.

Closed innovation is elitist. Open innovation is techno-democracy.

That's all we have for this week — what did we miss?

Let us know what you think!