Hacker News with Generative AI: Communication

Passing Messages (thedailywtf.com)
After surviving 35 years, dozens of languages, hundreds of projects, thousands of meetings and millions of LOC, I now teach the basics to the computer-phobic
Cuttlefish 'talk' with their arms, study reveals (scienceblog.com)
Scientists have discovered that cuttlefish use distinct arm movements to communicate with each other, adding another dimension to these already remarkable marine creatures.
Design and evaluation of a parrot-to-parrot video-calling system (2023) (smithsonianmag.com)
When humans are feeling lonely, we can call or video chat with friends and family who live far away. But, scientists asked, what about pet parrots? New research suggests that these chatty creatures may also benefit from virtually connecting with their peers.
Moving from Skype to Microsoft Teams (microsoft.com)
In order to streamline our free consumer communications offerings so we can more easily adapt to customer needs, we will be retiring Skype in May 2025 to focus on Microsoft Teams (free), our modern communications and collaboration hub.
You sent the message, but did you write it? (davidduncan.substack.com)
Last week, I got a message from someone I’ve known for ten years. It was articulate, thoughtful…and definitely not written by him.
People who don't ask me questions drive me crazy. Why are they like that? (theguardian.com)
‘Non-askers’ can come across as selfish – but there might be personal and societal reasons for their lack of curiosity
How the US defense secretary circumvents official DoD communications equipment (electrospaces.net)
US defense secretary Pete Hegseth appears to have a private computer in his office that is linked to the public internet. He wanted this computer to use the messaging app Signal, which is the preferred method of communication among Trump's government officials.
Dolphins Communicate with 'Fountains of Pee' (scientificamerican.com)
Humans typically consider peeing a private act. But for many animals, it’s a crucial way to share information—one that goes way beyond simply marking territory.
Text-to-Visual with AI by Excalidraw (visualgpt.io)
VisualGPT instantly creates stunning visuals from text, making communication clear and engaging. Free & easy!
Give People Something to Look At (2021) (staysaasy.com)
A long time ago, I realized that some of my easiest conversations were while walking or hiking or driving in a car with someone.
When the World Connected on Skype (restofworld.org)
Skype, the online video-calling service, is shutting down in May after more than two decades of service. For those of a certain generation, Skype changed everything.
Burn Your Title (eatonphil.com)
Burn your title. Burn your job description. I mean, keep your boss happy for sure. Keep your teammates happy by supporting them and building them up and communicating well.
When the World Connected on Skype (restofworld.org)
Skype, the online video-calling service, is shutting down in May after more than two decades of service. For those of a certain generation, Skype changed everything.
Firehose of Falsehood (wikipedia.org)
The firehose of falsehood, also known as firehosing, is a propaganda technique in which a large number of messages are broadcast rapidly, repetitively, and continuously over multiple channels (like news and social media) without regard for truth or consistency.
Ask HN: What are the best books on talking to users? (ycombinator.com)
I Cannot Be Technical (fightforthehuman.com)
With some regularity, kind-hearted Technical people tell me that I Can Be Technical, Too.
mIRC 7.81 (mirc.com)
mIRC v7.81 has been released.
How to Start a Conversation (bradwoods.io)
Charlie woke up to the same quiet apartment, the same stale morning air, and the same knot in his stomach. He wasn't nervous about work — he was nervous about the elevator ride.
WebTransport: Low-Latency Bidirectional Messaging API (chrome.com)
Social Security Administration Moving Public Communications to X (wired.com)
The Social Security Administration will no longer be communicating with the media and the public through press releases and “dear colleague” letters, as it shifts its public communication exclusively to X, sources tell WIRED.
A2A Protocol – Agent-to-Agent Communication (a2aprotocol.ai)
The Precise Language of Good Management (staysaasy.com)
As a manager, your words are your bond
Do women talk more than men? (bps.org.uk)
New research challenges an old assumption with modern technology…
A streaming brain-to-voice neuroprosthesis to restore naturalistic communication (nature.com)
Natural spoken communication happens instantaneously.
Show HN: Neo146 – anti-censorship HTTP-SMS gateway for Turkish (&all) protesters (github.com/ooguz)
connect like it's 1984 - neo146 provides a minimal (and experimental!) information gateway that serves as an emergency network connection method inspired by dial-up, allowing you to access content via certain protocols like SMS.
AI Accent Conversion for call centers (krisp.ai)
Accent Conversion enhances communication for customers and call centers by softening accents while preserving the speaker’s voice for authenticity and personal connection in every interaction
Asking good questions is harder than giving great answers (dancohen.org)
Zoom bias: The social costs of having a 'tinny' sound during video conferences (phys.org)
Most job candidates know to dress nicely for Zoom interviews and to arrange a professional-looking background for the camera. But a new Yale study suggests they also ought to test the quality of their microphones.
Here are the Attack Plans That Trump's Advisers Shared on Signal (theatlantic.com)
So, about that Signal chat.
Don't bring slop to a slop fight (sethmlarson.dev)
Whenever I talk about generative AI slop being sent into every conceivable communication platform I see a common suggestion on how to stop the slop from reaching human eyes: