The Slow Hunch Steven Johnson (Author, Editorial lead at NotebookLM and Google Labs)
Oct 25, 2024
In this conversation with Steven Johnson, acclaimed author of 14 books and editorial lead at NotebookLM and Google Labs, he dives into the evolution of 'networked thought' through innovative digital tools. He shares insights from his journey exploring technology's history and the transformative role of AI in knowledge curation. Johnson emphasizes capturing 'slow hunches' and highlights how tools like NotebookLM foster serendipity in idea discovery, blending personal insights with broader knowledge to inspire creativity.
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Episode notes
Conversational Hypertext Emerges
- Inline citations from grounded LLM answers create a new interactive reading flow.
- Steven calls this "conversational hypertext," linking answers directly to source passages.
Early HyperCard Prototype
- Steven built a HyperCard note system in college and abandoned classes to build the tool.
- That early failure left a lasting 'slow hunch' that later resurfaced in his work.
Preserve The Slow Hunch
- Preserve half-formed hunches because they are the most forgettable but most valuable.
- Steven says keeping sparks alive turned a technical dead end into a decades-long project.