Posts by Blake Coleman
AI battle lines are being drawn: what’s next for deep tech
TL;DR What is Pax Silica? Pax Silica is a US State Department initiative launched in December 2025 to organize allied nations around secure supply chains for computer hardware, microchips, and critical minerals needed to build artificial intelligence. It now counts 24 signatory nations. Is the US forcing allies to pick a side between America and…
Read MoreAlways-On AI in a Box: When knowledge work becomes capital equipment
TL;DR What do we mean when we say an AI agent in a box? In this article, it means a small-form-factor computer (SFF) dedicated to running AI agents continuously. The company owns the hardware, while the agent can use local models, hosted models such as Claude, or a mix of both. Isn’t Claude Cowork already…
Read MoreIt’s not 2008, fellow Gen X, Xennials, and Millennials, but Myspace wants to have its own Cobra Kai moment
TL;DR What was Myspace? Myspace was the social network that launched in 2003, let users trash their own profile with homemade HTML and autoplaying music, and became the biggest site in America before Facebook showed up. When did Facebook pass Myspace? Facebook passed Myspace in worldwide visitors in April 2008, then in the US a…
Read MoreThe US surveillance state: what’s actually watching you (not another Flock Safety piece)
TL;DR Is the United States a surveillance state? Not in the sense of a single government agency watching everyone, but private cameras, connected cars, and data brokers now feed into networks that police and companies can both query. How many license plate cameras are there in the US? Flock Safety, Axon, Motorola Solutions, and Rekor…
Read MoreDeep tech’s vertical bet isn’t about owning the stack. It’s about not becoming too slow to need to.
TL;DR Is vertical integration new in tech? No. Software and manufacturing have been converging for over a decade through digital twins, IT and OT integration, and embedded control systems. What’s actually different about deep tech’s current vertical integration trend? AI and physical AI companies are now becoming the owners of physical assets like power plants,…
Read Morea16z is right about behavioral health. They are looking at the last layer of the problem.
TL;DR Is behavioral health limited by patient demand or by infrastructure?It is limited by infrastructure: payer reimbursement rules, state-by-state licensure, and a lack of support for patients between sessions. Why do behavioral health claims get denied so much more than medical claims?Behavioral health claims get denied 19 to 30 percent of the time in network,…
Read MoreOn LinkedIn, even credibility can be bought
TL;DR Is LinkedIn credibility actually for sale?Yes. A real marketplace sells rented, aged, and even government-ID-verified profiles for a few hundred dollars, complete with photos, work histories, and a real blue badge. Does a verified badge mean the account is legit?Only at the moment it was checked. It doesn’t confirm who’s actually running the account…
Read MoreBuilt to Bend: Southern Auto Alley After the EV Boom (Part V)
Part V: What will Southern Auto Alley look like in 2030? Built to Bend is a five-part STEM Search Group research series examining how Southern Auto Alley is adapting after the EV boom. Each installment explores a different part of the story, from manufacturing strategy and technology to hiring and long-term competitiveness. Missed one of…
Read MoreBuilt to Bend: Southern Auto Alley After the EV Boom (Part IV)
Part IV: The technology kept moving. The industry had to pivot. Built to Bend is a five-part STEM Search Group research series examining how Southern Auto Alley is adapting after the EV boom. Each installment explores a different part of the story, from manufacturing strategy and technology to hiring and long-term competitiveness. Missed one of…
Read MoreBuilt to Bend: Southern Auto Alley After the EV Boom (Part III)
Part III: What the EV slowdown means for manufacturing hiring Built to Bend is a five-part STEM Search Group research series examining how Southern Auto Alley is adapting after the EV boom. Each installment explores a different part of the story, from manufacturing strategy and technology to hiring and long-term competitiveness. Missed one of the…
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