Bridge Atlas is a new video podcast series hosted by Christine D. Kim featuring conversations with protocol experts about the Summer of Protocols research program and its evolution across four phases focused on making protocols a first-class concept for understanding the world. The inaugural episode explores the program's history, funding from the Ethereum Foundation, and its output of essays, projects, and artifacts aimed at understanding, designing, and improving protocols.
This issue features worldbuilding analysis of the AI-generated film South Beast Asia, examining ten core traits designed to explore distributed AI systems through a Southeast Asian-inspired lens developed at the Khlongs & Subaks workshop. The piece unpacks how fictional 'strange rules' address questions of AI distribution while the issue also hosts a guest talk with AI Snake Oil author Arvind Sarayanan.
Sam Chua
Stanley Chen, a science fiction author who co-wrote AI 2041 with Google China's CEO, describes his hybrid writing process where he uses LLMs as essential tools but rewrites every line they generate, believing current models are insufficient as both writers and literary judges. The interview explores his practical experience with different LLM models for fiction writing, including their strengths with language-specific features like Chinese punctuation, and his philosophy of using AI as a collaborative partner rather than a substitute for human creativity.
Amita
This issue covers neural defenses and brain-computer interface risks explored by a Canadian design lab, alongside announcements for an upcoming talk on hardened commons and Protocol Worlds at Edge Esmeralda. The newsletter also introduces Martin Harrigan, a lecturer and researcher in cryptography and blockchains, as part of the 2025 Summer of Protocols teaching fellows spotlight series.
Timber Stinson-Schroff