Jim Christian

Signal Over Noise

I build things with AI and write down what actually happens — the workings, the costs, the dead-ends. Each week: what I made, what broke, and what's worth your time. Field note midweek, a longer build on Fridays. Free.

Recent issues

  1. SoN 2.26: The best AI models are getting harder to get

    Two new Anthropic models, a tightening frontier, and what it means if you build on top of them.

  2. Field Note: Where You Keep the Final Say

    I built my AI a tool to check the real law. It guessed instead.

  3. SoN 2.25: Stop guessing and use AI to pull the data

    I pulled the real numbers on a cat rescue's socials for about a dollar.

  4. Field Note: Digging into Banco Santander's AI Tooling

    A big bank open-sourced a tool that tests whether an AI discriminates.

  5. Field Note: Open Knowledge Format

    Ones to watch this week.

  6. SoN 2.24: AI hasn't made me faster

    For some brains the unlock isn't speed — it's being able to start at all.

  7. Field Note: What I Automate with AI

    Everything I've wired Claude into since 2024 — and the hard edge on all of it.

  8. Field Note: Fable, here in an instant then gone

    I gave it one job: build my home network as a solar system.

  9. SoN 2.23: Google says you can skip the AEO hacks

    The latest search trend is mostly the old basics with a fresh coat of paint.

  10. Field Note: The most powerful Claude yet, and the part you can't have

    Anthropic shipped Fable 5 and walled off the best bit.

  11. Field Note: WWDC26 Keynote Thoughts

    Apple rebuilt Siri on Gemini and kept the privacy pitch front and centre.

  12. SoN 2.22: How do you choose the best AI tool?

    I gave a few of them the same job. Here's what came back.

  13. Field Note: Measure twice, cut once, with two AIs

    One AI agrees with you. Two, asked independently, argue.

  14. SoN 2.21: AI doesn't know when to stop. You have to.

    A leaking hose, three AI tools, and the part I almost ordered.

  15. SoN 2.20: Technology, Not a Product

    Are you using AI like a vending machine?

  16. SoN 2.19: It's 10pm. Do you know what your agents are doing?

    Why the agents moving into your authenticated sessions don't have your judgment.