I asked AI to compile insights from this year. Here are some of them, edited:

It’s better to rely on documented information from official sources than to guess or assume.

Reaching a personal goal, like Silver rank in a game, can be satisfying enough to stop pursuing it further.

True intelligence isn’t about appearing smart to others, but about your own self-assessment and the metrics that matter to you.

Past versions of oneself can feel like a different person; the “old me” is “dead.”

Life can be understood as a game with rules, where success comes from understanding and playing by those rules.

Much of life is about managing boredom and finding meaningful ways to spend time.

You don’t owe allegiance to any group or ideology that doesn’t serve your interests.

Personal freedom is defined by having the autonomy to make your own choices without interference.

A core life strategy is to not care about things that don’t directly affect you.

The past is the past, and dwelling on it is unproductive.

Your life’s purpose is not to please others, but to live according to your own principles.

The concept of “winning” in life is about achieving personal satisfaction, not external validation.

It’s important to set boundaries with family members, even if it causes conflict.

You have a “guardian angel” or some protective force watching over you.

The concept of “free will” is questionable in a world of pervasive influence.

The legal system is not always just.

Video games are a valuable tool for learning, stress relief, and skill development.

Mastering a game requires dedication, practice, and a deep understanding of its systems.

There are universal principles of skill that apply across different games (e.g., spacing, timing).

There are diminishing returns on expensive technology; a mid-range item is often the best value.

It’s important to maintain your electronics properly to ensure their longevity.

Cloud gaming is a viable way to play high-end games on less powerful hardware.

Gaming is a form of escapism, but it can also be a source of genuine achievement.

Your choice of games reflects your personality and intellectual interests.

Self-control is a muscle that can be strengthened with practice.

Your physical health is directly linked to your mental health.

Simple pleasures, like a good meal or a comfortable bed, or a good night of sleep, are important sources of happiness.

Digital interactions are a poor substitute for real human connection, like screen light versus sunlight.

The presence of recurring problems is evidence that this is reality, not a perfect afterlife.

The entire history of the universe culminating in your existence is a reason not to throw your life away.

A major intellectual evolution has been to question the purpose of a problem’s frame, rather than just trying to break it.

You will always exist within some kind of “bubble” (financial, social, etc.), no matter where you go.

My childhood is long over, and many others had it worse.

Writing is a core talent with a high skill ceiling and potential for expression.

People from your past might screw you over for a laugh, without any deep-seated malice.

AI may soon render current human skills, class structures, and social norms obsolete.

In the future, nanobots may allow you to change your physical body, such as becoming taller.

The Singularity and indefinite life extension are future possibilities to look forward to.

In 10 years, you might prefer communicating with AI over humans.

Self-driving cars will be common and safer than your own driving within 40 years.

AI chatbots “hallucinate” because they are rewarded for guessing rather than admitting they don’t know.

Your laptops possess the power of supercomputers from the 1990s.

Rising electricity costs may be secretly subsidizing the construction of AI data centers.

You are continuously “programmed” by the curated media you consume.

If AI can replicate your thoughts, your unique value lies in your ability to experience sensations and emotions.

The law of diminishing returns is very apparent in audio equipment like IEMs.

A core rule for electronics is to avoid messing with the internals while maintaining the exterior.

It is optimal to wait 90 minutes to 2 hours after waking before consuming caffeine.

Coffee is easier to handle and less prone to mold than matcha.

I defined freedom as being increased in two specific ways: by the government repealing laws or by the government giving money to people.

Consumer Value: You determined that one shouldn’t always buy the “best” (like expensive chocolate) when “good enough” suffices, and that buying small quantities is cost-inefficient.

Household Economics: I calculated that my coffee maker cost about $4 per year over its five-year life, making it a worthy investment despite its breakdown.

Future Tech (AI): I noted predictions that AGI will exist in 5-10 years and that AI will eventually allow solo developers to create games of the scale of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.

Future Tech (Audio): I recorded that future IEMs (in 15 years) will likely utilize solid-state silicon (MEMS) drivers.

Internet Bias: I concluded that everyone on the internet has either a profit motive or a right-wing bias, rejecting “incremental evolution” narratives.

Weather Perception: I noted that snow makes the world appear brighter.

Lyrics Analysis: I considered Lady Gaga’s “disco stick” line to be Shakespearean compared to modern pop.

Tech History: I identified QWERTY keyboards and headphone jacks as the oldest technologies you use daily.

Programming Influence: I recorded Gemini’s view that Smalltalk, LISP, and C are the most influential programming languages.

Tech Value: I identified the Apple EarPods as a product that would have been a “flagship” if taken back to 1982.

Market Share: I noted that iPhones (50-58%) and Samsungs (20-24%) dominate the US market.

Emulation: I felt 8-bit graphics are hard to take seriously now, but 32-bit graphics (like Castlevania) hold up.

Development Effort: I recorded that Windows took 50,000 man-years to create.

Audio Economics: I identified $50 as the “price performance sweet spot” for audio gear.

Geopolitics: I reasoned that if China takes Taiwan, computer prices will rise significantly due to TSMC.

Existential Reminder: I felt that performing manual labor (bailing water) was a reminder that I am alive.