南方财经 21世纪经济报道记者 郑青亭 北京报道 "人们误以为数字技术只是工业时代的延续。实际上，数字技术带来的变革与1万年前开启的农业时代或 400年前开启的工业时代同样深远。这两次变革彻底重塑了人类的生活方式，而数字技术是人类的第三 次伟大飞跃。" 美国知名风险投资人、Union Square Ventures（USV）执行合伙人阿尔伯特·温格（Albert Wenger）近日 在北京接受21世纪经济报道记者独家专访时这样说。他表示，以人工智能引领的数字技术在带来巨大机 遇的同时，也给现有的经济与社会结构带来深刻挑战。 20世纪80年代初，十几岁的温格在德国爱上了计算机，很早就开始为公司编写软件。随后，他前往美国 读书，在哈佛大学求学期间主修经济学和计算机科学，并在麻省理工学院攻读博士学位。毕业之后，他 创办了一家早期的互联网医疗公司。进入风险投资行业后，他投资了电商平台 Etsy、数据库 MongoDB 和云通信公司Twilio等提供变革性数字技术和服务的公司。 作为风险投资者，他常常被问到这样一个问题："下一个大趋势是什么？"在他看来，人们往往关注技术 而忽视了真正的变革。于是，他在《资本之后的世界》 ...

Core Viewpoint - Substack is positioned as a platform that champions independent creators and free speech, aiming to counteract the proliferation of low-quality AI-generated content and to foster a healthier media ecosystem [3][5][9]. Group 1: Cultural Impact and Free Speech - Substack is seen as a bastion for free speech, emerging during a time when many voices were silenced in mainstream media [10][11]. - The platform's core principle is independence, allowing creators to express their beliefs and connect directly with their audience [9][11]. - The media landscape has shifted towards a scarcity of attention, where high-quality content is increasingly valuable [4][28]. Group 2: Evolution of the Platform - Initially perceived as a commercialized blogging platform, Substack has evolved into a comprehensive network that supports various forms of media [14][17]. - The platform's vision has expanded to include a robust ecosystem that empowers creators to monetize their work while maintaining editorial freedom [11][43]. - Substack's approach to content creation emphasizes the importance of direct connections between creators and their audiences, bypassing traditional social media algorithms [15][16]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics and Challenges - The rise of algorithm-driven content on social media has distanced creators from their audiences, leading to a decline in meaningful engagement [23][24]. - Substack aims to redefine the relationship between creators and their audiences by prioritizing user interests over advertising revenue [25][26]. - The platform recognizes the potential of AI as a tool for enhancing creativity rather than merely producing low-quality content [26][27]. Group 4: Future Outlook and Expansion Plans - Substack's recent $100 million funding round is aimed at scaling its operations and enhancing its network effects to better support independent creators [42][43]. - The company envisions a future where it can provide a platform for both independent voices and academic discourse, potentially disrupting traditional publishing models [38][39]. - The goal is to create a cultural engine that not only entertains but also enriches users' lives through meaningful content [36][37].

Core Insights - The central theme of "The World After Capital" is the transition from the industrial age to the knowledge age, where the core societal conflict shifts from "capital scarcity" to "attention scarcity" [4][10] - The author, Albert Wenger, argues that the limitations of capitalist market economies need to be addressed to facilitate a smooth transition from the industrial era to the knowledge era [4][10] Scarcity Redefined - Traditional economic theory defines scarcity based on price; however, Wenger proposes a new definition where scarcity arises when the quantity of something is insufficient to meet demand [5] - Historical context shows that human societies have experienced shifts in scarcity from food in the hunter-gatherer era to land in the agricultural era, and then to capital during the industrial revolution [6][10] Transition to Knowledge Age - The current transition indicates that scarcity is moving from capital to human attention due to advancements in digital technology, which will fundamentally alter lifestyles [6][10] - The success of capitalism has made capital less of a limiting factor in meeting personal needs, particularly in developed economies [8][10] Attention as a Scarce Resource - The author emphasizes that the knowledge age requires attention as a critical resource, akin to how machines in the industrial age required oil [11][12] - The concept of a "knowledge cycle," which includes learning, creating, and sharing, is essential for addressing attention scarcity [11][12] Digital Technology and Knowledge Cycle - Digital technology has revolutionized the knowledge cycle, allowing for unprecedented access to information, but it also poses risks such as misinformation and distraction [12][13] - The dual nature of knowledge encompasses both scientific and cultural aspects, highlighting the importance of human expression and collaboration [12][13] Future Directions - To successfully transition to the knowledge age, significant changes in self-management and collective governance are necessary [13] - The future of human development hinges on current choices and actions, emphasizing the need for both individual and collective efforts to create a more sustainable and prosperous future [13]

Group 1 - The core idea of the article emphasizes the importance of innovative academic research and theories that challenge traditional concepts, providing new perspectives for understanding modern economic, political, and cultural phenomena [1] - The selected books, "Key Concepts," "The World After Capital," and "Evolution," offer new directions for development and strategy [1] Group 2 - "Key Concepts" discusses the significance of development ideas that provide clear directions for economic growth, focusing on concepts like Chinese-style modernization and new development patterns, which are foundational for China's achievements in the new era [4] - "The World After Capital" highlights the scarcity of attention as a resource, arguing that individuals must become "guardians of attention" to navigate the overwhelming flow of information and regain inner peace [10][11] - "Evolution" addresses the political and economic inequalities exacerbated by globalization, exploring the complex interactions between politics and economics, and how nations seek balance between economic interests and political goals [14]