Hello, Computer.
I randomly found, and then instantly signed up for, Josh Puckett's Interface Craft. From the site:
"Software is rapidly getting easier to make. And most of what gets made will probably be fine. Functional, but forgettable. Made quickly without much thought. [Interface Craft] is for people who want to make something else. Products that are loved. Interfaces that feel timeless." Yes please!
I don't have any association with Josh or this site, I just thought I'd share with you in case you were interested.
In today's newsletter, I've got 11 articles for you, including:
- Apple's secretly retraining Google Gemini to make it feel like their own.
- Seven questions that could save you from a soul-crushing role.
- Why silent buttons feel slower than ones that sound click-y.
- And more...
Most Interesting
Hello, Computer.
OpenAI acquired Jony Ive's hardware startup to build an anti-iPhone: a deceptively simple companion device. The bet is that LLMs finally make voice computing work. But only if you rethink the interface itself.
Design + Development
Jakub was hesitant about AI for UI work until he tried Figma MCP with Opus 4.5. Now he uses it to scaffold complex screens in minutes, testing ideas fast and discarding what doesn't feel right. The model handles tedious setup; he stays in charge of decisions.
A button that "clicks" (with sound) feels faster than one that doesn't, even when the visual feedback is identical. The web went silent not because sound is bad, but because early designers misused it. The author argues for selective, thoughtful sound that bridges action and response in ways visuals can't. Goga Goga bridges geometric sans serifs and neo-grotesques, combining neutrality with warmth.
Tech + Innovation
Apple to fine-tune Gemini independently, no Google branding on Siri
Apple will fine-tune Gemini themselves and hide Google's branding entirely. They're trying to merge simple commands (timers, reminders) with LLM reasoning in one Siri interface. Craig Federighi said they scrapped a hybrid architecture because it wouldn't meet Apple quality standards.
Don't fall into the anti-AI hype
AI is going to change programming forever, regardless of anyone's preferences about economic systems or whether AI companies survive. Antirez is treating the shift as permanent and learning to work with it.
Work + Mindset
How to know if that job will crush your soul
Anil Dash uses seven questions to decide if a job will let him do his best work. They cover impact, funding, user assumptions, culture, pay, and career path. He wrote them down to avoid roles that quietly drain him.
AGI could make regular people economically unnecessary to the powerful. Breaking the curse requires three paths: avert catastrophes, diffuse AI to individuals, and choose augmentation over full automation. TLDR; The outcome depends on design choices made now.
What I'm Seeing For UX As We Move Into 2026
Boagworld sees UX splitting in two: AI handles template work while messy problems need judgment and taste. Soft skills now outweigh tool skills.
YearCompass is a free booklet that helps you reflect on the year and plan the next one. With a set of carefully selected questions and exercises, YearCompass helps you uncover your own patterns and design the ideal year for yourself.
