Avram Miller (@avrammiller) Bsky

The Next Era of AI Is Personal Like many of you, I'm deeply immersed in learning and using AI. It's not an exaggeration to say it has been life-changing for me. Right now, AI is largely synonymous with Large Language Models — ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude (my current favorite), and even Grok. But I suspect that in the not-so-distant future, we'll look back on these models the way we now look back on the first search engines and portals: Yahoo, Lycos, AltaVista, and AOL.

The Next Era of AI Is Personal

Like many of you, I'm deeply immersed in learning and using AI. It's not an exaggeration to say it has been life-changing for me. Right now, AI is largely synonymous with Large Language Models — ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude (my current favorite), and even…

1 day ago 1 0 0 0

Fiber internet in Lecce I decided to upgrade my internet to fiber. There is one company that does all the fiber for the city of Lecce (Open Fiber). Then there are various companies like TIM, FastWeb that "rent" the fiber. The Open Fiber people came out to bring the fiber into our home. The fiber connects to a device inside called an ONT (Optical Network Terminal) which converts the optical signal into ethernet.

Fiber internet in Lecce

I decided to upgrade my internet to fiber. There is one company that does all the fiber for the city of Lecce (Open Fiber). Then there are various companies like TIM, FastWeb that "rent" the fiber. The Open Fiber people came out to bring the fiber into our home. The fiber…

2 days ago 0 0 0 0

It’s not death that I fear, but the process of dying I live in terror of getting a potentially terminal disease that requires constant monitoring and different therapies, most of which fail with great disappointment. I imagine spending hours in hospital waiting rooms and doctors’ offices, dreading the results that will ultimately be delivered to me. I don’t know the best way to die. It is a very individual thing. Some people would like to die in their sleep.

It’s not death that I fear, but the process of dying

I live in terror of getting a potentially terminal disease that requires constant monitoring and different therapies, most of which fail with great disappointment. I imagine spending hours in hospital waiting rooms and doctors’ offices, dreading…

1 week ago 0 0 0 0

One Election Is a Mistake. Two Are a Choice. At what point do citizens become responsible for the actions of their government? As a dual American and Israeli citizen, I have found myself living with this question on two fronts. When Trump was first elected in 2016, he lost the popular vote. Many Americans did not support him. Voter turnout was low, and it was possible to argue that the outcome did not fully reflect the will of the people.

One Election Is a Mistake. Two Are a Choice.

At what point do citizens become responsible for the actions of their government? As a dual American and Israeli citizen, I have found myself living with this question on two fronts. When Trump was first elected in 2016, he lost the popular vote. Many…

1 week ago 0 0 0 0

Stupidity and Hubris: How Trump, aided by Netanyahu, helped break the world I just listened to the latest episode of Fareed Zakaria GPS, and I have to say—it left me genuinely frightened. Israeli analyst Danny Citrinowicz made a striking point: this could be the war that pushes Iran past the threshold toward acquiring a nuclear weapon. His analysis is thoughtful, measured, and deeply concerning. I strongly recommend listening to the interview.

Stupidity and Hubris: How Trump, aided by Netanyahu, helped break the world

I just listened to the latest episode of Fareed Zakaria GPS, and I have to say—it left me genuinely frightened. Israeli analyst Danny Citrinowicz made a striking point: this could be the war that pushes Iran past the…

4 weeks ago 1 0 0 0

Israel’s actions and its impact on the Jewish Diaspora Most Israeli Jews think of themselves first as Israelis and second as Jews. Regarding the Jewish diaspora, they generally believe that one of Israel’s core purposes, the Zionist mission, is to provide a safe haven for Jews. While I disagree with the actions of the current Israeli government, I subscribe to this belief myself. I am a Zionist and believe that the Jewish people must have their own homeland if they are to survive.

Israel’s actions and its impact on the Jewish Diaspora

Most Israeli Jews think of themselves first as Israelis and second as Jews. Regarding the Jewish diaspora, they generally believe that one of Israel’s core purposes, the Zionist mission, is to provide a safe haven for Jews. While I disagree…

1 month ago 0 0 0 0

Apple at 50 — A Tribute to the Genius and Tenacity of Steve Jobs Apple turned out to be the most influential computer company since IBM and it continues. So while we celebrate its 50th year, we need to take amount to recognize the genius of the man who was responsible for that, Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs entered my life in 1982 and remained a recurring presence—sometimes directly, sometimes at a distanceuntil his death in 2011.

Apple at 50 — A Tribute to the Genius and Tenacity of Steve Jobs

Apple turned out to be the most influential computer company since IBM and it continues. So while we celebrate its 50th year, we need to take amount to recognize the genius of the man who was responsible for that, Steve Jobs. Steve…

1 month ago 0 0 0 0

Let’s think of the people I am thinking of my friends and family in Israel and hoping they stay safe. I am think of the people of Iran and wishing that they can soon enjoy the freedom and peace they so deserve.I have mixed emotions about the attack on Iran by Israel and the USA. But no mixed emotions about the deaths of the Iranian leaders.

Let’s think of the people

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Turning Silver into Gold-The Inversion of the Population Pyramid I was recently interviewed by a newspaper in Genoa about an idea I’ve been developing—“Turning Silver into Gold.” Almost every developed nation in the world, with the notable exception of Israel, now has a birth rate below replacement level. Italy’s fertility rate is about 1.18 children per woman, far below the 2.1 needed to sustain population size over time. In Genoa, home to the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), the demographic shift is even more pronounced.

Turning Silver into Gold-The Inversion of the Population Pyramid

I was recently interviewed by a newspaper in Genoa about an idea I’ve been developing—“Turning Silver into Gold.” Almost every developed nation in the world, with the notable exception of Israel, now has a birth rate below…

1 month ago 1 0 0 0

Italy and Me: A Cultural Struggle I first went to Italy in 1969 and fell in love with the country then. Over the years, I must have visited twenty or thirty times. I used to joke that in my next life I would return as an Italian, because I thought Italians are like Jews but without the guilt. Last year, my wife and I moved to Italy from Amsterdam.

Italy and Me: A Cultural Struggle

I first went to Italy in 1969 and fell in love with the country then. Over the years, I must have visited twenty or thirty times. I used to joke that in my next life I would return as an Italian, because I thought Italians are like Jews but without the guilt. Last…

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

Rethinking My Only Meeting with Jeffrey Epstein I met Jeffrey Epstein exactly once, over breakfast at the Carlyle Hotel in New York in 1998. What I remember most is how boring he was. He seemed distracted, almost uninterested in the conversation. I chalked it up to a bad meeting and moved on. It was only years later, after the full scope of who Epstein was became public, that I began to reconsider what had actually happened that morning.

Rethinking My Only Meeting with Jeffrey Epstein

I met Jeffrey Epstein exactly once, over breakfast at the Carlyle Hotel in New York in 1998. What I remember most is how boring he was. He seemed distracted, almost uninterested in the conversation. I chalked it up to a bad meeting and moved on. It…

2 months ago 1 0 0 0

Longevity: The Roles of Genetics and Lifestyle For years, I accepted the conventional wisdom that genetics accounts for less than 30% of human lifespan. I never really questioned that figure, and in retrospect, that’s a little embarrassing. But I was hardly alone. Those numbers were widely repeated, rarely examined, and neatly aligned with a popular narrative: that lifestyle choices largely determine our fate. This narrative has been further amplified by “longevity influencers,” many of whom build businesses around lifestyle prescriptions often coupled with products and services they sell.

Longevity: The Roles of Genetics and Lifestyle

For years, I accepted the conventional wisdom that genetics accounts for less than 30% of human lifespan. I never really questioned that figure, and in retrospect, that’s a little embarrassing. But I was hardly alone. Those numbers were widely…

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

Longevity in Your 40s A new friend in Lecce recently asked me for advice about longevity. He was surprised by what he perceived as my relative youth. Others who know that I’ve worked in the field of longevity for years sometimes ask for my “secret.” I usually joke that the secret was choosing the right parents. That joke is partly true. Genetics matter—but they account for only about 20–30% of lifespan.

Longevity in Your 40s

A new friend in Lecce recently asked me for advice about longevity. He was surprised by what he perceived as my relative youth. Others who know that I’ve worked in the field of longevity for years sometimes ask for my “secret.” I usually joke that the secret was choosing the…

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

Brain Tech 60 years later There is a growing interest in coupling technology with the human brain, from devices that monitor brain activity and help relax or stimulate the mind, to the more ambitious goal of creating high‑speed connections between brains and computers. This year, CES in Las Vegas made it clear that brain technology is becoming one of the next major frontiers in health tech.

Brain Tech 60 years later

There is a growing interest in coupling technology with the human brain, from devices that monitor brain activity and help relax or stimulate the mind, to the more ambitious goal of creating high‑speed connections between brains and computers. This year, CES in Las Vegas…

3 months ago 0 0 0 0

My recent interview with an Italian Journalist L’INTERVISTA Avram Miller: “Da Intel Capital all’AI, la mia vita da agente del cambiamento” I had the pleasure of being interview recently by Luciana Maci of EconomyUP which is an Italian digital media outlet focused on innovation, startups, technology, and the transformation of business and society. The actual article in Italian can be found here. When I said “pleasure” I really mean it.

My recent interview with an Italian Journalist

L’INTERVISTA Avram Miller: “Da Intel Capital all’AI, la mia vita da agente del cambiamento” I had the pleasure of being interview recently by Luciana Maci of EconomyUP which is an Italian digital media outlet focused on innovation, startups,…

4 months ago 0 0 0 0

Do You Have to Be Crazy to Renovate a Historic Palazzo in Italy? The short answer is yes. We moved to Italy in February 2025. At first, we settled in Genoa, which is a beautiful and serious city—but after a few months, we realized it wasn’t right for us. Fortunately, we discovered Lecce, in Puglia. Lecce is often called the Florence of the South. Its historic center is a dense concentration of Baroque architecture, built almost entirely from pale local limestone.

Do You Have to Be Crazy to Renovate a Historic Palazzo in Italy?

The short answer is yes. We moved to Italy in February 2025. At first, we settled in Genoa, which is a beautiful and serious city—but after a few months, we realized it wasn’t right for us. Fortunately, we discovered Lecce, in…

4 months ago 1 0 0 0

My First Speech in 27 Years — And Likely My Last A while back, I was invited to speak at an event connected to the World Business Forum conference in Milan which was sponsored by the Italian Institute of Technology. At the time, I was beginning a relationship with the organization. Having recently moved to Italy, I was looking for a way to stay connected to technology and to contribute to the country that had welcomed Deborah and me.

My First Speech in 27 Years — And Likely My Last

A while back, I was invited to speak at an event connected to the World Business Forum conference in Milan which was sponsored by the Italian Institute of Technology. At the time, I was beginning a relationship with the organization. Having recently…

5 months ago 1 0 0 0

The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse and AI In 1963, I took a course on German literature at the University of California. We studied three authors: Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, and Hermann Hesse. That course changed me. It opened a door into a world where intellect, creativity, sexuality, and even drugs intertwined. I still remember the Magic Theatre in San Francisco, where I took LSD for the first time.

The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse and AI

In 1963, I took a course on German literature at the University of California. We studied three authors: Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, and Hermann Hesse. That course changed me. It opened a door into a world where intellect, creativity, sexuality, and even…

5 months ago 1 0 0 0

I have cancer three times-why the fourth one will not kill me I now have had cancer three times. Some of you may have seen the photo of me in the hospital. I turns out that I had a cancerous polyp in my bladder. It was completely removed. It was of the lowest grade. No further treatment is required but I have do some monitoring. This is my third cancer (prostate and then a melanoma).

I have cancer three times-why the fourth one will not kill me

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If you want to help Palestine, do something that matters. I guess I need to start by saying that while I am a supporter of Israel, I am not a supporter of its current government and in particular how it has conducted itself in Gaza. I must also say that Hamas and its supporters are aberrant. They are both religious fanatics but also scum. How women and gay people can support them is not comprehensible.

If you want to help Palestine, do something that matters.

I guess I need to start by saying that while I am a supporter of Israel, I am not a supporter of its current government and in particular how it has conducted itself in Gaza. I must also say that Hamas and its supporters are aberrant. They…

6 months ago 1 0 0 0

Avram Miller Appointed Fellow at the Italian Institute of Technology Giorgio Metta, Science Director and Avram Miller I am thrilled that I have been appointed as a Fellow at the Italian Institute of Technology (www.iit.it). It is an incredible honor to work alongside the remarkable Giorgio Metta, the Science Director and his team to embracing the future. Exploring their projects promises to be both enlightening and enjoyable, with the exciting possibility of spending time with some of their fascinating robots.

Avram Miller Appointed Fellow at the Italian Institute of Technology

Giorgio Metta, Science Director and Avram Miller I am thrilled that I have been appointed as a Fellow at the Italian Institute of Technology (www.iit.it). It is an incredible honor to work alongside the remarkable Giorgio Metta,…

6 months ago 0 0 0 0

Untitled Israel and Palestine: A Personal Proposal I’ve lived in Israel twice in my life—first in the seventies, then again from 2015 to 2023. Back in the seventies, I lived just a few miles from the West Bank. I could cross over freely. The men who built our garden came from Gaza. Life felt complicated, yes, but also connected. In my most recent years in Israel, I again traveled into the West Bank.

Untitled

Israel and Palestine: A Personal Proposal I’ve lived in Israel twice in my life—first in the seventies, then again from 2015 to 2023. Back in the seventies, I lived just a few miles from the West Bank. I could cross over freely. The men who built our garden came from Gaza. Life felt…

6 months ago 0 0 0 0

Jimmy Kimmel and the End of Broadcast TV Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was recently "preempted" indefinitely by ABC, owned by Disney. The word is telling — probably chosen instead of "terminated" because of the legal fight likely to follow. Why? Kimmel’s remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk — suggesting Republicans were exploiting his death for political gain — infuriated Trump and his allies. The real pressure, though, came from Sinclair Broadcasting, which owns about 40% of local TV stations that carry national network programming.

Jimmy Kimmel and the End of Broadcast TV

Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was recently "preempted" indefinitely by ABC, owned by Disney. The word is telling — probably chosen instead of "terminated" because of the legal fight likely to follow. Why? Kimmel’s remarks about the assassination of Charlie…

7 months ago 1 0 0 0

John Malone – The Master of Sub-Optimization I just finished John Malone’s 400-plus page account of his long and accomplished career. Whenever I read a memoir by someone I knew well earlier in my life, I admit I first search to see if my name is mentioned. Usually, it’s not. In my mind, I played an important role in their careers. They apparently thought otherwise. A recent example was Barry Diller’s book *Who Knew*.

John Malone – The Master of Sub-Optimization

I just finished John Malone’s 400-plus page account of his long and accomplished career. Whenever I read a memoir by someone I knew well earlier in my life, I admit I first search to see if my name is mentioned. Usually, it’s not. In my mind, I played…

7 months ago 0 0 0 0

Driving the Creation of Residential Broadband I am resending this because there was an issue in the link to the chapter in my book about broadband. Sorry about this. Driving the creation of residential broadband was unquestionably the highlight of my career. Many others played important roles: developing the technology (Broadcom, 3Com), creating cable and DSL modems (General Instrument, LANcity, Texas Instruments), providing broadband services (@Home, Covad), enabling streaming media (Launch Media, Broadcast.com), interactive services (AOL, Yahoo), browsers (Netscape, Microsoft), and, of course, the cable and telephone companies that became broadband service providers (Comcast, Bell Atlantic).

Driving the Creation of Residential Broadband

I am resending this because there was an issue in the link to the chapter in my book about broadband. Sorry about this. Driving the creation of residential broadband was unquestionably the highlight of my career. Many others played important roles:…

7 months ago 0 0 0 0

Driving the Creation of Residential Broadband Driving the creation of residential broadband was unquestionably the highlight of my career. Many others played important roles: developing the technology (Broadcom, 3Com), creating cable and DSL modems (General Instrument, LANcity, Texas Instruments), providing broadband services (@Home, Covad), enabling streaming media (Launch Media, Broadcast.com), interactive services (AOL, Yahoo), browsers (Netscape, Microsoft), and, of course, the cable and telephone companies that became broadband service providers (Comcast, Bell Atlantic).

Driving the Creation of Residential Broadband

Driving the creation of residential broadband was unquestionably the highlight of my career. Many others played important roles: developing the technology (Broadcom, 3Com), creating cable and DSL modems (General Instrument, LANcity, Texas Instruments),…

7 months ago 0 0 0 0

Why Did Intel Capital Fail to Influence Intel’s Strategy I just read a very well-written article about this question, which you can read here. It begins with the question: How could Intel Capital, a world-leading investment unit, have created more than $170 billion in market value from investing in more than 1,800 companies, and still not be able to steer its parent through market disruptions? Reading the article was a bit of a punch in my stomach.

Why Did Intel Capital Fail to Influence Intel’s Strategy

I just read a very well-written article about this question, which you can read here. It begins with the question: How could Intel Capital, a world-leading investment unit, have created more than $170 billion in market value from investing…

7 months ago 0 0 0 0

Now for a surprise-you may live to be a 120 year old Life expectancy has been increasing worldwide by about 0.2 years every year — roughly two extra years per decade. Even more importantly, health span — the number of years we live in good health — has been rising as well, which is critical. If you’re 40 today, actuarial tables suggest you’ll live to about 85 on average. With steady medical progress, 95 is realistic for many.

Now for a surprise-you may live to be a 120 year old

Life expectancy has been increasing worldwide by about 0.2 years every year — roughly two extra years per decade. Even more importantly, health span — the number of years we live in good health — has been rising as well, which is critical. If…

7 months ago 0 0 0 0

Israel and the Future of the Jewish People Part II The history of the Jewish people before the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel around 1000 BCE, under King David, is not fully understood. What we do know is that the ancestors of the Jewish nation lived in Canaan. The Kingdom of Israel was their first independent state. Over time, the land was conquered repeatedly—first by the Assyrian Empire, then by the Babylonians, later by the Persians, and eventually by the Greeks.

Israel and the Future of the Jewish People Part II

The history of the Jewish people before the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel around 1000 BCE, under King David, is not fully understood. What we do know is that the ancestors of the Jewish nation lived in Canaan. The Kingdom of Israel was…

7 months ago 0 0 0 0

Israel and the Future of the Jewish People I am deeply saddened and concerned about what has been happening in Israel, especially since October 7, 2023. But it did not begin that day. For years, Israel has been shifting steadily to the right, particularly under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu. Ironically, had Arab citizens of Israel voted at the same rate as Jewish citizens, Netanyahu’s coalition would not have secured a majority.

Israel and the Future of the Jewish People

I am deeply saddened and concerned about what has been happening in Israel, especially since October 7, 2023. But it did not begin that day. For years, Israel has been shifting steadily to the right, particularly under the leadership of Benjamin…

7 months ago 0 0 0 0

Posts by Avram Miller