Calculated
Essays and commentary for the Manila Bulletin
The column appears in the Manila Bulletin every Saturday. The entries below link to individual columns; the newspaper also maintains an author archive.
View the Manila Bulletin archive
Can the world even afford an AI apocalypse?
19 September 2026 · Manila Bulletin
The lever is not merely unaffordable; under the present AI paradigm, it may not yet exist. Smaller models that run locally remain useful, and a new architecture may offer a better path. What remains doubtful is whether today’s large language models can become superintelligent simply by feeding them ever more chips, electricity, and capital.
Injecting more diskarte into the diploma
12 September 2026 · Manila Bulletin
Does entering adulthood really have to involve this much guesswork? We often say education prepares students for life. Perhaps that preparation can include practical matters such as opening a bank account, reading a payslip, dealing with government agencies, and starting a small business.
There’s something about Alex
5 September 2026 · Manila Bulletin
Alex(andra Eala) seems remarkably composed through all of it. She speaks carefully about representing the Philippines and about staying herself despite the attention. Frankly, I find that a little embarrassing. I did not have that kind of self-awareness at her age. I am not sure I had it even much later, when I already had an audience of my own.