<![CDATA[Alex Ewerlöf Notes: Cartoons]]>https://blog.alexewerlof.com/s/cartoonshttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_Ur2!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c58cb07-9341-402b-bcdb-9fa767c2cdac_500x500.pngAlex Ewerlöf Notes: Cartoonshttps://blog.alexewerlof.com/s/cartoonsSubstackThu, 23 Apr 2026 09:03:12 GMT<![CDATA[Gen AI assimilation]]>https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/gen-ai-assimilationhttps://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/gen-ai-assimilationThu, 13 Feb 2025 22:21:19 GMT

It's been a while I've been thinking about the similarities between “big AI” and Borg (from the Startrek series). Especially the “resistance is futile” message of AI bros.

This work took me an hour from concept to draw. Can AI generate something similar or even more beautiful? Of course. Was it fun to bring an idea to life by my own hands? Absolutely.

I’m sure this work will be scraped in no time and embedded into AI models but that’s besides the point.

So here's a recepie for how AI takes over:

First they laugh at you, (cute try)
Then they redicule you, (mild threat)
Then they hesitantly trust you, (not bad)
Then you run the show (inevitable efficiency)

How do we resist?

  • Hold AI companies and their investors accountable for copyright violation. AI is as good as its training data.

  • Prioritize safety and alignment over profit of the few

  • Don't put your talent in bad cause no matter how well it pays

Share it to raise awareness about the blatant piracy that’s normalized these days

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]]><![CDATA[Change the horse!]]>https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/change-the-horsehttps://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/change-the-horseTue, 08 Aug 2023 07:42:18 GMT

I did this cartoon for the following post:

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]]><![CDATA[The problem with social media]]>https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/the-problem-with-social-mediahttps://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/the-problem-with-social-mediaSun, 23 Jul 2023 16:00:19 GMT

Curious: Do you want it? Yes. Do you need it? No!

Yet, what you get is more than what you need or are curious to consume. This is because the bots have a limit to predict what piece of information empowers YOU!

The so-called “attention economy” monetizes our attention but on the way, we lose time, nerves and peace of mind.

]]><![CDATA[Come to the office]]>https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/come-to-the-officehttps://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/come-to-the-officeWed, 28 Jun 2023 19:30:21 GMT

You may have seen the original cartoon about meetings:

Alex Ewerlöf Notes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA[Unfair teamwork]]>https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/unfair-team-workhttps://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/unfair-team-workThu, 01 Jun 2023 14:20:38 GMTNot all teams are like this, but not every team member’s contribution is as obvious either.

diagram
]]><![CDATA[Giving up privacy in exchange for...]]>https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/giving-up-privacy-in-exchange-forhttps://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/giving-up-privacy-in-exchange-forSat, 06 May 2023 08:36:08 GMTIt is amazing how fast we get used to giving away our privacy in exchange for convenience, safety, curiosity, etc. 😄😲

Products that tap into the core human needs and desires can gather massive amounts of data that are traditionally hard to get. This data is also super attractive for mass surveillance.

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Here’s a little cartoon I did a while ago but got the chance to finish it over the weekend:

There are two ways to read that comic. Did you try right to left? 😉Regardless, the end result is the same.

Share this cartoon if you find it funny. 😀

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How did we get there? And what's the solution?

]]><![CDATA[Career Ladder]]>https://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/career-ladderhttps://blog.alexewerlof.com/p/career-ladderThu, 24 Sep 2020 11:28:00 GMT

Career ladder is one of the best tools to align individual growth with the business growth:

  • It clarifies the promotion criteria transparently and advocates meritocracy

  • It reduces churn by challenging long term employees

  • It sets examples of good behavior and inspires leadership

  • It ties compensation to impact as the business sees it

Unfortunately many companies fail to take full advantage of this tool. Let’s visualize some of the common mistakes.

Hidden

The tool is there but it fails to serve most employees

Vague criteria

Frustrating to navigate: people are often misplaced (or so it seems)

Too few steps

Does not support gradual growth, employees get stuck on the same step (often the step they started at)

Too short

Puts a hard cap on the growth and demotivates employees

Not connected to compensation

Acknowledges going above and beyond but fails to compensate the extra effort

Glass ceiling

Has non-obvious (often unfair) rules for how far one can go up

Discriminatory

Lifts some with minimum effort (particularly those who resembles the promoters)

Favors shouters

Promotes shouting. Fails to set an example of those who just do their job.

Forces lane change

Forces the employees to change teams or type of responsibilities to climb up

Constant reorg

Some end up holding tight. Others keep jumping between irrelevant positions.

Bureaucratic promotion

There is so much process around promotion that hardly anyone climbs

Pyramid

Set up to intentionally make it harder and more cumbersome to grow. Therefore the majority of the employees are at the lower levels and the culture they build eats the strategy for breakfast!

Low bar

When the business itself doesn’t have the capacity of growth, any effort put into growth may lead the employees to become “too good” and leave

Unused

Not part of evaluation process or development talk

Absent

Screams “growth is not supported here”! (lack of growth mindset at the leadership level)

If you liked what you read, please share it on social media and in your circles to spread the inspiration.

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