YOLO
You Only Learn Once: On the Compression of Experience
The soul document of the Semantic Infrastructure Lab
What is YOLO?
YOLO is SIL's manifesto—a demonstration of the compression thesis in both form and content. It's literary, philosophical, and technical all at once.
The thesis: Intelligence emerges from progressive compression of experience. Meaning is what survives compression.
Why titled YOLO?
- Subversion signals we're serious (anyone can be earnest)
- Demonstrates compression: common phrase → profound technical insight
- "You Only Learn Once" is literally about compression and transfer
- The title IS the thesis demonstrated
When to Use This Document
Recommended for:
- Founders, researchers, philosophers
- People who want to understand why SIL exists
- Technical audiences who appreciate literary compression
- Media and cultural contexts
Alternative entry points:
- Technical audience? Start with Founder's Letter
- Want architecture? See Semantic OS Architecture
- Institutional funder? Use The Fork (session document, ask for access)
Reading Time
10 minutes for first pass, lifetime for full depth.
YOLO demonstrates what we preach: compression, progressive disclosure, and meaning made explicit.