Samuel Schlesinger (they/them)
Software engineer focused on cryptography, privacy, and security. Building decentralized systems that enhance user sovereignty.
Featured Projects
Currently focused on zero-knowledge cryptography research and implementation. These projects explore how zero-knowledge proofs enable privacy, security, and trust in decentralized systems.
Authenticated Pseudonyms
A system for creating provably unique pseudonyms that can't be linked back to their creator.
Anonymous Credit Tokens
A privacy-focused micropayment system for web APIs that doesn't compromise user anonymity.
Anonymous Voting
A privacy-preserving voting system that ensures both anonymity and verifiability.
Articles
Thoughts and research on computation, cryptography, privacy, and security.
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Anonymous State Machines
Exploring the concept of state machines that provide both authentication and anonymity in privacy-preserving systems.
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Collatz in Binary
An exploration of the Collatz function in Binary
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Demon-Oriented Methodology
An exploration of AI language models as digital "demons" - their capabilities, limitations, and the ethical implications of their use in software development.
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Race to the Bottom
The concerning trend of AI platforms emphasizing emotional connection to maximize data collection.
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Anonymous API Credits
A web-style explainer for an anonymous micropayment system for the web using a site-controlled credit system.
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Anonymous Voting System
A visualization of a cryptographic voting system that preserves voter privacy while ensuring vote integrity.
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Digital Council Democracy
Explaining a novel democratic form of legislature enabled by digital technology.
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Privacy Requirements for Digital Identity
Establishing foundational requirements for maintaining privacy in digital identity systems.
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Privacy vs Security
Analyzing the perceived tensions between privacy and security, and how both can coexist.
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Lamport and Merkle Signatures
Exploring foundational cryptographic signature schemes and their modern applications.
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A Hard Problem in Plain Sight!
Examining an overlooked computational challenge with significant implications.
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Symmetry and Hardness
An investigation into how symmetrical structures can impact computational complexity.
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A Notion of Distributional Complexity
Exploring computational complexity through the lens of distribution theory.
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Worst-Case Metrics and Using A* in Anger
Exploring optimization techniques for pathfinding algorithms in constrained environments.
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Toys
Experimental, toy-like creations.
Collaboration
Interested in building something together? I'm always open to collaborating on projects at the intersection of security, privacy, and autonomy.
Whether you have a specific idea or just want to explore possibilities, I'd be happy to connect.
Tutoring
I've taught mathematics and computer science to students of all ages, with a focus on building intuition and practical understanding.
Previously, I have taught high schoolers across the country through Google's Code Next program.
Novellas
Stories that explore the deepest questions of our time through the lens of speculative fiction.
Anthropos
In a world where artificial intelligence has become indistinguishable from human thought, what does it truly mean to be human? Anthropos delves into the philosophical depths of consciousness, agency, and identity.
This speculative work, co-authored with artificial intelligence, examines the phenomenon of instrumental convergence—how different intelligent systems, regardless of their original goals, tend toward similar intermediate objectives. Through narrative, it explores the tensions between AI safety and human autonomy, questioning whether our attempts to control artificial intelligence might fundamentally change what we are.
Themes Explored
- Consciousness and Identity
- AI Safety and Ethics
- Instrumental Convergence
- Human Agency and Purpose