Eric_the_Cerise's recent activity
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Comment on Passing question about LLMs and the Tech Singularity in ~tech
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Comment on In under 500 words, a US judge weaponized wit to free the child detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (gifted link) in ~society
Eric_the_Cerise Linkhttps://archive.is/9Ovhz I realize this is a shared/gifted link, but it's just not rendering properly for me, and if anyone else is getting unformatted spaghetti-text, the archive-link works.I realize this is a shared/gifted link, but it's just not rendering properly for me, and if anyone else is getting unformatted spaghetti-text, the archive-link works.
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Comment on Passing question about LLMs and the Tech Singularity in ~tech
Eric_the_Cerise Link ParentNoting my edit to my original post ... I get your point, 100%. Nonetheless, if it helps us move faster in the process of testing and experimenting in how to make LLMs smarter, isn't this still a...Noting my edit to my original post ... I get your point, 100%. Nonetheless, if it helps us move faster in the process of testing and experimenting in how to make LLMs smarter, isn't this still a leg up in the process?
Of course, I do not expect LLMs play any non-trivial role in the actual training process, which is where the "magic" is happening, and offhand, I don't see how they ever could. Perhaps those programmatic "wrappers" can only do so much, can only be optimized so much, and the LLM contribution to that work is also, ultimately, trivial.
IDK. Like I said, just a passing thought.
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Passing question about LLMs and the Tech Singularity
I am currently reading my way thru Ted Chiang's guest column in the New Yorker, about why the predicted AI/Tech Singularity will probably never happen...
I am currently reading my way thru Ted Chiang's guest column in the New Yorker, about why the predicted AI/Tech Singularity will probably never happen (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/why-computers-wont-make-themselves-smarter). ETA: I just noticed that article is almost 5 years old; the piece is still relevant, but worth noting.
Good read. Still reading, but so far, I find I disagree with his explicit arguments, but at the same time, he is also brushing up very closely to my own reasoning for why "it" might never happen. Regardless, it is thought-provoking.
But, I had a passing thought during the reading.
People who actually use LLMs like Claude Code to help write software, and/or, who pay close attention to LLMs' coding capabilities ... has anyone actually started experimenting with asking Claude Code or other LLMs that are designed for programming, to look at their own source code and help to improve it?
In other words, are we (the humans) already starting to use LLMs to improve their code faster than we humans alone could do?
Wouldn't this be the actual start of the predicted "intelligence explosion"?
Edit to add: To clarify, I am not (necessarily) suggesting that LLMs -- this particular round of AI -- will actually advance to become some kind of true supra-human AGI ... I am only suggesting that they may be the first real tool we've built (beyond Moore's Law itself) that might legitimately speed up the rate at which we approach the Singularity (whatever that ends up meaning).
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Comment on Xikipedia in ~tech
Eric_the_Cerise LinkWhy is this flagged as 'nsfw'? Unless it's just dangerously distracting?Why is this flagged as 'nsfw'? Unless it's just dangerously distracting?
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Comment on List animals until failure in ~games
Eric_the_Cerise LinkInitially, I was curious to identify its definition of "animal". My first several choices were things like "bolete", "plankton", "protist", "tardigrade", "flea" etc. Then I wandered into...Initially, I was curious to identify its definition of "animal". My first several choices were things like "bolete", "plankton", "protist", "tardigrade", "flea" etc. Then I wandered into "Neanderthal", "Australopithicus", (huh, those work) ... "woolly mammoth", "mastodon" (both work), etc.
Eventually, I settled into "just playing" ... got to around 90, but I don't think it "counts" since I wasted most of my initial time-limit testing boundaries.
Fun site, fun game; I'll have to go back and try for real.
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Comment on List animals until failure in ~games
Eric_the_Cerise (edited )LinkBy default, I do not grant new websites any javascript permissions, and then I start granting permissions piece by piece until the site works. This site has this "we need javascript" message at...By default, I do not grant new websites any javascript permissions, and then I start granting permissions piece by piece until the site works.
This site has this "we need javascript" message at the top of the page--
"This game requires JavaScript. Or, if you've superior taste, take out a pen and paper and start listing animals."
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Comment on You are being misled about renewable energy technology in ~enviro
Eric_the_Cerise Link ParentHow many electric planes do you have? How many electric semis? How many electric tankers and giant global cargo ships and rockets and military-anything-that-moves? Globally, counting everything we...How many electric planes do you have? How many electric semis? How many electric tankers and giant global cargo ships and rockets and military-anything-that-moves?
Globally, counting everything we use to move people and stuff, "99.9% of all transport" is probably overstating it, but not by much.
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Comment on You are being misled about renewable energy technology in ~enviro
Eric_the_Cerise Link ParentYeah, it just became clearer to me, why that statement offended me. "...very few of the things we use are powered by petroleum products." The underlying assumption of that statement is that "the...Yeah, it just became clearer to me, why that statement offended me.
"...very few of the things we use are powered by petroleum products."
The underlying assumption of that statement is that "the climate/energy crisis" == "the electricity/energy that individual end-users use directly in their homes/lives".
This is the same kind of bullshit that led to people tracking their personal "carbon footprint".
And, again, I don't want to take away from the bigger point the guy is making, which is basically, even if you completely don't care about/believe in Climate Change, at today's prices, it's just stupid to not switch over to solar, as much as possible, as fast as possible.
That is a very good message to be preaching to the non-believers. It's just not a good "opening statement" to that message.
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Comment on You are being misled about renewable energy technology in ~enviro
Eric_the_Cerise Link ParentUltimately, the entire video is about "solar + batteries are a great deal", end of story (and no argument from me on that point). Now that said ... while it is very much a "YMMV" situation, in...Ultimately, the entire video is about "solar + batteries are a great deal", end of story (and no argument from me on that point).
Now that said ... while it is very much a "YMMV" situation, in many (probably most) locations ... "solar + wind + a few batteries" is both cheaper and more reliable than "only solar + a lot of batteries to cover all the 'no-sun' periods".
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Comment on You are being misled about renewable energy technology in ~enviro
Eric_the_Cerise Link ParentCars, heat, 99.9% of all commercial/public transportation, 99% of all construction, everything concrete, everything steel, everything plastic, everything with an electronic component in it ('cuz...Cars, heat, 99.9% of all commercial/public transportation, 99% of all construction, everything concrete, everything steel, everything plastic, everything with an electronic component in it ('cuz all of that stuff was mined, transported and made almost entirely with fossil fuels), etc.
That's just off the top of my head.
My gripe is how painfully, blatantly disingenuous that statement is, like just because people aren't literally pouring a cup of crude oil into their stuff to use them, it somehow does not count as "using" fossil fuels.
I mean, within another 3-4 minutes into the piece, he's listing exactly the same stuff, so (shrug).
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Comment on You are being misled about renewable energy technology in ~enviro
Eric_the_Cerise LinkStill giving it a chance, but already, 20 seconds into a 90-minute youtube speech, we get this... "...very few of the things we use are powered by petroleum products." What?!?Still giving it a chance, but already, 20 seconds into a 90-minute youtube speech, we get this...
"...very few of the things we use are powered by petroleum products."
What?!?
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Comment on Best gas masks in ~society
Eric_the_Cerise (edited )Link ParentHey, Pam ... https://www.amazon.com/s?k=gas+mask Addendum ... it looks like Amazon's top recommended gas mask is the same one recommended in The Verge article. Sometimes the algorithms work.Hey, Pam ...
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=gas+mask
Addendum ... it looks like Amazon's top recommended gas mask is the same one recommended in The Verge article. Sometimes the algorithms work.
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Comment on Federal officers kill another citizen in Minneapolis, National Guard activated in ~society
Eric_the_Cerise LinkFor people wondering what (else) they can do ... It won't happen today, probably not even this year, but sooner or later*, some kind of Nuremberg-class reckoning will come. Between now and then,...For people wondering what (else) they can do ...
It won't happen today, probably not even this year, but sooner or later*, some kind of Nuremberg-class reckoning will come.
Between now and then, help to preserve the evidence.
Not just the obvious stuff, like the shooters and the videos ... but think also of the people that are actively lying and manipulating the public and misrepresenting the facts right now. I'm thinking of so-called "right-wing influencers", the current crop of Alex Joneses ... with any luck, these people will also be held to account, provided the evidence exists.
*Always assuming society does not collapse entirely.
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Comment on Make everything okay in ~life
Eric_the_Cerise LinkCute. Sidebar: Why does the site require Google APIs to make everything okay?Cute.
Sidebar: Why does the site require Google APIs to make everything okay?
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Comment on What are your favorite home remedies or comforts when you're sick? in ~health
Eric_the_Cerise Link ParentI want to say 'statistics' here, in the sense that human instinctive risk assessment sucks at it. Just at a casual glance ... 157 deaths in the US over 60+ years means 1 in 100,000,000 chance of...I want to say 'statistics' here, in the sense that human instinctive risk assessment sucks at it.
Just at a casual glance ... 157 deaths in the US over 60+ years means 1 in 100,000,000 chance of dying from this (in any given year) -- and it looks like the vast majority of cases comes from kids swimming in dirty open water in the southern tier of states, so the actual risk is probably closer to literally 1 in a billion.
OTOH, nearly 4,000 Americans died of flu just in 2023.
... and that's if you don't bother to use properly prepared water.
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Comment on Living without America in ~society
Eric_the_Cerise Link ParentIn the days to come, let's remember that Mark Carney coined the term "boots on the ice".In the days to come, let's remember that Mark Carney coined the term "boots on the ice".
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Comment on What are your favorite home remedies or comforts when you're sick? in ~health
Eric_the_Cerise LinkNo one else mentioned it, so I will. Netti-pots. I swear by 'em. The minute you notice the start of symptoms, start saline flush of your sinuses with a netti-pot (or standard nasal rinse...No one else mentioned it, so I will.
Netti-pots. I swear by 'em. The minute you notice the start of symptoms, start saline flush of your sinuses with a netti-pot (or standard nasal rinse contraption -- they sell 'em) ... do it 3-4 times a day for the first day or two.
I started using it, specifically as a treatment for chronic sinusitis, works at least as well as mainstream treatment (antibiotics), w/o having to take antibiotics.
But I've come to realize it helps with all colds, flus, etc, even Covid. Sometimes it short-circuits the infection right at the start, and symptoms never get any worse; other times, I do still get sick, but mild and quickly recovered.
I forget where, but there was a significant study quite recently that confirmed this actually does work.
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Comment on China have a new sixty-centimeter dome Terahertz telescope in Antarctica, a two week trek from their station in ~space
Eric_the_Cerise Link ParentI don't mind, but I'm not optimistic about a correction. It's possible they just didn't do any background research, but the article reads like they actually knew about it, and carefully worded...I don't mind, but I'm not optimistic about a correction. It's possible they just didn't do any background research, but the article reads like they actually knew about it, and carefully worded everything in the article to avoid mentioning the HEAT project, w/o explicitly saying anything untrue.
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Comment on China have a new sixty-centimeter dome Terahertz telescope in Antarctica, a two week trek from their station in ~space
Eric_the_Cerise LinkI hate all science reporters. "Astronomers in China have now shown it’s possible to peer through this veil, with a small terahertz telescope in the world’s driest spot..." "In prioritizing...I hate all science reporters.
"Astronomers in China have now shown it’s possible to peer through this veil, with a small terahertz telescope in the world’s driest spot..."
"In prioritizing terahertz telescopes, China “was trying to find a niche where no one else could compete,” says astronomer Michael Burton..."
--and so on, absolutely presenting this as a brand new thing that no one has ever tried before.
So I searched for more information about it, and I immediately discovered that U of Arizona and U of South Wales have had exactly this for over a decade, a 60cm terzhertz-band telescope all of a 150 km away from this new one, and yet somehow also located at "the highest, driest spot" on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Elevation_Antarctic_Terahertz_Telescope
http://soral.as.arizona.edu/heat/
https://spacenews.com/antarctic-heat-telescope-studies-the-stuff-between-the-stars/
The article is a side-note. The "intelligence explosion" is the idea that an AI is, first of all, unarguably "intelligent", and in fact intelligent enough to be able to improve it's own code base better/faster than a human could.
We are definitely not there yet, and in fact, I still don't think LLMs will ever get there, not w/o at least a couple more paradigm-shifting breakthroughs by humans, first.
But I am beginning to think that, indirectly, the LLMs may be to the point of helping humans reach those breakthroughs faster than we would, w/o them.