TonesTones's recent activity
-
Comment on Silksong should’ve came with a guide from developers in ~games
-
Comment on AI slop is killing our channel in ~tech
TonesTones LinkI’m not very convinced that the problem of “fake information” is that new to the age of AI. There are lots of great stories in the study if history about “facts” appearing from thin air. Searching...I’m not very convinced that the problem of “fake information” is that new to the age of AI. There are lots of great stories in the study if history about “facts” appearing from thin air. Searching for primary sources and then debating about the validity of those primary sources was my favorite part about the few history classes I did take.
I guess random stuff just being fabricated about today is new. Realistically, I think AI will just reinforce the practice of “trust trusted sources” that you see before the age of pictures and videos.
-
Comment on Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without an online account in ~tech
TonesTones Link ParentAren’t online installs generally preferable for businesses? I’m not in IT, but afaik online installs make it way easier to do business device management at scale. In my experience, businesses use...Aren’t online installs generally preferable for businesses? I’m not in IT, but afaik online installs make it way easier to do business device management at scale. In my experience, businesses use Windows because of these policies (and price), not in spite of them.
I agree that this is consumer-hostile, and I’ll never have a Windows machine as my personal computer. I’m just hesitant to say that this is corporations “putting up with shit” rather than Microsoft giving them what they want.
-
Comment on The hydrostatic paradox in ~science
TonesTones Link ParentI think the video was well-paced. I likely have a stronger background in physics than the average Youtube viewer, but I haven’t taken a fluid mechanics class so the second demonstration in the...I think the video was well-paced. I likely have a stronger background in physics than the average Youtube viewer, but I haven’t taken a fluid mechanics class so the second demonstration in the video was new to me. The video didn’t belabor one point but showed different applications of the same principle, which is a great educational technique.
I also think your perspective on education is a bit miscalibrated. Most high schoolers only ever make it to Physics 1, where force diagrams are first introduced. Many students in those classes likely couldn’t explain what’s going on here, especially in the second demonstration because of the implicit pressure gradient.
The video certainly is trivial to someone who has taken a introductory fluid mechanics class and is used to those forces, but I think that’s fewer people than you’d think.
-
Comment on Introducing Kagi News in ~tech
TonesTones Link ParentIt’s worth pointing out that they only take what is publicly available on RSS. They are not scraping past paywalls or on websites. So, I wouldn’t consider it stealing in the same way that lots of...since Kite/Kagi News is based on other outlets’ output, with articles authored by typically human and thus typically opinionated writers, I’m not sure how sustainable the project can be long-term. Who pays for the pre-LLM work?
It’s worth pointing out that they only take what is publicly available on RSS. They are not scraping past paywalls or on websites. So, I wouldn’t consider it stealing in the same way that lots of LLM scrapers operate (except insofar as one believes all LLMS are trained on stolen data).
I agree the funding pathway is not obvious, but there’s certainly an incentive to fund publications if you want to push a certain perspective available. A place like the Guardian believes in free access and reader donations, and they might be willing to make content available via RSS to push their own reporting over someone else’s.
It’s also worth noting that providing content (like a summary) via RSS might make your website more likely to show up in the cited sources of Kagi’s feed, potentially driving clickrate.
I believe that news fundraising is already a problem in the age of social media and LLMs without something like Kagi News, and I don’t think this makes it worse.
-
Comment on Spotify removed 75m spam tracks over the past year as artificial intelligence tools increase the ability of fraudsters to create fake music in ~music
TonesTones Link ParentAh, this explains some weird tracks I’ve noticed under artists I enjoy but clearly aren’t their music, especially on platforms that are not Spotify. I assumed it was just a case of shared artist...Ah, this explains some weird tracks I’ve noticed under artists I enjoy but clearly aren’t their music, especially on platforms that are not Spotify.
I assumed it was just a case of shared artist name and immature database practices, but track metadata fraud makes way more sense.
Verification does not seem that hard of a problem to solve, luckily.
-
Comment on Announcing the seventh annual Tildes' Make Something Month (Timasomo)! in ~tildes
TonesTones Link ParentI’m curious. How much different music do you listen to? Are these structures of music that is already your favorite intended to tell a story, or are you constantly listening to new things to...I’m curious. How much different music do you listen to? Are these structures of music that is already your favorite intended to tell a story, or are you constantly listening to new things to gather for this project?
-
Comment on Tiny co-living spaces are popping up across New York. Local communities see them as ‘harbingers of gentrification’. in ~life
TonesTones LinkSounds like a complicated situation. I read that there are historical NYC neighborhoods full of single-family or double-family homes, but developers are coming in to turn these homes into these...Sounds like a complicated situation. I read that there are historical NYC neighborhoods full of single-family or double-family homes, but developers are coming in to turn these homes into these co-living units to house many more people, thus making the same area of land much more profitable and responding to the housing shortage.
In turn, real estate companies see that and then raise rents to try and extract comparable value out of their properties. In the worst case, the tenants move out and they can redevelop into a multi-housing unit.
There’s really no winning here. Either you price historical residents out of their family home and businesses or you price new young residents out of finding a property. These kinds of shifts and cultural losses are inevitable as the tides of time roll forward and the demand passes from generation to generation. Appreciate what you have while it lasts.
-
Comment on Why people embrace conspiracy theories: It's about community, not gullibility in ~life
TonesTones LinkWhen I was younger, I had an opportunity where I went to a new community where I knew nobody and had zero connection to my previous life. After a few months, I got to return back and restore those...When I was younger, I had an opportunity where I went to a new community where I knew nobody and had zero connection to my previous life. After a few months, I got to return back and restore those old connections, mostly leaving that new community behind.
When I returned, I was immediately and profoundly shocked that my time in the community had altered my behavior, my expectations of others, my attitude, and even my personality. In hindsight, that new community was pretty small, so it was likely hard to find people that “fit” with my previous behavior.
So, without my own awareness, I had adapted and altered pieces of myself to fit my new community for the sake of finding connection. This process was so subconscious that I think this adaptation to new communities is evolutionarily built into human beings.
It’s crazy to me how much we can change if it allows us to find a community. My own experience made me much more understanding of cults, religions, and political movements. I’m not surprised that people are willing to believe in conspiracy theories, sometimes outright rejecting their own sensory evidence, in order to preserve their sense of belonging.
-
Comment on iOS 26 is here in ~tech
TonesTones LinkI’m not planning to upgrade. Apple’s in a weird spot because their stuff… works? I’m pretty happy with my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. I don’t need them to change. There are some things that would...I’m not planning to upgrade. Apple’s in a weird spot because their stuff… works? I’m pretty happy with my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. I don’t need them to change. There are some things that would be nice, like exposing some more settings programatically or making the OS a bit faster. Maybe some better organization options or third-party syncing for Messages.app?
However, there’s no glaring things that need upgrading. I don’t want change. Still, no company can rest on their laurels. Apple needs to show big, meaningful change. I’m just not sure that exists for them in the OS space anymore.
-
Comment on Your phone already has social credit. We just lie about it. in ~finance
TonesTones Link ParentThis seems like the best we can do? I don’t see a reasonable alternative. (A) You are entitled to use Uber no matter what — not great for people who regularly harass drivers (B) You are entitled...This seems like the best we can do? I don’t see a reasonable alternative.
(A) You are entitled to use Uber no matter what — not great for people who regularly harass drivers
(B) You are entitled to use Uber unless some third-party deems it inappropriate — now they can just do the same denylisting with no oversight
(C) You are entitled to use Uber unless Uber doesn’t let you — very similar to B, except that Uber’s decisions are kept in check by Lyft, taxis, and other ridesharing services who want their business.It’d be nice if you could just say “You are allowed to use a service if and only if your use of that service will not be harmful” but in reality, someone somewhere will need to make that call.
-
Comment on Your phone already has social credit. We just lie about it. in ~finance
TonesTones Link ParentAfter reading the article, I came here to post until I found that my perspective had already been said! I’d argue that reputation is one of the fundamental values of the human economy; it’s built...After reading the article, I came here to post until I found that my perspective had already been said! I’d argue that reputation is one of the fundamental values of the human economy; it’s built into every exchange. We pay brand premiums because of reputation. We hire and admit based on reputation.
Ironically, the author’s insight is precisely what they overlook. The fact that reputation is privatized is a good thing. It means that companies and people can go to a different party to regain reputation if they have lost it with one party.
The issue with social credit as a centralized measure is that can be used for consolidation of power. The government is not subject to the same market checks and balances. At the end of the day, humans can choose to do things or not do things. It’s better for that power to be in the hands of companies and individuals than with the government, who already has a monopoly on violence.
-
Comment on Can AI rescue us from the mess of prior auth? in ~health
TonesTones Link ParentI wasn’t aware! That actually changes the article quite a bit. Because that implies if their insurance plan receives more funding, their profit maximum goes up. So the theoretical incentive is...Obamacare requires the "loss ratio" (the amount of premiums spent on medical care) for Medicare Advantage and larger insurance plans to be at least 85%. If they pay out less than that, the profits go to the government. So I imagine they'd try to get it to exactly 85%?
I wasn’t aware! That actually changes the article quite a bit. Because that implies if their insurance plan receives more funding, their profit maximum goes up. So the theoretical incentive is actually the opposite of what the article’s author claims: a fixed cap on benefits is also a fixed cap on profits for each plan. They would prefer to convince the government for more general funding.
I still believe that private health insurance should be strictly a non-profit endeavor. Although society could probably do just fine with a strong board enforcing antitrust measures on profit-based companies.
-
Comment on Slay the Spire 2 Early Access delayed til March 2026 in ~games
TonesTones LinkHaha I feel very similar to StS2 as I do Monster Train 2. So much content in the original that I have yet to explore. Perhaps this is just an artifact of me having very little time to play games now.Haha I feel very similar to StS2 as I do Monster Train 2. So much content in the original that I have yet to explore. Perhaps this is just an artifact of me having very little time to play games now.
-
Comment on Photo digitizing in ~tech
TonesTones LinkDepends if you have access to a scanning machine like a ScanSnap. It would not be worth buying one for this project (unless I’m dramatically underestimating the cost of the scanning service), but...Depends if you have access to a scanning machine like a ScanSnap. It would not be worth buying one for this project (unless I’m dramatically underestimating the cost of the scanning service), but if you don’t have a ScanSnap, I imagine scanning all those photos individually with a printer will take an eternity. If you do have access to a ScanSnap or similar, you could probably scan them all in a day.
-
Comment on Sweden's employment agency has been tracking the online locations of thousands of citizens claiming unemployment benefits in an effort to crack down on welfare fraud in ~tech
TonesTones LinkWhat a strange way to do enforcement. I don’t know anything about Sweden’s laws, but shouldn’t the banks that receive the deposited funds (either via paper check or direct deposit) be able to say...What a strange way to do enforcement. I don’t know anything about Sweden’s laws, but shouldn’t the banks that receive the deposited funds (either via paper check or direct deposit) be able to say where their customers live? KYC and all that. Place of residence is pretty important in many countries, even just for tax reasons.
-
Comment on Can AI rescue us from the mess of prior auth? in ~health
TonesTones LinkI love posts like this where they are a deep dive into a topic from an expert; I get to learn so much about the intricacies of a system that I don’t normally get exposure to. Every time I learn...I love posts like this where they are a deep dive into a topic from an expert; I get to learn so much about the intricacies of a system that I don’t normally get exposure to.
Medicare Advantage (MA), the federal program in which patients’ Medicare benefits are turned over to a health plan, creating an arrangement known as capitation in which the health plan receives a fixed sum (adjusted for patient age and preexisting illnesses) to care for a patient, usually over a full year. Such arrangements give health plans a powerful incentive to minimize their expenditures.
Every time I learn more about the health care system in the U.S., the more I think there’s no reasonable way to structure fully private for-profit health insurance companies without creating perverse incentives.
I’m still open to private health insurance but I just think they should be non-profits with executive pay limit and legal requirements to put any extra money towards medical R&D, premium discounts, additional care, etc. The profit incentive just breaks everything.
-
Comment on Why language models hallucinate in ~tech
TonesTones LinkI want to preface by hedging that it’s been quite some time since I’ve engaged in math research, and some of the concepts fly over my head. I think the authors’ hypothesis is a reasonable one, so...- Exemplary
I want to preface by hedging that it’s been quite some time since I’ve engaged in math research, and some of the concepts fly over my head.
I think the authors’ hypothesis is a reasonable one, so I wanted to skim through the paper to see what new evidence they had to arrive at this conclusion. I was very disappointed by the actual text of the paper, since it seems like nothing more than a well-defined hypothesis.
Mathematically, it seemed like the paper made a lot of assumptions about how LLMs and the training process worked in order to arrive at its conclusion, without a whole lot of evidence or citations showing why those assumptions were valid. I won’t get into the weeds since I’m probably wrong about the details and I think I can make my argument without those details.
See, modern ML research is a lot more like science than math. Making unjustified assumptions about underlying functions and distributions is how most research is done; then, you design and perform experiments to try and develop something meaningful regardless of your assumptions. The most surprising thing about this paper was the lack of any meaningful experiments or data to justify its conclusions. Especially surprising considering that OpenAI definitely has the resources to run experiments on models.
That brings me to the kicker: if OpenAI had actually figured out methodology to reduce hallucinations, it would be a trade secret and would never have been published. It’s possible that’s what happened. Perhaps this paper originally had made progress on hallucinations, but was censored for business reasons. It could have been published anyway for internal political reasons, as signals to investors, or for public attention.
It’s also possible that they know their hypothesis is wrong from experiments, and they are publishing anyway to throw competing model developers off their scent and give them a red herring. This is the problem with profit-driven businesses being responsible for research. There are already so many perverse incentives about reputation in academia, and if you introduce the monetary and political incentives of business, it becomes so hard to tell if anything published is legitimate.
-
Comment on What art means to me in this era of AI tools in ~tech
TonesTones LinkI spend some time writing online. It’s a pretty different style than the comments I write here but, who knows, maybe someday someone will find it and it will end up posted here. I indulge in that...- Exemplary
I spend some time writing online. It’s a pretty different style than the comments I write here but, who knows, maybe someday someone will find it and it will end up posted here.
I indulge in that writing, which I consider art, not for the final product. I write because of the way that the process of writing transforms the person that I am. I think many of us get distracted by the commercialization, attention-seeking, and productivity-optimizing of the modern era. AI might prevent most artists from commercializing their work and from getting a wide audience, but those things were always modern privileges. Historically, artists and their art were lost to the sands of time, and today they will be lost to feeds of AI slop.
The pieces that I work on will never be remembered, cannot be sold, and will likely only be appreciated by a handful of folks, probably personal friends. Yet, my engagement with art yields a deeper reward about my human condition. AI can’t take that away, and it doesn’t even feel like a threat.
-
Comment on The evidence that AI is destroying jobs for young people just got stronger in ~tech
TonesTones Link ParentI don’t think it totally does, but the distinction is pedantic; I wasn’t being formal. I said “stop hiring new grads” when the data shows that new grads are getting hired at a lower rate, not that...- Exemplary
Doesn't this logic predicate that all students use AI?
I don’t think it totally does, but the distinction is pedantic; I wasn’t being formal. I said “stop hiring new grads” when the data shows that new grads are getting hired at a lower rate, not that none of them are finding jobs.
I think the realistic proportions of students (especially at large universities that have trouble enforcing policy) who are wholly dependent on AI for their coursework would shock most people that don’t work in a university setting, and potentially a lot that do. I believe the percentage is large enough to make a statistically significant impact on the larger trend for entire cohorts.
My larger point was more that there are a lot of factors when it comes to entry-level hiring shrinking. I started from assumptions of “AI bad” and “AI good” but there are similar arguments for the timing of COVID on development (virtual classrooms, poor social skills, etc.), the rise of short-form content and its impact on attention, and broader economic forces. I just think the “entry-level jobs in specific industries is down” doesn’t support “AI is effective” well at all.
People in their earlier 20s today got screwed for a lot of reasons, and I think you can point to any of them as valid explanations for reasons companies don’t hire them as much.
I 100% agree. I think these design criticisms are reasonable, but it’s clear Team Cherry is full of big fans of metroidvanias (the original Metroid games suffered from this “problem” too), and this is definitely an intentional artistic choice and not an error.