aetherious's recent activity
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Comment on Your phone already has social credit. We just lie about it. in ~finance
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
aetherious LinkDoorbell prankster that tormented residents of German apartments turns out to be a slugDoorbell prankster that tormented residents of German apartments turns out to be a slug
In a statement, a police spokesperson in Schwabach, Bavaria, said the animal had “been brought down to size, taught about its territory boundaries and placed on a nearby stretch of grass”.
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Comment on Refusing LinkedIn's ID verification is costing me my job in ~tech
aetherious Link ParentI had come across this when I was helping someone with their LinkedIn account and once they ask for identity verification, there's no way to get around it even logging in from another device,...I had come across this when I was helping someone with their LinkedIn account and once they ask for identity verification, there's no way to get around it even logging in from another device, you're basically locked out until you verify. This was a new account, so there wasn't much there and I think their overenthusiastic request sending flagged their bot filters, but they had to start another one. They also did not have a way to identify using the work email because it wasn't added before, so if you are starting a new account, I would add that and keep just in case along with a phone number if you can because their support and help resources are pretty much useless.
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Comment on Spotify is adding direct messaging to their music streaming app in ~tech
aetherious LinkSo they're not end-to-end encrypted if Spotify is scanning the messages and it's probably more for Spotify to track what users share in a single place rather than for users to have a single place...The feature aims to consolidate content recommendations that already happen over texts, social media, and third-party messaging services into a single location where Spotify users can more easily track their shared content.
Spotify says the user-to-user messages are 1:1, support text conversations and emoji reactions, and are protected by “industry-standard encryption”.
Users can choose to accept or reject message requests, block other users, or opt out of Messages entirely. Users can also report any shared content and text messages, or the account that sent them, by holding down on the message to flag anything nefarious. Spotify says it will proactively scan Messages for “certain unlawful and harmful content” and review chats that get reported by users.
So they're not end-to-end encrypted if Spotify is scanning the messages and it's probably more for Spotify to track what users share in a single place rather than for users to have a single place to share Spotify recommendations. It seems like a way for them to get more data on users rather than anything else. What are the chances they also use these for better ad targeting, considering they're also rolling this out to free users?
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Comment on If you're forced to use Windows 11, here's how to steal some of your time back in ~comp
aetherious LinkThanks for sharing this! This was worth it to get rid of the finish setting up your device screen finally. I already had a couple of things mentioned in this turned off (the more egregious news...Thanks for sharing this! This was worth it to get rid of the finish setting up your device screen finally. I already had a couple of things mentioned in this turned off (the more egregious news and suggestions) but I didn't know this was even a thing that could be turned off.
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
aetherious Link‘Just Tan and Be Hot and Single’: The People Fighting to Be on ‘Love Island’ I don't watch Love Island, but I do find it fascinating to hear about it as a curiosity.‘Just Tan and Be Hot and Single’: The People Fighting to Be on ‘Love Island’
I don't watch Love Island, but I do find it fascinating to hear about it as a curiosity.
New applications increase each year; the team received around 20,000 for season seven.
On a Saturday in mid-June, nearly two weeks after season seven premiered, “Love Island” hopefuls waited in the pouring rain to attend the Atlanta stop of the summer casting tour. Over 1,000 people dressed in brightly colored swimsuits, two-piece sets and sarongs sat through casting interviews before the line was cut off.
Producers also comb through social media, sometimes finding potential contestants through tagged photos or location tags. The monthslong casting process involves multiple interviews, psych evaluations, social media screenings, STD tests and personality tests.
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Comment on Exploring the dangers of AI in mental health care in ~health.mental
aetherious Link ParentI've noticed this change too and it's certainly from the changes to the default prompts that these models come with. Since these companies, like all tech companies, probably value engagement...And that's the thing, if before it was just how LLM's work, it was just a side effect of how they set up the thing, now it seems intentional. OpenAI and Google seem to want their AI's to be sycophants.
I've noticed this change too and it's certainly from the changes to the default prompts that these models come with. Since these companies, like all tech companies, probably value engagement metrics, the sycophantic behavior is probably an aspect of the LLM behavior they've deemed to be the way more users spend more time on their platform. It's certainly why ChatGPT has more 'personality' now and will evolve based on your interactions, even though it will resort to the default programmed personality response. It can still manage to challenge your responses but you have to go out of your way to ask for it and it's much, much worse at it.
This, more than ever, pushes the responsibility towards the users to use the products meaningfully. The one-line disclaimers at the bottom of all of them in the smallest readable text isn't enough, especially when they can sound so persuasive and people are susceptible enough towards confirmation bias already.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
aetherious Link ParentFootnotes of footnotes is a great description! The structure of this format does lend itself to complicated emotions well, I tried exploring with other ideas in third-person but it worked the best...Footnotes of footnotes is a great description! The structure of this format does lend itself to complicated emotions well, I tried exploring with other ideas in third-person but it worked the best with writing a character's thoughts. Thanks for reading!
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
aetherious Link ParentCongratulations on finishing your first draft! That's a big accomplishment.Congratulations on finishing your first draft! That's a big accomplishment.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
aetherious Link ParentThat's such a great piece! It looks wonderful, I love the flowy shape of it.That's such a great piece! It looks wonderful, I love the flowy shape of it.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
aetherious LinkSince @gryfft shared the hypertext fiction from Snuggle Squiggle about a month ago, I gave the telescopic text tool to write some short fiction in that format. Here's: I hated oranges (290 words)...Since @gryfft shared the hypertext fiction from Snuggle Squiggle about a month ago, I gave the telescopic text tool to write some short fiction in that format.
Here's: I hated oranges (290 words)
I certainly appreciate that story a lot more after writing in this format because it's challenging to figure out how to write in this click-to-expand format and still keep it cohesive even at such a small word count. I started out with something similar to the example text on the website by Joe Davis, and it's an excellent creative writing exercise to think this way.
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Comment on I deleted my second brain in ~tech
aetherious LinkSure, some of this is true. But I do think in connections often enough that I find having a place where I have thoughts on separate pages that I can link together useful. I like doing a 'lazier'...The “second brain” metaphor is both ambitious and (to a degree) biologically absurd. Human memory is not an archive. It is associative, embodied, contextual, emotional. We do not think in folders. We do not retrieve meaning through backlinks. Our minds are improvisational. They forget on purpose.
Sure, some of this is true. But I do think in connections often enough that I find having a place where I have thoughts on separate pages that I can link together useful.
I like doing a 'lazier' version for my second brain in Obsidian which isn't too much pressure. I have sort-of a system, but there will be weeks that go by where I don't follow them and then I'll start it back up again. I use it more as an extended journaling tool and central space for keeping track of everything I like/interests me. It's not all 'insights' about the world, but more insights about myself. I think it's helped not having a 'goal' for my second brain. I don't track word counts or files or even strictly follow templates. I have folders, but only for the 'format' of the source or note (Books/Articles/Workshops/Movies/Shows/People). No tags, not even headings in notes sometimes. It's more just text that I can connect together, creating my own hyperlinked version of interests.
Perhaps having my system of not having a system has been the most helpful of all.
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Comment on User-friendly and privacy-friendly LLM experience? in ~comp
aetherious LinkThere are recent legal developments concerning ChatGPT's data retention due to a lawsuit, OpenAI has written more about it in this blog post. Relevant parts:There are recent legal developments concerning ChatGPT's data retention due to a lawsuit, OpenAI has written more about it in this blog post. Relevant parts:
The New York Times is suing OpenAI. As part of their baseless lawsuit, they’ve recently asked the court to force us to retain all user content indefinitely going forward, based on speculation that they might find something that supports their case.
Is my data impacted?
Yes, if you have a ChatGPT Free, Plus, Pro, and Team subscription or if you use the OpenAI API (without a Zero Data Retention agreement). This does not impact ChatGPT Enterprise or ChatGPT Edu customers. This does not impact API customers who are using Zero Data Retention endpoints under our ZDR amendment.
Right now, the court order forces us to retain consumer ChatGPT and API content going forward. That said, we are actively challenging the order, and if we are successful, we’ll resume our standard data retention practices.
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Comment on Apple introduces iOS 26 with Liquid Glass redesign in ~tech
aetherious LinkI didn't expect the Windows Aero Glass look to make a comeback through Apple. Mini Microsoft design rant I much preferred what Microsoft was doing with their design language in Windows 7 than...I didn't expect the Windows Aero Glass look to make a comeback through Apple.
Mini Microsoft design rant
I much preferred what Microsoft was doing with their design language in Windows 7 than whatever abomination the current look is now which I think is the worst its ever been across the bar including Windows 11 including the worst emojis I've ever seen that's made me actually hate emojis and I didn't like them much before. -
Comment on In a world first, Brazilians will soon be able to sell their digital data in ~tech
aetherious Link ParentCounterpoint, the agricultural industry is regulated but there are incentives that drive profit that harm ecosystems long-term like cash crops that are linked to excessive water usage and habitat...Counterpoint, the agricultural industry is regulated but there are incentives that drive profit that harm ecosystems long-term like cash crops that are linked to excessive water usage and habitat destruction. Regulations to prevent and mitigate damage take a long time to catch up.
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Comment on Behind the curtain: A white-collar bloodbath in ~tech
aetherious LinkI would not want to be entering the job market right now. Anecdotally, I've seen work that would've been done by an entry-level copywriter and business development executive been replaced with AI....I would not want to be entering the job market right now. Anecdotally, I've seen work that would've been done by an entry-level copywriter and business development executive been replaced with AI. LLMs still don't seem equipped to replace higher-level thinking and particulars that would come from experience, but working with them has been equivalent to working with interns, who are very skilled in some ways but dumb in others. You give detailed instructions, get the results immediately, and then you revise and check the work.
I can't speak to the particulars of coding or curing cancer, but the current capabilities are enough for most marketing functions, sales, putting together basic reports (especially work like transforming data from one form to another), and initial research.
There also seems to be data to back this up.
The latest that I was able to find is from a workforce data company, Revelio Labs, May 13
Unlike rising blue-collar pay, salaries offered in new job postings for white-collar roles have remained flat since mid-2024. Early-career roles have experienced the most significant stagnation in listed pay, while salaries in top executive job postings have increased.
There's definitely a lot of hype mixed in with what's achievable with current AI capabilities which makes it difficult to ascertain what future work trends might be, but it's certainly going to become more challenging for those who were previously able to have a role that was entirely 'low'-level work that AI can do.
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Comment on "Weave Me Another Cocoon" - A hypertext tragedy in ~books
aetherious Link ParentI haven't come across experimental hypertext fiction before, I'll be looking up the other ones you mentioned. I've thought about writing something similar with links leading to different texts and...I haven't come across experimental hypertext fiction before, I'll be looking up the other ones you mentioned. I've thought about writing something similar with links leading to different texts and try a non-linear format, especially with the theme of memory. This was a great experience, thank you for sharing this.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
aetherious Link ParentSo I did already know about the first from something I came across online, but I did not expect spoiler that his flight license would go all the way to a 737, and then he would fly a plane full of...So I did already know about the first from something I came across online, but I did not expect
There were so many themes that came together in that finale, especially in the last few moments. I especially loved howspoiler
that his flight license would go all the way to a 737, and then he would fly a plane full of actual (actor) passengers. So, that was still a big surprise.spoiler
that Evanscence song, tied into the the Sully episode, but also the autism diagnostic test with the lyrics 'How can you see into my eyes, like open doors' and then the zoom in to Nathan's eyes. I knew the performance would happen, because it would make a good finale moment, and I had also seen someone who had taken part in the Wings of Voice auditions (who turned out to be the winner) post that there's something she couldn't talk about until the season aired.And even after the finale, Nathan's still going with his appearances on Jimmy Kimmel and also CNN (both spoilers).
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John Goglia also appeared on CNN with Nathan, which was nice to see. They also discussed a statement FAA made about the show.He really does commit.
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Comment on Games that meaningfully teach you things in ~games
aetherious LinkCSS Grid Garden (online) for learning CSS by growing your carrot garden.CSS Grid Garden (online) for learning CSS by growing your carrot garden.
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Comment on Inside arXiv — the most transformative platform in all of science in ~science
aetherious LinkThere's a certain irony in this being behind WIRED's paid subscription. It's significantly cheaper than Nature, but still not free like arXiv.There's a certain irony in this being behind WIRED's paid subscription. It's significantly cheaper than Nature, but still not free like arXiv.
In 2021, the journal Nature declared arXiv one of the “10 computer codes that transformed science,” praising its role in fostering scientific collaboration. (The article is behind a paywall—unlock it for $199 a year.)
Amazon does limit refunds and LinkedIn can ask for identity verification. These are meant to be fraud protection but they're not transparent about what goes into these and some policies might be more for company protection rather than for users. Amazon refusing refunds for fake products received due to conmingled inventories. LinkedIn might use the smallest reasons to get ID verification because they want to push their Verified tag to more profiles (also might want more data). There are alternatives to Amazon, but for some products depending on where you are, it might be the only option. And you need LinkedIn for a lot of jobs, terrible as the platform is.
Morality isn't tied in, but I think it's worth considering how tech is becoming increasingly linked with our lives.