Tom Morris

I tried to get a large language model to summarise some documents today.

The first one was a transcript of a podcast. It didn't pick out anything interesting - merely stating the topic of the podcast (which one could infer easily from the name of said podcast and the professions and backgrounds of the guests).

I saw a really interesting question on a StackExchange site.

I thought about it a bit. I drafted an answer.

Then I remembered all the shit that SO/SE have been doing with moderation embracing AI bullshit and so on, and decided "nah, fuck you and fuck that".

I copied my answer into my notes, where it will remain for now.

Do enjoy training your endless vomit generator on the incorrect answer instead.

The more you hang around in software, the more your role changes from building software to being a walking museum of cursed knowledge and hard-won warnings.

https://mastodon.social/@whitequark/111875521914324666

Back in 2021, government ministers were actually taking the whole idea of moving back to imperial measures with some seriousness as a purported "Brexit benefit".

Instead of suggesting a prompt referral to a neurologist, they held a consultation.

Today, in the lull between Christmas and New Year's, the government put out the consultation response in the hope nobody would notice. A fitting end for a ridiculous idea.

Meanwhile, the hunt for Brexit benefits rumbles on...

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/choice-on-units-of-measurement-markings-and-sales/outcome/choice-on-units-of-measurement-consultation-response

Webcams being described as being "mirrorless" is a delighftul level of tech marketing bollocks.

Like, imagine the opposite. A webcam with the mirror from an old Nikon F2 or whatever bouncing up and down 30 times a second while you discuss sprint goals and KPIs.

At least nobody would complain about mechanical keyboard clickiness on calls after that experience.

What would be really useful right now is if we could get as much content off corporate platforms and onto boring, advert-free static websites without tracking and spammy SEO bullshit as possible.

https://boingboing.net/2023/10/22/reddit-reportedly-plans-to-block-googles-search-crawler.html

Just re-read this.

Regulators of implanted medical technology should be demanding that all source code, design docs and other technical material be lodged in escrow.

If the company ceases to make support available, make it all public.

It's one thing for movies or TV shows or video games to disappear "into the vault", but prioritising protection of completely unused IP rights over the the health and wellbeing of patients is criminal.

https://spectrum.ieee.org/bionic-eye-obsolete