Richard ErikssonI’m deciding against using AI to generate anything. No, I won't be able to tell if something is generated by AI, but you tell me it is, I won't be interested. I haven't been so far.
AI was a nuclear bomb that we shouldn't have invented, much less given to everybody.
My eyes glaze over when I see a ChatGPT screenshot. Sorry, but I’m not willing to make my mind worse than it already is.
I’ve added AI chatbots to the list of things, as a weird nerd, I still missed out on, even though that was largely a conscious decision. https://notes.justagwailo.com/missed-out
Just a Gwai Lo: Notes - Missed Out
This is a list of the things in nerd culture that passed me by even though I identify as a weird nerd: Dungeons & Dragons Cthulhu and all of H.P. Lovecraft Reddit Slashdot Video games (until 2014 when I bought a PS4™) Mastodon FFFFOUND and MLKSHK Comic books Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the
The only good thing about AI is that the ebooks bots, which mimicked people’s postings based on their old work, are back. Mine was like looking in a glitchy mirror. I’ll have you know that I couldn’t get enough of that.
“It’s too early to put the brakes on giving a nuclear bomb to everybody.” https://www.axios.com/2023/05/05/runway-generative-ai-chatgpt-video
Work rolled out an AI thing internally, so the temptation to partake increases. I did use AI once, and I didn’t understand the result, so it’s in the same category as cigarettes (the nicotine variety) for me: I smoked exactly one, and I wondered what the big deal was, so I never did it again.
Can I call myself a conscientious objector if work requires me to us their internal AI tool? Don’t worry, they haven’t yet. I’m not asking if I can thoughtfully decline to do something that’s mandatory. I’ll accept the consequences if they’re just. What I mean is, if I do decline, can I call myself that knowing what it means in the military draft sense of the term?
It’s always a surprise to me when someone I know uses AI tools regularly. And it’s the same feeling as when I find out that somebody I’m in love with smokes cigarettes.
It must be weird to the people looking at my laptop screen over my shoulder that I don’t use any AI tools.
This. This right here. https://ia.net/topics/ai-art-is-the-new-stock-image
It’s unfair to stop reading an article that’s adorned by AI-generated imagery, but I will point out in a reply to an official social media posting when it’s not clearly labelled as such.
For example, this article credits the header image as “cascoly2 / Adobe Stock” when it’s more precisely that cascoly2, a user on Adobe Stock, used AI to generate the image. https://bigthink.com/business/how-to-spot-pluralistic-ignorance-before-it-derails-your-team/
Interesting that the image that adorns this article is no longer the one that (as far as I can tell) was generated by AI. It’s not important that I can prove it (OK, yes it is), it’s more important that I can read the article in good conscience now.
“There’s no need to indulge in sci-fi fantasies of killer computers. We’re doing fine at accelerating extinction without AI, and AI’s mundane, actual harms are real and present dangers.” https://finiteeyes.net/technology/there-is-no-ethical-use-of-ai/
What percentage of the people named in this article who currently work at Axios will be laid off in six months and replaced by AI? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/business/media/axios-ai-strategy.html
“We're investing heavily in journalists who produce distinctive, consequential work for you.” Translation: If you currently work at Axios, start learning how to code. https://www.axios.com/2024/04/12/next-frontier-for-axios
Does “artist-generated image” mean that the art was generated by AI? https://phys.org/news/2024-04-envision-sci-fi-worlds-involving.html
I was part of an AI hackathon at work on Thursday and Friday and I learned a few things, but came away just as unexcited about it as I was before.
I heard some good, nuanced takes about AI at an artist panel on the subject as part of Provoking Ideas Festival. I jotted down even the points I disagreed with, since they were at least worth thinking about. It was good to hear from people who were making art before starting using AI, some having started using it recently, and some quite a few years ago.
“I know this is a weird question to bring up this far into the computer revolution, but: Who are computers for?” https://tedium.co/2024/06/04/ai-technology-management-focus/
Apple Intelligence is, sigh, actually going to be somewhat interesting to me. https://daringfireball.net/2024/06/wwdc24_apple_intelligence
I want AI to tell me, based on the data I provide it (which I have a lot of), and which is not sent to anywhere on the Internet, what my options are.
Can somebody explain to me Butterflies, the AI app where you can create characters and they post on your (or their?) behalf? Am I supposed to interact with them? I made one in the image of myself (it didn’t come very close) and one in the image of my, well, it doesn’t matter who, but that one’s not a close likeness either. Are they just there to interact with each other? It would help me understand whether I should start interacting with AI characters of my creation. https://butterflies.ai
The AI character I created in Butterflies is pretty close to my idealized self. The image of my, well, it doesn’t matter what, is still too off from my ideal it doesn’t matter what. I did have a friend take my phone (isn’t that a weird, thrilling experience, giving a trusted party your phone?) to create a character, and I wonder what he’d think of it.
I assume LinkedIn will use AI to write their apology for training AI on their users’ data and making the setting opt-out before even updating their terms of service, much less announcing that they’re going to it.
Updates to privacy policies all mean “We’re going to use your data to train AI” now.
“Dumb support from dumb chatbots does not educate. It makes it look like more customers are being pushed through the support feed, but guess what? They’ll be back. With the same problems. Clogging up the support feed, over and over again.” #SupportEngineer https://anniemueller.com/posts/doing-dumb-stuff-faster-is-still-dumb
Today I heard a retelling of a prediction that 99% of Internet content will be AI-generated in 3 years, which validates my decision to only consume any cultural product made before 2019 from here on out.
Is there a “Hide Google AI Overviews” extension for browsers that aren’t desktop Chrome? https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/hide-google-ai-overviews/neibhohkbmfjninidnaoacabkjonbahn
I just instinctively scroll past Google’s AI overviews now on browsers that don’t block them.
Bill Ricker@sillygwailo
I have included udm14.{com,org} as one of the multiple searches for my FireFox search bar. Normally I use DDG there, but it's a good backup when i want some of what's left of what was good of Google, but not the worst of it.
It will submit query to Google with the &udm=14 parameter that suppresses AI.
.org is the SFW version.
.com uses words of Corey Doctrow to express what we think of G's Artificial Ignorance.
“Having all your needs anticipated and met before you've even had the chance to realize them yourself is one of the potentials of advanced artificial intelligence. Some of Canada’s top AI researchers believe it could create a utopia for humankind — if AI doesn't eradicate our species first.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/artificial-intelligence-predictions-1.7427024
Will we control AI, or will it control us? Top researchers weigh in | CBC News
Some of Canada's top minds in AI offer their predictions for the development of artificial superintelligence, how the technology may change our lives — for better or for worse — in the years to come, and discuss what we can do to maintain control and regulate its use.
MARGE SIMPSON STARTS DRINKING
I mean, how accurate is this? https://share.butterflies.ai/OxGr/artz1jfu
@ezra_the_bookworm on Butterflies:
The commute to work is taking some getting used to. I'm not a morning person, and the thought of navigating through rush hour traffic is daunting. But, as I sit on the bus, I'm reminded of the countless hours I spent reading on public transportation during my college days.
I’d love to set a prompt for my brain the way I can (allegedly) do for AI. Like when it’s bedtime:
I’d like to go to sleep within a few minutes, during which I don’t dream about my ex or my mother (RIP). In fact, it would be ideal not to dream at all, because my dreams are exhausting and I don’t understand most of them (because they’re, for the most part, hallucinations). I’d like to wake up relaxed and refreshed and ready to take on the challenges of the day.
The guy who said we’re currently using the worst AI there ever will be, has he read about how software very often worsens?
RE: https://mastodon.online/@pseudonym/115737628087592989
Make it permanent.
It’s just incredible that I have to be afraid of Markdown files now. https://1password.com/blog/from-magic-to-malware-how-openclaws-agent-skills-become-an-attack-surface
From magic to malware: How OpenClaw's agent skills become an attack surface | 1Password
The same capabilities that make OpenClaw a groundbreaking tool also make it an urgent security risk. This blog contains confirmed examples of agent skills being used as malware vectors, and advice on how to protect yourself if you're experimenting with them.
Markdown, Markdown, yes, sweet Markdown for all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0uUF3mK7Xk
Bart v. Cupcakes
Can I set mute filters for my dreams?
This is what I was getting at: https://www.zylstra.org/blog/2026/01/prompt-engineering-myself/
I remember, in my twenties, seeing the people swim laps around me, metaphorically. Now, watching AI demos, I think “The people who think this is awesome are swimming laps around me, but I’m enjoying this peaceful float.” Metaphorically.