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Big Tech seeks every advantage to convince users that computing is revolutionized by the latest fad. When the tipping point of Large Language Models (LLMs) was reached a few years ago, generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems quickly became that latest snake oil for sale on the carnival podium.

There's so much to criticize about generative AI, but I focus now merely on the pseudo-scientific rhetoric adopted to describe the LLM-backed user-interactive systems in common use today. “Ugh, what a convoluted phrase”, you may ask, “why not call them ‘chat bots’ like everyone else?” Because “chat bot” exemplifies the very anthropomorphic hyperbole of concern.

The Economist’s latest piece on tipping points is a wake-up call for policymakers and CFOs Scott Kelly The article in The Economist – “Earth’s climate…

Dear Families,

When you enter the classroom, you will notice Sharpies hanging at eye level above every cubby. PLEASE use them to label your child’s belongings AND your child. Unfortunately, if we must give more than a couple of reminders, there will be logical consequences. We will:

What makes Modern Monetary Theory different? Jim Byrne It is the methodological approach that makes Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) different. It is this approach that…

Modern Monetary Theory and taxation Gregory John Olsen (ERA FB Discussion Group) The Federal Treasurer’s Economic Reform Round Table has missed the most important fact…

NYC, Seattle, and more paid millions for Axon Fusus software after speaking to an Atlanta officer — who sat on Fusus’s board.

The post “Duped”: How One Atlanta Cop Secretly Shilled for Police Tech appeared first on The Intercept.

Thirty years ago, nanotech was about to change everything. Let’s not get tricked again by Silicon Valley’s magical thinking

- by Philip Ball

Read on Aeon

The appointment of James Cleverley to oppose Angela Rayner as Shadow Housing Minister confirms that, finally, housing has reached near the top of the domestic political agenda and for the first time since the post-war period, the two main parties are going to compete on the housing terrain. Both are doomed to fail. They remain […]

Leaked documents reveal how a shadowy BBC unit is “embedding” staff in foreign media outlets to “contest the information space” and generate “behaviour change” in favor of London’s geopolitical objectives. Though BBC Media Action (BBCMA) portrays itself as the “international charity” of the British state broadcaster, files show the group frequently carries out politically-charged projects overseas with government funding. Furthermore, the group consistently trades upon the BBC’s reputation and its intimate “links” with the British state broadcaster when pitching for […]

The post BBC Media Action: Britain’s overseas info warfare unit first appeared on The Grayzone.

The post BBC Media Action: Britain’s overseas info warfare unit appeared first on The Grayzone.

We at McSweeney’s mourn the loss of one of publishing’s great and large-hearted figures, Malcolm Margolin. The founder of Heyday Books in Berkeley, he published hundreds of important titles that told the story of California. He was also a mentor to so many Bay Area publishers, and advised McSweeney’s at a key moment in our history. About ten years ago, when we were contemplating our existence — our very ability to survive — we reached out to Malcolm for advice, and he laid out the roadmap that helped us transition to our current nonprofit status. Without his guidance and encouragement, we shudder to think where we’d be today. Malcolm made the impossible seem practical, and he cheered on everyone around him. We will miss him dearly.

Slashing support: How the NDIS is leaving the most vulnerable behind James Rosier As funding cuts take hold, the NDIS is drifting further from its…

As Zhuangzi saw, there is no immutably true self. Instead our identity is as dynamic and alive as a butterfly in flight

- by Alexander Douglas

Read on Aeon

Why it’s important that young unemployed Australians get a good job instead of just ‘any’ job Brendan Churchill We often hear young people need to…