[-] rook@awful.systems 19 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

From linkedin, not normally known as a source of anti-ai takes so that’s a nice change. I found it via bluesky so I can’t say anything about its provenance:

We keep hearing that AI will soon replace software engineers, but we're forgetting that it can already replace existing jobs... and one in particular.

The average Founder CEO.

Before you walk away in disbelief, look at what LLMs are already capable of doing today:

  • They use eloquence as a surrogate for knowledge, and most people, including seasoned investors, fall for it.
  • They regurgitate material they read somewhere online without really understanding its meaning.
  • They fabricate numbers that have no ground in reality, but sound aligned with the overall narrative they're trying to sell you.
  • They are heavily influenced by the last conversations they had.
  • They contradict themselves, pretending they aren't.
  • They politely apologize for their mistakes, but don't take any real steps to fix the underlying problem that caused them in the first place.
  • They tend to forget what they told you last week, or even one hour ago, and do it in a way that makes you doubt your own recall of events.
  • They are victims of the Dunning–Kruger effect, and they believe they know a lot more about the job of people interacting with them than they actually do.
  • They can make pretty slides in high volumes.
  • They're very good at consuming resources, but not as good at turning a profit.
[-] rook@awful.systems 5 points 5 days ago

Also, blinded studies don’t exist and even if they did there’s no reason any academics would have heard of them.

[-] rook@awful.systems 10 points 6 days ago

social constructs

The problem with tiresome reactionary chuds trying to use the language of social justice to fight back is that it is very clear that they have no idea what the words mean, or much about the subject in question at all. There’s this pervasive idea in right-wing circles that you can just use a sort of faux-academic voice and make yourself seem more erudite…”I’ve put the scholar hat on, you have to take me seriously now”. They seem to think that how you talk is more important than what you think or say, and I suspect this is because they have nothing of any value or interest to say, and don’t really think much about anything further than “hurr, non-fascism bad”.

Let’s be charitable and assume you’re coming from a position of honest ignorance. Maybe lurk more, and learn the meaning of the words you’re using before you use them, so you don’t come across as a tedious reactionary doing a philosopher cosplay.

[-] rook@awful.systems 12 points 6 days ago

Early release. Raw and unedited.

Vibe publishing.

[-] rook@awful.systems 17 points 2 months ago

which can be used in many very useful ways, including saving life and reducing the work needed to fulfill the needs of a population

Uh huh. “Can” needs an asterisk and some disclaimers there. And probably “useful”, too.

[-] rook@awful.systems 84 points 3 months ago

A real ceo does everything. Delegation is for losers who can’t cope. Can’t move fast enough and break enough things if you’re constantly waiting for your lackeys to catch up.

If those numbers people were cleverer than the ceo, they’d be the ones in charge, and they aren’t. Checkmate. Do you even read Ayn Rand, bro?

[-] rook@awful.systems 20 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

It’s a long read, but a good one (though not a nice one).

  • learn about how all the people who actually make decisions in c++ world are complete assholes!
  • liking go (the programming language) correlated with brain damage!
  • in c++ world, it is ok to throw an arbitrary number of highly competent non-bros out of the window in order to keep a bro on board, even if said bro drugged and raped a minor!
  • the c++ module system is like a gunshot wound to the ass!
  • c++ leadership is delusional about memory safety!
  • even more assholes!

Someone on mastodon (can’t remember who right now) joked that they were expecting the c++ committee to publicly support trump, in the hopes he would retract the usg memory safety requirements. I can now believe that they might have considered that, and are probably hoping he’ll come down in their favour now that he’s coming in.

[-] rook@awful.systems 24 points 6 months ago

They’re rebranding American Christian milenaranism. Much like the second coming and/or the rapture, the AGI god will be here Real Soon Now, so please pay your tithes and trust that the church fathers are doing the right thing.

Much like the older cults it mirrors, it isn’t capable of delivering on its promises, but it is capable of doing substantial amounts of regular damage in the meantime, and that’s the only thing worth freaking out about.

[-] rook@awful.systems 17 points 6 months ago

Proton continuing to do pointlessly stupid and self-destructive things:

https://infosec.exchange/@malwaretech/113257047424000919

They're basically admitting they didn't pay an influencer to spread misinformation about public wifi in order to sell VPN products, they just stole her likeness, used her photo, and attributed completely made up quote to her.

But it was a joke guys! We did a satire! I’m totally certain I know what satire is!

[-] rook@awful.systems 17 points 7 months ago

You would choose your nationality like you choose your broadband provider. You would become a citizen of the franchised cyber statelet of your choice.

Ahh, I can’t wait.

Notification of planned maintenance 

Rule of law will be suspended between midnight and 6am 
pacific time to upgrade the constitution. We apologise for 
any inconvenience or loss of life.
[-] rook@awful.systems 19 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Do any “ai” companies have a business plan more sophisticated than

  1. steal everything on the web
  2. buy masses of compute with vc money
  3. become too important to be busted for mass copyright infringement
  4. ?
  5. profit

I don’t recall seeing any signs of creativity, or even any good ideas as to what their product is even for, so I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for one of the current crop to manifest creativity now.

Perhaps I missed something, though?

[-] rook@awful.systems 31 points 8 months ago

They could have just sat there and slurped up enormous profits from the bubble as all the people who can’t find a use for their “AI” systems buy nvidia hardware, but no. They had to get high from their own supply. I can’t see this boding well for them.

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rook

joined 2 years ago