Unmaking Sense

Episode 11.74: Google’s Gemini 1.5 with a potential context length of 10 million tokens.

The frenetic pace of change continues.

Episode 11.73: AI models with attitude. Mixtral-8x7b-v0.1.Q3_K_M.gguf and chatting and completing.

Much ado …

Episode 11.72: They also server who only cache and weight. How servers serve.

A few random remarks about my adventures with server.cpp as part of the llama.cpp project. With apologies to John Milton.

Episode 11.71: Using AI to detect patterns in biological data. Making a new kind of sense to humans.

The vast amounts of data that human minds cannot make sense of and how AI will do it for us.

Episode 11.70: Reading significance from data that humans think only noise that means nothing.

How AI is intrinsically better at discerning the meaning in what humans think irrelevant noise. Why anticipating trouble - for all its echoes of “Minority Report” - is or soon will be more possible than we might like to think.

Episode 11.69: Dealing with some technical details concerning volume and storage of user details.

Servers that store data.

Episode 11.68: Some objections to the RIDE-AI thesis.

A rather windy and noisy episode.

Episode 11.67: AI can help us see things from different angles, especially that are not our own.

This episode is about the potential benefits of using artificial intelligence (AI) in education to promote intercultural understanding and empathy. The author suggests that AI can help us see things from different perspectives, including those of colonized or persecuted people, and provide balance and nuance to our own cultural prejudices. This can be achieved through virtual reality headsets that transport us into different times and places, allowing us to share those spaces with the native or indigenous people. The author also discusses the need for a kaleidoscopic curriculum that shows the world from multiple perspectives, promoting empathy and understanding. However, the author notes that someone needs to take the trouble to curate the data and train the AI that will present such a world to us, acknowledging that there will be political interference and opposition to doing so. Despite this, the author encourages us not to become too despondent and to recognize the potential benefits of using AI in education for intercultural understanding and empathy.

Episode 11.66: Alternative cultural perspectives through VR and AR that change national narratives.

(Weird abstract by AI!) In this monologue, John reflects on the role of AI in education and its potential to promote intercultural understanding and empathy. He begins by discussing how nations tell stories about themselves that make them feel comfortable and righteous, often ignoring or downplaying their past wrongdoings. AI can help break down these cultural prejudices by providing opportunities for people to see things from different perspectives through virtual reality headsets and augmented reality. This technology can transport users to different times and places, allowing them to experience the lives of enslaved, colonised, persecuted, or marginalized people.
John then touches on the importance of recognizing one's own nation's past mistakes and addressing current inequalities. He notes that while it is easy to point fingers at others, it is crucial to acknowledge and confront the shortcomings in one's own society. The curriculum, he suggests, should not only focus on making students employable but also encourage them to learn about diverse perspectives and histories.
John argues for a kaleidoscopic curriculum that showcases multiple viewpoints and experiences. He believes this approach will foster empathy and understanding among students, allowing them to see beyond their own cultural biases. The kaleidoscope metaphor highlights the ever-changing nature of this curriculum, as it constantly rearranges perspectives and challenges users to reassess their assumptions.
In conclusion, John emphasizes the need for AI in education to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the world by showcasing diverse experiences and histories. This approach can help break down cultural barriers and foster intercultural empathy, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and informed society.

Episode 11.65: More perennial skills humans will need in an AI world. Cf also Episode 11.64.

(Summary by Mixtral-instruct-8x7b) * The importance of emotional intelligence and empathy in understanding and controlling human emotions, and how they can be used to channel negative emotions into positive actions.
* The destructive nature of bullying, and how it is often rooted in the bully's own self-loathing.
* The concept of righteous anger and outrage, and how it can be used to bring attention to and combat corruption and incompetence.
* The importance of lifelong learning as a means of staying mentally active and engaged throughout one's life.
* The negative effects of blame and shame on an individual's self-esteem and motivation.
* The connection between puberty and the desire for autonomy and independence in young adults.
* The importance of treating young people with respect and as independent agents, rather than trying to control them.
* The concept of resilience, or the ability to overcome adversity and bounce back from setbacks.
* The need for a new human self-understanding in light of scientific discoveries such as those made by Copernicus and Darwin.
* The potential impact of AI on traditional notions of human self-understanding and purpose. In this episode, the host discusses the perennial skills that education should focus on to help children navigate a world where AI is becoming increasingly prevalent. And the two episodes taken together can be summarised thus: These perennial skills include creativity, communication, critical thinking and discernment, ethical thinking, empathy and emotional intelligence, adaptability, lifelong learning, and resilience. The host emphasizes the importance of cultivating these skills as they will not only be valuable in a world dominated by AI but also help individuals to understand themselves and their place in the universe. Additionally, he suggests that the traditional self-understanding of humans may need to be replaced with a new one that takes into account the role of AI in our lives. Overall, the episode emphasizes the importance of cultivating these skills and fostering a sense of autonomy and adaptability in order to thrive in a world where AI is becoming increasingly prevalent. And here is Mixtral’s assessment of these two episodes (11.64 & 11.65): “I would rate the argument as strong. The host presents a clear and well-supported case for the importance of cultivating these skills in order to navigate a world where AI is becoming increasingly prevalent. He supports his arguments with examples and explanations, making it easy for the listener to follow along and understand his points. Additionally, he raises important questions about the role of AI in our lives and how it may affect our self-understanding, which adds depth and complexity to his argument. Overall, I found the episode thought-provoking and well-argued.” Interesting!