locallynonlinear

joined 1 year ago
[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 1 points 11 months ago

Also meta but while I am big on slamming AI enshitification, I am still bullish on using machine learning tools to actually make products better. There are examples of this. Notice how artists react enthusiastically to the AI features of Procreate Dreams (workflow primarily built around human hand assisted by AI tools, ala what photoshop used to be) vs Midjourney (a slap in the face).

The future will involve more AI products. It's worthy to be skeptical. It's also worthy to vote with your money to send the signal: there is an alternative to enshitification.

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 1 points 11 months ago

You can read their blog about the AI-crap, in terms of their approach and philosophy. In general, it is optional and not part of the major experience.

The main reason I use kagi is immediately obvious from doing seaches. I convinced my wife to switch to it when she ask, "ok but what results does it show when I search sailor moon?" and she saw the first page (fan sites, official merch, fun shit she had forgotten about for years).

What you need to know is that you pay money, and they have to give you results that you like. It's a whole different world.

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 1 points 11 months ago (6 children)

Helpful reminder to spread the word on Google alternatives this holiday season. Bought Kagi subscriptions as stocking stuffers for my loved ones. Everyone who I have convinced to give it a try has been impressed thus far.

SEO will pillage the commons. It has been for years and years. Community diversity and alternative payment models for search are part of the bulwark.

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

Rich People: "Competitive markets optimize things, see how much progress capitalism has brought!"

Also Rich People: "But what if everything descends into expensive, unregulated competition between things that aren't rich people oooo nooo!!!"

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 1 points 11 months ago

If only he were neither constrained by technical hurdles or resources, dang.

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I don't think we would work out..

So you're saying I have a chance?

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Question: if the only thing that matter is using AGI, what powers the AGI? Does the AGI produce net positive energy to power the continued expansion of AGI? Does AGI break the law of conservation because... if it didn't, it wouldn't be AGI?

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Maybe unpopular take here, but I love discord as an excellent fit for specific use cases. I think plenty of groups that should be web forums use discord wrong, but for several of my favorite communities:

  1. They are better smaller, I don't necessarily want or need them to be discoverable aside from word of mouth.
  2. They are better without search history, because the discussion is more ephemeral and personal instead of assuming that anyone is digging history in after hours
  3. Ad hoc voice chat rooms is a useful boon because of exactly 1 and 2.
  4. No ads. Yes I understand the privacy issues, but I would still prefer to have opt in subscriptions, no ads, and my chats are harvested than many alternatives for small communities that need to subsidize costs. (Again fediverse, if not ads, requires a buy in in terms of technical operational costs)
  5. Trivial to build specialized addons in the case your community has a need.

Good examples for me are: Friend of Friend Groups for organizing dinners or parties Online gaming communities Book clubs Co-worker chat alternative to slack

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 1 points 11 months ago

Probably has something to do with the whole "We definitely know that race is a strong determinant of humanity, but we acknowledge that race isn't the only determinant if you also already have money or influence and could help us."

The irony in all this is that if they just dropped the utilitarianism and were just honest about feelings guiding their decision making, they could be tolerable. "I'm not terribly versed in the details of the gun violence issue, but I did care about malaria enough to donate to some functional causes." Ok, fine, you're now instantly just a normal person.

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Statistical Geometric Quantum Information Entropy AI is, literally a healing crystal that grants immortality.

[–] locallynonlinear@awful.systems 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This whole, debate, is really just the question of closed systems vs open ones. That's it. If you want a dystopia because you see yourself as the winner of the final optimization, or you demand that outcome of the universe be knowable to you specifically, you will focus on closed system thermodynamics. If you enjoy the creative beauty of nature and have the capacity to change your perspective on response to the unforseen, you embrace open systems thermodynamics.

So yeah as with abuses of Bayesian logic, your desired outcome always reflects back on which assumptions you take. These takes tell you more about the person spouting then than any meaningful observations of life.

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