Recent posts

#1

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Razgovory - Today at 09:59:29 PM

Grand Jury declines to indict Leticia James.

#2

Off the Record / Re: Dead Pool 2025

Last post by Savonarola - Today at 09:53:34 PM

RIP Steve "The Colonel" Cropper.

#3

Off the Record / Re: The Anime Thread

Last post by jimmy olsen - Today at 09:01:17 PM

How odd. I thought it had been basically finished with the film.

The 1st season only fovered the first 4 volumes of the light novel and there are 16.

#4

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by DGuller - Today at 08:18:20 PM

In a world where AI delivers on its promises, some AI companies will probably make some money at some point, but many AI companies will still likely fail. It's quite possible (likely I think) that the trillions of LLM investments are indeed a speculative bubble that will burst, but at the same time it is also possible that out of the ashes of such a crash, AI development will continue and fulfill its promises.   And it's also possible that AI will fulfill its promises but that the AI companies themselves won't be able to monetize that benefit sufficiently for themselves to justify the expense.

My worry about the case where AI fulfills its promises is a little more existential than the ROI of companies making investments in AI.

#5

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by Razgovory - Today at 08:02:08 PM

These people genuinely think they are going to create a technological singularity.  They would destroy the entire economy in their mad quest for immortality.

I remember years ago reading about Thiel funding biotech technology that promised a form of immortality derived from the blood of young people. If it had been fiction I would have derided it as being to obnoxiously didactic a metaphor.

Also these billionaires really do seem to want to set themselves up as demi-gods.

It's weird supervillain stuff.  It's like we put Cobra Commander in control of the economy.

[Plot twist]

#6

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by viper37 - Today at 08:01:37 PM

Quebec Liberals are embroiled on a mini-scandal.
Ok, not so mini.  Illegal financing that may not have been 100% illegal for their leadership campaign.

It's apparently not illegal to exchange payment or favors to elect a party leader in a provincial election, so long as it's properly documented.  The things you learn! Apparently, some Liberal members were paid 100$ to vote for current leader (and former Federal minister) Pablo I knew nothing Rodriguez.  John A. McDonald and Georges-Étienne Cartier would be so proud of our modern politicians!  

Now, some other text messages resurfaced.  An entrepreneur gave money, 500$ confirmed, but obviously more, in exchange of "favours to come" to the Liberal Party of Quebec.

Rodriguez isn't elected, so there was one Parliamentary chief, who has now been ejected from the party.  Lack of loyalty.  She fired her cabinet chief, hired by knew nothing Rodriguez for allegedly being involved in diverting public funds to the party coffers, benefiting Rodriguez during his provincial tour.

Rodriguez claimed he knew nothing, no one told him anything.  His friend was innocent of any wrong doing and no one in the party did anything the wrong.  The text messages were AI manipulations by dishonest journalists.

Plot twist: a second Liberal MNA is now excluded from the party caucus for diverting public funds...  Of course, it's still all false allegations, and the former cabinet chief is still innocent (for this exact same thing...) and is being reintegrated into her functions...

Rodriguez exclut une autre députée de son caucus

All is good with the Libs.


Also, meanwhile, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois, had a trumpian moment, designating as traitors anyone from the cultural sector who dared congratulating Marc Miller into his new functions.  The cultural sector of Quebec his heavily dependent on Federal and Provincial subsidies.  But they mostly favor Quebec independence and the PQ, or Québec Solidaire, but given the latest polls, I'd wager a safe bet that they're mostly back to the PQ.  In other words: he's shooting himself in the foot by trying to appear as a strong man.  

#7

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by viper37 - Today at 07:43:46 PM

Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry have made their relationship official on... Instagram.
Damn, I feel old.   

#8

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by The Minsky Moment - Today at 07:30:43 PM

In a world where AI delivers on its promises, some AI companies will probably make some money at some point, but many AI companies will still likely fail. It's quite possible (likely I think) that the trillions of LLM investments are indeed a speculative bubble that will burst, but at the same time it is also possible that out of the ashes of such a crash, AI development will continue and fulfill its promises.   And it's also possible that AI will fulfill its promises but that the AI companies themselves won't be able to monetize that benefit sufficiently for themselves to justify the expense.

#9

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Grey Fox - Today at 06:57:39 PM

It wasn't cheap and the government has 5 years, iirc, to buy it from the CDPQ or they will be able to do has they please selling it to China or SA or some such.

The train it self is pretty awesome so far. Has really got rid of a lot of traffic on my morning commute.

What do you mean not cheap?
This is the key point of most of the reporting I'm seeing. They pulled off something quite amazing in doing it reasonably quickly and cheaply for the anglosphere.

Sure, it's cheaper than the estimated cost of NYC but still 9.4 billions is not cheap for Québec.

#10

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by Admiral Yi - Today at 06:32:03 PM

Joan's point is AI can replace huge swaths of human labor but still not make money.