Category Archives: Technology

Red Herrings, and AI’s effect on Capitalism

Posted on Sunday 14 May 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Two items today How Big Oil uses “red herring” issues to deflect attention away from the big issue Ted Chiang on the potential corrosive effect of AI on capitalism Plus, a brief reflection on the SF writers who’ve had things … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology, Technology | Comments Off on Red Herrings, and AI’s effect on Capitalism

Theory of Mind, UFOs, and Music

Posted on Thursday 6 April 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Three items today. Do Chatbots have a “theory of mind”? Probably not. Why fascination about UFOs has lingered; my own brief fascination with them when I was 13; and David Brin’s current take on them; How music does not “mean” … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Science, Technology | Comments Off on Theory of Mind, UFOs, and Music

Another Chatbot Shoe Drops

Posted on Saturday 25 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

The latest about chatbots, why they would be biased one way or another, and how there is now a conservative version of them; and recalling Conservapedia. Our story so far:

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Culture, Lunacy, Technology | Comments Off on Another Chatbot Shoe Drops

Harari on the Dangers of AI

Posted on Friday 24 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Also: reflecting on Arthur C. Clarke and John Brockman, wondering if there is a permanent limit to human cultural education. NY Times, Yuval Noah Harari, Tristan Harris, and Aza Raskin, 24 March 2023: You Can Have the Blue Pill or … Continue reading →

Posted in Arthur C. Clarke, Culture, Technology | Comments Off on Harari on the Dangers of AI

SF and AI in MSM

Posted on Sunday 5 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Items about Isaac Asimov and AI, Adrian Tchaikovsky and octopuses and AI, SF magazines and AI-generated stories. The Atlantic, Jeremy Dauber, 3 Mar 2023: What Isaac Asimov Can Teach Us About AI, subtitled “The science-fiction writer imagined artificial intelligence—and what … Continue reading →

Posted in science fiction, Technology | Comments Off on SF and AI in MSM

More About the 747

Posted on Monday 6 February 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

For decades the Boeing 747 was the largest passenger airliner in the world, and it debuted (in 1968) just a few years before I had occasion to take a plane flight anywhere, or pay attention to different kinds of planes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history, Technology | Comments Off on More About the 747

Optimism about Science and Tech, Alternative Math, and Political Topics

Posted on Thursday 19 January 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Another optimistic take on part of current affairs (not politics). Plus: alternative math, and political items.

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Lunacy, Mathematics, Science, Technology | Comments Off on Optimism about Science and Tech, Alternative Math, and Political Topics

Never Ending

Posted on Thursday 6 October 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Big Think, Nirit Weiss-Blatt, 4 Oct 2022: Bombastic eulogies: Let’s put an end to cynical “The End of” headlines. Subtitled: “We can never hope for a future with no problems. The solutions to problems create new problems, which in turn … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Progress, Technology | Comments Off on Never Ending

Admitting When You’re Wrong

Posted on Thursday 21 July 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Here is something that honest journalists (and scientists) understand and do, but which conservatives and the religious never do: admit they were wrong, and change their minds. That’s intellectual honesty. Today’s NYT has a set of eight essays by its … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Technology | Comments Off on Admitting When You’re Wrong

Kids These Days, Bauerlein and Will Style

Posted on Saturday 9 July 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Beware cranky old men complaining about kids these days. Surely George F. Will, a renowned (conservative) political commentator, knows better. Washington Post, George F. Will, 8 July 2022: How millennials became aggressively illiberal, censorious young adults

Posted in Culture, Technology | Comments Off on Kids These Days, Bauerlein and Will Style