Re: National security
Major upvote for the TSR2 mention
1989 publicly visible posts • joined 6 Oct 2020
I think I had one recently. Phone call and the person at the other end had one question he desperate;y needed an answer to "Do you spend more than £60 a month on electricity". No matter what I said (with one exception) resulted in occasionally my question being answered but more often a repeat of his favourite question delivered in the exact same words and tone of voice.
The one exception to his response was when I accused him of being a badly programmed piece of AI crap - he terminated the conversation and stated I'd be removed from their database.... VICTORY!!!
and how about
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucible-Time-John-Brunner-ebook/dp/B007PR3224?crid=1TJX3H6PD41XY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g1CBtj6FRNEJi4tMs5hRTxJbr0erWXdJwRi8CnAdPvk.WhZyMQozwpkbah1Y0CwG_NT8HlSD1G9YPpDb3XZ_OE4&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+Crucible+Of+Time+-+John+Brunner&qid=1751527538&sprefix=the+crucible+of+time+-+john+brunner%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1
I was reading it and thinking "all we have to do to make AI a success is to totally change everything about the way we currently work" - errrr NO THANKS.
Anyone else remember the mantra of "change the way we do things to the way the package does" and just how often that was a total success?
I've read the article here and on the beeb and I'm obviously being even thicker than usual today.
The various browsers I use allow me to choose my default search engine. If I want to use something else I can go to the appropriate website. Whilst I agree that google is dominant (both search and on-line advertising) I'm unable to understand just what they are going to be asked to do.
I would agree with you apart from one small problem - I can write, I can type but I have problems videoing.
I'd also like to see concepts like the measurements to make something expressed as a video (and yes I know you can have text as part of a video)
-- And if your computer dies you can't add the cost on to the next bill to your client. --
Not freelance but I know (its a few years back now) some consultancies who did just that - senior consultant "needs" a new laptop so junior consultant was sent down Tottenham Court Road to source one - on credit card.
"No political party in the UK would win an election based on policies of high-enough taxes to fund the services that we all say we want but are not willing to pay for."
They might but I think the correct comment would be
No political party in the UK would win an election based on policies of high-enough taxes to fund the pet projects that only the politicians want and are cash sinks.
HS2 comes to the forefront of my mind, other projects do exists (eg NPfIT)
Hmmm. I still remember when my mother died. Phone up the insurance company to let them know to be told "sorry I need to speak to Mrs Lambert" and would not accept that she couldn't come to the phone. Fortunately my brother's wife was in the house at the time. The moron at the other end accepted - "this is Mrs Lambert" from her.
You missed out the circular reference web page and one I had recently. I'm type II diabetic and has been prescribed a continuous glucose monitor. Had a problem with a sensor and went to the company website to report it and get a replacement issued. I gave up and sent an email. I eventually found that what I needed to do was wade through 7 pages with one piece of information on each and if you pick the wrong option on any of them you get sent back to the start.
AI might be better than the designers here.
Oh yes I forgot to mention they had a captcha if you wanted to download your own data (after 2FA logon) which at its worst went through 9 stages of select hills, bikes or whatever.
-- ‘unalienable right to food’ --
I'll get the memo to evolution and history into the pipeline shall I?
Whilst making sure people get fed is a good idea I'm rather pissed off with all the "rights" people (including children) keep on getting with no corresponding responsibilities or duties.
-- fought voice recognitian in a car --
me: SELECT TRACK
car: sorry steering command are not available
third attempt:
car: say name of track
me: landslide (just for those who don't know its Fleetwood Mac - and no I didn't say that to the car)
car: gives me a choice of several tracks none of which are landslide
If I want real fun I try "select artist" and "ygdrassil"
Don't worry when they do answer them you have to go through security.
I'm retired now but I was self employed. Once only one of the tax forms arrived so I phoned to ask for copies of the missing ones. Blank forms you understand. I had to go through security before I was allowed to ask my question - "can I have my forms please".
I can understand the need for security for some queries but this was silly, and a waste of two peoples time.
Been there here in the Highlands. My best one was I had to reverse round a bend and quite a way back to a passing place on a single track road in snow because the idiot drive going the other way could not reverse back 20 yards. We also have a few who will, rather than reverse a bit, drive onto the verge which is sometimes quite soggy and often has a bloody great ditch a few inches in. I don't mind them doing it but I really don't like those who expect me to do it. I especially dislike those who will shout and scream at you for not risking your car in the ditch.
I agree - recently I needed to replace the little solar powered water feature (running over the lead with a lawnmower is not recommended) and thought I'd try the AI search feature. Lots of "try a garden centre" type suggestions but nothing actually useful.
However, AI/LLMs would be ideal for the large number of bullshit jobs out there.
I think the problem this time is that the jobs that will be replaced will be the bullshit jobs (Bullshit Jobs - David Graeber) and the people doing them aren't suitable to do other things.
On the upside maybe we're heading for a post scarcity economy. I want my StarTrek make things out of thin air machines!
Peple say "but I'm used to Windows" but generally mean that they're used to a few (often two) applications and can easily switch to clicking a different icon to load them. The problem is finding the same application to run on a different OS.
NOTE: I said same more similar or equivalent.
If you can get a Windows application to transfer to Linux WINE may solve the problem. If it doesn't use the bottled variety.