AI Archives - Ramblin' with Roger

Movie review: The Wild Robot

say important things

Based on good word-of-mouth, I attended a Tuesday afternoon matinee showing of the animated film The Wild Robot at the Spectrum Theatre in Albany.

I didn’t know it was based on a children’s book until I saw the movie. The story begins with robots that are shipwrecked on the shore. One robot is stymied by the fact that our heroine has no people to serve.

(Hmm. Can robots HAVE gender? This and many other questions are addressed in author Peter Brown’s reflections on the writing of this book.)

Initially, Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) confounds or terrifies the wildlife she sees. When she figures out the language of the woodland creatures, she, to her surprise, is not welcome. She inadvertently ends up parenting an orphaned baby goose, Brightbill (Kit Connor), assisted by a conflicted fox, Fink (Pedro Pascal).

I loved this movie. First, the DreamWorks film looks marvelous. But more importantly, it has a compelling storyline about making one’s way in a strange land. Some have compared it favorably with the movies E.T., the Iron Giant, and WALL-E, and I suppose there are hints of those.

“stunning visual feast but also a moving meditation”

However, I found it more reflective and deep about the complexities of life, yet it is still accessible to children. Several reviews (97% positive on Rotten Tomatoes) glommed onto the complexities of being a parent. Yet, at times, it was hysterically LOL funny.

Leonard Maltin wrote: “The Wild Robot is a genuinely beautiful movie, in every sense of that adjective. Its physical production is impressive, to say the least, but there are no weak links in its chain, from character design to its exquisitely rendered environment.” Other critics used terms such as “unexpected emotional rollercoaster, “and “a moving meditation on life, friendship, and survival in an unforgiving environment,”

Some reviewers were even more taken by it. Courtney Lanning of Arkansas Public Radio wrote: “Everyone who watches ‘The Wild Robot’ can come away connecting with something, whether it’s an urge to help others, even if they’ve hurt you in the past, or learning to say important things to loved ones because you never know when it’ll be too late.” Hmm. She’s not wrong.

Right before the film, I attended a book review of The Eye of the Master: A Social History of Artificial Intelligence by Matteo Pasquinelli, reviewed by Lex Bhagat, former Executive Director of FFAPL, and currently a business librarian at NY SBDC, where I used to work. Two days later, I saw an episode of Law & Order: The founder of an AI-infused dating app is murdered. These got me thinking again about the nature of technology and how “real” Roz was. No answers, just musings.

Finnish kids recognize fake news

AI manipulation

On CBS Sunday Morning, which continues to be one of my favorite programs, there was a September 30 segment about how Finnish kids recognize fake news. “Being able to identify hoaxes, avoid scams, and debunk propaganda is a civic skill required in today’s information society. That’s why the curriculum of students in Finland includes media literacy lessons, aimed at safeguarding a precious resource: the truth.”

There’s a similar story on CNA. Finland’s war against fake news starts at a young age. “With an ever-growing number of people getting their news online, being able to work out what’s true – and what’s not – has never been more important. In a world of digital disinformation, one country is often held up as the benchmark for having a media-literate population. Finland has topped the Media Literacy Index for the seven years the ranking system has been in existence.”

In 2019, CNN reported on the topic. “Finland is winning the war on fake news. What it’s learned may be crucial to Western democracy.”

I will state the obvious here: we need this in the United States, and not just for children. As a citizen and a librarian, misinformation, and especially disinformation, distresses me.

I posted on Facebook a visual about the myth when people say, “Do your own research!” This post is credited to Linda Gamble Spadaro, a licensed medical mental health counselor in Florida. “You didn’t research anything. You read or watched a video, most likely with little or no objectivity. You came across something in your algorithm-manipulated feed, something that jived with your implicit biases and served your confirmation bias, and subconsciously applied your emotional filters and called it proof.”

My buddy J. Eric Smith wrote about this topic 14 years ago, and it’s still dead on.

Looking for nonsense

I pulled out my phone on October 2 to check my Facebook feed.

Rock Music World: “Ringo Starr turns 84 today!” No, he didn’t. He is 84, but his birthday is July 7. At least 78 people shared the post. Various feeds list the birthdays of actors and musicians, but they are often incorrect. You may think of this as inconsequential, but I guess I’m old-school enough to think that FACTS MATTER, especially easily verifiable ones. (Ssh: I’ve been known to use books.) A Google search would get you to Ringo’s website, but every other source in the search, such as Modern Drummer, confirms the real date.

Some guy from New Jersey is sharing something I’ve seen before: [SIC] “I’m no mathematician, but I’m not bad at math. Can someone please explain? AOC went into office broke and in five years she’s worth $29 million. on a $155K salary??? When does her investigation begin?” Never. Check out FactCheck, Politifact, USA Today, and other sources.

Then there was the photo showing djt in a lifejacket helping storm victims in floodwaters after Hurricane Helene. One Facebook user posted of the picture, “I think we should all repost it!!!!” Another person added, “‘He lives and cares for people, all people!” And “I don’t think Facebook wants this picture on Facebook. They have been deleting it.” The post received more than 150,000 shares in just 16 hours.” And it’s FALSE. “Odd-looking hands and fingers are one sign of AI manipulation in photos.”

Some folks need to make a minimum of effort to verify before they share.

The worst

Unfortunately, the biggest purveyor of falsehood, particularly in light of the Hurricane Helene disaster, is the 45th president. He lies about how money has been funneled from potential hurricane victims to immigrants. Not only does he harm the people who could use the help, but he also foments despair and immigrant phobia.

Extracted from Heather Cox Richardson, “Letters From an American,” 9/27/2024:

“Republican governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin told reporters that he was ‘incredibly appreciative of the rapid response and cooperation from the federal team at FEMA.’ Asheville, North Carolina, mayor Esther Manheimer told CNBC, ‘We have support from outside organizations, other fire departments sending us resources, the federal government as well. So it’s all-hands-on-deck, and it is a well-coordinated effort, but it is so enormous….’”

And the lies persist.

But my favorite bit of nonsense, because it’s so obvious, was in my email, with an attachment I did not open. “Good morning. When there are ambiguous conditions around a contract, Agreement-Number… can be used in the event that it is difficult to determine whether it was created, expired without being resolved, or is no longer valid as a result of the contract having expired. so long”

July rambling: A history of “wokeness”

Oh really? No, O’Malley!

A history of “wokeness”: Stay woke: How a Black activist watchword got co-opted in the culture war.

The American Elevator Explains Why Housing Costs Have Skyrocketed

U.K. Elections: Labour Claims Historic Landslide Victory

The penultimate week of SCOTUS decisions for 2023-24 session, and

The Supreme Court Destroyed The Government While You Weren’t Looking

James Inhofe, the senator (R-OK) who vociferously denied climate change, dies at 89. He led the Environment Committee.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO): ‘I’m Advocating Christian Nationalism,’ which I abhor

Texas abortion ban linked to 13% increase in infant and newborn deaths. “This might foreshadow what is happening in other states,” said Johns Hopkins public health researcher Alison Gemmill. “Texas is basically a year ahead.”

Students Target Teachers in Group TikTok Attack, Shaking Their School. Seventh and eighth graders in Malvern, Pa., impersonating their teachers, posted disparaging, lewd, racist, and homophobic videos in the first known mass attack of its kind in the U.S.

How to keep AI from killing us all (Berkeley News) and How to spot AI-generated text (MIT Technology Review)

Which Blockbuster Movies Pass the Climate Test?

Sicily Sold Homes for One Euro. This Is What Happened Next.

A Visual History of the Harlem Renaissance

Fudgetown, USA

For the first time in six months. Chuck’s shoes match.

Now I Know: The Longest Marriage Proposal? and How Four Dollars Can Unlock American History and The People Who Stuck Out Their Necks for Giraffes and The Stupid Future-y Shoes That People Actually Love

Obits

Ruth Westheimer, Expert on Everything About Sex, Dies at 96

James B. Sikking, Actor on Hill Street Blues and Doogie Howser, dies at 90. I watched both shows regularly.

Shelley Duvall, Robert Altman Protege and Tormented Wife in ‘The Shining,’ Dies at 75

Richard Simmons, Celebrity Fitness Guru, Dies at 76

Shannen Doherty, “Beverly Hills, 90210” star, dies at 53

Producer Jon Landau, James Cameron’s Right-Hand Man for ‘Titanic’ and the ‘Avatar’ Films, Dies at 63

MUSIC

This Time I’ll Be Sweeter – Angela Bofill, who died at age 70

Joe Bonsall, Mainstay of Country Music’s Oak Ridge Boys for 50 Years, Dies at 76. Here are a pair of songs.

Fantasia symphonica by Franz von Suppe

Time and Tide -Basia

Touch The Hem Of His Garment – Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers

Independently Owned – Alex Newell; Shucked (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Sunshine Of Your Love – Peter Sprague featuring Leonard Patton

Coverville 1494: The Kinks Cover Story V

Maybe – Alison Krauss & Union Station

Independence Day -Elliott Smith

Pineapple Poll by Gilbert and Sullivan

You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory – Ronnie Spector with Joey Ramone

Burial Ground – The Decemberists

Role Model – Fatboy Slim

Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland

The Reflex – Duran Duran

D-O-D-G-E-R-S (Oh really? No, O’Malley!)-Danny Kaye, a “hit-by-hit account of an exciting game which took place during the Los Angeles Dodgers 1962 pennant chase, or did it?” Here are the lyrics. The first player from the archrival San Francisco Giants mentioned was Orlando Cepeda., the Hall of Famer who passed away at 86

99 – Barbara Feldon

The Real Reason Why Music Is Getting Worse, according to Rick Beato. There’s at least one response video to this on YouTube

Should AI labs hit pause?

ChatGPT’s pronouns

In the March 30 Daily Skimm, I read:

“An open letter called on artificial intelligence labs to hit pause on advanced AI projects for six months. More than 1,000 researchers, tech experts, and others signed the letter — including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. They warned companies are creating AI tech so fast and aren’t thinking about the potential consequences. Now, tech leaders are saying that anything smarter than GPT-4 (aka ChatGPT’s newest sibling) may “pose profound risks to society and humanity.”

I’m getting “Black Mirror” flashbacks…

“It’s not the first time experts have raised alarms. While chatbots like ChatGPT have helped people write everything from essays to computer code, they’ve also been linked to disinformation, phishing, and other types of cybercrime. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Snapchat have been rushing to create chatbots that flex their own AI algorithms. It’s got many worried advanced AI could lead to a faster spread of disinformation and that bots could coax people’s behavior.

Can it be stopped?

“Maybe ChatGPT can answer that question.”

I HAD to ask

So, like the lazy blogger I am, I asked it or them or whatever ChatGPT is, “Should artificial intelligence labs hit pause on advanced AI projects for six months?”

“As an AI language model, I do not have opinions or personal beliefs, but I can provide information on this topic.

“There is ongoing debate in the AI community about the risks and benefits of advanced AI development, and whether it is necessary to pause or slow down AI projects. Some researchers and experts have called for a temporary pause on certain AI research in order to ensure that ethical considerations and potential risks are adequately addressed. Others argue that AI development should continue, but with a focus on developing safe and beneficial AI systems.

On one hand…

“One reason for the call to pause AI research is the potential for unintended consequences, including the risk that AI systems could be developed with biases or could be used to create autonomous weapons. Another concern is the risk of job displacement and other economic impacts as AI systems become more advanced.

“However, there are also arguments in favor of continuing AI development, including the potential benefits that AI systems could bring to society in terms of increased efficiency, productivity, and quality of life. Furthermore, some experts argue that it is not feasible or desirable to pause AI development, as other countries or organizations may continue to push forward with research and development.

“In summary, whether AI labs should hit pause on advanced AI projects for six months is a complex and nuanced question, and there are valid arguments on both sides. Ultimately, the decision will depend on a range of factors, including the goals of individual organizations, the ethical considerations involved, and the potential risks and benefits of AI development.”

Since I brought it up

Because I wanted to know, I asked, “What are ChatGPT’s prnouns?” Yes, I put in the typo, which I noticed right away.

“As an AI language model, I do not have gender or personal pronouns. You can refer to me as “it”. My purpose is to assist with answering questions and providing information to the best of my knowledge based on the data I was trained on. If you have any questions or need assistance with anything else, feel free to ask!”

I was interested in how Grammarly would feel about ChatGPT’s word choices. Grammarly likes articles: “an ongoing debate” It prefers “regarding” to “in terms of” and “various” instead of “a range of.” “In order to” should be “to.” It eliminates the second of the “could be” references. Also, it axed “to pause AI development” in the penultimate paragraph as redundant.

I’ve now had a bot check the work of a bot. This is getting too meta for me.

December Questions for Sunday Stealing

french revolution

Here are some December Questions for Sunday Stealing.

1. My plans for December

I’m happy that the church choir is singing in person again regularly. We did sing in late 2021, but it was sporadic; half the choir sang one week, then just the soloists, then the other half, then the soloists. It wasn’t easy to get a musical rhythm. We all did sing on Christmas Eve.

2. How energized I feel at this point in the year.

It’s cold, and it’s darker for longer. But it’s not awful.

3. The best things about the holiday season

Music. Singing it, listening to it. BTW, my bud fillyjonk linked to a great piece by the Monkees!

4. Something that changed my perspective on life

The whole year has been a series of Plan B moments.

5. What I seem to get the most comments about

Evidently, I am a very expressive singer. Even strangers have commented on it.

6. The changes I’ve made to my style

I have no style. Or, more correctly, I don’t care about style to be concerned enough to change it.

7. What gets in the way of my success

Overcommitting

The fourth estate

8. News sources I trust the most

I look at LOTS of sources, even ones I don’t particularly trust. It helps inform me how people with different, even, IMO bizarre, thoughts about the world get their ideas.

9. Fictional characters that would easily fit into my life

I thought that certain iterations of Peter Parker, the seeming schlub who is unappreciated, would be a friend.

10. My relationship with spirituality

You’re almost certainly wrong if you think you’ve got it figured out. Mainline churches have liturgies that repeat every three years because one should be taking something new from the stories.

Of course, in my Bible group, we often comment that we’d like to see our pastors tackle some particularly odious passages. We’re in the middle of 2 Kings, some ferocious stuff.

11. How I feel when I’m being retrospective

Depends. Sometimes it is with great appreciation that I have good friends, some of whom I’ve known for half a century or longer. Other times it is with regret that I didn’t deal with someone better.

Artificial intelligence

12. My thoughts on AI technology

I went to DeepAI and used the prompt, “The french revolution was good.” Here’s the result:

the french revolution was good, I wish I could have played," says the former striker. "You don't go into Spain believing you can go there and play there but I think maybe that was the case.

"The pressure is intense at training because you've got to do everything you can to be successful, because in Spain these days a lot of people do that work and do everything you can to get yourself in top form. So I don't know why we haven't worked hard for some time but definitely the feeling has changed for me.

"The pressure on you in training is intense. I have to go out there and play every minute of any game and try to stay mentally sharp. It's nice to be back at home and feel calm in training or off in the dressing room after all these years."

I find some AI art interesting, but other pieces are rather creepy.

This gets into a whole series of philosophical questions about intellectual property. Plus, what is… knowledge/art/writing/creativity?

13. The odd/weird things I do when nobody else is around

I don’t think it’s all that odd. I talk to myself, especially when I’m writing. It helps me think.

14. What do I do when I can’t sleep

Get up and play Wordle. Read newspapers.

15. The winter/holiday season tasks I enjoy

I like buying presents for people who are easy to buy for, such as my daughter. Conversely, my wife is terrible to shop for because she doesn’t hint well.