#autonomous helper

[hunger-drones]

S1 Contestant Update #1: Hunter

"Did you know that Workers and Disassemblers can make a kid together? I didn't either until Hunter showed up! Supposedly the offspring of Copper-9's heroes, he's been on the run on the surface for some reason. Find it hard to believe life back at home could possibly be worse than here, but maybe that initiative will get Hunter through to the end~" - Fractal, Hostess/Commentator of Hunger Drones

\\ Submitted by @autonomous-helper //

\\ Two open slots remaining //

[roxy4life2]

TUMBLR!

I need YOUR help! it's come to my attention that this account has seen some disrespectful, hurtful, and borderline disgusting things to my friends, and myself

We need all the reblogs and people on this as we can! Please report this account as many times as you can!

(The photo)

Has been sending death threats, hoping innocent people, like myself, get raped and sa'd... And many other things...

What we need to do is help the people who are in this in situation... So please if you see this people

BLOCK, REPORT,

I have been sent death threats by this person myself as well but as an anonymous ask please help!

@agentgeek @bendy-the-dancing-demon @autonomous-helper @adam-mvrray88 @gloriousowl2 @kingryannducks

[vizual-static]

I got a comment on crow fic that made me think about Esther’s relationship to Monty as a familiar: In some media (*cough* WBN pod *cough*), a familiar can be a part of a witch’s personality or soul that she chooses to externalize in order to better serve her station or be better at witchcraft. So it’s not just a loyal pet or a little magic animal helper, but an actual manifestation of some part of her.

So now I kinda like the idea that after being betrayed by her husband, Esther chose to remove her desire for love and put it in a familiar so that she herself never has to suffer the hurt again, and she can be more cut-throat and cruel without worrying about feeling shitty over the social ostracization or lack of connection for hundreds of years. (This works well too since crows are social creatures.)

Not to say that Monty doesn’t get to be a like, an autonomous character. But I do think his relationship to Esther, whether maternal/ familial or having started as a piece of her, colors everything else about his character.

[plumlace]

Personal Assistant - EARLY ACCESS

Upgrade your Sims' lives with the revolutionary "Personal Assistant" mod! Introducing a sophisticated helper that not only autonomously manages household chores but also offers a range of interactive tasks to make your Sims' lives more exciting and dynamic. Your personal assistant is a hirable NPC from the 'home' icon in your phone.

Please read entire description!

Key Features:

Autonomous Household Management:

Your personal assistant takes care of the basics, from taking out the trash to reading to toddlers and infants, ensuring a clean and nurturing environment for your Sims.

Rapport System:

Each interaction will cost a certain amount of rapport you have with the personal assistant. You can gain rapport with the personal assistant by praising them and giving them tips. You can lose rapport by reprimanding the personal assistant. Each task will have a specific rapport level needed for the personal assistant to complete the task.

Access a menu to choose specific tasks for your personal assistant, including:

Write Blog Post:

Let the assistant craft engaging blog posts, with a chance to earn your Sims some extra Simoleons based on the post's success. Requires 75 rapport.

Sell Canvas Painting:

Your personal assistant can market and sell finished canvas paintings, contributing to your Sims' financial prosperity. If the personal assistant fails to make a sale, they will become frustrated and try again. Requires 80 rapport.

Water Plants:

Keep your garden flourishing by instructing the assistant to water plants regularly. Requires 30 rapport.

Cook Food:

Delegate meal preparation to the assistant, ensuring your Sims enjoy delicious homemade dishes. Requires 90 rapport.

Order Groceries:

Simplify shopping by having the personal assistant order groceries for your Sims. Requires 75 rapport.

Pay Bills:

Ensure bills are paid on time without any hassle, as your personal assistant takes care of financial responsibilities. Requires 50 rapport.

Check Email:

Stay connected and informed by having your assistant check and manage your Sims' emails. Requires 30 rapport.

Check Social Media:

Stay up-to-date with the virtual world by monitoring and updating your Sims' social media accounts. Requires 30 rapport.

How to Use:

Hire an NPC Personal Assistant through the phone under the 'home' icon.

Choose from a variety of tasks and interactions to tailor your assistant's actions to your Sims' preferences and needs. You can select up to six, and you may also revoke the task by clicking it again to deselect.

DOWNLOAD

Public access 2/13

[roxy4life]

Fankids! (Roxy edition!)

Nixel- N x roxy

Miracle- Roxy x Thad

Violet- V x Roxy

Jane- J x Roxy

Ronnie- Ron x Roxy

Volt- Uzi x roxy

Dolli- Doll x roxy

Lillian-Lizzy x Roxy

And if you can recommend any other's go ahead!

Bonus! R is made by @torsrighteye

Rossy, Rosie, Rosalina, - R x Roxy

Ted, Jackie, Scarlett, and Star- Thad x Roxy x R

Rebel- Randall x Roxy

Tag list- @deedah @kingryannducks @locothewolf @torsrighteye @autonomous-helper @justh4z3l-xdd

[panthera-dei]

I got another witchy FAQs question so I want to go ahead and share it.

This time, we're talking some basic chaos magic with different types of thoughtforms!

Please note that I am not an expert in chaos magic, nor do I consider myself a chaos magician, so feel free to (kindly) leave feedback or corrections as needed. ^^

Thoughtforms 101

Definition of Thoughtform: Thoughtform is a catch-all term from any entity that was created with or by human thought (conscious or otherwise).

Types of Thoughtforms: Common thoughtforms include sigils, servitors, thoughtform companions (aka tulpas), daemons, and egregores.

Sigils: Most folks who create sigils and use sigil magic probably don't think about sigils as a type of chaos magic or a thoughtform. However, sigils actually do fall into this category. Think of a sigil as being like a simple computer program that's powered by your mind. You give the program a basic function (such as protection or prosperity) and the magical "coding" of your intentions allows the sigil to carry it out.

Servitors: If sigils are basic computer programs, then servitors are robots. They're not sentient per se, as they still require the coding and programming that comes with intention and magical energy. Yet they're much more complex than a sigil and can carry out higher-level functions & multiple tasks (e.g., drawing in people to shop on your Etsy page for prosperity, or actively guarding a space or casting a magic circle for protection).

Thoughtform companions: The widespread term for this type is "tulpa," and creating/having one of these thoughtforms is commonly referred to as "tulpamancy." Since there's also a widespread controversy over these terms, I don't use them myself. I say "creating or working with a thoughtform," and I'll refer to the entity as a thoughtform or thoughtform companion. Regardless of the terminology or beliefs behind this category, they are defined as a separate consciousness created by the thoughts and actions of a human. The human is typically referred to as the "host," since the companion is typically treated as its own separate consciousness. These are fully sentient, autonomous beings with their own thoughts and feelings. They're generally created, either intentionally or not, as friends for the host (hence my personal terminology for them).

Daemons: This category is similar to a companion, but with a different origin and function. Daemons have been documented since ancient Greece, to my knowledge. A daemon is also a sentient entity, however, they are not created intentionally by the host (although they can be brought to the forefront by the human in question). A daemon is instead a conscious entity created by, and representative of, the human being's subconscious mind. They typically serve as helpers and mental guides for the human. They are not considered separate entities; instead, they're part of you.

Egregores: These are essentially the AIs of the thoughtform world. Whereas companions and daemons exist within the human mind, egregores are similar to servitors and sigils - created by the mind, but separate from it. Egregores are often made or manifested by a group of people intentionally for a purpose. E.g., a coven may create one as a guardian or a spiritual guide. They're also often created by accident from widespread symbols - for example, branding. And nations. Every time somebody posts a picture of the Starbucks logo, you're most likely feeding an egregore, according to one theory I've heard. Do I believe that personally? Not sure. (I do have an exact source for this one available on request.) As far as I know, egregores exist with varying degrees of sentience, power, and free will depending on the individual scenario (much like artificially intelligent computers & androids in science fiction).

Pop Culture Entities / Deities: These are often referred to as PCEs or PCDs. I prefer the former but I often use them interchangeably. Some folks prefer to be more specific. For example, Raiden from Mortal Kombat is considered a god in that series, so many folks would consider him a pop culture deity. Whereas Dean Winchester is *not* a deity in Supernatural - so he could be considered a pop culture entity instead. However, this is up to the preferences of the individual entity & practitioner.

Differences between PCDs and Egregores: Egregores are ALWAYS created, intentionally or not, by human energy and thought. PCDs, on the other hand, can have a mixed origin sometimes. Some of them may be pure egregores, manifested on purpose or by accident. Others may be preexisting spirits - often nature spirits that are aligned closely to the fandom content - that latch onto a fictional work as a power source, and eventually fuse with it. And then another theory is that PCDs are *all* preexisting spirits or even deities wearing a mask - so for example, folks with this belief would say that PCD Marvel Loki is just Loki appearing in a different form/aspect. I personally think that all PCEs have a unique origin and I try not to make any assumptions.

Where do I fact check you and/or learn more?: Unfortunately, it is *really damn hard* to find good, solid information on pop culture work because it's very new. And while there's *lots* of info on chaos magic, you have to be careful to check the reliability of the source, much as is the case with demonolatry sources. Fortunately, Tumblr is a great source to find other pop culture practitioners. I personally also have *some* sources available for these topics on request, I'm just too lazy to dig through my Drive right at this moment. :)

[neobiohazardus]

KaiJune2025 - Day19: Axodibrata

KaiJune 2025 - Day 19: Autotomy Genuinely might be my favourite design I've done this challenge so far.

[This is the prompt list I'm following] ===== BIO:

A kaiju that's appeared a few times in passing, but finally spotted in full on a sand, rocky beach off the shores of Scotland, Axodibrata is a scavenger, fleeting glances having been seen around dead kaiju, leaving distinctive Y-shaped bites on the carcasses. Their tails, which at first were assumed to be a juvenile form or an entirely different kaiju altogether, can move autonomously, not only this, but have eyes of their own, as well a pseudo-mouths which bite at and clamp onto enemies.

Being a small kaiju, it rarely fights, usually dropping one or two of its tails before scampering off, but can actually drop every single on of their tails if needed, though this forces them into a quadrupedal stance. The still do us these tails whilst fighting, using them like little helpers to restrain or distract as they go in for a kill show with their large toe claws or single-fingered arms.

Since it's been found worldwide, it's assumed the kaiju can swim, despite not looking like it can, but the presence of external gills on its head implies it may be able to.

[deusimminenti]

Children are not property or weapons or helpers or servants or employees or a lifestyle or an obligation or a sacrifice or a divine command they are PEOPLE. Autonomous beings deserving of full total complete 100% autonomy over themselves!!!!! And anyone who doesn't agree, I am coming to your fucking house!!!!!!

[coinandcandle]

Next "coin's notes" is gunna be on helper/helpful spirits. Here's a sneak peak:

What are Servitor Spirits?

The term in reference to Chaos Magic is defined as “a psychological complex, deliberately created by the magician for a specific purpose to operate autonomously from the magician's consciousness.”

Servitors are spirits created to perform set tasks according to the will of their creator.

This definition is, from what I’ve seen, the most widely accepted definition across those who study or practice magic.

Where do they come from?

Servitor spirits are created, they don’t appear randomly. They are made with intent and are given a specific role or assigned tasks. Some examples of these roles or tasks could be:

Protect me from outside energy while spellcasting

Guide me through the astral planes so that I don’t get lost

Alert me when something has penetrated my wards

Help me study/keep me focused

Are they sentient?

This will depend on who you ask. Some folks say yes, and others say no. Some believe they are semi-sentient. There is no blanket answer for this.

[maaarine]

‘I was only a child’: Greenlandic women tell of trauma of forced contraception (Miranda Bryant, The Guardian, March 29 2024)

"Hedvig Frederiksen had been at her new school in Paamiut, Greenland, for only a couple of days when she was summoned from her dorm to the local hospital by a Danish caretaker.

She was 14 and had no idea what was going on.

“But back then [1974], when a Danish person said something, their word was law, you had to listen to them,” said Frederiksen, speaking from her home in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.

About a dozen girls went to the hospital, some as young as 13.

One by one they went into the doctor’s room and one by one they came out crying. Frederiksen was terrified but felt compelled to stay put.

Her daughter Aviaja Fontain told the story as Frederiksen quietly wept.

“When she came in [to the doctor’s room], her memory just disappears and she thinks it’s because of the trauma, what happened in there.

Her friend from the same dorm said the doctor didn’t have a helper; he was alone putting spirals [contraceptive coils] inside girls.”

Frederiksen, now 63, is one of 143 Greenlandic women who this month announced they were suing the Danish state, demanding a collective payment of close to 43m Danish kroner (£4.9m) for what they describe as a violation of their human rights.

They accuse Danish doctors of fitting girls as young as 12 with intrauterine devices (IUDs) in an attempt to reduce the population of the former colony, now an autonomous Danish territory.

It is believed that 4,500 women and girls were affected between 1966 and 1970, with many more procedures carried out without consent in subsequent decades, but it has taken a long time for the reports to surface – and to be taken seriously. (…)

After a visit last year, the UN special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, Francisco Calí Tzay, highlighted the scandal as a particularly disturbing element of Denmark’s colonial legacy, condemning the structural and systemic racial discrimination inflicted on Greenland’s Inuit people and its ongoing repercussions.

“Despite significant progress, the Inuit people still face barriers to fully enjoying their human rights in both Denmark and Greenland,” Calí Tzay said, adding that he was “particularly appalled” by the testimonies of women forcibly fitted with IUDs.

Greenland ceased being a Danish colony in 1953, although it did not have its own government and parliament until 1979.

Healthcare and living conditions improved, life expectancy increased and the Greenlandic population grew.

It was then that the Danish authorities are believed to have staged their drastic intervention.

The programme of involuntary birth control would go on to halve the birthrate within a few years. (…)

She remembers the cold tools he used to insert the IUD, the shock she felt and “tremendous pain”.

She said he told her that the reason it was being fitted was “so I shouldn’t get pregnant”. “I was only a child,” she said.

“I was only 14. And when I was back at the dorm I cried in the evening because I couldn’t talk with my parents and I hadn’t given any consent, nor did my parents.”

Contraceptive coils are now a safe and highly effective form of birth control.

But Larsen, like many of the women who have come forward since the 60s and 70s, went on to experience serious reproductive difficulties – a consequence, they say, of being forcibly fitted, with no consent or information, with unsophisticated devices that were often too big for their young bodies, bringing with them additional risk of infection.

For Larsen, that experience felt like an assault. She was in so much pain that “afterwards I felt like I had shattered glass in my abdomen”.

Later, after she got married and tried to get pregnant, she found that she could not.

Years later when she was examined at a hospital, they found her fallopian tubes were closed because of the coil, which had caused severe bleeding and left her sterile. (…)

After being fitted with the coil, Frederiksen remembers, she was in a huge amount of pain.

All the girls walked back to their dorms crying and feeling ashamed, she said, and they started getting extremely painful periods.

The coil remained inside her for eight or nine years because the doctor did not tell her when it should be removed.

After having it taken out she became pregnant with Aviaja, but the next time she became pregnant her fallopian tube ruptured and she lost a lot of blood.

Her lawyer has said this is a common side-effect in women who were forcibly fitted with coils. Many years later, Frederiksen had two more children.

While she is happy about the legal case and the support they have received, she is filled with anger and sadness when looking back on what she endured as such a young child.

“If that had not happened to me, I wouldn’t be as shy and ashamed for many years,” she said. “And if that had not happened, my life could have been very different.”"

[thesims3help]

Sims 3 - Gameplay enhancing mods: Family, Pets, Occults, Celebrities.

A category-based mod post. Mods and links previously featured in our Masterlist. All credits to their rightful owners.

Categories include: family (pregnancy, parenthood, babies, toddlers, children), pets, occults and celebrities mods.

Pregnancy:

Mixed Feelings About Pregnancy .

Pregnancy Progress Controller

More/Less Cheaty Pregnancy Moodlet

Less/More Frequent Male Pregnancy!

Longer or Shorter Pregnancies, Puddles and More! 1.67

Multiple Birth Tuning Mod

Labor Leaks - puddles appear when birth starts!

[SEAS] More Seasons Interactions for Pregnant Sims by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Pregnancy Woes - more/less nausea and backaches!

Forever or a Day - longer/shorter pregnancy for sims/pets!

Teen Delivery - Teens Can Now Choose WHERE to Have a Baby

Parenting/Family:

User-directed Scolding + Other Punishments

Pick Up Toddler Fixes

Adults can Play Peek-A-Boo & Hug Toddlers

Family Kiss Interactions

All adults can carry children

Adults can Pinch cheek

Toddlers Can Sit on Sims' Laps

Breastfeeding Mod V11 - Updated 19 June by Nona Mena

Babies:

More Baby Interactions

Silent Babies & Toddlers

[PC] Don't Put the Baby Down (Changing Table Mod) by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Better Sleeping Babies & Toddlers

Newborns Get Zodiac Signs that Match the Current Season

Same Zodiac for Twins and Triplets

Toddlers:

Updated Toddler Interactions

More Toddler Interactions

Make a mess (New Toddler interactions)

Toddlers Can Use Stairs

Toddlers can Ask for Things

Toddlers can Sit on Couches & Lounges

Toddlers can Ride Rocking Rider

Biggest Little Mod for Toddlers

Outdoor Activities for Toddlers

Toddlers Extra Activities

Functional Baby Carrier

Replaced Toddler Crying Animations

Toys are More Fun!

Autonomous Play with Teddy Bear

Makeup Kit (Toddlers + Children)

Toddlers can Pickup Festive Eggs

Toddlers can Catch Butterflies & Pick Flowers

[GEN] Stroller Tweak: No Energy Strolls for Toddlers by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Read Toddler to Sleep - Fixed Interaction

Napping Mat

Children:

NoStretch Children Can series

Children can care for their lil' siblings

Better Playdates (Sims 3 Playdates)

Working Together is Better! - Homework Tweaks

Tooth Fairy Mod

Child can Use Collection Helper Reward (Tuning) by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

[PC] Children can use Not So Routine Machine, Teleport works 100% by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Pets:

Pets Don't Eat Plants

Bathe Animals Correctly

Pet Bladder Tweaks

No Autonomous Fill Pet Bowl by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

No/Fewer/Always Extra Days from Gourmet Pet Food by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

No More Pets Autonomously Waking Sims by CyberBob (simlogical.com)

Improved Beloved Pet, and other Animal-Related Traits - 1.63 - 1.67 by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Improved Relationship Gain with Pets by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

No/Slower Social and Exercise Decay for Pets - 1.63 - 1.67 by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

New Pet Genetics - No More Skinny Clones

Minor Pets Won't Run Away

Dogs collecting shinies fills Destruction motive

Cats stalking for crawlies fills Scratch motive

Horse mod: No Autonomous Exit Box Stall, slower motive decay- 1.63 - 1.67 by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Improved Beloved Pet, and other Animal-Related Traits - 1.63 - 1.67 by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Horse mod: Foals Can Nurse on Community Lots by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Horse mod: No Autonomous Bottle Feed Foal by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Horse mod: Child and Pregnant Sim Can Mount Horse by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Horse mod: No Bareback Riding (Tuning) by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Immediate Interactions for Rails on Horse Jumping Objects (Update to V3) by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Buy Pets at the Pet Shop! (Scripting Mod) by Sims MX (simlogical.com)

Bloom's Apple Barrels: Let your Horses Feast on Apples! (Updated to V2) by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Horse mod: Easier Racing and Jumping Challenges (plus Gallop "fix") by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Horse mod: Easier Riding Challenges by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

Occults:

No More Zombies Generated At Full Moon - 2 Flavors

nraas Hybrid

Enhanced Vampires

Enhanced Fairies

Enhanced Werewolves

Enhanced Mermaids

Enhanced Genies

Enhanced Witches

Enhanced Wands

sHoNi's Mummy Overhaul

Mummy Power Mod

Scarier Ghosts Mod

Plantsim Power Mod

Console –> PC: Karma Powers

Zombies Can't Kill Garden Plants

Normal Lifespan For Occults

Reaction Remover Collection

[SN] No Autonomous Ice Blast Plumbing by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

[SN] No Autonomous Conjure Apple by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

No Fairy Booby Trap Mailbox: 1.50 - 1.67 by Nona Mena (simlogical.com) (Link at the very bottom)

More Alchemy Potions + Potions for Pets

Celebrity:

Testers Wanted: Harder Celebrity Difficulty & More (Late Night)

Harder Fame (TS3SU)

[LN] No Celebrity Level requirements for Film (Acting/Director) Career by Nona Mena (simlogical.com)

[hunger-drones]

I have a potential candidate for a entry: Hunter. He's the son of N and Uzi, and has been living on the surface of Copper-9 for quite a few years now as a runaway. He knows his way around robotics and was even able to make himself a little assistant called Ketches. He's a hybrid between a worker drone and a disassembly drone.

\\ Ooohhh, interesting! Hunter has been successfully added! :3 //

\\ Two open slots remain //

[roxy4life2]

Hey guys I just want it to say this today.

My mom had told me a day ago, my father, who I thought was my father (the guy in jail) , isn't my father.... Rather ago my mom knew her whole childhood, he saw a family photo of me on my mom's Facebook circled it and said to my mom "You can't tell me that's not my kid, is that my kid? ", but my mom and him are taking a DNA test to see if he is my dad's, my mom also said it explains where I got my autism and ADHD from... Since my " dad" in jail, doesn't have autism... But this is very shocking to me... I didn't expect to hear that... I just wanted to get my eye drops in and next thing you know I find my dad isn't even my dad... I do have 3 siblings on my real real dads side... One 21,other 15 and one 7 month old baby...

This has taken a toll on me and has been stressing me out a bit, so i just wanted to tell you guys this...

@agentgeek @l0cal-dumb4ss @autonomous-helper @gloriousowl2 @bendy-the-dancing-demon

[mariacallous]

Whether due to consumer backlash or an aging EV lineup, or both, Tesla sales have again seen a global plunge, this time 13 percent last quarter compared to the previous year—proof that the electric automaker hasn’t yet turned around a dismal year that saw public opinion of controversial CEO Elon Musk plummet. It could mean Tesla faces a second straight year of falling sales.

And yet: Tesla is still the world’s most valuable automaker by market capitalization, worth some $990 billion. At least some of that market confidence is likely traced to the happenings of June 22, when Tesla finally began allowing paying passengers to ride its autonomous vehicle service in Austin, Texas.

The service rollout has been fairly smooth. If the metric for success is “no crashes,” mission accomplished: There have been no public reports of crashes or fender-benders involving the robotaxis. The select few riders who have been allowed inside them have praised the service online, which for now costs just $4.20 a ride. (The price seems to be a weed joke.)

But there are plenty of caveats. For one thing, the program’s “early riders” appear to be Tesla influencers, online content creators who have financial stakes in the company or who run media businesses that tend to cheerlead for Tesla and/or electric vehicles. Tesla has not said when it will open the service to members of the public. (The company, which disbanded its PR team in October 2020, did not respond to any of WIRED’s questions.) For another, Tesla’s area of operations is notably smaller than Alphabet subsidiary Waymo’s, which began offering robotaxi service in the city through the Uber app in March.

For one more, there are plenty of humans involved in this driverless service. Tesla has a safety monitor in the front passenger seat of its robotaxis, who, according to online videos, seems poised to intervene if the technology makes a mistake. And Tesla has been less than transparent about its use of human teleoperators, who can either remotely drive or remotely assist its driverless technology. (The former is likely much safer than the latter, experts say, but Tesla hasn’t said which approach it uses.)

Missed Milestone

“Tesla has what I call the trifecta of babysitting going on right now,” says Missy Cummings, who researches autonomous vehicles at George Mason University, and has herself been the subject of Musk’s displeasure. The human contributions likely make Tesla’s service much safer, she says—something for which the automaker should be praised. In fact, keeping babysitting humans in the drivers’ seat is exactly what rivals Waymo and Zoox did in the early phases of their testing. (Waymo now offers robotaxi service in five cities; Zoox has said it will start service in Las Vegas this year.) “I want to encourage them to keep doing that,” she says.

But, for Cummings, the choice is likely evidence that Tesla is behind its competitors. “If learning to deploy a self-driving car system was grades K through 12, Tesla is in first grade,” she says. “Everything we're seeing in Texas suggests significant immaturity in self-driving operations.”

This means, too, that Tesla hasn’t hit the milestone Musk promised back in January, when he told investors that the company would launch “unsupervised full self-driving as a paid service in Austin in June … no one in the car.”

“This is a demo or test using safety drivers—it’s not an [autonomous vehicle] deployment,” says Bryant Walker Smith, a law professor at the University of South Carolina who studies autonomous vehicles. “Tesla is splashing around in the kiddie pool and everyone is asking where it’s going to place in the Olympic swim competition.”

Bloopers and Sensors

Tesla has kept quiet about many of the particulars of its technology. And it’s hard to reach definite conclusions about its tech from social media posts uploaded by riders. But some of those posts appear to show less-than-smooth rides. In one video, a robotaxi attempting to make a left turn appears to cross a double yellow line into oncoming traffic. In another, a robotaxi apparently fails to detect a UPS truck stopping and reversing to park, and the front seat safety monitor has to intervene to stop the car.

One YouTuber uploaded a video showing a robotaxi “phantom braking”—suddenly coming to a stop for no apparent reason—a phenomenon that’s also been flagged by hundreds of users of Tesla’s less-advanced Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature and investigated by the federal government. Unlike actual self-driving technology, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) requires users to keep their eyes on the road.

The service pauses for bad weather, according to Tesla’s website. One YouTuber had their ride halted for a rainstorm; the robotaxi dropped the rider in an Austin park as the wind began to whip around them. Minutes later, according to a video, the same Robotaxi picked the creator up to continue their ride. However, contradicting the above, one poster has reported the cars perform “FLAWLESSLY” in heavy rain.

The early bloopers aren’t surprising, experts say. Full Self-Driving (Supervised) requires a human driver to intervene when needed, and it appears robotaxi is the same right now, says Philip Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who studies autonomous vehicle safety. The slip-ups the robotaxis have made are not unlike what human drivers do on the road, he says. But autonomy’s value add is supposed to be safety, so it makes sense that the videos—and the tech’s “rough edges”—are making people nervous.

Camera Quandary

The launch has reopened public debates about a core tenet of Tesla’s technology: its use of cameras alone to perceive and “make decisions” as it drives. Musk and his company have long argued that artificial intelligence, supplemented by the data collected by cameras, is sufficient to operate a safe, driverless car. The CEO has promised that all of its cars can become autonomous without any modifications, with a simple push of updated software (though Tesla also quietly reneged on this claim). Other companies see more expensive sensors, including radar and lidar, as important validators and support. (Lidar has dramatically dropped in price; many Chinese automakers are now including the sensor on every car that they sell.)

Advances in large language models have convinced some in the auto industry that Musk’s approach is the right one. In a podcast interview published this week, Kyle Vogt, the former CEO of General Motors AV unit Cruise, argued that images from multiple vehicle-mounted cameras plus advanced models can be “really accurate.” (Vogt stepped down from Cruise after one of its driverless vehicles hit and dragged a pedestrian. The company was not transparent with regulators about the incident, a report later found.)

For Cummings, the reports out of Austin have confirmed her beliefs that cameras alone aren’t enough to operate a car autonomously. “There is no robotic system that exists that is safety critical—meaning people can die [using it]—that has ever been successful on a single sensor strain,” she says. “It's unclear why Tesla thinks that they can do what has never before been done.”

One metric that might reveal Tesla’s internal success: how quickly it expands. Musk boldly said in May that Tesla will have hundreds of thousands—and perhaps up to a million—autonomous vehicles on the road next year. The company seems motivated. According to a job posting, Tesla is hiring for additional vehicle operators, who are paid to drive cars around Austin to collect data. But, of course, Musk is no stranger to deadlines unmet.

[fatemamitu]

The AI Revolution: Understanding, Harnessing, and Navigating the Future

What is AI

In a world increasingly shaped by technology, one term stands out above the rest, capturing both our imagination and, at times, our apprehension: Artificial Intelligence. From science fiction dreams to tangible realities, AI is no longer a distant concept but an omnipresent force, subtly (and sometimes not-so-subtly) reshaping industries, transforming daily life, and fundamentally altering our perception of what's possible.

But what exactly is AI? Is it a benevolent helper, a job-stealing machine, or something else entirely? The truth, as always, is far more nuanced. At its core, Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. These processes include learning (the acquisition of information and rules for using the information), reasoning (using rules to reach approximate or definite conclusions), and self-correction. What makes modern AI so captivating is its ability to learn from data, identify patterns, and make predictions or decisions with increasing autonomy.

The journey of AI has been a fascinating one, marked by cycles of hype and disillusionment. Early pioneers in the mid-20th century envisioned intelligent machines that could converse and reason. While those early ambitions proved difficult to achieve with the technology of the time, the seeds of AI were sown. The 21st century, however, has witnessed an explosion of progress, fueled by advancements in computing power, the availability of massive datasets, and breakthroughs in machine learning algorithms, particularly deep learning. This has led to the "AI Spring" we are currently experiencing.

The Landscape of AI: More Than Just Robots

When many people think of AI, images of humanoid robots often come to mind. While robotics is certainly a fascinating branch of AI, the field is far broader and more diverse than just mechanical beings. Here are some key areas where AI is making significant strides:

Machine Learning (ML): This is the engine driving much of the current AI revolution. ML algorithms learn from data without being explicitly programmed. Think of recommendation systems on streaming platforms, fraud detection in banking, or personalized advertisements – these are all powered by ML.

Deep Learning (DL): A subset of machine learning inspired by the structure and function of the human brain's neural networks. Deep learning has been instrumental in breakthroughs in image recognition, natural language processing, and speech recognition. The facial recognition on your smartphone or the impressive capabilities of large language models like the one you're currently interacting with are prime examples.

Natural Language Processing (NLP): This field focuses on enabling computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language. From language translation apps to chatbots that provide customer service, NLP is bridging the communication gap between humans and machines.

Computer Vision: This area allows computers to "see" and interpret visual information from the world around them. Autonomous vehicles rely heavily on computer vision to understand their surroundings, while medical imaging analysis uses it to detect diseases.

Robotics: While not all robots are AI-powered, many sophisticated robots leverage AI for navigation, manipulation, and interaction with their environment. From industrial robots in manufacturing to surgical robots assisting doctors, AI is making robots more intelligent and versatile.

AI's Impact: Transforming Industries and Daily Life

The transformative power of AI is evident across virtually every sector. In healthcare, AI is assisting in drug discovery, personalized treatment plans, and early disease detection. In finance, it's used for algorithmic trading, risk assessment, and fraud prevention. The manufacturing industry benefits from AI-powered automation, predictive maintenance, and quality control.

Beyond these traditional industries, AI is woven into the fabric of our daily lives. Virtual assistants like Siri and Google Assistant help us organize our schedules and answer our questions. Spam filters keep our inboxes clean. Navigation apps find the fastest routes. Even the algorithms that curate our social media feeds are a testament to AI's pervasive influence. These applications, while often unseen, are making our lives more convenient, efficient, and connected.

Harnessing the Power: Opportunities and Ethical Considerations

The opportunities presented by AI are immense. It promises to boost productivity, solve complex global challenges like climate change and disease, and unlock new frontiers of creativity and innovation. Businesses that embrace AI can gain a competitive edge, optimize operations, and deliver enhanced customer experiences. Individuals can leverage AI tools to automate repetitive tasks, learn new skills, and augment their own capabilities.

However, with great power comes great responsibility. The rapid advancement of AI also brings forth a host of ethical considerations and potential challenges that demand careful attention.

Job Displacement: One of the most frequently discussed concerns is the potential for AI to automate jobs currently performed by humans. While AI is likely to create new jobs, there will undoubtedly be a shift in the nature of work, requiring reskilling and adaptation.

Bias and Fairness: AI systems learn from the data they are fed. If that data contains historical biases (e.g., related to gender, race, or socioeconomic status), the AI can perpetuate and even amplify those biases in its decisions, leading to unfair outcomes. Ensuring fairness and accountability in AI algorithms is paramount.

Privacy and Security: AI relies heavily on data. The collection and use of vast amounts of personal data raise significant privacy concerns. Moreover, as AI systems become more integrated into critical infrastructure, their security becomes a vital issue.

Transparency and Explainability: Many advanced AI models, particularly deep learning networks, are often referred to as "black boxes" because their decision-making processes are difficult to understand. For critical applications, it's crucial to have transparency and explainability to ensure trust and accountability.

Autonomous Decision-Making: As AI systems become more autonomous, questions arise about who is responsible when an AI makes a mistake or causes harm. The development of ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks for autonomous AI is an ongoing global discussion.

Navigating the Future: A Human-Centric Approach

Navigating the AI revolution requires a proactive and thoughtful approach. It's not about fearing AI, but rather understanding its capabilities, limitations, and implications. Here are some key principles for moving forward:

Education and Upskilling: Investing in education and training programs that equip individuals with AI literacy and skills in areas like data science, AI ethics, and human-AI collaboration will be crucial for the workforce of the future.

Ethical AI Development: Developers and organizations building AI systems must prioritize ethical considerations from the outset. This includes designing for fairness, transparency, and accountability, and actively mitigating biases.

Robust Governance and Regulation: Governments and international bodies have a vital role to play in developing appropriate regulations and policies that foster innovation while addressing ethical concerns and ensuring the responsible deployment of AI.

Human-AI Collaboration: The future of work is likely to be characterized by collaboration between humans and AI. AI can augment human capabilities, automate mundane tasks, and provide insights, allowing humans to focus on higher-level problem-solving, creativity, and empathy.

Continuous Dialogue: As AI continues to evolve, an ongoing, open dialogue among technologists, ethicists, policymakers, and the public is essential to shape its development in a way that benefits humanity.

The AI revolution is not just a technological shift; it's a societal transformation. By understanding its complexities, embracing its potential, and addressing its challenges with foresight and collaboration, we can harness the power of Artificial Intelligence to build a more prosperous, equitable, and intelligent future for all. The journey has just begun, and the choices we make today will define the world of tomorrow.

[roxy4life]

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