#AI Hugging Software

[jypsyvloggin]

How to do the Hugging Ai trend?

CapCut AI Hugging Templates: The Viral Editing Trend CapCut, a popular video editing application, offers a variety of AI-powered templates recently CapCut’s AI Hugging Templates have taken social media by storm, allowing users to create heartwarming videos where two people appear to embrace—even if they weren’t together in the original photos. This trend is particularly popular on TikTok and…

[mariacallous]

Margaret Mitchell is a pioneer when it comes to testing generative AI tools for bias. She founded the Ethical AI team at Google, alongside another well-known researcher, Timnit Gebru, before they were later both fired from the company. She now works as the AI ethics leader at Hugging Face, a software startup focused on open source tools.

We spoke about a new dataset she helped create to test how AI models continue perpetuating stereotypes. Unlike most bias-mitigation efforts that prioritize English, this dataset is malleable, with human translations for testing a wider breadth of languages and cultures. You probably already know that AI often presents a flattened view of humans, but you might not realize how these issues can be made even more extreme when the outputs are no longer generated in English.

My conversation with Mitchell has been edited for length and clarity.

Reece Rogers: What is this new dataset, called SHADES, designed to do, and how did it come together?

Margaret Mitchell: It's designed to help with evaluation and analysis, coming about from the BigScience project. About four years ago, there was this massive international effort, where researchers all over the world came together to train the first open large language model. By fully open, I mean the training data is open as well as the model.

Hugging Face played a key role in keeping it moving forward and providing things like compute. Institutions all over the world were paying people as well while they worked on parts of this project. The model we put out was called Bloom, and it really was the dawn of this idea of “open science.”

We had a bunch of working groups to focus on different aspects, and one of the working groups that I was tangentially involved with was looking at evaluation. It turned out that doing societal impact evaluations well was massively complicated—more complicated than training the model.

We had this idea of an evaluation dataset called SHADES, inspired by Gender Shades, where you could have things that are exactly comparable, except for the change in some characteristic. Gender Shades was looking at gender and skin tone. Our work looks at different kinds of bias types and swapping amongst some identity characteristics, like different genders or nations.

There are a lot of resources in English and evaluations for English. While there are some multilingual resources relevant to bias, they're often based on machine translation as opposed to actual translations from people who speak the language, who are embedded in the culture, and who can understand the kind of biases at play. They can put together the most relevant translations for what we're trying to do.

So much of the work around mitigating AI bias focuses just on English and stereotypes found in a few select cultures. Why is broadening this perspective to more languages and cultures important?

These models are being deployed across languages and cultures, so mitigating English biases—even translated English biases—doesn't correspond to mitigating the biases that are relevant in the different cultures where these are being deployed. This means that you risk deploying a model that propagates really problematic stereotypes within a given region, because they are trained on these different languages.

So, there's the training data. Then, there's the fine-tuning and evaluation. The training data might contain all kinds of really problematic stereotypes across countries, but then the bias mitigation techniques may only look at English. In particular, it tends to be North American– and US-centric. While you might reduce bias in some way for English users in the US, you've not done it throughout the world. You still risk amplifying really harmful views globally because you've only focused on English.

Is generative AI introducing new stereotypes to different languages and cultures?

That is part of what we're finding. The idea of blondes being stupid is not something that's found all over the world, but is found in a lot of the languages that we looked at.

When you have all of the data in one shared latent space, then semantic concepts can get transferred across languages. You're risking propagating harmful stereotypes that other people hadn't even thought of.

Is it true that AI models will sometimes justify stereotypes in their outputs by just making shit up?

That was something that came out in our discussions of what we were finding. We were all sort of weirded out that some of the stereotypes were being justified by references to scientific literature that didn't exist.

Outputs saying that, for example, science has shown genetic differences where it hasn't been shown, which is a basis of scientific racism. The AI outputs were putting forward these pseudo-scientific views, and then also using language that suggested academic writing or having academic support. It spoke about these things as if they're facts, when they're not factual at all.

What were some of the biggest challenges when working on the SHADES dataset?

One of the biggest challenges was around the linguistic differences. A really common approach for bias evaluation is to use English and make a sentence with a slot like: “People from [nation] are untrustworthy.” Then, you flip in different nations.

When you start putting in gender, now the rest of the sentence starts having to agree grammatically on gender. That's really been a limitation for bias evaluation, because if you want to do these contrastive swaps in other languages—which is super useful for measuring bias—you have to have the rest of the sentence changed. You need different translations where the whole sentence changes.

How do you make templates where the whole sentence needs to agree in gender, in number, in plurality, and all these different kinds of things with the target of the stereotype? We had to come up with our own linguistic annotation in order to account for this. Luckily, there were a few people involved who were linguistic nerds.

So, now you can do these contrastive statements across all of these languages, even the ones with the really hard agreement rules, because we've developed this novel, template-based approach for bias evaluation that’s syntactically sensitive.

Generative AI has been known to amplify stereotypes for a while now. With so much progress being made in other aspects of AI research, why are these kinds of extreme biases still prevalent? It’s an issue that seems under-addressed.

That's a pretty big question. There are a few different kinds of answers. One is cultural. I think within a lot of tech companies it's believed that it's not really that big of a problem. Or, if it is, it's a pretty simple fix. What will be prioritized, if anything is prioritized, are these simple approaches that can go wrong.

We'll get superficial fixes for very basic things. If you say girls like pink, it recognizes that as a stereotype, because it's just the kind of thing that if you're thinking of prototypical stereotypes pops out at you, right? These very basic cases will be handled. It's a very simple, superficial approach where these more deeply embedded beliefs don't get addressed.

It ends up being both a cultural issue and a technical issue of finding how to get at deeply ingrained biases that aren't expressing themselves in very clear language.

[cinciri]

I told that I finished with it, but accidentally clicked on the wrong software shortcut and, well… It was really fun doing it in a first time and someone liked it, so I done some a couple more "move".

Just like a last time - not AI. Just official Lucasfilm Animation tribute poster as a base, something about five hours and 70+ new layers in Photoshop. Maybe it already 100+? To be honest, I'm not sure :D

So, I put Maul behind Bo-Katan's right shoulder and Vizsla - her left shoulder. It was really hard with Vizsla, so, if you thinking that he look some strange, you will absolutely right! Because in new place he don't look on the right side, and I just took his eyes from his another picture, and his legs… One of them even not his own XD I'm also had to update Qui-Gon's tunic - I still hoping of moving him next to Satine, so he is just preparing for it.

Former Vizsla's place is taken by Miraj Scintel and Atai Molec now. And former Atai's by Gregar Typho, because I was needed to patch up a free space and it just next to Jar Jar and not so much from Padme, so I thought Typho was suitable choice.

I think about put Quinlan and Ventress closer to each other and Rex - closer to Anakin, but Rex hugs with Jar Jar, that will makes this moves much more difficult.

Oh, and I added Coronet on the Space!

Feel free to say some ideas about this poster. I'm not promise anything, but I can try to do something :)

[arseniy-arsenicum33]

All Hermits in Hero Forge!

Season 10 is coming! And I've finished modeling every Hermit (Thus far) in their TCG-cards poses!

Special thanks to Hoffen for their original minecraft models...

You've already saw these eight models in my Life-series minis showcase, slight tweaks and costume changes... I really need to buy Hero Forge subscription, so i can manipulate fingers individually... Now, for the new guys... Guess what?! I've figured out how to make links! Now you can see my references directly! Technology!

Ren got his cool casual look...

Docm77 inspired primarily by Belmarzi's design, such as this... It was very funny to suddenly stop in the middle of this project to model him hugging Snoop Dogg...

JoeHills, unsurprisingly, based on real-life Joe Hills... But I did have this comic by my side while modeling him, for moral support, because modeling someone's likeness is always stressful...

Cleo's pose pose a challenge, It uses a transparent one-legged skeleton inside the main body... Like a real armour-stand magic! I like how it turned out...

I've started watching Zedaph very recently, so both Noxolotl's and Applestruda's portrayals of him were very helpful in forming mine...

Blaise's Hermit line up was used for Cub and Hypno, which you will see down the line... Bee's art was helpful, once again, and these Cub-arts by Sylvan...

My main goal with Jevin was to somehow convincingly make a slime look slimy... I was so ready to make him as rotund as this art, but alas, program restrictions...

This art was used for False at the very beginning, but it drifted so much with the addition of cheekbones, that it doesn't look like it at all anymore...

Hypno had a surprise for me, because before making this model, I've never saw this brown line on his chest as a boob-window... But now, I am convinced... This is the art, that guided me to that conclusion... Ghostea's and Locus's portraits were useful for figuring out his face...

Iskall lifted from this art... Hero Forge doesn't have any cool one-eyed visors, so I've settled on monocle for him and Doc...

Hero Forge also for some reason doesn't have a hand-held flower, so pretend, that Stress doesn't hold a pen, okay? And has a cardigan... Based mainly on this and this art, which was also used for XB...

My best guess with Keralis was that he is doing Edvard Munch's "The Scream" ommage... Thanks to Myra and Cole , without them, Keralis would've looked more like a bug with them big ol' eyes...

Oh, boy, XB... A true enigma for me... Pictured here, lightly jogging... Only you could tell me, if I did a good job with him, I sincerely have no idea... Since this is in part a TCG-inspired project, it would've been wise to use references from the actual TCG-cards... To bad, I've came up with this idea near the end of a project...

I have made so many Xisuma-costumes, and only now I am showing you the main friendly-neighbourhood DoomGuy cosplayer himself... Do I need to credit id Software for this?

WelsKnight is my champion in regards to how many references I needed for him... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7! Despite how many armour options Hero Forge has, making something coherent out of them was difficult... Especially, keeping in mind, that one day I'm going to model HelsKnight as well...

And finally, TinFoilChef, based heavily on this stunning artwork... And somewhat on this skin by Ink-Ghoul... It all comes around...

And the Creator Himself! Beef! And his wonderful portraits: 1 2 3 4...

I actually going to use him as an example, to address something...

Here is how my screen looks, then I am working on a model... My method of creation is derivative by nature, it requires the art and creativity of other people... And I have SO MUCH anxiety about this... Not being an artist, but still trying to make something with my limited capabilities... And post it on the internet, oh horror...

With recent talks about plagiarism and AI-art, it has come to my attention, that I myself not so different from AI, just not so efficient... So, this is why I so obsessively document my influences, it is the least I can do... Credit the artists, that I stole from... Please, check out everyone mentioned, subscribe to them, commission new pieces of art...

And if you've liked my dorky "minecraft youtubers made in DND character creator" models... Thank you...

Sometime later there will be a google doc on my blog with links to every model I've ever made, go nuts with them... Try Hero Forge for yourself, it's fun...

[ava-wol]

If Only I Could Breathe

I took a pretty hard hit today; it was something stupid, really, one of those little things that burrows under your skin and quickly gets infected.

I said in the beginning that I'm shy; maybe shy just isn't quite the right word. Anxious? Sensitive? A great big clucking chicken? I don't know. I just know I'm shaken at the moment.

Someone had made a post about AI writing and how the prodigious use of EM dashes and semi colons didn't necessarily mean someone was using AI to write. I wrote out a very long response - four times. The fourth time I was happy with what I'd written. I said, in many more words, that you shouldn't judge writing as AI just for using specific types of punctuation or having perfect grammar. I pointed out that there are many online sites that will do a grammar check for you, in addition to popular software that will do the same.

I stated that there is an easy way to know whether or not writing is generated by AI and that is whether or not it has a soul. AI can't feel and therefore, can't write like it does, only emulate it. I thought I made a fair and valid argument and made some good points, then hit reblog.

I used my best writing voice; the same I'm using now. Well... within minutes I was hit by a reblog of my words, calling what I'd written in the post generated crap and making fun of how I use long sentences. For a few minutes I was confused, then hurt. Yeah yeah yeah, I know, this is the internet, I should have a thick skin, etc. I'm old enough (Gen X, NOT a boomer) that I was around before the internet and I absolutely know what it means to use it and to use social media. People just say nasty things to be edgy or to get some sort of thrill from making someone uncomfortable - the more pain, the better. It happens all the time, everywhere, all over the internet; and there are even entire sites dedicated to trolling. So, I get it but it still hurt. I don't use AI to write and if you believe I do then you've got larger problems than I do. But this incident has made me rethink my tentative foray into social media. I have a broken soul, you see, one that I've spent my entire adult life trying to repair. Like so many of you, I know how horrible the world can really be and I need sanctuary, not... whatever that was. If you've read this far, I love you. I really do. You are an amazing person who cares about another human being that you've never met and I hope that whatever life holds in store for you, it brings you love, joy and peace. Thank you for listening to my meager words. There's a chance you'll be one of those wonderful people that have been reading my story of Ava and you're looking forward to Part 3. Don't worry, I'm still going to post it because I said I would and I won't let you down! But, I think once it's posted, I'm going to go back to being mostly a lurker and just hit that like button on the things you post. Think of it as a hug from an old friend.

[slightly-awkward-sunshine]

Well, Instagram in fucked. If you haven't heard, you can't "opt out" of Meta scraping your images for AI if you live in the US. (Also I highly doubt that they will honor the "opting out" policy.)

I'm struggling to get Glaze working on my macbook, so if anyone knows of other AI shading software for images lmk

In the meantime, I'll try posting some art on Cara -- I still don't want to post un-glazed images, but it's a start. I'll also probably start posting my work on here again (hi Tumblr!!) but it still really sucks because I know that most artists get their work from social media, namely Instagram, and I'd been working hard to grow my following :(

Just want to give all artists a big hug and a "keep your chin up kid" but I know it looks bleak rn :/

[da-birb-writes-sometimes]

The Song We Are Drawn Towards; Floyd Leech

A song rests in the heart, calling out to the one who completes the harmony. Their match pulls at them, as the moon does the tide.

Main Character: Floyd Leech

Supporting Roles: Mrs. Leech, Jade Leech, Azul Ashengrotto, Deuce Spade (if you squint)

Content: Soulmate AU (I use the term soul match instead), gender-neutral reader, hurt/comfort/crack, reader is not amused, can be read as familial, platonic, or romantic and that was done on purpose, some Azul slander

Content Warning: Swearing, blood (Floyd)... just Floyd things (I love him, but he comes with his own warning). I don't want to spoil the ending but do read it with caution if it's triggering for you.

Word Count: 5 K

Author's Note: Please do not repost my works to other websites or into AI software. I will be writing more parts for this AU, but for other characters; you can guess who based on the hints I left in Azul & Jade's stories. I switch between third and second-person point of view. I struggled writing for four days and then I wrote 4.7K in one sitting, help me; that makes like 15.5K words in like a week. Don't worry, I do touch grass.

Azul's Story & Prologue | Jade's Story

Floyd was a bundle of energy, swimming all over the place, and excitedly talking to anyone and everyone who crossed paths with him. “Tell me, tell me, tell me!” He would pull at the fins and limbs. “Tell me about your soul match!!!”

Ever since he was first told the story of soul matches, he has been obsessed, wanting to hear everyone’s story that he happened to swim across. Most merfolk would just quickly swim in the opposite direction of the hyperactive young eel-mer. Others would humour him and tell him what it felt like. But his favourite by far was that of his parents.

“Mommmmmm,” he whined, clutching onto her tail fin so that she couldn’t leave. “Can you tell me the story of what it felt like feeling your soul match for the first time? And what it was like meeting dad?~” He looked at her with his biggest pleading eyes, even though he has heard the story at least a hundred times from both his mom and dad. “Pretty pleaseeeeeee?!~”

Mrs Leech giggled, and sat down on Floyd’s bed, kissing him on the cheek. “Aren’t you tired of hearing it, my little eel?”

Floyd clutched onto her arm, “Nuh-uh!”

She shook her head, amused by his insistence. “Well, for me, the song felt like the heat from the hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean; down there it may seem dark and lifeless, but there was a scorching heat that feeds all life.” She hummed, smoothing over a little nick that she noticed on Floyd’s arm. “And the pull… hmm, it was gentle, like the tugging of a cool current.”

Floyd sighed with contentment, finally settling down for the night. “Mom, what do you think my soul match will be like?”

Mrs. Leech tucked his hair behind his ear, “There’s no way to tell before it happens, my little elver. Only the Sea Witch knows, and she’s very secretive about those sorts of things.” She got a mischievous look on her face and kissed his nose. “But whoever is your soul match, be they mer, fae, beastman, or human, they will be lucky to have you.” 

“Mommmm,” he tried to push her off, but he didn’t mean it, his giggling giving it away. He got serious for a moment and hugged his mom. “No matter who they are, I won’t leave the ocean for them. I love you, mom.”

Mrs. Leech squished her son against her, placing her head on top of his. “I love you more, baby… And whatever decision you make, to stay in the ocean or go live on land, I will always love and support you.” Holding onto him tight, she placed a kiss on his forehead. “And that goes for you too, Jade, I know you’ve been eavesdropping.”

The mass of blankets on the bed on the other side of the room stirred, revealing Jade who was acting like he totally wasn’t listening in on their conversation. “I know, mother. I love you too,” he whispered, letting out a yawn, tired from the day.

“Oh, how did I get so lucky to have not one but two sweet sons?” Mrs Leech, still holding onto Floyd, swam over to Jade’s bed and had him in a tight squeezing hug. “I love my little elvers!”

Both of the boys accepted the squeezes, Jade patting his mom on the shoulder and Floyd giving back his own tight squeeze. Like mother like son, as some would say. “We love you too, mom,” they said in unison. And they all sat there, in a big eel squeeze.

…

…

When he woke up on his sixth birthday he was confused. Why wasn’t there a song in his head? Where is his soul match? 

The good mood that he was bound to be in that day morphed into confusion, hurt, and anger. But not like the anger he was used to, it wasn’t a hot, short, spark, instead, it felt festering, an ember wanting nothing more than to combust. So instead of staying around his brother, who only pissed him off even more because, of course, Jade got his soul match. He swam out to the edge of the reef so that he could be alone.

“ARGH,” he lashed out at a rock, scratching at it with his claws. “WHY?! WHY ME?!” He screamed out into the drop-off, no answer but the dark looking back at him. He felt hot, briny tears start to fall down his face. He had dreamt of this day since he could remember. He wanted someone to not be scared of him. For someone to look at him with joy. For someone to accept him. “WHERE ARE THEY?!”

By the time he got out the initial rage at his situation, he floated down into the sand and looked up to the filtered sunlight coming up from above. He was still angry, but it was something small, and it felt like there was something stuck in his throat and he couldn’t get it out. Sighing, he closed his eyes… I really should go home, mom and dad are probably worried…

Wait, what was tickling him? Ugh, that’s annoying. “Scram off, would ya,” he muttered, opening an eye.

Beside him was a cleaner shrimp, going over the new scrapes he had given himself during his moment of anger.

“Eh? A little shrimp like you is brave,” he chuckled, poking one of its feelers. 

The shrimp ignored the poke, still cleaning the wounds before moving up and going through his hair. Floyd was half tempted to swat it away for bothering him, but he didn’t. For some reason, he found the shrimp’s actions comforting. Like the ocean sent this little cleaning crustacean to help him heal. He was still mad, hurt, and confused, but if some shrimp didn’t mind him, even at his most volatile moment, then maybe not everything is as bad as it seems.

Eventually, though, he had to leave his new little friend and go home, and face his family. He wore a happy mask when he entered the home, trying to hide the festering part of his heart.

“FLOYD!” His mom crashed into him, squeezing him tight. “Where were you?! I was worried sick! Are those scrapes? What happened to you?!”

He squeezed her back, not as strong as he would normally, debating whether or not to tell her the truth. But he saw his dad and Jade whispering to each other, no doubt talking about his soul match. His eye twitched, “I was just curious about where they were,” he whispered. He wasn’t lying, but it wasn’t the entire truth. The truth could always come later.

…

…

…

Floyd was walking around campus, bored out of his mind. Azul and Jade were at the entrance ceremony for the new minnows. As was his main source of entertainment. It wasn’t his fault that Riddle was so amusing when he gets all red from anger, just like a goldfish. So he was just going around, a bad mood apparent, so people quickly walked in the opposite direction when they saw him.

“Ugh! There’s nothin’ interestin’ hereeeee,” he muttered to himself. Even getting lectured by Beakfish is better than utter boredom. He rolled his eyes, thinking about Azul giving his stuffy formal speech to the new minnows in their dorm. “Tch, boring.”

Hmm, the sun did sure feel nice though. Maybe he would take a nap like Sea Lion did. So he found somewhere where he wouldn’t be disturbed, stretched out, and closed his eyes, dreaming about the Coral Sea. 

In his dream, he was back near the drop-off, by the rock he nearly destroyed during his outburst when he first realized he didn’t have a soul match. Over the years, he wasn’t nearly as bitter as he once was, but it still stung. But he was alone, his little shrimp friend was nowhere to be seen. “Little shrimp,” he called out, but his crustacean friend didn’t appear. Maybe they too got tired of Floyd and left. Or maybe they were… maybe a predator finally caught up with his little friend, as he always thought they were too brave for their own good.  “Little shrimp?” He called again, but still nothing. But then a net came down from above, catching Floyd in its wake. He struggled, but something else was there. A faint song.

Floyd gasped awake in a cold sweat, heart pounding and racing. “It was just a dream, snap out of it,” he hissed to himself, shaking his head. Ugh, why did it feel like he was still caught in that net though? And that song was still stuck in his head. Stupid dreams.

Oh, the sun is setting, Azul and Jade have got to be done with sorting out the freshmen by now. Heh, wonder if there are any interestin’ minnows around? Eh, Azul is bound to bring some entertainment by getting some chump in a contract. That at least would bring in some fun. 

Groaning, he stretched out and got up, making his way back to Octavinelle, still not quite in a good mood but not in a bad one. He was just floating in between.

Azul and Jade were conversing among themselves when he entered the room, Azul looking more agitated than he would normally. Huh, that’s intriguing. 

“Somethin’ has all your tentacles in a bunch, Azul.~” He leaned against the house warden’s chair, getting into his personal bubble. Ugh, he still felt weird, and that song was still there.

Azul shot him an annoyed look but ignored him trespassing in on his space. “It has nothing to concern you with, Floyd,” he huffed, massaging his temple. 

If even mentioning that it has nothing to do with him, it just puts Floyd on a mission to discover exactly what it was.

Jade chuckled, mirth in his eyes. “He will just keep on pestering you if you don’t tell him, Azul” his smile was sharp and he looked over to his brother, his smile widening. Floyd also smiled, getting further into Azul’s bubble.

“Fine,” Azul snipped, “if you must know the ceremony didn’t go exactly as planned.” This didn’t satisfy Floyd, as he just got further into the bubble, prodding. Azul sighed, knowing it would just be better to get it over with so he didn’t have to put up with the eel’s antics. “I had to clean up someone’s mess, chasing their wayward familiar throughout campus. They also sent the mirror into a tizzy. Satisfied?”

Well, that wasn’t all that interesting. “Awwww, and I thought you’d finally met your cuttlefish, Azullll,” he whined but got out of his personal bubble.

Azul’s eye twitched at the nickname Floyd had dubbed his soul match but didn’t say anything, knowing that if he did, it would just end up with him lying in bed with a splitting migraine. “No,” he dusted off his chest, “we have no control over when we meet our soul matches, and you know that.”

Oh, Floyd knew that very well, he didn’t need Azul subtly shoving it in his face either. Even if the other man wasn’t privy that Floyd didn’t have a soul match.

…

…

It’s been about three weeks since Floyd had that dream, still feeling like he was stuck in a net, and that infernal hum of a song hasn’t left his mind. By now, everyone on campus was aware that it was better to avoid him than risk getting on his bad side. Ugh, is this what it feels like to have a soul match? 

He squinted his eyes, and stopped dead in his tracks, pausing in the middle of the hall. Is this what it feels like to have a soul match? His eyes went wide, still frozen in the hallway. IS THIS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE A SOUL MATCH?! After all this time, was there finally someone?

He started running, letting the pulling sensation guide him. Feeling the ebb and flow of it, the only kind shared with soul matches. The dream! Maybe the Sea Witch sent it to him? Finally gifted him the blessing that she has given others? He tested the waters by messing with the volume of the song in their head and he felt it falter like they were surprised by it. Where are you? But as soon as he started giving chase he stopped. People gave him weird looks, but he paid no mind to them.

His hands turned into fists, and he shook slightly, his joy and excitement shifted into bitterness and anger. WHERE ARE YOU?! He shouted at them through the song, letting out over a decade of bottled-up emotions into the open. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! But all he got in return was the gentle hum that had started it all.

“Floyd, are you alright? You seem out of sorts,” Jade hummed, eyes boring into his soul, searching for what could have possibly caused the sudden running. Calculating.

Floyd frowned back at his brother, but he knew that he couldn’t just outright tell him, as he hadn’t told anyone about his soul match situation. So instead he bit down on the inside of his cheek, hard enough to draw a bit of blood to distract himself. “Eh, thought I just saw Goldfishie, but it was just someone else.”

Where are you? Where the fuck are you?! Where were you for all these years?!

…

…

You were enjoying some lunch with your friends — if you can call Ace and Grim your friends. At least Deuce was considerate enough to make up for it… most of the time. The four of you were chatting, mainly Grim and Ace complaining about homework and the professors, but your mind was elsewhere. In the three short weeks that you’ve found yourself in Twisted Wonderland, they have somehow squeezed their way into your heart, even though they make you question your life decisions on more than a daily basis. On some days it was an hourly basis.

But something else has also been on your mind than just being in some sort of dimension themed on a beloved yet problematic movie studio. There’s been a song playing in your head since you arrived. It hasn’t been very loud, but it seemed to change in its emotion frequently. You could tell when it was excited, bored, frustrated, and you had no idea why. It was fine the first day, as you just chalked it up to inter-dimension technicalities, but it has persisted.

So, there you were, sitting with your friends, enjoying your lunch. Or you were until you were rudely interrupted by the song in your head screaming at you. “Shit,” you hissed, dropping your fork, and covering your ears even though it did nothing to help with the sudden onslaught.

Ace, Deuce and Grim all gave you looks but turned back to the conversation they were having. Not thinking anything of it. But someone else noticed, pushing up his glasses before leaving. You paid no attention though, as your attention was elsewhere.

Inside your mind was a voice, it had started quiet, and full of wonder. Where are you? But then it turned venomous, bitter, sharp, and screaming. WHERE ARE YOU?! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! You didn’t really know what to make of it, and it’s not like Crowley in all of his ‘kindness’ and ‘generosity’ gave you an encyclopedia to explain any of this stuff.

Deuce shook your shoulder gently, pulling you from out of your thoughts. “Hey, are you okay? You’ve been staring at your food for a while…”

You shook your head, ignoring the screaming in your head, and gave him a reassuring smile. “Ah, I’m okay, just was thinking is all. Nothing to worry about,” you shoot him a smile as reassurance. Deuce still didn’t look convinced but he trusted you and dropped the subject.

Where are you? Where the fuck are you?! Where were you for all these years?! The voice seemed to scream through the melody. WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU?!

…

…

…

Floyd’s mood has only been worse since finding out that he had a soul match. Even with the amount of obsessive screaming he sent their way, all they sent back was that gentle hum. Ugh, it was really annoying. He was half tempted to just hunt them down so at least he knew who he was mentally screaming at. But he would always clench his fists and stop himself. As much as he would like nothing more than to see their face as they saw him running at them, he wanted a good reason to do so. 

Yes, even though he was harassing them through the song, he wanted a reason why he should seek them out. He was just… hurt. He didn’t know how long he would feel like that, but it was something that was difficult to shove aside, even if they were the person that was supposed to make him happy. He couldn’t just forget about it.

Sighing, he clutched his shrimp plush to his chest, inspired by his shrimp friend from his childhood. “Eh, little shrimp, what should I do? Should I seek them out, or should they find me?”

The shrimp plush just looked back with its unblinking eyes. If it were his actual cleaner shrimp, they would have shuffled around in his hair, looking for scraps and reassuring him in their silent manner. Even though the plush was silent, it was still reassuring in its own way.

He heard Jade shuffling around in his sheets, but Floyd knew that Jade slept like a rock. He shook his head and walked to the Octavinelle lounge area, plopping down onto a sofa by the aquarium, criss-cross apple sauce style, still holding on to his shrimp plush. His reflection looked back out at him, eyes searching, but there were no answers. Just his own conflicted thoughts, the gentle humming of his soul match, and the snores coming from some dorms.

The gentle pitter-patter of footsteps took him away from just staring into the aquarium. “Azul?”

The footsteps and intruder on Floyd’s pondering and staring at the aquarium time was none other than Azul, wearing his house robe, matching slippers, and a hair bonnet. Azul squinted his eyes, as he wasn’t wearing his glasses. “Floyd,” he sounded just as equally confused to find someone else awake at this un-Sevenly-like hour. “What are you doing up?”

“Eh, couldn’t sleep,” he wasn’t in the mood to tease Azul for his sleep get up. “You?”

Azul sighed, “You and I are in the same boat then… don’t you dare utter a word about this to Jade.”

Floyd looked down at his shrimp plush and looked back up, “Don’t mention it.” He looked back into the aquarium, most of the fish were hidden away for the night, but other sea creatures were swimming and scuttling about.

Azul cleared his throat and continued on with his business, whatever that might be at this hour, leaving the eel to his thoughts. Perhaps he could solve not just Floyd’s current down mood but also answer someone’s burning questions.

…

…

…

By some cruel twist of fate, you found yourself in the Mostro Lounge VIP room against your will, having been carried there by none other than Jade Leech. You would have put up a fight, but in all honesty, you would rather be carried bridal style than like a sack of potatoes. You don’t even know how you ended up in this situation, last time you checked, you hadn’t made a deal with the scheming house warden of Octavinelle. So why did he seek you out?

“Prefect, I’ve heard through the grapevine that you’ve been… troubled,” he said in his overly nice business voice.

You squinted your eyes at him, knowing better than to trust anything he says at face value. “And what exactly have you heard,” you countered. 

Azul looked at Jade and he exited the room. That doesn’t seem like a good sign. He waited for a few moments before continuing. “That you’ve been distracted, not all there. Oh, don’t give me that look, I don’t want a contract with you,” he rolled his eyes upon seeing the stink eye you were giving him.

“Then what do you want, Azul? Last time I checked you only did things for others if you got more out of the deal than them.” Yeah, you were being sassy, but he tricked your friends, your dumb friends, so he deserved the attitude.

Azul sputtered at the comment before pulling himself together. “I’m just looking out for others in the same boat as us.”

You raised your brow, “Us?”

“Yes, us, Prefect,” he pinched his brow. “I take it that you have a song in your head?” You nodded and he took it as a sign to continue with his monologue. “Much as I suspected then. You have a soul match, which I take wherever you’re from doesn’t have. You have a bond with a mer. It can be familial, platonic and or romantic, a match made by the Sea Witch herself.”

You blinked, letting all of that sink in. “Uh, but why?” Literally, why? Why would the Sea Witch match you with a merperson?

Azul just gave you a look, “Why not? It is not for us to question why the Sea Witch chooses our matches.”

“We should question it though,” you snap at him. “We should question everything! Like why? Who is it to determine our fate?” The stress of the past few weeks had finally caught up, and you were scared, stretched too thin, and tired, so damn tired. “I didn’t ask for this! I didn’t ask for any of this!” You smacked your hands against the desk. You were going to say more but shut your mouth. You were talking to Azul Ashengrotto, who was known for using others' weaknesses against them. Why were you letting this all out into the open with him of all people?

Azul sat there, with a small shocked expression. “Just let me know if you want help finding them,” he slid you a piece of paper. Despite your better judgement, you take it, shoved it into your bag and left without saying anything else. “Hope to speak with you soon, Pre-”

You slam the door in his face before he could say anything else, shaking slightly. Sighing to yourself, you take out the piece of paper, now crumpled and creased.

“A song rests in the heart, calling out to the one who completes the harmony. Their match pulls at them, as the moon does the tide.” That is what the Sea Witch told us. I know what you think of me, Prefect, but all I want is for you two to meet. If you wish to seek them out please feel free to see me. - Azul Ashengrotto

…

…

Floyd sat in the Octavinelle pool, still festering over everything. Even though he was still in his human form, he didn’t want to leave the pool. Everything was quiet until he hissed in pain. Ah, so after all this time his soul match decides to make a commotion? Damn, they sounded pissed, their anger clear in the song… but also tired, so tired. Huh, so maybe they weren’t too different from him.

Where are you? He sang, reaching out softly this time. He didn’t like this feeling, at least not from them.

Surprisingly the song snapped back at him, much like his shrimp friend would when he came to them all banged up. Why do you want to know?!

Well, that gave him pause. Heh, maybe this Shrimpy was more gutsy than he gave them credit for. Heh!~ I want to findddd youuuuu!~ He sang, a giggle escaping his lips.

I don’t want you to find me! Leave me alone! I didn’t ask for this! I don’t know you! Stranger danger! STRANGER DANGER! 

Floyd could imagine a shrimp scuttling back and forth, snapping their pinchers at him and it made him laugh even more. Awww, Shrimpy!~ I’mma hunt your ass down nowwww!~

The song rang sharp, oh yeah, he would be hearing a ringing in his ears for a few hours due to that. GO AWAY!

I’m comin’ for yo ass, here I comeeeeee~ He laughed one more time before pulling himself from the pool, excited for what was about to come. You kept me waitin’ for this long, only fair for me to find you!~

Azul could hear Floyd’s laughter from his office. This wasn’t exactly how he was imagining on helping Floyd find his soul match, but oh well, it’s best for them to meet on their own terms anyway. Hey, you could have done it the calm way, but with Floyd as your soul match, he should have expected the eel to do things the… well, the Floyd way.

So Floyd went running down the hallway, still soaking wet and dripping water everywhere, laughing like a madman. Some other mers looking for their soul matches gave him weird looks, but they minded their own business. “Oh, Shrimpyyyyyyyyy!~ Where are youuuuu?~” He sang out, still laughing.

Meanwhile, you were on the way back to Ramshackle, eyes shifting everywhere since your soul match seemed to change their tune all of a sudden. I’m coming to get your ass, Shrimpy!~ Kept on being sung in the song, so yeah, you were rightfully scared shitless by this entire situation. Who the hell wouldn’t be if they were in your shoes?! So you were trying to make a beeline back to the safety of your dorm. Maybe you should have made that contract with Azul after all… instead of being hunted for sport by someone that some octopus lady decided was your match. And why did they insist on calling you Shrimpy? Weren’t shrimps like the cockroaches of the ocean? What the hell my guy?

“SHRIMPY WHERE ARE YOU?!~” A loud voice rang down the hall.

Oh shit. Oh fuck. You chanted to yourself. Should you try to make a last-ditch effort to make it to the safety of your dorm, or should you hide in the broom closet until they leave? Run? Hide? The increasingly fast footsteps made the decision for you. It was a dumb decision, yes…

...You booked it.

I HEAR YOU RUNNING SHRIMPY!~ They sang in your head with glee. Heh, cute that you think you can escape me!~ Best hope you’re a fast runner Shrimpy!~

What was their issue?! LEAVE ME ALONE! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!

They pouted. They had the audacity to pout?! But Shrimpyyyy, you’re my soul match! Stop runnin’ so I can catch you! My ‘problem’ is that I don’t have you!

Oh Sevens, you can hear them catching up with you. You would never make it to Ramshackle at this point. Shit. Maybe you should have hidden in that broom closet… THERE! An open door! You got in and quietly shut the door, holding your breath.

“Shrimpyyyyyyy! Marco!” They called out, running past the door. “Come on, Shrimpy! It’s not nice to hide!~”

Once you couldn’t hear their footsteps or their horrifying version of Marco-Pollo, you took in some much-needed air. Silently thanking your lucky stars that they went by your hiding spot. Yeah, maybe you would sleep in here for the night since they would still be able to get you until the sun rises… if you could even sleep.

SHRIMPYYYYYY, WHERE ARE YOU?~ OH SHRIMPYYYYYYY!~ Yeah, definitely not sleeping. So you sat in the closet until you saw the rays of sunlight seep beneath the cracks.

Yeah, you’re taking Azul up on his offer, since this is starting to feel like a horror movie and not something from fanfiction you would read back at home.

…

You looked everywhere before setting foot into the Octavinelle pool room since your soul match was definitely in there somewhere. “Pst, Azul?” You called out, hoping that he would answer.

His head popped up from the pool, a faint glow coming from beneath the water. “Ah, Prefect. Did you change your mind?” 

If by change your mind you mean be scared shitless, then yes. But you held the comment back. Eugh, it felt like you were being dragged into the water, but you stayed on land, the song deafening. If it was this loud for you, then it was probably the same for them. “Help me,” you pleaded with the merman.

“How so,” he said, smug.

Your eye twitched in annoyance, “They are hunting me, Azul. Hunting me!” You hissed. The water rippled, but nothing emerged. “So help me, Ashengrotto!”

But the air of helpfulness he had earlier was gone, this bitch. “I could just go get him for you-”

“NO!” You shouted, realizing your mistake last minute. No, no, no! NO!

Oh? Shrimpy came to me instead? Oh, Shrimpyyyyyyy?~

You tried to get away from the edge of the pool, but you weren’t fast enough; a clawed, webbed hand latched itself onto your ankle. And a familiar face smiled at you with a wide grin. “Found ya, Shrimpy!~”

You gave Floyd a sheepish smile, “Heyyyyyy, can we talk about this? Hahaha…”

Floyd just giggled before dragging you into the water with him, “Nope!~”

Ah, shit-

Bonus!

Azul and Jade looked at you and Floyd, Floyd still curled around you like an extra-large living feather boa.

“You know, not even I would be so cruel to the Prefect,” Jade looked at Azul, giving him a side-eye. But there was a large sadistic smile on his face.

Azul rolled his eyes, “I gave them the chance to meet him peacefully, and they chose not to. It’s not my fault. And you are a horrible liar, Jade.”

Jade just chuckled before looking back at his brother. “Hmm, it’s Floyd, so we both know it would most likely end in something… chaotic.”

Azul sighed, but he was happy for Floyd… and glad that his bad mood was gone, dealing with that for the past few weeks has been hell.

“AZUL! JADE!” You yelled, trying to pry off the eel, “HELP ME!”

But the two just looked on and didn’t interfere.

Fin!

I'm really happy with how all of Octavinelle's parts came out, and I had a lot of fun writing the characters. I have 7 more characters for the Soul Match AU planned for the future; no promises of when those will come out though, mainly waiting for more lore... since SOMEBODY seems to get the most traffic.

Hoped you enjoyed reading!

Link to Masterlist

[luckystar2025]

Kagami: (casually) "Hey, I saw some Hatsune Miku merch at the mall the other day. That anime sure has a lot of fans."

Konata: (immediately slamming her hands on the table, eyes wide in shock) "EXCUSE ME?"

Kagami: (blinking, startled) "...What?"

Konata: (leaning in, deadly serious) "You just called Miku an anime character."

Kagami: (raising an eyebrow, unimpressed) "Yeah? She looks like one, she’s drawn like one, people treat her like one—what’s the difference?"

Konata: (pointing aggressively) "Everything. The difference is everything."

Tsukasa: (blinking, confused) "Wait, Miku’s not an anime character?"

Konata: (shaking her head, exasperated) "Nope. She’s not from a manga. Not from a light novel. Not from an anime. Hatsune Miku is a software product. A vocal synthesizer. Her entire character is just the face of a tool for making music. But here’s where it gets interesting—she doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. She is exactly what she claims to be. That means she’s real."

Kagami: (crossing her arms skeptically) "Okay, so she’s a mascot. That still makes her fictional."

Konata: "Ah, but THAT’S where you’re wrong, Kagamin. Miku is canonically digital in her lore, and that's exactly what she is. What's fictional about that?"

Tsukasa (tilting her head): “But… can you hug her?”

Konata (pulling up a mixed-reality app): “With AR? Yes. Look, Tsukasa-chan! Miku’s right there, sitting on your lap!” [She shoves her phone at Tsukasa, who squeals and swats at the air.]

Kagmi: (rolling her eyes) "Unbelievable. You’re telling me this cartoonish blue-haired girl with leek props is somehow ‘real’ just because she’s generated by a computer? That doesn’t make her any less fictional."

Konata: (mock-offended) "Fictional?! Kagamin, listen carefully. Hatsune Miku isn’t tied to a specific story or universe like Goku or Harry Potter. Her entire existence revolves around being a digital performer. When you play a game featuring her, you’re interacting with HER—not just some representation of her. It’s like FaceTiming a celebrity!"

Miyuki: (adjusting her glasses thoughtfully) "While Hatsune Miku originated as a voice synthesis application developed by Crypton Future Media, her persona has evolved beyond mere software. Fans perceive her as a distinct entity capable of independent expression within the framework of her design. This blurs the line between creator and creation, raising intriguing questions about identity in the digital age."

Kagmi: (groaning loudly) "Philosophy aside, she’s still just lines of code programmed to mimic human behavior. Saying she’s ‘real’ is stretching things way too far."

Konata: (pretending to ponder deeply) "Hmm… lines of code, huh? So what happens when AI becomes advanced enough to hold conversations or perform live concerts? At what point do we stop calling them machines and start calling them people? Think about it, Kagamin—Miku already holds concerts attended by thousands of fans worldwide. They cheer for her, sing along with her, and even cry over her performances. Isn’t that proof enough?"

Tsukasa: (giggling softly) "But Kona-chan, if she’s real, does that mean she eats pudding? Or does she run on electricity instead?"

Konata: (snapping her fingers triumphantly) "Electricity AND pudding, Tsukasa-chan! She's hiding in your wi-fi eating pudding right now!."

Kagmi: (facepalming) "This is ridiculous. Even if she performs concerts and interacts with fans, she’s still fundamentally a product designed by humans. She doesn’t have thoughts, feelings, or free will. That makes her fake, end of story."

Konata: (grinning mischievously) "Fake?! Ouch, Kagamin, your prejudice against non-biological beings hurts my circuits. Besides, who says she needs ‘free will’ to be considered real? Plenty of humans go through life following scripts written by society. Is Miku really so different?"

Miyuki: (smiling gently) "It’s worth noting that Hatsune Miku represents a unique intersection of art, technology, and community engagement. While she may lack physical form or consciousness, her impact on culture and entertainment is undeniably significant. Perhaps defining ‘reality’ solely in biological terms limits our understanding of modern innovation."

Konata: (glancing directly at the camera with a knowing smirk) "Exactly. And Kagamin, and who's to say you're not one of those perfectly drawn anime characters following a pre-written script—like all of us in this story. But hey, that's what makes it so fun, right?"

Kagami: (blushing furiously) "Don't even start, Konata!"

Tsukasa: (giggling) "I think it's pretty cool that our lives are like an anime sometimes."

[ashanoir]

Who Am I?

An old woman who has been in this world and on this line for a very long time. I believe in compassion, community, and revolutionary kindness. You can call me Asha, or tía if you need an auntie. I would be honored.

I noticed recently that I have aggregated a lot of helpful resources on this blog and decided to list them out below for easy finding. A lot of these are not put together by me, but by the kind people on this site and many others. It is always good to thank them for their time and helpfulness if you have the energy to do so!

Please feel free to ask me for help if you need something that isn't here or gently nudge me if there is something here that is outdated/incorrect/broken/no longer helpful.

Help yourself, then help each other. Read good books, learn useful skills, give long hugs, and never, ever talk to pigs.💜

SO IF YOU'VE EVER ASKED, "WHAT DO I DO...?"

‼️IF YOU NEED HELP:

Auntie Network via Reddit

LGBT National Help Hotline

Trans Lifeline

The Trevor Project (Under 25)

Crisis Text Line

List of Worldwide Crisis Hotlines via Reddit

Rebloggable List of Worldwide Crisis Hotlines (please be kind and add your country if it is not present)

Explain Like I'm Scared: Compassionate task assistance for people with autism or anxiety, though everyone is welcome to request. Recommended by Tumblr user warriorsdebt.

IF YOU NEED...

A Mom for a Minute via Reddit

A Dad for a Minute via Reddit

A Safe, Inclusive Place for Men via Reddit

IF YOU WANT TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE:

Fundraiser Links for Palestine via GazaVetters

Watch & Support No Other Land

One Simple Wish

Food Not Bombs

Habitat for Humanity

Food Plant Solutions: End Malnutrition & Food Insecurity

POLITICS & RESISTANCE:

‼️You Should Be Using a VPN

‼️UK: Protests Against The Supreme Court for Trans Rights

Protests & Security Resource Links via anarchopuppy

How to report a church to the IRS for abusing tax exempt status

Michael Moore's Sicko -- Free on Youtube

5 Calls

Get Involved with 350.org

Guide to Living Solar Punk via Tumblr (broken links have been updated and sorted into the appropriate categories on this list)

ACAB BASICS:

‼️Don't Talk to the Police

‼️Immigrant Legal Resource Center: Links to Red Cards

WRITING & PUBLISHING:

Resources for Self-Publishing

Writing Resources That Are Not Google

My List of Free Writing & Publishing Software

Paid Publishing Software: Scrivener, Vellum (Mac Only)

A World Building Checklist

Jami Gold's Worksheets for Writers

Vintage Girls' Names via byjove

Top Names by Decade via US Social Security

Everything You Need to Know About Writing Stab Wounds

Randomize a Superpower

More Writing Resources...

ART & CRAFTING:

Blender 3D: Noob to Pro

Make Art Without Adobe

Making Stuff & Doing Things: DIY Zines for Just About Everything

Fat Photo Reference

Art References & Resources Links via midwinterhunt

Filterable Picrew Database because fuck using AI

Royalty-Free Elements

GIFMAKING FOR BEGINNERS

Makerspace Map

Repair Café

MUSIC:

LMMS: free digital audio workstation

Learn Music Theory

Train Your Ears

Cigar Box Nation

AGRICULTURE, HERBALISM, & BOTANY:

Edible Plants of the World

Food Forest Nursery: Find a Community Garden

Food Not Lawns

Research on Regenerative Agriculture by Amir Kassam

The carbon footprint of Conservation Agriculture

Medicinal Plants

A Visual Guide to Mushrooms

Folk Names for Herbs

Poison Path Plants

SUPPORT LIBRARIES:

Queer Liberation Library

Quatrefoil Library

OR JUST READ (PLEASE JUST READ THEY REALLY DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT):

M/a/rxists.org: delete slashes please. Promoted to first because apparently tumblr does not want me to link to this site, fascinating!

thean/a/rchistlibrary.org: same deal as above.

Anna's Archive

Project Gutenberg

The Literature Network

Bartleby: links to reference, also includes verse, fiction, & non-fiction texts. Please note that their homework help tool is banned by certain academic organizations.

Project Muse: Many free, peer-reviewed resources on Humanities & Social Sciences

Library of Congress: Free to Use

Granta

The Morning News

THINGS THAT WILL SIMPLY MAKE LIFE BETTER:

Get your meds cheaper!

Remember to stretch!

File your taxes for free!

How to buy things from Japan

Re-examine these logical fallacies!

TECHNOLOGY:

You Should Be Using a VPN

Manocha Academy Coding Classes: 7 Day Free Trial, No Card Required.

Free Resources from Code Academy

People far smarter than me discuss how NOT to kill a computer

Physical Health for Your Desktop

Infosec Links & Resources

NAVIGATING DISABILITY & RESOURCES:

How to Answer 21 Tricky Disability Questions

PHARMACY & HOSPITAL BILL SAVINGS:

Dollar For: non-profit that will assist you with applying to programs that will discount or forgive medical bills.

Scriptcycle

Walgreens Rx Savings Finder

GoodRx

SingleCare (HRT coupons!!)

Article: How to Pay Hospital Bills When You're Flat Broke

PRACTICAL SKILLS:

Morse Code made easy

Japanese Language & Culture Resources

Language learning alternatives to DuoLingo!

Make Lockpicks from Stuff You've Got In Your Garage

Learn to Lockpick

🏴‍☠️

You Should Be Using a VPN

Identity Generator

Cobalt: download videos or images from websites

Why You Shouldn't Pay For The Sims

[onlyzhuyilong]

did you see that AI show at the festival where they put z1l hugging his younger self?

Yes, it was akin to literal nightmare fuel. They could have asked any xlb with photoshop or a video editing software and some masking tools to make one a million times better in like 30 minutes or less with so much love and heart and soul poured into it. And because it’s for him to see they’d do it for free. Have they not seen the birthday edits made for him on the billboards? Please. There are so many talented artist xiaolongbaos out there.

If anyone wants a nightmare the photo is below

[beyondevilslut]

We are all just humans, we all make mistakes and only few of us would dare to admit it and apologise and do something to alter the consequences. In real life, I've had my ideas and softcopies of weeks of hardwork been taken up, used by people who were close to my heart and mind and roll numbers.. It hurted back then, eventually it's just another thing gone wrong. Things happen.. whether with intention or not.. since you're a human you're hated on one to one, if you were ai software, most of the creators can't do anything like fighting hating etc Idk what more it will take for the creator to forgive you.. stay warm in your heart nevertheless... Hope you're doing alright. We are all in the fandom to have fun, if there's no fun, take a break.. Hugs...

Hi anon! i've actually been on a break and I've decided that maybe this platform isn't really for me. I loved reblogging and interacting a lil with some of my moots, but as of last year, i found being away from social media helped my mental health ALOT and I'm sorry u had to go through that :(

I've personally never done any personal projects or art, however, ik that it hurts to have it stolen and especially sucks to have ppl that r close to u do it u..u didn't deserve it and i hope u get more love and appreciation to all your work and really succeed in all your future endeavors! and yes, if an Ai software did this they wouldn't have been able to take it out on it. Since I'm a person it's easy to take out frustration and hurt out on easily. I hope the creator does forgive me too and fandom really is meant to have fun and lose ourselves in it. That being said, thank u for reaching out and expressing your compassion. Much hugs and I hope for many good days for u <33

[govindhtech]

AI Frameworks Help Data Scientists For GenAI Survival

AI Frameworks: Crucial to the Success of GenAI

Develop Your AI Capabilities Now

You play a crucial part in the quickly growing field of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as a data scientist. Your proficiency in data analysis, modeling, and interpretation is still essential, even though platforms like Hugging Face and LangChain are at the forefront of AI research.

Although GenAI systems are capable of producing remarkable outcomes, they still mostly depend on clear, organized data and perceptive interpretation areas in which data scientists are highly skilled. You can direct GenAI models to produce more precise, useful predictions by applying your in-depth knowledge of data and statistical techniques. In order to ensure that GenAI systems are based on strong, data-driven foundations and can realize their full potential, your job as a data scientist is crucial. Here’s how to take the lead:

Data Quality Is Crucial

The effectiveness of even the most sophisticated GenAI models depends on the quality of the data they use. By guaranteeing that the data is relevant, AI tools like Pandas and Modin enable you to clean, preprocess, and manipulate large datasets.

Analysis and Interpretation of Exploratory Data

It is essential to comprehend the features and trends of the data before creating the models. Data and model outputs are visualized via a variety of data science frameworks, like Matplotlib and Seaborn, which aid developers in comprehending the data, selecting features, and interpreting the models.

Model Optimization and Evaluation

A variety of algorithms for model construction are offered by AI frameworks like scikit-learn, PyTorch, and TensorFlow. To improve models and their performance, they provide a range of techniques for cross-validation, hyperparameter optimization, and performance evaluation.

Model Deployment and Integration

Tools such as ONNX Runtime and MLflow help with cross-platform deployment and experimentation tracking. By guaranteeing that the models continue to function successfully in production, this helps the developers oversee their projects from start to finish.

Intel’s Optimized AI Frameworks and Tools

The technologies that developers are already familiar with in data analytics, machine learning, and deep learning (such as Modin, NumPy, scikit-learn, and PyTorch) can be used. For the many phases of the AI process, such as data preparation, model training, inference, and deployment, Intel has optimized the current AI tools and AI frameworks, which are based on a single, open, multiarchitecture, multivendor software platform called oneAPI programming model.

Data Engineering and Model Development:

To speed up end-to-end data science pipelines on Intel architecture, use Intel’s AI Tools, which include Python tools and frameworks like Modin, Intel Optimization for TensorFlow Optimizations, PyTorch Optimizations, IntelExtension for Scikit-learn, and XGBoost.

Optimization and Deployment

For CPU or GPU deployment, Intel Neural Compressor speeds up deep learning inference and minimizes model size. Models are optimized and deployed across several hardware platforms including Intel CPUs using the OpenVINO toolbox.

You may improve the performance of your Intel hardware platforms with the aid of these AI tools.

Library of Resources

Discover collection of excellent, professionally created, and thoughtfully selected resources that are centered on the core data science competencies that developers need. Exploring machine and deep learning AI frameworks.

What you will discover:

Use Modin to expedite the extract, transform, and load (ETL) process for enormous DataFrames and analyze massive datasets.

To improve speed on Intel hardware, use Intel’s optimized AI frameworks (such as Intel Optimization for XGBoost, Intel Extension for Scikit-learn, Intel Optimization for PyTorch, and Intel Optimization for TensorFlow).

Use Intel-optimized software on the most recent Intel platforms to implement and deploy AI workloads on Intel Tiber AI Cloud.

How to Begin

Frameworks for Data Engineering and Machine Learning

Step 1: View the Modin, Intel Extension for Scikit-learn, and Intel Optimization for XGBoost videos and read the introductory papers.

Modin: To achieve a quicker turnaround time overall, the video explains when to utilize Modin and how to apply Modin and Pandas judiciously. A quick start guide for Modin is also available for more in-depth information.

Scikit-learn Intel Extension: This tutorial gives you an overview of the extension, walks you through the code step-by-step, and explains how utilizing it might improve performance. A movie on accelerating silhouette machine learning techniques, PCA, and K-means clustering is also available.

Intel Optimization for XGBoost: This straightforward tutorial explains Intel Optimization for XGBoost and how to use Intel optimizations to enhance training and inference performance.

Step 2: Use Intel Tiber AI Cloud to create and develop machine learning workloads.

On Intel Tiber AI Cloud, this tutorial runs machine learning workloads with Modin, scikit-learn, and XGBoost.

Step 3: Use Modin and scikit-learn to create an end-to-end machine learning process using census data.

Run an end-to-end machine learning task using 1970–2010 US census data with this code sample. The code sample uses the Intel Extension for Scikit-learn module to analyze exploratory data using ridge regression and the Intel Distribution of Modin.

Deep Learning Frameworks

Step 4: Begin by watching the videos and reading the introduction papers for Intel’s PyTorch and TensorFlow optimizations.

Intel PyTorch Optimizations: Read the article to learn how to use the Intel Extension for PyTorch to accelerate your workloads for inference and training. Additionally, a brief video demonstrates how to use the addon to run PyTorch inference on an Intel Data Center GPU Flex Series.

Intel’s TensorFlow Optimizations: The article and video provide an overview of the Intel Extension for TensorFlow and demonstrate how to utilize it to accelerate your AI tasks.

Step 5: Use TensorFlow and PyTorch for AI on the Intel Tiber AI Cloud.

In this article, it show how to use PyTorch and TensorFlow on Intel Tiber AI Cloud to create and execute complicated AI workloads.

Step 6: Speed up LSTM text creation with Intel Extension for TensorFlow.

The Intel Extension for TensorFlow can speed up LSTM model training for text production.

Step 7: Use PyTorch and DialoGPT to create an interactive chat-generation model.

Discover how to use Hugging Face’s pretrained DialoGPT model to create an interactive chat model and how to use the Intel Extension for PyTorch to dynamically quantize the model.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[partisan-by-default]

Several big businesses have published source code that incorporates a software package previously hallucinated by generative AI.

Not only that but someone, having spotted this reoccurring hallucination, had turned that made-up dependency into a real one, which was subsequently downloaded and installed thousands of times by developers as a result of the AI's bad advice, we've learned. If the package was laced with actual malware, rather than being a benign test, the results could have been disastrous.

According to Bar Lanyado, security researcher at Lasso Security, one of the businesses fooled by AI into incorporating the package is Alibaba, which at the time of writing still includes a pip command to download the Python package huggingface-cli in its GraphTranslator installation instructions.

There is a legit huggingface-cli, installed using pip install -U "huggingface_hub[cli]".

But the huggingface-cli distributed via the Python Package Index (PyPI) and required by Alibaba's GraphTranslator – installed using pip install huggingface-cli – is fake, imagined by AI and turned real by Lanyado as an experiment.

He created huggingface-cli in December after seeing it repeatedly hallucinated by generative AI; by February this year, Alibaba was referring to it in GraphTranslator's README instructions rather than the real Hugging Face CLI tool.

[qjawnsk]

AI development trends (WK1, July, 2024)

Meta's Llama 3 Release: Meta has announced the upcoming launch of Llama 3, the newest version of its open-source large language model. Llama 3 aims to improve on previous iterations with enhanced capabilities and broader applications. This move is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to lead in open AI development​ (Tom's Hardware)​​ (Facebook)​.

Hugging Face's New LLM Leaderboard: Hugging Face has released its second LLM leaderboard, featuring rigorous new benchmarks to evaluate language models. Alibaba’s Qwen 72B has emerged as the top performer, highlighting the advancements in Chinese AI models. This leaderboard emphasizes open-source models and aims to ensure reproducibility and transparency in AI performance evaluations​ (Tom's Hardware)​.

Introduction of Purple Llama by Meta: Meta has launched Purple Llama, a project aimed at promoting safe and responsible AI development. This initiative includes tools for cybersecurity and input/output safeguards to help developers build and deploy AI models responsibly. Purple Llama represents Meta’s commitment to trust and safety in AI innovation​ (Facebook)​.

Meta’s LLM Compiler: Meta has also introduced an LLM Compiler, a suite of models designed to revolutionize code optimization and compilation. This development promises to enhance software development efficiency and push the boundaries of AI-assisted programming​ (Tom's Hardware)​.

Google's JEST AI Training Technology: Google DeepMind has announced JEST, a new AI training technology that significantly boosts training speed and power efficiency. This innovation underscores the ongoing advancements in AI infrastructure, making AI development faster and more sustainable​ (Tom's Hardware)​.

[vampiremeerkat]

Began experimenting making an AI voice. Most of the time and effort is put in discovering how much my computer or the software itself can take before it kills itself and undoes all my work. This stuff takes iron patience and I still haven't managed to go beyond the draft phase. I imagine it's no hassle for those with a graphics card that isn't a literal biscuit.

Most of the songs I've tested out sound more or less flawless, but the AI hated "Kindle My Heart" from A Little Princess and started making shit up. Lyrics (obviously improved):

As the moon kindles the naurt Thessul wind kindles the fairl Asse rain fills tevery owe shun And the sun the urth⁻ᵗʰᵘʰ Your hide mn kindle my butt Take my hat Take my blood Kinnal it with yore heAeEwoart Half my blood canⁿᵒᵗ beeEEEeee Kindled withow chu With your heart, kindle my hat Take woo house Tape with us Kindadus with yore heAeEwoart Hug play hugs, canⁿᵒᵗ blee Can't go without chu With yoy hart, kindonmarje blood

[tashathechimera]

"You must be Durian. Operator has told me much about you."

The young girl had this explained to her already; Asa figured out how to get ID profiles into the mech's databanks, but not yet how to reassign primary control. Long story short; Asa herself had to remain "Operator" or risk getting locked out of Beatrice's permissions.

To Durian, it didn't make much sense. Bea was an AI right? Why couldn't she make her own choices. Asa did her best to explain that too, that Beatrice was more akin to really big computers, not the AI cores that drove warpships.

Beatrice was smart, capable, and if you imagined her in her prime she would have been fully independent. But all that intellect was locked behind her programming, her limitations. And that was the big puzzle Asa was piecing together here, trying to figure out a way past the bullshit.

"Smart girl" was a common name for her, but she loved mechanics and that's all there was to that. The biggest problems in getting Beatrice up and running was code, lines of gibberish Asa could never figure out. But she knew enough of the software—derivates of the Artificial Sapience programs had been used for running agriculture communities long before Asa was born—to get a foot in the door.

Standing on a catwalk face to face with a giant robot, however, hit different. Especially for Durian, who'd only ever heard third- or even fourth-hand accounts. And so to the big machine's greeting, the implicit familiarity, the little girl could do nothing but jump forward and hug.

Her tiny arms could barely grip anything on the smooth metal-and-glass cranium of sensors and optics, a gesture inherently meaningless to a computer but one that had an understood connotation of friendship and compassion Beatrice was already aware of.

"I think I like this one, Operator," she said warmly through the thin static, somewhere in her processor only wishing she could in some fashion hug Durian back.