#Language acquisition AI

[skanella]

Revolutionizing Education: AI-Powered Learning Solutions

AI-driven education solutions offer personalized learning experiences, automated feedback, and precise learning issue diagnosis. These tools empower schools and universities to enhance language acquisition with AI-powered pronunciation assessment and feedback, streamlining resource management and communication for an enriched educational environment.

[gwmac]

Effectiveness of AI-Generated Feedback Across Different Writing Systems

Effectiveness of AI-Generated Feedback Across Different Writing Systems Introduction Second language acquisition presents unique challenges across different writing systems and orthographic structures. While AI-generated feedback tools like ChatGPT and Duolingo have gained prominence in language education, their effectiveness varies significantly across different language structures. Most AI…

[mariacallous]

It feels like no one should have to say this, and yet we are in a situation where it needs to be said, very loudly and clearly, before it’s too late to do anything about it: The United States is not a startup. If you run it like one, it will break.

The onslaught of news about Elon Musk’s takeover of the federal government’s core institutions is altogether too much—in volume, in magnitude, in the sheer chaotic absurdity of a 19-year-old who goes by “Big Balls” helping the world’s richest man consolidate power. There’s an easy way to process it, though.

Donald Trump may be the president of the United States, but Musk has made himself its CEO.

This is bad on its face. Musk was not elected to any office, has billions of dollars of government contracts, and has radicalized others and himself by elevating conspiratorial X accounts with handles like @redpillsigma420. His allies control the US government’s human resources and information technology departments, and he has deployed a strike force of eager former interns to poke and prod at the data and code bases that are effectively the gears of democracy. None of this should be happening.

It is, though. And while this takeover is unprecedented for the government, it’s standard operating procedure for Musk. It maps almost too neatly to his acquisition of Twitter in 2022: Get rid of most of the workforce. Install loyalists. Rip up safeguards. Remake in your own image.

This is the way of the startup. You’re scrappy, you’re unconventional, you’re iterating. This is the world that Musk’s lieutenants come from, and the one they are imposing on the Office of Personnel Management and the General Services Administration.

What do they want? A lot.

There’s AI, of course. They all want AI. They want it especially at the GSA, where a Tesla engineer runs a key government IT department and thinks AI coding agents are just what bureaucracy needs. Never mind that large language models can be effective but are inherently, definitionally unreliable, or that AI agents—essentially chatbots that can perform certain tasks for you—are especially unproven. Never mind that AI works not just by outputting information but by ingesting it, turning whatever enters its maw into training data for the next frontier model. Never mind that, wouldn’t you know it, Elon Musk happens to own an AI company himself. Go figure.

Speaking of data: They want that, too. DOGE agents are installed at or have visited the Treasury Department, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Small Business Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor. Probably more. They’ve demanded data, sensitive data, payments data, and in many cases they’ve gotten it—the pursuit of data as an end unto itself but also data that could easily be used as a competitive edge, as a weapon, if you care to wield it.

And savings. They want savings. Specifically they want to subject the federal government to zero-based budgeting, a popular financial planning method in Silicon Valley in which every expenditure needs to be justified from scratch. One way to do that is to offer legally dubious buyouts to almost all federal employees, who collectively make up a low-single-digit percentage of the budget. Another, apparently, is to dismantle USAID just because you can. (If you’re wondering how that’s legal, many, many experts will tell you that it’s not.) The fact that the spending to support these people and programs has been both justified and mandated by Congress is treated as inconvenience, or maybe not even that.

Those are just the goals we know about. They have, by now, so many tentacles in so many agencies that anything is possible. The only certainty is that it’s happening in secret.

Musk’s fans, and many of Trump’s, have cheered all of this. Surely billionaires must know what they’re doing; they’re billionaires, after all. Fresh-faced engineer whiz kids are just what this country needs, not the stodgy, analog thinking of the past. It’s time to nextify the Constitution. Sure, why not, give Big Balls a memecoin while you’re at it.

The thing about most software startups, though, is that they fail. They take big risks and they don’t pay off and they leave the carcass of that failure behind and start cranking out a new pitch deck. This is the process that DOGE is imposing on the United States.

No one would argue that federal bureaucracy is perfect, or especially efficient. Of course it can be improved. Of course it should be. But there is a reason that change comes slowly, methodically, through processes that involve elected officials and civil servants and care and consideration. The stakes are too high, and the cost of failure is total and irrevocable.

Musk will reinvent the US government in the way that the hyperloop reinvented trains, that the Boring company reinvented subways, that Juicero reinvented squeezing. Which is to say he will reinvent nothing at all, fix no problems, offer no solutions beyond those that further consolidate his own power and wealth. He will strip democracy down to the studs and rebuild it in the fractious image of his own companies. He will move fast. He will break things.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

AI is a WMD

I'm in TARTU, ESTONIA! AI, copyright and creative workers' labor rights (TOMORROW, May 10, 8AM: Science Fiction Research Association talk, Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures building, Lossi 3, lobby). A talk for hackers on seizing the means of computation (TOMORROW, May 10, 3PM, University of Tartu Delta Centre, Narva 18, room 1037).

Fun fact: "The Tragedy Of the Commons" is a hoax created by the white nationalist Garrett Hardin to justify stealing land from colonized people and moving it from collective ownership, "rescuing" it from the inevitable tragedy by putting it in the hands of a private owner, who will care for it properly, thanks to "rational self-interest":

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/04/analytical-democratic-theory/#epistocratic-delusions

Get that? If control over a key resource is diffused among the people who rely on it, then (Garrett claims) those people will all behave like selfish assholes, overusing and undermaintaining the commons. It's only when we let someone own that commons and charge rent for its use that (Hardin says) we will get sound management.

By that logic, Google should be the internet's most competent and reliable manager. After all, the company used its access to the capital markets to buy control over the internet, spending billions every year to make sure that you never try a search-engine other than its own, thus guaranteeing it a 90% market share:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/21/im-feeling-unlucky/#not-up-to-the-task

Google seems to think it's got the problem of deciding what we see on the internet licked. Otherwise, why would the company flush $80b down the toilet with a giant stock-buyback, and then do multiple waves of mass layoffs, from last year's 12,000 person bloodbath to this year's deep cuts to the company's "core teams"?

https://qz.com/google-is-laying-off-hundreds-as-it-moves-core-jobs-abr-1851449528

And yet, Google is overrun with scams and spam, which find their way to the very top of the first page of its search results:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/24/passive-income/#swiss-cheese-security

The entire internet is shaped by Google's decisions about what shows up on that first page of listings. When Google decided to prioritize shopping site results over informative discussions and other possible matches, the entire internet shifted its focus to producing affiliate-link-strewn "reviews" that would show up on Google's front door:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/24/naming-names/#prabhakar-raghavan

This was catnip to the kind of sociopath who a) owns a hedge-fund and b) hates journalists for being pain-in-the-ass, stick-in-the-mud sticklers for "truth" and "facts" and other impediments to the care and maintenance of a functional reality-distortion field. These dickheads started buying up beloved news sites and converting them to spam-farms, filled with garbage "reviews" and other Google-pleasing, affiliate-fee-generating nonsense.

(These news-sites were vulnerable to acquisition in large part thanks to Google, whose dominance of ad-tech lets it cream 51 cents off every ad dollar and whose mobile OS monopoly lets it steal 30 cents off every in-app subscriber dollar):

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/04/saving-news-big-tech

Now, the spam on these sites didn't write itself. Much to the chagrin of the tech/finance bros who bought up Sports Illustrated and other venerable news sites, they still needed to pay actual human writers to produce plausible word-salads. This was a waste of money that could be better spent on reverse-engineering Google's ranking algorithm and getting pride-of-place on search results pages:

https://housefresh.com/david-vs-digital-goliaths/

That's where AI comes in. Spicy autocomplete absolutely can't replace journalists. The planet-destroying, next-word-guessing programs from Openai and its competitors are incorrigible liars that require so much "supervision" that they cost more than they save in a newsroom:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/29/what-part-of-no/#dont-you-understand

But while a chatbot can't produce truthful and informative articles, it can produce bullshit – at unimaginable scale. Chatbots are the workers that hedge-fund wreckers dream of: tireless, uncomplaining, compliant and obedient producers of nonsense on demand.

That's why the capital class is so insatiably horny for chatbots. Chatbots aren't going to write Hollywood movies, but studio bosses hyperventilated at the prospect of a "writer" that would accept your brilliant idea and diligently turned it into a movie. You prompt an LLM in exactly the same way a studio exec gives writers notes. The difference is that the LLM won't roll its eyes and make sarcastic remarks about your brainwaves like "ET, but starring a dog, with a love plot in the second act and a big car-chase at the end":

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/01/how-the-writers-guild-sunk-ais-ship/

Similarly, chatbots are a dream come true for a hedge fundie who ends up running a beloved news site, only to have to fight with their own writers to get the profitable nonsense produced at a scale and velocity that will guarantee a high Google ranking and millions in "passive income" from affiliate links.

One of the premier profitable nonsense companies is Advon, which helped usher in an era in which sites from Forbes to Money to USA Today create semi-secret "review" sites that are stuffed full of badly researched top-ten lists for products from air purifiers to cat beds:

https://housefresh.com/how-google-decimated-housefresh/

Advon swears that it only uses living humans to produce nonsense, and not AI. This isn't just wildly implausible, it's also belied by easily uncovered evidence, like its own employees' Linkedin profiles, which boast of using AI to create "content":

https://housefresh.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Advon-AI-LinkedIn.jpg

It's not true. Advon uses AI to produce its nonsense, at scale. In an excellent, deeply reported piece for Futurism, Maggie Harrison Dupré brings proof that Advon replaced its miserable human nonsense-writers with tireless chatbots:

https://futurism.com/advon-ai-content

Dupré describes how Advon's ability to create botshit at scale contributed to the enshittification of clients from Yoga Journal to the LA Times, "Us Weekly" to the Miami Herald.

All of this is very timely, because this is the week that Google finally bestirred itself to commence downranking publishers who engage in "site reputation abuse" – creating these SEO-stuffed fake reviews with the help of third parties like Advon:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/03/keyword-swarming/#site-reputation-abuse

(Google's policy only forbids site reputation abuse with the help of third parties; if these publishers take their nonsense production in-house, Google may allow them to continue to dominate its search listings):

https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2024/03/core-update-spam-policies#site-reputation

There's a reason so many people believed Hardin's racist "Tragedy of the Commons" hoax. We have an intuitive understanding that commons are fragile. All it takes is one monster to start shitting in the well where the rest of us get our drinking water and we're all poisoned.

The financial markets love these monsters. Mark Zuckerberg's key insight was that he could make billions by assembling vast dossiers of compromising, sensitive personal information on half the world's population without their consent, but only if he kept his costs down by failing to safeguard that data and the systems for exploiting it. He's like a guy who figures out that if he accumulates enough oily rags, he can extract so much low-grade oil from them that he can grow rich, but only if he doesn't waste money on fire-suppression:

https://locusmag.com/2018/07/cory-doctorow-zucks-empire-of-oily-rags/

Now Zuckerberg and the wealthy, powerful monsters who seized control over our commons are getting a comeuppance. The weak countermeasures they created to maintain the minimum levels of quality to keep their platforms as viable, going concerns are being overwhelmed by AI. This was a totally foreseeable outcome: the history of the internet is a story of bad actors who upended the assumptions built into our security systems by automating their attacks, transforming an assault that wouldn't be economically viable into a global, high-speed crime wave:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/24/automation-is-magic/

But it is possible for a community to maintain a commons. This is something Hardin could have discovered by studying actual commons, instead of inventing imaginary histories in which commons turned tragic. As it happens, someone else did exactly that: Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom:

https://www.onthecommons.org/magazine/elinor-ostroms-8-principles-managing-commmons/

Ostrom described how commons can be wisely managed, over very long timescales, by communities that self-governed. Part of her work concerns how users of a commons must have the ability to exclude bad actors from their shared resources.

When that breaks down, commons can fail – because there's always someone who thinks it's fine to shit in the well rather than walk 100 yards to the outhouse.

Enshittification is the process by which control over the internet moved from self-governance by members of the commons to acts of wanton destruction committed by despicable, greedy assholes who shit in the well over and over again.

It's not just the spammers who take advantage of Google's lazy incompetence, either. Take "copyleft trolls," who post images using outdated Creative Commons licenses that allow them to terminate the CC license if a user makes minor errors in attributing the images they use:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/01/24/a-bug-in-early-creative-commons-licenses-has-enabled-a-new-breed-of-superpredator/

The first copyleft trolls were individuals, but these days, the racket is dominated by a company called Pixsy, which pretends to be a "rights protection" agency that helps photographers track down copyright infringers. In reality, the company is committed to helping copyleft trolls entrap innocent Creative Commons users into paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars to use images that are licensed for free use. Just as Advon upends the economics of spam and deception through automation, Pixsy has figured out how to send legal threats at scale, robolawyering demand letters that aren't signed by lawyers; the company refuses to say whether any lawyer ever reviews these threats:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/02/13/an-open-letter-to-pixsy-ceo-kain-jones-who-keeps-sending-me-legal-threats/

This is shitting in the well, at scale. It's an online WMD, designed to wipe out the commons. Creative Commons has allowed millions of creators to produce a commons with billions of works in it, and Pixsy exploits a minor error in the early versions of CC licenses to indiscriminately manufacture legal land-mines, wantonly blowing off innocent commons-users' legs and laughing all the way to the bank:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/02/commafuckers-versus-the-commons/

We can have an online commons, but only if it's run by and for its users. Google has shown us that any "benevolent dictator" who amasses power in the name of defending the open internet will eventually grow too big to care, and will allow our commons to be demolished by well-shitters:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/04/teach-me-how-to-shruggie/#kagi

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/09/shitting-in-the-well/#advon

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

--

Catherine Poh Huay Tan (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/68166820@N08/49729911222/

Laia Balagueró (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/lbalaguero/6551235503/

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

[evanhereonearth]

As a person who lives in the US and thinks Gaelic is a beautiful language and would love to learn - and also as a person who has ADHD and drops most projects she starts and can't be bothered with a daily dose of Duolingo - any advice for slowly digesting it?

I'm wondering if I should just plug into some Gaelic music and start there as far as enjoying the music and then translating lyrics as I grow curious. Something slow and simple in that regard that applies to simply daily interests. 'Cause I know an actual language learning program is just not going to happen for me.

My first thought is to say to indeed start listening to Gaelic any way you can--Gaelic music (I'll put a list below of different styles!), Gaelic podcasts, Gaelic media. Let your ears learn its rhythms.

Our brains are built to learn language by immersion; we're not actually born with the infrastructure for Duolingo. ;) But we've all learned a language from absolute zero to fluency with our first languages, and that engineering of brain structure in there doesn't vanish, just gets inhibited by our adult fear of sounding daft.

There are also a few really good podcasts for learners. An Litir Bheag is a great one, and Speak Gaelic is also a great resource for just hearing the language spoken with some English explanation, but music and conversational listening are great ways to give your brain's scaffolding something to build on. And do it a lot, as much as you can. Just as much as you can bear it, honestly. ADHD brains are excellent with pattern recognition; you very well might start picking out meanings and phrases when you least expect it.

As far as lyrics translations go, I'd look for ones the artists themselves (or other actual speakers have translated). My other big piece of advice is to never, ever, EVER trust Google translate or--god forbid--AI. It's crap. It will set you wrong every time.

Also, one thing I did when I was learning was get children's books. Many of them have audio editions available online on SoundCloud, and they're excellent for grasping sentence structure and flow.

Another method I used was Gabriel Wyner's Fluent Forever method, which may or may not be useful for you, but it is a method of learning a language without translating it through your native language, using the inbuilt language acquisition structure we have already.

I hope that's helpful at all! Lists below!

Music:

Traditional

Sian, a trio of women who sing songs written by women

Mànran, a full band that does some instrumental, some Gaelic songs, and a handful of songs in English

Julie Fowlis, an absolute legend in Gaelic song you might have heard on the soundtrack to Brave (singing in English, though!)

Maighread Stiùbhart, another absolute legend and one of the first Gaelic singers whose music I listened to

Gillebrìde MacIlleMhaoil, a wonderful bàrd and singer from Uist who both writes his own songs and sings traditional songs

Dàimh, trad tunes and Gaelic singing

Gaelictronica

Inyal, somewhat low-key electronic music, really lovely (they also are finishing up their second album; I happen to be working on a project with one of their members as we speak)

Elephant Sessions, heavy on the electronica, little less heavy on the Gaelic but a lot of fun

Niteworks, pure craic, upbeat, lots of pipes and electronica and lots of Gaelic

WHYTE, one of my close friend's and a pal's band, ambient and full of emotion, combo of traditional songs and ones written by my friend

Rock and Other

Runrig, an absolute staple who skyrocketed to fame from Uist in the 80s and are never far from the playlist even now

Tidelines, trad rock ish? They sing in both English and Gaelic

Trail West, similar and with an absolutely rabid following. Seonaidh's great craic, too--I got to sing with him recently at a charity gig

Capercaille, another classic, just celebrated forty years (!!!) and Karen Matheson's voice is just an absolute belter

Joy Dunlop, another legend of Gaelic song and close pal of mine, mostly sings traditional style songs but with a modern twist at times!

Resources:

LearnGaelic.scot: lots of resources for learners at all levels, including a mahoosive dictionary that has sound files for over 70,000 words and phrases

Speak Gaelic: heaps of resources here as well, also my friend Joy's face front and centre, since she's the main presenter, heh

An Litir Bheag podcast: excellent stuff meant for learners at beginner to intermediate levels

Mo bheannachd ort agus gur math a thèid leat!

[krunal-vyas]

Hire Dedicated Developers in India Smarter with AI

Hire dedicated developers in India smarter and faster with AI-powered solutions. As businesses worldwide turn to software development outsourcing, India remains a top destination for IT talent acquisition. However, finding the right developers can be challenging due to skill evaluation, remote team management, and hiring efficiency concerns. Fortunately, AI recruitment tools are revolutionizing the hiring process, making it seamless and effective.

In this blog, I will explore how AI-powered developer hiring is transforming the recruitment landscape and how businesses can leverage these tools to build top-notch offshore development teams.

Why Hire Dedicated Developers in India?

1) Cost-Effective Without Compromising Quality:

Hiring dedicated developers in India can reduce costs by up to 60% compared to hiring in the U.S., Europe, or Australia. This makes it a cost-effective solution for businesses seeking high-quality IT staffing solutions in India.

2) Access to a Vast Talent Pool:

India has a massive talent pool with millions of software engineers proficient in AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies. This ensures companies can find dedicated software developers in India for any project requirement.

3) Time-Zone Advantage for 24/7 Productivity:

Indian developers work across different time zones, allowing continuous development cycles. This enhances productivity and ensures faster project completion.

4) Expertise in Emerging Technologies:

Indian developers are highly skilled in cutting-edge fields like AI, IoT, and cloud computing, making them invaluable for innovative projects.

Challenges in Hiring Dedicated Developers in India

1) Finding the Right Talent Efficiently:

Sorting through thousands of applications manually is time-consuming. AI-powered recruitment tools streamline the process by filtering candidates based on skill match and experience.

2) Evaluating Technical and Soft Skills:

Traditional hiring struggles to assess real-world coding abilities and soft skills like teamwork and communication. AI-driven hiring processes include coding assessments and behavioral analysis for better decision-making.

3) Overcoming Language and Cultural Barriers:

AI in HR and recruitment helps evaluate language proficiency and cultural adaptability, ensuring smooth collaboration within offshore development teams.

4) Managing Remote Teams Effectively:

AI-driven remote work management tools help businesses track performance, manage tasks, and ensure accountability.

How AI is Transforming Developer Hiring

1. AI-Powered Candidate Screening:

AI recruitment tools use resume parsing, skill-matching algorithms, and machine learning to shortlist the best candidates quickly.

2. AI-Driven Coding Assessments:

Developer assessment tools conduct real-time coding challenges to evaluate technical expertise, code efficiency, and problem-solving skills.

3. AI Chatbots for Initial Interviews:

AI chatbots handle initial screenings, assessing technical knowledge, communication skills, and cultural fit before human intervention.

4. Predictive Analytics for Hiring Success:

AI analyzes past hiring data and candidate work history to predict long-term success, improving recruitment accuracy.

5. AI in Background Verification:

AI-powered background checks ensure candidate authenticity, education verification, and fraud detection, reducing hiring risks.

Steps to Hire Dedicated Developers in India Smarter with AI

1. Define Job Roles and Key Skill Requirements:

Outline essential technical skills, experience levels, and project expectations to streamline recruitment.

2. Use AI-Based Hiring Platforms:

Leverage best AI hiring platforms like LinkedIn Talent Insightsand HireVue to source top developers.

3. Implement AI-Driven Skill Assessments:

AI-powered recruitment processes use coding tests and behavioral evaluations to assess real-world problem-solving abilities.

4. Conduct AI-Powered Video Interviews:

AI-driven interview tools analyze body language, sentiment, and communication skills for improved hiring accuracy.

5. Optimize Team Collaboration with AI Tools:

Remote work management tools like Trello, Asana, and Jira enhance productivity and ensure smooth collaboration.

Top AI-Powered Hiring Tools for Businesses

LinkedIn Talent Insights — AI-driven talent analytics

HackerRank — AI-powered coding assessments

HireVue — AI-driven video interview analysis

Pymetrics — AI-based behavioral and cognitive assessments

X0PA AI — AI-driven talent acquisition platform

Best Practices for Managing AI-Hired Developers in India

1. Establish Clear Communication Channels:

Use collaboration tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom for seamless communication.

2. Leverage AI-Driven Productivity Tracking:

Monitor performance using AI-powered tracking tools like Time Doctor and Hubstaff to optimize workflows.

3. Encourage Continuous Learning and Upskilling:

Provide access to AI-driven learning platforms like Coursera and Udemy to keep developers updated on industry trends.

4. Foster Cultural Alignment and Team Bonding:

Organize virtual team-building activities to enhance collaboration and engagement.

Future of AI in Developer Hiring

1) AI-Driven Automation for Faster Hiring:

AI will continue automating tedious recruitment tasks, improving efficiency and candidate experience.

2) AI and Blockchain for Transparent Recruitment:

Integrating AI with blockchain will enhance candidate verification and data security for trustworthy hiring processes.

3) AI’s Role in Enhancing Remote Work Efficiency:

AI-powered analytics and automation will further improve productivity within offshore development teams.

Conclusion:

AI revolutionizes the hiring of dedicated developers in India by automating candidate screening, coding assessments, and interview analysis. Businesses can leverage AI-powered tools to efficiently find, evaluate, and manage top-tier offshore developers, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality software development outsourcing.

Ready to hire dedicated developers in India using AI? iQlance offers cutting-edge AI-powered hiring solutions to help you find the best talent quickly and efficiently. Get in touch today!

[hiredassault]

🔴 DEADLOCK MK-VI BALLISTIC TARGETING MONOCLE (aka the red eye-scope on his helmet)

🛠️ Specifications:

HUD (Heads-Up Display) overlay with smart targeting. Thermal Imaging, Night Vision and Infrared Scan. AI-assisted ballistic calculation (Calculates bullet drop, wind speed, humidity.) Facial Recognition linked to criminal/military databases. Rangefinder accurate up to 1,500 yards. Low-profile red reticle that overlays directly onto Floyd’s dominant eye. Zoom range: 1x to 20x magnification. Motion prediction algorithm: Anticipates target trajectory in real-time.

🪖 Helmet Integration:

Mounted on the left side of the reinforced tactical helmet. Designed to pivot up when not in use (rotational hinge). Connected to internal ear comms and encrypted GPS relay. Lightweight composite shell; bullet-resistant, heat-absorbent and EMP-shielded.

🎯 Functionality / Use:

Primary sniping tool : used when engaging targets from long range. Allows rapid acquisition of multiple hostiles via threat tagging. Used during government black ops, urban ambushes and high-stakes freelance contracts. Key to his identity: people know they’re being hunted when they see the red light glowing in the dark.

🔋 Power Drain:

Continuous use in multiple vision modes rapidly depletes helmet power cells. Must carry backup mini-core or recharge from belt port.

⚡Combat AI Overlay (Codename: REAPER):

Predicts enemy movement 3 seconds ahead using body-language tracking. Suggests optimized shooting angles or escape routes on HUD.

👁️ Biometric Lockout + Retinal ID:

Useless if stolen ; only activates when linked to Floyd’s biosignature.

🔢 Quantum Bullet Tracking:

Real-time tracking of fired rounds via microchip-tagged smart ammo. Displays bullet trajectory mid-flight and confirms impact or deflection. Adjusts Floyd’s next shot angle automatically if the target moves mid-burst.

🛡️ Adaptive Fire Retinal Shield:

If an explosion or flashbang occurs, a translucent shield covers Floyd’s eye instantly. Prevents temporary blindness, lens cracking, or retinal burns. Filters out intense light spikes (eg; muzzle flashes in pitch black).

[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.

[candlitnights]

Introduction

Hello and welcome! You can call me Candlit. I write for the pokémon fandom, specifically fics revolving around Darkrai as a character. I also doodle now and then in traditional art form.

I am an adult. She/her.

This is a secondary blog dedicated just to the fics I write. Occasionally I’ll repost from others if it has to do with one of my betas or if it’s a really good Cressrai post. Anyway, don’t expect mutual follows from this blog; I can’t do that.

When interacting with me, please refrain from profanity. I personally find it distasteful and I will not post or reblog anything with it on my blog. Also, this is a strictly safe for work space.

My Fics

I have three main works and a oneshot collection:

- When Monsters Dream (A Cresselia/Darkrai fairy tale retelling inspired by Beauty and the Beast as well as Phantom of the Opera. Set in the PMD world).

- Darkrai’s Guide to the Care & Keeping of Humans (Found family and accidental child acquisition, Darkrai meets Akari in the events of PLA and joins her team).

- Mischief & Nightmares (A retelling of Norse myths revolving around Darkrai as a Loki figure within the legendary pantheon. It is a sanitized adaptation to avoid mature rating and general ick; there are two Loki myths I’m not going to touch on. Other major characters include Cresselia, Arceus, and Giratina.)

- Steeped in Shade (A oneshot collection for shorts related to the other 3.)

You can find my Ao3 here.

Asks

My betas and I have decided to introduce a new feature to this blog: Character Asks! The inbox has been empty, so drop an ask anytime. I will tag them as #asks . Open characters are:

- WMD: Darkrai (Shade), Cresselia (Celeste), Mallow, and Giratina with moderation (he can't answer spoilers).

- Guide: Darkrai (Darius), Cresselia, Zephyr, Quill, and Sarabi. (Ridley will be available later).

Please note: If the question is plot-pertinent and an answer would involve spoilers, characters may answer it later or answer it vaguely depending. :) So if you don’t get an answer, assume it’s being held for a later date.

Finally, please do not swear or use more suggestive language in your questions. Otherwise, I may filter those out or not use your og wording because I don’t want that on my blog. Again, this is a SFW space only. Thanks for understanding!

AI Stance & “The Unforgivable Sin”

This is an anti-AI space. I have had my worked scraped before and it has left me devastated and on the verge of stopping writing and pulling down my works before.

To read my fics, you will need to have an AO3 account. I am truly sorry to unregistered users. However, requesting an account is simple, so I hope you'll consider it! Thank you in advance for understanding - not only for me, but for other distraught authors who have been thrown by this and will also be locking down.

I do NOT, now or ever, give anyone permission to feed my writing into ANY form of AI, be it Chatgpt, Copilot, or anything else! Please do not violate my trust and my consent as a writer by taking my work, which I have slaved over for hours and hours of my life out of love, and giving it to Gen AI for any purpose, such as asking it to give you a new chapter or some such nonsense. It is not acceptable for any reason. If you have a question about my writing, hiatuses, continuations, etc, please just come ask me.

Engagement / Interaction

As a writer, I thrive off of engagement with community. PLEASE consider commenting if you decide to read my work. My motivation is tied directly to this. If I post an update to largely hear crickets, it usually gives me the impression that readers don’t care much and it depresses me quite a lot, which impacts my motivation and production. Kudos are nice, but they aren’t really engagement. All they let me know is someone stopped by at least just once and said ‘cool’ but didn’t bother to engage further, which is also frustrating. You can see more of my thoughts in this post.

Finally

I hope you enjoy your time here! I really want to connect and have fun with the Darkrai fanbase, so please feel free to drop an ask, comment, and interact any time. It would make my day, to be honest!

Also, I tag everything on this blog based on content and story. You should see recommendations in the search bar.

[temothylol]

HI!!!

My name’s Tem!

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

No DNI. I’ll block you if I don’t like you

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

TAGS:

#tem says a thing: my original posts or reblogs where i contribute words

#tem flakes: art tag

#tem’s language acquisition adventures: random comments about japanese dubs of things im watching

#fav: my favorite posts :]

#save: posts im saving for later!

#save to draw later: posts im saving so i can draw things based on them

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

INTERESTS:

I post about

- Gravity Falls (Current Fixation)

- UNDERTALE and deltarune (Special Interest)

- Steven Universe (Special Interest)

- Object Shows

- Sonic The Hedgehog

- Half Life VR But The AI Is Self Aware

- Splatoon

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

BLINKIE AND ICON COLLECTION:

[iamarketinginsight]

Revolutionizing B2B Sales: Advanced Outbound Lead Generation Strategies for the Digital Era

The Changing Landscape of Business Development

In today's hyper-connected world, traditional sales approaches are becoming obsolete. Successful businesses are reimagining outbound lead generation as a strategic, data-driven process.

Core Principles of Modern Outbound Lead Generation

Transformative Approach

Intelligence-driven targeting

Precision communication

Value-centric engagement

Relationship-first methodology

Strategic Frameworks for Success

Intelligent Prospect Identification

Advanced market segmentation

Predictive buyer persona development

Deep competitive intelligence

Behavioral pattern analysis

Precision Targeting Techniques

Account-based marketing strategies

Micro-targeted communication

Contextual engagement models

Personalization at scale

Technology: The Competitive Differentiator

Cutting-Edge Tools

AI-powered lead scoring

Machine learning algorithms

Sophisticated CRM integrations

Automated outreach platforms

Real-time analytics dashboards

Communication Mastery

Engagement Strategies

Hyper-personalized messaging

Value proposition alignment

Pain point addressing

Storytelling in communication

Minimal friction approach

Sales Enablement Techniques

Content-Driven Approach

Thought leadership development

Educational content strategies

Trust-building resources

Industry insights sharing

Psychological Engagement

Emotional intelligence in sales

Trust acceleration techniques

Authentic relationship building

Consultative selling mindset

Performance Measurement

Critical Metrics

Conversion rate optimization

Lead quality scoring

Customer acquisition cost

Sales cycle acceleration

Pipeline velocity

Advanced Technological Integration

Predictive analytics

Natural language processing

Conversational intelligence

Automated follow-up systems

Cross-platform tracking

Overcoming Common Challenges

Breaking through noise

Avoiding generic approaches

Managing rejection

Maintaining consistent engagement

Continuous learning and adaptation

Future-Proofing Sales Strategies

Emerging Trends

AI-augmented selling

Hyper-personalization

Predictive engagement models

Integrated multi-channel approaches

Conclusion

Successful outbound lead generation is an art and science of strategic, technology-enabled, human-centric approach.

Innovate. Connect. Grow.

[oleanderblume]

ATTENTION MY AUTHOR AND WRITERLY FRIENDS WHO DISTRIBUTE THROUGH FINDAWAY VOICES OR SPOTIFY

Findaway Voices has been bought by Spotify and the new acquisition has caused a change in the terms and service for anyone producing audio through Findaway Voices

As you can see here the new ToS is stating that Findaway Voices, is claiming "IRREVOCABLE, royalty free, fully paid, non exclusive, transferrable, sublicensable, worldwide license to produce, make availiable, perform and display, TRANSLATE, MODIFY, CREATE DERIVITIVE WORKS AND DISTRIBUTE any of the user content -> audiobooks and files, through ANY medium, whether alone or in combination with OTHER user works.

IN ANY MANNER OR BY ANY MEANS, METHOD OR TECHNOLOGY WHETHER KNOWN OR HEREAFTER CREATED including PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, IMPROVEMENT, TRAINING, TESTING, MODELING AND IMPLEMENTATION with Spotify [and by extension Findaway Voices]

This terms of service agreement also requires you to WAIVE your rights to object to derrogatory treatment.

Meaning you can't legally, per this new terms of service object to unwillful manipulation or use of your intellectual property by spotify or uts subsidiaries.

This terms of service agreement is intended to take effect on March, 15th, 2024.

What is not included in the screen capture is a continued agreement to arbitration.

If you aren't familiar with arbitration agreements, they are usually stipulations in corporate contracts that require those seeking legal dispute use lawyers and court officials provided by the company being sued in the dispute. This makes it very hard to create a substantial single person lawsuit because of inherently imbalanced court procedures.

Why am i sharing this? Because this TOS message was sent out also stating that by users agreeing to previous TOS, they are *automatically* agreeing to THIS NEW TOS.

Please note the wording of the new contract, Spotify and its subsidiaries are functionally claiming the right to unquestionably manipulate the works of the creators using their distribution platforms for exclusively their own profit— note the royalty free, fully paid.

They are also saying through this wording that they maintain the right/ability to use the works they distribute to train, test, and implement product management, create derifitive works thereof, and distribute translations of the creator's works. WITHOUT COMPENSATION.

I would like to further focus on the verbiage, "testing" and "training", followed by the using of any means current or hereafter created— this is a clause that is functionally saying in legaleze "we want the right to train your works on generative AI and any new technoligy that comes after it too, just in case."

Followed, again, by the wholesale waiving of the creator's moral or equitable rights to dispute the potential misuse of their works without their express permission.

This TOS agreement is sneaky, in two ways.

1. They aren't letting you agree to it manually. They are siting your agreement to their original TOS as an automatic agreement to this newer version.

2. They are hiding this language in a vague way under the pretense of the agreement being used exclusively for advertisement purposes.

NOWHERE

Does it say that this waiving of licensing control or rights to dispute the use of said licensing is exclusive to advertisement. It gives advertisements as an example, but not an exclusive use. Meaning they are not difinitively saying anything other than, "here's just ☆ONE☆ of the ways we're planning to use your work"

My conclusion after reading the TOS is that this is wholesale a way that Spotify is trying to scrape the audiobooks they distribute to train and create derivative works via generative AI. And they are trying to sneak this past authors, narrators, and other people who use Findaway Voices to distribute their works.

If you distribute through Findaway Voices, I strongly recommend you try to pull your books and send them an email requesting the removal of them from their platform.

[mariacallous]

The day is slowly turning into night, and the American special operators are growing concerned. They are deployed to a densely populated urban center in a politically volatile region, and local activity has grown increasingly frenetic in recent days, the roads and markets overflowing with more than the normal bustle of city life. Intelligence suggests the threat level in the city is high, but the specifics are vague, and the team needs to maintain a low profile—a firefight could bring known hostile elements down upon them. To assess potential threats, the Americans decide to take a more cautious approach. Eschewing conspicuous tactical gear in favor of blending in with potential crowds, an operator steps out into the neighborhood's main thoroughfare to see what he can see.

With a click of a button, the operator sees … everything. A complex suite of sensors affixed to his head-up display start vacuuming up information from the world around him. Body language, heart rates, facial expressions, and even ambient snatches of conversation in local dialects are rapidly collected and routed through his backpack supercomputers for processing with the help of an onboard artificial intelligence engine. The information is instantly analyzed, streamlined, and regurgitated back into the head-up display. The assessment from the operators’ tactical AI sidekick comes back clear: There are a series of seasonal events coming into town, and most passersby are excited and exuberant, presenting a minimal threat to the team. Crisis averted—for now.

This is one of many potential scenarios repeatedly presented by Defense Department officials in recent years when discussing the future of US special operations forces, those elite troops tasked with facing the world’s most complex threats head-on as the “tip of the spear” of the US military. Both defense officials and science-fiction scribes may have envisioned a future of warfare shaped by brain implants and performing enhancing drugs, or a suit of powered armor straight out of Starship Troopers, but according to US Special Operations Command, the next generation of armed conflict will be fought (and, hopefully, won) with a relatively simple concept: the “hyper enabled operator.”

More Brains, Less Brawn

First introduced to the public in 2019 in an essay by officials from SOCOM’s Joint Acquisition Task Force (JATF) for Small Wars Journal, the hyper-enabled operator (HEO) concept is the successor program to the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) effort that, initiated in 2013, sought to outfit US special operations forces with a so-called “Iron Man” suit. Inspired by the 2012 death of a Navy SEAL during a hostage rescue operation in Afghanistan, TALOS was intended to improve operators’ survivability in combat by making them virtually resistant to small-arms fire through additional layers of sophisticated armor, the latest installment of the Pentagon’s decades-long effort to build a powered exoskeleton for infantry troops. While the TALOS effort was declared dead in 2019 due to challenges integrating its disparate systems into one cohesive unit, the lessons learned from the program gave rise to the HEO as a natural successor.

The core objective of the HEO concept is straightforward: to give warfighters “cognitive overmatch” on the battlefield, or “the ability to dominate the situation by making informed decisions faster than the opponent,” as SOCOM officials put it. Rather than bestowing US special operations forces with physical advantages through next-generation body armor and exotic weaponry, the future operator will head into battle with technologies designed to boost their situational awareness and relevant decisionmaking to superior levels compared to the adversary. Former fighter pilot and Air Force colonel John Boyd proposed the “OODA loop” (observe, orient, decide, act) as the core military decisionmaking model of the 21st century; the HEO concept seeks to use technology to “tighten” that loop so far that operators are quite literally making smarter and faster decisions than the enemy.

“The goal of HEO,” as SOCOM officials put it in 2019, “is to get the right information to the right person at the right time.”

To achieve this goal, the HEO concept calls for swapping the powered armor at the heart of the TALOS effort for sophisticated communications equipment and a robust sensor suite built on advanced computing architecture, allowing the operator to vacuum up relevant data and distill it into actionable information through a simple interface like a head-up display—and do so “at the edge,” in places where traditional communications networks may not be available. If TALOS was envisioned as an “Iron Man'' suit, as I previously observed, then HEO is essentially Jarvis, Tony Stark’s built-in AI assistant that’s constantly feeding him information through his helmet’s head-up display.

“[JATF] is targeting technologies to deliver cognitive overmatch to SOF operators working at the edge in austere and contested environments in coordination with and working through partners and allies,” SOCOM spokesperson James O. Gregory tells WIRED, invoking a general description of the program from the command’s website. “Such technologies will enable tactical teams of SOF operators to intuitively use information made available by next-generation sensors, networks, computing, and communication systems to rapidly build situation awareness. It will also help make timely, well-informed decisions, and take actions inside an adversary's ability to react.”

Enter the Gray Zone

So what does the HEO actually look like today, five years after its introduction into the US military’s tactical lexicon? Given the sensitive (and somewhat notional) nature of the effort, details remain scarce, and SOCOM officials have remained relatively tight-lipped about its progress. But according to SOCOM’s Gregory, the scenario and concept the HEO seeks to address has “evolved” from what officials previously described to reporters at the program’s inception. Indeed, rather than augmenting warfighters deployed to active combat zones, SOCOM officials envision something more like a casually dressed operator vacuuming up information on a busy urban avenue through a Google Glass-like eyepiece and sizing up the situation—in other words, more James Bond than Tony Stark. “The operational environment for the JATF’s current efforts is in the competition phase of warfare, in permissive or semi-permissive locations,” Gregory says. (A permissive environment is generally defined as an operational environment where US forces have the backing of a host country’s security apparatus, according to the US Army, while a “semi-permissive” environment is potentially hostile and local support is often not reliable.) No longer just another tool for a kinetic assault, the HEO will help elite troops operating in the “gray zone” between peace and conflict.

A SOCOM broad agency announcement—a general request for research and development proposals from the defense industry—published in 2020 and updated as recently as November 2023 details the JATF’s push for advanced technologies designed to boost situational awareness. Those technologies include: intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities “without substantial manning or networking resources” (the aforementioned “at the edge”); sophisticated sensors capable of “iris, facial, anatomical measures, gestures, gait, heartbeat, electromagnetic signals, deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA], and microbiome recognition”; low-visibility communications systems; and “data visualizations” that “permit [operators] to receive and intuitively understand networked information from communication, computing, and sensor systems,” among others. In short, the HEO envisions systems that enable the constant, real-time collection and distillation of data into actionable intel that could potentially mean the difference between life and death in an uncertain situation.

Edge Case

Envisioning a suite of aspirational capabilities is one thing; actually building them is another thing entirely. In terms of developing new products, Gregory says that the HEO effort has remained focused on three major experimental technology areas for the last several years: sensing and edge computing, architecture and analysis, and language translation.

“Sensing and edge computing” generally refers to the collection and processing of data from a variety of sources, but it also refers to the specialized computing power that operators need not only to function “at the edge,” but to actually run the AI-enabled software that will form the foundation of the HEO.

“Emerging technologies and solutions in artificial intelligence/machine learning require specialized ‘compute’ hardware, as traditional CPU-based devices are insufficient,” Gregory says. “We aim to feature a manpack device with a graphics processing unit, neural processing engine, and/or tensor processing unit capabilities. This will provide the necessary platform to leverage advanced technologies like language translation and other solutions at the edge, even when disconnected from the cloud.”

That computing power forms the basis for the “architecture and analysis” element focused on the rapid assessment and presentation of data to operators in the field. Gregory tells WIRED that, to support this element, the command has developed “a flexible [system] architecture that fuses data from various sources and media types” into an easily digestible format for operators to assess and act upon.

As for language translation, that’s self-explanatory. SOCOM believes that “prior to any hostilities ever occurring, clear communication can greatly enhance development of our long-term relationships,” Gregory says. “Voice-to-voice translation enables operators to communicate more effectively than relying on often scarce interpreters in the field. Even though many SOF personnel are multilingual, they are frequently deployed to regions with different languages or dialects.”

In line with these experimental technology areas, SOCOM has reportedly concentrated on six immediate lines of product development, per C4ISRNet: the “operator-worn kit” that includes both sensors and onboard computer processing power; application development resources; a unique, mission-agnostic system architecture; the “human-machine interface” that’s generally envisioned as a digital head-up display; a product called “information realization” that likely involves the clear presentation of data; and beyond-line-of-sight (BLoS) communications designed to keep troops in contact with their commanders (and each other) in satellite-denied environments.

According to Gregory, the command has gradually rolled out a handful of fresh capabilities from the HEO effort in recent years. In 2021, SOCOM announced that two products—a BLoS communications system and an unspecified “integrated situational awareness tool”—were transitioning into official programs of record, as Janes reported at the time. Gregory confirmed to WIRED that the BLoS system consists of “a steerable gimble antenna system that enhances the functionality” of the command’s SOF deployable nodes, a family of advanced satellite communications systems. The spokesperson also confirmed that the situational awareness tool, known as SEEKER, is an app that “enables advisers to build advanced situational awareness, thereby allowing them to select actions with an eye toward the broader situation rather than just the immediately apparent problem.” It’s unclear if the latter is related to the “automate the analyst” effort the command kicked off in 2020 to provide operators with an autonomous AI assistant.

Then there’s the “visual environment translation” system that’s designed to convert foreign language inputs into clear English in real time. Known overarchingly as the Versatile Intelligent Translation Assistant (VITA), the system encompasses both a visual environment translation effort and voice-to-voice translation capabilities and is “the most mature” of the JATF’s experimental technology areas, according to SOCOM. VITA is essentially “a voice-to-voice translation engine that functions offline on GPU-enabled devices,” Gregory says, small enough to be carried in the field on a laptop-tethered smartphone or wearable device and “engage in effective conversations where it was previously impossible.” And not only has VITA successfully demonstrated Russian, Chinese Mandarin, and Ukrainian language translation capabilities during testing, but the system has even been deployed to two undisclosed theaters of operations already.

“The visual translation component enhances situational awareness by translating video images, such as street signs, graffiti, and other written texts, in real time,” Gregory says. “Operators can use their phone cameras to scan their surroundings and understand foreign languages instantly.”

VITA provides US special operations forces with “a high-quality translation capability that is not reliant on the cloud or local interpreters, thus significantly reducing risk and logistical costs while increasing operational range and effectiveness for USSOF and our partners,” Gregory says. “The JATF is currently working with industry partners to reduce the size of the hardware and transition it into a SOF Program Executive Office for eventual fielding.” (And that language translation may not be restricted to a mobile device for long: According to SOCOM’s fiscal year 2025 budget request published in March, the command is still plowing ahead with head-mounted sensors and an augmented-reality HUD to present these functions right before operators’ eyes.)

Field Work

To US military planners, the HEO concept is promising: According to one Army assessment, the successful adoption of the system could potentially increase operator survivability far beyond that provided by the additional body armor of the TALOS program. But like other potentially revolutionary technology ventures, there’s certainly the possibility that HEO could end up a science fiction dream that collapses under the weight of its own technical complexity. And there’s no guarantee that operators will embrace the new technology seamlessly in the first place: Although VITA has shown operational promise, it’s unclear if other HEO products will prove intuitive enough to actually augment operators in the field rather than burden them with some complicated newfangled system. As Heinlein put it so aptly in Starship Troopers: “If you load a mud foot down with a lot of gadgets that he has to watch, somebody a lot more simply equipped—say with a stone ax—will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a vernier.” Perhaps, like TALOS, the promise of a tactical AI assistant like Tony Stark’s Jarvis sidekick may prove simply too ambitious for military engineers to realize in a fully formed product. But even if the HEO effort ends up only fielding, say, the VITA language translation tool, it will still represent a major boost in capabilities for US special operators deployed abroad. The day is slowly turning into night, but American commandos own the night and, with the help of the HEO, will do so well into the next conflict.

[ymishraofficial]

Top 10 Projects for BE Electrical Engineering Students

Embarking on a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electrical Engineering opens up a world of innovation and creativity. One of the best ways to apply theoretical knowledge is through practical projects that not only enhance your skills but also boost your resume. Here are the top 10 projects for BE Electrical Engineering students, designed to challenge you and showcase your talents.

1. Smart Home Automation System

Overview: Develop a system that allows users to control home appliances remotely using a smartphone app or voice commands.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino or Raspberry Pi)

Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module

Sensors (temperature, motion, light)

Learning Outcome: Understand IoT concepts and the integration of hardware and software.

2. Solar Power Generation System

Overview: Create a solar panel system that converts sunlight into electricity, suitable for powering small devices or homes.

Key Components:

Solar panels

Charge controller

Inverter

Battery storage

Learning Outcome: Gain insights into renewable energy sources and energy conversion.

3. Automated Irrigation System

Overview: Design a system that automates the watering of plants based on soil moisture levels.

Key Components:

Soil moisture sensor

Water pump

Microcontroller

Relay module

Learning Outcome: Learn about sensor integration and automation in agriculture.

4. Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Overview: Build a prototype for an electric vehicle (EV) charging station that monitors and controls charging processes.

Key Components:

Power electronics (rectifier, inverter)

Microcontroller

LCD display

Safety features (fuses, circuit breakers)

Learning Outcome: Explore the fundamentals of electric vehicles and charging technologies.

5. Gesture-Controlled Robot

Overview: Develop a robot that can be controlled using hand gestures via sensors or cameras.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino)

Motors and wheels

Ultrasonic or infrared sensors

Gesture recognition module

Learning Outcome: Understand robotics, programming, and sensor technologies.

6. Power Factor Correction System

Overview: Create a system that improves the power factor in electrical circuits to enhance efficiency.

Key Components:

Capacitors

Microcontroller

Current and voltage sensors

Relay for switching

Learning Outcome: Learn about power quality and its importance in electrical systems.

7. Wireless Power Transmission

Overview: Experiment with transmitting power wirelessly over short distances.

Key Components:

Resonant inductive coupling setup

Power source

Load (LED, small motor)

Learning Outcome: Explore concepts of electromagnetic fields and energy transfer.

8. Voice-Controlled Home Assistant

Overview: Build a home assistant that can respond to voice commands to control devices or provide information.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Raspberry Pi preferred)

Voice recognition module

Wi-Fi module

Connected devices (lights, speakers)

Learning Outcome: Gain experience in natural language processing and AI integration.

9. Traffic Light Control System Using Microcontroller

Overview: Design a smart traffic light system that optimizes traffic flow based on real-time data.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino)

LED lights

Sensors (for vehicle detection)

Timer module

Learning Outcome: Understand traffic management systems and embedded programming.

10. Data Acquisition System

Overview: Develop a system that collects and analyzes data from various sensors (temperature, humidity, etc.).

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino or Raspberry Pi)

Multiple sensors

Data logging software

Display (LCD or web interface)

Learning Outcome: Learn about data collection, processing, and analysis.

Conclusion

Engaging in these projects not only enhances your practical skills but also reinforces your theoretical knowledge. Whether you aim to develop sustainable technologies, innovate in robotics, or contribute to smart cities, these projects can serve as stepping stones in your journey as an electrical engineer. Choose a project that aligns with your interests, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance from your professors and peers. Happy engineering!

[pan-matsuri]

This blog is run by a Masters student studying Computer Science, specifically the ethical use and application of AI in second language acquisition. As such:

This blog is anti AI images.

I think I'm pretty good at spotting art theft, but if I've missed something, please let me know.

[helenvaughans]

"The ideology of Silicon Valley is clear: move fast and break things, scale at all costs, pump and dump. The lingering earth-flavored utopianism of the California Ideology softened the edge, and American two-party politics ensured at least a facade of responsibility, but both have largely fallen away over the past year.

I can point to Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, tech company layoffs, general societal Jokerfication post-Covid and the takeoff of generative AI as proximate causes, but the root cause is an unsustainable concentration of power among frustrated young men; more specifically, among engineers.1

C.P. Snow famously described the cleavage between The Two Cultures in Western society, between science and the humanities. In 1959, Snow observed the social supremacy of the humanities—his argument was that they needed to learn to understand the other culture, for the benefit of society.

But now the engineers are in charge. Universities are STEM departments and professional schools, with humanities a luxury curiosity. Television and now social media has devastated literary culture. We no longer believe in the rule of law or in liberalism more broadly.

So now they’re openly talking about Accelerationism, “effective accelerationism,” even, leaping into the gaping hole in vibe space left by the implosion of FTX/Effective Altruism. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen has been pushing this for many months, and yesterday released

“The Techno-Optimist Manifesto”

The content is far too stupid to engage with; it takes 10x the effort to refute bullshit than to produce it. Instead, we should think about this document as post-textual. The medium is natural language, but what it encodes is not linear, conceptual reason but vibes. The concluding list of thinkers and fictional characters is simply a clout bomb.

This is a collection of tweets: pure discourse, responding to The Discourse that came before it. In contrast to the idea of individual agency at the heart of liberalism, there is no agency here: the writing is driven entirely by discourse and vibes. It is all implied by what came before it. None of means anything."

[...]

"But Andreessen is more interested in the right hand of cybernetics—he specifically and repeatedly endorses the philosophy of Nick Land, the most famous proponent of Accelerationism. I can’t believe it’s come to this.

Thiel famously said that capitalism and democracy are incompatible, and chose the former.

Land’s Accelerationism says that (techno)capitalism and humanity are incompatible, and yet he still chose the former.3

So make no mistake. Accelerationism is terrorism.4 It violates what Ortega y Gasset calls “man’s most fundamental right...the right to continuity.” Technological accelerationism aims to eliminate the human and instantiate the world of the inhuman functionary. The current rate of change is already incompatible with human dignity, and they want to speed it up. From the manifesto:

We believe in accelerationism – the conscious and deliberate propulsion of technological development – to ensure the fulfillment of the Law of Accelerating Returns.

For people who valorize “The Scientific Method,” they don’t seem to understand what a “Law” is. If this is a Law of Nature, it’s odd that humans have to “fulfill” it. If it’s a human Law, who passed it? Can we overturn it?"