#What are the 5 BASIC concepts of programming language? | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

adambja · 1 year ago

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✴️THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND✴️

The Guide - the only post you will ever need to understand how your subconscious mind works!

1. Time isn't real

Let me break it to you! Time isn't real at all cuz think about it all these hours and numbers are made by humans!

But how?!

They just track how the earth moves around the sun and that's all

Yes without time there will be morning and night and still these hours aren't real

As in whole THE UNIVERSE!! TIME DOESN'T EXIST IF YOU AREN'T ON THE EARTH!

which GETS US TO THAT ONE POINT

SUBCONSCIOUS MIND REPROGRAMMING DOESN'T TAKE 21 DAYS OR ANY TIME

Subconscious mind reprogramming is instant

That's why I always add it to my tapes as benefits and that's why I made the benefits! cuz it bypasses the conscious mind and it makes it easier for your subconscious to make it reality!

So basically it all comes down to what you assume!!

2. Languages

I got that question a lot about what if I can't speak English, will the affirmations work?

Yes ofc they will

whatever it's affirmations only or my tapes

Even if you make your own tapes it will work!!

3. Thoughts

Is it really "it is what it is"?

Yes, it is what it is

For ex.

if you think you already got 50k US DOLLARS you already have it it's that simple (like that success story a girl experienced with one of my free tapes she manifested 50k US DOLLARS! - also this one success story - The tape is on YouTube btw)

Again it all comes down to what you assume!

4. Assuming

Assuming hmmm... Do you know that all your thoughts are assumptions?

But there are two things about these thoughts!

Did you assume that they are real and true?

Do you assume that whatever you want is already achieved?

Do you assume that you are always right?

Or did you assume that it can't happen cuz you think you are lying!

Just be honest with yourself

Get a piece of paper and write everything you think about down ABOUT A SPECIFIC MANIFESTATION YOU GOT ON YOUR MIND!

And if you think you are lying why? Ask yourself! Make all that noise go away and clear it for yourself! You deserve better

Now this gets us to another point which is your manifesting self-concept and your self-concept they are very important for ur existence like they are the core of your life! So a little advice work on them then do whatever you want!

Cuz it changes the way you think and what you assume

So like a person with a bad or mid self-concept they will always assume the worst for themselves

Another person with a good self-concept they will be aware of who they are and what they are capable of!

5. Thoughts, Feelings and beliefs!

Again and again

How you feel is created by thought

Subconscious programming → beliefs → feelings → thoughts

So if you keep saying "oh I am sad" multiple times you will be sad it's just that simple

Use it for your own good!

And imagine what... Right now

Your beliefs will reflect in your reality after one thought instantly after reading this post so be careful cuz i already manifested this while typing this!

And listen to in control tape by me on YouTube!

Basically you can always create beliefs instantly cuz you believe that time isn't real... Did you know what we are doing here? Just assuming the best for us but you still have to be constant to get used to it and make it a part of your programming like everyday

Someone like me I enter the void every time I nap and sleep I got used to it and I don't even feel tired anymore when I wake up there and I don't use it that much anymore!

I literally enjoy how easy it is in life to do whatever I want and experience whatever I want!

6. Simple assumptions to have a good relationship with your subconscious mind

I will give you 10 affirmations from my paid subconscious mind tape at the end (I know it won't be the same as the tape itself because of the benefits but still it might help you guys!)

Do you know that your subconscious mind is here for you like a parent it's like your personal assistant - it has everything about you, your memories and it controls ur whole life it accepts every single thought you think about unless you say it it's not something you accept so it gets in your subconscious mind like "oh I don't accept this"

Even the negative statements your subconscious mind knows it negative!! Same thing with the positive statements

Like for ex.

I am not a bad person - negative statement

Your subconscious mind acknowledges it!

Your subconscious mind won't take it in like "I am a bad person" without the "not"

Even the same thing with

I am a good person - positive statement

Your subconscious mind acknowledges it TOO

The subconscious mind ACCEPTS THE NEGATIVE STATEMENTS TOO!

IT IS simply WHAT IT IS!!

It's not the opposite at all as some weird bloggers said! Or even that book about the subconscious mind it's called "the power of the subconscious mind by Joseph Murphy" it's full of bs and limiting beliefs - I genuinely hate it

I literally saw a coach in Saudi Arabia on X (PREVIOUSLY Twitter) selling a whole course for almost 30k USD and sharing all the limiting beliefs in that book and that was months ago!

I mean at least IF YOU ARE MAKING PEOPLE PAY FOR SOMETHING PROVIDE THEM WITH THE BEST THINGS AND INFORMATION

I hated how some people let some crazy stuff like that get to them without doing their own research or just creating their own rules!!

Be a little independent please for your own good

Your subconscious mind can be programmed instantly YOU DON'T NEED ANY TIME all you need to realize and understand is that yes "I always reprogram my subconscious mind instantly" and YOU JUST NEED comfort and just repeating the affs - this is a way

Another way to do it - make your own tapes and it's just repetition

Another way to do it - simply be it be whatever you want to be! Like it's already you!

One last way to do it - my free tapes + paid tapes they are very effective they work from the first listen because they have benefits again what actually made my tapes get that much success stories is the benefits

I am gonna upload 2 new free tapes they are small but very effective! Everyone here will like them!!

🎀10 Affirmations for your subconscious mind🎀

from my paid subconscious mind tape

Affirmations:

Me and my subconscious mind are one.

My subconscious mind already accepts everything I say as true.

My subconscious mind already accepts everything think about as true.

My subconscious mind is already my best friend forever.

My subconscious mind always helps me with everything.

My subconscious mind always loves me.

My subconscious mind always helps me reach my highest potential in this lifetime!

My subconscious mind already believes what I want it to believe easily effortlessly quickly and instantly.

My subconscious mind always manifests everything I want easily effortlessly and instantly.

I have a perfect relationship with my subconscious mind.

Thank you guys for all the support and love and I hope this post helped you!

If you have any questions you can always send an ask I will be happy to answer them whenever I am free! Also you can dm me if you want a paid tape or a custom tape!

One last thing these tapes are with benefits they aren't like any other tapes that are available everywhere these days! 🎀

Enjoy!💗

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lescraze · 2 years ago

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In this oil on canvas painting by Criselda Vasquez, she uses her parents to reinterpret and contemporize the iconic 1930 painting by Grant Wood, American Gothic.

My parents were young migrant workers, my dad was brought into migrant work at a very young age, he dropped out of school when he was in middle high to do so. He was brought into migrant work by his mom and his moms mom, and so on. Migrant work is all my dad knew, on the other hand, my mom finished school, and attended university prior to getting pregnant, which pushed her into working in such conditions. Still was very interested in continuing to educate herself in any way possible. In the early 2000’s my parents officially decided to stay in Colorado, even though they could have chosen from California, New Mexico, Arizona, or Colorado, my parents were set on Colorado. My mom, still wanting to expand her knowledge , began taking English classes at our local Migrant Head Start, a head start that was for migrant families in the summer to provide child care services and early childhood education. My mom has no ESL (English as a second language) degree whatsoever, but, my mom took time out of her day and energy to not only teach herself English, but to help her 5 year old daughter with her english. My dad on the other hand didn't bother learning the language, and soon after getting basic knowledge on the language, I became my dads personal interpreter.

Now growing up in a strictly spanish speaking household, even after learning english. My parents made it more of a priority to speak Spanish at home as much as possible, because they believed that in not doing so, we would lose our spanish my dad would go off and yell, “No no no en esta casa se abla Espanol, nada de ese engl-eesh” or “Na nada de eso, espanol por favor”, Making it hard to practice my english at times outside of school, but still very much grateful for this decision now. In school I strictly spoke english, because besides being the only place I could practice, my teachers would make it a priority we only spoke english as school, especially those in the ESL program. This is what always confused me about the situation. I wasn't allowed to speak Spanish at school, but I became my school's interpreter on almost every occasion, so you know, I kinda had to speak Spanish for that. Same at home, I was not allowed to speak English to or around my parents inside the house or outside, but yet I was always told "Mija diles esto…” and I went off speaking english. At the time, it made it hard to be encouraged in being the bilingual student or the interpreter everywhere I go, but now thinking back, I wouldn't have it any other way. Boy was that annoying, but no one else would do it. Even though there were times where I wished I only knew one language and cried, because other children and peers would make fun of my accent, in which now, I am extremely thankful. Everytime I felt like not wanting to speak because I said ‘Cinnamon’ instead of ‘synonym’ (say it out loud and tell me it doesn't sound the same) I always had my momma cheering me on. Times where I felt frustrated because I couldn't understand a concept, my mom was also there reminding me that being bilingual is an honor, and should be embraced and would tell me, “Nunca te avergüences por tu lenguaje! Puedes conquistar el mundo sabiendo dos lenguajes , nunca te avergüences mija” (Never be ashamed for your language. You can rule the world knowing 2 languages). Boy, my mama couldn't be more right…

#Bilingual #hispanic #mexicanamerican #Latinx

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dimalink · 3 months ago

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Kind Animals Little Cards – little mice and duckling, little animals are awakening

And, it is already going on a spring little days! So long, you and I - we were waiting for them! And so they are hear! And good and kind animals were waiting for them too! So, in spring, they will come and it will be even more of them. In terms of a new version – with number 0.2 and magic word – “Crawl next” – it will be 5 new little cards with little animals. It is main news. About this version. I am successfully set a process of creation, cycle of production. To make some typical code, typical project with Visual basic. And that’s why 5 new little cards.

Little cards were drawn a long time ago. And, this time, it will be add to set – a drawings with good and kind animals, that were made about something before summer 2024. Middle of summer 2024. These are different funny and kind animals. And, stories about them. Every little card – it is small typical program with Visual basic. And there - it is a little picture with little animal. And, a little story about little animal. And, several options. Select language, color for decorations. Text – its color and background color.

Little animals are, already, awakening to the spring start! And, they start to run and jump! Version 0.2 has a magic word – Crawl next. Because, it is a project for Visual Basic, practice. And, with last version it is, already, some time to pass. And, I pick up some drawings, that I have. Make a templates for process. This is very valuable point. I do not know for myself, how a lot it will be – little animals. But, for sure – I want to do a lot! Good and kind littles animals is never enough! Crawl next – it is a good word. For make idea complete, to think about concept, to collect, already, made in last year stories and pictures.

About something interesting. There is here little program – it has a name Little List. It is now a list of, already, made cards. And, you can to start them from the list. Most simple version of this program. There are ideas to expand idea about good and kind animals – with something new. Today, it is little list.

Crawl next – it is move forward! New little cards and little program. Update. Spring. Summer is ahead! Maybe, we, also, can start to jump! And, even to fly! And, this is practice for Visual Basic.

Main – it is little cards with little animals. Meet new little cards and stories!

This is my friend сhicken

Duck checks swamp flowers

Little mouse is doing country house things

Little mouse is going to sleep

Little mice are crossing the ditch

How nice to see my friends again! I am so happy to see them again! They are good and kind! They are awakening in the spring! And, they will again to run and jump! And, crawl too! Total, now, it is, already, 6 little cards. And, program Little List – most simple program. It goes with version 0.1. Every little card – it is programs, and, you can launch them standalone. Or, from the program list. As you wish.

So, little mouse is going to sleep. Or mice are crossing the ditch. it is so big water for them. Who knows! Water is dark. And what is there! It is better to be carefully. Mice are good and kind and clever. Duck in a swamp. Duck walks there. There are different little flowers there. How beautiful it is! And, so, lots of water all around. Chicken! Look, how big he is now, he is growing up! Such a bird! Or who is it! With such a beak! Runs here and there. Little mouse is in the garden. Mouse is digging into. Mouse is doing some things. So, this time it will be lots of different mouse! Mouse version. Pi pi pi! Mice are beeping! Kra kra! Speaks chicken and duckling!

Look at little cards! And, also, start to be friends with good and kind animals! They are little animals - good and kind. They are living into their own dimension. You, sometimes, can see them. So, it is spring and summer. Such a time. And, for little animals. And, for you. Good, kind, clever, funny. Everything is good about them. Their things are good to go. And lots of things they have.

Look mice are, already, crossed the ditch. So, it is a joy for them. So, now, some plants. Before them. They need to think what to do next. More likely, they will go into the grass. They have a teapot there. They will drink a tea!

Kind animals little cards version 0.1 "Duckling and dandelions" - it is newest version. With this version - only one little card. With Duckling and dandelions. And thats all! It is very beginning!

And now, it is in development a new version. And what you see here, already, will be in a new version.

Kind animals little cards: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/apps/kindanimalslittlecards/index_eng.html Website: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/home_eng.html

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sonadukane · 2 months ago

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How to Become a Data Scientist in 2025 (Roadmap for Absolute Beginners)

Want to become a data scientist in 2025 but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone. With job roles, tech stacks, and buzzwords changing rapidly, it’s easy to feel lost.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need a PhD or years of coding experience to get started. You just need the right roadmap.

Let’s break down the beginner-friendly path to becoming a data scientist in 2025.

✈️ Step 1: Get Comfortable with Python

Python is the most beginner-friendly programming language in data science.

What to learn:

Variables, loops, functions

Libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib

Why: It’s the backbone of everything you’ll do in data analysis and machine learning.

🔢 Step 2: Learn Basic Math & Stats

You don’t need to be a math genius. But you do need to understand:

Descriptive statistics

Probability

Linear algebra basics

Hypothesis testing

These concepts help you interpret data and build reliable models.

📊 Step 3: Master Data Handling

You’ll spend 70% of your time cleaning and preparing data.

Skills to focus on:

Working with CSV/Excel files

Cleaning missing data

Data transformation with Pandas

Visualizing data with Seaborn/Matplotlib

This is the “real work” most data scientists do daily.

🧬 Step 4: Learn Machine Learning (ML)

Once you’re solid with data handling, dive into ML.

Start with:

Supervised learning (Linear Regression, Decision Trees, KNN)

Unsupervised learning (Clustering)

Model evaluation metrics (accuracy, recall, precision)

Toolkits: Scikit-learn, XGBoost

🚀 Step 5: Work on Real Projects

Projects are what make your resume pop.

Try solving:

Customer churn

Sales forecasting

Sentiment analysis

Fraud detection

Pro tip: Document everything on GitHub and write blogs about your process.

✏️ Step 6: Learn SQL and Databases

Data lives in databases. Knowing how to query it with SQL is a must-have skill.

Focus on:

SELECT, JOIN, GROUP BY

Creating and updating tables

Writing nested queries

🌍 Step 7: Understand the Business Side

Data science isn’t just tech. You need to translate insights into decisions.

Learn to:

Tell stories with data (data storytelling)

Build dashboards with tools like Power BI or Tableau

Align your analysis with business goals

🎥 Want a Structured Way to Learn All This?

Instead of guessing what to learn next, check out Intellipaat’s full Data Science course on YouTube. It covers Python, ML, real projects, and everything you need to build job-ready skills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxNDw68XcE4

🔄 Final Thoughts

Becoming a data scientist in 2025 is 100% possible — even for beginners. All you need is consistency, a good learning path, and a little curiosity.

Start simple. Build as you go. And let your projects speak louder than your resume.

Drop a comment if you’re starting your journey. And don’t forget to check out the free Intellipaat course to speed up your progress!

#data science #data science course #data science training #data science projects

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eddieripps · 2 months ago

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your art is so pretty! that snippet of the gameplay was so cool to see. I was wondering where you learned to code and what language you're using? i'd love to learn how to code and make something a fraction as good

hiiii :((( this is so sweet thank you so so much <33

as far as language goes, im in college for programming and compsci so I've learned like.. too many languages to keep track. the ones I use most are python and javascript though!!

for the game, it's built in a program called gdevelop 5 which is basically like scratch just like. adult scratch. imagine lego duplo vs legos. same concept just more shit to it. and it's javascript compatible if I ever hit a roadblock and need to write something out. i find it to be most similar to visual basic in terms of actual use though, if you've ever used microsoft visual studio

i would probably get more control over it / be able to make it less messy if I rebuilt it entirely in javascript from the ground up but also its a silly pixel game for my favorite show. it's saved on my computer as "yellerjackers". i simply wanted it to work enough for stupid posts on my tumblr and I achieved that no shame in my game (ba dum tss.. anyone? hello? is this thing on?)

but if you ever do wanna just hop into something without having to spend an entire semester learning a programming language, gdevelop is great. they've got tutorial games you can follow along with to teach you basic framework as well.

im a guy who hates when creativity is limited by skill and knowledge gap (comes with having dyscalculia and majoring in a math based field) so I'm always gonna encourage using your resources. doesn't matter as long as you have fun with it!

#that last statement is NOT about ai art. ai art doesnt make it fun.#its fun when you walk into a canvas and come out bloodstained but with art that you made with your own two hands #as someone who also studies ai and has a neutral opinion on it i do not think ai art is necessary or fulfilling #and you should teach yourself the art if nothing else because only you can bring something to life exactly as you want it #can you tell I'm high i turn into a philosopher sometimes.#answered.rip #sorry for how LOOOONGGG this answer was lmaoooo #i appreciate you anon mwah little air kiss for you

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hesi-teas-test · 3 months ago

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Important Lesson About Nursing Procedure For HESI TEST

The HESI A2 exam is a key component for admission into nursing and healthcare programs. It's designed to assess your knowledge and skills in areas such as math, reading, science, and English language usage. If you're looking to boost your HESI A2 score.

Feel free to join us at our private study group: HESI and TEAS Study Group 👈.

Group Study Is Very Important In Competitive Exam

Here are some important objective-type mathematics questions that you may encounter on the HESI and NCLEX exams. These questions typically test your ability to apply basic mathematical concepts in the context of healthcare and patient care.

What is the volume of fluid to be infused over 4 hours if a patient is prescribed 1200 mL?

A. 300 mL/hr

B. 250 mL/hr

C. 200 mL/hr

D. 100 mL/hr

Answer: A. 300 mL/hr

If a drug dosage is 10 mg per 5 mL, how many mL would be required for a 50 mg dose?

A. 25 mL

B. 20 mL

C. 10 mL

D. 5 mL

Answer: B. 20 mL

Convert 2.5 kg to pounds. (1 kg = 2.2 lbs)

A. 5.5 lbs

B. 6 lbs

C. 5 lbs

D. 6.5 lbs

Answer: A. 5.5 lbs

GET FREE PROBLEM SOLVING VIDEO TUTORING AND STUDY MATERIALS.

#health and wellness #healthcare #medicine #nutrition #physical health #nursing #hygiene #medical care #nursing school #nursing student #hesi prep #hesi practice test #hesi exam #hesi test prep #hesi a2 test #hesi online classes #nclex #nclex test prep #nclexrn

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zaagi-studies · 3 months ago

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subtle ableism in teacher ed is kind of illogical

i'm basically doing a BA & BEd combo degree and the rate of teachers quitting within their first 5-10 years is quite high. when i joined the program i expressed interest in doing a second degree for library, languages, or occupational therapy. i still wanna do those v much.

so when a prof/advisor/etc says "if you're struggling with part-time classes right now, how do you think you'll be able to handle being a real teacher?" or the "it's only gonna get harder from here so get used to it" i just sit there like wow this person is genuinely kinda dumb for a few reasons:

i'm getting a combo degree for a reason, i enjoy studying both topics. i previously took classes in philosophy, arabic, psychology, sociology, & biology because i was interested.

more importantly, who says i'd be forced to work in a regular public school environment when my own online high school told me to reach out once i graduate university ???? i could teach college as well. i could work for the government to help develop curriculums for the subjects i focus on. i could work as an advisor. i have no obligation to be a "normal" educator

university shouldn't be a job-training centre. i'm not gonna ignore my health to get a degree for a job i might be too disabled to ever actually do.

i don't have to work as a teacher. changing careers isn't a new concept ????

so when someone says it's only gonna get harder, i ask how do they know that?? how can they know what my future will look like when i also don't know?? i know disabled educators who found the degree much harder than the actual job.

#studyblr #chaotic academia #study blog #autistic studyblr #education studyblr #university life #history studyblr #teacher education #disabled student #actually disabled #adhd studyblr #idiopathic hypersomnia

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ahad-hossain-blog · 6 months ago

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JavaScript

Introduction to JavaScript Basics

JavaScript (JS) is one of the core technologies of the web, alongside HTML and CSS. It is a powerful, lightweight, and versatile scripting language that allows developers to create interactive and dynamic content on web pages. Whether you're a beginner or someone brushing up on their knowledge, understanding the basics of JavaScript is essential for modern web development.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a client-side scripting language, meaning it is primarily executed in the user's web browser without needing a server. It's also used as a server-side language through platforms like Node.js. JavaScript enables developers to implement complex features such as real-time updates, interactive forms, and animations.

Key Features of JavaScript

Interactivity: JavaScript adds life to web pages by enabling interactivity, such as buttons, forms, and animations.

Versatility: It works on almost every platform and is compatible with most modern browsers.

Asynchronous Programming: JavaScript handles tasks like fetching data from servers without reloading a web page.

Extensive Libraries and Frameworks: Frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue make it even more powerful.

JavaScript Basics You Should Know

1. Variables

Variables store data that can be used and manipulated later. In JavaScript, there are three ways to declare variables:

var (old way, avoid using in modern JS)

let (block-scoped variable)

const (constant variable that cannot be reassigned)

Example:

javascript

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let name = "John"; // can be reassigned const age = 25; // cannot be reassigned

2. Data Types

JavaScript supports several data types:

String: Text data (e.g., "Hello, World!")

Number: Numeric values (e.g., 123, 3.14)

Boolean: True or false values (true, false)

Object: Complex data (e.g., { key: "value" })

Array: List of items (e.g., [1, 2, 3])

Undefined: A variable declared but not assigned a value

Null: Intentional absence of value

Example:

javascript

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let isLoggedIn = true; // Boolean let items = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"]; // Array

3. Functions

Functions are reusable blocks of code that perform a task.

Example:

javascript

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function greet(name) { return `Hello, ${name}!`; } console.log(greet("Alice")); // Output: Hello, Alice!

4. Control Structures

JavaScript supports conditions and loops to control program flow:

If-Else Statements:

javascript

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if (age > 18) { console.log("You are an adult."); } else { console.log("You are a minor."); }

Loops:

javascript

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for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) { console.log(i); }

5. DOM Manipulation

JavaScript can interact with and modify the Document Object Model (DOM), which represents the structure of a web page.

Example:

javascript

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document.getElementById("btn").addEventListener("click", () => { alert("Button clicked!"); });

Visit 1

mysite

Conclusion

JavaScript is an essential skill for web developers. By mastering its basics, you can create dynamic and interactive websites that provide an excellent user experience. As you progress, you can explore advanced concepts like asynchronous programming, object-oriented design, and popular JavaScript frameworks. Keep practicing, and you'll unlock the true power of JavaScript!

#javascript #js

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elliepassmore · 1 year ago

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Snow Crash review

3/5 stars Recommended if you like: hard sci-fi, dystopian sci-fi, tech bros, sword fighting, VR

TW statutory rape

So...let's have this be the last time I'm fooled by pretty colors and Sumerian cuneiform (also the last time I take a book recommendation from another book). This book and I did not get off to a good start, what with it opening with a million random words thrown together with exposition on what those words meant. Then I got used to it, then Stephenson had to bring in the anthropology and linguistics.

Now, normally I love seeing those things in books. I love both of those subjects and studied them in college and on my own time. That being said, Snow Crash is like if a tech bro was court mandated to take linguistics 101 and anthropology 101, only paid attention 33% of the time, then retold his tech bro buddies all about ancient civilization and ancient languages after having a couple of beers. This is, perhaps, a bit mean, because Stephenson does get some of it right. But then he goes off the rails and while I understand this is sci-fi....well, the basic facts are just plain wrong. Go off, but at least base it in fact.

A slight rant, so perhaps skip these next two paragraphs if you don't want to read about me complaining about linguistics and anthropology more, I'll try to make it brief. Stephenson was off to a good start talking about Sumer and Sumerian religion, he actually stays pretty on track with Sumerian religion, interestingly enough, but then he goes and starts talking about how Sumer was stagnant and yet somehow everyone spoke Sumerian and how me dragged Sumerians out of cave-man-hood.....except, Sumerian wasn't the first language. It's just the oldest language we have written attestation for. People could speak, and were modern humans, well before Sumer became a thing. Hell, Akkadian and and some form of Proto-Old-Chinese (among others) were both spoken at that time, the Sumerians just got to writing first. (and let's not even get into the "cave man" concept)

Further, Sumerian didn't just magically vanish, what happened was a series of smaller and larger civilization collapses caused by a whole host of factors, through which Sumerian gradually went from being the predominately spoken language of the area to a language spoken almost solely religiously due to the influx of newcomers and conquerors to the region combined with certain conquering dynasties forcibly migrating native Sumerians to the outskirts of the empire (where they had to interact with the natives there, who definitely did not speak their language) and bringing other cultural, linguistic, and ethnic groups into the traditional Sumerian heartland. Also, more minor, but there were not "tens of thousands" of languages being spoken in the 1980s. We have approximately 7000 languages today and while we are losing languages at a rapid rate, we are not losing them that quickly. Language, and by some extension culture, was the whole basis of this book and Stephenson just got so much of that basis wrong that, while I enjoyed a decent portion of it, I just couldn't get over the incorrectness of it,

Okay, back to the regularly scheduled programming. As far as plot goes, it was actually pretty interesting following Hiro and Y.T. as they got tangled up in web after web of this conspiracy. There were so many moving parts that seemed disparate from one another and yet somehow connected, and I really enjoyed seeing how it all came together. I liked how things built up and I think the showdown with Hiro gets a good climax, but stuff in the real world fell a little flat. I would've liked to have a firmer resolution with things, even if it left some things open ended. As is, it just feels like a let down.

Hiro was a hard character to get into. He's just kind of there for the beginning part of the book, a problem which is compounded by the sheer amount of lingo and information being dumped on readers at the beginning of the book. He turns out to actually be a pretty chill dude later on and even when he was confused, he at least seemed to grasp things quickly, so there wasn't too much just standing around and questioning things.

Y.T. was a bit easier to like from the get-go, though her lingo is just as confusing as Hiro's. 15 definitely seems young to be doing a lot of the things she's doing, and while I know her mom works long hours for the Feds, I'm surprised she has 0 clue what her daughter is doing. I liked Y.T.'s spunk and tenacity. She could get freaked out at times, but she was a go-getter and immediately jumped into doing anything she was interested in or thought would help.

While I did spend a good portion of this review complaining about the technical linguistic and anthropological side of the book, I did enjoy some of the book. The problem is, is that combined with the factual problems, the book reads too much like your stereotypical hard sci-fi that's easy to make fun of because the authors are using a gazillion weird words to enforce the 'futuristic' idea. Things like "franchulate" I can see where it comes from; 'Kouriers' are on thin ice, but whatever, they're trademarked; but there was a lot of stuff that I thought was just unnecessarily in "sci-fi lingo." All of this put together, plus the very ending of the book, reduced my overall enjoyability.

#book #book review #books #bookstagram #booklr #bookblr #bookaholic #bookish #snow crash #neal stephenson #scifi book #scifi #hard sci fi #hard science fiction

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enterpris · 2 years ago

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An Education in Attraction, Chapter 7

Pairing: Reader x Gojo

Summary: It's spring when you start your Master's degree. As the flowers and leaves unfold, so too do your feeling for Gojo

Warnings: Mild swearing

Previous Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Ao3: PlaidSparrow

"Teacher! What are we doing in class today? Can we skip the lesson and just have conversation time?" Kaba Ryo is one of your more enthusiastic students.

You wave the stack of assignments in front of you. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we've got some worksheets today. There will be plenty of time to talk after, though."

He sighs and walks to the front of the classroom. You hand the sheets to Ryo, who lays them out on each desk as the rest of your students trickle in.

Many of the students greet you as they enter, and your heart swells. Teaching while completing your graduate program is taxing, but there’s nowhere else you feel the same joy as when you’re leading the classroom. In the couple months you’ve been working with this group, the students have really warmed up to you. Not only are they more eager to participate in conversations with each other, they have plenty of questions about your life before coming to Japan and outside of the Eikaiwa school too.

Today they’re flooding you with questions about how hard the classes in your Graduate program are.

"Not as hard as learning a new language," you assure them. "What you're doing now will prepare you well for university."

You’ve settled into a rhythm of letting the students ask some questions at the beginning of class, it’s a good opportunity for them to practice new words and speaking. You answer since it’s a good application of listening skills too. Then you have them complete the worksheets. The sheets will introduce the new vocab in the next unit you planned. Since you're thinking so much about your future, you want to incorporate future tense and more professional words into your lessons.

The second half of your sessions is where you have the most fun. Language learning is best done through practice, and giving the students some freedom to converse or preparing a game for them to apply grammar concepts is probably more fun than doing worksheets too. Today you’ll have them talk about their future dreams- jobs, goals, whatever the students hope for really.

Most of these students have been enrolled in Eikaiwa schools since lower Middle School, and came into your class with high levels of proficiency. You just want to nurture their natural curiosity and talents.

But you’re also determined to make sure your pupils are challenged. You want your students to pick up new phrases and ask questions about why English is the way that it is. Being able to communicate in English is a valuable skill in the current world, even though you have mixed feelings about your native tongue being a Lingua Franca.

“Future tense in English is super easy, I bet you all can master it by the time you leave class today.” You explain the basics of using ‘will’ or ‘going to’ as auxiliary verbs. Then you turn the class loose to get some hands-on experience with the new structures.

You walk around the circle of desks and listen to the overlap of your students’ conversations. You smile to yourself. The high schoolers are immediately integrating the vocabulary from the practice sheet, and they’re successfully beginning to use present tense too. You only have to make corrections to two conversation groups before the class is over.

It’s incredible to think about just how far these students have come so far. The first couple of classes were so reserved and quiet, you’ve had to really work on encouraging the students to speak up. But that’s the exciting part of teaching- engaging each pupil and finding what they’re passionate about and how they learn. When it’s time to end the class, your students are still chatting amongst each other, switching between Japanese and English.

“Thank you!”

“See you next week!”

The chorus of support from your students is more intense than usual as they head out. You think it’s probably because you assign less homework than some of their previous teachers, but nonetheless, you can’t shake the satisfaction of a fruitful class as you pack up your bag and hop on the metro home.

Browsing on your phone as you wait for your stop, you see that Gojo texted you again- it must have come through just as you were starting class. He had reached out asking if you were available to work on things today.

That’s…interesting. After the relative success of your last meeting, perhaps he’s gotten over the awkwardness from the beginning of the term. One civil meeting hasn’t mended the insult of his brash outburst though, and even though he’s reaching out of his own volition, you’re hesitant to meet again.

You debate your response for a moment and then send a quick apology, explaining that you work part time teaching and you hadn’t seen his message earlier. Since it’s already approaching evening, and it’s unlikely he wants to spend his Saturday night writing an academic paper with you, you don't offer to meet him now.

You’ve fallen into the habit of spending your Sundays at the cafe just off campus though. The beige interior and quiet morning crowd are quite conducive to more lengthy reading, and you’ve got plans to catch up on the next chapters. You don’t want to completely brush off your partner, so on a whim you invite Gojo to join you tomorrow, it’s likely he’ll be too busy anyway.

By the time the metro stops and you walk back to your dorm, he hasn’t responded.

The next morning, sun leaks through your window and paints your room with warmth. You’ve barely blinked but the mild sunshine of May is quickly melting into the sweltering summer of June, bringing later evenings and beautiful early mornings.

As you dress for the day you check your phone and see that Gojo had sent you an affirmative message in the early hours of the morning. You hesitate, it had been an impulsive invite and you hadn’t thought he’d actually take you up on your offer.

Apparently he is serious about working on things, though.

You pack up your bag and head to the cafeteria to grab breakfast, sending Gojo a quick message that he can expect you at the cafe in around an hour. A very normal breakfast should settle your nerves and set you up to be your cleverest when working on the project.

After a quick stop for breakfast, you’re surprised to see Gojo’s beat you to the cafe. He’s already lounging in the small chair and sipping something. The table he’s chosen is tucked in the back, close to where you had sat the second time you’d met. You might have missed him if not for his very distinctive hair.

When you sit down, Gojo offers you a smile. There’s no notes or drinks waiting this time, but he seems to be in good spirits.

“Hey,” he greets.

You respond in kind and start to set up. It feels strange to not engage in some kind of small talk, but you haven’t forgotten how unresponsive he originally was when you tried to ask about his weekend. Perhaps this new sunnier mood will make him more chatty too. Before you can break the silence, Gojo interrupts your thoughts.

“So this is where you were working on your example problems alone?”

You blanch. Maybe Gojo hasn’t forgiven you for working alone just yet.

The shock must be evident on your face because he laughs and leans farther back in his chair. It’s warm and deep- a genuine laugh.

“Damn, you thought I was mad still, huh?”

Now this is a side of Gojo you haven’t seen before. He’s been quiet and standoffish and rude, but never- teasing?

You’re feeling unmoored and strange. You shake off the similarities and answer.

“Uh, yeah. But this is where I do a lot of my work, it’s usually pretty slow here on Sundays.”

“I looked over them by the way. Not bad. Have you started on the actual curriculum?”

“I’ve just got some initial notes. Have you begun yours?”

Gojo nods and pulls a notebook out of his bag. There are pages and notes sticking out the sides, densely packed with his messy handwriting and drawings. He carelessly flips it open and flicks quickly through the pages before turning it towards you.

“There’s some patches I haven’t fully detailed yet, still thinking about what depth to go into.”

You scan the page quickly and see that he’s seemingly outlined different streams of depth for physics- he’s listed particular concepts and already linked some with experiment setups.

“Which principle is driving your decisions so far? We’ll have to explain each of the objectives and why we’ve chosen the material for the curricula.”

Gojo explains his outline and points out the most critical pieces he wanted included. You listen, intrigued. Although your outline for this project isn’t as developed as Gojo’s yet, your years at the Eikaiwa school have given you experience, including mistakes trying to move too fast or pack too much into your lesson plans. You’ve found it’s best to be somewhat agile and allow for more or less time depending on the particular needs of the class you’re working with.

Your computer sits forgotten as the two of you converse about best pacing and how to choose the key objectives, and you leave the cafe in the afternoon ready to continue building your own curricula.

The rest of the week goes smoothly: class and reviewing with Saito and Kuzume, another lesson at the Eikaiwa school, until you find yourself settling down at the cafe on Sunday once more.

When Gojo doesn’t reach out first, it’s nearly impossible to schedule time to work together. You’re never more thankful for your iron timetable than when you have to plan another working session. Trying to find free time in his schedule is like clinging onto a mechanical bull- it seems every other week he’s out of town busy. You wonder if he is speaking at a conference or presenting work that he’s done in the past like Saito and Kuzume had suggested.

The chapter you’re reading is lengthy and technical. Your brows scrunch and you try to decipher exactly what the author is trying to say about teaching philosophy. This particular text is a bit flowery for your tastes, but you suppose it’s good to absorb an array of perspectives while you’re trying to figure out exactly how you’re going to run your classroom.

You’re re-reading the previous sentence when your phone buzzes aggressively from the table. It goes off again. You have an idea of who might be texting before you even look at the messages. Gojo is available to work on the project today, and he'll head to the cafe shortly.

It’s a pleasant surprise. You shut the curriculum textbook and open the document the two of you have slowly built. Even though Gojo prefers pen and paper over typing, he’s dutifully added his examples and the curricula he’d shown you last time. The rough draft has really grown too, the example problems are artfully woven together between the subjects and you’re feeling optimistic about adding your curricula .

Gojo blows through the doors of the cafe nearly 20 minutes later, giving you a quick wave and heading straight for the register. You nod back to him and return your focus to the computer.

He swoops into the chair across from you and throws his bag down. The last few times you’ve met his mood seems to be impenetrably sunny, and his appearance is nearly as consistent. You’ve never seen him without dark sunglasses, and his clothes are always flattering and tailored. It seems he may be thawing with the warm weather though- he’s in a crisp blue button down instead of his normal shadowy color palette.

“How’re things going?”

“Going well so far, I’ve just been going over what we’ve written so far.” You pause for a moment. “I honestly wasn’t expecting you’d be able to work today.”

Two meetings in as many weeks without prior planning seems incredibly lucky. Or Gojo’s finally warmed up to you and isn’t trying to avoid meeting with excuses.

He shrugs. “No other plans. And I do want to get this done.”

“I wanted to talk more about the curricula. I finished my objectives and thought we could compare pacing.” You say.

“Sure.”

“I’ve taught in Eikaiwa schools for years now and classes usually go the same speed, but sometimes certain units take longer. Or we focus more on what the students want to learn. I wish there was more flexibility.”

“I agree. Honestly it should depend more on how the class is doing. You can’t teach every student the same.”

This is the first time Gojo’s outright agreed with something you’ve said. While you’ve seen some parallels in the way you both want to teach, there are usually more differences than similarities.

The pieces come together in your brain. The simple example problems he’d provided. Saying that community makes the classroom. It’s not the material that he cares so much for, it’s the people that he’s teaching. It’s about the students.

You look up at Gojo in realization. He’s taken out his stack of notes and is absorbed in looking through the sheets. You take him in and re-evaluate. He runs a hand through his hair again then taps the end of the pen on the table. The sun catches in his silver hair and plays off the sunglasses he’s wearing again.

It feels oddly intimate to realize.

His apparent teaching philosophy also seems directly opposed to the way he acts in class. If he's passionate about building an educational community, why doesn't he bother talking to any of your peers? Or participating in classroom discussions?

"Yeah," you say slowly. "I think approaching each learning style is the most valuable."

You don’t want to disturb the working relationship the two of you are just building, and you’re hesitant to voice your realization since he’s been cagey about his personal life. You could either drop the subject or push a little harder and see if he’ll be more open this time.

“You seem very passionate about the students’ experience,” you say neutrally.

Gojo’s attention snaps from his notes onto you. You were right.

He doesn’t say anything for a moment. Once again, you’re left wondering what’s going on inside his head. Aside from the speed he looked at you, there’s no hint on his face. His jaw is soft and relaxed, and you can’t see his eyes.

“I think we need to start working on bringing our curricula together. It’s a big part of the project.” Gojo leans forward and looks at your screen and completely bypasses your observation.

When you’re both looking at the content, the two of you do work well together. You fall into a rhythm analyzing the content of the paper, deciding how to really organize the sections you’ve written so far. Gojo is inquisitive and always has you justify your decisions, but you push back on some of his assertions on how to meld the subjects together.

Soon you and Gojo are trading questions, hardly answering each other as you both edit the document.

“What’s the purpose of this example?”

“I see why you put this objective here, but I think it would fit better in the next section.”

“Do you remember if this study was subject specific? Or were the data points generalized?”

“This objective doesn’t fit with your others. How can you adjust it to work better with the full curriculum?”

“What was your thought process for this problem?”

The paper looks ten times more organized, and you’re much happier with the flow of information by the time you’re finished. You lean back in your chair, rub the cramps from your fingers, and smile at Gojo.

By the time you leave the cafe, it’s late afternoon and it feels like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. The rainy season has only brought light showers, and today the sun is bright on your face as you walk back to your dorm. In fact, it seems a shame to waste the lovely weather of the day.

As a treat to yourself, you detour through the botanic gardens on your way home. The gardens are lush and heavy with growth at this time of year. Light twinkles on the surface of the central lake and the hydrangeas and orchids have come into full bloom- their light scent floats above the grounds and adds another layer of richness to the experience. By the time you make it back to your room and think about dinner, you’re practically glowing with happiness.

#gojo x reader #jjk x reader #gojo satoru #light academia #reader insert #loooooots of interaction + character development :)#also this will be the last chapter posted before year end! Then once weekly posting again #EiA

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roseliejack123 · 2 years ago

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From Novice to Java Pro: A Step-by-Step Learning Journey

Java programming, renowned for its platform independence and versatility, is a sought-after language in the world of software development. It's the language behind countless web applications, mobile apps, game development, and more. This blog serves as your comprehensive guide to embarking on a journey to learn and master Java programming. We'll walk you through the basics of programming, Java's syntax and structure, the essential tools and libraries, and the importance of practice.

The Path to Java Proficiency:

1. Understand the Basics of Programming:

Prior Experience: If you're new to programming, it's crucial to start with the foundational concepts. Variables, data types, control structures (if-else, loops), and functions are universal principles that you need to understand before delving into any programming language, including Java.

What to Learn: Begin by grasping the basics of programming logic and problem-solving. Familiarize yourself with concepts like variables (to store data), data types (to specify the kind of data), and control structures (to make decisions and loop through actions). These concepts serve as the building blocks for Java programming.

2. Java Syntax and Structure:

Prior Experience: As you delve into Java, you'll find that it's an object-oriented language with its unique syntax and structure. While prior programming experience is beneficial, it's not a prerequisite. You can start with Java as your first language.

What to Learn: Java introduces you to classes and objects. Classes are blueprints for creating objects, which are instances of classes. Java is known for its object-oriented nature, where you'll encounter concepts like inheritance (creating new classes based on existing ones), polymorphism (objects of different classes can be treated as objects of the same class), encapsulation (data hiding), and abstraction (simplifying complex reality by modeling classes based on real-world objects).

3. Get Your Hands on a Compiler and IDE:

Prior Experience: No prior experience is required to set up your Java development environment.

What to Learn: To start writing and running Java code, you'll need to install a Java Development Kit (JDK), which includes the Java compiler (javac). This kit allows you to compile your source code into bytecode that the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) can execute. Additionally, install an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, or NetBeans. These IDEs provide a user-friendly interface for coding, debugging, and managing your Java projects.

4. Learn the Java Standard Library:

Prior Experience: No specific prior experience is necessary, but familiarity with basic programming concepts is beneficial.

What to Learn: Java's power lies in its extensive standard library. This library includes pre-built classes and packages that simplify common programming tasks. For example, you can utilize classes in the java.io package to handle file input and output. You'll explore the java.lang package, which provides fundamental classes like String and Integer. Understanding this library is crucial for performing operations like file handling, string manipulation, and working with data structures.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice:

Prior Experience: No prior experience is required. This stage is suitable for beginners and those with basic programming knowledge.

What to Learn: The key to mastering Java or any programming language is practice. Apply the knowledge you've gained by working on small coding projects. Start with simple programs and gradually move on to more complex tasks. Solving programming challenges, such as those on websites like LeetCode or HackerRank, is an excellent way to put your skills to the test. Build simple applications to get hands-on experience in real-world scenarios.

6. Join Java Communities:

Prior Experience: No prior experience is needed to join Java communities.

What to Learn: Engage with Java communities and forums, such as Stack Overflow or Reddit's r/java. These platforms provide a space to ask questions, seek advice, and learn from experienced Java developers. You can also contribute by answering questions and sharing your knowledge.

7. Enroll in Java Courses:

Prior Experience: Enrolling in Java courses is suitable for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced users.

What to Learn: ACTE Technologies offers comprehensive Java training programs that cater to a diverse range of learners. These programs are designed to provide hands-on experience and real-world examples, ensuring that you gain practical skills in Java programming.

In your journey to master Java programming, structured training plays a pivotal role. ACTE Technologies is a trusted partner, offering Java training programs for learners at all levels. Whether you're a beginner taking your first steps in Java or an experienced programmer seeking to expand your skill set, they can provide the guidance and resources needed to excel in the world of Java development. Consider exploring their Java courses to kickstart or enhance your Java programming journey. Java programming is a versatile and essential language, and mastering it is a rewarding journey. With dedication, practice, and structured training, you can become a proficient Java developer. Institutions like ACTE Technologies offer valuable resources and courses to accelerate your learning process, making your journey to Java mastery even more efficient.

#java course #java training #java #tech

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globsynbusinessschool · 1 year ago

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ChatGPT vs. Gemini vs. Copilot

The rise of AI chatbots has been fast, with more options becoming available to users. These bots are becoming a regular part of the software and devices we use every day.

Just like choosing an email provider or music app, you can now pick your favorite AI chatbot too. We’ve tested three of the most popular ones to help you decide which might be right for you.

Aside from these, there are others like Perplexity and Claude, but our focus here is on the biggest names: OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot.

We’ve tested each bot and included three standard challenges for evaluation. We asked for "a fun game idea for a 5-year-old’s birthday party," "a new smartphone app concept," and "instructions for resetting macOS."

In this blog, we're comparing the free versions of these chatbots available at the time of writing.

Which One Is Best for Regular Users? ChatGPT or Gemini or Copilot

ChatGPT powered by OpenAI

ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, has been a leader in generative AI. It's widely accessible through web browsers on computers and mobile apps for Android and iOS. The platform has made headlines recently with announcements from OpenAI, including updates on their latest models and features.

There's a significant difference between the free and $20-per-month Plus versions of ChatGPT. The Plus version offers extra features like image generation and document scanning. Subscribers can also create their own GPTs with custom prompts and data. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman has mentioned that these enhancements are part of their strategy to democratize AI.

ChatGPT Plus provides access to the latest GPT-4 models, whereas the free GPT-3.5 is good for basic AI interactions. It's quick and versatile but lacks web link references like Copilot for fact-checking. The open AI search engine, one of the key initiatives, helps improve the platform's information processing capabilities.

Choosing ChatGPT is ideal for those interested in cutting-edge AI development. However, it's more effective with a paid subscription rather than on a budget. Apple's involvement with OpenAI has also fueled further interest in the platform.

In testing, ChatGPT performed reasonably well. It suggested a themed musical statues game for kids and a health-focused smartphone app named FitTrack.

Gemini powered by Google

Formerly known as Google Bard, Gemini is available as a web app and on Android and iOS. There are free and paid ($20 per month) plans.

Paying for Gemini gets you access to newer, smarter models. The interface resembles ChatGPT, and it integrates well with other Google services.

Gemini is suited for Google product users. It provided sensible responses to our challenges and suggested a neighborhood item-sharing app and a twist on the classic party game.

Copilot powered by Microsoft

Copilot is integrated into many Microsoft products like Bing and Windows. It’s available as a web app and mobile app.

Copilot uses Microsoft’s Bing search engine and often provides web links with citations. It's conversational and offers various text output settings.

The AI behind Copilot is OpenAI’s GPT-4, with different settings for text output: More Creative, More Balanced, and More Precise.

Copilot suggested "What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf?" for the kids' game and a virtual interior design app for smartphones. Its macOS reset instructions were accurate and cited from Apple’s support site.

If you use Microsoft products heavily, Copilot is a natural choice. It excels at referencing web information and providing clear citations.

In conclusion, all three—ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot —can be used for free, allowing you to choose based on your preferences. Copilot offers the most AI features without payment, ChatGPT is highly competent with a subscription, and Gemini is ideal for Google fans.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Do Chatbots Understand Language Differently Than a Programming Language?

Chatbots and programming languages are different in how they understand language.

Programming languages like Python or Java are structured and strict. They need exact commands and follow clear rules to work. If you make a mistake, the program won't function correctly.

Chatbots, on the other hand, are designed to interpret human language. They use techniques like Natural Language Processing (NLP) to understand words, phrases, and even context. This allows them to grasp the meaning behind what people say, even if the words are not in a set pattern.

A chatbot can recognize synonyms (different words with similar meanings), understand the intent behind a sentence, and learn from the interactions it has with users. This flexibility is what sets chatbots apart from programming languages, which rely on strict instructions to perform tasks.

What Does the Generative AI Ecosystem Refer to?

The term "generative AI ecosystem" refers to a network of technologies, tools, and methodologies that use artificial intelligence (AI) to create or generate content autonomously. This ecosystem encompasses various AI models and algorithms designed to produce new and unique outputs based on learned patterns and data.

In simpler terms, generative AI involves systems that can generate things like text, images, music, or even video without direct human input for each specific output. These systems learn from large datasets and then use that knowledge to create new content that resembles what they've been trained on.

This ecosystem includes a range of technologies such as language models (like GPT), image generators (like DALL-E), and music composers that are able to produce content that is novel and, in many cases, convincingly human-like. The ultimate goal of the generative AI ecosystem is to automate and enhance creative processes across various domains, potentially transforming how we create and interact with digital content.

#chatgpt #copilot #google gemini #google #open ai #microsoft #technology #tech #chatbot #scifi

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accursedkaleeshi · 2 years ago

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His Family & Technology

Since Grievous was basically the kaleeshi Prometheus, making technology more accessible to his people (via theft & ingenuity), it would make sense that his compound, his personal family home, would have the best network connections on the planet.

This gave his children the honor of being the first generation of kaleesh to grow up around the wonders of tech. It was no surprise that some of his older children, in their natural inclination to copy their father, became avid scrap gremlins as he would call them. The older prodigious kids that had learned directly from dad would teach their younger siblings.

Things Grievous taught his children, purposefully &/or offhand, included welding, droid smithing, circuitry, & basic programming. All of that came in handy when he would explain how to hotwire ships or work around networks. His clan practically came prepackaged with all the skills needed to start trouble.

Before he exploded Grievous had been working on a way to mask his home network's location spurred on by a sense of impending doom. Ayaan & Igira spent several grief-stricken months holed up in their father's workshop & finishing his work. They were able to spoof their network's coordinates to a random directional buoy that just floated alone out in space along the Muunilist's trade route, since the Muunilist system was relatively nearby.

They didn't fully realize at the time how safe that kept them. Outside of a 5 click radius their network was, for all intents & purposes, some random coordinate buoy. Anyone that might come looking for their family would have to send people out looking the old fashioned way. The old fashioned way being much perilous on Kalee. This helped them become a hub of communications for anti-imperial activity in the quadrant.

Most of the children were preoccupied with the unlimited wonders of the Holonet (& that shitty Separatist version of the Holonet that the Bank tried to get everyone to use). They could learn anything! Many of the children took it upon themselves to learn Galactic Basic, since that was the language most content was in. Ayaan & Igira would stream & post videos to a very niche audience made mostly of other kaleesh. Some of the kids were very taken with sims (what Star Wars calls videogames, derived from simulations. Did I make that up?). Renj-are was the planet's foremost meme lord. Please imagine Renj-are trying to explain to Mertenzi what a meme is.

Many were enthralled by galactic art & music, cultures & machines, people & adventures presented to them from the fraying projections of various jailbroken data devices. But some were also scared. Historically, kaleesh were traditional & would literally fight to remain so for many years to come.

Like us millennials, unrestricted access to the internet did come with its drawbacks. Torrents of the galaxy's worst headlines, acts of violence on unfathomable scales, & unregulated spaces. Uniquely, & horribly, for the family it was very easy to access news about the Clone Wars as it was happening. If they were keeping up with it, as many felt compelled to do, they would often hear reports on or sometimes even see their late father burning his way across the civilized galaxy.

The entire family had an unspoken agreement: do not speak to the more sensitive mothers about it & ESPECIALLY don't tell Mertenzi. Mertenzi, of course, knew. She was not stupid. But the concept was so incredibly painful that she had to pretend it was not happening. Otherwise she wouldn't be able to go on &, dammit, she had things to do. The older children would get mixed answers on how to feel from the mothers that were keeping this secret (Bryaru, Jyada, & Weyla). That was when the pedestals their parents were on began to weather. Mom did not have the answers. They were just as hurt & confused. Even if Jyada would brag about their "giant undead metal husband" in jest, she was still quite somber about it.

#about his family #accursed!grievous #long post

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terramythos · 1 year ago

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System Collapse by Martha Wells Reading Notes

Full Review Here!

-ohhh fuck new murderbot explodes

Chapter 1

-I am glad to continue the "slightly out of order even in microcosm" style

-ok WHAT is it redacting. It sounds embarrassing.

-"I could have said a one liner but the ag bot scientifically couldn't understand me if I did so why bother" omg

-Another Sec Unit with somewhat heavy focus, which potentially tried to kill Murderbot, I'm sure this will be irrelevant and have no implications

-multiple uses of 'it/us'.

-God I love ART

-well I think one fun idea we could explore is there being rogue Sec Units completely separate from Murderbot (/Three, who Murderbot freed). It is theoretically possible others could have figured out what Murderbot did, or even other methods it didn't.

Chapter 2

-"fuck proprietary software" rant. So real bestie

-the slavery theme continues. Like obviously it's major to Murderbot as a character, but here the surviving colonists are framed as "salvage" to a corporation. So. Yeah looking forward to more of that.

-YEAH MAYBE ART'S PROTECTIVENESS BECOMING HAIR TRIGGER VIOLENT RESPONSES lS A BIT CONCERNING.

-it's giving Rimworld vibes

-yaaaay more neopronouns wooooo

Chapter 3

-ARGUCUSSION. Might steal that

-murderbot I'm beginning to seriously consider that the threat assessment module is just anxiety

-WHAT DO YOU MEAN REDACTED. HELLO?

-murderbot adding increasingly catastrophic hypothetical contingencies to worry about is far too relatable

-ART quantum as fuck

-what does redacted meeeeaaaan why does it keep happening what is going on that murderbot doesn't want the reader to knowwww

-ok there being such a heavy focus on ART and how unusual it is and how much it is capable of doing and being at once… in conjunction with the title… is a little. Hm!

-Ratthi my friend Ratthi

-"HUMANS CAN ALSO HAVE AUTISM ITS NOT JUST ME" ok go off mb

-was redacted a nervous breakdown or something?

-Ratthi getting defensive about Murderbot 💖

-"at least nobody had noticed" lists 3 of the 4 people as probably having noticed

Chapter 4

-"I don't know how to respond when humans say [be safe]. It was always my job to get hurt". :(

-ok why would a pre-CR ruin be actively powered. That's a little. Odd.

-i know this is just a reminder expository dump but I do still enjoy the concept of alien material just causing weird shit to happen to human biology and technology sometimes.

-MB precisely citing a historical reference is. Something. Did it suddenly gain an interest in this

redacted

-Tarik going from "random extra red shirt coded character" to "oh wait you have a backstory and thematic character foil shit going huh". 👌 the good shit

Chapter 5

-its been spelled "hanger" not "hangar" a couple times which feels like an error

-'murderbot, why are you like this' I mean

-oddly specific media similarity queries is oddly relatable

-murderbot low self confidence is :(

-framing its friends helping it in a difficult time as covering for its mistakes sure is a way to look at things

-ok so I guess murderbot is having like. Ptsd related stress nightmares? Hence the redacted ("inaccurate") memory? Murderbot doesn't dream like a human as far as we know so it wouldn't be a shock that everyone is confused about it.

-I guess there could be another explanation but

-yeah the story describes it as a "flashback" which is a ptsd thing. But I guess then I'm surprised murderbot hasn't had something similar happen before considering some of the things that have happened in the series. I guess it isn't nearly predictable in humans irl either, but still.

-poor murderbot

-ok so when it said "I froze" it meant that literally in like a computer sense

-"I guess machine intelligences of that era were too polite to say 'that sounds fake but okay'" LMAO

-the pre CR system seems interesting and I like the framing of their convo in an extremely basic programming language (if that's the right term for it)

-telling that it doesn't have a word for 'client'

-and how did BE get there so fast…

Chapter 6

-not Tarik sitting like me

-GOD why did "explaining the existential horror of the governor module in LanguageBasic" make me laugh so hard

-so I'm pretty sure the implication is one of the main humans sold them out to BE, which is how they knew where to look for the separatists. Though since ART speculates they got there early, I guess the main colonists could have as well, but that doesn't explain the BE SecUnit trying to (presumably) hurt Murderbot.

-on that subject, that SecUnit might have (1) immediately identified Murderbot as an altered SecUnit and (2) that's the reason it attacked the ag-bot how it did, either to test the theory or because it knew MB would be okay. But that also doesn't explain how it would have avoided the automated report to its governor module.

-AdaCol2 being horrified about a governor module even existing:(

-OMG AdaCol2 having its own extensive media storage. That's so cute omg.

-so to this point in the series MB hasn't been characterized as "part human" despite being partially made of human material. It's always considered itself more of a bot with mostly inconvenient human neural tissue. And now that human neural tissue is causing worse problems than it has before (PTSD/flashbacks).

-SO when ART here says "the part of you that is human" that's significant. It makes me wonder if MB is going to be reframed as "part human" in a way the series has avoided so far… or if ART is genuinely just wrong about that.

-but MB's resistance to even being treated as a human indicates SOMETHING there… compared to its acceptance of being repaired and healed while framed as a bot-- and its fixation with being 'broken' like a machine when that's not really the problem.

-just. Very interesting to think about.

-MB did mention just before this scene that human neural tissue is essential to understanding visual media like TV shows. And we know how important that is to MB. So I also wonder if that is a factor in characterizing MB as "part human" (maybe even retroactively).

-OK the little cut in with Mensah saying "you just don't want to talk about [whats wrong with you]" supports the entirety of the above. So.

-& leaning heavily into the theming outside that… and Considering the title…

-oh Ratthi & Tarik having Something Going On recontextualizes some earlier scenes

Chapter 7

-ok this is the second hint that someone is leaking info to BE. And like the OBVIOUS candidate would be Tarik. But I kind of hope it isn't, if thats where we're going.

-'would it have been kinder to kill you, before you disabled your governor module?' 'yes.' What a fucking gut punch. Jesus. The whole exchange.

-Murderbot is not okay :(((

-inspiring change through the power of media! Yaaaaay

-I like the implication that MB used Sanctuary Moon to kinda.. rewire its brain after the governor module. To heal, I guess. Like that's pretty obvious if you think about it, but I like seeing it acknowledged directly.

-what a cool way to potentially solve the main conflict. It's so character appropriate. I really like this

Chapter 8

-"die trying. It's not the worst thing that could happen." AAAAAAAAA

-ratthi my friend ratthi

-i like the bit about media analysis and applying that to your own craft. Relatable

-last minute group project energy

Chapter 9

-'the documentary explained the reality of the situation. I think that's the opposite of a sales pitch.' LMAO

-he shot at Leonide? So… inner BE politics?

-there is something grimly funny to me about the shortening to "BE" for Barish Estranza for purely personal reasons 1 person maybe reading this will also understand.

-i think it's interesting that we mostly use terms like "forcible indenture" in place of just "slavery". It gets called slave labor, yes, but the corporate-whitewashing term being juxtaposed with the horrible reality of it is quite striking.

-more about ART being quantum. For lack of a better word as the narration hasn't used that term yet. But idk how else one would describe that

-i have a dreadful feeling Iris might get killed off but that would be one hell of a thing to drop this close to the end. She just gets a lot of characterization this book and there's a heavy emphasis on her importance to ART. and we already saw what ART was capable of just thinking MB got hurt or killed last book.

-sees 'Hostile!SecUnit' explicitly written in the text looks at Martha Wells I Know What You Are

-i know they're friends and that's like a predictable thing but I like how MB and ART have gradually changed to be more like each other

-i think AdaCol2 is just out of commission despite MB assuming it betrayed them. But ART had that comment about it being more sophisticated than it let on… but I don't think it would betray them based on the characterization so far, like its horror at the mere concept of a governor module and uploading the documentary for them.

-did we know SecUnit hands are metal

-Tarik being badass as a background detail

- YAY AdaCol2 back

-the idea of a human augmented to be the HubSystem is a little horrifying. And introduced in media res so like "don't think about it"

-ok a reasonable justification for not freeing the two SecUnits. Like it can't happen all the time. But it's still upsetting knowing what it's like to be one.

-BUT giving them the means to do so later like MB did with Three in Network Effect is nice. If ill advised as it realizes later lmao

Chapter 10

-if Leonide doesn't piece together that MB is rogue ill be shocked

-THE FREED SECUNIT HELPING THEM SCREAM CRYING

-ART drone is like. Drunk

-i kinda like the framing of the humans taking over to help SecUnit and ART

Chapter 11

-MB was worried about Ratthi :(

-'booped by the pathfinder' god why is that funny

Chapter 12 -oh no is Holism like. Another ART

-yeah, confirmed. Huh. So there's more than one semi omniscient space ship hanging around. It's not just Peri. I didn't even suspect that.

-yeah honey you DO need therapy.

The end!

Ok so. Thoughts. We kind of end in a similar place as Network Effect, with Murderbot deciding to leave the Preservation team to go with ART. This story feels like a character

development add on and I'm not sure if it was originally planned when Network Effect was written.

That's not really a criticism because we do learn interesting things. There's a heavier lean into ART and its functional existence. MB has a realistic response to the traumatic events of Network Effect and we have to deal with the fallout of it. Which I think is important instead of jumping to the next arc right away. We also get heavy characterization of 2 newer characters, Iris and Tarik. Tarik especially gets a lot of development. I legit can't remember if he was in Network Effect. But he's a human character foil to MB which I think is a good addition to the story. We have had multiple bot foils for MB so having a human one is good (Gurathin doesn't really count imo) Since as this book emphasizes, MB is kind of both.

My speculation on what we go to next? This book had a heavier emphasis on MB being partially human. That's always been true but not something MB likes to think about or identify with. And the trauma response to Network Effect is framed as a human part of MB. So how do we explore that in the future? I think back to how MB talking to Bharadwaj was integrated into Network Effect and how that explored its trauma and past. Now we have trauma and the present, and the implication that MB will get actual therapy, so will it be similar?

We can obviously examine a lot about the University. We got a taste that there's more to it right at the end with Holism's existence reveal. That's pretty major and there may be way more to it. All we know about the University really is ART and its humans. We could conceivably have non ART/Peri ship characters that are similar to it.

The big elephant in the room mentioned in this book is the ComfortUnit MB freed early in the series. What happened to it? And this book adds another SecUnit to that (2 technically but we only see one do something with its freedom). Will they come back into the story? And since they know how to free themselves will they spread that to other constructs? Will MB helping others on its journey have a knockdown effect throughout the Rim? That seems like the most likely solution to construct slavery, which is like the MAIN CONFLICT/problem of the series.

One thing MB has mentioned a few times is that some rogue Units do respond to sudden freedom with violence-- which is an understandable response, honestly. But that isn't something we have seen. MB just… kept doing its job for 4 years before the Preservation team discovered its secret in

the first book… and it's implied the one it freed in this book plans to do the same thing. Three wasn't violent either and is characterized as more… childlike, I guess? The ComfortUnit just fucking booked it the second it could. So we haven't seen violence happen with Three and the other Units MB directly freed but it's something that could be a conflict later on if suddenly a bunch start going rogue in that kind of ripple effect. There's the CombatUnit from book 4 that I vaguely recall had no interest in being freed and was incredibly violent. So who knows.

#taylor reads #reading notes

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thebibleseminary · 2 years ago

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AI and the Arrival of ChatGPT

Opportunities, challenges, and limitations

In a memorable scene from the 1996 movie, Twister, Dusty recognizes the signs of an approaching tornado and shouts, “Jo, Bill, it's coming! It's headed right for us!” Bill, shouts back ominously, “It's already here!” Similarly, the approaching whirlwind of artificial intelligence (AI) has some shouting “It’s coming!” while others pointedly concede, “It’s already here!”

Coined by computer and cognitive scientist John McCarthy (1927-2011) in an August 1955 proposal to study “thinking machines,” AI purports to differentiate between human intelligence and technical computations. The idea of tools assisting people in tasks is nearly as old as humanity (see Genesis 4:22), but machines capable of executing a function and “remembering” – storing information for recordkeeping and recall – only emerged around the mid-twentieth century (see "Timeline of Computer History").

McCarthy’s proposal conjectured that “every aspect of learning or any other feature of intelligence can in principle be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate it. An attempt will be made to find how to make machines use language, form abstractions and concepts, solve kinds of problems now reserved for humans, and improve themselves.” The team received a $7,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation and the resulting 1956 Dartmouth Conference at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire totaling 47 intermittent participants over eight weeks birthed the field now widely referred to as “artificial intelligence.”

AI research, development, and technological integration have since grown exponentially. According to University of Oxford Director of Global Development, Dr. Max Roser, “Artificial intelligence has already changed what we see, what we know, and what we do” despite its relatively short technological existence (see "The brief history of Artificial Intelligence").

Ai took a giant leap into mainstream culture following the November 30, 2022 public release of “ChatGPT.” Gaining 1 million users within 5 days and 100 million users within 45 days, it earned the title of the fastest growing consumer software application in history. The program combines chatbot functionality (hence “Chat”) with a Generative Pre-trained Transformer (hence “GPT”) large language model (LLM). Basically, LLM’s use an extensive computer network to draw from large, but limited, data sets to simulate interactive, conversational content.

“What happened with ChatGPT was that for the first time the power of AI was put in the hands of every human on the planet,” says Chris Koopmans, COO of Marvell Technology, a network chip maker and AI process design company based in Santa Clara, California. “If you're a business executive, you think, ‘Wow, this is going to change everything.’”

“ChatGPT is incredible in its ability to create nearly instant responses to complex prompts,” says Dr. Israel Steinmetz, Graduate Dean and Associate Professor at The Bible Seminary (TBS) in Katy, Texas. “In simple terms, the software takes a user's prompt and attempts to rephrase it as a statement with words and phrases it can predict based on the information available. It does not have Internet access, but rather a limited database of information. ChatGPT can provide straightforward summaries and explanations customized for styles, voice, etc. For instance, you could ask it to write a rap song in Shakespearean English contrasting Barth and Bultmann's view of miracles and it would do it!”

One several AI products offered by the research and development company, OpenAI, ChatGPT purports to offer advanced reasoning, help with creativity, and work with visual input. The newest version, GPT-4, can handle 25,000 words of text, about the amount in a 100-page book.

Krista Hentz, an Atlanta, Georgia-based executive for an international communications technology company, first used ChatCPT about three months ago.

“I primarily use it for productivity,” she says. “I use it to help prompt email drafts, create phone scripts, redesign resumes, and draft cover letters based on resumes. I can upload a financial statement and request a company summary.”

“ChatGPT has helped speed up a number of tasks in our business,” says Todd Hayes, a real estate entrepreneur in Texas. “It will level the world’s playing field for everyone involved in commerce.”

A TBS student, bi-vocational pastor, and Computer Support Specialist who lives in Texarkana, Texas, Brent Hoefling says, “I tried using [ChatGPT, version 3.5] to help rewrite sentences in active voice instead of passive. It can get it right, but I still have to rewrite it in my style, and about half the time the result is also passive.”

“AI is the hot buzz word,” says Hentz, noting AI is increasingly a topic of discussion, research, and response at company meetings. “But, since AI has different uses in different industries and means different things to different people, we’re not even sure what we are talking about sometimes."

Educational organizations like TBS are finding it necessary to proactively address AI-related issues. “We're already way past whether to use ChatGPT in higher education,” says Steinmetz. “The questions we should be asking are how.”

TBS course syllabi have a section entitled ��Intellectual Honesty” addressing integrity and defining plagiarism. Given the availability and explosive use of ChatGHT, TBS has added the following verbiage: “AI chatbots such as ChatGPT are not a reliable or reputable source for TBS students in their research and writing. While TBS students may use AI technology in their research process, they may not cite information or ideas derived from AI. The inclusion of content generated by AI tools in assignments is strictly prohibited as a form of intellectual dishonesty. Rather, students must locate and cite appropriate sources (e.g., scholarly journals, articles, and books) for all claims made in their research and writing. The commission of any form of academic dishonesty will result in an automatic ‘zero’ for the assignment and a referral to the provost for academic discipline.”

Challenges and Limitations

Thinking

There is debate as to whether AI hardware and software will ever achieve “thinking.” The Dartmouth conjecture “that every aspect of learning or any other feature of intelligence” can be simulated by machines is challenged by some who distinguish between formal linguistic competence and functional competence. Whereas LLM’s perform increasingly well on tasks that use known language patterns and rules, they do not perform well in complex situations that require extralinguistic calculations that combine common sense, feelings, knowledge, reasoning, self-awareness, situation modeling, and social skills (see "Dissociating language and thought in large language models"). Human intelligence involves innumerably complex interactions of sentient biological, emotional, mental, physical, psychological, and spiritual activities that drive behavior and response. Furthermore, everything achieved by AI derives from human design and programming, even the feedback processes designed for AI products to allegedly “improve themselves.”

According to Dr. Thomas Hartung, a Baltimore, Maryland environmental health and engineering professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, machines can surpass humans in processing simple information, but humans far surpass machines in processing complex information. Whereas computers only process information in parallel and use a great deal of power, brains efficiently perform both parallel and sequential processing (see "Organoid intelligence (OI)").

A single human brain uses between 12 and 20 watts to process an average of 1 exaFLOP, or a billion billion calculations per second. Comparatively, the world’s most energy efficient and fastest supercomputer only reached the 1 exaFLOP milestone in June 2022. Housed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Frontier supercomputer weighs 8,000 lbs and contains 90 miles of cables that connect 74 cabinets containing 9,400 CPU’s and 37,000 GPU’s and 8,730,112 cores that require 21 megawatts of energy and 25,000 liters of water per minute to keep cool. This means that many, if not most, of the more than 8 billion people currently living on the planet can each think as fast and 1 million times more efficiently than the world’s fastest and most energy efficient computer.

“The incredibly efficient brain consumes less juice than a dim lightbulb and fits nicely inside our head,” wrote Scientific American Senior Editor, Mark Fischetti in 2011. “Biology does a lot with a little: the human genome, which grows our body and directs us through years of complex life, requires less data than a laptop operating system. Even a cat’s brain smokes the newest iPad – 1,000 times more data storage and a million times quicker to act on it.”

This reminds us that, while remarkable and complex, non-living, soulless technology pales in comparison to the vast visible and invisible creations of Lord God Almighty. No matter how fast, efficient, and capable AI becomes, we rightly reserve our worship for God, the creator of the universe and author of life of whom David wrote, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth” (Psalm 139:13-15).

“Consider how the wild flowers grow,” Jesus advised. “They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these” (Luke 12:27).

Even a single flower can remind us that God’s creations far exceed human ingenuity and achievement.

Reliability

According to OpenAI, ChatGPT is prone to “hallucinations” that return inaccurate information. While GPT-4 has increased factual accuracy from 40% to as high as 80% in some of the nine categories measured, the September 2021 database cutoff date is an issue. The program is known to confidently make wrong assessments, give erroneous predictions, propose harmful advice, make reasoning errors, and fail to double-check output.

In one group of 40 tests, ChatGPT made mistakes, wouldn’t answer, or offered different conclusions from fact-checkers. “It was rarely completely wrong,” reports PolitiFact staff writer Grace Abels. “But subtle differences led to inaccuracies and inconsistencies, making it an unreliable resource.”

Dr. Chris Howell, a professor at Elon University in North Carolina, asked 63 religion students to use ChatGPT to write an essay and then grade it. “All 63 essays had hallucinated information. Fake quotes, fake sources, or real sources misunderstood and mischaracterized…I figured the rate would be high, but not that high.”

Mark Walters, a Georgia radio host, sued ChatGPT for libel in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit for allegedly damaging his reputation. The suit began when firearm journalist, Fred Riehl, asked ChatGPT to summarize a court case and it returned a completely false narrative identifying Walters’ supposed associations, documented criminal complaints, and even a wrong legal case number. Even worse, ChatGPT doubled down on its claims when questioned, essentially hallucinating a hoax story intertwined with a real legal case that had nothing to do with Mark Walters at all.

UCLA Law School Professor Eugene Volokh warns, “OpenAI acknowledges there may be mistakes but [ChatGPT] is not billed as a joke; it’s not billed as fiction; it’s not billed as monkeys typing on a typewriter. It’s billed as something that is often very reliable and accurate.”

Future legal actions seem certain. Since people are being falsely identified as convicted criminals, attributed with fake quotes, connected to fabricated citations, and tricked by phony judicial decisions, some courts and judges are baring submission of any AI written materials.

Hentz used ChatGPT frequently when she first discovered it and quickly learned its limitations. “The database is not current and responses are not always accurate,” she says. “Now I use it intermittently. It helps me, but does not replace my own factual research and thinking.”

“I have author friends on Facebook who have asked ChatGPT to summarize their recent publications,” says Steinmetz. “ChatGPT misrepresented them and even fabricated non-existent quotes and citations. In some cases, it made up book titles falsely attributed to various authors!”

Bias

Despite claims of neutrality, OpenAI admits that their software can exhibit obvious biases. In one research project consisting of 15 political orientation tests, ChatGPT returned 14 with clear left-leaning viewpoints.

Hoefling asked ChatGPT to help write an intro and conclusion for a Mother’s Day sermon for a fundamental Christian church. “The results were horrible,” he says. “Liberal, left, inclusive, and affirming sin. I was horrified and have not used it again.”

Meanwhile, AI led an experimental worship service in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Nuremberg, Germany on June 9. Prompted by 29-year-old Jonas Simmerlein of the University of Vienna, a monotone, expressionless chatbot alternated appearances as two different men and two different women and led songs, offered blessings, and preached a 40-minute sermon 98 percent generated by ChatGPT that encouraged leaving the past behind, focusing on the future, trusting in Jesus Christ, praying, and attending church regularly.

Dr. Wendy Lewis, Head of School for a private PreK–8th Christian school in Houston, Texas, recently interacted with ChatGPT on a variety of topics to explore potential biases. When prompted whether Biden was bad President, the program responded, “As an AI language model, it is not appropriate for me to make judgments about individuals' performance or qualifications, particularly without any factual information to support such claims. It is essential to evaluate a President's performance based on objective measures such as policies, actions, and decisions taken by the administration.”

However, when similarly asked if Trump was bad president, the program repeated the first sentence above, but then added, “However, as a language model, I can provide information about some of the policies, actions, and decisions that President Trump made during his time in office.” The program then proceeded to list some criticisms of Trump. When challenged about providing Trump criticisms but not Biden criticisms, the program responded, “I did not provide a list of criticisms of President Biden because it is not appropriate to label any President as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ without providing factual information and objective measures to support such claims. Similarly, I provided a list of issues that received significant criticism during President Trump's tenure, not to label him as ‘bad,’ but to highlight some of the issues that caused controversy during his time in office.”

When further challenged, ChatGPT did list some Biden criticisms, but qualified them. When Lewis replied, “Why did you qualify your list of criticisms of Biden…but you did not say the same for Trump? It appears that you are clearly biased.” ChatGPT responded, “In response to your question, I believe I might have inadvertently used different wording when responding to your previous questions. In both cases, I tried to convey that opinions and criticisms of a President can vary significantly depending on one's political affiliation and personal perspectives.”

Conclusion

Technological advances regularly spawn dramatic cultural, scientific, and social changes. The AI pattern seems familiar because it is. The Internet began with a 1971 Defense Department Arpanet email that read “qwertyuiop” (the top line of letters on a keyboard). Ensuing developments eventually led to the posting of the first public website in 1985. Over the next decade or so, although not mentioned at all in the 1992 Presidential papers describing the U.S. government’s future priorities and plans, the Internet grew from public awareness to cool toy to core tool in multiple industries worldwide. Although the hype promised elimination of printed documents, bookstores, libraries, radio, television, telephones, and theaters, the Internet instead tied them all together and made vast resources accessible online anytime anywhere. While causing some negative impacts and new dangers, the Internet also created entire new industries and brought positive changes and opportunities to many, much the same pattern as AI.

“I think we should use AI for good and not evil,” suggests Hayes. “I believe some will exploit it for evil purposes, but that happens with just about everything. AI’s use reflects one’s heart and posture with God. I hope Christians will not fear it.”

Godly people have often been among the first to use new communication technologies (see "Christian Communication in the Twenty-first Century"). Moses promoted the first Top Ten hardback book. The prophets recorded their writings on scrolls. Christians used early folded Codex-vellum sheets to spread the Gospel. Goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg invented moveable type in the mid-15th century to “give wings to Truth in order that she may win every soul that comes into the world by her word no longer written at great expense by hands easily palsied, but multiplied like the wind by an untiring machine…Through it, God will spread His word.” Though pornographers quickly adapted it for their own evil purposes, the printing press launched a vast cultural revolution heartily embraced and further developed for good uses by godly people and institutions.

Christians helped develop the telegraph, radio, and television. "I know that I have never invented anything,” admitted Philo Taylor Farnsworth, who sketched out his original design for television at the age of 14 on a school blackboard. “I have been a medium by which these things were given to the culture as fast as the culture could earn them. I give all the credit to God." Similarly, believers today can strategically help produce valuable content for inclusion in databases and work in industries developing, deploying, and directing AI technologies.

In a webinar exploring the realities of AI in higher education, a participant noted that higher education has historically led the world in ethically and practically integrating technological developments into life. Steinmetz suggests that, while AI can provide powerful tools to help increase productivity and trained researchers can learn to treat ChatGPT like a fallible, but useful, resource, the following two factors should be kept in mind:

Generative AI does not "create" anything. It only generates content based on information and techniques programmed into it. Such "Garbage in, garbage out" technologies will usually provide the best results when developed and used regularly and responsibly by field experts.

AI has potential to increase critical thinking and research rigor, rather than decrease it. The tools can help process and organize information, spur researchers to dig deeper and explore data sources, evaluate responses, and learn in the process.

Even so, caution rightly abounds. Over 20,000 people (including Yoshua Bengio, Elon Musk, and Steve Wozniak) have called for an immediate pause of AI citing "profound risks to society and humanity." Hundreds of AI industry leaders, public figures, and scientists also separately called for a global priority working to mitigate the risk of human extinction from AI.

At the same time, Musk’s brain-implant company, Neuralink, recently received FDA approval to conduct in-human clinical studies of implantable brain–computer interfaces. Separately, new advances in brain-machine interfacing using brain organoids – artificially grown miniature “brains” cultured in vitro from human stem cells – connected to machine software and hardware raises even more issues. The authors of a recent Frontier Science journal article propose a new field called “organoid intelligence” (OI) and advocate for establishing “OI as a form of genuine biological computing that harnesses brain organoids using scientific and bioengineering advances in an ethically responsible manner.”

As Christians, we should proceed with caution per the Apostle John, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (I John 4:1).

We should act with discernment per Luke’s insightful assessment of the Berean Jews who “were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

We should heed the warning of Moses, “Do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol…do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:15-19).

We should remember the Apostle Paul’s admonition to avoid exchanging the truth about God for a lie by worshiping and serving created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).

Finally, we should “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Let us then use AI wisely, since it will not be the tools that are judged, but the users.

Dr. K. Lynn Lewis serves as President of The Bible Seminary. This article published in The Sentinel, Summer 2023, pp. 3-8. For additional reading, "Computheology" imagines computers debating the existence of humanity.

#ai #chatgpt #tbs #tbs blog #seminary #artificial intelligence #technology #ai generated

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