#api writer

[afniel]

AH I REMEMBERED WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY EARLIER but it's kind of stupid, lmao.

So my partner is getting into brewing beer and I got them a Tilt, which is a Bluetooth hydrometer. It measures specific gravity and temperature, which are things you want to know so that you don't kill your yeast or whatever. Except the sensor's Bluetooth range is super short, and it basically runs via a phone app, and the temperature we're logging currently is the crawlspace, accessible via the staircase closet. So they were like, wait, what do we do about this, because I can't leave my phone in the closet, that's my alarm clock.

In a kind of ridiculous turn of life imitating art, I was like, hold up, I got just the thing right at my desk. Bam. Old phone. We just needed to scrounge up a charger because the battery is so dead that after charging just enough to power on it claimed it was at 53% (to be fair to it, there is a very real chance that it's correct, and it just holds no charge at this point so the capacity is just THAT low) and now it lives in the closet logging sensor data.

And I was like, you know...didn't I just solve a major story detail with a much larger version of this...yeah, no, this is all vaguely familiar somehow, power supply issues and all. Kind of cool that the concept works though. Kind of weird that it came up at all?

We are not gonna talk about the fact that I still have at least two more ancient-ass phones in a drawer where that came from because look, man, sometimes you just need a camera/mic/mini computer with Bluetooth and wifi that fits in a pocket, and people just get rid of these things, but not me. I actually could build a shitty security system out of them if I was reaaaally inclined. I mean. I'm not. But it's technically possible.

For real though, If I pick up any stupid maker projects I still high-key am thinking about slapping Bluetooth into a necomimi headset and running that through an Arduino and learning to code just enough to let me skip songs/change the volume on Spotify with my brain, because it's entirely doable, and I mean yeah I could do that on my phone remotely too, but that's not funny, now, is it. I'm just not sure it's $350+ of parts funny. Kind of a big investment just to prove the point that haha look I am the extremely ADHD type of lazy where I would rather solve a problem via the most convoluted and complicated Rube-Goldberg type ass machine way possible rather than just perform a single simple action.

YEAH I'VE BEEN THIS SCATTERED ALL DAY AND I REALLY SHOULD GO TO BED SHOULDN'T I. I started playing Satisfactory. Mistakes were made. I'm going to dream about conveyor belts again and I did it to myself...

[rrfinpay]

Gaming Software Development

RRFinCo is a leading mobile app development company in Patna, Bihar. that offers cutting-edge Mobile application development services Providing Company for Android and IOS devices. https://rrfinco.com/

[aviii-idkbruh]

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb2DnSHFSAtBWmFprC06

sigan mi grupo de whats

estaré escribiendo más cosas por allá, mucho más de lo que pienso y escribo aquí

[african-international-magazine]

How Social Media is Rewiring Our Minds

By Ollus Ndomu

When Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp went offline for a few hours mid this year, the world experienced a rare and unsettling silence. Notifications stopped pinging, timelines froze, and WhatsApp chats turned eerily quiet. For many, this wasn’t a respite but a source of stress. Conversations at dinner tables and offices quickly turned to the outage, as millions worldwide grappled with an unnerving reality: we are hopelessly hooked on scrolling.

In the past decade, social media has become as essential as running water for billions. It connects us to friends, provides instant entertainment, and serves as a global newsstand. But alongside these benefits lies an uncomfortable truth: our dependence on these platforms isn’t just habitual, it’s addictive.

The Scrolling Syndrome

Social media addiction isn’t a metaphor; it’s a phenomenon backed by science. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are engineered to capture attention and keep users hooked. Features like infinite scroll, autoplay videos, and algorithm-driven feeds are designed to deliver quick dopamine hits—the brain's reward chemical. Each like, comment, or share stimulates this reward system, reinforcing the habit of constantly checking and refreshing feeds.

However, these fleeting bursts of pleasure come at a cost. Over time, the brain craves more stimulation, leading to compulsive scrolling. The result? Hours lost in digital rabbit holes and a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction when the dopamine runs out.

Stress on Steroids

The recent social media outage was a stark reminder of how deeply embedded these platforms are in our lives. For many, it wasn’t just about losing entertainment; it felt like losing a lifeline. Social media serves as a primary mode of communication for millions, especially in regions where platforms like WhatsApp are more integral than traditional messaging services.

When the outage hit, anxiety spiked. People were suddenly forced to confront the void; an uncomfortable pause that highlighted their reliance on constant connectivity. This stress wasn’t just anecdotal; mental health experts have long noted how withdrawal symptoms manifest when individuals are abruptly disconnected from digital spaces.

The emotional toll of this dependency is profound. Studies show that excessive social media use is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The curated lives and highlight reels we scroll through daily can distort our perception of reality, leading to feelings of inadequacy and envy.

Why We’re Hooked

Social media’s pull isn’t just about clever design; it taps into fundamental human needs. Platforms provide:

Social validation: Likes, shares, and comments make us feel seen and appreciated.

Connection: In a fragmented world, social media offers a sense of belonging.

Distraction: For many, scrolling is an escape from stress, boredom, or discomfort.

Yet, this constant connection creates a paradox: the more we engage, the more isolated we feel. Real-life interactions, which are richer and more fulfilling, are often sidelined in favor of virtual ones.

Breaking the Cycle

While social media addiction is a complex issue, breaking free is possible. Here are some strategies:

1. Set Boundaries: Limit daily screen time using app trackers or digital wellbeing tools. Commit to phone-free zones like the dining table or bedroom.

2. Embrace Downtime: Replace scrolling with activities that recharge you—reading, exercising, or meditating. Learn to sit with boredom instead of escaping it.

3. Detox Periodically: Take breaks from social media to reset your habits. Start with a day or weekend and gradually extend the duration.

4. Reclaim Real Connection: Prioritize face-to-face interactions with friends and family. Build relationships outside the digital sphere.

5. Audit Your Feeds: Follow accounts that inspire and uplift you. Unfollow those that provoke comparison or negativity.

Reimagining Our Digital Future

Social media isn’t inherently bad, it’s a tool. When used mindfully, it can enhance our lives, foster connections, and amplify voices. The challenge lies in ensuring it serves us, not the other way around.

This year's outage was a moment of collective clarity. It exposed our vulnerability but also offered an opportunity to reassess our relationship with these platforms. As social media continues to evolve, the responsibility to use it wisely rests on individuals, creators, and tech companies alike.

By recognizing the addictive patterns of scrolling and taking proactive steps to counter them, we can reclaim our time, focus, and mental health. After all, life is meant to be lived, not endlessly scrolled.

[codemonkhq]

Discover how to build a RAG-based Blog Writer API using LangChain and Langflow. This guide covers creating a powerful content generation tool that combines retrieval and language models, enhancing accuracy and efficiency in generating high-quality blog posts.

[simblrcc-site]

Simblr.cc - but better!

A lot has changed! Not only does it have a new lick of paint, it comes with way more features now!

Psst! If you are new to the site, please read this post first: Click me!

✨New Features

There are a lot of exciting new features:

An improved (Tumblr) importer.

A better Stories uploader.

A new lightweight uploader for quick, small posts.

A completely redesigned projects page with a fresh, modern look!

A redesign of the feed page + being able to like posts on said feed

You can now upload stories as "scenes" that appear on the feed, while still being part of a full, easily navigable story!

A new "Welcome" page, giving more people exposure to their stuff!

And... of course some bug fixes and teeny tiny User experience issues. 😉

🐦Lightweight Uploader

Something I'm super proud of putting together, the Lightweight uploader!

It streamlines the process of uploading simple pictures—no more navigating through multiple pages. Everything is on one easy-to-use page.

If you're logged in, you can access it directly from the Feed or via the "Upload/Post" option in the navbar.

Compatible Post Types:

WIPs

Gameplay

Personal

Lookbook

Familiar and Intuitive Features

If you're used to Tumblr's posting mechanism, you'll notice some recognizable elements:

Drag and Drop Images: Arrange your pictures to create collages! Each row holds up to 3 images, and you can add as many rows as you want.

Simpler Tagging: Tags are now easier to select.

Optional Titles and Descriptions: For WIPs and Personal Posts, titles and descriptions are optional. For other posts, they're still available but not required.

Streamlined and intuitive, the Lightweight Uploader makes sharing your content easier than ever!

📥 Improved Importer:

What's New?

New Importer: Pillowfort! We’ve added a brand-new import option: Pillowfort!

Tumblr Importer:

Previously, the Tumblr Importer relied heavily on your theme, which often caused errors if your theme wasn’t quite right. Fixing those errors was frustrating for both of us!

What’s changed? The importer now uses the official Tumblr API to grab your posts. This means imports will work flawlessly 99% of the time.

Plus, when you share a post on Simblr.cc, the importer will reblog it on Simblr.cc's Tumblr, giving you more exposure—that’s what Simblr.cc is all about!

What about past uploads?

I'm working to have the importer recognize whether your upload is CC or a Gameplay item (not live yet).

Support is being added to reblog posts from the old Tumblr Importer, so those uploads can still shine!

More import options are on the way in the future!

🖊 Improved Stories Uploader

Easier for Writers and readers! 😉

When creating a new story or legacy, you now have three options:

Chapter-Only Story

Chapters & Scenes Story

Scenes-Only Story

Important: All stories created before this update are currently set to Chapters-Only.

What’s the Difference Between a Chapter and a Scene?

Introducing Scenes! Previously, stories and legacies were strictly chapter-based, meaning you could only release a full chapter at a time. Now, with scenes, you have more flexibility!

A scene works like a storyteller’s post on Tumblr—it appears on your feed. This means your scenes can be shared on Simblr.cc’s Feed (but not the Stories browse page) even before the full chapter is published, making it easier for readers to discover your story.

Note: A "Scenes-Only" story works just like a "Chapters & Scenes" story—just without the chapters! 😉

Can I Change My Story Type?

You can change a Chapters-Only Story to a Chapters & Scenes Story. However, you cannot switch from Chapters-Only to Scenes-Only or any other combination.

Though, you will have to ask me to do this for you, due to the way it's currently set up.

Afterwords:

Note: Since this entire platform was built by just one person (me!), it might still have some bugs I haven’t come across yet. Please understand that most social media platforms have entire teams working on features like this, and therefore I can't promise a super "bug free" experience.

So, If you spot any bugs, please don’t hesitate to report them—it’ll help make the platform even better, and it also helps me out! Thanks for your support! 😊

[phantomrose96]

Are you a technical writer 👀

(re: this) Nope--well--I guess sort of in the sense that I'm a software engineer and a portion of my job is writing documentation. (But also as a software engineer, we're famously bad at writing sufficient technical documentation.)

And, with regard to the post specifically, like I can bang out a one-shot fanfic in one sitting hardly ever breaking my writing stride. But then I'll have my ass in a chair with a blank page open to write a document for an API I designed which was made to tackle a product problem I understand in full depth... And I'll still be sitting there going "Fuck man, what's the most important part to explain first? How much detail is too much detail?"

Like... I can still do it! But there sure is a part of me that wants All Writing Skills To Be The Same, such that I can crack my knuckles and bang it out in one go and maybe make one of my coworkers go "omg the plot twist at the end of this document"

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Source Integration for Historical Writing

When writing for history courses, it is common to incorporate evidence from primary and secondary sources.

Writers integrate information from these sources into their writing in 3 ways:

Summaries

Writers typically summarize when the information from a source does not have to be provided in detail.

For example, a writer might want to summarize an author’s overall argument for the audience as opposed to explaining every line.

Summaries are particularly useful for describing key historical events or figures.

Writers can use descriptive facts, such as names, dates, and places, to create a summary that provides critical background information for the audience.

Example

In Kris Myers’ (2012, 198) essay, she traces the development of the Alice Paul Institute (API), also known as Paulsdale, a house museum that features historical lessons based on the life of women’s rights activist Alice Paul.

Paraphrases

Paraphrasing works best when writers can state information from a source in a more clear and concise manner without changing the original meaning of the words. Under most circumstances, readers expect to see paraphrased evidence in historical writing. Paraphrasing helps writers balance information from their sources with their own words and voice.

For example, if a writer wants to include an author’s idea to support their argument, but the original text spans an entire paragraph, the writer can paraphrase key details from the original paragraph into one or two sentences to capture the important aspects.

Example

Myers (2012, 198) states the API decided to use Alice Paul’s life as the foundation for a leadership program that teaches young girls skills to become leaders in their community.

Quotations

Quotations suit several purposes in writing.

The most common reasons writers use quotations are when the words serve as concrete evidence to back up a claim, come from an authoritative figure that adds credibility to their argument, are so compelling and original that there is no better way to express the idea, or communicate an idea in order to accurately dispute it.

For historical writing, quotations are used to reference primary and secondary sources as evidence to support an argument. However, writers should keep in mind that quotations from a primary source are often considered stronger forms of evidence than quotations from a secondary source.

Example

Despite the success of Paulsdale, Myers (2012, 207) notes that “[t]he API confronted constant claims that women’s history is not significant to American memory, or that women like Alice Paul represented a radical element” when advocating for the project.

Note: Always refer to assignment instructions for specific information regarding which citation style to use and how many sources or quotations are required.

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References

[transingthebourgeoisie]

They call me Sarah because that's my name. Read the bio up there ^. I am what one might deign to call a "writer" and if you've been following me for a while and this is the first time you're hearing of it. Don't worry about it! Mutuals can message me for other socials and/or my discord, or also just for whatever I guess; I'm not terribly talkative for reasons that if you know you know but I will reply Eventually.

Please note that this blog is autonomously generated and operated by the OpenSarah API, a specialized, ethical, and FOSS form of Neural Network, that automatically and instantaneously learns from all interaction it has with users and user-generated posts. All information is stored in perpetuity - subject to an automated pruning process that randomly removes both crucial and trivial information, and an unknown, randomized end-of-service date, - and automatically analyzed to improve future output quality. Output may include, but is not limited to: attempts at humor, marxist or literary commentary, and grand expressions of contempt and/or petty annoyance. Service may be unavailable at inopportune or unexpected times due to unavoidable software and/or hardware instability; we apologize for the inconvenience. Please send any and all inquiries, propositions, or concerns, via our official User Response Form.

[heyits-kris]

Ok, hear me out.

!!calling all BoBoiBoy fans with this one!!

We know monsta like to end BoBoiBoy with a bang (this is in a literal sense like big anime fight scene)

Now we know that by this point it will probably end with all the elementals reaching their 3rd forms.

We already got rimba and beliung(kinda). And we almost got nova and blizzard. Now I would argue that halilintar already got an arc for his element.

So the only one left is solar and gempa.

So here's my idea, what if the final arc is about those two having troubles because of their elementals past with Retak'ka and Tok Kasa.

Like Solar would be scared/worried that he might turn out like Retak'ka. I mean BoBoiBoy losing control when he got a new power isn't uncommon.

(Looking at taufan, api and cahaya when they first came out. The more destructive one. I mean Hali got a villain moment!)

(It's funny that all that happened and then there's daun and duri. He's just silly ^⁠_⁠^ . And air and ais who are just chill. Pun intended.)

But plot twist, it's gempa who went out of control when he got crystal.

Because I think he should at least have 1 crazy moment. Even when he was first introduced, he was the only one in the ori trio to not go wrong.

And don't you dare say that guy doesn't have the capacity to be crazy and out of control. Have you seen gentar!? Half of that is at least him.

So what happened will be, he turn into crystal and go crazy. This make solar turn into gamma to stop him from hurting people. You can get the other elements join in too. Then he calms down and they all team up to fight whatever villain they're fighting.

And that ladies and gentlemen is my take on how the 3rd forms and evolution should happen.

Thank you for listening and mic drop.

(This whole thing happened cause I got bored and reread the whole comic looking for any clues for the future plot. And I found one scene in the comic that they kinda rewrote/cut out in the show.

Which was a scene of tok Kasa training BoBoiBoy with beliung if i'm correct. And BoBoiBoy ask him why he doesn't he just teach BoBoiBoy the crystal element. And Tok Kasa loudly said "No!" cause he doesn't remember how to unlock the power anymore. Which I would call bullcrap. This man lied about knowing Retak'ka, and for the record he lied a lot about other important informations in the past.

So why the secrets? So far from what we can tell gempa/tanah is a pretty stable element (pun intended). I know it's probably just the writers using it as an excuse so we could have plots and arcs but still. They better make up a reason for it.

I also want the elementals to have more plots with eachother and interact with eachother (other than designated duos like blaze & ice, duri with solar, taufan & Hali). The last one barely get any interaction nowadays. Also I really like gempa and he's my favourite.)

[joy-haver]

It is my absolute pleasure to announce that one of my poems was included as the dedication for Mary Smith’s incredible, groundbreaking, and community building doctoral theses, “Examining the Impact of Intrafamilial Adversity on Emotion Regulation in Sexual and Gender Minority People in Southwest Alabama”

Below is the poem, written in full. A link to the dissertation can be found below, as well as a link to the lovely writers group which helped me to germinate the seed of this poem.

Withyou further a-due;

The Holy Return

I will meet you in the temple of the sun. 

And I will pray:

“Blessed are the southern queers,

For we have inherited the fire, and the hymn, 

And the boughing arches of green that let light in

To the place where no enemy can live.”

I will meet you in the temple of the sun.

Where the light bakes stones and bricks,

And grows up all things planted, saying

“Helianthus, Helianthus, form rooms for me to lie in.

Quercus, Quercus, holy are your arches.”

I will meet you in the home of Sarracenia, saying,

“You know the thriving of this place;

Poor soil, bug eating, nutrition; 

Bog button bobbing, and heron dances -

Teach us to drag beauty out of what’s wasted.”

The fire is our promise kept to the land-

We burn to renew right relation.

We make gift of ourselves in the return,

Turning, singing, “take this,

Holy Place, remade into what is sacred.”  

“Holy is the planet in its interchanging graces.

Night washed tidal flows withering away changes,

Metal from the earth rusting away,

The petite friends learning to digest all,

Returning us to this place.”

“Blessed are we who live in these lands.

Pine savannah hillsides rolling up north to old mountains,

East towards long sand beaches,

West to the atchafalaya, with our old kin cypress. 

South, South to our own circle of the ocean.”

I will meet you in the house of the sun,

Each day again. 

With Sida for your gums and Gum for your wounds,

Spiderwort comfort, gifted to body like us to the land. 

I will come with the medicines of our connection. Praying,

“Blessed are the Southern queers,

for they have inherited the fire and the hymn.

Death does not come for them.

Muddy water, they walk in

With crab lines out. They ready nets. 

Ready to catch that which comes

Through the culvert.”

___

Thank you Mary for encouraging me to write this, and giving feedback on it. Thank you so much for your research, and your dedication to the queer family in which we are both an affirming part.

Thank you also to Vishwam Gurudas, whose Flowing With Life meditation writers group helped create such a good space for me to write this, and so many other pieces.

Link to Mary’s dissertation: https://repository.upenn.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/c0f0ed3e-38e3-4046-abd2-c6a054deeedc/content

Link to the writers group I’m in: https://www.flowingwithlife.org/writing-groups

[rrfinpay]

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[mbti-notes]

Anon wrote: hello! thank you for running this blog. i hope your vacation was well-spent!

i am an enfp in the third year of my engineering degree. i had initially wanted to do literature and become an author. however, due to the job security associated with this field, my parents got me to do computer science, specialising in artificial intelligence. i did think it was the end of my life at the time, but eventually convinced myself otherwise. after all, i could still continue reading and writing as hobbies.

now, three years in, i am having the same thoughts again. i've been feeling disillusioned from the whole gen-ai thing due to art theft issues and people using it to bypass - dare i say, outsource - creative work. also, the environmental impact of this technology is astounding. yet, every instructor tells us to use ai to get information that could easily be looked up in textbooks or google. what makes it worse is that i recently lost an essay competition to a guy who i know for a fact used chatgpt.

i can't help feeling that by working in this industry, i am becoming a part of the problem. at the same time, i feel like a conservative old person who is rejecting modern technology and griping about 'the good old days'.

another thing is that college work is just so all-consuming and tiring that i've barely read or written anything non-academic in the past few years. quitting my job and becoming a writer a few years down the road is seeming more and more like a doomed possibility.

i've been trying to do what i can at my level. i write articles about ethical considerations in ai for the college newsletter. i am in a technical events club, and am planning out an artificial intelligence introductory workshop for juniors where i will include these topics, if approved by the superiors.

from what i've read on your blog, it doesn't seem like you have a very high opinion of ai, either, but i've only seen you address it in terms of writing. i'd like to know, are there any ai applications that you find beneficial? i think that now that i am here, i could try to make a difference by working on projects that actually help people, rather than use some chatgpt api to do the same things, repackaged. i just felt like i need the perspective of someone who thinks differently than all those around me. not in a 'feed my tunnel-vision' way, but in a 'tell me i'm not stupid' way.

----------------------

It's kind of interesting (in the "isn't life whacky?" sort of way) you chose the one field that has the potential to decimate the field that you actually wanted to be in. I certainly understand your inner conflict and I'll give you my personal views, but I don't know how much they will help your decision making.

I'm of course concerned about the ramifications on writing not just because I'm a writer but because, from the perspective of education and personal growth, I understand the enormous value of writing skills. Learning to write analytically is challenging. I've witnessed many people meet that challenge bravely, and in the process, they became much more intelligent and thoughtful human beings, better able to contribute positively to society. So, it pains me to see the attitude of "don't have to learn it cuz the machine does it". However, writing doesn't encompass my full view on AI.

I wouldn't necessarily stereotype people who are against new technology as "old and conservative", though some of them are. My parents taught me to be an early adopter of new tech, but it doesn't mean I don't have reservations about it. I think, psychologically, the main reason people resist is because of the real threat it poses. Historically, we like to gloss over the real human suffering that results from technological advancement. But it is a reasonable and legitimate response to resist something that threatens your livelihood and even your very existence.

For example, it is already difficult enough to make a living in the arts, and AI just might make it impossible. Even if you do come up with something genuinely creative and valuable, how are you going to make a living with it? As soon as creative products are digitized, they just get scraped up, regurgitated, and disseminated to the masses with no credit or compensation given to the original creator. It's cannibalism. Cannibalism isn't sustainable.

I wonder if people can seriously imagine a society where human creativity in the arts has been made obsolete and people only have exposure to AI creation. There are plenty of people who don't fully grasp the value of human creativity, so they wouldn't mind it, but I would personally consider it to be a kind of hell.

I occasionally mention that my true passion is researching "meaning" and how people come to imbue their life with a sense of meaning. Creativity has a major role to play in 1) almost everything that makes life/living feel worthwhile, 2) generating a culture that is worth honoring and preserving, and 3) building a society that is worthy of devoting our efforts to.

Living in a capitalist society that treats people as mere tools of productivity and treats education as a mere means to a paycheck already robs us of so much meaning. In many ways, AI is a logical result of that mindset, of trying to "extract" whatever value humans have left to offer, until we are nothing but empty shells.

I don't think it's a coincidence that AI comes out of a society that devalues humanity to the point where a troubling portion of the population suffers marginalization, mental disorder, and/or feels existentially empty. Many of the arguments I've heard from AI proponents about how it can improve life sound to me like they're actually going to accelerate spiritual starvation.

Existential concerns are serious enough, before we even get to the environmental concerns. For me, environment is the biggest reason to be suspicious of AI and its true cost. I think too many people are unaware of the environmental impact of computing and networking in general, let alone running AI systems. I recently read about how much energy it takes to store all the forgotten chats, memes, and posts on social media. AI ramps up carbon emissions dramatically and wastes an already dwindling supply of fresh water.

Can we really afford a mass experiment with AI at a time when we are already hurtling toward climate catastrophe? When you think about how much AI is used for trivial entertainment or pointless busywork, it doesn't seem worth the environmental cost. I care about this enough that I try to reduce my digital footprint. But I'm just one person and most of the population is trending the other way.

With respect to integrating AI into personal life or everyday living, I struggle to see the value, often because those who might benefit the most are the ones who don't have access. Yes, I've seen some people have success with using AI to plan and organize, but I also always secretly wonder at how their life got to the point of needing that much outside help. Sure, AI may help with certain disadvantages such as learning or physical disabilities, but this segment of the population is usually the last to reap the benefits of technology.

More often than not, I see people using AI to lie, cheat, steal, and protect their own privilege. It's particularly sad for me to see people lying to themselves, e.g., believing that they're smart for using AI when they're actually making themselves stupider, or thinking that an AI companion can replace real human relationship.

I continue to believe that releasing AI into the wild, without developing proper safeguards, was the biggest mistake made so far. The revolts at OpenAI prove, once again, that companies cannot be trusted to regulate themselves. Tech companies need a constant stream of data to feed the beast and they're willing to sacrifice our well-being to do it. It seems the only thing we can do as individuals is stop offering up our data, but that's not going to happen en masse.

Even though you're aware of these issues, I want to mention them for those who aren't, and for the sake of emphasizing just how important it is to regulate AI and limit its use to the things that are most likely to produce a benefit to humanity, in terms of actually improving quality of human life in concrete terms.

In my opinion, the most worthwhile place to use AI is medicine and medical research. For example, aggregating and analyzing information for doctors, assisting surgeons with difficult procedures, and coming up with new possibilities for vaccines, treatments, and cures is where I'd like to see AI shine. I'd also love to see AI applied to:

scientific research, to help scientists sort, manage, and process huge amounts of information

educational resources, to help learners find quality information more efficiently, rather than feeding them misinformation

engineering and design, to build more sustainable infrastructure

space exploration, to find better ways of traveling through space or surviving on other planets

statistical analysis, to help policymakers take a more objective look at whether solutions are actually working as intended, as opposed to being blinded by wishful thinking, bias, hubris, or ideology (I recognize this point is controversial since AI can be biased as well)

Even though you work in the field, you're still only one person, so you don't have that much more power than anyone else to change its direction. There's no putting the worms back in the can at this point. I agree with you that, for the sake of your well-being, staying in the field means choosing your work carefully. However, if you want to work for an organization that doesn't sacrifice people at the altar of profit, it might be slim pickings and the pay might not be great. Staying true to your values can be costly too.

[mariacallous]

Palantir, facing mounting public scrutiny for its work with the Trump administration, took an increasingly defensive stance toward journalists and perceived critics this week, both at a defense conference in Washington, DC, and on social media.

On Tuesday, a Palantir employee threatened to call the police on a WIRED journalist who was watching software demonstrations at its booth at AI+ Expo. The conference, which is hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project, a think tank founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, is free and open to the public, including journalists.

Later that day, Palantir had conference security remove at least three other journalists—Jack Poulson, writer of the All-Source Intelligence Substack; Max Blumenthal, who writes and publishes The Grayzone; and Jessica Le Masurier, a reporter at France 24—from the conference hall, Poulson says. The reporters were later able to reenter the hall, Poulson adds.

The move came after Palantir spokespeople began publicly condemning a recent New York Times report titled “Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans” published on May 30. WIRED previously reported that Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was building a master database to surveil and track immigrants. WIRED has also reported that the company was helping DOGE with an IRS data project, collaborating to build a “mega-API.”

The public criticism from Palantir is unusual, as the company does not typically issue statements pushing back on individual news stories.

Prior to being kicked out of Palantir���s booth, the WIRED journalist, who is also the author of this article, was taking photos, videos, and written notes during software demos of Palantir FedStart partners, which use the company’s cloud systems to get certified for government work. The booth’s walls had phrases like “REAWAKEN THE GIANT” and “DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP!” printed on the outside. When the reporter briefly stepped away from the booth and attempted to re-enter, she was stopped by Eliano Younes, Palantir’s head of strategic engagement, who said that WIRED was not allowed to be there. The reporter asked why, and Younes repeated himself, adding that if WIRED tried to return, he would call the police.

After the conference ended, Younes responded to a photo from the conference that the reporter posted on X. “hey caroline, great seeing you at the expo yesterday,” he wrote. “can't wait to read your coverage of the event.” Palantir did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.Got a Tip?Are you a current or former government employee who wants to talk about what's happening? We'd like to hear from you. Using a nonwork phone or computer, contact the reporter securely on Signal at 785-813-1084.

Poulson tells WIRED that he, Blumenthal, and Le Masurier were also watching demos at Palantir’s booth prior to being kicked out. After a Tuesday panel with Younes and Palantir engineer Ryan Fox, Poulson says Le Masurier approached Younes near Palantir’s booth and asked about the company’s work for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. A Palantir employee stepped between them and claimed that Palantir had asked her to leave “multiple times,” according to a video of the interaction viewed by WIRED, and she was escorted out of the conference hall shortly after.

“Apparently, Palantir was so annoyed that they not only kicked her out, but demanded that Max and I be kicked out as well,” Poulson says. “So the security guards came and got us.”

The group was allowed back inside the conference hall after explaining their situation to friendly security guards, Poulson says. The guards asked them to respect any requests from attendees to stop filming.

Some conference organizers appeared to be on high alert after a pro-Palestine demonstrator interrupted a panel with Palantir’s head of defense, Mike Gallagher, on Monday. The demonstrator was subsequently ejected from the conference, Poulson reported. A handful of pro-Palestine activists were also thrown out on Tuesday after disrupting a panel with Eric Schmidt and Thom Shanker, a former Pentagon reporter at the The New York Times. (Palantir formed a partnership with the Israeli military in January 2024, and Google is part of a $1.2 billion cloud contract with the Israeli government.) Poulson tells WIRED that on Wednesday, the conference began mandatory bag-checks at at least one talk.

During Younes’ Tuesday panel with fellow Palantir employee Fox, which was focused on what the two men do at Palantir and why they like working there, Younes made passing references to perceived critics of the company. When talking about the reasons he joined Palantir, he said, “I was sick and tired of people with bad intentions,” Younes said, “many of them who are actually here.” He later added that he’s a “big believer” in the views of Palantir’s cofounders, particularly those of CEO Alex Karp. (Karp is known for his nonapologetic stance toward Palantir’s work with military and defense agencies and immigration authorities.) “Playing a role in helping them, to prove the doubters and the haters wrong, that just feels really good,” Younes said.

On Tuesday, Palantir posted on X claiming the Times article was “blatantly untrue” and said that the company “never collects data to unlawfully surveil Americans.” The Times article did not claim that Palantir buys or collects its own data, though it’s a common misconception that the company does so.

The New York Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment by WIRED.

On Wednesday, Palantir’s official X account continued posting about the Times article on X. “Want to meet Dr. Karp?” the post read. “In 90 seconds, identify the technical errors in this article. DM us a video in the next 24 hours - whoever finds the most inaccuracies gets an interview with him.”

[pilot-boi]

Armored Apis: The idea of them having a brain cell and 4 person yearning is fun, but what about the revelation that 3 people love them for who they are. The "Oh...ohhhhhh" moment as a writer such as myself likes to call it.

Pyrrha gets it when Jaune, Blake, and Yang let her just be normal on a day off from training and sponsor work.

Yang gets it when she gets texts from them supporting her and checking in when she's having near breakdown.

Jaune gets it after they tell him that they know he's a better leader than he thinks he is.

Blake gets hit the hardest with the revelation after seeing Jaune, Yang, and Pyrrha rise up to defend her from Adam.

This ship is cute, I’m not gonna lie

It’s because they all react to their relationships similarly, but with their own twist based on their backgrounds. They all feel like they’re not good enough for the people they love, that they have to be MORE to be worthy of them

It’s good shit

Also, are you thinking of this in a Pyrrha lives AU? Cause there’s good content either way

[bi-writes]

ok i've done some light research. if you want a software engineer/fic writer's inital take on lore.fm, i'll keep it short and sweet.

my general understanding of lore.fm functionality:

they use OpenAI's public API. they take in the text from the URL provided and use it to spit out your AI-read fic. their API uses HTTP requests, meaning a connection is made to an OpenAI server over HTTP to do as lore.fm asks and then give back the audio. my concern is that i wasn't able to find out what exactly that means. does OpenAI just parse the data and spit out a response? is that data then stored somewhere to better their model (probably yes)? does OpenAI do anything to ensure that the data is being used the way it was intended (we know this probably isn't true because lore.fm exists)?

lore.fm stores the generated audio (i am almost certain of this because of the features described in this reddit post). meaning that someone's fic is sitting in a lore.fm database. what are they doing with that data? what can they do with it? how is it being stored? what is being stored, the text and the audio, or just the audio?

i find transparency a very difficult thing to ask for in tech. people are concerned with technological trade secrets and stifling innovation (hilarious when i think about lore.fm, because it doesn't take a genius to feed text into AI and display the response somewhere, sorry to say). and while i find the idea of AI being used to help further accessibility on apps that don't yet provide it promising, i find the method that lore.fm (and OpenAI) chooses to do this to be dangerous and pave a path for a harmful integration of AI (and also fanfiction in general -- we write to interact, and lore.fm removes that aspect of it entirely).

we already know that AI companies have been paying to scrape data from different sources for the purposes of bettering their models, and we already know that they've only started asking for permission to do this because users found out (and not from the goodness of their hearts, because more data means better models, and asking for permission adds overhead). but this way of using it allows AI to backdoor-scrape data that the original sources of the data didn't give consent to. maybe the author declined to have their fic scraped by AI on the site they posted it onto (if the site asked at all), but they didn't know a third-party app like lore.fm would feed it into an AI model anyways.

what's the point of writing fics if i have no control over my own content?