#automate complex document

[jcmarchi]

Stackpack Secures $6.3M to Reinvent Vendor Management in an AI-Driven Business Landscape

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/stackpack-secures-6-3m-to-reinvent-vendor-management-in-an-ai-driven-business-landscape/

Stackpack Secures $6.3M to Reinvent Vendor Management in an AI-Driven Business Landscape

In a world where third-party tools, services, and contractors form the operational backbone of modern companies, Stackpack has raised $6.3 million to bring order to the growing complexity.

Led by Freestyle Capital, the funding round includes support from Elefund, Upside Partnership, Nomad Ventures, Layout Ventures, MSIV Fund, and strategic angels from Intuit, Workday, Affirm, Snapdocs, and xAI.

The funding supports Stackpack’s mission to redefine how businesses manage their expanding vendor networks—an increasingly vital task as organizations now juggle hundreds or even thousands of external partners and platforms.

Turning Chaos into Control

Founded in 2023 by Sara Wyman, formerly of Etsy and Affirm, Stackpack was built to solve a problem she knew too well: modern companies are powered by vendors, yet most still track them with outdated methods—spreadsheets, scattered documents, and guesswork. With SaaS stacks ballooning and AI tools proliferating, unmanaged vendors become silent liabilities.

“Companies call themselves ‘people-first,’ but in reality, they’re becoming ‘vendor-first,’” said Wyman. “There are often 6x more vendors than employees. Yet there’s no system of record to manage that shift—until now.”

Stackpack gives finance and IT teams a unified, AI-powered dashboard that provides real-time visibility into vendor contracts, spend, renewals, and compliance risks. The platform automatically extracts key contract terms like auto-renewal clauses, flags overlapping subscriptions, and even predicts upcoming renewals buried deep in PDFs.

AI That Works Like a Virtual Vendor Manager

Stackpack’s Behavioral AI Engine acts as an intelligent assistant, surfacing hidden cost-saving opportunities, compliance risks, and critical dates. It not only identifies inefficiencies—it takes action, issuing alerts, initiating workflows, and providing recommendations across the vendor lifecycle.

For instance:

Renewal alerts prevent surprise charges.

Spend tracking identifies underused or duplicate tools.

Contract intelligence extracts legal and pricing terms from uploads or integrations with tools like Google Drive.

Approval workflows streamline onboarding and procurement.

This brings the kind of automation once reserved for enterprise procurement platforms like Coupa or SAP to startups and mid-sized businesses—at a fraction of the cost.

A Timely Solution for a Growing Problem

Vendor management has become a boardroom issue. As more companies shift budgets from headcount to outsourced services, compliance and financial oversight have become harder to maintain. Stackpack’s early traction is proof of demand: just months after launch, it’s managing over 10,500 vendors and $510 million in spend across more than 50 customers, including Every Man Jack, Rho, Density, HouseRx, Fexa, and ZeroEyes.

“The CFO is the one left holding the bag when things go wrong,” said Brandon Lee, Accounting Manager at BizzyCar. “Stackpack means we don’t have to cross our fingers every quarter.”

Beyond Visibility: Enabling Smarter Vendor Decisions

Alongside its core platform, Stackpack is launching Requests & Approvals, a lightweight tool to simplify vendor onboarding and purchasing decisions—currently in beta. The feature is already attracting customers looking for faster, more agile alternatives to traditional procurement systems.

With a long-term vision to help companies not only manage but discover and evaluate vendors more strategically, Stackpack is laying the groundwork for a smarter, interconnected vendor ecosystem.

“Every vendor decision carries legal, financial, and security consequences,” said Dave Samuel, General Partner at Freestyle Capital. “Stackpack is building the intelligent infrastructure to manage these relationships proactively.”

The Future of Vendor Operations

As third-party ecosystems grow in size and complexity, Stackpack aims to transform vendor operations from a liability into a competitive advantage. Its AI-powered approach gives companies a modern operating system for vendor management—one that’s scalable, proactive, and deeply integrated into finance and operations.

“This isn’t just about cost control—it’s about running a smarter company,” said Wyman. “Managing your vendors should be as strategic as managing your talent. We’re giving companies the tools to make that possible.”

With fresh funding and a rapidly expanding customer base, Stackpack is poised to become the new standard for how modern businesses manage the partners powering their growth.

[gardenwons]

LET ME IN, PLEASE🥛

SYNOPSIS As the new doorman for the shabby apartment complex, you learn quickly to recognize imposters until eventually a cunning doppelganger entered the building—also making its way in you.

PAIRINGS: doppelganger!jungwon x doorman!reader

WARNINGS: smut with plot, dom!jungwon, making out, unprotected sex, breeding kink, praising, blood, lowkey mean won(?)

A/N: loosely based on "that's not my neighbor," was vv in love w/ the milkman pls he's a sweet boy and it was supposed to be seung but jw my love it is!

5 minutes till the end of shift.

And in the past few hours of your shift, the scene at the checkpoint remained tense yet controlled. Behind the desk, you tapped away as you await the next individual on the list. Hours had been spent meticulously weighing each resident’s reasons and paperwork, a task heavy on your shoulders each time.

You were startled by the sudden creak of the door, which swung open to reveal a tired-looking man. His eyes betrayed his exhaustion, yet he managed a weary smile as he approached the window. "Hello, here’s my ID," he said, placing it on the counter with an air of casualness, his gaze drifting away as he stifled a yawn. His hair, tousled beneath a hat that hinted at his profession.

You inspect his ID with a mix of weariness and curiosity. He seems new? you wonder to yourself, but quickly push the thought aside. "Entry request, please?" you ask, meeting his already fixed stare with a gentle smile as he hands over the necessary paperwork. "Ah, yes... forgot about it, sorry" he mutters apologetically. You accept the documents, scanning them carefully before glancing over to your left. "You’re not on today’s list?" you observe, noting a slight raise of his eyebrows as he shakes his head. "I'm supposed to be there? Probably an error" he mutters, his response prompting a hint of suspicion in your gaze.

Cautiously, you check his phone number and attempt to dial it. "I'm sorry, sir, but you must be on the list to be let–" Before you can finish, he interrupts, addressing you by name. "___?...right?" he questions, his lips forming a tight line as he pleads, "I'm really tired today. If you could just be a sweetheart and–" Suddenly, the phone rings, and you hastily pick it up, your heart skipping a beat as you hear the voice on the other end. "Hello? Jungwon speaking–" The realization hits you– how can the man in front of you look undetectable? His eyes lock onto yours as he blurts out, "Fuck." It's clear he knows he's been caught.

Shaking uncontrollably, you were on the verge of dialling the emergency number when he suddenly slammed his fist against the window, causing you to let out a scream. "Don’t make this hard for me now, angel" he said, his tone surprisingly gentle despite his earlier aggressive action. The encounter with this doppelganger was unlike anything you had experienced before – simultaneously strange and alluring, perhaps due to the handsome facade he wore, and god did he wear it well.

"Let me in or..." he trailed off, a glimmer of malice and lust flickering in his eyes as his lips curled into a smirk. "-I’ll let myself in." Despite the magnetic pull you felt towards him, and the undeniable surge of attraction coursing through your body, you pressed the emergency button. Watching as the metal wall descended, separating you from him. Jungwon's curses echoed loudly from behind the barrier as you continued to dial the D.D.D.

"You have contacted the D.D.D. A group of agents has been sent to your building" the automated voice informed, bringing a momentary sense of relief as you awaited assistance. But his next words shattered that peace. "You know I could kill them all and still get through to you, hm?" he taunted over the metal barriers, causing your heart to race even faster. "Or maybe that’s what you wanted?” Jungwon sighed, clenching your thighs together as you heard him chuckle. “Sweet girls like you shouldn’t play games like this" he scolded with a tsk, following with “It does however, make me want to devour you more”

Huddled in your seat, you listened as the agents rushed in, screams filling the air for what felt like an eternity. For what seemed like so many agonizing minutes later, silence fell upon the room. Trembling, you called out, receiving no response. With caution, you deactivated the emergency button, watching as the metal wall retracted, revealing a gruesome scene before you. Jungwon stood amidst the lifeless bodies of the yellow-suited agents, his back heaving with exhaustion. Blood covered his face and hands, dripping onto the ground.

Unable to find your voice, you watched in horror and awe as Jungwon approached your window, his eyes softened, ruby painted hands clasped together in a pleading gesture as he begged, "Please, I... I didn't mean to. I just wanted to go in." His lips formed a pout, his eyes glossy, yet his face was streaked with blood. Hat nowhere to be found, his hair was ruffled, with some strands sticking to his blood-stained face, "I know i messed up, just let me make it up to you inside" he continued pleading, his lips curving into a genuine smile as he sensed your resolve wavering. Despite the firmness in your stance, his appearance – bloodied, hair tousled, voice filled with desperation stirred something within you, whether you had a clear head you knew the heat was getting to you down there. He gestured toward the green button, the one that would unlock the door, his gaze unwavering as he directly addressed you. "Press that for me, please?" he instructed, as if your better judgment didn't matter. And at that moment, it didn't. 

You found yourself slowly reaching for the unlock button, his presence casting a mesmerizing spell over you. "Ah, that’s my girl" Jungwon praised, his words sending a rush of heat to your cheeks. Yet, beneath his seemingly genuine appreciation, there lurked a sinister undertone, evident in the chuckle that escaped him as the doors clicked open.

Without hesitation, he winked at you and slipped inside, leaving you feeling breathless and foolish. "What have I done?" you muttered to yourself, but before you could fully grasp the weight of your actions, the door to the office swung open behind you. Turning, you found yourself face to face with the bloodied man once again, his eyes fixated on you like a predator sizing up its prey. A chill ran down your spine as he licked the stain of blood from his lips. "Can’t just leave without giving my girl a reward, can I?" he teased, his voice dripping with a dark promise.

As you instinctively reached for the nearest makeshift weapon, Jungwon's eyes rolled with a playful smirk. "Aren’t you adorable? If I wanted you dead, I would've done so earlier" he teased. Jungwon’s words hung heavy in the air as he advanced towards you, his expression softening into that same endearing pout.

"You've done so well for me, angel" he cooed, his arms enveloping yours, causing your heart to race as his scent enveloped you—metallic from the dried blood and musky, intoxicating in its allure. Leaning in, his hair falling gently over his eyes, he fixed his gaze on you, seeming to see right through you, transparent in your vulnerability.

"I could be yours, please let me in" he whispered, his lips brushing against yours, waiting for your consent.

Without hesitation, you pressed your lips to his, feeling him sigh contentedly against you. His hand slid to the back of your head, tangling in your hair as he gently pulled you closer. His lips trailed down your neck, leaving a warm path in their wake. Gripping your hair, he tugged on it, drawing a moan from your lips.

His lips continued their journey down your neck, each kiss growing more intense as his grip tightened on your hair, drawing you closer to him. Jungwon’s breath was hot against your skin, his mouth teasing the sensitive spots just below your ear, sending shivers down your spine. He adored the way your body reacted to him, the subtle arch of your back, the soft gasp that escaped your lips, it all fueled his desire. His other hand slipped down your side, fingers grazing over your curves, leaving a trail of fire in their graze.

As his lips found their way back to yours, his kiss became more demanding, his tongue slipping past your lips in a heated dance with yours. The taste of him so metallic, dark, and utterly intoxicating—clouded your senses, making it impossible to think clearly, to think logically. His hands were everywhere, exploring your body with a possessiveness that made your knees weak. Jungwon pushed you against the wall, his body pressed firmly against yours, the heat between you both intense. His hand slipped beneath your shirt, fingers brushing over your bare skin, sending waves of pleasure through you.

Jungwon broke the kiss, panting slightly as he gazed down at you with a mix of adoration and hunger in his eyes. "You feel so good, sweet angel" he murmured, his voice thick with lust as his hand slid lower, teasing the waistband of your pants. He gave you a wicked smile before slipping his hand beneath the fabric, finding your most sensitive spot with ease. His fingers moved with expert precision, thrusting in your walls, drawing out moans from you as he leaned in to kiss you again, swallowing every sound you made. The world outside ceased to exist as you lost yourself in his touch, the innocent people already forgotten as the intensity of your connection left you breathless and wanting more.

Jungwon's fingers moved with a skilled rhythm, each stroke sending jolts of pleasure through your body. His lips trailed along your jawline, nipping gently at your skin as he worked you closer to the edge. You could feel the tension building within you, your breathe coming in shallow gasps as his touch became more insistent, more demanding. He seemed to sense the exact moment when you were about to tip over the edge, pulling back slightly just to tease you, watching with dark, lustful eyes as you writhed in his arms, desperate for release.

A loud smack echoed through the room as his hand connected with your ass, his eyes glaring down at you. "Patience, angel" he whispered, his voice low and husky, filled with a dark amusement. He relished in your need, the way your body responded so eagerly to his touch. Maybe this was just as delicious as eating flesh. His thumb brushed over your clit, sending a shockwave of pleasure through you, making your knees buckle as he held you up against the wall. "I want to see you fall apart for me" he growled, his voice thick with desire as he pressed his lips against yours again, the kiss deep and consuming.

With a final, skilled flick of his fingers, he sent you spiraling into a powerful climax, your body shaking against his as you moaned his name. Jungwon watched with a satisfied smirk as you came undone in his arms, his hand never stopping its movements, drawing out every last bit of pleasure from your trembling body. When you finally came down from your high, he gently removed his hand, bringing it up to his lips as he licked his fingers clean, eyes locked onto yours with a possessive intensity that sent a shiver down your spine.

With a sudden, forceful grip, Jungwon spun you around, pressing your chest against the cold metal desk. His breath was hot against your neck as he yanked your skirt up, not wasting a moment before tearing away the thin fabric covering your core. "You're mine, aren't you?" he growled, his voice rough and filled with a dark hunger. You barely had time to respond before he thrust into you with no warning, filling you completely, the sharp pain mixing with pleasure as your body adjusted to his size.

"Fuck, you take me so well" he groaned, his hips snapping against you with a brutal pace, the sound of skin against skin filling the room. Each thrust was hard, merciless, and deep, driving you forward on the desk. His hand found your hair again, yanking your head back as he leaned down, his teeth grazing your ear. "You're going to take every drop of me, let me fill you up until you're dripping with me."

His words sent a shiver down your spine, the rough edge to his voice only heightening the intensity of the moment. Jungwon’s pace was relentless, every thrust pushing you closer to the edge. His grip on your hair tightened, pulling you back further as he forced you to arch, the angle driving him even deeper. "Good angel" he praised, though his tone carried a mocking edge, a smirk can be heard through it. "You love this, don't you? Being fucked like this, knowing I could fill you up right now” You could only moan in response, the overwhelming sensations rendering you speechless. The slickness of your arousal mixed with the occasional streak of blood from where his nails had dug into your skin, a reminder of the rawness of the situation. Jungwon’s other hand moved to grip your hip, his fingers digging into your flesh as he pounded into you intensely. "Say it" he commanded, his voice low and commanding. "Tell me you want it. Tell me you want to be filled, bred by me."

Your body was trembling, barely able to hold on as you gasped out the words he wanted to hear. "I want it" you managed to choke out between moans. "I want you to fill me up please" the coherent you would have pushed him away, clearly realizing this wasn’t even the real Jungwon.

A satisfied growl rumbled from his chest as he picked up the pace, slamming into you with enough force to make you see stars. "That’s right, angel" he groaned, his grip tightening as he drove you both towards the edge. "Take all of me. You’re going to be so full of me, there won't be any doubt who you belong to."

With a final deep thrust, he buried himself inside you, his body tensing as he released into you. The warmth of his seed filling you sent you over the edge, your body shaking around him as you climaxed, your cries of pleasure bouncing in the room. Even as the waves of pleasure washed over you, Jungwon stayed inside, his hands still gripping you possessively.

Breathless and spent, he leaned over you, pressing a kiss to the back of your neck, his voice soft but firm. "I knew you would taste so sweet" he murmured, leaning in to kiss you once more, his lips lingering on yours as he whispered, "And now... you're mine, angel." He stepped back, his eyes filled with dark satisfaction, the taste of you still on his lips as he gave you one last, lingering look before turning to leave. You watched him go, your body still trembling, cum dripping down you legs as your mind swirled with a mixture of fear, confusion, and disturbing attraction. The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving you alone with the echoes of your own rapid breathing and the scent of him still clinging to your skin.

You slumped against the wall, trying to make sense of what had just happened, the reality of it slowly sinking in. You knew you should feel horrified, disgusted even, but all you could think about was the way he had made you feel, the dark, consuming passion that had ignited between you two. It terrified you, but at the same time, you couldn't deny the magnetic pull you felt towards him, a pull that had led you to do the unthinkable. As you slowly gathered yourself, your heart still racing, one thought lingered in your mind: this was far from over.

taglist:

@slvrnm @moonpri @jaheydane @mintdsunoo @yawnzzhoon

@ilovejungwonandhaechan

@sacrificeatmeup @beomluvrr

@uwudaizy @geraldsmochi

@ilovecats923 @millieinyourarea

@missoxy @txtbeomi

@moonchus @nyxtwixx

@enhypenlovre @jwonistic

@denleave1088 @seongiewon

[gghostwriter]

Language of Devotion

Spencer Reid x Fem! Reader

Summary: You caught Spencer learning a new skill—your native language

Trope: Fluff! just fluff

Warning: Language learning app inaccuracies, that’s it really. I wrote this in a frenzy and no proofreading was done

Main masterlist

At around 6:30pm, you arrived at your boyfriend’s apartment complex with takeout on hand. The whole day you’ve spent slumped on your office desk, slaving away on documents that needed your attention and wishing time would move faster. You were knackered and planned to spend the rest of the evening charging within your boyfriend’s arms. You knocked twice on his mahogany apartment door but there was no answer.

“Spence. Spence,” you called out. “You there?”

Silence.

Strange, even though it was a week night, he mentioned that no call came in for a case—strictly paperwork day. You juggled the takeout to your other hand as you reached into your bag for the spare key with slight difficulty.

As you let yourself in the apartment, a ping sound echoed in the confined space. The source of the noise coming in from the bedroom door that was slightly ajar. You quietly placed all your items on the dining table and crept towards the room at the further end of the apartment.

Heart beating loudly on your chest, you peeked inside the room and breathed a sigh of relief. It was Spencer, hunched over his desk, furiously scribbling on a notebook and his phone light reflecting on his glasses.

“Hey Spencer,” you lovingly greeted and although you’ve already announced your presence multiple times earlier on, the sound of your voice made him jump and if you didn’t know any better, a whimper of fright also escaped his lips—he’d deny this, of course.

“Hey, Y/N,” he raked his hand through his hair. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

You smiled coyly. “Y’know for an agent, you’re awfully jumpy.”

He laughed, the tone of his voice warming your heart. “I was just busy with something,” his hands closing the notebook and pushing it aside, as if he didn’t want you to see what had occupied the entire capacity of his brain.

That intrigued you. Spencer wasn’t really the type to keep things hidden from you unless it’s case related and in which, he doesn’t bring it back home for him to study. When your relationship started that was one of your laid out boundary and he had respected and agreed to it—the days and nights that he’s not on call were meant to enjoy each other’s company.

You tried to creep closer, curious as to what he was doing. Being adept with your body language, Spencer tried to divert your attention—keyword ‘tried’. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving,” he rubbed his stomach for emphasis.

“I got us some pasta from the Italian place around the block,” you answered, still distracted by the secret contents of his notebook.

He wrapped his arms around you, seemingly intent on manhandling you out to the dining, before his idle phone notified with a green owl flashing on its screen and an automated voice in your first language spoke through the speaker: Dr. Reid, are you still there? Your chapter and lesson progress will not be counted should you exit.

You turned your head to watch Spencer’s cheeks turning pink.

“Spence, are you—are you using Duolingo?” A giggle escaping your lips. “To learn my first language?”

He smiled with a hint of guilt. “Uh—well, research published in Psychological Science indicates that multilingual individuals exhibit better attention control, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving skills than monolinguals.”

“Uh-huh, that doesn’t explain why you’re learning my first language specifically.”

He caressed your cheek and smiled. “It’s the first language you learned to speak and it’s part of who you are, Y/N. I mean, you entered the US for your job as a translator,” he explained, staring into your eyes as if you were the most important thing in the world—you were, he assured, you and his mom were. “Do you know you only speak in your language when you mumble in your sleep? You dream in a language that I can’t understand and I want to know every side of you. I love you that much.”

You leaned in for a kiss, his care and adoration to you leaking out of him like honey and you were a bee unable to resist the sweetness. “That’s sweet of you, Spencer,” you pulled back and studied his hazel doe eyes as if they hold the key to the universe. “But I have to ask, does this also have something to do with my mom and dad flying in for a visit?”

He nodded. Last month you mentioned to him that your parents were visiting for four days before they fly to New York, where your other sibling was located. “I want them to get to know me and like me as your boyfriend and—and I can’t do that if we can’t understand each other.”

“They can speak English, granted it’s very much broken, but I can translate for you, Spencer, it’s no problem at all.” You assured him. “Plus, you’re a federal agent, that already makes you great in their books. My dad feels relieved that his own daughter is dating someone who could protect her and my mom already likes you—trust me on this. She hears how happy I am when I talk about you.”

“Are you sure?” He clarified again, clearly he was nervous in making a good impression. You were his first girlfriend and he wanted the relationship to last for a long time—forever really, if you’d let him.

“Yes, Spence. If you want, I can teach you the basics just to get you by. Duolingo isn’t really that accurate,” you mentioned as you pulled him out of the bedroom and into the dining. “Now, let’s eat. I’m hungry and the pasta has turned cold.”

He laughed, nodding his head, watching you prep the table as he reheated the pasta based exactly on the packaging instructions.

And on the first night of your parent’s arrival, your mother pulled you aside and smiled. “He’s a keeper, Y/N. Don’t let him get away.”

You laughed as you watched Spencer try his best to communicate with your father in his broken grammar and questionable pronunciation. “I won’t, Mom. I think he’s it for me, really.”

[bogkeep]

in which i tell you about medieval timekeeping methods

ok we gotta start with BABYLONIAN TIME and SUNDIALS because this is the Foundation. this is what they used for thousands of years. pretty much every structure we have for understanding and conceptualizing time is based on The Movements Of The Universe - years, months, days, this is how we understand Time to pass. the sun and stars were used for keeping time since Always!!!! there were also multiple ways of keeping time with the Shadows of the sun, not just sundials, but also tablets to measure the length of shadows. And Such

BABYLONIAN TIME is twelve hours daylight, twelve hours nighttime. this makes very good sense considering Sundials, you just split the indicators into twelve parts. don't know why Twelve specifically other than that the babylonians liked it, but it is a very nice, divisible number, and its been kept as the base for all the hour keeping systems i've read about so far.

but yes this does mean that a babylonian hour does not have a set, static length like a modern hour does...! it changes with the seasons and the place, so a babylonian winter hour is different from, say, a winter hour in northern norway. it probably helps to be closer to the equator and reliable sunny weather.

until the invention of mechanical escapement clocks, babylonian time was The main, foundational understanding of timekeeping, BUT...!!!!!! the church put a spin on it. what the monasteries needed to keep time for was Prayer Times, which they had seven of and were based on the passion of the christ. so they signaled the Seven Canonical Hours, starting at sunrise, ending at sunset. church bells is also how people kept time, because you could hear them out in the fields. timekeeping was a bit of a wibbly wobbly art but accuracy wasn't That important.

the various methods used to keep time in addition to sundials included: the cock's crow, candles, hymns, incense, and water clocks. not hour glasses, as they were invented around the same time as mechanical clocks. isn't that wild!!!!!!!

WATER CLOCKS, also called clepsydra, are a diverse category of clocks ranging from a container with water dripping out of it at a steady pace, to complex hydraulic mechanisms with weights and stuff that i honestly have yet to grasp. the simple versions were used in classical greece + rome in the same way you'd use hourglasses, to keep track of speech time, watch time, et cetera. the islamic world + china were the ones to develop the complex water clocks. there's documentation of a water clock in gaza that had like, moving automata and stuff around year 500. there was a water driven astronomical clock in china around year 1000. water clocks made a comeback in europe around the 1100ds, and were getting more widespread use. like at least they work at night, unlike SOME dials

"mechanical clock" is a bit of a misnomer since water clocks were clearly also mechanical, and the exact time of invention of what we think of as mechanical clocks is Vague. the word "horologia" was used to refer to any kind of timekeeping device, including the noble rooster, so it's a bit of a semantic haze.

they had astrolabes, which Could be used to tell the time, but weren't used to do that in the daily life. scientists wanted to make an automated astrolabe for like, the Science, they just needed to invent the perpetuum mobile first and then combine them. obviously.

the missing piece for the MECHANICAL CLOCK was the escapement, the mechanism that regulates the time with which the gears turn. once they got this going, probably early 1300ds, they got the shows on the road. the shows being: the astronomical clock, and the public striking clock. these were considered different things, you see.

the astronomical clock is the Automated Astrolabe. it shows the movement of the sun and moon and stars and as a consequence, the Time. they had dials that people could read the time from, but they were generally considered objects of prestige and god's glory, kind of like cathedrals. they often had moving figures and such.

now, public clocks that mark the hours with sound, THAT'S a timekeeping device. they didn't even have clock faces at first, and it really is so interesting to think about how looking at a clock wasn't considered the main way to tell the time. these clocks seem to have originated in italian cities and spread from there, and this is where we get ITALIAN TIME.

to show babylonian time with a mechanical clock is impractical. the machinery is good at regular movement, to show babylonian hours you kind of need the astrolabe. so italian hours were static and unchanging in length. you had twenty four hours in a day, and the cut-off point was half an hour past sunset. that was the end of the twenty fourth hour, and a new calendar date begun.

of course, the time of the sunset keeps changing all the time As Well, so these clocks had to be adjusted for that Continuously. which was annoying but they still did it until the 17th century. this method was used in italy, bohemia, silesia and maybe poland? i'm unsure what they used outside these spaces at the time, if they stuck to the babylonian hours even with mechanical clocks and did complex maths about it.

at least the NUREMBERG CLOCK had its own take on it, even if it didn't spread beyond southern germany at all. they used babylonian hours, but instead of changing the length of an hour, they changed the amount. eight day hours and sixteen night hours in december, opposite in june. the tables needed for how many days with how many hours were very complex and annoying also.

the concept of starting a new calender day at midnight, and never needing to constantly adjust day hours or when the sunset begins, WAS known but only used for scientific and astronomical purposes. like that's such a weird way to split the day!!!!! twelve at MIDDAY?? WEIRD. some travellers noted that this was a very practical and elegant solution, though, but travel and far flung communication was still very slow, so mismatched timekeeping was more annoying than inconvenient. but anyway that's for the future to figure out

[nostalgebraist]

So, about this new "AI 2027" report...

I have not read the whole thing in detail, but my immediate reaction is kind of like what I said about "Bio Anchors" a while back.

Like Bio Anchors – and like a lot of OpenPhil reports for that matter – the AI 2027 report is mainly a very complex estimation exercise.

It takes a certain way of modeling things as a given, and then does a huge amount of legwork to fill in the many numeric constants in an elaborate model of that kind, with questions like "is this actually a reasonable model?" and "what are the load-bearing assumptions here?" covered as a sort of afterthought.

For instance, the report predicts a type of automated R&D feedback loop often referred to a "software intelligence explosion" or a "software-only singularity." There has been a lot of debate over the plausibility of this idea – see Eth and Davidson here for the "plausible" case, and Erdil and Barnett here for the "implausible" case, which in turn got a response from Davidson here. That's just a sampling of very recent entries in this debate, there's plenty more where that came from.

Notably, I don't think "AI 2027" is attempting to participate in this debate. It contains a brief "Addressing Common Objections" section at the end of the relevant appendix, but it's very clear (among other things, simply from the relative quantity of text spent on one thing versus another) that the "AI 2027" authors are not really trying to change the minds of "software intelligence explosion" skeptics. That's not the point of their work – the point is making all these detailed estimates about what such a thing would involve, if indeed it happens.

And the same holds for the rest of their (many) modeling assumptions. They're not trying to convince you about the model, they're just estimating its parameters.

But, as with Bio Anchors, the load-bearing modeling assumptions get you most of the way to the conclusion. So, despite the name, "AI 2027" isn't really trying to convince you that super-powerful AI is coming within the decade.

If you don't already expect that, you're not going to get much value out of these fiddly estimation details, because (under your view) there are still-unresolved questions – like "is a software intelligence explosion plausible?" – whose answers have dramatically more leverage over your expectations than facts like "one of the parameters in one of the sub-sub-compartments of their model is lognormally distributed with 80% CI 0.3 to 7.5."

---

Maybe this is obvious, I dunno? I've just seen some reactions where people express confusion because the whole picture seems unconvincing and under-motivated to them, and I guess I'm trying to explain what I think is going on.

And I'm also worried – as always with this stuff – that there are some people who will look at all those pages and pages of fancy numbers, and think "wow! this sounds crazy but I can't argue with Serious Expert Research™," and end up getting convinced even though the document isn't really trying to convince them in the first place.

---

Now, if you do buy all the assumptions of the model, then yes, I guess this seems like a valuable exercise. If you are literally Daniel Kokotajlo, and hence believe in all the kind of stuff that Daniel Kokotajlo believes, then it makes sense to do all this legwork to "draw in the fine details" of that high-level view. And yeah, if you think the End Times are probably coming in a few years (but you might be able to do something about that at the margins), then you probably do want to get very precise about exactly how much time you have left, and when it will become too late for this or that avenue for change.

(Note that while I don't agree with him about this stuff, I do respect Kokotajlo a lot! I mean, you gotta hand it to him... not only did he predict what we now call the "Gen AI boom" with eerie accuracy way back in 2021, he was also a whistleblower who refused to sign OpenAI's absurd you-can't-talk-about-the-fact-that-you-can't-talk-about-it non-disparagement agreement, thereby bringing it into public view at last.)

But, in short, this report doesn't really touch on the reasons I disagree with short timelines. It doesn't really engage with my main objections, nor is it trying to do so. If you don't already expect "AI" in "2027" then "AI 2027" is not going to change your view.

[thelawfulchaotic]

This is a summary of how court cases go. Partly inspired from posts about recent events that show me just how much the general public doesn't know about what happens after arrest and before prison (or acquittal).

Warning: Much of this is specific to my state. Not even just my country: my state! I've tried here and there to mention other ways things are done, but I have almost ten years of experience in this one and approximately zero in any other.

Part 1: How Cases Begin/"Investigation"

One question seems to come up a lot in true crime cases. That question is: why are the police so bad at this? Why didn't they canvass the scene? Why didn't they get witnesses? Why didn't they (insert incredibly basic investigative step here)?

Sorry to bust your bubble, but police rarely do any actual investigating. Cases most commonly begin in the following ways.

1: Case directly reported to police. There are several different types of this. The most common two are via 911 call and via citizen report (i.e., coming into the police station to report a crime). However, in recent years, we've seen the rise of automated reporting of certain crimes via social media companies, most famously with regards to child sex abuse material. The police will simply get a report that x IP address accessed/shared/downloaded Y image at Z time.

2: Traffic stop. The police saw a car committing a minor traffic violation (ran a red light, headlights out, failed to come to a complete stop at a stop sign, changed lanes without signalling, etc.) and they stopped it. They found a pretext or got "permission" to search the car from the driver (who likely did not really know they could refuse). Or they got a drug dog to run around the car. (Drug dogs are not nearly as accurate as people think they are; overwhelmingly drug dogs respond to the signals of their handler and not the presence of drugs. I can cite studies if requested.)

3: Narcotics investigation. This is a distant third, but worth mentioning because it's probably the most proactive that most police departments get on a regular basis. They will have undercover officers or informants do controlled buys of narcotics on video, meticulously documented before and after. They take a level of care with this type of investigation otherwise only really reserved for the most violent felonies.

This all isn't to say that cases can't come up any other way. Sometimes police departments really do just do long-term investigations of things. Mostly, I find, they spend so much time picking the low-hanging fruit (guy who had drugs on traffic stop, yelling drunk homeless person) that the more complex and complicated cases just get dropped.

—

What happens next?

Next, the police are supposed to investigate. Gather evidence? Talk to people?

This is going to be disappointing to many people as well, but police tend to do the absolute minimum necessary investigation to establish the case and get a conviction, then pass it over to the prosecution. This is even if there are leads and suspects they haven't cleared. They'll just leave that kind of thing out of the final report, unless the defense comes specifically nosing around.

Let me give a few specific examples.

Example 1: 911 call for assault and battery. Officers arrive to find that two brothers absolutely beat the ever-loving shit out of each other at grandma's funeral. Brother 2 has left. Brother 1 remains. The police talk to Brother 1, who has a broken nose. Brother 1 fully blames the aggression on Brother 2, claiming that Brother 2 attacked him unprovoked and broke his nose. Brother 2's wife backs him up. The police, having gotten two witnesses saying one version of events, bring a malicious wounding charge without ever having spoken to Brother 1. A different officer serves Brother 1's arrest warrant and does not interrogate him in any way.

This is not unusual. Once the officers have found enough to arrest one person, often the last thing they want to do is generate more work for themselves by then finding a reason the case isn't so simple and easy. That would mean they then have to talk to many more people, examine evidence, and make a decision as to who the "primary aggressor" was, which will require a judgment call. Meanwhile, their extra investigation has just made it easier for the defense to win at a trial later on, because now the defense has loads of helpful info. They helped the “bad guys” by doing their job better. Can y’all see why an officer wouldn’t even bother? Would just go on to the next easy case instead of staying late and tracking down another witness?

In my past assault and battery cases, it has been just about as common for officers to have spoken to both parties as it was for officers to have only spoken to one party.

Example 2: Reported Property Damage. Girlfriend walks into a police station and says "my boyfriend broke my phone." (In my jurisdiction, a person can just walk straight in front of a judge, swear that what they said was true, and the judge will issue an arrest warrant. This is not true in all jurisdictions and is in fact completely fucking buck wild.) Police ask her a couple questions, look at the phone, bring a warrant, it's done. Maybe they call the boyfriend and ask him what happened. This is most likely the extent of the investigation.

You notice both of these are incredibly low-effort cases that result in easy arrests and immediate prosecutions. Wow, could that help an officer’s statistics? Could it actually hurt his stats if he takes longer and does a better job?

–

Okay, what happens now? The police have a suspect, they (in theory) know what happened.

Next, police seek an arrest warrant.

This involves going before a judge and swearing that there's probable cause to believe that their suspect committed their crime as alleged.

1: The Affidavit. There are very few rules for what they can and can't say in these affidavits to get their search warrants. Police officers can attest/swear to things that other police officers saw, because of "imputed knowledge." They can quote witnesses. They can decline to identify informants, as long as they say that their informant has a history of being reliable. (They do not have to provide any evidence of that history.)

They don't have to include all the facts. They don't have to include facts that contradict their version of events. They're not supposed to lie, but sometimes these affidavits are not provided to defense counsel and are sealed, so the defense can't even find out later what they said. And they can shop around for judges who are the most friendly. If one judge says "no," they can try another.

On top of that, all they have to show is "probable cause." Nobody is willing to put a percentage likelihood on "probable cause," but places tend to agree to things like: if there are four guys in a car and you find drugs where all four could reach it, you have probable cause for all four. It's not that you probably did it. It's more than a suspicion that you did it. In my experience, "probable cause" means that there's literally any reason to believe that this person might have actually done this thing.

2: No-Knock Warrants. The media has made a big deal these days of no-knock warrants and nighttime "warrant service." These are when the police bust into someone's house without announcing themselves, at night, in order to take everyone by surprise. This is horrendously dangerous! And yet, police seem to crave it. They get really, really mad when anyone tries to take it away.

My jurisdiction banned arrest warrants after dark, but didn't do the same for search warrants. Guess when all search warrants seem to get served? Goddamn midnight, that's when.

Furthermore, police seem to be able to request exceptions to the no-knock, daytime only rules. Recently, I saw a case where that exception was granted for the following reason: "drugs can be consumed or sold with great speed so might not be there in the morning." Okay, cool, if that's a good enough reason to dispense with the knock-in-the-daytime requirement for one case, that means that literally every other drug case qualifies for dispensing with that requirement too.

3: When to serve the warrant? After business hours on a Friday, obviously. That means that the person they arrest will be in holding over the whole weekend before getting to see a judge on Monday. That's like forty-eight extra hours of jail time, in which they won't have a lawyer, for police to visit them and try and pressure them into confessing, or just intimidate them into feeling like shit.

4: What happens when warrant is served? The suspect is arrested in whatever they were wearing, sometimes allowed to grab phone and wallet but sometimes not for reasons I can't even attempt to explain, they are driven to the jail, and they are processed in. They then wait until they can see a judicial officer to hear about the question of bond. But that's the subject of the next post!

See tomorrow for information on bail, bond, pretrial supervision, counsel at first appearance, and why it all matters. Edit: Bail and pretrial post here.

[yesornopolls]

The article under the cut

Allies of Elon Musk stationed within the Education Department are considering replacing some contract workers who interact with millions of students and parents annually with an artificial intelligence chat bot, according to internal department documents and communications.

The proposal is part of President Trump’s broader effort to shrink the federal work force, and would mark a major change in how the agency interacts with the public. The Education Department’s biggest job is managing billions of dollars in student aid, and it routinely fields complex questions from borrowers.

The department currently uses both call centers and a rudimentary A.I. bot to answer questions. The proposal would introduce generative A.I., a more sophisticated version of artificial intelligence that could replace many of those human agents.

The call centers employ 1,600 people who field over 15,000 questions per day from student borrowers.

The vision could be a model for other federal agencies, in which human beings are replaced by technology, and behemoth contracts with outside companies are shed or reduced in favor of more automated solutions. In some cases, that technology was developed by players from the private sector who are now working inside or with the Trump administration.

Mr. Musk has significant interest in A.I. He founded a generative A.I. company, and is also seeking to gain control of OpenAI, one of the biggest players in the industry. At other agencies, workers from the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Mr. Musk, have told federal employees that A.I. would be a significant part of the administration’s cost-cutting plans.

A year after the Education Department oversaw a disastrous rollout of a new federal student aid application, longtime department officials say they are open to the idea of seeking greater efficiencies, as have leaders in other federal agencies. Many are partnering with the efficiency initiative.

But Department of Education staff have also found that a 38 percent reduction in funding for call center operations could contribute to a “severe degradation” in services for “students, borrowers and schools,” according to one internal document obtained by The Times.

The Musk associates working inside the Education Department include former executives from education technology and venture capital firms. Over the past several years, those industries have invested heavily in creating A.I. education tools and marketing them to schools, educators and students.

The Musk team at the department has focused, in part, on a help line that is currently operated on a contract basis by Accenture, a consulting firm, according to the documents reviewed by The Times. The call center assists students who have questions about applying for federal Pell grants and other forms of tuition aid, or about loan repayment.

The contract that includes this work has sent more than $700 million to Accenture since 2019, but is set to expire next week.

“The department is open to using tools and systems that would enhance the customer service, security and transparency of data for students and parents,” said Madi Biedermann, the department’s deputy assistant secretary for communications. “We are evaluating all contracts to assess effectiveness relative to costs.”

Accenture did not respond to interview requests. A September report from the Education Department describes 1,625 agents answering 462,000 calls in one month. The agents also handled 118,000 typed chats.

In addition to the call line, Accenture provides a broad range of other services to the student aid system. One of those is Aidan, a more rudimentary virtual assistant that answers basic questions about student aid. It was launched in 2019, during Mr. Trump’s first term.

Accenture reported in 2021 that Aidan fielded 2.2 million messages in one year. But its capabilities fall far short of what Mr. Musk’s associates envision building using generative A.I., according to the internal documents.

Both Mr. Trump and former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. directed federal agencies to look for opportunities to use A.I. to better serve the public.

The proposal to revamp the communication system follows a meltdown in the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, last year under Mr. Biden. As FAFSA problems caused mass confusion for students applying for financial aid, several major contractors, including Accenture, were criticized for breakdowns in the infrastructure available to students and parents seeking answers and help.

From January through May last year, roughly three-quarters of the 5.4 million calls to the department’s help lines went unanswered, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.

More than 500 workers have since been added to the call centers, and wait times were significantly reduced, according to the September Department of Education report.

But transitioning into using generative A.I. for student aid help, as a replacement for some or all human call center workers, is likely to raise questions around privacy, accuracy and equal access to devices, according to technology experts.

Generative A.I. systems still sometimes share information that is false.

Given how quickly A.I. capabilities are advancing, those challenges are potentially surmountable, but should be approached methodically, without rushing, said John Bailey, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former director of educational technology at the Education Department under President George W. Bush.

Mr. Bailey has since become an expert on the uses of A.I. in education.

“Any big modernization effort needs to be rolled out slowly for testing, to see what works and doesn’t work,” he said, pointing to the botched introduction of the new FAFSA form as a cautionary tale.

“We still have kids not in college because of that,” he said.

In recent weeks, the Education Department has absorbed a number of DOGE workers, according to two people familiar with the process, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the department’s security procedures and feared for their jobs.

One of the people involved in the DOGE efforts at the Education Department is Brooks Morgan, who until recently was the chief executive of Podium Education, an Austin-based start-up, and has also worked for a venture capital firm focused on education technology, according to the two people.

Another new staffer working at the agency is Alexandra Beynon, the former head of engineering at Mindbloom, a company that sells ketamine, according to those sources and an internal document.

And a third is Adam Ramada, who formerly worked at a Miami venture capital firm, Spring Tide Capital, which invests in health technology, according to an affidavit in a lawsuit filed against the Department of Government Efficiency.

None of those staffers responded to interview requests.

[tamaaiba]

I’ve been thinking a lot about how so many of the data pearls have faded away in Saint’s campaign.

This is a bit of a longer post

Even in Spearmaster’s campaign, the ancients have been long gone. But so much of the world is still shaped by their influence. The iterators are still around at the very end of their prime, and the memories of the ancients still exist with them, passed onto the slugcats with the mark of communication. Pearls exist as archives of the time of the ancients, with many containing information of the most important aspects of ancient society and history.

And yet, as Saint comes around, the remaining parts of ancient history are at the brink of extinction. The time of the iterators is coming to an end. Ancient architecture is falling apart. Almost every pearl in the retaining wall has faded away, with the exception of two pearls.

One of these is the pearl with the song Halcyon Memories, distorted at this point. This pearl had been preserved by Five Pebbles, playing endlessly as he endures the constant blizzards.

The other is the deep pink pearl in Farm Arrays, which seems like a seemingly random pearl to last at first glance. But there’s some interesting dialogue from Five Pebbles when you show him this pearl in Artificer’s campaign.

“This is pointless. The data is a shipment confirmation to an automated farming plot.

A waste of the crystal memory complex it was printed onto. I would refresh it for use as storage, but the message has been repeatedly burned into the pearl several thousand times. Likely to prevent reuse, or loss of data.”

When you really look at it, both surviving pearls seem really mundane. Any information on void fluid or ascension is gone at this point. All that exists is a song and the confirmation of a shipment of beverages. This seemingly doesn’t tell us anything about ancient society.

But both still exist because of efforts to preserve them. Pebbles had a connection to Halcyon Memories, as it remains as the last memento of the ancients that used to view him as a god.

The message in the bright pink pearl was burned into it over and over again, and it’s interesting to think about why. Looking at the contents of the pearl from Moon, it’s an ancient thanking another community for delivering the nectar. The ancient speaks with sincerity, wishing the community well.

"We hope that the Crops are healthy, and that the Productivity with which your Facility is Blessed, leads (as it often does) to further Prosperity. May Not as long as the Stars stay fixed on their Celestial Spheres Grey Hand, Impure Blood, Inheritable Corruption, Parasites, or malfunction settle in Your establishment."

With all of that being said, it makes me think about the future in the real world. In a thousand years, ten thousand years, one hundred thousand years from now, what bits from our culture will still be around for future civilizations to look back on?

Internet culture has inspired archival to new lengths, to the point where even the most average person is interested in pieces of lost media. We hear about lost shows, movies, songs, etc. all the time, and people will spend months and years trying to locate lost media in order to preserve them and make them accessible to the public.

And in the grand scheme of things, it’s mundane. The lost pilot of a tv show sounds mundane. The source of an unknown piece of music sounds mundane. Specific dubs of a readily accessible show sounds mundane. And yet we care. We spend so much out of our life to locate every piece of mundane history, because to us, it matters.

When Everyone Knows That was found, we cheered, even if we laughed at the source. When a segment of Sesame Street many thought to be creepy was found, we cheered. When an older version of Shrek voiced by Chris Farley was found, we cheered.

All these little bits make up our history. The internet has become the most documented part of human history so far, and so much would be lost if it suddenly stopped existing.

And what if it did? What if parts of our life we see everyday become lost? What if shows like SpongeBob become lost media? What if famous musicians become completely forgotten? Even Rain World itself could be completely lost one day.

We exist now, but we will not always exist. Maybe we evolve. Maybe we die off. Maybe we completely relocate to another planet and Earth becomes a small part of our history.

What mundane parts of our lives will become highly regarded in the far future? What becomes our remaining legacy?

[samueldays]

Sam Reviews: Factorio Space Exploration

That's Space Exploration the factorio mod (played v0.6), not Space Age the factorio expansion coming soon. I have finally completed SE with the cooperation of two friends across 300+ hours, I don't think I would have bothered to finish on my own, but it was a fine reason to hang out and chat. I had fun, but it was very irregular fun between good bits (spaceships!!) and facepalm bits.

It's A Scale Challenge

Space Exploration is a scale challenge, and I lead with this because I find the documentation misleading. On the Getting Started SE wiki page, which is also linked from the SE mod page, it says:

Space Exploration is mostly a complexity challenge and not a scale challenge. It's completely possible to beat the game with only 20SPM, unless you play with a science multiplier. But it'll still be hard!

Similar descriptions abound. However, Space Exploration has individual technologies mandatory for victory that cost more to research than the entire tech tree of the base game up to and including the Rocket victory research.

It's even worse than that sounds.

"Cost more" can be calculated in a quick and dirty way that vanilla Factorio's Rocket Silo victory tech costs 1000 sets of science packs to research.

Its prerequisite Rocket Control Unit costs 300, and so on back down to basic Automation technology costing merely 10, all of which add up to 5750 in total.

Space Exploration has a mandatory 6400-cost tech, some 5000s, a 4000 and a 3200, several 2000-cost techs used as filler in an already overpriced and bloated tech tree, and a 8000-cost (max spaceship size) that's theoretically optional but avoiding it requires you to play Tetris with your size-constrained spaceship layout.

But the numbers are not directly comparable, and the more detailed count makes Space Exploration look even worse. "5750 sets" vanilla includes several early technologies where the set is a subset, even one single science pack, it costs 50 of [Automation Science] for basic technology and gradually fills out to the Rocket Silo costing 1000 of [Automation, Logistics, Chemical, Utility, Production Science] which is a set of 5.

Space Exploration, meanwhile:

Which is 5000 of a set that's twice as large as the largest in basegame, so more like a 10K victory tech compared to the 1K victory tech in basegame.

But that number still isn't a direct comparison, because the multi-striped science packs in there are high tier packs whose ingredients include lower tier science packs that also need to be produced. Deep Space Science 4 (the black stripes) is made with various input resources + a DSS3 pack, which is made with more input resources + a DSS2 pack, and so on. If you count the fifteen intermediate science packs, it's something like a 25K victory tech compared to the 1K in basegame.

There's numerous techs like this. If you ever play Space Exploration, I advise you to slice a zero off everything. Set the tech cost multiplier to one-tenth. It is severely padded.

Pretty Cool Spaceships

Spaceships are of course the big draw of Space Exploration, though they come pretty late in the game, and before them there's two other methods of moving stuff between planets: Cargo rockets and railguns.

The rockets are very fuel-hungry to launch and also "consume" most of their ingredient parts as stages. The delivery railguns can't move fragile objects or players, and are same-solar-system only. (They double as expensive interplanetary weapons!) Spaceships are reusable as long as you keep them refueled, and much more fuel-efficient, as well as being able to mount laser/gun turrets for defense if landing on a hostile planet. You can even put artillery in a spaceship, which my team used to create a very short-distance-hop spaceship that was more like a suborbital bomber/mobile artillery platform for clearing the hostile fauna off our home planet.

Eventually you get spaceships to transport stuff at custom speed and scale between planets, with the ability to build and design your own. Then, the ability to set spaceship automation with docking clamps and the circuit network, and can give a spaceship instructions amounting to "go to planet X and wait until your onboard storage has 40K Cryonite, go to planet Y and wait until your onboard storage has 0 Cryonite and your fuel tank is refilled". It's the Factorio experience of automating stuff you were manually handling before, but at the much larger scale of interplanetary transport.

Here is my mini-spaceship for personal transport between planets, used to go over and tinker with things, has a few chests but doesn't take bulk cargo:

The side notch is to help me align the refueling underground pipes.

The Mod Maker Is A Control Freak

In the base game you have the opportunity to research Logistics Robots, small flying drones that carry items around for you, making automated transport more convenient so you no longer have to weave together transport belts, underground belts, railroad tracks and other physically connected means of item movement in the infamous "belt spaghetti".

Space Exploration comes with a mandatory dependency on the Robot Attrition mod, which makes logistics robots randomly collide and explode destructively if you're using more than 50 of them. (There's more than 50 item types in SE, so you will want far more than 50 logistics robots.) You can't not include this other mod when playing Space Exploration. There is a game setting which looks like it disables robot attrition, but it actually only disables robot attrition in the starting zone.

"Surely there's another mod which restores robot functionality?" you might ask, since Factorio has a lot of mods. Not that I could find, possibly because Space Exploration is distributed under a "no modding my mod any further" licence, formally the Factorio Mod Limited Distribution Only Licence.

You may make alterations for your own private personal use only. You are not allowed to distribute any content from the mod, or anything altered or derived from this mod with the following exception: You may post partial modified sections of this mod in Earendel's discord https://discord.gg/ymjUVMv for the purpose of providing bug fixes or enhancements.

Binding or not, I think that's an amazingly dick move for your Cool Spaceships mod to degrade some unrelated basegame functionality and tell people they aren't allowed to post a modmod which restores that functionality.

In other control freakery, Space Exploration is flagged as incompatible with infinite resource supply/non-depleting ore patch mods for Factorio, because the SE modder feels it would ruin the intended balance of his mod. It's flagged as incompatible with teleportation mods, to force you to use rocket/spaceship transport. It's flagged as incompatible with waterfill mods to prevent you digging wells where the modder wants to enforce a logistic challenge of delivering water in barrels. It's even flagged as incompatible with some mods that change the stack size of some items, because the modder wants to ensure you are inventory-constrained and pay for logistics.

Bizarrely contrary to the spirit of modding, if you ask me, trying to enforce that the mod is played the specific way one person wants you to play it.

Padding, Filler, and Bloat

It's not just the tech tree that suffers this, it's many aspects of the mod, and I'm going to list enough of them to make this post feel ironically padded.

In regular Factorio, when you put a drill on an iron ore patch, it produces iron ore, which you put in a Furnace to smelt into iron plates.

In Space Exploration, when you put a drill on an iridite ore patch, it produces iridite ore, which you put in a Pulverizer to crush into... a random mix of crushed iridium, stone (waste byproduct), and iridite ore that you have to feed back into the pulverizer and try to crush again.

To me this is something I shouldn't have to interact with in Factorio, it should be pre-automated below my notice. If an input ore is not properly crushed in the crushing machine, the crushing machine should keep crushing it until it's crushed, rather than demanding extra player attention to its one job. Reeeee. I have no interest in my factory's machines having what is effectively a random failure chance at doing their job. There is no upgrade tech or better machine which gets rid of that random failure chance.

It might have been interesting with one processing step whose unique gimmick is a failure chance and a need to filter-loop the output back onto the input, but Space Exploration recycles this recycle gimmick over and over again to pad out different processing steps with "do it again".

-

Speaking of random failure chances...

In regular Factorio, the "science packs" are kinda high-level abstractions. You put together a pair of engines, several electronic circuits, and a handful of sulphur to create "Chemical science", which could be taken to vaguely represent a process of destructively testing or consuming something and measuring it.

In Space Exploration, the advanced sciences are data-driven, which is a cool idea. For example you put together plates of iron, copper, stone, plastic, concrete and iridite with a blank data card to create "Tensile strength data" and recycleable scrap, then you use the data card in another recipe to create "Material science" and also outputs "Junk data card" representing data you've already analyzed and can't learn more from, and then you put the junk data card into a spacecomputer to erase the contents and get back a blank data card again.

It's a neat abstract representation of science involving data collection and material testing, with a reusable computer component and am expended material component, and it's undermined by the fact that erasing junk data has a 30% failure rate. That's the chance that the Super-Engineer Protagonist, with nuclear reactors and supercooled computers, will somehow fail to turn a Junk Data Card into a Blank Data Card and will instead break the card. So the data cards are in practice still expended consumables; you'll need to produce millions of them.

-

In regular Factorio, the various grades and kinds of steel (high carbon, low carbon, stainless, etc) are abstracted into a single "Steel plate" item which has many different uses. Storage chests, trains, power poles, handgrenades, armorplating, automation robots all use the same Steel Plate as ingredient.

This design holds true across the game: items represent broad classes of a material, also machines are multipurpose and an "Assembler" machine can be set to make gears, wire, pipes, or other stuff by configuration. One Assembler turns iron plates into gears. The next Assembler combines gears and more plates into engines. The next Assembler combines engines and more gears into transport belts.

In Space Exploration, there's several machines which only have one use, and there's even items which have less than one use.

The only thing the Xray Observation Telescope does is produce Xray Observation Frame items, the only use for Xray Observation Frame is processing into Xray Observation Data, and the only use for Xray Observation Data is combining it with Microwave Observation Data, Infrared Observation Data etc. to produce Astrometric Science. That's also the sole use for those other Observation Datas. All the different wavelength telescopes, the different observation data items, and the different observation data frame items collectively serve one purpose when put together, so I count them as having a fractional use each. Someone call an editor, fucking cut these.

-

In regular Factorio, drills on a copper patch produce 1 Copper Ore per production cycle, which smelts into 1 Copper Plate.

In Space Exploration, drills on a beryl patch produce 1 Beryl Ore per production cycle, and 20 Beryl Ore smelts into 1 Beryllium plate.

(both ratios can be improved somewhat with Productivity Modules in your furnaces)

Which brings me back to the extremely overcosted science packs, because that blue-striped Astronomic Science Pack that you need 5000 of for the rocket victory? Its cost in raw materials for a set of 8 looks like this:

displaying 580 beryl plates instead of the 5800 ore needed, 725 per pack, plus some more for the data cards that don't calculate raw material correctly, adding yet another multiplier layer of bloated tech cost. I am infuriated by whoever wrote "not a scale challenge" on the Scale Challenge Mod which asks you to mine millions of ore to research a single technology.

Arcospheres

I have another post on these, so I'll keep it short: There is a type of special item necessary to win the game, which are only available in limited supply, which you can permanently lose by accident or bad luck.

The available supply is several times larger than what's needed to win, so I wasn't actually threatened by this, but I dislike it on principle.

Also, they're spoiler-enforced by the control freak modder who keeps the helpful information off the official discord, wiki, and mod page.

Verdict: Thumbs Down

I was suckered into this partly because I believed the "not a scale challenge" advertisement when my friend group was considering what to play next, and I regret it. Halfway through we felt it starting to drag, but we were having fun and community and spite so we powered through. This is a reason I have emphasised the bloat so much in my review. This mod really, really needs an editor to cut down numbers and cut out items and simplify processes so you can get to the Fun Spaceships part without so many Mine Literally Million Ore part.

[ahleidreams]

my lexicon apparatus

one of my main priorities in conlanging from the start is creating a sense of a rich etymological history. that kind of fractal complexity is fiendishly hard to keep track of though (especially for me), and the lexicon apps i've tried in the past haven't really served my purposes, so i've been working on this ridiculous tool in Sheets to keep track of my etymologies without regard to the actual word forms. this would be so much easier if i knew how to do software design but eh. anyway i thought i'd share a bit on how it works.

first i have a basic sheet just for inputting proto roots. i'm very non-committal about my word forms at this stage; many are still blank and most that aren't were auto-generated by Monke (which is great btw). most important is the keyword, which is how i look up entries.

under the hood i have a sheet sorted by keyword which is where the actual lookup happens.

here's where the magic happens. on this sheet i can just build forms using up to three etymon (haven't needed a fourth yet). i just enter the keyword for each etymon into the dropdowns and it looks up the rest of the form, then auto generates a new form that just concatenates the three morphs. this auto-generated form will be the output unless i override it, as we'll see next.

moving right to left, we see how the output is generated: by default, it just outputs the entry data of etymon 1, since in most cases we're only dealing with one morph. however i can use the checkboxes here to enable manual input for the new form. in this image we have a few compound words being created which naturally have new meanings, so we input them manually. it will use the auto-concatenated form unless i need direct control over how the concatenation happens, or in the case of reduplication (i'm not gonna try to automate reduplication). i haven't used the "intermediate forms" columns so much, but it's there just to write notes for irregular sound changes. the "export" columns are the final forms that get sent to their own sheet, again, sorted by keyword. also, this whole time, we've been building up (in hidden columns) a string of text that lets me visually see a summary of the etymology. this gets exported to the sorted sheet as well.

and this process is recursive, i have copies of this sheet for the other stages of my language that take in the data from the previous one.

. . .UNFORTUNATELY . . .

even when using only native Sheets functions, this process can be INCREDIBLY slow. i've split my data into five documents so far, but it only helps so much. it also means i have to manually copy/paste the export data from one document to another all down the line which is more than a little tiresome.

but i think what i have to show for it is more than worth it so far. the modern lexicon has some 200+ entries right now (nowhere near the ~10,000 it would need to be, like, a real language, but a good start). what's more, the forms retain the memory of their etymological history, so i can have forms like this:

that final column is the summary string that's been automatically built up over each stage of the language (though it's less complicated than it looks and the parentheses don't nest properly yet), but i can just look at it and see that this word is the imperfective stem of a transitive verb that means "return" (which is made using a no-longer productive causative suffix on an intransitive root), all with a dative suffix. and i don't have to remember that, and i can change the word forms whenever i please.

this is my most recent addition, which is just a little sheet where i can make sentences and visually see how it breaks up. i've been writing a little fable (which is something i *highly* recommend trying btw, i've made *so* much progress on my lang this way), but i sometimes make mistakes and sometimes forget how the sentence is put together, so having a visual aid like this i think will help me a lot.

it's not a perfect system. the hardest part i think is how slow it is, but it also sucks that when i change a form it can't exactly notify me about everything that will be affected by doing that, especially if i've manually entered a form at some point in that chain. the summary columns make these glitches easy to catch though.

overall this tool has been serving me well, and likely will continue to, so long as it runs at a tolerable speed.

[jcmarchi]

Laurence Sotsky, Founder and CEO of Incentify – Interview Series

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/laurence-sotsky-founder-and-ceo-of-incentify-interview-series/

Laurence Sotsky, Founder and CEO of Incentify – Interview Series

Laurence Sotsky is Incentify’s CEO and oversees all business and technical operations. He is a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience leading high-growth companies and driving innovation in the SaaS application sector. As an accomplished CEO, he has successfully built and managed high-performing organizations, has extensive international experience and has led three prior organizations to successful exits.

Before Incentify, Laurence was the CEO and Founder of Hopscotch, a venture-backed SaaS platform specializing in mobile application development for the sports and entertainment industry.

Incentify is a software platform that helps organizations manage and optimize their tax credits and incentives (C&I) at scale. It offers tools for identifying, tracking, and maximizing federal, state, and local incentives, including those related to hiring, capital investments, and sustainability. The platform integrates with enterprise systems to streamline compliance and reporting, aiming to uncover missed opportunities and drive measurable financial impact.

What does Incentify do, and how does your platform help businesses unlock and manage tax credits and incentives?

Incentify is the leading software platform for discovering, optimizing, and managing tax credits and incentives (C&I). Our AI-powered suite enables corporations, advisors, and accounting firms to fully realize the value of incentive portfolios—without drowning in complexity. Whether you’re identifying credits, managing compliance workflows, or scaling across hundreds of locations, Incentify turns what was once a manual, opaque process into a streamlined, data-driven advantage.

How much capital is currently going unclaimed in the tax credit and incentive (C&I) space, and why is this such a widespread issue?

According to White House estimates, more than $140 billion in federal tax incentives go unclaimed each year—never even applied for. And that’s just the beginning. When you factor in missed opportunities at the state and local levels, and incentives left on the table due to compliance breakdowns, the total climbs to multiple hundreds of billions annually. Most organizations lack the systems and expertise to navigate a constantly evolving C&I landscape.

Which industries or types of companies are best positioned to benefit from Incentify’s platform?

While virtually every business has access to some form of incentives, the largest gains typically come from three categories:

Labor incentives, for companies hiring or expanding their workforce

Environmental incentives, especially those focused on clean energy and retrofits

Capital expenditure incentives, for organizations investing in infrastructure or R&D

Industries like film, semiconductors, manufacturing, and logistics tend to see outsized benefits—but we’re seeing increasing relevance across professional services, healthcare, and tech as well.

What makes tax credit and incentive management particularly complex without software like Incentify? 

Incentives aren’t automatically granted—they’re earned through strict compliance. Once a credit is identified, companies must meet ongoing documentation, employment, and capital thresholds to qualify. Doing this manually is risky and resource-intensive. Incentify replaces ad hoc processes with automated workflows: each program’s requirements are preloaded, responsible parties are assigned, and the system monitors progress—alerting organizations to gaps before they become compliance failures.

How does Incentify use AI to discover and manage incentives more efficiently than traditional methods?

At the heart of Incentify is a private large language model trained specifically on the tax incentive corpus—billions of dollars’ worth of programs spanning federal, state, and soon municipal levels. Our platform continuously scrapes, interprets, and updates this data in real time. Features like Chat With a Program and Leia, our embedded AI assistant, allow users to interact directly with incentive programs, receive instant guidance, and explore options conversationally.

AI also powers automatic recommendations tailored to company size, industry, and geography—replacing outdated methods with intelligent automation.

Why are corporations, especially CFOs, increasingly turning to tax credits and incentives as a source of capital?

We’re seeing a real shift in how CFOs think about tax credits and incentives. What used to be considered a nice-to-have—too complex, too cumbersome—is now being treated as a serious, strategic source of capital. Specifically, non-dilutive capital that can fund key initiatives without taking on debt or giving up equity.

At the same time, the incentive landscape has expanded dramatically, particularly in areas like clean energy, R&D, and workforce development. These programs aren’t just financial bonuses—they directly align with corporate priorities. And thanks to technology like Incentify, identifying and managing these programs is finally efficient, scalable, and transparent. This isn’t about exploiting tax loopholes—it’s about unlocking capital that was already meant to be used for growth.

What safeguards or compliance features are built into the platform to reduce risk from audits, misfilings, or clawbacks?

Our Optimize product was designed specifically to safeguard against these risks. Once an incentive is loaded into the platform, the key compliance events are mapped out, and the appropriate stakeholders are tagged. If something goes missing—like a form that isn’t filed or a requirement that isn’t met—the system automatically flags it for managers.

We’ve seen business units go from a 40% success rate on incentive compliance to 100% after adopting Incentify.  By embedding accountability into the system, we turn compliance from a liability into a competitive advantage.

Incentify recently raised a $9.5 million Series A. What are your priorities for this capital over the next year? 

This round is all about fueling the next stage of our growth across five major fronts.

First, we’re doubling down on product innovation—especially within Incentify Explore—to make it even easier for users to find and unlock incentives. That includes deep investments in our AI infrastructure, which powers both how we curate data and how we communicate it to users.

Second, we’re focused on technical velocity. In a market moving this fast, continuing to build on our engineering team is critical. Bringing in additional top-tier talent will help us accelerate delivery and continue shipping high-quality features at scale.

Third, we’re putting serious weight behind sales and marketing. Our platform serves Fortune 500s, advisors, and SMBs alike, and this funding enables us to tell our story across all those segments more effectively.

Fourth, data. We’ve already built what we believe is the most comprehensive commercial and industrial incentives dataset in North America—and now we’re expanding that reach globally.

And finally, partnerships. We’ve been quietly developing relationships with some of the world’s largest players, and this capital allows us to support and scale those partnerships with the resources they deserve.

What opportunities do you see for scaling the platform across enterprise and mid-market segments?

As our AI improves, so does scalability. Mid-market businesses don’t have teams of tax attorneys—and they shouldn’t need them to access public funding. Our platform levels the playing field by automating discovery, guiding eligibility, and simplifying compliance. On the enterprise side, we’re seeing multi-billion-dollar companies centralize their entire incentive strategy through Incentify. The goal is the same: eliminate friction, maximize capture.

What’s your long-term vision for Incentify and the role it plays in the corporate finance ecosystem? 

Our long-term vision is for Incentify to be the operating system of the C&I economy. Every company, every advisor, every government agency—collaborating, tracking, and delivering incentives through a single, connected ecosystem. We want to make incentive discovery, application, compliance, and reporting effortless and accessible—no matter the complexity, jurisdiction, or industry. Ultimately, we’re here to ensure that no opportunity is lost, no compliance is missed, and every dollar of public funding does the work it was meant to do.

Thank you for the great inteview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Incentify. 

[virtualgriffinnavigator]

Integrated ZATCA Phase 2 Software

Optimize your Logistics operations with Integrated ZATCA Phase 2 Software. Our Freight management software delivers excellence through intelligent automation, real-time tracking, and comprehensive analytics.

What is Bridge LCS?

Bridge LCS is a powerful logistics software that has gained the trust of businesses in Saudi Arabia. But what exactly is Bridge LCS? In simple terms, it is a comprehensive solution designed to streamline and optimize logistics operations.

With Bridge LCS, you can efficiently manage your inventory, track real-time shipments, and effectively collaborate with suppliers and customers. The software provides all the tools to handle every aspect of logistics seamlessly.

One of the critical features of Bridge LCS is its live shipment tracking software. This allows you to monitor the progress of your shipments at any given time. With this feature, you can quickly identify potential delays or issues and take proactive measures to ensure timely delivery.

Another important feature offered by Bridge LCS is its air cargo management software. This enables you to efficiently handle air freight operations, from booking flights to managing customs clearance procedures. With this software, you can effortlessly navigate complex international regulations and ensure the smooth transportation of goods via air.

Why Choose Bridge LCS?

When it comes to choosing software for logistics, there are many options available in the market. However, one name stands out among the rest – Bridge LCS. With its cutting-edge technology and innovative features, Bridge LCS is the go-to choice for businesses to streamline their logistics operations.

One of the key reasons why you should choose Bridge LCS is its live shipment tracking software. Say goodbye to lost or delayed shipments – with Bridge LCS; you can stay updated on every step of the way.

But that’s not all – Bridge LCS also offers a range of other impressive features, such as inventory management, warehouse management, and transportation management systems. These tools work together seamlessly to optimize logistics processes and improve overall productivity.

In addition to its advanced features, Bridge LCS’s reputation for reliability and trustworthiness is what sets it apart from its competitors. With a solid track record in serving clients across various industries in Saudi Arabia, you can be confident that this software will meet your needs and requirements.

So why choose anything less when you can have the best? Choose Bridge LCS today and experience how it can revolutionize your logistics operations.

How Bridge LCS Can Benefit Your Business

Bridge LCS is a powerful software solution designed specifically for the logistics industry in Saudi Arabia. Its comprehensive features and user-friendly interface offer numerous benefits that significantly enhance your business operations.

One of the key advantages of using Bridge LCS is its live shipment tracking software. This feature lets you track your shipments in real-time, providing accurate information on their location and status. This not only helps you stay updated on the progress of your deliveries but also enables you to provide timely updates to your customers.

Another valuable feature of Bridge LCS is its air cargo management software. This feature streamlines managing air freight by automating booking, documentation, and billing tasks. By simplifying these processes, it helps improve efficiency and reduces errors, saving both time and money for your business. Read more...

[joemardesichcms]

The Future of Commercial Loan Brokering: Trends to Watch!

The commercial loan brokering industry is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing market dynamics, and shifting borrower expectations. As businesses continue to seek financing solutions, brokers must stay ahead of emerging trends to remain competitive. Here are some key developments shaping the future of commercial loan brokering:

1. Rise of AI and Automation

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are revolutionizing loan processing. From AI-driven underwriting to automated document verification, these technologies are streamlining workflows, reducing manual effort, and speeding up loan approvals. Brokers who leverage AI-powered tools can offer faster and more efficient services.

2. Alternative Lending is Gaining Momentum

Traditional banks are no longer the only players in commercial lending. Alternative lenders, including fintech platforms and private lenders, are expanding options for businesses that may not qualify for conventional loans. As a result, brokers must build relationships with non-bank lenders to provide flexible financing solutions.

3. Data-Driven Decision Making

Big data and analytics are transforming how loans are assessed and approved. Lenders are increasingly using alternative data sources, such as cash flow analysis and digital transaction history, to evaluate creditworthiness. Brokers who understand and utilize data-driven insights can better match clients with the right lenders.

4. Regulatory Changes and Compliance Requirements

The commercial lending landscape is subject to evolving regulations. Compliance with federal and state laws is becoming more complex, requiring brokers to stay updated on industry guidelines. Implementing compliance-friendly processes will be essential for long-term success.

5. Digital Marketplaces and Online Lending Platforms

Online lending marketplaces are making it easier for businesses to compare loan offers from multiple lenders. These platforms provide transparency, efficiency, and better loan matching. Brokers who integrate digital platforms into their services can enhance customer experience and expand their reach.

6. Relationship-Based Lending Still Matters

Despite digital advancements, relationship-based lending remains crucial. Many businesses still prefer working with brokers who offer personalized service, industry expertise, and lender connections. Building trust and maintaining strong relationships with both clients and lenders will continue to be a key differentiator.

7. Increased Focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Lending

Sustainability-focused lending is gaining traction, with more lenders prioritizing ESG factors in their financing decisions. Brokers who understand green financing and social impact lending can tap into a growing market of businesses seeking sustainable funding options.

Final Thoughts

The commercial loan brokering industry is undergoing a transformation, with technology, alternative lending, and regulatory changes shaping the future. Brokers who embrace innovation, stay informed on market trends, and continue building strong relationships will thrive in this evolving landscape.

Are you a commercial loan broker? What trends are you seeing in the industry? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

[altaqwaelectric]

Top Tips for Fast and Safe Panel Assembly

Panel assembly is a critical process in the electrical industry that directly impacts safety, performance, and efficiency. Whether you’re building distribution panels, control boards, or switchgear systems, the goal is to assemble panels quickly without compromising safety or quality. In this post, we’ll explore proven tips to help electricians, technicians, and panel builders streamline their workflow while ensuring compliance with safety standards.

1. Plan Thoroughly Before Assembly

Efficiency starts with preparation. Before you begin, study the layout drawings and electrical schematics carefully. Make a checklist of all the required components — circuit breakers, relays, terminal blocks, wire ducts, and enclosures.

· Pre-arrange tools and materials

· Verify component compatibility with design

· Identify high-priority tasks and dependencies

A well-organized plan saves time and avoids costly errors during installation.

2. Use Modular and Pre-Fabricated Components

Using modular devices like DIN-rail mountable circuit breakers or pre-assembled terminal blocks can reduce build time significantly.

Benefits:

· Faster mounting and wiring

· Easier upgrades and replacements

· Reduced wiring complexity

Where possible, opt for plug-and-play components or pre-terminated wiring kits.

3. Maintain a Clean and Organized Work Area

A tidy workstation boosts productivity and prevents mistakes. Use labeled bins, trays, and tool organizers to keep everything accessible.

· Segregate power, control, and signal cables

· Keep fasteners and tools sorted by size/type

· Remove scrap materials and wire offcuts regularly

A clean work area also improves safety and reduces trip hazards.

4. Label Components and Wiring Clearly

Proper labeling speeds up installation and future maintenance. Use heat-resistant wire markers or automated labeling machines for consistency.

Label:

· All wires at both ends

· Control devices (relays, contactors, timers)

· Terminal blocks and busbars

Clear identification is essential for testing, fault isolation, and panel certification.

5. Use the Right Torque Tools

Over- or under-tightened terminals can cause failures or fire risks. Always use torque screwdrivers or wrenches calibrated to the manufacturer’s specifications.

· Ensure solid mechanical and electrical contact

· Reduce the risk of arcing or overheating

· Document torque settings for quality records

Following torque guidelines is a best practice for long-term reliability.

6. Apply Effective Cable Management

Good cable routing isn’t just about aesthetics — it enhances performance and safety.

· Use wire ducts, cable ties, and strain reliefs

· Maintain minimum bend radii, especially for data cables

· Separate AC power and control wiring to avoid interference

Neatly routed cables simplify inspections and future modifications.

7. Conduct Final Visual and Electrical Inspection

Before energizing the panel:

· Inspect all terminations and mounting

· Check for exposed conductors or loose parts

· Test insulation resistance and continuity

· Verify grounding and bonding paths

A comprehensive inspection reduces commissioning delays and ensures compliance with safety standards.

8. Document As-Built Changes

If any field modifications were made during assembly, update the panel drawings and documentation to reflect those changes.

Include:

· Wiring diagrams

· Component serial numbers

· Torque test records

· Electrical test results

Accurate documentation is essential for maintenance, certification, and future upgrades.

9. Train Your Assembly Team

Skilled workers build faster and safer panels. Provide regular training on:

· Electrical safety and lockout/tagout

· Schematic interpretation

· Safe use of hand and power tools

· Latest panel-building standards (e.g., IEC, UL, NEC)

An informed and competent team minimizes rework and enhances build quality.

Final Thoughts

Fast panel assembly doesn’t mean cutting corners. By following structured processes, using the right tools, and prioritizing safety, you can consistently deliver high-quality panels — on time and within budget.

Looking for top-tier switchgear accessories and panel-building solutions? Contact us today to explore how we can support your projects with reliable, efficient, and cost-effective products.

[datapeakbyfactr]

AI’s Role in Business Process Automation

Automation has come a long way from simply replacing manual tasks with machines. With AI stepping into the scene, business process automation is no longer just about cutting costs or speeding up workflows—it’s about making smarter, more adaptive decisions that continuously evolve. AI isn't just doing what we tell it; it’s learning, predicting, and innovating in ways that redefine how businesses operate. 

From hyperautomation to AI-powered chatbots and intelligent document processing, the world of automation is rapidly expanding. But what does the future hold?

What is Business Process Automation? 

Business Process Automation (BPA) refers to the use of technology to streamline and automate repetitive, rule-based tasks within an organization. The goal is to improve efficiency, reduce errors, cut costs, and free up human workers for higher-value activities. BPA covers a wide range of functions, from automating simple data entry tasks to orchestrating complex workflows across multiple departments. 

Traditional BPA solutions rely on predefined rules and scripts to automate tasks such as invoicing, payroll processing, customer service inquiries, and supply chain management. However, as businesses deal with increasing amounts of data and more complex decision-making requirements, AI is playing an increasingly critical role in enhancing BPA capabilities. 

AI’s Role in Business Process Automation 

AI is revolutionizing business process automation by introducing cognitive capabilities that allow systems to learn, adapt, and make intelligent decisions. Unlike traditional automation, which follows a strict set of rules, AI-driven BPA leverages machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision to understand patterns, process unstructured data, and provide predictive insights. 

Here are some of the key ways AI is enhancing BPA: 

Self-Learning Systems: AI-powered BPA can analyze past workflows and optimize them dynamically without human intervention. 

Advanced Data Processing: AI-driven tools can extract information from documents, emails, and customer interactions, enabling businesses to process data faster and more accurately. 

Predictive Analytics: AI helps businesses forecast trends, detect anomalies, and make proactive decisions based on real-time insights. 

Enhanced Customer Interactions: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants provide 24/7 support, improving customer service efficiency and satisfaction. 

Automation of Complex Workflows: AI enables the automation of multi-step, decision-heavy processes, such as fraud detection, regulatory compliance, and personalized marketing campaigns. 

As organizations seek more efficient ways to handle increasing data volumes and complex processes, AI-driven BPA is becoming a strategic priority. The ability of AI to analyze patterns, predict outcomes, and make intelligent decisions is transforming industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. 

“At the leading edge of automation, AI transforms routine workflows into smart, adaptive systems that think ahead. It’s not about merely accelerating tasks—it’s about creating an evolving framework that continuously optimizes operations for future challenges.”

— Emma Reynolds, CTO of QuantumOps

Trends in AI-Driven Business Process Automation 

1. Hyperautomation 

Hyperautomation, a term coined by Gartner, refers to the combination of AI, robotic process automation (RPA), and other advanced technologies to automate as many business processes as possible. By leveraging AI-powered bots and predictive analytics, companies can automate end-to-end processes, reducing operational costs and improving decision-making. 

Hyperautomation enables organizations to move beyond simple task automation to more complex workflows, incorporating AI-driven insights to optimize efficiency continuously. This trend is expected to accelerate as businesses adopt AI-first strategies to stay competitive. 

2. AI-Powered Chatbots and Virtual Assistants 

Chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming increasingly sophisticated, enabling seamless interactions with customers and employees. AI-driven conversational interfaces are revolutionizing customer service, HR operations, and IT support by providing real-time assistance, answering queries, and resolving issues without human intervention. 

The integration of AI with natural language processing (NLP) and sentiment analysis allows chatbots to understand context, emotions, and intent, providing more personalized responses. Future advancements in AI will enhance their capabilities, making them more intuitive and capable of handling complex tasks. 

3. Process Mining and AI-Driven Insights 

Process mining leverages AI to analyze business workflows, identify bottlenecks, and suggest improvements. By collecting data from enterprise systems, AI can provide actionable insights into process inefficiencies, allowing companies to optimize operations dynamically. 

AI-powered process mining tools help businesses understand workflow deviations, uncover hidden inefficiencies, and implement data-driven solutions. This trend is expected to grow as organizations seek more visibility and control over their automated processes. 

4. AI and Predictive Analytics for Decision-Making 

AI-driven predictive analytics plays a crucial role in business process automation by forecasting trends, detecting anomalies, and making data-backed decisions. Companies are increasingly using AI to analyze customer behaviour, market trends, and operational risks, enabling them to make proactive decisions. 

For example, in supply chain management, AI can predict demand fluctuations, optimize inventory levels, and prevent disruptions. In finance, AI-powered fraud detection systems analyze transaction patterns in real-time to prevent fraudulent activities. The future of BPA will heavily rely on AI-driven predictive capabilities to drive smarter business decisions. 

5. AI-Enabled Document Processing and Intelligent OCR 

Document-heavy industries such as legal, healthcare, and banking are benefiting from AI-powered Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and document processing solutions. AI can extract, classify, and process unstructured data from invoices, contracts, and forms, reducing manual effort and improving accuracy. 

Intelligent document processing (IDP) combines AI, machine learning, and NLP to understand the context of documents, automate data entry, and integrate with existing enterprise systems. As AI models continue to improve, document processing automation will become more accurate and efficient. 

Going Beyond Automation

The future of AI-driven BPA will go beyond automation—it will redefine how businesses function at their core. Here are some key predictions for the next decade: 

Autonomous Decision-Making: AI systems will move beyond assisting human decisions to making autonomous decisions in areas such as finance, supply chain logistics, and healthcare management. 

AI-Driven Creativity: AI will not just automate processes but also assist in creative and strategic business decisions, helping companies design products, create marketing strategies, and personalize customer experiences. 

Human-AI Collaboration: AI will become an integral part of the workforce, working alongside employees as an intelligent assistant, boosting productivity and innovation. 

Decentralized AI Systems: AI will become more distributed, with businesses using edge AI and blockchain-based automation to improve security, efficiency, and transparency in operations. 

Industry-Specific AI Solutions: We will see more tailored AI automation solutions designed for specific industries, such as AI-driven legal research tools, medical diagnostics automation, and AI-powered financial advisory services. 

AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s here, and it’s already transforming the way businesses operate. What’s exciting is that we’re still just scratching the surface. As AI continues to evolve, businesses will find new ways to automate, innovate, and create efficiencies that we can’t yet fully imagine. 

But while AI is streamlining processes and making work more efficient, it’s also reshaping what it means to be human in the workplace. As automation takes over repetitive tasks, employees will have more opportunities to focus on creativity, strategy, and problem-solving. The future of AI in business process automation isn’t just about doing things faster—it’s about rethinking how we work all together.

Learn more about DataPeak:

[aithemis]

AITHEMIS: A New Way Of Enhancing Legal Practice in “AI” Way

Is AI a legal threat or a helpful tool? Is it replacing or altering the work of lawyers? You might be surprised by the response.

AI is now a quiet participant in the dance of existence. After initially being reluctant to take the initiative, it now easily guides us through its complexity. It helps us with things we used to think people could only do.

It can change the legal sector, including law firms, in-house attorneys, legal operations, and law schools.

AI is a potent instrument in the legal field that enhances rather than replaces human skill. It increases productivity and offers instant access to large databases, a document visualizer, and a case summarizer, which can help contract review in a few minutes.

But a human touch is still necessary for creativity, nuance, and comprehension of human settings. We should consider AI a friend rather than an adversary attempting to supplant humanity. Many of our problems can be solved by AI as a collaborator, which includes:

Review and Analysis of Documents Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies save time in case law research, contract analysis, and due diligence by quickly scanning hundreds of legal documents and finding relevant information.

Predictive analytics AI can predict legal outcomes by examining past cases. This allows lawyers to make better arguments and advise clients, enhancing strategy and decision- making.

Legal Studies AI tools that efficiently scan legal literature and rulings expedite research, and lawyers can focus. These technologies allow them to retrieve relevant content and concentrate on more crucial tasks quickly.

Contract Management AI-assisted contract management solutions reduce turnaround time and legal problems by accurately drafting, reviewing, and managing contracts while identifying risks and guaranteeing regulatory compliance.

Client Communication & Chatbots AI-driven chatbots respond to client questions and offer updates, enhancing client involvement and freeing legal professionals to focus on intricate case details. Therefore, AI is more likely to assist legal teams in keeping more work in-house than replacing positions. As a result, these teams can more carefully choose which tasks to outsource.

In other words, AI can free experts to concentrate on more creative and intellectually stimulating work — the kind of work that first attracted them to the legal field. One of the most significant effects of AI on the legal sector will probably be these procedures, which can benefit law firms or internal legal departments, as well as the clients and businesses they assist.

AI is having a truly remarkable and revolutionary impact on the legal industry. Law Firm AI Software and AI Case Management System tools are just two examples of how technology may modernize law businesses, promote growth, and enhance client services — it’s not just about automating work.

It is essential to have a reliable tool. The AI they employ must produce accurate and legally binding records, be based on trustworthy legal sources, and indicate where its data originates.

These are the few things to Take Into Account When Collaborating with a Trustworthy AI:

Does the AI platform for legal case summaries work well with your workflow, and is it compatible with your current legal applications?

Does it have the capability to meet legal demands, such as automated case management software?

Does the user interface guarantee that legal professionals can easily use it?

Does the supplier protect sensitive legal data by adhering to strict security and privacy standards?

Can AI be expanded to meet upcoming legal issues and technological advancements?

These factors must be considered when choosing AI for legal work. The quick adoption of AI to automate legal documents evidences a notable trend toward more precise and effective legal processes. In a time when time is of the essence, and legal difficulties are becoming more widespread, people who use and adapt to AI have a better chance of success.

The future of law is not about humans vs. AI but rather about how we can employ both to improve client service and build a more accessible and effective legal system.

With Aithemis, incorporating AI into law is not merely a trend but a revolution in law practice in the twenty-first century.

___________________________________

Follow Aithemis on these online channels.

Website: www.aithemis.ai

Blogs: www.aithemis.ai/blogs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithemis.ai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aithemis