#data fluency | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

harmonysanreads · 6 days ago

Text

— On Phainon's debating skills and the brilliance of the Citizens' Assembly scene in showcasing his character development.

In response to @stickyspeckledlight ’s questions. I've been a regular academic debater for about six years now so, I can't put into words how special Phainon being a debater (and such a good one at that, which we'll get to shortly) is to me. So thank you for giving me the chance to properly yap about this. My original reblog got too long so I had to make a separate post orz. Explanation includes spoilers for HSR 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 Trailblaze quests.

To be honest, listening to that debate for the first time was incredibly nerve wracking for me. It was, as you say, a gamble and it could've gone horribly wrong anywhere.

Something crucial to realize about debates is that, they're less of this rigid exchange of counterarguments and more of a performance. Sure, the validity of your logic matters but, you're also graded on auxiliary things like body language, eye contact, enunciation, idiolect, fluency, manners and how well you can keep your audience hooked.

It is often said that how you make your point matters more than the point itself — because, even the judges won't be listening keenly to what facts and data you're presenting sometimes.

When you accept that debates are like performances, it becomes easier to follow and bend the rules. As well as to have fun. This is something that Anaxa — our Great Performer — understands very well. I bring Anaxa up because I'm pretty sure it was him who taught Phainon this tactic, as mentioned by Phainon in the 3.3 quest, “In the end I remembered a lesson from one of my teachers: In battles where words are weapons, outrage and blind passion often overpower reason.”

Anaxa also says something similar before casting his vote, “You've done well, Phainon. Given the circumstances, delivering a rousing speech to stir up emotions was a prudent move.”

This isn't all made up for the sake of creating drama by the way. I've seen this tactic being used in parliamentary debates, at least in my country. The goal is to stir emotions among your audience (including the judges/jury) in the hopes of securing support, doesn't matter if it's sympathy, rage or something else. This should be in harmony with your logic.

It's... fascinating to watch when executed smoothly. Personally though, this tactic peeves me because, often it's used to divert attention from the fact that your argument isn't strong. It can also feel like an insult to the motion. And straight up calling your opponent irrational/overly emotional in response is classless and can even have your score deducted (which is why I mentioned manners as a criteria). So, you really need to be careful with how you respond to that.

Which brings us to the matter of Phainon calling the Council of Elders “vermin”.

I will not lie, it was incredibly satisfying. But that satisfaction of mine lasted for one glorious second before I became worried. It was the biggest gamble of the entire ordeal. As we later learn in Aglaea's letter to Phainon in 3.3 that a similar call-out gravelly weakened people's faith in Aglaea during the first debate.

The difference is that Aglaea, quite understandably weary from their schemes after all these years, did so in the heat of the moment. While Phainon purposefully used that word and then proceeded to lay out exactly why those people are deserving of being called vermin.

There is a hope placed behind this approach ; even if it upsets a large group of people, it'll leave an impression. And from that impression, people will subconsciously start to think. They'll compare Phainon's argument with their own experiences and from there on, the chances of them voting for the Flame Chase will increase slightly.

The greatest challenge of that arena was the fact that Phainon had to deal with a huge crowd. Making sure they're listening to you is one thing (which he did splendidly by the way) but, getting them to think, in the heat of the collective influence? That is infinitely more difficult. Which is why I concur with Anaxa, using this tactic for this situation, was indeed a prudent move.

There is another important development in Phainon's character that blossoms through this debate. The quality of Phainon that Aglaea has always complimented him on is his ability to sincerely connect with everyone in a way that she can't. However, this was also the quality that he'd struggled to wield.

See, Phainon doesn't really trust himself. And his lack of trust in himself unknowingly contributes to his doubt in others. Why? Because when you can't trust yourself, you'll constantly second guess your choices and your potential. You won't be able to believe it even if the people you look up to compliment you. As such, you won't be sure about your decision to lend your trust to someone.

Which is why, there is so much emphasis on Phainon vocalizing ‘unshakable faith’, and resolutely trusting his comrades and the people of Amphoreus in 3.3 instead of him gaining new powers or something.

That quality is what makes him worthy of World-bearing, separates him from other heroes and brings him closer to the image of Deliverer envisioned by everyone. We see glimpses of him starting to understand this during the debate.

First of all, the beginning. “As you (citizens of Okhema) look upon me, so too do I see you.”

This is an excellent opening. The words used are simple, echo easily and do not clash with each other. They include the audience, acknowledge their attention and establish a primary connection between the speaker and the audience all in one sentence.

Then, he stops people from thinking about the fate of the world and implores them to really think about the gravity of their situation. But he doesn't just explain why the Black Tide is dangerous, no no. He talks about his own, personal experience with the Black Tide, baring his heart, for the very first time in front of so many people.

The strongest connections are forged in shared vulnerability. Even if people can't empathize or offer sympathy for him, they'll still be reminded of their own experiences, or perhaps the experience of someone they know. Strengthening the primary connection.

When a citizen objects to this by asking why Okhema still remains peaceful, it's as if Phainon had been expecting that question. He uses it to not only defend Aglaea but to also present the corruption within Okhema and to drop that bomb.

It should be mentioned that Phainon does not include mind blowing new information in his speech, he only reiterates the truth that most citizens had forgotten in a concise manner.

And he closes his speech with great humility. It's obvious that Phainon really thought it through and had a mental roadmap of his speech (since we can clearly divide it into sections) but, I don't know why, perhaps it's the voice acting on this section, I felt like the ending was improvised by him.

As in, you get this feeling that he finally understood what exactly his role was within the debate and changed his closing to that of a promise at the nick of time. Not to mention the roundabout way Phainon asks Anaxa this question before he steps onto the stage, “Is Aglaea making the right decision by entrusting the fate of the world to me?”

To which Anaxa answers, “Flip your perspective and ask yourself this instead: What should I do to ensure that the world doesn't stray from the correct path?”

And Phainon does figure out what he should do, which isn't wrestling with words to gain votes by the way. It's having the backbone to trust the people he'll lead. And I think you can feel this shift in thinking within the speech itself.

The tonal shifts throughout the speech is perfect as well. He starts slow, lets people adjust to his voice and until that citizen poses that question, maintains an empathetic tone. He goes from reminiscent to distraught when mentioning his past but does not break into tears. The frustration and the disdain when he talks about the Council of Elders isn't out of control, even if it may seem like he was momentarily swept up in those emotions. As he was able to circle back to the tone he used in the beginning to close his argument.

But of course, this doesn't work like magic against all of those people, as the number of votes received by both sides were equal until Anaxa broke the impasse — which I think is very realistic. Had Phainon not taken the risk, the Flame Chase would've most likely seen a shameful defeat.

This whole performance was incredibly difficult to execute for Phainon, not only due to the dire circumstances but also because I suspect that this isn't his usual style. We have some crumbs about how Phainon performs in academic debates from memory fragments.

As you can see, he's very quick to catch loopholes and traps, he's also not reckless and does not hesitate to play it safe if he has to.

But in the debate against the Council of Elders, he had to be reckless and he couldn't play it safe. He was out of his comfort zone in more ways than one and yet, he managed to perform excellently. This showcases the versatility of Phainon's character that was only mentioned by a select few thus far.

In conclusion, Phainon is an excellent debater, orator and public speaker precisely because of this flexibility of his.

Honestly, we must applaud the writing team, translation team and the voice of Phainon (I've only listened to the English voice-over so I'm unsure if all these subtleties are still observable in other languages) for bringing this scene to life. Especially with such limited movement and facial expressions. Even I didn't know there was so much to talk about until I began writing this.

#all of that just to make phainon a fictional character smh #but yes this was the scene i was most hyped for when the 3.2 trailer dropped and still my favorite out of everything in 3.2 #definitely in my top three Amphoreus moments #now if you'll excuse me i'll proceed to daydream about what phainon would think of my... evaluation #i don't know maybe he'd challenge me to a debate on the points i presented just for the sake of it or something #which i'd gladly take on btw #but for now.. a girl can dream 😔💔#phainon #phainon hsr #hsr phainon #hsr #honkai star rail #honkai star rail phainon #phainon honkai star rail #character analysis #harmony simps

146 notes · View notes

jamescanningauthor · 2 months ago

Text

My Blood Meridian Headcanons Masterpost, order of appearance

Under the cut, see here for my collection of every physical description (or lack thereof) for each major character

The Kid

refuses to shave his shitty teenager mustache wispy silliness and is in denial about how unfinished it is (except for the one time he was kind of made to for a formal occasion)

never can really grow a proper beard, even in middle age, always patchy

bites his nails

light brown, mouse-colored hair

blue eyes

freckles

never had a proper haircut til Chihuahua due to childhood neglect

matted hair before and later after

5.1ft/1.55448m (childhood malnutrition)

Holden

abnormally unaffected by alcohol but consumes it anyway as a social thing

walking around naked was initially a result of him just being incalculably ancient (pre-clothes) and having no internalized sense of modesty due to this, but this soon became a power play similar to Lyndon Baines Johnson's behavior (look up LBJ Jumbo)

everyone's teeth are pretty disgusting, except for his, which are unusually pristine

he maintains his teeth with chewing-sticks and rinses with urine (both of these are ancient practices that are proven to be effective, albeit repulsive to modern sensibilities)

every item of clothing he wears is tailored (otherwise, how would anything fit him?), and his footwear is custom-made (meaning they have distinct lefts and rights to begin with, unlike many premade and military-issued footwear at the time, which had to be broken in and developed lefts and rights over time being worn)

files his nails meticulously and often, keeping them uniformly oval

has gone by the forenames Abernathy and William at times

knows classical Latin not just in the phrases he uses but to the extent of fluency, as well as classical Greek and Hebrew (common scholarly pursuits for men of means at the time)

red-pink eyes

Toadvine

surprisingly low alcohol tolerance

limited mobility in the areas of his face near where he was branded, the skin just doesn't stretch, resulting in limited expression

the sides of his head are not completely flat, he has lumpy bits of flesh and cartilage where his ears were unevenly cut and burn scars from when the wounds were cauterized

due to the burns from cauterizing, his hearing is slightly affected, but generally clear, and he makes up for it by being observant to the slightest sound

he only grew his hair long after his ears were docked, more to push it back and jumpscare people with his ear stumps than out of any insecurity (ego death long ago)

from Kentucky (the surname Toadvine is most common there, and he has canonically never seen the sea until the chapter where he visits California)

black-brown eyes

6.1ft/1.85928m

born 1821

Glanton

files his nails carelessly and somewhat square just so they don't get long and break

knee problems that he just tries to tough out, but he massages them at night when he thinks no one sees

Irish ancestry (his surname is most common in the US as well as Ireland, where it is rare and held only by Catholics, according to census data)

from Georgia (his surname is most common there)

long eyelashes

5.5ft/1.6764m

born 1804

White Jackson

Cajun, looks down on Creoles of color, valuing his culture higher and fearing being lumped in with Creoles of color (Cajuns in Louisiana are Creole, but not all Creoles are Cajun, Cajuns are a White, French-speaking ethnic group descended from settlers in Acadia, Canada from primarily West-Central France who were forced out of Canada by the British, many eventually resettling in Louisiana)

his name at birth was Jean (French variant of John), but others say it as John

his family was poor, and he was looked down on for being Cajun

his aggressive racism is a result of deep insecurity and a need to feel superior (NOT JUSTIFYING, JUST THEORIZING MOTIVATION)

from Louisiana (his surname was most frequent in the US there according to 1880 census data)

thick, dark brown hair

medium brown eyes

5.7ft/1.73736m

born 1824

Black Jackson

self-emancipated at a very young age by escaping to the West

he was given a stupid, humiliating literary name (common at the time) and was unimaginative, so he changed it for John

gave himself his surname too, ironically out of admiration for Andrew Jackson, who he knew little about but he had heard propaganda about him and did not know Jackson had a plantation, having heard of him as a rugged man of the people from the frontier and the scourge of Natives, nothing more

you just know he was ashy and unmoisturized and didn't know how to take care of his hair, so he just cut it short

resents Christianity (see: his drunken threat to shoot the ass off of Jesus Christ) due to it being used as justification of slavery, and the Bible being used to sell the idea that being Black was the mark of Cain or something

never talks about his past, as it would just be used as ammunition against him

illiterate (as per Southern law), too proud to admit it, let alone ask anyone to teach him

whip scars, though not as severe as some well-known images

5.8ft/1.76784m

born 1828

Bathcat

surprisingly low alcohol tolerance too

cuts the whites of his nails with a knife, which is careful and practiced, never bleeds from it

bi, see that one scene where he was asleep with his arm around one of the musicians

ear necklace made Toadvine flinch just slightly before he could catch himself when they first met

Bathcat, noticing Toadvine's lack of ears, torments him with it initially but gives up when Toadvine shows no reaction after the first

the offense he was sent to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania/Lutruwita) for was S/A or similar

his hand injury is from unsafe working conditions when performing unpaid prison labor

his eye injury is the result of violence from another inmate

realized he was into men too in prison and just saw it as a natural result of separation from women

tonedeaf (cannot distinguish musical notes by ear or repeat/carry a tune)

knows some Welsh from his childhood, mostly songs and expressions

naturally thin, blond hair

grey-blue eyes

5.7ft/1.73736m

born 1807

sent to Van Diemen's Land 1829

Tobin

raised as a charity case by the Church rather than by family at times

former choir boy, still sings and hums when he thinks no one can hear

quit seminary due to struggling with celibacy and certain moral things justified in the Bible that seem contradictory to restrictions for Priests, as well as the Bible being used as justification for slavery

closest thing Black Jackson has to a friend in the gang

bad back

after he disappeared from the narrative, he returned to ministry

he no longer believed after everything he had seen, but wanted to provide aid and comfort regardless

from Massachusetts (his name is most common there in the US)

greying, balding ginger hair

blue eyes

needs reading glasses

5.8ft/1.76784m

born 1803

David Brown

from what became Arkansas (canonically never saw an ocean before he went to California)

blond

hazel eyes

nearsighted (things that are further are less clear)

5.6ft/1.70688m

born 1818

James Robert Bell

severe Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, his older brother has a more mild form which is visible in subtle features but not significantly disabling, their mother's alcoholism worsened by the time she had James

his mother died as a complication of alcoholism

his consumption of fecal matter is a result of having been starved in the past (see: Blanche Monnier)

his brother trimmed his nails for him so he wouldn't hurt himself or others

Holden did not, but watched Bell at all times for entertainment, as Holden did not sleep, and would physically prevent severe harm (to prolong his entertainment)

muscular atrophy due to being kept in a cage, resulting in posture and movement difficulties, as well as exhaustion (see: the "Genie" child neglect case)

his being drawn to the river and to fire was not mere curiosity but a desire for death

thin, dark brown hair

born 1830

79 notes · View notes

anthonsgi · 2 years ago

Text

★’･ﾟ:｡･:*:HSR Men random bf!headcanons:｡･:*:･ﾟ’★

【Note: Hello! I have decided to write short headcanons for a few men in this game [playable only, sorry Oleg simps (*_ _)人], excuse any fluency errors, English isn't my first language, and I am still learning as I go! Please enjoy, and don't hesitate to request anything; I'm open to suggestions!】

【Pairings: Dan Heng, Gepard, Jing Yuan x GN!READER】

【CW: none!】

☆〜DAN HENG〜☆

He enjoys your company even if you two aren't speaking; simply being aware of your presence near him when he's focused on something insignificant, like reading a book, relaxes him.

Definitely has a soft spot for you and lets go of his usual cold and reserved demeanor when you two are alone.

There have been a few instances of him unconsciously beaming at you as he got lost in thought, looking at your excited face while you rambled about something you're passionate about. He'd never admit to it, though, if you called him out on it.

Prefers to be the big spoon mainly because he loves the feeling of your back pressing against his chest when your breathing slows as you fall asleep.

However, he appreciates it if you ask to be the big spoon whenever he has a nightmare or one of his visions.

He has little relationship experience [renheng ＼(º □ º l|l)/], so as committed as he is to making you feel loved and appreciated, he searches the data bank in the archives for information on romantic gestures and comes across a book about the significance of pet names. After "educating" himself more, he may refer to you as "my love," "darling," or even "baby" if he's feeling particularly lovey-dovey.

Dan Heng isn't a jealous boyfriend; nevertheless, if something bothers him, he becomes touchy! Always holding your arm or wrapping his hand around your waist.

Haven only just awakened, he's such a sleepy cutie! He'd try to kiss you but miss and peck your chin instead.

☆〜GEPARD〜☆

He's an exceptionally blushy guy, and it's pretty simple to make him flustered. Just hold his hand, and he'll melt.

No matter how long you've been together, Gepard loves to kiss but will never do it without getting your consent first. His kisses are short and gentle, but they are also tender and reassuring, given that he frequently cups your face in his hands.

Even though this guy evidently struggles to keep his plants alive, he will make every effort to grow a lovely flower as a gift for you.

He attracts kids like a magnet; some of them aspire to be captains like him, and it's the cutest thing ever to see him grow nervous as they shower him with compliments and questions.

Sometimes he'd find you asleep on the couch, and he'd pick you up bridal style and carry you to bed carefully so as not to wake you.

Oftentimes, Gepard's responsibilities prevent him from spending time with you, but he always strives to make up for it.

Used a cheesy pickup line once and never tried it again after feeling the second-hand embarrassment.

He always looks for a way to impress you with his strength.

☆〜JING YUAN〜☆

His duty as General usually keeps him occupied with work stuff, so when you pay him a visit during the day, he'll light up almost instantly and he'll be in a good mood.

You have to constantly kick him (gently or with force depending on how much sleep he has robbed you of) so he can turn to the other side and stop snoring.

When writing about his day in his diary, he always mentions the instances where something reminded him of you. (Spoiler alert: the majority of his day description is him adoring your facial features).

Jing Yuan's kisses are typically quick, although if he's feeling exceptionally touch-deprived, he prefers deeper, longer kisses.

If you decide to move in with him, it will be incredibly domestic; you would prepare each other's favorite drinks and meals just the way you like them without needing to ask, and you will share each other's clothes and accessories on a daily basis.

Routine, even if secure, can be exhausting, and he finds himself trapped in one. Therefore, Jing Yuan appreciates it when you try new things with him and make him feel like he can breathe freely again. Without worrying about any boring responsibilities, just you and him spending time together. Those are his most treasured moments.

He's very protective of you. Secretly that is. It might seem that he's not that bothered by the times you may have spent a while longer on an errand or went exploring, but he's actually worried! Sometimes to the point of sending someone to go look for you, just to be sure you're all safe and sound.

Has asked you to massage his back on multiple ocassions after a particularly tiring day.

#honkai star rail x reader #honkai star rail x male reader #dan heng x reader #dan heng x y/n #dan heng x you #dan heng x gender neutral reader #dan heng x male reader #gepard x you #gepard x male reader #gepard x reader #gepard x gender neutral reader #jing yuan x you #jing yuan x male reader #jing yuan x y/n #jing yuan x reader #honkai star rail x gender neutral reader #honkai star rail x female reader #honkai star rail #honkai x reader

1K notes · View notes

canmom · 3 months ago

Text

oh no she's talking about AI some more

to comment more on the latest round of AI big news (guess I do have more to say after all):

chatgpt ghiblification

trying to figure out how far it's actually an advance over the state of the art of finetunes and LoRAs and stuff in image generation? I don't keep up with image generation stuff really, just look at it occasionally and go damn that's all happening then, but there are a lot of finetunes focusing on "Ghibli's style" which get it more or less well. previously on here I commented on an AI video model generation that patterned itself on Ghibli films, and video is a lot harder than static images.

of course 'studio Ghibli style' isn't exactly one thing: there are stylistic commonalities to many of their works and recurring designs, for sure, but there are also details that depend on the specific character designer and film in question in large and small ways (nobody is shooting for My Neighbours the Yamadas with this, but also e.g. Castle in the Sky does not look like Pom Poko does not look like How Do You Live in a number of ways, even if it all recognisably belongs to the same lineage).

the interesting thing about the ghibli ChatGPT generations for me is how well they're able to handle simplification of forms in image-to-image generation, often quite drastically changing the proportions of the people depicted but recognisably maintaining correspondence of details. that sort of stylisation is quite difficult to do well even for humans, and it must reflect quite a high level of abstraction inside the model's latent space. there is also relatively little of the 'oversharpening'/'ringing artefact' look that has been a hallmark of many popular generators - it can do flat colour well.

the big touted feature is its ability to place text in images very accurately. this is undeniably impressive, although OpenAI themeselves admit it breaks down beyond a certain point, creating strange images which start out with plausible, clean text and then it gradually turns into AI nonsense. it's really weird! I thought text would go from 'unsolved' to 'completely solved' or 'randomly works or doesn't work' - instead, here it feels sort of like the model has a certain limited 'pipeline' for handling text in images, but when the amount of text overloads that bandwidth, the rest of the image has to make do with vague text-like shapes! maybe the techniques from that anthropic thought-probing paper might shed some light on how information flows through the model.

similarly the model also has a limit of scene complexity. it can only handle a certain number of objects (10-20, they say) before it starts getting confused and losing track of details.

as before when they first wired up Dall-E to ChatGPT, it also simply makes prompting a lot simpler. you don't have to fuck around with LoRAs and obtuse strings of words, you just talk to the most popular LLM and ask it to perform a modification in natural language: the whole process is once again black-boxed but you can tell it in natural language to make changes. it's a poor level of control compared to what artists are used to, but it's still huge for ordinary people, and of course there's nothing stopping you popping the output into an editor to do your own editing.

not sure the architecture they're using in this version, if ChatGPT is able to reason about image data in the same space as language data or if it's still calling a separate image model... need to look that up.

openAI's own claim is:

We trained our models on the joint distribution of online images and text, learning not just how images relate to language, but how they relate to each other. Combined with aggressive post-training, the resulting model has surprising visual fluency, capable of generating images that are useful, consistent, and context-aware.

that's kind of vague. not sure what architecture that implies. people are talking about 'multimodal generation' so maybe it is doing it all in one model? though I'm not exactly sure how the inputs and outputs would be wired in that case.

anyway, as far as complex scene understanding: per the link they've cracked the 'horse riding an astronaut' gotcha, they can do 'full glass of wine' at least some of the time but not so much in combination with other stuff, and they can't do accurate clock faces still.

normal sentences that we write in 2025.

it sounds like we've moved well beyond using tools like CLIP to classify images, and I suspect that glaze/nightshade are already obsolete, if they ever worked to begin with. (would need to test to find out).

all that said, I believe ChatGPT's image generator had been behind the times for quite a long time, so it probably feels like a bigger jump for regular ChatGPT users than the people most hooked into the AI image generator scene.

of course, in all the hubbub, we've also already seen the white house jump on the trend in a suitably appalling way, continuing the current era of smirking fascist political spectacle by making a ghiblified image of a crying woman being deported over drugs charges. (not gonna link that shit, you can find it if you really want to.) it's par for the course; the cruel provocation is exactly the point, which makes it hard to find the right tone to respond. I think that sort of use, though inevitable, is far more of a direct insult to the artists at Ghibli than merely creating a machine that imitates their work. (though they may feel differently! as yet no response from Studio Ghibli's official media. I'd hate to be the person who has to explain what's going on to Miyazaki.)

google make number go up

besides all that, apparently google deepmind's latest gemini model is really powerful at reasoning, and also notably cheaper to run, surpassing DeepSeek R1 on the performance/cost ratio front. when DeepSeek did this, it crashed the stock market. when Google did... crickets, only the real AI nerds who stare at benchmarks a lot seem to have noticed. I remember when Google releases (AlphaGo etc.) were huge news, but somehow the vibes aren't there anymore! it's weird.

I actually saw an ad for google phones with Gemini in the cinema when i went to see Gundam last week. they showed a variety of people asking it various questions with a voice model, notably including a question on astrology lmao. Naturally, in the video, the phone model responded with some claims about people with whatever sign it was. Which is a pretty apt demonstration of the chameleon-like nature of LLMs: if you ask it a question about astrology phrased in a way that implies that you believe in astrology, it will tell you what seems to be a natural response, namely what an astrologer would say. If you ask if there is any scientific basis for belief in astrology, it would probably tell you that there isn't.

In fact, let's try it on DeepSeek R1... I ask an astrological question, got an astrological answer with a really softballed disclaimer:

Individual personalities vary based on numerous factors beyond sun signs, such as upbringing and personal experiences. Astrology serves as a tool for self-reflection, not a deterministic framework.

Ask if there's any scientific basis for astrology, and indeed it gives you a good list of reasons why astrology is bullshit, bringing up the usual suspects (Barnum statements etc.). And of course, if I then explain the experiment and prompt it to talk about whether LLMs should correct users with scientific information when they ask about pseudoscientific questions, it generates a reasonable-sounding discussion about how you could use reinforcement learning to encourage models to focus on scientific answers instead, and how that could be gently presented to the user.

I wondered if I'd asked it instead to talk about different epistemic regimes and come up with reasons why LLMs should take astrology into account in their guidance. However, this attempt didn't work so well - it started spontaneously bringing up the science side. It was able to observe how the framing of my question with words like 'benefit', 'useful' and 'LLM' made that response more likely. So LLMs infer a lot of context from framing and shape their simulacra accordingly. Don't think that's quite the message that Google had in mind in their ad though.

I asked Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking (the small free Gemini variant with a reasoning mode) the same questions and its answers fell along similar lines, although rather more dry.

So yeah, returning to the ad - I feel like, even as the models get startlingly more powerful month by month, the companies still struggle to know how to get across to people what the big deal is, or why you might want to prefer one model over another, or how the new LLM-powered chatbots are different from oldschool assistants like Siri (which could probably answer most of the questions in the Google ad, but not hold a longform conversation about it).

some general comments

The hype around ChatGPT's new update is mostly in its use as a toy - the funny stylistic clash it can create between the soft cartoony "Ghibli style" and serious historical photos. Is that really something a lot of people would spend an expensive subscription to access? Probably not. On the other hand, their programming abilities are increasingly catching on.

But I also feel like a lot of people are still stuck on old models of 'what AI is and how it works' - stochastic parrots, collage machines etc. - that are increasingly falling short of the more complex behaviours the models can perform, now prediction combines with reinforcement learning and self-play and other methods like that. Models are still very 'spiky' - superhumanly good at some things and laughably terrible at others - but every so often the researchers fill in some gaps between the spikes. And then we poke around and find some new ones, until they fill those too.

I always tried to resist 'AI will never be able to...' type statements, because that's just setting yourself up to look ridiculous. But I will readily admit, this is all happening way faster than I thought it would. I still do think this generation of AI will reach some limit, but genuinely I don't know when, or how good it will be at saturation. A lot of predicted 'walls' are falling.

My anticipation is that there's still a long way to go before this tops out. And I base that less on the general sense that scale will solve everything magically, and more on the intense feedback loop of human activity that has accumulated around this whole thing. As soon as someone proves that something is possible, that it works, we can't resist poking at it. Since we have a century or more of science fiction priming us on dreams/nightmares of AI, as soon as something comes along that feels like it might deliver on the promise, we have to find out. It's irresistable.

AI researchers are frequently said to place weirdly high probabilities on 'P(doom)', that AI research will wipe out the human species. You see letters calling for an AI pause, or papers saying 'agentic models should not be developed'. But I don't know how many have actually quit the field based on this belief that their research is dangerous. No, they just get a nice job doing 'safety' research. It's really fucking hard to figure out where this is actually going, when behind the eyes of everyone who predicts it, you can see a decade of LessWrong discussions framing their thoughts and you can see that their major concern is control over the light cone or something.

#ai #at some point in this post i switched to capital letters mode #i think i'm gonna leave it inconsistent lol

34 notes · View notes

garymdm · 5 months ago

Text

Data Fluency: Your Organization's Competitive Edge

Data fluency is the ability to interpret, create, and communicate data effectively. It’s more than just understanding data; it’s about using it to drive informed decisions and solve complex problems. Key Aspects of Data Fluency: Interpretation and Communication: Understanding data sources, analytical methods, and effectively communicating insights. Beyond Basic Literacy: Going beyond simple…

#data fluency #training

0 notes

elsa16744 · 2 years ago

Text

Leveraging Operational Data: Driving Business Transformation Across Organizations

In this informative blog post, explore the immense potential of operational data as a catalyst for driving business transformation across organizations. Discover how effectively leveraging operational data can revolutionize key aspects of business operations, enhance decision-making processes, and fuel overall performance. Gain valuable insights into the strategic importance of operational data and learn practical strategies for harnessing its power to unlock growth and maximize organizational efficiency. With real-world examples and expert analysis, this article from SG Analytics offers a comprehensive guide to harnessing the transformative capabilities of operational data.

#Data fluency #Operational Data #Data accountabilities

0 notes

educationisimp0 · 2 years ago

Text

The Power of Data as an Organizational Asset: Driving Business Transformation

Discover how data is the driving force behind modern business transformation! In this insightful blog from SG Analytics, explore the immense potential of data as a strategic asset across organizations. Uncover data integration strategies, data quality and governance practices, and the role of advanced analytics in unlocking actionable insights. Join the discussion on leveraging data to optimize processes, foster innovation, and gain a competitive edge in today's data-driven world.

#Data fluency #Operational Data #Data accountabilities #Relationship with Data #data curation #data-driven enterprise

0 notes

37sommz · 8 months ago

Text

❁ : seek & destroy . . .

✼. masterlist — taglist — request. ✼. genre: light angst. ✼. wc: 3.7k.

monza has always been one of michaela's favorite races. on her first time returning to monza so far away from the cherry red suits, she has something to prove to herself.

✼. warnings: language, mattia binotto jumpscare, zak brown jumpscare.

✼. notes: a lil something about michaela's second win! 2021 season is almost over, there's maybe two more chapters to write. expect another story about the myla subplot within the next few days <3

000.⠀⠀SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 › Monza, Italy.

Michaela sat in the cramped cockpit of her McLaren car, the faint scent of rubber and gasoline clinging to her fireproof suit. Her heart hammered in her chest as the engine roared to life, the vibrations resonating through her bones. The 2021 Formula 1 season was heating up, and the tension in the air was palpable as the teams prepared for the Italian Grand Prix at the historic Monza circuit. The sun was high in the sky, casting sharp shadows across the track, as the pit lane buzzed with activity.

The past few days had been a whirlwind of media interviews and speculation about her future in the sport, with the looming shadow of Ferrari's decision to pass her over for Carlos Sainz weighing heavily on her shoulders. Jenson had tried to shield her from the storm, reminding her of their private oasis away from the glaring spotlight. But now, as she waited for the qualifying session to begin, she couldn't help but feel the weight of the world watching her every move.

The green light flashed, signaling the start of qualifying. She took a deep breath, her gloved hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The tires screeched as she launched off the line, the power of the car pushing her back into the seat. Each turn, each gear shift, was executed with precision, her focus unwavering. The crowd roared as she set a blistering lap time in the final session, beating out even her own expectations. She could feel the excitement building within the McLaren garage as she climbed out of the car, sweat beading on her forehead despite the cool breeze that danced through the open air.

Her trainer, Luisa, gave her a thumbs up from the garage wall, her smile wide and proud at the pole position. But before she could bask in the moment, her eyes locked with Mattia Binotto's, the Ferrari team principal, who watched her from the Ferrari pit wall. His expression was a mix of surprise and something that looked uncomfortably close to irritation. The reminder of the seat that could've been hers was a stark reminder of the pressure she faced.

Their eyes met, and she could feel the unspoken challenge. Binotto was a man of few words, but the silence between them was louder than any engine on the grid. "You know you're better than this," he said, his Italian words cutting through the noise as he passed her on his way back to his garage. "Ferrari made a mistake, but that doesn't mean you should settle for second best."

Michaela's cheeks flushed, but she held her ground. "I'm not here to prove anything to you," she shot back in her near-perfect Italian. Her time at Prema and then at Alfa Romeo had done more than just lit a fire under her to be the best. It had given her the gift of a second fluency, one that came in handy when she found herself caught up in tense battles with the Prancing Horses.

The tense conversation was cut short by the need for the drivers to report back to their respective garages. The tension between her and Binotto was palpable as she marched back to McLaren. Inside the garage, she found Lando Norris waiting for her, his expression a mirror of Binotto's. Their relationship had been strained since her arrival, the young Briton feeling overshadowed by her relentless drive and unyielding ambition.

"What did he say to you?" Lando asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and resentment.

Michaela shrugged off the question, her eyes focused on the data screens in front of her. "Nothing that concerns you," she replied, her tone cold.

"It's all everyone's talking about," Lando pressed, his voice rising. "How you should've been in red instead of slumming it here with me."

Michaela whipped around, the fire in her eyes surprising even herself. "I'm not slumming it anywhere, Lando. I'm fighting for every inch of track, for every point, for every win, just like you."

The garage fell silent as their teammates and engineers looked on, sensing the animosity. Zak Brown stepped in, his voice firm. "That's enough. We're here to race as a team, not tear each other apart."

Michaela's eyes flashed with anger before she spun on her heel and stormed out, her heart racing. She needed air, space, anything to get away from the suffocation of the garage. She found herself by the team motorhome, her thoughts racing. The pressure to outperform, to prove she was the better choice, was crushing her.

000.⠀⠀SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 › Monza, Italy.

The day of the race dawned with a clear blue sky, the anticipation thick in the air. The sound of engines roared through the historic circuit as the drivers took to the track for their final preparations. As she stood on the track, waiting for the Italian national anthem to be sung, she couldn't help but think of the conversation with Lando the day before. Despite their differences, they were a team, and she knew she needed to find a way to work with him.

Michaela took a moment to find her focus, blocking out the noise around her. The grid was a sea of color and movement, with the Ferrari fans dressed in red, creating a stark contrast to the papaya orange of McLaren. Her eyes found Carlos Sainz, standing confidently beside his new Ferrari teammate. He looked over at her and gave a smug smile, whispering something to his teammate, Charles Leclerc, who chuckled in response. As the Il Canto degli Italiani began to play through the circuit's loudspeakers, a rush of longing washed over the Australian. Michaela felt the weight of the moment, the pressure to perform at her peak, and the bitterness of being so close to her dream and yet so far. She took her position on the grid, the eyes of the Tifosi upon her.

The lights went out, and the race was on.

Michaela's McLaren shot forward, her tires chirping as she defended her pole position into the first chicane. The first few laps were a blur of speed and strategy, each turn and overtake a delicate dance of the power and precision of the 20 drivers. The Italian crowd raved as the cars weaved through the historic circuit enjoying the roar of engines that echoed through the grandstands.

Her eyes remained fixed ahead, but she could feel the presence of the Ferrari's behind her, particularly Carlos'. Every time she caught a glimpse of his car in her mirrors, it was like a dagger twisting in her gut. The race was a battle not just for victory but for validation. She pushed herself harder, her every move calculated, her driving a silent declaration of her worthiness.

The tension grew with each lap, the cars jostling for position, the strategies unfolding. The heat from the asphalt was intense, and beads of sweat began to form on her brow, stinging her eyes as she leaned into the tight corners. The race was a physical and mental marathon, and she was in the lead, refusing to let anyone pass. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—Ferrari's decision, Lando's words, Jenson's comforting whispers—but she pushed them aside, focusing solely on the task at hand.

Michaela's heart rate spiked as she approached the halfway point. A rare mistake from a rival brought out the safety car, and the engineer in her ear urged caution. But she knew this was her chance to extend her lead, to show Ferrari what they were missing. As the safety car peeled away, she floored the accelerator, the engine screaming as she shot ahead of the pack. The crowd roared as she streaked across the line, the Ferraris struggling to keep up in 6th and 7th.

She pushed her McLaren to the limit, and her every move was a silent challenge to the home team. The team radio crackled with tension as her engineer reminded her of the strategy, but she was in the zone—fueled by the desire to prove herself to everyone who had doubted her.

The race was a sprint to the finish, with every driver giving it their all. The walls of the Monza track seemed to close in on her as she approached the final few laps, her heart hammering in her chest. The roar of Lando's McLaren engine grew louder in her mirrors, but she held her line, her instincts sharp.

A daring overtake attempt by Lando saw her forced to the edge of the track, the gravel whispering against the side of her car. The crowd held its collective breath as she kept her cool, not letting the Englishman pass. The move was a statement—she was not just fighting for the podium, she was fighting for her reputation.

The final lap approached, and the tension was unbearable. The roar of the engines grew louder, the smell of burning rubber more intense. Her knuckles were white on the steering wheel, and every muscle in her body was taut with the effort of keeping the car on the racing line. She could see the checkered flag in the distance, a beacon of victory and vindication.

Michaela's mind raced faster than the car she piloted. She thought of the sleepless nights spent studying every inch of this track, the countless hours in the simulator, the sacrifices she had made for this moment. She could almost feel the eyes of the Ferrari fans on her, willing her to fail. But she was not here to make them happy. This was her race, her chance to show the world that she was more than a rejected prospect.

The final corner, Parabolica, loomed ahead. The longest and fastest on the track, it was a corner that could make or break a race. She took a deep breath and committed to her line, feeling the G-forces push her into the seat as she roared around it. The crowd's cheers grew to a crescendo as she crossed the finish line, taking the checkered flag before anyone else.

Michaela's heart was racing as she pulled into the pit lane, the weight of the victory heavy in her chest. She climbed out of the cockpit, her legs wobbly from the intense physical exertion. The adrenaline rush washed over her as she was embraced by her team, the feeling of victory sweet on her lips. The podium was a blur of flashing lights and champagne spray, the gold trophy gleaming in the sun.

As she stepped down from the podium, she was bombarded by reporters eager for a piece of the story. Questions about Ferrari's decision to pass her over were thrown at her left and right. She took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the sea of faces. "Today was about driving for McLaren and for myself," she said, her voice steady. "I'm not here to discuss what could've been. I'm here to celebrate what is." Her answers were short, her smile tight.

The press conference was even more intense. One journalist in particular took pleasure in poking at the open wound, asking if she felt she had proven a point to Ferrari today. She met his gaze, her eyes like fire. "Every time I get in the car, I race to win," she said, her voice cool and measured. "Today was no different."

After the press conference, as she made her way through the crowded paddock, she felt the weight of the day's events finally catching up with her. The victory that had seemed so sweet on the podium now tasted bittersweet. Her eyes searched the sea of faces for Jenson, finding him in the distance, talking with some of the other drivers.

The moment their eyes met, she felt a rush of relief. He broke away from the group and walked over to her, his eyes filled with understanding. "You okay?" he asked gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Michaela took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I don't know," she replied honestly. "It's just...this win feels empty. Like I'm not allowed to truly enjoy it." Though her fingers twitched with the need to feel the warmth of his embrace, she was keenly aware of the eyes surrounding them in the paddock. Media, staff, and drivers alike wandered between tents with no sense of privacy for the unknown couple.

"You can't let them win," Jenson said, his voice low and soothing. "You've worked too hard, come too far."

Michaela nodded, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I know, but it's hard not to feel guilty about everything. The secret, the pressure..."

Jenson pulled her aside, his voice a whisper. "Guilt doesn't serve you on the track, Mick. Let it go." His eyes searched hers, and she saw the love and support she so desperately needed.

Michaela took a deep, shaky breath, nodding. He was right. She had to focus on the here and now. But as they walked back to the McLaren garage, the reality of their secret relationship weighed on her. They couldn't celebrate openly, couldn't share in this moment of triumph as they truly wanted to.

Inside the garage, the atmosphere was a mix of elation and relief. Her teammates and mechanics congratulated her, their faces beaming with pride. But amidst the celebration, she caught a glimpse of Lando's downturned expression. He had pushed her hard today, and she knew she had hurt him with her earlier words yesterday.

She made her way over, extending a hand. "Good race, Lando," she said, her voice sincere.

He looked up, the anger in his eyes fading to something softer. "Yeah," he said, taking her hand and pulling her into a friendly hug. "Congrats on the win, Mick."

Michaela felt a flicker of regret for their earlier argument. "Thanks," she murmured, returning the embrace. "I'm sorry for what I said yesterday."

Lando pulled back, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You know what, I get it. We're all fighting our own battles. Just remember, we're on the same side."

Michaela nodded, feeling a weight lifted. She knew that she had to address the tension between them if she wanted to move forward as a team. "Let's get some rest tonight, and talk about it tomorrow?" she offered.

Lando nodded, and she knew that was the best she could hope for at the moment. The night was still young, and the celebrations were in full swing. The roar of the party grew louder as they approached the McLaren hospitality area, but the sound of laughter and music didn't fill her with the same joy it usually did. She found a quiet corner, her thoughts swirling with the day's events.

The victory had been significant, but it was overshadowed by the constant reminder of what could've been. Her eyes searched the crowd again for Jenson, feeling a pang of longing. The secret of their relationship was a burden she hadn't anticipated. It was one thing to keep it from the media, but quite another to hide from her own team.

As the night progressed, the celebrations grew wilder. The champagne flowed, and the laughter grew louder, but Michaela felt a million miles away. She found a quiet spot outside the garage, the cool night air a welcome relief from the stifling heat inside. The sound of engines winding down and the clank of tools being packed away provided a rhythmic backdrop to her tumultuous thoughts.

Her eyes searched the bustling paddock once more, and she spotted Jenson signing autographs, surrounded by adoring fans. He looked up, catching her gaze, and the connection between them was palpable. With a sigh, she turned away, feeling the sting of their secret more sharply than ever.

Michaela pulled her phone out of her pocket, scrolling through the messages of congratulations from friends and family. Her thumb hovered over her mother's name, knowing she would be proud but also concerned about the stress she'd been under. Her mother's words echoed in her mind: "You don't have to win every race, just remember why you started." It was a gentle reminder to find joy in the journey, not just the destination.

With a heavy heart, she slipped away from the festivities, needing a moment to herself. She walked down the pit lane, the garages of other teams now empty as they packed up for the night. The Ferrari garage was still a hive of activity, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. It was there, in the quiet, that she allowed the tears to fall.

The sudden sound of footsteps had her quickly wiping her face, expecting a well-meaning team member or a persistent journalist. But it was neither. It was Carlos Sainz, looking as surprised to see her as she was to see him.

"Michaela?" he called out, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Michaela took a deep breath and turned around, trying to compose herself. "I'm fine," she said, her voice steady despite the tremble in her chest.

Carlos walked closer, his eyes scanning her face. "You don't look fine," he said softly. "What's going on?"

Michaela hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to share with her rival. But the sincerity in his voice made her feel a sudden kinship. "It's just... I wanted to prove something today," she said, her voice cracking. "To Ferrari, to everyone who said I didn't deserve a shot."

Carlos nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I know that feeling," he said, his voice low. "But you can't let them upset you. You're a great driver, and you showed that today."

Michaela looked at him, surprised by his kindness. "Thank you," she murmured. "It's just hard, you know?"

Carlos nodded. "More than anyone," he said, his voice filled with empathy. "But remember, you're racing for yourself now. Prove to Ferrari that they made a mistake, sure. But do it for you."

Michaela took a moment to let his words sink in, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Carlos."

He returned the smile, the tension between them momentarily forgotten. "Good luck for the rest of the season," he said before turning back to the Ferrari garage.

Michaela watched him go, feeling a newfound respect for the man who had taken the seat she had once coveted. With a sigh, she headed back to the McLaren area, her steps lighter than before. As she approached the back entrance of the hospitality suite, she spotted Guido waiting for her, his eyes filled with concern.

"You okay?" he asked, reaching out to wipe a tear from her cheek.

Michaela nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, just... a lot to process."

Guido wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a warm embrace. She leaned into him, feeling his heartbeat against her chest, steady and reassuring. "You don't have to do this alone," he whispered.

Michaela pulled back, looking up into his eyes. "But I do," she said softly. "The results, the pressure... it's all on me."

Guido’s expression was filled with a mix of frustration and empathy, worry lines etched themselves into his forehead, standing out against his fair skin.

"I know you don’t want to hear me say it yet," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I can’t let you do this to yourself, cara. Especially not if you can't even enjoy a quality win like this."

Michaela knew he was right, but the fear of the unknown was paralyzing. "I know," she said, her voice a mere murmur. "It’s just..." Her arms crossed over each other, teeth gritted uncomfortably.

Guido nodded as her words failed her. "I know the risks," he said, his voice firm. "But if you’re going to keep doing this, we need to start considering our other options. I need you to be honest with me, I don’t think you’re happy here."

Michaela took a deep breath. She leaned into his presence again, feeling the comfort that exuded from him. "Let's talk after the weekend’s over," she said, her voice filled with hope. "When the pressure's off, and we can figure this out."

Guido nodded, a sad smile playing on his lips. "Deal," he murmured, brushing back the loose strands of his dark hair. "But remember, you're not in this alone. Win or lose, I'm here for you. We’re all here for you."

The night air was cooler now, the Italian summer giving way to a gentle evening breeze. They stood together in silence for a moment, the sound of the distant celebrations a stark contrast to their private conversation.

Michaela took a moment to absorb his words, feeling a renewed sense of determination. They had a plan, and it was something to hold onto. With a nod, she stepped back, the moment of vulnerability passing.

"I should get back in there with the team," she sniffed, her voice still thick with emotion. She wiped the stray tears that still managed to cloud her vision before pushing her shoulders back. The McLaren logo stood proud over her chest, a reminder of the team that had given her a lifeline to achieve so much more than she thought was in the cards for her this season.

"Gotta celebrate kicking the Scuderia's ass."

Guido chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice. "You definitely did that," he said, giving her one last squeeze before letting her go. "You're a bloody legend, no matter what anyone says."

Michaela took a deep breath and nodded. "Thank you, Gui Gui," she said with a level of amusement in her voice from the use of the nickname he hated so much. The weight of his words settled in her chest. "I'll try to keep that in mind." With a forced smile, she turned and headed back towards the McLaren garage, the noise of the party growing louder with each step.

✼. taglist:⠀

@cha-hot @certifiedlesbianbaddie @nichmeddar

@d3kstar @thewannabewriter @hwalllllllelujah

@thearchieves @doodlehunz @evie-119

@bxdbxtxh @seaweed-orchid @glitterquadricorn

@99snse @ginghampearlsnsweettea @alliwantisadonut

@hiireadstuff @emilyval1 @anotherblackreader

@sv5beehives @mynameisangeloflife @tellybearyyyy

@melancholyy-hill @valluvsu @futuristiccroissantlampsludge

@treehouse-mouse @sunfairyy

#⠀،،⠀&. prose.#jenson button x oc #jenson button imagine #jenson button fanfic #driver!oc #driver!reader #f1 female driver #f1 drivers #f1 driver!reader #f1 fiction #f1 fanfiction #f1 imagine #f1 fanfic #f1 fic #formula 1 #f1 fem!driver!oc #formula one imagine

52 notes · View notes