RE: https://rssfeed.media/@guardianfeeds/117196456361547524
Hey Luca Ittimani/The Guardian/journalism in general: you can't "give AI more responsibilities" any more than you can give a shovel more responsibilities.
You maybe can hand the reins of the tertiary education system over to fascist tech oligarchs though.
Does anyone know of a good archive of writing/content focused on the philosophy and practicalities of building mastodon, the fediverse, or social apps more generally?
I know of a bunch of bits and pieces, but not something that lists them all in one spot, seems like it would be really useful.
@minimalparts I was just playing around with @pears and it struck me that what the software is doing is almost identical to what @bookwyrm is doing, just for websites instead of books.
The indexing is a little different, but the broader concepts of a federated directory are basically the same, and comments/reviews/ratings/categories/lists and probably many other features would probably overlap a lot. And both projects are written in python.
Have you chatted to @tripofmice ?
"This AI output is highly inaccurate."
"Nah, you're just prompting it wrong."
"How do I go about prompting it the right way?"
"You really need to know the subject you're asking about. Then you can help it avoid making mistakes."
"If I know the subject deeply myself, why am I asking an AI about it?"
"It helps to train the AI."
I want a browser add-on like an ad-blocker, that doesn't block sites, but marks domains in search results with things like:
- pay walled
- requires email
- pop-up modals
- AI written
So that I can choose whether or not to visit that domain, depending on what else is in the search results.
Me: searches for "systems theatre"
Google AI: gives a not-obviously-wrong summary of systems theatre (a form of theatre that emphasises connectedness between characters and other elements). No mention of home theatre systems.
Google results: HOME THEATRE SYSTEMS AND WHERE TO BUY THEM
Google AI references: HOME THEATRE SYSTEMS AND WHERE TO BUY THEM
WTF.
Under `Settings > Public Profile > Privacy and reach` there are a few opt-in settings that determine whether your account is discoverable (first option under "Reach") and whether your posts show up in search results (first option under "Search").
Mastodon search is pretty weak most of the time, and I'm wondering if that's because most people have search indexing.
Do you have yours turned on?
Please #boost for reach!
Mastodon already has a few algorithms:
the Home feed is:
- Show me posts for which I follow:
- the author,
- the booster, or
- one of the contained hashtags
- Sorted in the order of most recently posted OR boosted
The Explore feed is something like:
- Show me posts that have been boosted X amount in the last Y minutes
- Sorted by how many boosts
(I don't know the specifics, just guessing)
Plus the ones for the local and global live feeds, and hashtags and lists. And "Who to follow"
Algorithms aren't bad. Algorithms are just tools. They do what they are designed to do*.
The problem isn't algorithms, the problem is values. The problem is optimisation for profit.
We could choose to create algorithms to optimise for any other thing we value, like increasing understanding, reducing conflict, or whatever we like. It wouldn't be profitable, but... that's good?
* OK, a bad algorithm is one that doesn't work as designed.
It appears that I can follow accounts mutually from:
- mastodon <-> pixelfed
- mastodon <-> friendica
but I can't follow my pixelfed account from friendica (but the other way seems to work).
Is this right? should the last one work?
Someone: posts good content
Mastodon users: boost enough that content gets on to /explore
2 random users: start a fight about a side-issue from the first reply and continue pointlessly for 47 consecutive toots, relegating all actually interesting comments to the bottom of a long page of garbage, where they will never be seen.
Sigh.
If you've ever bought anything from Amazon (or plan to), knowing how shit their labour practices are, then I reckon you have a moral obligation to donate to the Amazon union's strike fund.
Started a list here that anyone can add to:
https://bookwyrm.social/list/3321/s/learning-thinking-and-understanding
What's your favourite book on learning, thinking, or understanding complex topics?
And WHY? What's good about it?
Please boost for reach if you're interested.
Some thumping hip-hop grooves this week.
When is someone going to invent an AI that can do the job of a CEO?
Good on these kids for standing up to the fossil fuel industrial complex.
I was involved in designing/coordinating this human sign at the #RisingTide port blockade for #ClimateAction in #Moolubinba/#Newcastle. Pretty happy with how it turned out.
The action is still rolling, there will be people on the water all night tonight and all day tomorrow. If you're in town, come down!
Details at https://www.risingtide.org.au/program
