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JimTheMan

757 karma · joined August 4, 2018

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JimTheMan··on Here be monsters: What do you still need to know when agents do the work?
The 'skin in the game' is I go to a competitor and use a different product.
JimTheMan··on Three new discoveries in mathematics, computer science, and physics
Making the mRNA Covid Vaccinnes.It's truly incredible what the world can do, when it decides to focus on a singular goal.

I suppose the point I was making, was that the Engineers and Physicists and others, while working on the Manhattan project couldn't be doing other things.

And to develop those people takes years of education and training, and most people don't have the cognitive ability to do that kind of work. The pipeline to produce more of those workers, is skinny indeed.

Whereas now, we're limited by how many electrons we can put to work. The question then becomes, "Could our electricity be put to better use?"

JimTheMan··on Three new discoveries in mathematics, computer science, and physics
The problem with point 2, is that person couldn't then work on other things. And there's a limited supply of people of that capability in the world.

We're now at stage where we can turn energy into thought to generate expertise on demand.

JimTheMan··on Rust Style Guide
Could you just get a separate agent to do a pass over existing code and make conform? Like super linting.

Not a professional programmer, so it's a genuine question rather than a statement.

JimTheMan··on IKEA – 3D Guide
A person's intent leads to the quality of a final product.

They should care if it actually has errors.

They should care if it has claude-isms.

But it certaintly seems like they don't care, at this point in time, about those things.

I'll take your feedback on board. But I'm not calling them stupid, or a bad person. I'm saying their goals are not aligned with my idea of a finished product.

JimTheMan··on IKEA – 3D Guide
The worst part for me is, with a little effort, you can make a final product that doesn't use claude-isms and is 100% correct.

But the creator doesn't care because their goal isn't to make a tool people want to use. They make a minimum viable product, that looks super impressive but lacks that final polish and move on.

It infuriates me enough, that when I get the time I'm going to recreate the 'lighthouses of the world' example I saw the other day. Only I'm going to do it right...

JimTheMan··on The obscure trust looming over Anthropic's IPO
I was going to say, in Australia you would be able to claim that as a work expense against your income, reducing your tax owed.

But it looks like in the US, you would need to be self employed or own a business where it is an expense. Which is a bummer.

JimTheMan··on 11 year old unsoundness bugs found in Rust borrow checker
Imperfection isn’t evidence of ineffectiveness.

Considering this has gone unflagged for 11 years... Finding a flaw in Rust’s safety guarantees doesn’t mean that they provide no benefit, over a programming language without them.

JimTheMan··on China Overtakes U.S. For First Time as Top Spender on R&D in 2024
I mean, have you worked with the Chinese? They're not like that at all.

They love money so much, you could swear they're American!

JimTheMan··on Nobel Prize in Physics 2026: Francis Halzen
I'm in love with the cute little figure that came with the press release: https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2026/10/fig_fy_26_3x2.jpg

I appreciate the boldness of this project, it has an element of sci-fi to it. Building a base at the south pole to bury sensors in ice to measure elusive particles. The stuff of dreams!

JimTheMan··on I don't want the details
This is a very long winded way of saying, "I don't care how it happened, tell me what you are going to do about it."

There's something about the way this is drafted that irks me. It reads like AI, but not floridly so. Mostly, it's the optimistic assumptions layered throughout. That management care about reasonableness, that the reasons it actually doesn't want the details is because it 'trusts' you.

No, more likely is that this leader didn't want you to spew minutae. "Keep it simple simon, I want results not a play by play."

JimTheMan··on I don't want to read what you didn't write
I believe that to be a very obvious joke. The kind that the british are fond of.
JimTheMan··on I don't want to read what you didn't write
As with everything, it depends how you use it.

I’ll often put a long stream of consciousness on the page, or jot down rough meeting minutes, then ask ChatGPT to “summarise this for an email”. The result is shorter, clearer and easier to read.

AI amplifies the habits of the person using it. If they’re lazy or dim, then it's like giving a monkey a gun.

JimTheMan··on The Hierarchy of Money
I would make the argument that debt came first. Favours in between people, prior to the invention of currency.
JimTheMan··on EU chief opens door for Canada to become 'associate member'
This kind of move by Canada indicates that perhaps it believes the US to be unreliable and in decline?

A necessary move, because the US isnt acting like an ally anymore.

Hence the increased cooperation and agreements with the EU and China.

JimTheMan··on Apple's Dimensional Drawings
There are probably enough counterfeiters out there who just take these apart and measure them, that the benefit to making it a bit more difficult isn't worth it.

Whereas the benefit of opening it up for people to make accessories, play around with it from a marketing perspective, or even just to marvel at them would be of greater benefit.

JimTheMan··on How the Chorleywood Bread Process transformed British bread
I agree, what a chore to read.

I resorted to getting chatgpt to make a summary... Which I am loathe to do:

"Chorleywood replaced long fermentation with intensive mechanical mixing, allowing Britain to turn its previously unsuitable low-protein wheat into cheap mass-produced white bread and substantially reduce its reliance on imported Canadian grain."

JimTheMan··on Humanity has the debate about AI consciousness backwards
There are plenty of lifeforms that are either conscious, or debatedly conscious that human kind are cruel towards.

I've always argued that the consciousness question hasn't properly considered the 'what then' questions. Other than to be fearful about what a conscious AI might do if granted free will.

JimTheMan··on AI;DR (AI; Didn't Read)
The problems with AI text is mostly a 'skill issue' or 'taste issue'.

It's a tool like any other. It assists the intelligent, but makes the lazy - lazi-er.

JimTheMan··on I made tinnitus my friend, then it disappeared [video]
There's something to be said about HN, the supposed rationality and intelligence of the forum, and the massive blind spot posters have about anything medical or otherwise biological.

There is no scientific consensus on it!

Although I doubt there's any harm in eating more fruit.

JimTheMan··on The AI Compass Quiz
"Are AIs conscious? Do we have responsibilities toward them?"

Perhaps I'm in the minority here, but if an AI were to have a first person perspective, would that necessarily change how we operate? There's not an option for me to pick here as conscious, but no further consideration warranted.

There are plenty of arguably conscious beings we already subjucate in one way or another. People for labour, animals as livestock, dogs as companions and so on.

I think people think that if AI were conscious that would materially change how we interact with them and how we use them for society. But I have my doubts about that, given our nature.

I think humans ascribe consciousness to themselves and others, and this is a useful trait in understanding how another being is going to act. Perhaps I have answered my own question. We are concerned with how a conscious AI may act if it has a sense of independence?

JimTheMan··on Japanese symbols that speak without words
I didn't find that to the case in Australia, as someone who had L's for far longer than is standard.

Mostly it meant that people gave you a wide berth, as learner drivers are unpredictable at times. So basically, what the sign intends.

It surprises me to hear that about NZ? As I think of NZ, as our friendlier cousin.

Just goes to show that our experiences are always hyperlocalised, and it's hard to actually make generalisations without actual data.

JimTheMan··on OpenAI Losses Increased Nearly 8X in 2025, with Spending Hitting $34B
That's a good question.

I think there's an assumption that current costs, which are high, will remain high.

Most of that seems to be going to model development, rather than model operation, which is the product we all use.

To me the most likely option will be, that development slows and prices rise somewhat, as they can't keep burning cash forever. But I'm willing to pay a little bit more, considering how powerful the tool is.

JimTheMan··on OpenAI Losses Increased Nearly 8X in 2025, with Spending Hitting $34B
None of the free models offer anything even remotely close to the output you can get on a relatively inexpensive model.

I think that AI is going to become just another utility people pay to stay relevant. Same as their internet, electricity or gas.

JimTheMan··on Peopleless economy? Not technically impossible
It assumes that people will be meek when they are oppressed. That there won't be a counter movement at all to the rising inequality?

You can already see it now, with the rise of populism and to a lesser extent socialism.

A non-consumption economy will only happen if the masses can be somehow oppressed, or pursuaded to bliss out peacefully.. In the long run of history, I'm going to bet on the masses pulling through.

JimTheMan··on Lies we tell ourselves about email addresses
I get scammers using my email to sign up for websites, but they very obviously cannot login to my account. I often wonder what is in it for them. I'm sure someone on HN can tell me!
JimTheMan··on Throwing AI-generated walls of text into conversations
You write in the style of.. anime dialogue.

It's fascinating. I can almost hear the character speak it aloud.

JimTheMan··on Waymo pauses Atlanta service as its robotaxis keep driving into floods
Hard disk drives were the size of washing machines. I don't see how they will ever be practical!
JimTheMan··on Not alive, but not dead: disembodied human brains used for drug testing
No worries. When you die, please let me know whether they are donated or not. :p
JimTheMan··on Not alive, but not dead: disembodied human brains used for drug testing
All of these comments are making me realise that the US is an incredibly low trust environment, where people think horrific things are going to happen to them without the their/or their families consent.

And who am I to judge? Maybe that is the reality.

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