Iblis Bane
@iblis-bane.co.za
Undecided. Dubious. Thoughtful. Interested.
📰 As some publishers & news organizations block the Wayback Machine from archiving journalism. ✏️ Help keep journalism accessible—sign the open letter asking them to stop blocking archiving ⤵️ www.savethearchive.com/NewsLeaders #SaveTheArchive #WaybackMachine #PreserveTheWeb @fightforthefuture.org
“There are no innocent bystanders... what are they doing there in the first place?” ― William S. Burroughs, Exterminator! #Photography Brion Gysin (1958), Paris.
Paper on the psychosocial effects of extended chatbot use.
How AI and Human Behaviors Shape Psychosocial Effects of Extended Chatbot Use: A Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Study
As people increasingly seek emotional support and companionship from AI chatbots, understanding how such interactions impact mental well-being becomes critical. We conducted a four-week randomized con...
arxiv.org
Not entirely sure how I feel about this, assuming it does what it says on the label... 😐 futurism.com/science-ener...
Researchers Upload Fly's Brain to Matrix, Let It Control Virtual Body
A company claims to have simulated the neurons of an adult fruit fly's brain and letting it roam inside a Matrix-like virtual environment.
futurism.com
I've always leaned toward the claim that at least knowledge, (if not specifically technology) is morally neutral, but I think this makes a compelling argument that "(t)he design of any technology is a moral act." Worth a read.
On Good and Evil, the Mistaken Idea That Technology Is Ever Neutral, and the Importance of the Double-Charge Thesis - Philosophy & Technology
Philosophy & Technology -
link.springer.com
Google AI Overviews have inaccuracies says study seroundtable.com/times-report... via @mordyoberstein.bsky.social
Nature research paper: Psychedelics elicit their effects by 5-HT2A receptor-mediated Gi signalling go.nature.com/4rrbYD3
Psychedelics elicit their effects by 5-HT2A receptor-mediated Gi signalling - Nature
Psychedelics and their non-hallucinogenic analogues were compared, revealing that serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR)-mediated Gi signalling is essential for hallucinogenic effect, with the functional mechanisms underlying this providing insights for designing therapeutic drugs without hallucinogenic effects.
go.nature.com
I've always had a weakness for brutalist architecture... 😁 www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
‘They rose out of the ground!’: Scotland’s brutalist beauties – in pictures
The imposing concrete buildings that defined British postwar architecture held a vision of the future – but many fell into disrepair. A new book finds the finest examples
theguardian.com
Fairly pleased with how this bougainvillea glabra is progressing. Bought as nursery stock 3 years ago, after a 10+ year hiatus from #bonsai. Plan a semi-cascade root-over-rock, & will start exposing the rock (present but buried) in the upcoming re-pot next spring. (Also need a more suitable pot. 🙂)
Writing is a unique human technology. It's predicated on neurobiological and psychological processes in humans and it has both a technical and a creative component, both of which are complex in their own right. A machine that could do that well at book-length, isn't here yet.
John Scalzi@scalzi.com · 9mo agoWho could have seen this coming except literally everyone share.google/GFaMy3K2Jjlo...
When an author you like likes an author you like. 😁
Ben Aaronovitch@benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 10mo agoYesterday's Word Count = 1,202 Moving on to Donaldson book 2.
We are now seeing the first long-anticipated use of AI for semi-autonomous cyberattacks. "This approach allowed the threat actor to achieve operational scale typically associated with nation-state campaigns while maintaining minimal direct involvement" www.anthropic.com/news/disrupt...
Interesting interview with Dr Susan Schneider. I wonder if the "walled gardens" of the various providers will be a hindrance to this sort of thing? Or maybe there is more "inter-system" connection than I realise. bigthink.com/the-long-gam...
Why the AI “megasystem problem” needs our attention
A conversation with Dr. Susan Schneider on the AI risks we’re not talking about and why the fixation on AGI is misplaced.
bigthink.com
🚨 New twist in the npm malware wars: Socket just uncovered a malicious package, fezbox, that hides its payload inside a QR code image. Yes, you read that right. JavaScript malware using QR code steganography to steal browser cookies & passwords ⬇️ Technical detail below socket.dev/blog/malicio...
Malicious fezbox npm Package Steals Browser Passwords from C...
A malicious package uses a QR code as steganography in an innovative technique.
socket.dev
This is obviously good news medically speaking, but I must admit my first reaction was "What's the point of a non-hallucinogenic psychedelic?" 😈 www.psypost.org/non-hallucin...
Non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analog boosts brain plasticity in an unexpected way
Researchers discovered that tabernanthalog, a non-hallucinogenic analog of psychedelic drugs, can stimulate cortical neuron growth and improve depression-related behavior in mice. The study suggests t...
psypost.org
Very clever: Haiku composed around the periodic table: www.science.org/content/arti...
Elemental haiku
science.org
This paper finds LLMs' ability to understand that others have different beliefs (Theory of Mind) comes from 0.001% of their parameters. Break those specific weights & the model loses both its ability to track what others know AND language comprehension Interesting implications for models (& minds?)
Just checked and Facebook/Meta has been accessing my phone photos without me giving them permission (as far as I can remember). I'm normally fairly conscientious about these things. This is the prompt to delete Facebook from my phone and never install it ever again... www.zdnet.com/article/meta...
Meta might be secretly scanning your phone's camera roll - how to check and turn it off
Some Facebook users have noticed new settings that let Meta analyze and retain your phone's photos. Yes, you read that right.
zdnet.com
