[Technology] The Artificial Intelligence Thread

[CheeseRolls]

Overheard a bunch of fellas at the bar in the Old Star Shoreham yesterday discussing the Swedish AI Breat Cancer study and thought a thread of positive developments might be of interest.

This is an interesting one as a taster. Doesn't solve the big problem with aviation fuel, but suggests that a significant impact is possible, with wider adoption of AI.

https://blog.google/technology/ai/ai-airlines-contrails-climate-change/

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

Is there a good definition of AI? Only ask this as everything seems to be bandied about in my place as AI. To me, most of it seems to be a glorified search engine.

 

[Springal]

Is there a good definition of AI? Only ask this as everything seems to be bandied about in my place as AI. To me, most of it seems to be a glorified search engine.

Not really - search engine just presents information to you. AI will / can actually do things for you

 

[Bakero]

I listened to this Ezra Klein interview with Demis Hassibis, of DeepMind fame.



@HalfaSeatOn It touches on what AI is and explores its uses beyond chatbots.

Main breakthrough it mentions is the protein-folding problem solved by AlphaFold. https://www.livescience.com/alphafold-200-million-proteins

 

[CheeseRolls]

Is there a good definition of AI? Only ask this as everything seems to be bandied about in my place as AI. To me, most of it seems to be a glorified search engine.

Have you tried asking chatgpt for the answer?

There are lots of definitions. Are you looking for a legal definition a computer science definition, a laymans description or something else?

 

[schmunk]

Is there a good definition of AI? Only ask this as everything seems to be bandied about in my place as AI. To me, most of it seems to be a glorified search engine.

Me: "Is AI just a glorified search engine?"

ChatGPT:

"No, AI is not just a glorified search engine. While search engines like Google also use algorithms to provide relevant search results, AI refers to a broader range of technologies that enable machines to perform more complex tasks that would otherwise require human intervention.

AI is able to learn from the data it receives, adapt to new situations, and make decisions based on its analysis of the data. It can recognize patterns, make predictions, and identify anomalies with far greater speed and accuracy than humans. AI can be used to perform a wide range of tasks, from playing complex games to automating industrial processes.

While search engines are a useful example of AI in practice, they are just one small part of the wider field of AI. AI technology has the potential to revolutionize many industries, including healthcare, transportation, finance, and more."




Me: "Can you summarise that into a gangsta rap?"

ChatGPT:

Yo, listen up, I'm here to make it clear
AI is more than just a fancy search engine, dear
It's a tech that enables machines to learn and grow
And do complex tasks that humans find too slow

From recognizing speech to identifying patterns
AI can handle tasks that would leave us laggin'
It adapts to new situations with lightning speed
Making predictions and decisions with ease, no need to plead

So don't think AI is just a flash in the pan
It's a tech that's revolutionizing industries, man
From healthcare to finance, it's making its mark
So get with the program, before it's too dark




Me: "Can you argue the opposite of this?"

ChatGPT:

"Sure, I can provide an argument on the opposite side of this.

While AI has certainly come a long way in recent years and is capable of performing a variety of complex tasks, it is still not quite as advanced as some might make it out to be. AI systems can be limited by the amount and quality of data available to them, as well as by the algorithms used to process that data.

AI also lacks the creativity and critical thinking skills of humans, which can limit its ability to perform certain tasks. For example, while AI systems can perform complex calculations and recognize patterns, they may struggle with tasks that require human intuition, such as making moral judgments or understanding the context of a situation.

Furthermore, AI systems are not infallible and can make mistakes. These errors can have serious consequences in certain industries, such as healthcare or finance, and may lead to mistrust of AI systems.

Finally, some people argue that AI may lead to job loss, as machines are able to perform tasks that were previously done by humans. While AI has the potential to create new jobs, there is a risk that the displacement of workers could lead to economic hardship and social unrest.

Overall, while AI has certainly made impressive strides in recent years, it is not a panacea for all of our problems, and there are still limits to what it can do.

 

[beorhthelm]

Is there a good definition of AI? Only ask this as everything seems to be bandied about in my place as AI. To me, most of it seems to be a glorified search engine.

not really. AI used to be about hard AI, actual simulation of intelligence and conciousness, and soft AI, the application of low level learning and pattern recognition. these days AI is a catch all to cover these and the more mechanical repetitve Machine Learning, or Chatbots which are just decision trees.

 

[Questions]

I’m still 3 episodes behind on Love Island.

 

[CheeseRolls]

I listened to this Ezra Klein interview with Demis Hassibis, of DeepMind fame.



@HalfaSeatOn It touches on what AI is and explores its uses beyond chatbots.

Main breakthrough it mentions is the protein-folding problem solved by AlphaFold. https://www.livescience.com/alphafold-200-million-proteins

Thanks Bakero - Have listened to most of this. You could put together a strong case for Demis as the greatest living Brit. Answers and explains so many complex questions and ideas in a really straightforward way.

 

[Bakero]

Thanks Bakero - Have listened to most of this. You could put together a strong case for Demis as the greatest living Brit. Answers and explains so many complex questions and ideas in a really straightforward way.

He's an impressive bloke, isn't it? On the pod he mentions working on Theme Park as a teenager. He was actually the co-designer and lead programmer of the game during his gap year that Cambridge recommend he take after he finished his a-levels at 15. My gap year before uni was spent rather more hedonistically.

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

Have you tried asking chatgpt for the answer?

There are lots of definitions. Are you looking for a legal definition a computer science definition, a laymans description or something else?

Not sure tbh, probably layman’s but not a salesman definition. It seems everything in digital is being thrown in to the trendy AI hat

 

[CheeseRolls]

The podcast that Bakero linked does a brilliant job of pulling things together ina clear and simple way and they answer your question about is AI just a search engine right at the start.

 

[CheeseRolls]

Meanwhile in Croydon trials to find the new Zaha continue as candidates are put through a rigorous assessment.

 

[Doonhamer7]

AI and the better ‘ChatGPT‘ tools that have yet to come to market are super game changers in all parts of our life.

My company has currently banned them - far too much of our IP would get out and we have a number of government contracts which have different levels of clearance requirement - so we are working with one of the big players in developing our own. There will be so many positives out of it like the breast cancer mentioned above, cure for dementi etc. the downside is the loss of white collared workers and a huge chunk of professionals jobs that will disappear. As a major technical organisation (75% of our 30,000 employees have degrees) we could see easily lose 25% of our jobs in next 5 years. Apply this across all market sectors, we end up with huge unemployment across the globe.

 

[Change at Barnham]

I thought I'd ask ChatGPT a question:
What percentage chance do Brighton & Hove Albion have of qualifying for the Champions League?

As of March 10, 2025, Brighton & Hove Albion’s chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League have improved, particularly due to the likelihood of the Premier League securing five qualification spots for the next season. This development stems from England’s strong performance in European competitions, positioning them to receive an additional Champions League berth.

Recent analyses reflect this positive shift for Brighton. According to Sky Sports, Brighton’s probability of finishing in the top five has risen to 14.1%, enhancing their prospects of Champions League qualification. Similarly, Opta’s supercomputer forecasts a 21.3% chance for Brighton to secure a top-five finish, further bolstering their European aspirations.

Brighton’s recent form has been instrumental in this surge. Their dramatic 2-1 victory over Fulham, secured by João Pedro’s 98th-minute penalty, marked their fourth consecutive league win and elevated them to sixth place in the standings with 46 points, just one point behind Manchester City. This winning streak underscores Brighton’s momentum as they vie for a historic Champions League spot.

In summary, Brighton & Hove Albion currently have an estimated 14.1% to 21.3% chance of qualifying for the Champions League, contingent upon their continued strong performances and the Premier League securing a fifth qualification spot.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I thought I'd ask ChatGPT a question:
What percentage chance do Brighton & Hove Albion have of qualifying for the Champions League?

As of March 10, 2025, Brighton & Hove Albion’s chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League have improved, particularly due to the likelihood of the Premier League securing five qualification spots for the next season. This development stems from England’s strong performance in European competitions, positioning them to receive an additional Champions League berth.

Recent analyses reflect this positive shift for Brighton. According to Sky Sports, Brighton’s probability of finishing in the top five has risen to 14.1%, enhancing their prospects of Champions League qualification. Similarly, Opta’s supercomputer forecasts a 21.3% chance for Brighton to secure a top-five finish, further bolstering their European aspirations.

Brighton’s recent form has been instrumental in this surge. Their dramatic 2-1 victory over Fulham, secured by João Pedro’s 98th-minute penalty, marked their fourth consecutive league win and elevated them to sixth place in the standings with 46 points, just one point behind Manchester City. This winning streak underscores Brighton’s momentum as they vie for a historic Champions League spot.

In summary, Brighton & Hove Albion currently have an estimated 14.1% to 21.3% chance of qualifying for the Champions League, contingent upon their continued strong performances and the Premier League securing a fifth qualification spot.

It has told you nothing that you couldn't have found out by searching for the source information, but it adds its own spin, which seems to entirely bend to the goal of providing a pleasing narrative. And the false precision (percentage predictions with decimal places) shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between precision and accuracy. In other words, it is a load of old bolleaux.

I am convinced some of my final year BSc students have been using it to answer coursework essays. Typically the narrative is plausible, but there are errors, and all the nuance and interpretation I provided in lectures is missing. Sometimes the essay clearly lacks any of the pivotal information and interpretation I provided in lectures. There are a few fails and quite a few shit marks in the 40s. The high scoreres have built on what I told them, and added in analysis of their own, based on the core principles I taught, using their own words.

 

[Change at Barnham]

It has told you nothing that you couldn't have found out by searching for the source information, but it adds its own spin, which seems to entirely bend to the goal of providing a pleasing narrative. And the false precision (percentage predictions with decimal places) shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between precision and accuracy. In other words, it is a load of old bolleaux.

I am convinced some of my final year BSc students have been using it to answer coursework essays. Typically the narrative is plausible, but there are errors, and all the nuance and interpretation I provided in lectures is missing. Sometimes the essay clearly lacks any of the pivotal information and interpretation I provided in lectures. There are a few fails and quite a few shit marks in the 40s. The high scoreres have built on what I told them, and added in analysis of their own, based on the core principles I taught, using their own words.

That feels like you've given me a detention for bad behaviour.

 

[SouthSaxon]

It has told you nothing that you couldn't have found out by searching for the source information, but it adds its own spin, which seems to entirely bend to the goal of providing a pleasing narrative. And the false precision (percentage predictions with decimal places) shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between precision and accuracy. In other words, it is a load of old bolleaux.

I am convinced some of my final year BSc students have been using it to answer coursework essays. Typically the narrative is plausible, but there are errors, and all the nuance and interpretation I provided in lectures is missing. Sometimes the essay clearly lacks any of the pivotal information and interpretation I provided in lectures. There are a few fails and quite a few shit marks in the 40s. The high scoreres have built on what I told them, and added in analysis of their own, based on the core principles I taught, using their own words.

Reminds me of something I saw recently, where an “expert” was proclaiming AI on the basis that research which would have taken him hours in the past can now be done it minutes.

Because nothing fosters a deep understanding of a topic better than five minutes of half-arsed effort.

Tech continues to push us down a road where “faster is better” is the unquestioned cliche.

 

[Titanic]

It has told you nothing that you couldn't have found out by searching for the source information, but it adds its own spin, which seems to entirely bend to the goal of providing a pleasing narrative. And the false precision (percentage predictions with decimal places) shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between precision and accuracy. In other words, it is a load of old bolleaux.

I am convinced some of my final year BSc students have been using it to answer coursework essays. Typically the narrative is plausible, but there are errors, and all the nuance and interpretation I provided in lectures is missing. Sometimes the essay clearly lacks any of the pivotal information and interpretation I provided in lectures. There are a few fails and quite a few shit marks in the 40s. The high scoreres have built on what I told them, and added in analysis of their own, based on the core principles I taught, using their own words.

Shock horror.... students don't listen in lectures

 

[Mellotron]

Me: "Can you summarise that into a gangsta rap?"

ChatGPT:

Yo, listen up, I'm here to make it clear
AI is more than just a fancy search engine, dear
It's a tech that enables machines to learn and grow
And do complex tasks that humans find too slow

From recognizing speech to identifying patterns
AI can handle tasks that would leave us laggin'
It adapts to new situations with lightning speed
Making predictions and decisions with ease, no need to plead

So don't think AI is just a flash in the pan
It's a tech that's revolutionizing industries, man
From healthcare to finance, it's making its mark
So get with the program, before it's too dark

It's a rap for sure, but it's closer to the "rap" by Lee Latchford Evans in Steps breakout hit "5,6,7,8" than it is anything GANGSTA.

Come on, ChatGPT - where's the b*tches, where's the guns, where's the drugs, where's the bling? Poor.