Deighton (1992), Len, City of Gold, Random House 1992 ' Jacket: Superbly evocative of time and place, City of Gold is a richly atmospheric portrait of the tensions and desperations of war. Movinng expertly across a new arena of conflict, Len Deighton guides his characters, their obsessions and betrayals, with the sureness of touch that is the hallmark of a master storyteller. His wartime Cairo will prove to be as memorable as his Berlin of the 60s.' 
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Hallett (1984), Michael, Cantorian Set Theory and Limitation of Size, Oxford UP 1984 Jacket: 'This book will be of use to a wide audience, from beginning students of set theory (who can gain from it a sense of how the subject reached its present form), to mathematical set theorists (who will find an expert guide to the early literature), and for anyone concerned with the philosophy of mathematics (who will be interested by the extensive and perceptive discussion of the set concept).' Daniel Isaacson. 
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Sonnenschein (1977), Jacob, and Simon Green, Elements of Complex Analysis, Dickenson 1977 ' Preface: This book is the result of lectures given by Prof. Dr. J. Sonnenschein at the Brussels University. It is an introductory course in complex analysis of one complex variable. It contains sufficient material for about thirty lectures. The aim pf the book is to introduce the principal notions an theorems of complex analysis and to make the reader acquainted as quickly as possible and with as much rigor as can be obtained in a short course, with the knowledge necessary to use the most important results of complex analysis in pure and applied mathematics.' 
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Wilczek (2008), Frank, The Lightness of Being: Mass, Ether, and the Unification of Forces, Basic Books 2008 ' In this excursion to the outer limits of particle physics, Wilczek explores what quarks and gluons, which compose protons and neutrons, reveal about the manifestation of mass and gravity. A corecipient of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics, Wilczek knows what he’s writing about; the question is, will general science readers? Happily, they know what the strong interaction is (the forces that bind the nucleus), and in Wilczek, they have a jovial guide who adheres to trade publishing’s belief that a successful physics title will not include too many equations. Despite this injunction (against which he lightly protests), Wilczek delivers an approachable verbal picture of what quarks and gluons are doing inside a proton that gives rise to mass and, hence, gravity. Casting the light-speed lives of quarks against “the Grid,” Wilczek’s term for the vacuum that theoretically seethes with quantum activity, Wilczek exudes a contagious excitement for discovery. A near-obligatory acquisition for circulating physics collections.' --Gilbert Taylor  
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Andy Cohen, Beijing Spring (film) - Wikipedia, ' Beijing Spring is a 2021 American documentary film directed by Andy Cohen and co-directed by Gaylen Ross. The film chronicles the struggle for free speech and free artistic expression in the People's Republic of China (PRC) during a brief period of political reform during the late 1970s known as the Beijing Spring. . . . .. The film focuses on a group of artists called the Stars, which grew out of the underground magazine Today. At Democracy Wall, the artists pushed the limits of free speech by posting prohibited art forms such as abstraction and nudity, photos and poetry depicting everyday life, as well as sculpture critical of the CCP. . . .. Provoked and incensed, Deng cracked down on the Democracy Wall movement and Stars art group in 1980, closing the wall and issuing arrests, putting an end to the Beijing Spring. . . . ... For the first time ever, Beijing Spring shows 16-mm footage of the illegal 1979 Stars art exhibit hung on the iron fence of the National Museum, as well as modern China's first protest rally and march through the city streets. After being detained by the authorities for illegally filming the illegal protest, Chi Xiaoning tricked the authorities into believing he destroyed the footage by exposing a blank reel of film. Chi hid the actual footage with friends, which was passed around and hidden underground in Beijing for four decades until Cohen tracked it down with the help of his Mandarin-speaking cousin.' back

Anne Newstead, Intertwining metaphysics and mathematics: the development of Georg Cantor’s set theory 1871-1887, ' This article discusses Georg Cantor’s philosophical defence of the existence of actual infinities in mathematics. The metaphysical background to Cantor’s argument is documented, emphasizing the philosophical references in Cantor’s main work, Grundlagen (1883). Cantor’s engagement with the history of philosophy, particularly the writings of Spinoza and Leibniz on infinity, is also documented. Finally, relevant portions of Cantor’s correspondence and portions of his Nachlass are also used as evidence to document the development of Cantor’s philosophy.' back

Aristotle (continuity), Physics V, iii, 'A thing that is in succession and touches is 'contiguous'. The 'continuous' is a subdivision of the contiguous: things are called continuous when the touching limits of each become one and the same and are, as the word implies, contained in each other: continuity is impossible if these extremities are two. This definition makes it plain that continuity belongs to things that naturally in virtue of their mutual contact form a unity. And in whatever way that which holds them together is one, so too will the whole be one, e.g. by a rivet or glue or contact or organic union. ' 227a10 sqq back

Brockway Macmillan, The Basic Theorems of Information Theory, ' This paper describes briefly the current mathematical models upon which communication theory is based, and presents in some detail an exposition and partial critique of C. E. Shannon's treatment of one such model. It then presents a general limit theorem in the theory of discrete stochastic processes, suggested by a result of Shannon's.' back

Brooks Barnes, The Man Reimagining Disney Classics for Today’s World, ' For more than a decade, Sean Bailey has run Disney’s animated film “reimagining” factory with quiet efficiency and superhero-sized results. His live-action “Aladdin” collected $1.1 billion at the box office, while a photorealistic “The Lion King” took in $1.7 billion. A live-action “Beauty and the Beast” delivered $1.3 billion. Disney likes the cash. The company also views Mr. Bailey’s remake operation as crucial to remaining relevant. Disney’s animated classics are treasured by fans, but most showcase ideas from another era, especially when it comes to gender roles: Be pretty, girls, and things might work out. The reimaginings, as Mr. Bailey refers to his remakes, find ways to make Disney stories less retrograde. His heroines are empowered, and his casting emphasizes diversity. A live-action “Snow White,” set for release next year, stars the Latina actress Rachel Zegler as the princess known as “the fairest of them all.” Yara Shahidi played Tinker Bell in the recent “Peter Pan and Wendy,” making her the first Black woman to portray the character onscreen. “We want to reflect the world as it exists,” Mr. Bailey said. But that worldview — and business strategy — has increasingly put Disney and Mr. Bailey, a low-profile and self-effacing executive, in the middle of a very loud, very unpolite cultural fight. For every person who applauds Disney, there seems to be a counterpart who complains about being force-fed “wokeness.” back

Cantor's diagonal argument - Wikipedia, Cantor's diagonal argument - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 'Cantor's diagonal argument, also called the diagonalisation argument, the diagonal slash argument or the diagonal method, was published in 1891 by Georg Cantor as a mathematical proof that there are infinite sets which cannot be put into one-to-one correspondence with the infinite set of natural numbers. Such sets are now known as uncountable sets, and the size of infinite sets is now treated by the theory of cardinal numbers which Cantor began. The diagonal argument was not Cantor's first proof of the uncountability of the real numbers; it was actually published much later than his first proof, which appeared in 1874. However, it demonstrates a powerful and general technique that has since been used in a wide range of proofs, also known as diagonal arguments by analogy with the argument used in this proof. The most famous examples are perhaps Russell's paradox, the first of Gödel's incompleteness theorems, and Turing's answer to the Entscheidungsproblem.' back

Cloud condensation nuclei - Wikipedia, Cloud condensation nuclei - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, ' Cloud condensation nuclei (CCNs), also known as cloud seeds, are small particles typically 0.2 µm, or one hundredth the size of a cloud droplet. CCNs are a unique subset of aerosols in the atmosphere on which water vapour condenses. This can affect the radiative properties of clouds and the overall atmosphere. Water requires a non-gaseous surface to make the transition from a vapour to a liquid; this process is called condensation. In the atmosphere of Earth, this surface presents itself as tiny solid or liquid particles called CCNs. When no CCNs are present, water vapour can be supercooled at about −13 °C (9 °F) for 5–6 hours before droplets spontaneously form. This is the basis of the cloud chamber for detecting subatomic particles. back

Courtney Mares, Pope Francis: The devil uses ‘three widespread and dangerous temptations’ to divide us, ' The pope pointed to the Gospel of Matthew to offer advice for how to overcome the three types of temptations, as Jesus did when he was tempted by the devil after 40 days of fasting in the desert. “Jesus defeats the temptations. But how does he conquer them? By avoiding discussion with the devil and responding with the Word of God,” he said. Pope Francis explained that Jesus resisted the devil “by opposing him in faith with the Divine Word.” To counteract the temptations of attachment to material things, mistrust, and the thirst for power, Jesus quotes three phrases from Scripture that speak of freedom from goods, trust, and service to God. “In this way, Jesus teaches us to defend unity with God and among ourselves from the attacks of the divider,” he said.' back

David Hamer & Andrew Dyer, Kathleen Folbigg pardon shows Australia needs a dedicated body to investigate wrongful convictions, ' The New South Wales Attorney-General Michael Daley today announced Kathleen Folbigg has been pardoned after having served 20 years for the murder of three of her infant children and the manslaughter of a fourth child. She has already been released, and won’t serve the rest of her 30-year sentence. Daley had seen the preliminary findings of a second judicial inquiry led by former NSW Chief Justice Thomas Bathurst, which found there was reasonable doubt as to Folbigg’s guilt for each of the offences. At trial, the prosecution had relied on the statistical improbability of so many of her children dying accidentally. However, at the second inquiry, this reasoning was called into question by fresh scientific evidence pointing to possible medical causes of the deaths.' back

Dedekind cut - Wikipedia, Dedekind cut - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 'I In mathematics, Dedekind cuts, named after German mathematician Richard Dedekind but previously considered by Joseph Bertrand, are а method of construction of the real numbers from the rational numbers. A Dedekind cut is a partition of the rational numbers into two sets A and B, such that all elements of A are less than all elements of B, and A contains no greatest element. The set B may or may not have a smallest element among the rationals. If B has a smallest element among the rationals, the cut corresponds to that rational. Otherwise, that cut defines a unique irrational number which, loosely speaking, fills the "gap" between A and B.' back

Dixie Chicks, Wide Open Spaces, 'Who doesn't know what I'm talking about?
Who's never left home? Who's never struck out?
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone

Many precede and many will follow
A young girl's dreams no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out West
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed

She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes

She traveled this road as a child
Wide-eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test

She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes
She knows the high stakes

And as her folks drive away, her dad yells, "Check the oil!"
Mom stares out the window and says, "I'm leavin' my girl"
She said, "It didn't seem like that long ago"
When she stood there and let her own folks know

She needed wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes

She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes (wide open spaces)
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes (wide open spaces)

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Fast Fourier transform - Wikipedia, Fast Fourier transform - Wikipedia, 'A fast Fourier transform (FFT) is an efficient algorithm to compute the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and its inverse. There are many distinct FFT algorithms involving a wide range of mathematics, from simple complex-number arithmetic to group theory and number theory; this article gives an overview of the available techniques and some of their general properties, while the specific algorithms are described in subsidiary articles linked below.' back

Frank Lidz, Put a Bird on It? Ancient Egypt Was Way Ahead of Us, ' On the west wall of one extravagantly decorated chamber, today known as the Green Room, the excavators discovered a series of painted plaster panels showcased birds in a lush papyrus marsh. The artwork was so detailed and skillfully rendered that it was possible to pinpoint some of the bird species, including the pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) and the rock pigeon (Columba livia). Recently, two British researchers, Chris Stimpson, a zoologist at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and Barry Kemp, an archaeologist at the University of Cambridge, set out to identify the rest of the birds depicted in the panels. . . . .. For many millenniums, great flocks of birds have soared over Egypt on their twice-yearly passage between Europe and central and southern Africa. Beholding these migrations, ancient Egyptians regarded birds as living symbols of fertility, life and regeneration. With the possible exception of cats, no other animal has been so frequently drawn, painted or sculpted in Egyptian art.' back

Heidi Ledford, A ‘lost world’ of early microbes thrived one billion years ago, ' Most modern eukaryotes rely on fat-like compounds called sterols, such as cholesterol, to build cell membranes and carry out other cellular functions. Because sterols are found throughout the eukaryotic family tree, they are thought to have been present in the last common ancestor of all modern eukaryotes. For that reason, palaeontologists have used the compounds as a biomarker for the presence of eukaryotes in ancient rocks. But look further back in time than 800 million years ago, and the sterol-trail runs dry. Researchers have not been able to find traces of the compounds in rocks older than that, despite the existence of fossils of a red and a green alga — both eukaryotes — dating back about one billion years. This absence has led to speculation that before 800 million years ago, eukaryotes were not abundant enough to leave a detectable sterol trace. Another possibility, however, was that researchers were looking for the wrong molecules. Benjamin Nettersheim, a geobiologist at the University of Bremen in Germany, Jochen Brocks, a palaeobiogeochemist at the Australian National University in Canberra, and their colleagues decided to focus on short-lived molecules that modern eukaryotes make while synthesizing sterols. Such modern intermediates might have been the end product for primeval eukaryotes. Wild ocean The team combed rocks from around the world and found widespread traces of these ‘protosterols’ — evidence that the eukaryotes that produced them were abundant in water environments between 800 million and 1.6 billion years ago.' back

Jeffrey Nicholls (1992), An essay on the divinity of money , ' The rise of science questioned revelation and the churches as sources of truth, but they have remained in existence because science still lacks the power to ask or answer the fundamental questions of life and death that concern theology. Here I outline a new scientific theology whose model of god derives not from ancient text but from the mathematical theory of text and communication itself. I propose that this model describes the universe of our experience, which is therefore fittingly called god. I then interpret this model using elements of current physical theory. These ideas are then applied to money. The movement of money is an abstract representation of the the activity of society as a whole, just as the flow of momentum in space-time is an abstract representation of the physical universe. My hypothesis is that proper understanding and political control of public cashflows is necessary and sufficient to obtain peaceful civilisation.' back

Jeffrey Nicholls (1992a), An essay on value, ' Killing
1 We must kill to live. The question before is is whether or not to kill some fraction of the old growth forest (OGF) in the Wingham management area (WMA) in order to keep the sawmilling operation at Mt George alive.
Religion
2 Although the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as we have it, is a document based largely on resource, commercial and employment considerations, I believe the Commission is facing a religious issue, and will have no peace until it realizes that fact.
3 Matters of life and death are questions of religion. For those who have power over life and death, deciding what to kill is a question of value. The value system of any organism is determined by the history of its survival.
4 If the decision is good, the benefit from killing will exceed the value of what is destroyed, yielding a profit and enhanced probability of survival. A wrong judgement of value leads to the opposite result.' back

John Pareles, Astrud Gilberto: 6 Essential Songs, ' Astrud Gilberto, who died on Monday at 83, brought the first, alluring taste of Brazilian bossa nova to countless listeners worldwide. Her collaborations — with Stan Getz, Gil Evans, Stanley Turrentine and others — also helped cement the connections of bossa nova and jazz. Her voice was disarmingly modest, sometimes hitting notes a little flat and often barely above a whisper; the effect was intimate and seemingly weightless. When she sang in English, her Brazilian accent gave her an endearing hint of awkwardness and approachability, even as her phrasing stayed supple, while the translated lyrics invited a wider audience to hear great Brazilian songwriters like Antonio Carlos Jobim. Her early recordings are her most radiant ones, steeped in the pensive, nostalgic longing that Brazilians call saudade. Here are six indelible Astrud Gilberto performances.' back

Kaija Saariaho, Jardin Secret I, ' SONG Jardin secret I (electronic music) ARTIST Kaija Saariaho ALBUM Saariaho: Verblendungen / Jardin Secret I / Noanoa' back

Kaija Saariaho, Innocence, ' Innocence est un opéra de la compositrice finlandaise Kaija Saariaho sur un livret de l'écrivain finlandaise Sofi Oksanen et du dramaturge-traducteur franco-finlandais Aleksi Barrière, créé en 2021 au Festival international d'art lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence. L'histoire raconte le traumatisme que la tragédie d'un massacre de masse par fusillade dans un lycée international a laissé sur les élèves survivants, les familles des victimes et celle de l'auteur. ' back

Linda Daley, Friday essay: ‘All I am is literature’ – Franz Kafka’s diaries were the forge of his writing, ' Ross Benjamin acknowledges that Brod’s relationship with Kafka was valuable in securing an international reputation, beyond the small and enthusiastic readership he had while he was alive. But this also meant Kafka’s reception was influenced too heavily by Brod’s concern with his own reputation. Benjamin’s new translation of Kafka’s diaries, in their presentation and arrangement, enables English readers to see them, for the first time, as the forge of his craft. It builds on the German critical edition, as well as decades of work by many scholars. We can now read in the diaries Kafka the writer rather than Kafka the author. . . . .. Most pleasurably, the new translation restores our sense of proximity to the pen and ink. It allows us to experience the falling off and starting again of sentences, the sometimes awkwardly expressed passages, the unreadable words due to ripped notebook pages, and the arresting effect of marooned and perfectly complete passages that are reforged across several pages.' back

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, The future of Russia — and its opposition , ' At the initiative of Lithuanian MEP Andrius Kubilius and others, a two-day conference will take place in the European Parliament in Brussels this week, with the participation of over 200 representatives from Russia’s anti-war and opposition groups, journalists, prominent cultural figures, as well as European politicians. There are just two topics for discussion on the agenda: the future of Russia and the future strategy of the Russian opposition. . . . ..For us, reaching a negotiated agreement with Putin about medium- or long-term issues is out of the question. Merely replacing Putin with another individual with yet another name — without a transition to a parliamentary model of governance with free and fair elections — will change nothing. And a coalition model of transition offers a real possibility of democratization, while a transition through a single revolutionary party guarantees authoritarianism. What’s more, we believe that the break-up of Russia would be dangerous, not only for Russians but also for the West; that communication with Russian society is no less important than sanctions; and that even though the Kremlin’s unlawful influence on political processes in Western countries has diminished greatly over the past 15 months, it remains significant — and could become stronger. All in all, it’s important for Western countries to recognize that the broad-based Russian opposition is a crucial ally in the West’s confrontation with the Putin regime — which is fast becoming increasingly fascist.' back

Monty Python, What have the Romans ever done for us?, back

Mostafa Rachwani & Antoun Issa, A quarter of Australia’s property investments held by 1% of taxpayers, data reveals, ' Only 1% of Australian taxpayers own nearly a quarter of all property investments across the country, amid concerns over escalating rates of wealth concentration. Data provided by the Australian Taxation Office has revealed the extent of that concentration, with more than 7% of property investors – or 215,321 people – accounting for 25% of all property investments. That 7% also have three or more interests in investment properties across the country, with 1% of investors – or just 19,895 people – currently holding six or more investment interests. . . .. The Tenants’ Union of NSW chief executive, Leo Patterson Ross, said the numbers reflected just how large some investment portfolios can get. Ross added that a key issue was the fact housing was seen as a “wealth-generating investment” and not a social necessity. “Taxation, banking practices and light regulation has turned property into primarily a wealth generating investment strategy rather than recognising the use of home as the primary purpose of the renting sector. “This comes at a cost both to renters and hopeful owner occupiers who face higher and higher prices".' back

Peano axioms - Wikipedia, Peano axioms - Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia, 'In mathematical logic, the Peano axioms, also known as the Dedekind–Peano axioms or the Peano postulates, are a set of axioms for the natural numbers presented by the 19th century Italian mathematician Giuseppe Peano. These axioms have been used nearly unchanged in a number of metamathematical investigations, including research into fundamental questions of whether number theory is consistent and complete.' back

Philipp Kastner, What makes peace talks successful? The 4 factors that matter, ' First, peace has a better chance when war is attacked from several sides. Multiple mediation processes can facilitate the inclusion of different stakeholders, such as civil society actors. . . . .. Second, the organisation or the specific mediator in question must be trusted by the parties. A good example of this is the Catholic Community of Sant-Egidio, which facilitated the conclusion of the peace agreement in Mozambique. . . . .. A third factor for successful peace talks is timing. Since negotiations typically take place in the shadow of military gains and losses, it’s often assumed that it only makes sense to start negotiations when both sides believe that they can gain more from negotiating than from fighting. . . . .. Fourth, how “peace” is understood plays a major role. It’s often thought that no fighting means peace, and that an agreement will end violence and suffering almost instantly. This is rarely true. An agreement is only one small step in an often long process. . . . .. And although every conflict has its own dynamics, poverty, global inequalities and exploitation are always significant factors. Tackling these issues isn’t straightforward, but it would help prevent and resolve armed conflicts, and would pay off in the long run. Peace is a process, and it requires significant commitment.' back

Pius XII, Mystici Corporis Christi, 9. For while there still survives a false rationalism, which ridicules anything that transcends and defies the power of human genius, and which is accompanied by a cognate error, the so-called popular naturalism, which sees and wills to see in the Church nothing but a juridical and social union, there is on the other hand a false mysticism creeping in, which, in its attempt to eliminate the immovable frontier that separates creatures from their Creator, falsifies the Sacred Scriptures.' . . .
Given at Rome, at St. Peter's on the twenty-ninth day of June, the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, in the year 1943, the fifth of Our Pontificate.' back

Richard Meyer, The Supreme Court Is Wrong About Andy Warhol, ' Warhol was most original in the way he dismantled the idea of originality. I did not include this formulation in my brief for fear that it was too abstruse. As it turned out, there was someone much more central to the proceedings who understood the point quite clearly. In her impassioned dissent, Justice Elena Kagan writes: “Warhol is a towering figure in modern art not despite but because of his use of source materials. His work — whether Soup Cans and Brillo Boxes or Marilyn and Prince — turned something not his into something all his own. Except that it also became all of ours, because his work today occupies a significant place not only in our museums but in our wider artistic culture".' back

Richard Monatersky & Pablo Albaerenga, Ancient Giants, back

SCMP Editorial, Greater clarity needed on how to legally mark the June 4 anniversary, ' The anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown, 34 years ago on Sunday, carries special significance for many Hong Kong people. For almost 30 years, it was marked by a mass candlelit vigil attended by tens of thousands in Victoria Park. The event remembered those who died when the student-led protests were crushed on June 4, 1989. The vigil, peaceful and moving, was seen around the world as compelling evidence of Hong Kong’s enduring freedoms after the city’s return to China in 1997. But it has not been held for four years. . . . .. Last year, no one attempted to organise the event, amid fears it may breach the national security law or cross other legal red lines. This year, no application has been made. The event was run by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, which disbanded in 2021. Three of its leaders are awaiting trial, accused of inciting subversion.' back

Sean Ingle, Saudi Arabia’s deal with PGA is major step in relentless sportswashing saga, ' Looking back, so much of it was already there on that night in Diriyah when a storm raged across the desert and Anthony Joshua made history – and £60m – by retaining his world heavyweight title belts. Not just the good, the bad and the ugly of Saudi Arabia’s sporting ambitions, but the accommodations of those willing to take the money and look the other way. back

Simon Longstaff, Self-interest versus public good: the untold damage the PwC scandal has done to the professions, ' There are many components to this ethical infrastructure. However, one of the most important is the professions – whose members influence nearly every aspect of our lives. To understand their distinctive role, one needs to recognise the difference between two “worlds”: those of the market on one hand, and the professions on the other. The essential character of the market was defined by Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith. It is a place where self-interested actors satisfy the wants of others. . . . .. The second world – the professions – is, in two respects, the opposite of the market. First, members of the professions do not satisfy the wants of others; they are obliged to serve the interests of others.. . . .. Second, professionals are obliged to put aside self-interest in favour of the public good. For example, as officers of the court, lawyers are obliged to help in the administration of justice.. .. .. We do not know the full extent of what happened at PwC. However, it seems likely that, at some point, some part of the firm abandoned the world of the professions in favour of the market – placing self-interest before all other considerations.. . .. Now we are left to wonder. Was this just a small part of PwC, or has the rot infected larger parts of the company? . . . .. Most troubling of all, can society still rely on the social compact it has struck with the professions more generally? Or has this once-vital piece of ethical infrastructure fallen into disrepair?' back

Stephen Wolfram, What Is ChatGPT Doing … and Why Does It Work?, ' The first thing to explain is that what ChatGPT is always fundamentally trying to do is to produce a “reasonable continuation” of whatever text it’s got so far, where by “reasonable” we mean “what one might expect someone to write after seeing what people have written on billions of webpages, etc.” So let’s say we’ve got the text “The best thing about AI is its ability to”. Imagine scanning billions of pages of human-written text (say on the web and in digitized books) and finding all instances of this text—then seeing what word comes next what fraction of the time. ' back

Tim Alberta, Inside the Meltdown at CNN, back

Will Oremus, AI chatbots lose money every time you use them. That’s a problem., ' “The models being deployed right now, as impressive as they seem, are really not the best models available,” said Tom Goldstein, a computer science professor at the University of Maryland. “So as a result, the models you see have a lot of weaknesses” that might be avoidable if cost were no object — such as a propensity to spit out biased results or blatant falsehoods. The tech giants staking their future on AI rarely discuss the technology’s cost. OpenAI (the maker of ChatGPT), Microsoft and Google all declined to comment. But experts say it’s the most glaring obstacle to Big Tech’s vision of generative AI zipping its way across every industry, slicing head counts and boosting efficiency.' back