Posts by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
(DIR) Post #ASuiEbB1AerCuqYXS4 by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-02-21T17:57:16Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@futurebird Paying for reach is so depressing. Like, what's the point of following someone if you're not necessarily even going to see their content in your feed? Are you supporting creators if they have to pay Meta for every post, just so you might see it? And it's not like creators are paying for access. No, they'd have access if feeds weren't full of stuff that nobody asked for. They're paying to offset the revenue Meta could have made from selling that slot to someone else.
(DIR) Post #AT1WU7aP7IbeQrmjwm by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-02-24T22:40:35Z
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Science peeps: is there a good way to do database-like queries over publications and citations? Like, to find <professor> at <school> who coauthored with <professor> and cited <paper>?Please boost for visibility. :)
(DIR) Post #ATejt3AN8xtmsXYnZ2 by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-03-15T21:21:31Z
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@MrLee @atomicpoet @konstantin @mistercharlie @thomasottio @fediversenews I think the takeaway from that is Meta cares more about "winning" than it does about products. And for them, "winning" means getting more user data and ad views.This is actually pretty suggestive of what sort of Fediverse product they're likely to build. Their priority will be to recapture the data / content streams of as many fleeing users as possible. That's a serious risk, but one that might apply to any Mastodon instance, not just Meta's.In theory they could try to make a _better_ alternative to Mastodon, to out-compete it and build another walled garden. But then the actual "federated" parts of the system would just be a nuisance to them, not a feature. They might neglect or intentionally break those integrations.If folks are afraid to let Meta in, maybe we should think about the specific actions we're afraid they might take, and whether policies or technical constraints could be used to prevent / mitigate that harm?
(DIR) Post #ATejt57FtWasvS7Kz2 by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-03-15T21:47:51Z
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@thomasottio @MrLee @atomicpoet @konstantin @mistercharlie @fediversenews Maybe they only want to use the protocol so that they can present themselves as a competitor in the same product space? Like "we know some of our users prefer X, so we're launching a new X, with all the best parts of Facebook built in (but none of the scary parts you don't like, we promise! 🤞)"
(DIR) Post #ATejt6HDZy9oWdmo9Q by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-03-15T22:55:57Z
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@thomasottio @MrLee @atomicpoet @konstantin @mistercharlie @fediversenews I'd be shocked if this was a high priority for them, honestly. It doesn't make sense.
(DIR) Post #ATejt6rNPX54KmhgVk by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-03-15T23:24:49Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@thomasottio @MrLee @atomicpoet @konstantin @mistercharlie @fediversenews Another thought on what Meta might be doing: maybe they are trying to pull Fediverse content into Facebook. Their users could follow and interact with Mastodon accounts without having to switch! Of course, the real benefit to Meta would be gaining access to the federated stream, so they could build models of Fediverse content and users to integrate into their advertising products.
(DIR) Post #ATilKYCAlOlXWDv38y by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-03-17T19:54:01Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
Today I attended the #StochasticParrotsDay live stream, hosted by @DAIR, and it was _amazing_. Definitely a huge success. More than 1,000 attendees came together from all over the world to learn about the current challenges in AI ethics. They had top-notch speakers, content, and moderation, all shared for _free_, so I want to give a huge thank you and congratulations to the DAIR team and to all the participants. I look forward to more great things from you folks!There were a few major points from the stream that I want to echo, because I think they’re important. I'm paraphrasing and adding a bit of my own perspective, to be clear.
(DIR) Post #ATilKZNCNtBDAi5My8 by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-03-17T19:55:01Z
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@DAIR #StochasticParrotsDay The current AI paradigm is fundamentally parasitic. These systems do not generate intelligence. They capture, amplify, and repurpose the intelligence of human beings. They cannot function without being fed huge amounts of data that rightfully belongs to someone, but currently is not tracked or attributed in any way. They cannot function without large teams of people who manually review the models and training data. This entails being exposed to the most vile stuff on the internet with minimal compensation and psychological support. This _could_ be done ethically, but right now it _isn’t_. Companies are getting away with this largely by exploiting vulnerable populations who have no recourse, such as small-time content creators and impoverished workers.
(DIR) Post #ATilKaMAjBx8Doc40W by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-03-17T19:55:52Z
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@DAIR #StochasticParrotsDay The companies behind AI technology are working very hard and spending lots of money to shape the narrative around it. They present an aspirational view of what this tech can do, which ranges from overly optimistic to actively untrue and deceptive. They tell nice stories about improving people’s lives, but by and large they don’t actually interface with the folks affected by their work. To an alarming degree, they keep their methods and datasets secret, which makes it impossible to validate their claims or criticize their work in a meaningful way. They are firing what ethics teams they once had. As should be expected, they’re more interested in selling this technology than they are in making it safe, fair, or even useful. Unfortunately, the media often helps them do this, by repeating their claims uncritically.
(DIR) Post #ATilKbOKsdHHQodJ1E by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-03-17T19:57:17Z
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@DAIR #StochasticParrotsDay Currently, the scope and impact of AI far outstrips our understanding and ability to regulate this technology. This is dangerous for everyone, but will have an outsized impact on marginalized communities. Academics, lawyers, educators, and policymakers naturally lag behind the huge, well-funded companies that are promoting this tech. That means we’re still in the “Wild West” phase, but that’s starting to change. Real push back is starting to happen! The primary obstacle is still understanding. Tech experts have an opportunity to help by explaining this technology in accessible terms, so everyone can know how they’re affected and what they can do about it. We can all benefit by taking the time to learn more, but also sharing experiences and concerns. We need motivating examples. We need sustained attention. So, speak up, and amplify others’ voices!
(DIR) Post #AUUX8kelo1vCM0fW4G by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-04-06T21:58:26Z
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@DrewKadel Love this. We want so badly for ChatGPT to produce answers, opinions, and art, but all it can do is make plausible simulations of those things. As a species, we've never had to deal with that before.
(DIR) Post #AWEbGQi6FmWELewoF6 by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-06-01T00:29:57Z
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I love #reddit, but their website is trash, and the ads and "recommended posts" have been getting out of hand. If they cut 3rd-party app support, I'm out.Sad to see so many good things ruined by greed these days. :blobcatcry:
(DIR) Post #AWEpFQik80ifRufLAe by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-06-01T04:09:37Z
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@Shdwdrgn Oooh, I will have to check this out! Will it not be affected by the API policy changes? Wait, the Reddit site still provides this UI?!
(DIR) Post #AWIr9EAkqWkVKomI7c by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-06-03T00:57:22Z
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@Shdwdrgn Sigh. Thanks for the tip!
(DIR) Post #AWxYeq6r4VzTyKcRoe by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-06-22T19:04:26Z
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@charadon Heehee. Absolutely. It's simply good practice to resolve as much as possible on the server. Just think of it as a fun puzzle! Almost everything you can do with JavaScript can be done with HTML, CSS, and a bit of creativity.
(DIR) Post #AXVfY297Ja6bgN1w6y by ngaylinn@tech.lgbt
2023-06-24T18:08:12Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
The psychological safety I feel here on Mastodon is really something special. It's the first social media platform where I've felt I could really be myself. It's encouraged me to let loose and be authentic in little ways, even when I log out and return to real life.There's a lot of cynicism and dark subject matter, too. But, honestly, it means the world to be in a community that's as concerned about these things as I am, and supports each other through tough times. Even the painful rants here feel more like genuine catharsis than fodder for doomscrolling.:blobcatheartR: :mastodon: & :techlgbt: #mastodon