Things my husband didn't know:

myrmepropagandist

* what is grok(in the context of X)
* That OpenAI used to be non-profit
* What Studio Ghibli is.
* The Studio Ghibli Controversy
* What "Training Data" are

Thought "everyone" knew this stuff. That's *my* bubble I get it.

He's very up to date on news, just not this.

Nonetheless his IT department keeps asking them to "learn copilot" so they can "be more efficient" everyone hates it. (Is Microsoft doing something to make IT departments do this all over the place?)

? Offline

@futurebird Sorry, he doesn't know what Studio Ghibli is? This is a medical emergency. Please sit him down in front of My Neighbour Totoro, stat.

imp >:3

@futurebird I think thats just Microsoft and Alphabet's business strategy...remember then cramming Office into schools? Google Classroom? Chromebooks...

myrmepropagandist

@theplaguedoc

We will get to it. Though both of us watch very little fiction it's kind of a crime really.

I'm a Howl's Moving Castle girl.

myrmepropagandist

@imp3tuz

OK but how do they make the IT departments in various companies and agencies and schools all start nagging everyone in the same way?

Do they give them nagging lessons and call it "training" or something?

Mans R

@futurebird Has OpenAI made a profit?

Anke

@futurebird Studio Ghibli Controversy?

baibold

@futurebird

Grok will always be from Stranger In a Strange Land, and no nazi-bastard-created chatbot will take it from me.

Brianna

@futurebird They're making us learn copilot as work as well. I hate it say it but it has made my job easier and more bearable the more I automate.

myrmepropagandist

@Anke

Do you remember when all the worst boys on X where using some AI image generator to make "Ghibli Style" profile pics for themselves and soft warm and fuzzy fascist propaganda?

Hugo Mills

@futurebird I'm pretty sure that MS *is* doing that. Their hearts-and-minds people go around offering all sorts of funding and free licenses as the lure, with an apparently reasonable hook attached, like "use this language and toolchain exclusively for all of your output". It's a small step from there to "use Copilot everywhere; and we *will* be checking your usage stats".

I've been in the meetings where they make these offers you can't refuse. I come out wanting a long shower and strong soap.

myrmepropagandist

@affiliatemarketerguru

I'm happy to hear this I was feeling like I was going mad since I can't find ANYONE this stuff works for.

myrmepropagandist

@baibold

I will help you reclaim this **provided** you help me reclaim the word "gamergate"

It's about ambitious young ants NOT videogames.

Deal?

myrmepropagandist

@darkling

So the poor IT people are hearing things like "only six percent of your people have opened copilot in the past week, they could have save 300 hours if only blah blah blah?"

That is diabolical.

myrmepropagandist

In other "non-computer obsessed people" AI news I had a big breakthrough with my mom. She has been writing these self-published books with the local historical society about the Civil War graves in the Pittsburgh area. I think it's great. Books like that don't get much attention but someday some historian will cry tears of joy that they exist. Otherwise the information will vanish.

But she said she was using chat GPT to help.

I kind of lost it.

1/

myrmepropagandist

I wrote her this long (probably too passionate note) about how it would "sand away" her voice. What's the point of making your writing sound exactly like everyone else?

My mom is a mathematician and not really into writing. So, I can understand the appeal. "It just makes the sentences sound like they're supposed to"

It makes the sentences sound boring. And the topic is already boring enough.

Anyway she's come around I think to writing. And I'm offering to help edit. 2/2

myrmepropagandist

Because then I have a best friend who keeps saying things like "chatGPT said that he didn't think ..."

There is no "he"
There is no "think"
There probably isn't even a "said"

I feel like I'm fighting a multi-front war.

This new tech has not been explained to "the general public" well. This reminds me of the early days of the internet when everyone was so scared of it... only now they aren't scared enough... in the right ways if that makes sense.

myrmepropagandist

@mansr

That is a different question. They have not made profit if you count the mounting debt.

And a non-profit is always allowed to make one, that is just not your goal.

David Chisnall (*Now with 50% more sarcasm!*)

@futurebird @imp3tuz

They start by making the bonuses if MS sales droids entirely dependent on their AI upsells. Get someone to increase their number of M365 seats by 20%? No bonus. Get them to move to a Copilot++ subscription? Big bonus. Need to almost 100% discount the product to shift it? No problem, lock people in now and exploit them later.

To get their bonuses, the sales droids need a narrative that makes people move to the AI thing. All of your competitors are buying it and seeing a 10% reduction in costs! They're shipping twice as fast! Oh, sorry, I can't give you details, they're covered by NDA (and you wouldn't want me to give your competitors details about you, would you?) but trust me bro, they're all seeing huge productivity wins.

So now some decision maker had been persuaded to buy this nonsense. Now their reputation is on the line. If it improves things, yay! They're a visionary! They led the AI transition at the organisation! Leadership! But what if it doesn't work? Not possible, they're a leader. If you're not seeing a productivity boost, it can't possibly because some snake-oil salesdroid sold them a lemon it must be because you are using it wrong.

And, helpfully, Microsoft added dashboard things so you can see who is using Copilot and his much. Not seeing a big productivity win? Just go to the dashboard and see who isn't using it. It must be their fault. Pressure them to use it more. You'll see big wins! And you must see them, because otherwise you have to admit that you were scammed.

myrmepropagandist

@david_chisnall @imp3tuz

That's backwards. The software is supposed to be so useful you can't keep people from using it. How did the cracking of the whip get into the cycle?

We are all lazy. If it worked people would be all over it.

Chebucto Regional Softball Club

Things my husband didn't know: