📣 In this issue:
Video-game voice actors strike, AI Bullsh*t, Unravelling AI, Extraterrestrial, WTF AI, AI is not a bubble, and Lil’ Punks.
📰 News-To-Know
1
Video-game voice actors strike
SAG-AFTRA has initiated a strike against major video game companies such as Epic Games and Activision over concerns related to artificial intelligence affecting voice and motion-capture actors. This follows a previous Hollywood actors' strike.
The union, representing around 35,000 members, has called for the strike after negotiations on AI protections stalled. The strike could delay game releases if it lasts long, particularly impacting unannounced AAA titles.
The targeted companies include Activision, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, and others. SAG-AFTRA demands better AI protections to prevent the misuse of performers' voices. While current film and TV actors under separate contracts won't strike, union members working on existing game contracts can continue without union discipline unless the strike extends beyond 60 days.
Video game publishers can independently negotiate deals with the union to avoid disruptions. Most games, especially mobile and Roblox titles, will remain unaffected by the strike.
2
AI Bullshit
Artificial intelligence is now ubiquitous, with AI assistants offering help in various tasks. However, users often encounter a problem where AI chatbots like ChatGPT make up information. Commonly termed as “hallucinations,” this phenomenon is better described as “bullshitting,” a term defined by philosopher Harry Frankfurt to mean indifference to the truth.
ChatGPT's errors are not rare but a consequence of how it functions. It predicts language patterns from vast training data to produce humanlike text without ensuring its accuracy. This predictive process doesn't involve true understanding or a connection to the real world, thus calling its falsehoods "hallucinations" is misleading.
Instead, it should be recognized as "bullshitting" because it aims to produce convincing text, not truthful content. This distinction is important for public understanding, affects how we interact with technology, and ensures accountability, especially as AI is increasingly used in critical areas like healthcare. Mislabeling these errors can anthropomorphize AI and mislead people about its capabilities and limitations, potentially leading to misuse and misplaced trust.
3
Unravelling the mystery behind AI
Scientists are delving into the complexities of modern AI, similar to studying the brain, despite its challenges. On May 23, AI researcher Jide Alaga encountered a peculiar response from Claude, an AI assistant by Anthropic, which consistently referenced the Golden Gate Bridge. This anomaly was part of a project aimed at understanding how AI models, like Claude with its 70 billion parameters, store and interpret concepts. By manipulating the representation of certain concepts, researchers can guide AI behavior and identify features such as "deception" and "sycophancy."
AI systems, particularly large language models (LLMs), are trained on vast amounts of text and generate human-like responses. However, their inner workings remain largely opaque, creating a need for the new field of AI interpretability. This research aims to understand and control these models better, drawing parallels with neuroscience, which studies the human brain. Unlike traditional software, LLMs evolve through a training process involving many billions of connections, making their mechanisms difficult to decipher.
Researchers use various techniques, including neural decoding and probing, to study AI models. For instance, Anthropic's experiment with "Golden Gate Claude" revealed how specific features could be manipulated within the model. Such research is crucial as AI systems are increasingly integrated into critical areas like medicine and education. Understanding AI's inner workings can prevent misuse and ensure safer, more reliable applications.
While complete transparency in AI models may be unattainable, incremental progress is vital. Interpretability research aims to uncover how AI systems make decisions and how to intervene if necessary. This endeavor requires significant resources and collaboration across scientific disciplines, drawing from neuroscience's methods and insights. The ultimate goal is to make AI systems safer and more predictable, ensuring their responsible use in society.
👀 Watch List
Extraterrestrial: Area 51 V2
WTF AI - AI rewrite superhero movies
⏳ ICYMI
Your all Wrong ... AI Is NOT A Bubble!
🎨 Inspiration
Lil’ Punks
The punk rock movement emerged in the mid-1970s as a reaction against the perceived excesses of mainstream rock music and the socio-political climate of the time. Its origins can be traced to the United States and the United Kingdom, where bands and musicians sought to return to the raw simplicity and rebellious spirit of early rock 'n' roll.
In the United States, the punk scene coalesced around New York City, particularly at the club CBGB. Early bands like the Ramones, with their fast, stripped-down sound and anti-establishment lyrics, played a crucial role in defining the genre. The Ramones' self-titled debut album, released in 1976, is often cited as one of the first true punk rock records. Simultaneously, other bands such as Patti Smith Group, Television, and Blondie were experimenting with a similar ethos, emphasizing a DIY approach to music and performance.
Across the Atlantic, the UK punk scene developed with its own distinct flavor, heavily influenced by the socio-economic turmoil of the time. The Sex Pistols, managed by the controversial Malcolm McLaren, became the face of British punk with their provocative lyrics and anarchic attitude. Their 1977 single "God Save the Queen," released during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, was a direct challenge to the British establishment and garnered both significant popularity and widespread outrage. Other influential British punk bands included The Clash, who brought a political consciousness to their music, and The Damned, who were among the first UK bands to release a punk single and album.
Punk rock's ethos extended beyond music to fashion and culture. Punk fashion, characterized by ripped clothing, safety pins, and DIY modifications, became an integral part of the movement. Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's boutique, SEX, in London became a hub for punk style. The movement also embraced a DIY ethic, with many bands self-producing their records and organizing their own tours.
As the late 1970s transitioned into the 1980s, punk rock began to fragment into various subgenres. Hardcore punk, which emphasized even faster tempos and more aggressive attitudes, emerged in the United States with bands like Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, and Minor Threat. These bands took the DIY ethos further, often releasing music on independent labels and maintaining a staunchly underground presence.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the post-punk movement evolved, with bands like Joy Division and Siouxsie and the Banshees experimenting with more complex sounds and darker themes, pushing the boundaries of what punk could be. The influence of punk also spread globally, inspiring scenes in countries as diverse as Australia, Japan, and Brazil.
Despite its initial burst of intensity, the punk rock movement's legacy continued to shape music and culture in subsequent decades. The 1990s saw a resurgence of punk's popularity with the success of bands like Green Day and The Offspring, who brought punk-inspired sounds to mainstream audiences. Punk's influence is also evident in the DIY ethos that continues to drive independent music scenes worldwide, as well as in the enduring appeal of its rebellious spirit and raw energy.
Midjourney Prompt
A whimsical cartoonish illustration of a tiny baby [girl] punk rocker with long hair and big eyes, a messy [blue] punk hairstyle.
/settings: Version 6 and Stylize Med
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