On my son’s seventh-grade school supplies list: peak calculating performance. I dug out my TI-84 Plus from when I was in high school. I am relieved that it still works and happy that I get to share this with him.
Finished reading: Go Computer Now! How Sphere Corporation Invented the Modern Microcomputer—Then Disappeared by Ben Zotto 📚
I love reading about early personal computing history. I had never heard of Sphere. There was so much activity in this field during those years and history was written by the winners of that time.
“Wow, so you’re a veteran”, she adds – to which I reply that it’s a very nice and polite way to tell me I’m old now. She chuckles.
“How about ‘seasoned’?”
As I look back at my 40th birthday in my wake and my 20th year in the industry on the horizon, I feel well seasoned at this point. I am not a regular Mac Stories reader, but this article really struck a chord with me.
A Buc-ee’s Beaver dressed as Apollo Creed from Rocky IV.
Don't use AI as a Therapist
I have been a longtime listener and subscriber of Accidental Tech Podcast. In the latest member special, ATP Movie Club: Her, the hosts discussed their thoughts after recently watching the 2013 film Her. I never watched the movie, but was vaguely aware that it dealt with the protagonist’s connection with a digital assistant (à la Siri). One of the overarching themes of the episode was the correlations we find ourselves in with respect to the “relationships” people are developing with LLMs. Towards the end of the episode, Marco discussed how people today are beginning to turn to LLMs for companionship or for help (using them as a therapist), eventually postulating current LLMs might be better than a bad human therapist. I have disagreed with many of Marco’s takes on the show, but this one really takes the cake: this is an outrageously bad take. OpenAI’s ChatGPT product has been the focus of lawsuits pertaining to violence and self-harm, for example:
- Parents Allege ChatGPT Is Responsible for Their Teenage Son’s Death by Suicide
- OpenAI Faces Lawsuits Over Deadly Mass Shooting in Canada
These tools cannot and should not replace human connection or human conversation, regardless of how inadequate a human therapist might be. I have been fortunate to have what I consider to be a good therapist. If I did not feel that way, I would seek out a new therapist. Under no circumstances would I seek out an LLM for this role.
I like ATP and I’m fine with most of Marco’s takes, but this one is in the “Bad Takes Hall of Fame”. We can enjoy using LLMs for software development or for finding utility in repetitive tasks, but we should honestly stop there. This current episode of glazing AI in the tech sphere is getting out of hand.
Finished reading: A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales 📚
Finished reading: A Series of Unfortunate Events #8: The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket 📚
Finished reading: A Series of Unfortunate Events #7: The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket 📚
Finished reading: Wings: the Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney 📚
A Christmas gift from Ashley. I’ve always enjoyed Wings’ music, but wasn’t as familiar with the history of the band. It was a lot of fun. I took the time to listen to the albums after reading about them.
Finished reading: Apple The First 50 Years by David Pogue 📚
A fun read with lots of great stories and anecdotes. I still cannot believe how lucky I am to be apart of Apple and to have Apple be apart of me.
Only the thing for which you have struggled will last.
– Yoruba Proverb
Finished reading: Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green 📚
It was a good read, but difficult at times. I was upset when the current administration dismantled USAID. I am now furious all over again. We could be doing so much to help other countries that would, in turn, help us.
Exploring the Bison and Elk Reserve at Land Between the Lakes.
Finished reading: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 📚
I had purchased an unabridged copy of this when I was in high school. The book sat on my shelf ever since. Approximately twenty-two years later, I have read it. Well worth the wait. I only regret not reading it sooner.
Finished reading: Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company by Patrick McGee 📚
Finished reading: Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry 📚
Great Scott! A fun stroll down memory lane reminiscing how one of my favorite movies improbably came together.
Finished reading: This Is for Everyone by Tim Berners-Lee 📚
Thoughts on my Consumption Footprint
Reflecting on past purchases has led to a more thoughtful approach to consumption, prioritizing durability and sustainability over convenience.
The Current State of Product Recommendations and Research
Concerns about trusting online information have surfaced amidst the rise of AI-generated content, prompting a reflection on the credibility of sources and the impact on decision-making.
Finished reading: Superbloom by Nicholas Carr 📚
There is a lot to process here. It can feel a bit overwhelming and deterministic: was our current reality set in motion over a century ago? Can our current situation be improved? I’m feeling less optimistic that it can be fixed.
This article struck a chord with me. I have been reading Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart and one of the recurring themes I’m noticing is that the lack of friction in communication seems to be a double edged sword.
via kottke
📺 My Pace – Life of Goro | Escaping City Rules for Outdoor Life in Hokkaido
I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about intentionality and what would give me meaning outside of work. What do I want my life to look like? I’m still figuring that out.
via kottke
Finished reading: Source Code by Bill Gates 📚
I really enjoyed the computer history covered in Bill Gates’ memoir. He comes across as a fascinating individual, especially when going into details regarding early software development.