Infographic titled "AI Isn't a Ticket To an A," explaining how chatbots work, what the data show about the prevalence of these technologies and how they're used, what we know about the quality of their output, and what we know about the impact that frequent use of these technologies has on their users and on content creators, low-wage workers, and the environment.

For their first project, my Kids and Society students have to create an infographic clarifying a common misconception about "kids these days." I'd prefer that they not use AI to create their projects, so I made my own infographic explaining why : )

A black and white photo of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin. She is sitting at her desk and looking up at the camera, which is in front of her and to her left. Payne-Gaposchkin is wearing a baggy, ribbed sweater and has a wristwatch on her right arm. A pair of glasses rests on the desk in front of her, next to open books and papers which are just visible at the bottom of the photogaph. Filing cabinets, drawers, and another desk are visible in the background. She has short, dark hair which is no longer than chin-length, pulled out of her face behind her left ear.

“There is no joy more intense than that of coming upon a fact that cannot be understood in terms of currently accepted ideas."

Astronomer Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, who decoded spectral lines to deduce the elemental composition of stars, was born #OTD in 1900. 🧪 🔭 ⚛️ 👩‍🔬

Image: Harvard Observatory

I find this sort of thing quite exhausting.

The same things that have been beautiful about the world are still beautiful and still valuable.

Sounds fun!

This is my first solo paper since 2014. Quite a stretch! I find it easier to push through projects to completion when I have collaborators; gives that sense of obligation to prioritise that seems to help.

Nice to get this paper out there - been gestating for a few years but I hope the point comes across. There are lots of network classes that have been defined (including a couple by me with my collaborators), but I think the strength of normal networks (defined by Willson) is becoming clear.

New paper out in J Theor Biol! I make the case that "normal" phylogenetic networks are the gas. #mathsky

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

The problem with most machine-based random number generators is that they’re not TRULY random, so if you need genuine randomness it is sometimes necessary to link your code to an external random process like a physical noise source or the current rate of US tariffs on a given country.

Yes, that's possible. Good thought.

I guess these days the competition is electric organs where one doesn't have to pedal!

Awwww! It would be great to get it to you! I hope someone will love it.

Keys and stoppers on an old pedal organ, with maker's logo saying "Estey Organ Co. Brattleboro, Vt, U.S.A"

Antique wooden pedal organ.

I have this beautiful old pedal organ at home in Sydney. I think my parents were given it in the late 70s while we lived in Cooma, NSW, but clearly it comes originally from Vermont.

I want to offload it, but how? Who would want a pedal organ now?

I know that universities are talking internally about it, and I know that we are seeing applicants from the US specifically as a consequence of their government's actions.

Oh yes. And there will be real suffering as a consequence of it all.

If we see a global realignment away from the US as the centre it'll be painful but not the worst outcome.

The battle still rages.

Ooh nice!!

An opportunity for art 🙂

Yes, life for my parents was always very frugal. Everything saved, reused, put aside, mended. It was good.

You might also like reading Parabola magazine, full of puzzles, problems, and articles.
www.parabola.unsw.edu.au

📌

Infuriating.

How could we be back here again so soon??!!

I see, you are talking about the dough. I thought it was about feeding the starter 🤦‍♂️.

What are the elements of those ratios? I gather the last is water - are the first two rye and white flour?

I've been using 50% water and 50/50 white and rye flours, but would like a more sour taste.

Take plate numbers 😬

That's hilarious. The banal ignorance of the anti science, mediocrity now in charge.

I came over earlier, but I like what you did to close it off thoroughly. I might go back to upgrade security and then properly log off.

Yes, I've done the same when I moved over here.

It's very cool that someone who knows both your work and McCartney thinks it would be his kind of thing!

Gotta dream a bit to live a bit