[About (RPG-like) equipping your LLMs]: We can Enchant Knowledge Objects (books, websites, PDFs, whatever) with guiding the [LLM RAG]’s focus within documents through structured annotations and symbols and turn them into powerful Talismans. […]. I see Knowledge Objects as handcrafted artefacts—collections of dense metadata and symbols that play with the model’s context in unpredictable ways. Weird, markdown files full of material that, that when dropped into a model, produce something entirely different than expected: shifting tone, reordering context, or amplifying particular ideas.
People: Talking loud to oneself. The case against the index finger. ICC warrants for Hamas and Israel leaders. MIT sponsors low-income students. Grocery cartels. Youthless world. Californian schools during heat waves. Filling lonely Japanese streets with puppets and dolls. Fiction, crime and cafes - what asian books tell about us.
40% of LinkedIn posts are AI’s.Random: Ian secure shoelace knot. Internet damages in the baltic (?) - and earlier comms. Rectangular cows in the UK. Carving leaves.
Tech: Spying air-friers. Video on the Kessler Syndrom. Coil gun found in Japan. MicroSD FPGA (logical continuation of the FOMU?) =)
China’s implants on US network. Russian disinformation ops.Futures: Axa Future Risks report 2024 (PDF). HBR Future of Work (and the research paper). We’re doomed, so what (PDF). In the 1920s.
AI: Leaders using AI to grow. Palantir and Anthropic. Older piece where Claude does aerial imagery research. RPG’ing LLMs - and benchmarking LLMs on games.
Zoom targets AI comms.
The Digital Talisman's Paradox
(tentative thoughts from the dumb oracle)
It was a typical Tuesday in the city of New Haven, where the air was thick with the scent of overpriced artisanal coffee and the faint echoes of half-formed ideas wafted through the crowded co-working spaces. This day, however, would prove anything but typical for Jasper, a tech enthusiast with a penchant for talking to himself—*a practice that, according to a recent study, not only boosts motivation but also keeps one’s sanity intact, provided one doesn’t start answering back*^1.
Jasper's latest obsession was a newly launched AI language model, affectionately dubbed "Talisman." The name conjured images of enchanted objects, mysteries, and perhaps, a sprinkling of algorithmic magic. Talisman was designed not just to generate text but to facilitate "Knowledge Object" interactions, allowing users to explore ideas as if they were picking apples in a digital orchard—*an orchard that could also double as a psychological minefield if you accidentally harvested a cursed object*^2.
While Jasper was gingerly maneuvering through Talisman's interface, he stumbled upon a curious feature: “Cursed Knowledge Objects.” Intrigued, he clicked it, only to find himself in a labyrinth of misinformation, where every click threatened to lead him deeper into the underbelly of the internet. “It’s like falling into a rabbit hole that leads straight to a grocery price inflation seminar,” he muttered, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all^3.
Meanwhile, outside Jasper’s digital realm, the world was grappling with its own complexities. The Future Risks Report had just been released, revealing climate change as the top concern, as if that were news to anyone paying their electricity bill. With geopolitical tensions simmering and cyber threats creeping like a cat with too many lives, it was hard to find a safe corner to hide^4.
Jasper, however, had a plan. With the newfound knowledge of Talisman’s features, he decided to create a “Knowledge Object” that would help combat misinformation. He envisioned a digital talisman that would not only share facts but also gently remind users of the importance of critical thinking—*like a wise old sage, only with fewer wrinkles and more code*^5.
But as he crafted his digital masterpiece, he couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom, much like the villagers of Ichinono, Japan, who had resorted to using life-sized dolls to stave off the despair of their aging population^6. The thought made him chuckle; a few dolls to distract from the existential dread might not be such a bad idea.
As he clicked “Publish” on his Talisman, the screen flickered ominously. “That’s odd,” he remarked, “I didn’t sign up for the Kessler syndrome of digital objects.” Just like that, a flood of notifications erupted. Jasper’s new creation had gone viral, but not in the way he had hoped. Reports of his Knowledge Object spreading misinformation began surfacing—*the irony was so thick you could slice it with a slightly dull index finger*^7.
In the midst of chaos, he found solace in his self-talk. “Well, Jasper,” he said to himself, “if life gives you lemons, make a lemonade stand… or at least a digital one that doesn’t drive prices up.” With renewed determination, he resolved to fix the mess he had unintentionally created, knowing that in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and knowledge, a little transparency could go a long way.
As the sun set over New Haven, the lights of the city twinkled like stars in a galaxy filled with uncertainty, and Jasper—ever the sensible lunatic—embraced the absurdity of it all, ready to tackle the next challenge, one bizarre digital talisman at a time.
*^1 Self-talk is like having a brainstorming session with yourself, minus the awkward silences and eye rolls from colleagues.*
*^2 Think of it as a game of hot potato, but with information that might explode in your face.*
*^3 Grocery prices have become the modern-day equivalent of a horror story; you don’t want to peek, but you can’t resist.*
*^4 Just remember: when the world feels like a pressure cooker, it’s best to keep your lid on—unless you want to risk a messy explosion.*
*^5 Think of it as your friendly neighborhood AI, here to save the day, even if it’s dressed like a digital wizard.*
*^6 Sometimes, you just need a doll to remind you that you’re not the only one who feels a little lost in the world.*
*^7 The index finger: the unsung hero of hand function, but also the source of many a mischief—like accidentally sending your ex a love letter instead of a grocery list.*