Gerben Wierda
@gerbenwierda.bsky.social
Is the US a civilised country? It seems to have slowly descended into robber baron territory, a step on the way to war lord territory. pluralistic.net/2025/11/13/p... The US isn’t lost but repairing it will be almost unimaginably hard..
Pluralistic: For-profit healthcare is the problem, not (just) private equity (13 Nov 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net
November 13, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Is the US a civilised country? It seems to have slowly descended into robber baron territory, a step on the way to war lord territory. pluralistic.net/2025/11/13/p... The US isn’t lost but repairing it will be almost unimaginably hard..
As some may have noticed I am on a publishing/speaking hiatus (no posts since June 2025 and I generally used to do at least one a month). I only do some commenting, currently. But this I really have to share.
AI-generated podcast AI-slopcast
We introduce a new term: "AI-slopcast". This is a podcast that is created by Generative AI and — surprise! — is AI-slop. The victim: one of my own posts.
ea.rna.nl
October 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
As some may have noticed I am on a publishing/speaking hiatus (no posts since June 2025 and I generally used to do at least one a month). I only do some commenting, currently. But this I really have to share.
If the US administration is so worried about one-sided coverage of TV broadcast license holders — CBS (Colbert), ABC (Kimmel), NBC (Meyers, Fallon) — they might use some of that scrutiny on FOX regarding one-sided (no joking) coverage...
September 21, 2025 at 7:12 AM
If the US administration is so worried about one-sided coverage of TV broadcast license holders — CBS (Colbert), ABC (Kimmel), NBC (Meyers, Fallon) — they might use some of that scrutiny on FOX regarding one-sided (no joking) coverage...
I am generally really impressed by @mattbevan.bsky.social's
"If You're Listening" series.
This one from just now really made my jaw drop: youtu.be/3rS_IORcSX0?...
It is a second of a series on the peace negotiations by Steve Witkoff. Several "this cannot be true" moments. But they are.
"If You're Listening" series.
This one from just now really made my jaw drop: youtu.be/3rS_IORcSX0?...
It is a second of a series on the peace negotiations by Steve Witkoff. Several "this cannot be true" moments. But they are.
September 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
I am generally really impressed by @mattbevan.bsky.social's
"If You're Listening" series.
This one from just now really made my jaw drop: youtu.be/3rS_IORcSX0?...
It is a second of a series on the peace negotiations by Steve Witkoff. Several "this cannot be true" moments. But they are.
"If You're Listening" series.
This one from just now really made my jaw drop: youtu.be/3rS_IORcSX0?...
It is a second of a series on the peace negotiations by Steve Witkoff. Several "this cannot be true" moments. But they are.
The problem of the US Dems: MAGA’s carnage on many fronts forces them to constantly defend much of the status quo (rule of law, Fed/economy, etc.), but their potential voters want ‘change’.
September 3, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The problem of the US Dems: MAGA’s carnage on many fronts forces them to constantly defend much of the status quo (rule of law, Fed/economy, etc.), but their potential voters want ‘change’.
What the US (and every country with a district based representation) needs to protect democracy is more than one representative per district, say, the 2-3 with the most votes). 1-rep districts are too vulnerable for manipulation.
September 1, 2025 at 11:39 AM
What the US (and every country with a district based representation) needs to protect democracy is more than one representative per district, say, the 2-3 with the most votes). 1-rep districts are too vulnerable for manipulation.
Today, Donald J. Trump is going to choose if he will be remembered as Neville Chamberlain (who was fooled by Hitler) or as Winston Churchill (who wasn't). Give DJT a Nobel Peace Prize if he decides peace is best served by *fully* stopping thugs like Putin. Appeasement is a step towards WW3.
August 18, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Today, Donald J. Trump is going to choose if he will be remembered as Neville Chamberlain (who was fooled by Hitler) or as Winston Churchill (who wasn't). Give DJT a Nobel Peace Prize if he decides peace is best served by *fully* stopping thugs like Putin. Appeasement is a step towards WW3.
München 1938, Beneš (Czechoslovakia) forced to cede terrain (with lots of defence structures) to Hitler in exchange for peace. Accomplices: Daladier (France), Chamberlain (UK), Mussolini (Italy), Poland, Hungary
Franklin D. Roosevelt telegraphed Chamberlain, "Good man."
Washington 2025?
Franklin D. Roosevelt telegraphed Chamberlain, "Good man."
Washington 2025?
August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
München 1938, Beneš (Czechoslovakia) forced to cede terrain (with lots of defence structures) to Hitler in exchange for peace. Accomplices: Daladier (France), Chamberlain (UK), Mussolini (Italy), Poland, Hungary
Franklin D. Roosevelt telegraphed Chamberlain, "Good man."
Washington 2025?
Franklin D. Roosevelt telegraphed Chamberlain, "Good man."
Washington 2025?
About half a year ago, I ran into @mattbevan.bsky.social on YouTube with his 'explanatory journalism' "If you're listening" videos. Being a bit of an 'explanatory journalist' (as a sideshow) myself: his (team's) work is among the best (if not the best) I have ever encountered. Follow and watch.
July 20, 2025 at 10:21 AM
About half a year ago, I ran into @mattbevan.bsky.social on YouTube with his 'explanatory journalism' "If you're listening" videos. Being a bit of an 'explanatory journalist' (as a sideshow) myself: his (team's) work is among the best (if not the best) I have ever encountered. Follow and watch.
"Swamp the drain".
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... It is interesting to see how brittle shared values (upon which society is founded) are.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... It is interesting to see how brittle shared values (upon which society is founded) are.
‘This is the looting of America’: Trump and Co’s extraordinary conflicts of interest in his second term
Bitcoin, internet, EVs, private dinners for hire – the list of pay-for-play and quid quo pro goes on, and on … and on
www.theguardian.com
June 16, 2025 at 2:59 PM
"Swamp the drain".
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... It is interesting to see how brittle shared values (upon which society is founded) are.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... It is interesting to see how brittle shared values (upon which society is founded) are.
AI has invented a new language, and added sex to a dull office context
It turns out that AI has created a whole new language. Humans do not speak it, and they may even mistake it for talk about sex. But luckily Generative AI is able to translate it to something humans can understand (and where the…
It turns out that AI has created a whole new language. Humans do not speak it, and they may even mistake it for talk about sex. But luckily Generative AI is able to translate it to something humans can understand (and where the…
AI has invented a new language, and added sex to a dull office context
It turns out that AI has created a whole new language. Humans do not speak it, and they may even mistake it for talk about sex. But luckily Generative AI is able to translate it to something humans can understand (and where the sex doesn't show up).
ea.rna.nl
June 15, 2025 at 12:19 PM
AI has invented a new language, and added sex to a dull office context
It turns out that AI has created a whole new language. Humans do not speak it, and they may even mistake it for talk about sex. But luckily Generative AI is able to translate it to something humans can understand (and where the…
It turns out that AI has created a whole new language. Humans do not speak it, and they may even mistake it for talk about sex. But luckily Generative AI is able to translate it to something humans can understand (and where the…
Fox viewers get presented with #LA as a war zone. It’s a powerful lie.
If Dominion can sue Fox for defamation, why can’t The City of LA? Damage to reputation, tourism, business, and in the end the income of the City. County and State could join.
If Dominion can sue Fox for defamation, why can’t The City of LA? Damage to reputation, tourism, business, and in the end the income of the City. County and State could join.
June 12, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Fox viewers get presented with #LA as a war zone. It’s a powerful lie.
If Dominion can sue Fox for defamation, why can’t The City of LA? Damage to reputation, tourism, business, and in the end the income of the City. County and State could join.
If Dominion can sue Fox for defamation, why can’t The City of LA? Damage to reputation, tourism, business, and in the end the income of the City. County and State could join.
Just noticed: ea.rna.nl — my site which contains my blog on many things (related to) 'digital', both tech and non-tech — is nearing 1 million views. (Last time I looked it was 500k). Not much in the grand scheme of things, of course, but noticeable personally nonetheless.
R&A IT Strategy & Architecture
Articles about IT, IT Strategy, and Enterprise Architecture
ea.rna.nl
May 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Just noticed: ea.rna.nl — my site which contains my blog on many things (related to) 'digital', both tech and non-tech — is nearing 1 million views. (Last time I looked it was 500k). Not much in the grand scheme of things, of course, but noticeable personally nonetheless.
Expecting high intelligence from GenAI is like expecting haute couture from the cotton-industry factories at the start of the industrial revolution two centuries ago (or now for that matter)
May 11, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Expecting high intelligence from GenAI is like expecting haute couture from the cotton-industry factories at the start of the industrial revolution two centuries ago (or now for that matter)
Is it just me or is the eerie music from #Severance sometimes an echo of the music from the 70’s movie The Conversation?
April 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Is it just me or is the eerie music from #Severance sometimes an echo of the music from the 70’s movie The Conversation?
Oh boy. Is this real? www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyco...
Murphy: Six Weeks In, This White House Is On Its Way To Being The Most Corrupt In U.S. History
YouTube video by Senator Chris Murphy
www.youtube.com
March 9, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Oh boy. Is this real? www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyco...
On closer inspection, Generative AI 'reasoning models' do not reason. They still approximate, just with one extra level of indirection.
Generative AI ‘reasoning models’ don’t reason, even if it seems they do
'Reasoning models' such as GPT4-o3 have become a well known member of the Generative AI family. But look inside and while they add a certain depth, at the same time they add nothing at all. Not 'reasoning' anyway. Just another 'level of indirection' when approximating. Sometimes powerful. Always costly.
ea.rna.nl
February 28, 2025 at 9:27 PM
On closer inspection, Generative AI 'reasoning models' do not reason. They still approximate, just with one extra level of indirection.
How fast can the US change from a democracy to a corrupt oligarchy? Musk ending an FAA contract of a competitor. Bezos losing a defence contract during Trump's 1st term. Musk turning Twitter into a propaganda channel. Bezos now reneging on his promise not to influence the Washington Post.
February 28, 2025 at 9:34 AM
How fast can the US change from a democracy to a corrupt oligarchy? Musk ending an FAA contract of a competitor. Bezos losing a defence contract during Trump's 1st term. Musk turning Twitter into a propaganda channel. Bezos now reneging on his promise not to influence the Washington Post.
I am in need of someone with knowledge of the US Pacific Northwest. #Seattle is the main/starting focus, but the Seattle-#SanFrancisco route is also in focus. If you are from that area and are willing to help, contact me with a DM. Thanks in advance.
February 22, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I am in need of someone with knowledge of the US Pacific Northwest. #Seattle is the main/starting focus, but the Seattle-#SanFrancisco route is also in focus. If you are from that area and are willing to help, contact me with a DM. Thanks in advance.
This is probably going to be my one and only Substack post: substack.com/home/post/p-...
February 21, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This is probably going to be my one and only Substack post: substack.com/home/post/p-...
Humans do not simply react to what is there. They react to what *could be* there. And that makes a big difference.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-re...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-re...
The key to real intelligence might be imagination
Take the following example: You’re driving a car. Along the road — at a few meters distance — are many parked cars.
www.linkedin.com
February 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Humans do not simply react to what is there. They react to what *could be* there. And that makes a big difference.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-re...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-re...
I suspect that when two centuries from now historians look back at this period, they will not label it an age of enlightenment...
February 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I suspect that when two centuries from now historians look back at this period, they will not label it an age of enlightenment...
I think Gary Marcus is right that we shouldn't have a 2-way split — narrow versus general AI (AGI) — but a 3-way split: narrow AI, broad&shallow AI, and AGI.
GPT and Friends (GenAI) aren't on the road to General AI. They are *fundamentally* shallow. No escape.
That doesn't mean GenAI is useless.
GPT and Friends (GenAI) aren't on the road to General AI. They are *fundamentally* shallow. No escape.
That doesn't mean GenAI is useless.
The old narrrow AI vs general distinction doesn’t quite cut it anymore.
I propose that we turn that dichotomy into a trichotomy, adding Broad, shallow intelligence (BSI) as a third pole:
garymarcus.substack.com/p/agi-versus...
I propose that we turn that dichotomy into a trichotomy, adding Broad, shallow intelligence (BSI) as a third pole:
garymarcus.substack.com/p/agi-versus...
AGI versus “broad, shallow intelligence”
The BSI we have now, versus the AGI we want
garymarcus.substack.com
January 14, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I think Gary Marcus is right that we shouldn't have a 2-way split — narrow versus general AI (AGI) — but a 3-way split: narrow AI, broad&shallow AI, and AGI.
GPT and Friends (GenAI) aren't on the road to General AI. They are *fundamentally* shallow. No escape.
That doesn't mean GenAI is useless.
GPT and Friends (GenAI) aren't on the road to General AI. They are *fundamentally* shallow. No escape.
That doesn't mean GenAI is useless.
Sam Altman has claimed OpenAI is confident that it can build Artificial General Intelligent (AGI). GPT-3o also has done very well on an AGI benchmark. On the difference between narrow, general and (introducing) 'wide' AI.
Let’s call GPT and Friends: ‘Wide AI’ (and not ‘AGI’)
GPT-3o has done very well on the ARC-AGI-PUB benchmark. Sam Altman has also claimed OpenAI is confident that it can build Artificial General Intelligent (AGI). But that may be based on confusions around 'learning'. On the difference between narrow, general and (introducing) 'wide' AI.
ea.rna.nl
January 8, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Sam Altman has claimed OpenAI is confident that it can build Artificial General Intelligent (AGI). GPT-3o also has done very well on an AGI benchmark. On the difference between narrow, general and (introducing) 'wide' AI.