Mark Edmondson
@markedmondson.me
I make data stuff because I crave wisdom.
My current tools are Google Cloud, Python/R.
Founder of Sunholo GenAIOps, creator of a Multivac.
Blogging here: https://dev.sunholo.com/blog
Building here: https://github.com/sunholo-data
O’Reilly author
My current tools are Google Cloud, Python/R.
Founder of Sunholo GenAIOps, creator of a Multivac.
Blogging here: https://dev.sunholo.com/blog
Building here: https://github.com/sunholo-data
O’Reilly author
Pinned
Mark Edmondson
@markedmondson.me
· Nov 28
A naturalistic monism meets structural realism: consciousness emerges from physical patterns like Dennett's "real patterns." Closer to Spinoza's substance monism than property dualism, with a dash of James's neutral monism. Everything is fields, patterns are real. 🧠
Having fun making the most complex project I could think of with AI: creating a new compiled language for AI to use sunholo-data.github.io/ailang/ - teaching a lot about how to create complex systems keep on track with lots of self evals and iterative improvement
AILANG Documentation | AILANG Documentation
AI-first programming language for AI-assisted development
sunholo-data.github.io
October 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Having fun making the most complex project I could think of with AI: creating a new compiled language for AI to use sunholo-data.github.io/ailang/ - teaching a lot about how to create complex systems keep on track with lots of self evals and iterative improvement
I’m a little more believer of consciousness arriving from inanimate matter after the entertaining chapter in Gödel, Escher, Bach I’m just reading that gives a convincing argument from an Anteater that anthills can be conscious via emergent channels and symbols made up of unaware ants.
August 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I’m a little more believer of consciousness arriving from inanimate matter after the entertaining chapter in Gödel, Escher, Bach I’m just reading that gives a convincing argument from an Anteater that anthills can be conscious via emergent channels and symbols made up of unaware ants.
I predict that the UK tax burden for the middle class will be greater than Denmark’s within 5 years, and it will still leave the UK unable to invest in infrastructure
August 13, 2025 at 5:25 AM
I predict that the UK tax burden for the middle class will be greater than Denmark’s within 5 years, and it will still leave the UK unable to invest in infrastructure
The bitter lesson when building AI applications is a negotiation between what people need right now, what the models can do via prompts, what guardrails need to be AI coded and what you could just wait 6 months for and will be possible as progress continues. It requires flexibility.
June 14, 2025 at 7:57 AM
The bitter lesson when building AI applications is a negotiation between what people need right now, what the models can do via prompts, what guardrails need to be AI coded and what you could just wait 6 months for and will be possible as progress continues. It requires flexibility.
Reposted by Mark Edmondson
Would love to get someone who is working in machine learning/deep learning, or ideally, working on building LLMs to talk on the Search with Candour podcast with @jlwchambers.bsky.social. Let's give the actual experts the mic for a bit! 🎙️
If you know anyone, please tag them! ⤵️
If you know anyone, please tag them! ⤵️
June 13, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Would love to get someone who is working in machine learning/deep learning, or ideally, working on building LLMs to talk on the Search with Candour podcast with @jlwchambers.bsky.social. Let's give the actual experts the mic for a bit! 🎙️
If you know anyone, please tag them! ⤵️
If you know anyone, please tag them! ⤵️
Reposted by Mark Edmondson
All of the winners are good, I'm always impressed by what people build with Quarto.
But let me highlight how cleanly mschnetzer.github.io/scrollytell_... combines scrolly-telling and regular layouts.
I didn't think "scrolly-telling is underused"; this submission moved my opinion in that direction.
But let me highlight how cleanly mschnetzer.github.io/scrollytell_... combines scrolly-telling and regular layouts.
I didn't think "scrolly-telling is underused"; this submission moved my opinion in that direction.
Closeread Prize winners are here! 🏆
Want to create engaging, scroll-based stories with your data? See stunning scrollytelling examples made with Quarto: posit.co/blog/closere...
Learn more about Closeread and its power to create dynamic narratives. Congrats winners! #Quarto #RStats #Python
Want to create engaging, scroll-based stories with your data? See stunning scrollytelling examples made with Quarto: posit.co/blog/closere...
Learn more about Closeread and its power to create dynamic narratives. Congrats winners! #Quarto #RStats #Python
February 24, 2025 at 5:53 PM
All of the winners are good, I'm always impressed by what people build with Quarto.
But let me highlight how cleanly mschnetzer.github.io/scrollytell_... combines scrolly-telling and regular layouts.
I didn't think "scrolly-telling is underused"; this submission moved my opinion in that direction.
But let me highlight how cleanly mschnetzer.github.io/scrollytell_... combines scrolly-telling and regular layouts.
I didn't think "scrolly-telling is underused"; this submission moved my opinion in that direction.
AIdar (n): The uncanny ability to sense AI-generated content in the wild - for spotting those uncanny valley stock photos, suspiciously eloquent LinkedIn comments, and essays that somehow use 'delve' three times in one paragraph
February 24, 2025 at 10:10 AM
AIdar (n): The uncanny ability to sense AI-generated content in the wild - for spotting those uncanny valley stock photos, suspiciously eloquent LinkedIn comments, and essays that somehow use 'delve' three times in one paragraph
Reposted by Mark Edmondson
This was a very enjoyable collaboration with @3blue1brown.bsky.social . Tanya Klowden and I are continuing to work on developing this material into a popular science book; we will share our progress on our Instagram at www.instagram.com/cosmic_dista...
February 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This was a very enjoyable collaboration with @3blue1brown.bsky.social . Tanya Klowden and I are continuing to work on developing this material into a popular science book; we will share our progress on our Instagram at www.instagram.com/cosmic_dista...
I name my cats after the stars of this story youtu.be/hFMaT9oRbs4?...
The cosmic distance ladder with Terence Tao (part 2)
YouTube video by 3Blue1Brown
youtu.be
February 23, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I name my cats after the stars of this story youtu.be/hFMaT9oRbs4?...
Reposted by Mark Edmondson
Fun new blog post today about some git config values that should probably be the defaults.
blog.gitbutler.com/how-git-core...
blog.gitbutler.com/how-git-core...
How Core Git Developers Configure Git
What `git config` settings should be defaults by now? Here are some settings that even the core developers change.
blog.gitbutler.com
February 22, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Fun new blog post today about some git config values that should probably be the defaults.
blog.gitbutler.com/how-git-core...
blog.gitbutler.com/how-git-core...
We must tolerate all but the intolerant is being tested to the limit now, since the intolerant are now accusing the tolerant of being intolerant, it’s easy to forget that the evidence of intolerance from tolerant people is being fabricated by the actual intolerants to create false equivalence
February 22, 2025 at 11:52 AM
We must tolerate all but the intolerant is being tested to the limit now, since the intolerant are now accusing the tolerant of being intolerant, it’s easy to forget that the evidence of intolerance from tolerant people is being fabricated by the actual intolerants to create false equivalence
Marketing is often lies, to cover the weaknesses of the product. Classic example: Taste the difference (there is no discernible difference). If then I want to market Antisocial Lies, what could I call it? It’s going to get a lot harder when we have persuasive AI models writing the copy.
February 17, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Marketing is often lies, to cover the weaknesses of the product. Classic example: Taste the difference (there is no discernible difference). If then I want to market Antisocial Lies, what could I call it? It’s going to get a lot harder when we have persuasive AI models writing the copy.
A much more likely target for being annexed into USA is the UK. It would solve a lot of Brexit issues, and that sense of superiority would be back in place to the relief of some.
February 4, 2025 at 9:34 AM
A much more likely target for being annexed into USA is the UK. It would solve a lot of Brexit issues, and that sense of superiority would be back in place to the relief of some.
If we end up creating superintelligence what I find scary is we will likely have people outsource their own personal responsibility to it, basically I expect new religions and cults. Already happening: “Anthropic-bros” school kids asking Claude what to do for every decision; talk to a girl etc.
February 4, 2025 at 5:20 AM
If we end up creating superintelligence what I find scary is we will likely have people outsource their own personal responsibility to it, basically I expect new religions and cults. Already happening: “Anthropic-bros” school kids asking Claude what to do for every decision; talk to a girl etc.
Here’s a video on what you need to do if you want to run DeepSeek R1 (the full 671b) locally. youtu.be/yFKOOK6qqT8?... - an hour to answer a question when 6tokens/sec
Deepseek R1 671b Running LOCAL AI LLM is a ChatGPT Killer!
YouTube video by Digital Spaceport
youtu.be
February 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Here’s a video on what you need to do if you want to run DeepSeek R1 (the full 671b) locally. youtu.be/yFKOOK6qqT8?... - an hour to answer a question when 6tokens/sec
It’s takes like these which is why I wanted to work with GenAI so as to be informed as we go through this period. I have opposite conclusions from the same event: the DeepSeek model is exactly on trend to where we thought open source should be 12 months ago. It’s going to mean accelerated progress.
“And here lies perhaps the biggest impact of DeepSeek. It has ripped off the veil of mystique that previously surrounded AI.” My Observer column: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The AI business model is built on hype. That’s the real reason the tech bros fear DeepSeek | Kenan Malik
While privacy fears are justified, the main beef Silicon Valley has is that China’s chatbot is democratising the technology
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
It’s takes like these which is why I wanted to work with GenAI so as to be informed as we go through this period. I have opposite conclusions from the same event: the DeepSeek model is exactly on trend to where we thought open source should be 12 months ago. It’s going to mean accelerated progress.
Reposted by Mark Edmondson
And now for Tomorrow's Government
![1
[Title panel like old Tomorrow's World ident font]:
TOMORROW’S GOVERNMENT
2
KEIR STARMER [dressed in 70s suit as old tomorrow's world type presenter]:
Government, government, government. Why's it so *hard*, Rachel?
3
RACHEL REEVES:
Haha it is Keir, isn’t it? Well, maybe not for long…
4
REEVES:
In the future, a new invention called ‘AI’ might make it sort of not hard in a vague way possibly.
5
REEVES:
AI is named after its inventor, Alan Illintent - who’s joined us to demonstrate his machine
6
[We see a TECH BRO called Alan Illintent, next to a massive 1970s type computer with a big black screen and two buttons, red and green, for a keyboard. At the back of the machine is a big black cloth]
REEVES:
So Alan's going to climb under this cloth here
[Alan climbs under a black cloth at the back of the machine)
7
REEVES:
And then you simply speak your wish into the machine.
8
[KEIR leans in close to the computer's microphone]:
Ahem
9
STARMER:
Please can you grow my economy.
10
ON SCREEN - in green letters on black screen
INPUT ALL NHS DATA?
Y/N
[Keir tap's the 'Y' button]
TAP
11
REPLACE ALL JOBS?
Y/N
[Keir tap's the 'Y' button]
TAP
12
GIVE ME YR MONEY?
Y/N
[Keir tap's the 'Y' button]
TAP
STARMER:
Is it working?
ALAN ILLINTENT [popping out from under his sheet]:
You’re doing great](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreicu3ge45jtfu5m36wzkjwdul5woq4iemgzjmoi2y6p4ze66t2ealy@jpeg)
February 2, 2025 at 11:25 AM
And now for Tomorrow's Government
Reposted by Mark Edmondson
Just putting this out there: what if AI is actually an anti-capitalist object?
It breaks the fundamental false dichotomy (and root of alienation) in industrial capitalism: the separation of Labor and Capital.
For the last 100+ yrs knowledge has been rendered into property and thus “capital”…
It breaks the fundamental false dichotomy (and root of alienation) in industrial capitalism: the separation of Labor and Capital.
For the last 100+ yrs knowledge has been rendered into property and thus “capital”…
January 31, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Just putting this out there: what if AI is actually an anti-capitalist object?
It breaks the fundamental false dichotomy (and root of alienation) in industrial capitalism: the separation of Labor and Capital.
For the last 100+ yrs knowledge has been rendered into property and thus “capital”…
It breaks the fundamental false dichotomy (and root of alienation) in industrial capitalism: the separation of Labor and Capital.
For the last 100+ yrs knowledge has been rendered into property and thus “capital”…
An eye opening interview with the leader of DeepSeek on their AGI ambitions and China AI landscape archive.md/tcAYG
archive.md
January 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
An eye opening interview with the leader of DeepSeek on their AGI ambitions and China AI landscape archive.md/tcAYG
Reposted by Mark Edmondson
To me that's the big exciting challenge of malleable software - how will we reimagine the ideas of "apps" and "app stores" to accommodate this new reality, where people can whip up new software in minutes?
January 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
To me that's the big exciting challenge of malleable software - how will we reimagine the ideas of "apps" and "app stores" to accommodate this new reality, where people can whip up new software in minutes?
Thanks, the cycle between distilling cheaper models that then actually helps train the next larger model via fast reasoning tokens wasn’t an aspect I’d picked up on. And that the R1 beating OpenAIs o1 has been reproduced so it’s really real
Explainer: What's R1 and Everything Else
This is an attempt to consolidate the dizzying rate of AI developments since Christmas. If you're into AI but not deep enough, this should get you oriented again.
timkellogg.me/blog/2025/01...
This is an attempt to consolidate the dizzying rate of AI developments since Christmas. If you're into AI but not deep enough, this should get you oriented again.
timkellogg.me/blog/2025/01...
January 26, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Thanks, the cycle between distilling cheaper models that then actually helps train the next larger model via fast reasoning tokens wasn’t an aspect I’d picked up on. And that the R1 beating OpenAIs o1 has been reproduced so it’s really real
Little did I realise that Back To The Future Part II's only accurate prediction for the future (after being so wrong about flying cars and fax's in every room) would be a rich Biff Tannen ruling America.
January 22, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Little did I realise that Back To The Future Part II's only accurate prediction for the future (after being so wrong about flying cars and fax's in every room) would be a rich Biff Tannen ruling America.
So you're telling me, that when you are asked to close your eyes and imagine an apple, you actually "see" an apple?
January 14, 2025 at 9:39 AM
So you're telling me, that when you are asked to close your eyes and imagine an apple, you actually "see" an apple?
Breaking news: bigoted attention seeker says something bigoted. We now pay attention to this surprising event.
January 13, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Breaking news: bigoted attention seeker says something bigoted. We now pay attention to this surprising event.
Reposted by Mark Edmondson
Most of the talk around AI and energy use refer to an older 2020 estimate of GPT-3 energy consumption, but a more recent paper directly measures energy use of Llama 65B as 3-4 joules per decoded token.
So an hour of streaming Netflix is equivalent to 70-90,000 65B tokens. arxiv.org/pdf/2310.03003
So an hour of streaming Netflix is equivalent to 70-90,000 65B tokens. arxiv.org/pdf/2310.03003
January 13, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Most of the talk around AI and energy use refer to an older 2020 estimate of GPT-3 energy consumption, but a more recent paper directly measures energy use of Llama 65B as 3-4 joules per decoded token.
So an hour of streaming Netflix is equivalent to 70-90,000 65B tokens. arxiv.org/pdf/2310.03003
So an hour of streaming Netflix is equivalent to 70-90,000 65B tokens. arxiv.org/pdf/2310.03003