Will Slack
@wslack.bsky.social
Decatur GA native, prev USDS/18F & hospital tech around the US. Opinions mine; RTs/likes/follows ≠ endorsements. 🆇: @wslack 🐘: wslack@infosec.exchange
Listening to journalists try to describe the inner workings of AI systems is painful. LLM’s today do not think, have emotions, or “try to get us” to do things.
They are pattern matching, mimicking, or remixing their training data using what others said in the past. That isn’t actual intelligence.
They are pattern matching, mimicking, or remixing their training data using what others said in the past. That isn’t actual intelligence.
November 24, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Listening to journalists try to describe the inner workings of AI systems is painful. LLM’s today do not think, have emotions, or “try to get us” to do things.
They are pattern matching, mimicking, or remixing their training data using what others said in the past. That isn’t actual intelligence.
They are pattern matching, mimicking, or remixing their training data using what others said in the past. That isn’t actual intelligence.
Reposted by Will Slack
I’m getting more and more of these too. It’s depressing.
I am by no means a prominent public intellectual, but my inbox is increasingly filled with messages from people who have been convinced by sycophantic chatbots that they have discovered revolutionary theories that entirely upend our scientific understanding of the universe.
November 21, 2025 at 3:42 AM
I’m getting more and more of these too. It’s depressing.
Liars and cheats convince themselves that everyone else must be doing the same, depending on us not holding them to higher expectations. Don't let those people create a world that expects and gives a pass to bad behavior.
November 15, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Liars and cheats convince themselves that everyone else must be doing the same, depending on us not holding them to higher expectations. Don't let those people create a world that expects and gives a pass to bad behavior.
Reposted by Will Slack
My thoughts are with the victims of today's UPS plane crash, but they are also with the NTSB investigators who, tomorrow, will dig through half a mile of toxic debris to find the black boxes, all without being paid. Godspeed to them as well.
November 5, 2025 at 3:18 AM
My thoughts are with the victims of today's UPS plane crash, but they are also with the NTSB investigators who, tomorrow, will dig through half a mile of toxic debris to find the black boxes, all without being paid. Godspeed to them as well.
Another reason to give blood: reduce the level of forever chemicals in your blood while saving others' lives! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Here’s another reason to donate blood: it reduces ‘forever chemicals’ in your body | Adrienne Matei
While the $4tn global wellness industry bends over backwards to sell us dubious detox products, there is an accessible, easy, and free way to genuinely rid our bloodstreams of toxins
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Another reason to give blood: reduce the level of forever chemicals in your blood while saving others' lives! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Happening right now: day 4 of Big's Backyard Ultramarathon, where people run 100 miles every 24 hours, with a lap starting every hour on the hour. Amazing feat of human achievement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkAe...
BACKYARD ULTRA INDIVIDUAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 - H82
YouTube video by Backyard Ultra Channel
www.youtube.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Happening right now: day 4 of Big's Backyard Ultramarathon, where people run 100 miles every 24 hours, with a lap starting every hour on the hour. Amazing feat of human achievement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkAe...
Reposted by Will Slack
All these people avoiding m-dashes because “AI uses them” simply means that there’s more for me!
October 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
All these people avoiding m-dashes because “AI uses them” simply means that there’s more for me!
There’s a lot of actual news in the world. I find it despicable that the top story in my email from an influential media outlet tonight is about fundraising totals.
October 21, 2025 at 12:57 AM
There’s a lot of actual news in the world. I find it despicable that the top story in my email from an influential media outlet tonight is about fundraising totals.
Planning to watch a lot of this over the next few days: it’s amazing what willpower can do for people. www.youtube.com/live/kx7SO0v...
(They are all running 2 and some miles every hour on the hour until only one is left)
(They are all running 2 and some miles every hour on the hour until only one is left)
BACKYARD ULTRA INDIVIDUAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2025
YouTube video by Backyard Ultra Channel
www.youtube.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Planning to watch a lot of this over the next few days: it’s amazing what willpower can do for people. www.youtube.com/live/kx7SO0v...
(They are all running 2 and some miles every hour on the hour until only one is left)
(They are all running 2 and some miles every hour on the hour until only one is left)
Reposted by Will Slack
The last Randian will die of starvation at Galt's Gulch.
October 11, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The last Randian will die of starvation at Galt's Gulch.
Great video essay on how recommendation algorithms are changing how we use the internet: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJp...
Algorithms are breaking how we think
YouTube video by Technology Connections
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Great video essay on how recommendation algorithms are changing how we use the internet: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJp...
Reposted by Will Slack
This is a REALLY good video that gets into the *specifics* of how AI is degrading our information environment and putting truth further out of reach for the average person / the population as a whole
I walked into the lounge last night to find my teenage son watching this. We have long admired @kurzgesagt.org and found their videos to be extremely illuminating. But this one in particular I think is so important right now!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zfN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zfN...
AI Slop Is Killing Our Channel
YouTube video by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
www.youtube.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This is a REALLY good video that gets into the *specifics* of how AI is degrading our information environment and putting truth further out of reach for the average person / the population as a whole
The rot isn't all recent. "When you try to build a single jet to meet the multi-role needs of at least 15 separate militaries, while also being a global jobs program and political patronage scheme, you get a $2 trillion albatross." responsiblestatecraft.org/f-35-failure/
US gov't admits F-35 is a failure
With some wonky, hard to decipher language, a recent GAO report concluded the beleaguered jet will never meet expectations
responsiblestatecraft.org
October 8, 2025 at 1:52 PM
The rot isn't all recent. "When you try to build a single jet to meet the multi-role needs of at least 15 separate militaries, while also being a global jobs program and political patronage scheme, you get a $2 trillion albatross." responsiblestatecraft.org/f-35-failure/
Fun thread of airport observations about human behavior.
8) People assume anyone in line ahead of them knows where they're going.
If one person ducking under a strap opens it and doesn't close it after themselves, then - like water - the flow of traffic will go through the hole it made, even if that makes no sense and leads nowhere.
If one person ducking under a strap opens it and doesn't close it after themselves, then - like water - the flow of traffic will go through the hole it made, even if that makes no sense and leads nowhere.
October 7, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Fun thread of airport observations about human behavior.
AI has actually impactful uses, but the news stories aren't talking about those. Clickbait and usefulness are orthogonal.
every Ai news story is a press release for a product no one wants and doesnt do what it claims it does anyway
October 2, 2025 at 12:17 AM
AI has actually impactful uses, but the news stories aren't talking about those. Clickbait and usefulness are orthogonal.
Reposted by Will Slack
The Login.gov Anti-Fraud team is hiring: www.usajobs.gov/Search/Resul...
USAJOBS - Search
www.usajobs.gov
September 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The Login.gov Anti-Fraud team is hiring: www.usajobs.gov/Search/Resul...
Reposted by Will Slack
Looked at my data collections for state-backed activity. If the report were a picture:
September 13, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Looked at my data collections for state-backed activity. If the report were a picture:
Reposted by Will Slack
The Toxic Avenger is clearing medical debt as marketing for the movie.
August 28, 2025 at 11:59 AM
The Toxic Avenger is clearing medical debt as marketing for the movie.
Reposted by Will Slack
Grateful tonight for officer David Rose, so sorry for his wife and children, and thankful for everyone who runs into fire if that moment should come.
www.decaturish.com/public_safet...
www.decaturish.com/public_safet...
August 9, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Grateful tonight for officer David Rose, so sorry for his wife and children, and thankful for everyone who runs into fire if that moment should come.
www.decaturish.com/public_safet...
www.decaturish.com/public_safet...
Reposted by Will Slack
maybe there's still some good left in this world after all
July 28, 2025 at 2:46 AM
maybe there's still some good left in this world after all
Reposted by Will Slack
Stand by this: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
February 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Stand by this: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Reposted by Will Slack
