Ilya Farber
@nihilfit.bsky.social
Cognitive scientist @ A*STAR IHPC; erstwhile philosopher; infrequent poster, but damn, look at that signal/noise ratio!
Reposted by Ilya Farber
Did not expect a capybara explaining brexit to be so affecting
December 4, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Did not expect a capybara explaining brexit to be so affecting
Reposted by Ilya Farber
Grateful to The Verge for publishing my essay on why large-language models are not going to achieve general intelligence nor push the scientific frontier.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Is language the same as intelligence? The AI industry desperately needs it to be
The AI boom is based on a fundamental mistake.
www.theverge.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Grateful to The Verge for publishing my essay on why large-language models are not going to achieve general intelligence nor push the scientific frontier.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Narratively perfect. It also has me mentally compiling a list of other organizations whose election mishaps could be predictably comical.
November 22, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Narratively perfect. It also has me mentally compiling a list of other organizations whose election mishaps could be predictably comical.
Reposted by Ilya Farber
Truly smart devices would choose not to connect to the internet.
November 18, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Truly smart devices would choose not to connect to the internet.
Reposted by Ilya Farber
these charts show the relationship between zip code-level average income and individual probability of voting for democrats in different regions of the country. one of my favorite group fo charts, lots of stories to unearth
November 2, 2025 at 9:36 PM
these charts show the relationship between zip code-level average income and individual probability of voting for democrats in different regions of the country. one of my favorite group fo charts, lots of stories to unearth
Reposted by Ilya Farber
Been reading "What is Innateness?" by Paul Griffiths (2002) philpapers.org/rec/EGRWII in which he offers this very sound advice:
November 2, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Been reading "What is Innateness?" by Paul Griffiths (2002) philpapers.org/rec/EGRWII in which he offers this very sound advice:
I instinctively respect anyone who has 1) a good natural smile and 2) a range of other smiles they can deploy that are plausibly polite yet unmistakably *not* smile #1.
Zero interest in popes generally, but certain kinds of skill say a lot about the mind behind them, and so far I’m impressed.
Zero interest in popes generally, but certain kinds of skill say a lot about the mind behind them, and so far I’m impressed.
That smile says "people are going to be giving me, the Vicar of Christ, sports jerseys for the rest of my time on earth, and that is not a problem I thought I would have in my papacy."
This is a real: Pope Leo XIV was gifted a Buffalo Bills jersey.
The Diocese of Buffalo said Bishop Fisher met with the Pope on Monday to discuss the ongoing bankruptcy filing, among other issues.
Pope Leo was said to have "expressed his gratitude for this symbol of hometown pride." #billsmafia
The Diocese of Buffalo said Bishop Fisher met with the Pope on Monday to discuss the ongoing bankruptcy filing, among other issues.
Pope Leo was said to have "expressed his gratitude for this symbol of hometown pride." #billsmafia
October 30, 2025 at 1:02 PM
I instinctively respect anyone who has 1) a good natural smile and 2) a range of other smiles they can deploy that are plausibly polite yet unmistakably *not* smile #1.
Zero interest in popes generally, but certain kinds of skill say a lot about the mind behind them, and so far I’m impressed.
Zero interest in popes generally, but certain kinds of skill say a lot about the mind behind them, and so far I’m impressed.
OK done with meetings! Gonna take a nap
October 27, 2025 at 8:03 PM
OK done with meetings! Gonna take a nap
<creaking and bubbling sounds fill the darkened woods as my undead legions hasten to fill their quivers with fluoride-tipped arrows>
'Fluoride Disconnects One from God': Inside the Weekly Call With RFK Jr.'s MAHA Hype Squad
A growing weekly call gives insight into RFK Jr.'s biggest allies, showcasing how a fringe movement now holds legitimate power.
www.notus.org
October 15, 2025 at 1:02 PM
<creaking and bubbling sounds fill the darkened woods as my undead legions hasten to fill their quivers with fluoride-tipped arrows>
I’ve always wanted to do an eye-tracking study of academic/literary very-fast readers. My strong impression is that our eyes flick around the page (including back/up) in a way that would look insane if plotted against the linear text.
yeah I am a freakishly fast reader but what I do doesn't seem to bear any resemblance to speed reading as it is commonly taught.
October 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I’ve always wanted to do an eye-tracking study of academic/literary very-fast readers. My strong impression is that our eyes flick around the page (including back/up) in a way that would look insane if plotted against the linear text.
Reposted by Ilya Farber
BBC Model Linear B
October 11, 2025 at 12:36 PM
BBC Model Linear B
Reposted by Ilya Farber
I watched this right before falling asleep, and wound up in an extended hypnagogic reverie about CONCEPTUALLY PALINDROMIC MEMES,* which are apparently a fitting thing to post on Michaelmas.
... so uh, thanks for that, @misterabk.bsky.social ?
... so uh, thanks for that, @misterabk.bsky.social ?
It's that time of year again. Happy Michaelmas to all who celebrate.
youtu.be/WDXLxpQdIUQ
youtu.be/WDXLxpQdIUQ
The Nightmare Before Michaelmas
YouTube video by Alasdair Beckett-King
youtu.be
September 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I watched this right before falling asleep, and wound up in an extended hypnagogic reverie about CONCEPTUALLY PALINDROMIC MEMES,* which are apparently a fitting thing to post on Michaelmas.
... so uh, thanks for that, @misterabk.bsky.social ?
... so uh, thanks for that, @misterabk.bsky.social ?
@gelliottmorris.com with the best explanation I've seen for the puzzling tendency of big legacy media outlets to keep boosting and sanewashing the party that hates them.
It's a cousin to the usual "owners are Republicans" and "can't quit bothesidesing" theories, but more grounded and plausible:
It's a cousin to the usual "owners are Republicans" and "can't quit bothesidesing" theories, but more grounded and plausible:
September 26, 2025 at 10:37 PM
@gelliottmorris.com with the best explanation I've seen for the puzzling tendency of big legacy media outlets to keep boosting and sanewashing the party that hates them.
It's a cousin to the usual "owners are Republicans" and "can't quit bothesidesing" theories, but more grounded and plausible:
It's a cousin to the usual "owners are Republicans" and "can't quit bothesidesing" theories, but more grounded and plausible:
Reposted by Ilya Farber
Extremely obvious level design in Shoreditch. It's a side quest, we get it.
September 3, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Extremely obvious level design in Shoreditch. It's a side quest, we get it.
This statue is amazing.
My first of many questions would be: why does the devil look like he’s been *oiled*?!
Also, read downthread for a twist that you will not have seen coming.
My first of many questions would be: why does the devil look like he’s been *oiled*?!
Also, read downthread for a twist that you will not have seen coming.
Charles II: Did you finish that statue of the Archangel Michael defeating the devil?
Luisa Roldán: Si y yo hice la Diablo real fucking sexy, just like you asked
Luisa Roldán: Si y yo hice la Diablo real fucking sexy, just like you asked
September 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
This statue is amazing.
My first of many questions would be: why does the devil look like he’s been *oiled*?!
Also, read downthread for a twist that you will not have seen coming.
My first of many questions would be: why does the devil look like he’s been *oiled*?!
Also, read downthread for a twist that you will not have seen coming.
Reposted by Ilya Farber
"oh wow Daniel Day Lewis is so good at acting" - sure, could he maybe play the role of an actor who picks better films then
September 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
"oh wow Daniel Day Lewis is so good at acting" - sure, could he maybe play the role of an actor who picks better films then
Reposted by Ilya Farber
Reposted by Ilya Farber
Slightly diminish a book
Nine Princes in Resin
Nine Princes in Resin
Slightly diminish a book
A Large Quantity of Jest
A Large Quantity of Jest
September 8, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Slightly diminish a book
Nine Princes in Resin
Nine Princes in Resin
Reposted by Ilya Farber
Did you know your MacBook has a sensor that knows the exact angle of the screen hinge?
It’s not exposed as a public API, but I figured out a way to read it and make it sound like an old wooden door.
It’s not exposed as a public API, but I figured out a way to read it and make it sound like an old wooden door.
September 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Did you know your MacBook has a sensor that knows the exact angle of the screen hinge?
It’s not exposed as a public API, but I figured out a way to read it and make it sound like an old wooden door.
It’s not exposed as a public API, but I figured out a way to read it and make it sound like an old wooden door.
I played Ultima Underworld on release, but would have gotten this sequencing very wrong. It predated Wolfenstein 3D by two months?!
September 2, 2025 at 8:01 AM
I played Ultima Underworld on release, but would have gotten this sequencing very wrong. It predated Wolfenstein 3D by two months?!
At a base level this sounds like what you'd probably imagine ... but then it's executed with mad inspiration. I counted at least five or six separate, unrelated feats of brilliant, unexpected-yet-indisputable synthesis.
You really need to give this one undivided attention for 3:44. It's worth it.
You really need to give this one undivided attention for 3:44. It's worth it.
Nine Inch Nails - Closer But It's Ghostbusters By Ray Parker Jr.
YouTube video by William Maranci Mashups
www.youtube.com
August 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
At a base level this sounds like what you'd probably imagine ... but then it's executed with mad inspiration. I counted at least five or six separate, unrelated feats of brilliant, unexpected-yet-indisputable synthesis.
You really need to give this one undivided attention for 3:44. It's worth it.
You really need to give this one undivided attention for 3:44. It's worth it.
This is a tension that I feel acutely. No clue yet how it might be resolved.
a big cultural clash in the 21stC will be the de/humanization of robots & AI. i support dehumanization because machines are ultimately agents of capital that will be used to manipulate emotions. but i support humanization because the habit of degrading machines will spill over into the human arena
August 22, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This is a tension that I feel acutely. No clue yet how it might be resolved.
Reposted by Ilya Farber
It's quite funny that fairly early in its history philosophy invented writing well (Plato) and reasoning well (Aristotle) and made it clear you can only do one; subsequently clarifying that we'll typically do neither.
August 21, 2025 at 5:27 AM
It's quite funny that fairly early in its history philosophy invented writing well (Plato) and reasoning well (Aristotle) and made it clear you can only do one; subsequently clarifying that we'll typically do neither.