Q McCallum
@qethanm.bsky.social
research: AI, risk, complexity, finance history
Some posts in 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇷🇺
- newsletter: https://complex-machinery.com
- fortunes: @fortuneexmachina.com
- blog: https://qethanm.cc
- Radar: https://www.oreilly.com/people/q-mccallum-2
Some posts in 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇷🇺
- newsletter: https://complex-machinery.com
- fortunes: @fortuneexmachina.com
- blog: https://qethanm.cc
- Radar: https://www.oreilly.com/people/q-mccallum-2
Pinned
Q McCallum
@qethanm.bsky.social
· Apr 25
Complex Machinery
Welcome to Complex Machinery, a newsletter about the intersection of AI and risk. It occasionally dips into related matters like complexity, business models, emerging tech, and marketplaces. (While t...
newsletter.complex-machinery.com
Periodic reminder: I publish a newsletter, Complex Machinery, on the intersection of AI and risk.
It's my way of explaining all the fun and not-so-fun happenings in the AI world.
You can read online or subscribe to get it in your inbox:
newsletter.complex-machinery.com
It's my way of explaining all the fun and not-so-fun happenings in the AI world.
You can read online or subscribe to get it in your inbox:
newsletter.complex-machinery.com
Reposted by Q McCallum
Prediction:
a new Michael Burry is going to get minted in the next two years and he or she will make the bag shorting data center financing
a new Michael Burry is going to get minted in the next two years and he or she will make the bag shorting data center financing
November 10, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Prediction:
a new Michael Burry is going to get minted in the next two years and he or she will make the bag shorting data center financing
a new Michael Burry is going to get minted in the next two years and he or she will make the bag shorting data center financing
Reposted by Q McCallum
Two of the world’s biggest data center developers have projects in Nvidia's hometown that may sit empty for years because the local utility isn’t ready to supply electricity.
We called the developers and utility in question to find out why: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
We called the developers and utility in question to find out why: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Data Centers in Nvidia’s Hometown Stand Empty Awaiting Power
The fate of two facilities in Santa Clara, California, highlights a major challenge for the US tech sector and indeed the wider economy.
www.bloomberg.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Two of the world’s biggest data center developers have projects in Nvidia's hometown that may sit empty for years because the local utility isn’t ready to supply electricity.
We called the developers and utility in question to find out why: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
We called the developers and utility in question to find out why: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Q McCallum
okay, seriously: if we were to corral this, would anyone be interested in contributing? Here is the google form:
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
November 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
okay, seriously: if we were to corral this, would anyone be interested in contributing? Here is the google form:
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
forms.gle/m2V4j4cDvwNu...
I'll add "complex systems," "network analysis," and "any kind of mathematical modeling" (especially time series analysis) to the list.
Come for the numbers. Stay for the mental models that will apply to _so_ many situations in life.
Come for the numbers. Stay for the mental models that will apply to _so_ many situations in life.
I tell every business reporting student to take operations management for their elective because you learn stuff like this and then see it everywhere
November 9, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I'll add "complex systems," "network analysis," and "any kind of mathematical modeling" (especially time series analysis) to the list.
Come for the numbers. Stay for the mental models that will apply to _so_ many situations in life.
Come for the numbers. Stay for the mental models that will apply to _so_ many situations in life.
Reposted by Q McCallum
It's here! I've just released my latest book, "Twin Wolves: Balancing risk and reward to make the most of AI."
This is a tight, executive-level read on how to approach AI (both ML/AI and genAI) in your company.
twinwolvesai.com
#dataBS
This is a tight, executive-level read on how to approach AI (both ML/AI and genAI) in your company.
twinwolvesai.com
#dataBS
Twin Wolves AI
Balancing risk and reward to make the most of AI
TwinWolvesAI.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM
It's here! I've just released my latest book, "Twin Wolves: Balancing risk and reward to make the most of AI."
This is a tight, executive-level read on how to approach AI (both ML/AI and genAI) in your company.
twinwolvesai.com
#dataBS
This is a tight, executive-level read on how to approach AI (both ML/AI and genAI) in your company.
twinwolvesai.com
#dataBS
It's here! I've just released my latest book, "Twin Wolves: Balancing risk and reward to make the most of AI."
This is a tight, executive-level read on how to approach AI (both ML/AI and genAI) in your company.
twinwolvesai.com
#dataBS
This is a tight, executive-level read on how to approach AI (both ML/AI and genAI) in your company.
twinwolvesai.com
#dataBS
Twin Wolves AI
Balancing risk and reward to make the most of AI
TwinWolvesAI.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM
It's here! I've just released my latest book, "Twin Wolves: Balancing risk and reward to make the most of AI."
This is a tight, executive-level read on how to approach AI (both ML/AI and genAI) in your company.
twinwolvesai.com
#dataBS
This is a tight, executive-level read on how to approach AI (both ML/AI and genAI) in your company.
twinwolvesai.com
#dataBS
Periodic reminder that papers can "suggest" a lot of things
and that a suggestion can very well be bullshit
and that a suggestion can very well be bullshit
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
Should facial analysis help determine whom companies hire?
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
econ.st
November 7, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Periodic reminder that papers can "suggest" a lot of things
and that a suggestion can very well be bullshit
and that a suggestion can very well be bullshit
Reposted by Q McCallum
We sort of forgot we had a REVSYS newsletter, I just revived it! buttondown.com/revsys/arch...
November 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM
We sort of forgot we had a REVSYS newsletter, I just revived it! buttondown.com/revsys/arch...
Reposted by Q McCallum
Via @bloomberg.com’s @shiringhaffary.bsky.social, who I bet had a lot of fun writing this top
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Via @bloomberg.com’s @shiringhaffary.bsky.social, who I bet had a lot of fun writing this top
Reposted by Q McCallum
We try to give as much insight into how we report our stories and our dealings with tech companies as we can, and the narratives that they push. Meta has become obsessed with telling reporters that its smart glasses are no different than an iPhone. So we wrote this:
www.404media.co/whats-the-di...
www.404media.co/whats-the-di...
What’s the Difference Between AI Glasses and an iPhone? A Helpful Guide for Meta PR
Meta thinks its camera glasses, which are often used for harassment, are no different than any other camera.
www.404media.co
November 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
We try to give as much insight into how we report our stories and our dealings with tech companies as we can, and the narratives that they push. Meta has become obsessed with telling reporters that its smart glasses are no different than an iPhone. So we wrote this:
www.404media.co/whats-the-di...
www.404media.co/whats-the-di...
Reposted by Q McCallum
In the latest Complex Machinery, I'm catching up on recent AI news:
- circular deals and other odd shapes
- web browsers do the browsing for you
- genAI companies as token-dealers
#dataBS
newsletter.complex-machinery.com/archive/048-...
- circular deals and other odd shapes
- web browsers do the browsing for you
- genAI companies as token-dealers
#dataBS
newsletter.complex-machinery.com/archive/048-...
#048 - Catching up on the news
Of AI browsers, circular deals, and token dealers
newsletter.complex-machinery.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:38 PM
In the latest Complex Machinery, I'm catching up on recent AI news:
- circular deals and other odd shapes
- web browsers do the browsing for you
- genAI companies as token-dealers
#dataBS
newsletter.complex-machinery.com/archive/048-...
- circular deals and other odd shapes
- web browsers do the browsing for you
- genAI companies as token-dealers
#dataBS
newsletter.complex-machinery.com/archive/048-...
Reposted by Q McCallum
I'll be chatting about testing, coding, Compiler Explorer, why I love optimisation, and origin stories (and more!) in a few hours' time with my pals at Solid Sands. Please, join us: register with the link below!
meet.zoho.eu/pdtm-xue-gmu
meet.zoho.eu/pdtm-xue-gmu
Register for Webinar
By clicking 'Register', you acknowledge that the webinar organizer may use this information to share updates regarding this webinar as well as for future communications.
meet.zoho.eu
November 5, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I'll be chatting about testing, coding, Compiler Explorer, why I love optimisation, and origin stories (and more!) in a few hours' time with my pals at Solid Sands. Please, join us: register with the link below!
meet.zoho.eu/pdtm-xue-gmu
meet.zoho.eu/pdtm-xue-gmu
Reposted by Q McCallum
PSA from 404 Media: you can opt-out of a data broker selling your flight travel data to the government to be searched without a warrant. Here's how I did it. This is ARC, the data broker owned by major U.S. airlines like United, Delta, American, etc
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
How to Opt-Out of Airlines Selling Your Travel Data to the Government
The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), owned by major U.S. airlines, collects billions of ticketing records and sells them to the government to be searched without a warrant. I managed to opt-out o...
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
PSA from 404 Media: you can opt-out of a data broker selling your flight travel data to the government to be searched without a warrant. Here's how I did it. This is ARC, the data broker owned by major U.S. airlines like United, Delta, American, etc
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
In the latest Complex Machinery, I'm catching up on recent AI news:
- circular deals and other odd shapes
- web browsers do the browsing for you
- genAI companies as token-dealers
#dataBS
newsletter.complex-machinery.com/archive/048-...
- circular deals and other odd shapes
- web browsers do the browsing for you
- genAI companies as token-dealers
#dataBS
newsletter.complex-machinery.com/archive/048-...
#048 - Catching up on the news
Of AI browsers, circular deals, and token dealers
newsletter.complex-machinery.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:38 PM
In the latest Complex Machinery, I'm catching up on recent AI news:
- circular deals and other odd shapes
- web browsers do the browsing for you
- genAI companies as token-dealers
#dataBS
newsletter.complex-machinery.com/archive/048-...
- circular deals and other odd shapes
- web browsers do the browsing for you
- genAI companies as token-dealers
#dataBS
newsletter.complex-machinery.com/archive/048-...
Reposted by Q McCallum
Might ask compliance if I can use that instead of the usual “past performance is not a guide to the future and may not be repeated”
Adding “destiny” makes it sound way cooler
Adding “destiny” makes it sound way cooler
UK's Chancellor Reeves: Forecasts are based on past data; past isn't our destiny.
November 4, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Might ask compliance if I can use that instead of the usual “past performance is not a guide to the future and may not be repeated”
Adding “destiny” makes it sound way cooler
Adding “destiny” makes it sound way cooler
Reposted by Q McCallum
arXiv, a preprint publication for academic research that has become particularly important for AI research, has announced it will no longer accept computer science articles and papers that haven’t been vetted by an academic journal or a conference. Why?
A tide of AI slop.
A tide of AI slop.
arXiv Changes Rules After Getting Spammed With AI-Generated 'Research' Papers
Cornell University’s academic paper repository will no longer accept Computer Science papers still under review.
www.404media.co
November 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
arXiv, a preprint publication for academic research that has become particularly important for AI research, has announced it will no longer accept computer science articles and papers that haven’t been vetted by an academic journal or a conference. Why?
A tide of AI slop.
A tide of AI slop.
Welcome to the early promise of "targeted" advertising, taken to its logical (yet unsettling) extreme.
New from 404 Media: the future of advertising is AI generated ads that are directly personalized to you. We're already basically seeing this with the same AI Ticketmaster ads being tweaked to different sports teams etc. Meta is pushing for this AI personalization
www.404media.co/the-future-o...
www.404media.co/the-future-o...
The Future of Advertising Is AI Generated Ads That Are Directly Personalized to You
"Advertisers are increasingly just going to be able to give us a business objective and give us a credit card or bank account, and have the AI system basically figure out everything else."
www.404media.co
November 3, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Welcome to the early promise of "targeted" advertising, taken to its logical (yet unsettling) extreme.
Reposted by Q McCallum
I did a video with the folks at Big Think over the summer -- it was intense, but also a lot of fun.
Their MO is they throw questions at you for nearly 3 hours, then edit it down to one hour.
It dropped a week ago, and now has over 100,000 views!
Check it out here
ritholtz.com/2025/10/avoi...
Their MO is they throw questions at you for nearly 3 hours, then edit it down to one hour.
It dropped a week ago, and now has over 100,000 views!
Check it out here
ritholtz.com/2025/10/avoi...
How to Avoid the Traps that Most Investors Fall For - The Big Picture
This was a fun, and surprisngly intense Big Think discussion. They throw a ton of questions at you for hours, and then edit it down to 60 minutes, minus the questions. Full transcript is here; shorter...
ritholtz.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I did a video with the folks at Big Think over the summer -- it was intense, but also a lot of fun.
Their MO is they throw questions at you for nearly 3 hours, then edit it down to one hour.
It dropped a week ago, and now has over 100,000 views!
Check it out here
ritholtz.com/2025/10/avoi...
Their MO is they throw questions at you for nearly 3 hours, then edit it down to one hour.
It dropped a week ago, and now has over 100,000 views!
Check it out here
ritholtz.com/2025/10/avoi...
Machine-based translation is more likely to _create_ humorous, serendipitous interactions than to eliminate them.
Apple’s new earbuds can translate languages in real time. But what do we lose when nothing gets lost in translation?
AirPods Are Taking Away One of Travel’s Great Opportunities
Apple’s new earbuds can translate languages in real time. But what do we lose when nothing’s lost in translation?
bloom.bg
October 31, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Machine-based translation is more likely to _create_ humorous, serendipitous interactions than to eliminate them.
Reposted by Q McCallum
No.
Not all doctors give patients a lot of time, or are available to answer a handful of questions, let alone dozens. But AI never gets tired, and it can be a model of clarity.
I Finally Have a Physician Who’s Available and Who Gets Me. Meet Dr. Grok.
My human doctors rarely have time to talk for long, and don’t seem all that interested in the big picture. Grok is different.
on.wsj.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:29 PM
No.
No.
Not all doctors give patients a lot of time, or are available to answer a handful of questions, let alone dozens. But AI never gets tired, and it can be a model of clarity.
I Finally Have a Physician Who’s Available and Who Gets Me. Meet Dr. Grok.
My human doctors rarely have time to talk for long, and don’t seem all that interested in the big picture. Grok is different.
on.wsj.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:29 PM
No.
This is only tangential to @fwiles.bsky.social 's point, but ... not only is generating synthetic data fun/funny, it's a hell of a way to stretch your brain. Data-wise and programming-wise.
In part because the first step involves understanding the problem you're trying to solve.
#dataBS
In part because the first step involves understanding the problem you're trying to solve.
#dataBS
Working on gandercpg.com a CPG related SaaS product I'm founding with a friend in that industry. Needed fake data for ingredients/formulas so I built a randomizer with some. Some bangers from my testing this morning: "Earthy Butter", "Mega Tonic", and "Chill Dip"
October 30, 2025 at 12:36 PM
This is only tangential to @fwiles.bsky.social 's point, but ... not only is generating synthetic data fun/funny, it's a hell of a way to stretch your brain. Data-wise and programming-wise.
In part because the first step involves understanding the problem you're trying to solve.
#dataBS
In part because the first step involves understanding the problem you're trying to solve.
#dataBS
Adding to my list of "criminals are early and eager adopters of new technology" ...
Always fun when an old problem online (ineffective platform content moderation) combines with a newer problem online (easy, cheap deepfake scams).
Also crypto. Just checks all the crappy boxes.
Also crypto. Just checks all the crappy boxes.
October 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Adding to my list of "criminals are early and eager adopters of new technology" ...
Between finance, web3, and AI, I have this awful habit of digging into things that go kablooey.
Maybe I should have joined the military and served as an EOD tech?
Maybe I should have joined the military and served as an EOD tech?
October 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Between finance, web3, and AI, I have this awful habit of digging into things that go kablooey.
Maybe I should have joined the military and served as an EOD tech?
Maybe I should have joined the military and served as an EOD tech?
Reposted by Q McCallum
This is a sad but correct decision. Thank you, @python.org, for committing to your values when it matters.
I would love a list of organization that have made this kind of value-driven decision to donate to.
I would love a list of organization that have made this kind of value-driven decision to donate to.
as a condition of funding, we were asked to affirm that we wouldn’t undertake any diversity, equity, and inclusion work, whether or not we used the government funds to do so. The PSF simply couldn’t agree to that statement,
October 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
This is a sad but correct decision. Thank you, @python.org, for committing to your values when it matters.
I would love a list of organization that have made this kind of value-driven decision to donate to.
I would love a list of organization that have made this kind of value-driven decision to donate to.