Beth / "Foal"
@unicornfoal.bsky.social
Still figuring out how this place works. Not very talkative.
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
Meanwhile this is *machine learning* and what it is *good at*. Not generative AI bullshit, actual useful predictive statistical models. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
AI being used to help cut A&E waiting times in England this winter
Forecasting tool predicts when demand will be highest, allowing NHS trusts to better plan staffing and bed space
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Meanwhile this is *machine learning* and what it is *good at*. Not generative AI bullshit, actual useful predictive statistical models. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
Great post about generative AI. Happy Holidays. Don't say I never gave you anything. anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
December 29, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Great post about generative AI. Happy Holidays. Don't say I never gave you anything. anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
i think what gets overlooked is that part of the humor and charm of edits like these is that you're perfectly aware that someone sat down and spent their own time making it. they chose to do something cool or silly or stupid or genius, regardless of the results
that human element elevates the work
that human element elevates the work
Who needs AI when we had stuff like this? I’ll take photoshop edits over the slop any day
December 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
i think what gets overlooked is that part of the humor and charm of edits like these is that you're perfectly aware that someone sat down and spent their own time making it. they chose to do something cool or silly or stupid or genius, regardless of the results
that human element elevates the work
that human element elevates the work
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
meanwhile.... medicine has taken INSANE leaps and bounds in the last 2 years.
we're out here curing HIV and leukemia and creating 100% efficacy vaccines against all sorts of cancers, and now this??
between this and renewable energy outstripping fossil fuels in efficiency, the future is bright
we're out here curing HIV and leukemia and creating 100% efficacy vaccines against all sorts of cancers, and now this??
between this and renewable energy outstripping fossil fuels in efficiency, the future is bright
Wanna see real-life miracles? Fund scientific research.
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
Alzheimer's Fully Reversed in Mice, Scientists Say
A new compound has been shown to reverse late stage Alzheimer's disease in lab mice, which gives millions of sufferers new cause for hope.
futurism.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:03 AM
meanwhile.... medicine has taken INSANE leaps and bounds in the last 2 years.
we're out here curing HIV and leukemia and creating 100% efficacy vaccines against all sorts of cancers, and now this??
between this and renewable energy outstripping fossil fuels in efficiency, the future is bright
we're out here curing HIV and leukemia and creating 100% efficacy vaccines against all sorts of cancers, and now this??
between this and renewable energy outstripping fossil fuels in efficiency, the future is bright
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
Sitting a stewing in frustration isn't nearly as cathartic as just designing a poster. Let's see how often I remember that in 2026.
December 31, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Sitting a stewing in frustration isn't nearly as cathartic as just designing a poster. Let's see how often I remember that in 2026.
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
tired: everything's computer
wired: fewer things will be computer
wired: fewer things will be computer
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its senses.
Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its…
wrd.cm
December 28, 2025 at 2:42 AM
tired: everything's computer
wired: fewer things will be computer
wired: fewer things will be computer
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
Honestly, I love the Secret Third Option years. Like bird year, that was also great
December 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Honestly, I love the Secret Third Option years. Like bird year, that was also great
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
I dare any antivaxxer to look up Hans Christian Andersen's brief stay at Charles Dickens' house and then tell me to my face that Autism is a recent phenomenon 😅
RFK: “Where did all this autism come from? It never existed when I was a kid!”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
December 26, 2025 at 6:12 AM
I dare any antivaxxer to look up Hans Christian Andersen's brief stay at Charles Dickens' house and then tell me to my face that Autism is a recent phenomenon 😅
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
The 25 of December is when the "Twelve Days of Christmas" actually begin, known as Christmastide.
And there are theories that "the partridge in a pear tree" started as a magpie in a pear tree as it was a motiff in older popular songs. 🐦🎄
Happy Holidays!!
And there are theories that "the partridge in a pear tree" started as a magpie in a pear tree as it was a motiff in older popular songs. 🐦🎄
Happy Holidays!!
December 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The 25 of December is when the "Twelve Days of Christmas" actually begin, known as Christmastide.
And there are theories that "the partridge in a pear tree" started as a magpie in a pear tree as it was a motiff in older popular songs. 🐦🎄
Happy Holidays!!
And there are theories that "the partridge in a pear tree" started as a magpie in a pear tree as it was a motiff in older popular songs. 🐦🎄
Happy Holidays!!
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
The confusion and conflation of ‘generative ai that is built on stolen artwork’ and ‘machine learning, character behaviour modelling and proc gen’ is intentional on the part of the grifters peddling the former. They benefit from murkiness of classification, because the latter predates their bollocks
December 23, 2025 at 6:08 PM
The confusion and conflation of ‘generative ai that is built on stolen artwork’ and ‘machine learning, character behaviour modelling and proc gen’ is intentional on the part of the grifters peddling the former. They benefit from murkiness of classification, because the latter predates their bollocks
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
genAI doesn't FIND anything.
Also, there is a world beyond the internet. And that's where historians work. (it's called an archive where most of it isn't digitized or searchable if it is.)
Also, there is a world beyond the internet. And that's where historians work. (it's called an archive where most of it isn't digitized or searchable if it is.)
While I want to agree on principle, I wonder if the issue is prompting? Would the AI have been able to find the nuggets you were looking for if it had been directed to do so? Or is it an issue of you not knowing the questions to ask until you've read the source material yourself?
December 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
genAI doesn't FIND anything.
Also, there is a world beyond the internet. And that's where historians work. (it's called an archive where most of it isn't digitized or searchable if it is.)
Also, there is a world beyond the internet. And that's where historians work. (it's called an archive where most of it isn't digitized or searchable if it is.)
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
Geologists, too! Not too long ago someone commented to me that there’s little value in rock sample and core libraries because everything important had surely been digitized. Relatively little has (and, even if it has, it’s hard to run a chemical or physical test on an image or PDF file).
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
Seems like it's worth posting this one again.
December 22, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Geologists, too! Not too long ago someone commented to me that there’s little value in rock sample and core libraries because everything important had surely been digitized. Relatively little has (and, even if it has, it’s hard to run a chemical or physical test on an image or PDF file).
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
Seems like it's worth posting this one again.
Why Do Historians Still Have To Go To Archives?
Why do historians go to archives? Hasn’t everything already been digitized?
contingentmagazine.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:40 AM
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
My brother was literally arguing to me yesterday that concept art was 'throwaway' so it was fine to use GenAI and I didn't have the words to explain to him how that's not how concept art works and he basically accused me of hating AI for the sake of it. Sigh.
We spoke to a dozen professional concept artists who are currently or have previously worked in game development about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs any easier.
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Concept Artists Say Generative AI References Only Make Their Jobs Harder
“The ‘early ideation stages’, when worlds are being fleshed out by writers and artists, are literally crucial to the development of a game’s vision,” said one artist.
thisweekinvideogames.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:36 PM
My brother was literally arguing to me yesterday that concept art was 'throwaway' so it was fine to use GenAI and I didn't have the words to explain to him how that's not how concept art works and he basically accused me of hating AI for the sake of it. Sigh.
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
"we only use AI for coming up with ideas" no you don't. you use AI to come up with the a bland version of other people's ideas. there is currently NOBODY more replaceable than you
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 AM
"we only use AI for coming up with ideas" no you don't. you use AI to come up with the a bland version of other people's ideas. there is currently NOBODY more replaceable than you
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
I also want to say thank you to the person who introduced me to the French word 'beaucoup' this year. It means a lot.
December 19, 2025 at 1:32 PM
I also want to say thank you to the person who introduced me to the French word 'beaucoup' this year. It means a lot.
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
"concept artists can experiment with AI to make their lives easi-"
wrong
I smack you with Claire Hummel's immaculate and detailed understanding of costume design, which she got by studying historical references, which made her strong, which you will not become by relying on AI
get good
wrong
I smack you with Claire Hummel's immaculate and detailed understanding of costume design, which she got by studying historical references, which made her strong, which you will not become by relying on AI
get good
December 18, 2025 at 9:39 PM
"concept artists can experiment with AI to make their lives easi-"
wrong
I smack you with Claire Hummel's immaculate and detailed understanding of costume design, which she got by studying historical references, which made her strong, which you will not become by relying on AI
get good
wrong
I smack you with Claire Hummel's immaculate and detailed understanding of costume design, which she got by studying historical references, which made her strong, which you will not become by relying on AI
get good
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
My most recent AI agent repeatedly offered me reservation times then said they were not available when I accepted, told me my (eventual) reservation was booked when it was not (surprise, no table!), and arbitrarily switched to Spanish halfway through our conversation. But this is funnier.
December 18, 2025 at 11:02 PM
My most recent AI agent repeatedly offered me reservation times then said they were not available when I accepted, told me my (eventual) reservation was booked when it was not (surprise, no table!), and arbitrarily switched to Spanish halfway through our conversation. But this is funnier.
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
wow, it's Shonisaurus, the giant Triassic ichthyosaur!
December 18, 2025 at 3:38 AM
wow, it's Shonisaurus, the giant Triassic ichthyosaur!
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
I love when a paper makes me feel stupid by finding an obvious, overlooked solution: “perhaps most great whales have an unrecognized potential for great longevity that has been masked by the demographic disruptions of industrial whaling”; we killed all the old ones, only the babies are left. Duh. 🧪
December 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I love when a paper makes me feel stupid by finding an obvious, overlooked solution: “perhaps most great whales have an unrecognized potential for great longevity that has been masked by the demographic disruptions of industrial whaling”; we killed all the old ones, only the babies are left. Duh. 🧪
Reposted by Beth / "Foal"
Btw, did you know the internet is full of very good research tools?
For example, here's a really good online museum collection to use as reference:
For example, here's a really good online museum collection to use as reference:
December 16, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Btw, did you know the internet is full of very good research tools?
For example, here's a really good online museum collection to use as reference:
For example, here's a really good online museum collection to use as reference: