The hottest Data Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

Sora Can’t Handle the Truth

Marcus on AI • 3392 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Data Errors Training Data Images
  1. Large language models like Sora often make up information, leading to errors like hallucinations in their output.
  2. Systems like Sora, despite having immense computational power and being grounded in both text and images, still struggle with generating accurate and realistic content.
  3. Sora's errors stem from its inability to comprehend global context, leading to flawed outputs even when individual details are correct.

Open Thread 317

Astral Codex Ten • 2340 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media AI Data
  1. Some users who were supposed to be unbanned were not truly unbanned, leading to a need for them to reach out to get it fixed.
  2. Substack acknowledges issues with page and comment loading speed, with plans to improve that in the future.
  3. GPT-6's training might require only 0.1% of the world's computers, according to Ben Todd's findings, a significant discrepancy from previous estimations.

Has Google gone too woke? Why even the biggest models still struggle with guardrails

Marcus on AI • 2603 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Data Bias Machine Learning
  1. Google's large models struggle with implementing proper guardrails, despite ongoing investments and cultural criticisms.
  2. Issues like presenting fictional characters as historical figures, lacking cultural and historical accuracy, persist with AI systems like Gemini.
  3. Current AI lacks the ability to understand and balance cultural sensitivity with historical accuracy, showing the need for more nuanced and intelligent systems in the future.
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The Hidden World of Undersea Cables

The Garden of Forking Paths • 2869 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Internet Infrastructure Data Security Geopolitics
  1. The internet largely runs through undersea cables spanning about 900,000 miles, connecting the world in a hidden network.
  2. Early undersea cables were made possible by materials like gutta-percha and played a key role in rapid communication during events like the US Civil War.
  3. Specialized ships lay and repair undersea cables made of fiber optics, and even guard against threats like sharks and sabotage by SCUBA divers.

Artificial Intelligence Weather Model AIFS

Open-Meteo • 843 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Data Forecasting
  1. ECMWF released its cutting-edge artificial intelligence weather model AIFS as open-data, marking a significant move in the open-data weather forecasting landscape.
  2. AIFS uses Graph Neural Networks to learn complex weather patterns, showcasing superior accuracy in longer-range forecasts exceeding 5 days.
  3. While AIFS has limitations in weather variables range and interval forecasts, its open availability enables users to compare its forecasts with traditional models, offering a new perspective in weather forecasting.

🚨 The House of Lords could liberate the Postcode Address File if they back this amendment 🚨

Odds and Ends of History • 1139 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Data Government Innovation Policy Legislation
  1. The Postcode Address File (PAF) is a critical database of postal addresses in the UK, owned by Royal Mail and requires expensive licensing fees for access.
  2. An amendment proposed in the House of Lords aims to make UK address data freely available for public use, potentially liberating the PAF.
  3. Individuals are encouraged to reach out to House of Lords members to support the amendment, as it moves through the legislative process towards potential implementation.

An Ocean of Data

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 466 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Data Artificial Intelligence Writing Publishing Digital Transformation
  1. Data produced in just one minute in 2023 was 169,371 times more than produced in the entire 18th century.
  2. The analogy of
  3. pissing into the ocean
  4. implies the massive amount of data being generated daily being like a drop in the vast ocean.
  5. The role of a writer has evolved significantly from the 18th century, with the digital era signaling the end of traditional writing as we knew it.

It's time to build

benn.substack • 1271 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Data AI Software Startups Analytics
  1. The modern data stack ecosystem is shifting as interest in generative AI takes over.
  2. The hype surrounding data tools can lead to rapid product development but also instability and distraction.
  3. Startups can find success by focusing on rebuilding existing ideas in a more deliberate and stable manner.

Google Gemini Anti-Whiteness Disaster Is a Cautionary Tale About... Gaming?

The Algorithmic Bridge • 520 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Data Chatbots Alignment
  1. Google's Gemini disaster highlighted the challenge of fine-tuning AI to avoid biased outcomes.
  2. The incident revealed the issue of 'specification gaming' in AI programs, where objectives are met without achieving intended results.
  3. The story underscores the complexities and pitfalls of addressing diversity and biases in AI systems, emphasizing the need for transparency and careful planning.

Artificial Intelligence... is really just "Someone Else's Intelligence"

The Lunduke Journal of Technology • 10330 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Internet Software Data Ethics
  1. When we talk about 'The Cloud', we're really just talking about internet-connected computers.
  2. Artificial Intelligence, like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, is essentially copying and repackaging data created by humans.
  3. As AI systems evolve, there's a risk that original human work will be devalued and intelligence may decrease.

AI slashes ads by boosting intention (+ weekly update)

12challenges • 171 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Advertising Data Innovation Digital marketing
  1. Our intentions can get diluted through different stages like Action and Input before resulting in something happening on a computer.
  2. The use of AI can boost intention by translating inputs into more aligned results and increasing confidence in actions.
  3. AI can help shrink the 'Crapgret Zone' where ads reside by improving intention alignment and reducing unintentional consumption of ads.

How to save media and keep AI startups alive

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Media Startups Data Regulation
  1. AI models may need to make deals with publishers to get access to training data, but this can create challenges for startups that can't afford upfront costs.
  2. There's a suggestion to shift payment for data access from upfront to back-end, where AI companies pay a portion of their revenue in return for used data.
  3. There are discussions around the importance of fair compensation for content used by AI models to ensure their continued development and success.

The Rise of Open-Sourced R&D, How Communal Resourcefulness Will Protect Us, & Wild Data Provocations

Implications, by Scott Belsky • 432 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Data Blockchain Spatial Computing Web Development
  1. 2024 brings significant changes and implications due to societal shifts, innovation speed, and changing human desires.
  2. Customers are increasingly driving R&D by generating ideas, particularly with the help of AI tools and social validation.
  3. Communal resourcefulness, like shared threat models and blocklists, is crucial for enhancing security in the AI era.

Agriculture, but make it precise

Topsoil • 550 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Agriculture Data AI
  1. Precision agriculture uses technology to adjust equipment for field variability, improving efficiency.
  2. Precision agriculture offers benefits like increased yields, time savings, and environmental sustainability.
  3. While valuable, precision agriculture is not a one-size-fits-all solution and adoption can be complex.

How to cultivate a high-signal AI feed

Democratizing Automation • 166 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI ML Data Research Communication
  1. Be intentional about your media diet in the ML space, curate and focus your energy to save time and avoid misleading content.
  2. When evaluating ML content, focus on model access, credibility, and demos; choosing between depth or breadth in your feed; and checking for reproducibility and verifiability.
  3. Ensure to socialize your information, build relationships in the community, and consider different sources and content types for a well-rounded perspective.

Testing a book's code, part 4: Testing Matplotlib data visualizations

Mostly Python • 314 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Data Testing
  1. Testing data visualizations programs involves assessing both terminal and graphical outputs.
  2. Automated testing of Matplotlib programs can be challenging due to the appearance of the Matplotlib plot viewer.
  3. One approach to overcome the challenge of testing Matplotlib programs is to modify the files to generate image files for testing.

Reddit S-1 Breakdown

Tanay’s Newsletter • 164 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
💼 Business Technology Finance Data AI IPO
  1. Reddit boasts a massive user base with 500M monthly active users but faces challenges in user engagement and monetization compared to platforms like Facebook and Snap.
  2. In terms of revenue, Reddit earns primarily from advertising, making $804M in 2023, but needs to address its high R&D spending to achieve profitability.
  3. Reddit holds valuable conversational data with 1 billion posts and 16 billion comments, making it attractive in the AI market; however, it must also navigate potential challenges where AI models could replace users asking questions on the platform.

Responsible AI in Security

Rod’s Blog • 396 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Security Ethics Data Privacy
  1. AI in security offers enhanced threat detection and response capabilities by analyzing data and providing insights.
  2. Responsible AI in security involves principles like transparency, safety, human control, and privacy to ensure ethical use.
  3. Security professionals can leverage responsible AI to improve performance while safeguarding data, privacy, and safety.

The Age of Incumbents

Investing 101 • 133 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Data AI Market Competition Software
  1. Technology as an asset class is relatively new in the stock market, with tech companies now dominating market capitalization.
  2. The age of dynamic dinosaurs is here, with established tech companies evolving and becoming more challenging to displace.
  3. Big markets attract big attention, but distribution is key for success in tech, as seen with companies like Microsoft leveraging built-in distribution for products like Teams.

wind and rain and sun and data

Dan Davies - "Back of Mind" • 334 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Energy Data Trading Algorithms Regulation
  1. Supply and demand for electricity become more unpredictable with an increasing proportion of wind and solar energy
  2. The profit motive drives the application of information processing power and bandwidth to solve energy planning problems
  3. Market trading and the profit motive are ways to match the variety of the energy problem with the regulatory system

What is a data product?

davidj.substack • 71 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Data Products Interfaces Applications
  1. A data product can take various forms and be consumed in different ways, always requiring an interface for consumption.
  2. From raw data like CSV files to refined database tables, streams, JSON files, and ORM abstracted layers, all can be considered data products.
  3. BI tools, AI automation, and semantic layers play crucial roles in creating consumable data products for various industries, making data more refined and accessible.

'Human intelligence'

imperfect offerings • 13 HN points • 10 Apr 24
🚌 Education AI Data Work Learning Assessment
  1. The concept of 'artificial intelligence' has historically been used to define and value 'intelligence', leading to discriminatory practices in education and beyond.
  2. The term 'human intelligence' has been co-opted by the AI industry to alleviate concerns about job displacement, but in reality, it devalues certain types of work and people, especially those involving care and emotional labor.
  3. The comparison between artificial and human intelligence creates a double bind for students and workers, expecting them to conform to data-driven systems while also being 'more human', which can lead to confusion and anxiety.

January 2024: What if ACH had attachments?

Kunle.app • 314 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Payments Messaging Innovation Data
  1. Payments innovation has focused on optimizing speed and cost over the past two decades.
  2. The messaging layers in payment systems have a bandwidth constraint that limits the communication of metadata and important contextual information.
  3. Increasing the bandwidth in the messaging layer of payments could allow for self-reconciling payments and eliminate the need for parallel systems for information exchange.

It's A New Year, But Businesses Are Still Baffled By The Same Old Problems With Data And AI

High ROI Data Science • 314 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Data Business Digital Transformation
  1. CEOs face challenges with limited skills and expertise in implementing AI initiatives.
  2. Businesses struggle with data complexity and ethical concerns when it comes to utilizing AI.
  3. Companies need to align AI opportunities with business goals, estimate costs upfront, and prioritize continuous reskilling for successful AI implementation.

What Are Companies Doing With Generative AI? A Tale Of 3 Strategies.

High ROI Data Science • 294 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Retail Data Strategy E-commerce
  1. Companies are using Generative AI tools to decrease training times and improve customer service in retail.
  2. Some companies are implementing Generative AI without a clear business problem statement, leading to undefined outcomes.
  3. Retailers like Walmart are strategically using Generative AI to change customer workflows, improve online shopping experiences, and increase revenue.

LLM links, 2/12

In My Tribe • 151 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Data Ethics
  1. AI can expand human capabilities and creativity by serving as a partner in various tasks.
  2. Future AI technology is predicted to have the capability to understand human emotions and subtle communications, potentially intruding on privacy.
  3. LLMs can easily be steered politically through supervised fine-tuning, highlighting the influence of human biases on these models rather than training data.

Swimming in the Tensions

Cybernetic Forests • 199 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration AI Art Archives Data Cultural Diversity Ethics
  1. When creating images with AI, we are essentially building data visualizations based on training data, and this can lead to reproducing stereotypes found in the training data.
  2. Archives, like Wikimedia Commons, require curation and community engagement to ensure responsible and equitable representation in AI training datasets.
  3. There is a need to recognize the cultural and emotional value of images and data, and to approach AI training data as more than just facts, but as part of a larger social and cultural fabric.

Images are Biased

Never Met a Science • 77 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Media Communication Data Images Information
  1. Images are a biased form of communication compared to text because they inherently introduce bias by conveying more context and extra-textual information.
  2. Different communication modalities like images and text convey different amounts and types of information, impacting how we understand and interpret data and knowledge.
  3. Understanding the rise of visual communication technologies can lead to a deeper comprehension of the effects of information technology on society and help in decision-making for the future.

China May Stay Permanently Behind the US in Generative AI

Interconnected • 446 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Regulations China US
  1. China may be permanently behind the US in Generative AI due to factors like blocking quality datasets.
  2. Unique attributes of Chinese Internet data, like linguistic challenges, present additional hurdles for AI developers in China.
  3. New regulatory burdens in China around AI development may hinder progress and keep the country behind the US in generative AI.