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Larry Nocella

author | explorer | thinker. infinitely inquisitive about our fascinating world. i write a lot. i have fun and do my best to spread good vibes.

Gods and Computers

An Upgrade is Available for Your God(s)

The more I write about tech, artificial intelligence, and algorithms, the more I sound like I’m talking about religion. Humans Need to Know Why Like many folks in this era of podcasts, I have listened to far too many true crime stories to be healthy.  There is one thing I find extremely fascinating about the families of the victims. They’ve expressed a common feeling that’s surprising, when the full fate of their loved-one isn’t fully known. Say a person has gone missing, evidence indicates they were likely murdered, but their… Read More »An Upgrade is Available for Your God(s)

A square image of a guitar painting.

A “Don’t Come Cryin’ to Me” Kind of Moment

USA Election 2024 is over. If the obvious happens, I don’t want to hear from you. Okay, friend, so you voted for Trump. This might surprise you, but I get it. I really do. Times are tough. You got tired of it. So, you voted for change. If you had any concerns beyond your own, you set them aside because life is hard. No doubt. Totally agreed, life is rough. My concern is this: I follow politics and study history, and what I’ve learned is that a different path doesn’t… Read More »A “Don’t Come Cryin’ to Me” Kind of Moment

a cute illustration of a boy wearing a propeller hat hugging a robot with hearts around their heads

Am I a Fool for Loving Generative A.I.?

If Generative A.I. Is Wrong, I Don’t Want to be Right I don’t remember much about grade school, but I clearly recall a classmate’s kindness. In art class, this one kid made drawings that were always fantastic. Mine were always less than. Far less than. I asked him his secret, expecting him to keep such valuable knowledge to himself.  He shared generously and without hesitation. “When you fill in a shape, make sure you color in the same direction.”  During our next art class, I tried it. The result? My… Read More »Am I a Fool for Loving Generative A.I.?

Image created by Bing Copilot AI. Prompt: A professor stands before a room of computer screens. 

You’ve Been Drafted into the A.I. Training Corps!

Thank you for your service! You didn’t sign up to serve? Oh yes you did! You’re here, aren’t you? I found something interesting while browsing LinkedIn the other day. (I know, right? Who in history ever uttered that sentence?) What I blundered into was the news that LinkedIn was sending user data (profile info and posts, etc.) to use in training Generative A.I. models. (Story here.) To summarize: some LinkedIn users are default opted-in to train its generative AI model. Or, as the settings option says — to “work with partners” who… Read More »You’ve Been Drafted into the A.I. Training Corps!

A king in an ornate throne room, standing before his throne, angrily pointing out of the room, ordering a messenger to leave, colorful

Mental Model Repair Shop: Remember This Before Blaming the Messenger

Today in the mental model repair shop, we’re going to discuss how we assess hypocrisy. We’ll start with a specific anecdote and expand the lessons learned for many situations. Hating Dissent in the Land of the Free Long ago, my primary cause was animal rights. I read all the books, visited vegan restaurants, and attended protests against animal cruelty. Regarding those rallies, I was shocked at the scorn we received. Not because people disagreed with us, but because they seemed to dislike protest as an idea—without even knowing our cause. Maybe… Read More »Mental Model Repair Shop: Remember This Before Blaming the Messenger

How to Use Words with Maximum Impact

Word Police on Patrol There’s this interesting video where a girl asks why we call something “man-made” (here) when women were also a part of its construction. Many explode with rage over the suggestion that we alter or update our language. I’m not one of them. People who rage at the idea that we use a new word are annoying. Equally irritating are those who attack anyone who fails to use the most modern terms. The rules of vocabulary are ever-shifting and agreed-upon by unofficial consensus of … who knows?… Read More »How to Use Words with Maximum Impact