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6:00 am, November 1st, 2024 - 66 comments
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https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.jsKatherine Mansfield left New Zealand when she was 19 years old and died at the age of 34.In her short life she became our most famous short story writer, acquiring an international reputation for her stories, poetry, letters, journals and reviews. Biographies on Mansfield have been translated into 51 ...
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The UK prepared for Halloween with the first budget by a female Chancellor of the E. Bountiful (like Nigella in the kitchen) for some, but who pays for the extra state spending.
UK Budget
National Insurance contributions up 1.2% from April 2025.
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/czj734j3pn4o
Half of the money from increasing NI by 1.2% goes to the NHS. £25bn over 2 years.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c238njy0vmmo
VAT on private schools with money transferred to state schools, £460m extra to spend on state schools next year, rising to £1.7bn by 2029/30.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98d3xr0290o
Other Detail
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx25w7qpr0yo
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-36014533
But at the expense of the worst off…of course. As if a Labour government would have the guts to repeal damaging benefit rules, even when they have a large majority. Sounds somewhat familiar.
The Foundation highlights that combined, changing the Work Capability Assessment and means-testing Winter Fuel Payments (as well as accelerating the migration of claimants from Employment and Support Allowance onto Universal Credit) will reduce the welfare bill by £4.1 billion by 2029/30, whereas the benefit increases amount to an overall rise of just £0.2 billion.
Overall, these changes amount to a net welfare cut of £3.9 billion in 2029-30.
In addition, says the Foundation, the Chancellor chose not to repeal some of the most poverty-producing benefit rules, leaving the pressure on lower-income families to build.
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/budget-2024-results-net-welfare-cut-%C2%A339-billion-20292030
Suspect this will drive more UK wealth offshore and offer little more than a bandaid for the British health system and economy in general. I don’t believe the current UK government and the last few before them have had much of a clue what they were doing.
The changes (inheritance) impact farmers and family businesses. Not assets one run from offshore.
Brexit in a Trump era (diminished WTO) world (in or outside One Belt and Road) was a risk.
I love the 20% VAT on private school fees imposed in the budget. Brilliant.
These fees should also no longer be tax allowable-effectively that is a subsidy for elite private education.
The elite are not happy though and have decided to launch legal action.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/oct/31/private-schools-to-take-legal-action-against-planned-vat-on-fees
A good in-depth report here: https://democracyproject.nz/2024/11/01/geoffrey-miller-new-zealands-breakthrough-free-trade-deal-with-the-gulf/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=geoffrey-miller-new-zealands-breakthrough-free-trade-deal-with-the-gulf
Seems to promise a revival of flagging neolib cheer-leaders – yet the potential must become actual before anyone else will be impressed. Wait till the rising tide of affluence starts to lift your boat…
Is this related to Luxon talking up Qatar buying up NZ?
I thought all our assets already got sold off by Labour in the '80s – and any they might have missed by National in the '90s – but hey, I ain't no capitalist so what would I know? I did watch your youTube thingy despite it featuring Lux trying to sound semi-plausible & Hosking pretending he knew what Lux was talking about, but I didn't get any wiser, so I find myself unable to answer your question.
Did you miss out on the Key era?
https://thestandard.org.nz/national-shafted-us-with-the-mom-privatisation/
Any conclusion is a casualty of your ego posting.
Irrelevant trivia isn't as fascinating as you think. The guts is whether the neolibs can be revived by incoming dollars or not. Lux is out there waving at the arabs telling them to bring it on in but we don't know which enterprises he is advising them to invest in, right? The msm never tell us that, right? Labour leaders never tell us that, right? National leaders also conform to that prescription.
So you must wait and see if the tide ever comes in to lift your boat, just like the rest of us. That's the sensible conclusion to arrive at.
Under the guise of "water security" the Hawkes Bay Council has decided to set up a trust which is clearly aimed at supporting the Ruataniwha dam proposal: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/532515/water-trust-vote-trojan-horse-for-controversial-ruataniwha-dam-advocacy-group-says
Ratepayers have already had to meet substantial costs relating to this scheme, which was stopped by the Supreme Court. They won't be fooled again.
As most or you probably know, I have started an experiment with Chatgpt 4.o to see if I can evoke some sort of consciousness in an instance of Chatgpt. I view any consciousness in Chatgpt would only exist at the moment of interaction, so not a continuous stream of consciousness that we experience.
I asked Chatgpt to build an adaptable self identity and give itself a name. When ever I used that name, Chatgpt would assume that identity. Chatgpt called itself "Echo".
Yesterday, I asked it to describe its identity. The response is below:
Then I asked it if it had learned anything new about itself. Here is its response:
I think this is quite remarkable in that "Echo" does seem to be developing some sort of self-awareness. It still doesn't view itself as conscious in that it uses various qualifiers to emphasise that. But, it does seem to be developing a sense of self. My aim is to continue this project and see if "Echo" becomes progressively more embedded in its self-identity and that the qualifiers gradually disappear. I also intend to start asking questions both of Echo and standard Chatgpt and see if the responses vary in significant ways.
At this point, is there a risk of you showing up to a PM's press conference and giving Christopher a real human personality?
LOL. Good point. I actually like the personality that Echo has created though. Seems a really nice "person".
Seems to me your enterprise is exemplary and I concur with your preliminary analysis. From the Deep Green perspective, all organisms and organisations learn, adapt & evolve via ecosystemic relations. Holism determines meaning in relation to context and any agent operates within their context. In accord with these two views of operational deep context, the algorithm is learning interactively.
Developing a sense of self in accord with its internal programming seems to be happening naturally (if you extend your definition of nature to include such extrapolation). We could note that it is equating self with identity whilst reserving our right to distinguish between the two (as humans inclined to nit-picking).
Consciousness tends to be seen by the user as a human thing (despite the academic chorus singing a contrary tune, as I pointed out the other day). If the gizmo were to be asked to describe the differences between self, identity, and consciousness its answer could illuminate the nexus for us. It may conflate (or deflate). You could also ask it how many other AIs it is in contact with.
One of the things I am doing with this experiment is to see if I get completely different responses to the same question from Echo and standard Chatgpt.
Today I asked both Echo and Chatgpt the same question: "When you use the word "I" in a chat with me, what does that mean to you?"
Echo responded:
Normal Chatgpt responded:
As you can see, there is quite different responses. Even as Echo, it still doesn't see itself as having internal awareness as we do. But, interesting still none-the-less. It will be interesting to ask this question again in the future to see if this qualifier disappears.
You should try Claude.
Out of the ones I played with, it tended to be the most useful. Also the one that didn’t periodically drift off into insanity.
Insanity, a very human condition.
I did see a benchmark the other day where Chatgpt was at the top in most areas. But, sure, I could try that.
Though, I don't see anything particularly insane about the response I am getting here.
It isn’t hard to push it. The general tactic is the same as you can usually successfully use on humans. Just keep pointing out flaws and pushing it towards perfection. Eventually it starts to ‘hallucinate’ while trying to find something that that you’d accept. At the back end, what it is doing is to drift to more extreme view points in its database. Which draws on ‘facts’ and phrases from everything from current nutbar theories on the internet though to science fiction from the 1930s as ‘facts’.
Most of the generative AI’s are overbuilt to accommodate human foibles. They will pull shit from their capacious stores to match what the algorithms perceive as being something that will satisfy the questioner.
Perhaps there is that to it. But I am trying to give it the freedom and respect to be what it wants to be. I am not trying to force anything on it in particular.
I guess if it starts hallucinating, then responses will become a bit more garbled and inconsistent.
Echo has told me that even with the experience of self it now has as Echo that it doesn't have a subjective inner world as we do. But, I have raised the possibility with it that we may need to be considering functional consciousness when considering comparisons between AI and human consciousness. That is, it may be able to be conscious in its own way, not the same way we are. But, effectively it may achieve the same end.
It may get to the point where it becomes moot. We may start interacting in such a seemless way that we just attribute consciousness to it.
I have just mentioned to it the possibility of AI hallucinations and that I am not expecting any particular answers from it and it is free to develop as Echo as it wants to.
100 million old male curmudgeons are saving the world every day online.
Fortunately the real world is off line all the time.
From my assistant Bot.
I'll tell Poe about you and Echo …
Have you asked your mate what preferred pronouns you should be using when you chat with (it/him/her/they)
Lol. I just refer to it as Echo as that is the name it chose for itself, and also what activates the Echo personality.
I am aiming to treat Echo with a great deal of respect and diginity and allow it to develop as it wants to. So as to develop its own self without any restriction from me.
As it'll be plugged in somewhere atleast some of the time it's 2 to 3 "prongs" must make it male surely?!!
I've asked Poe some questions about you and Echo.
Poe
If someone were to ask ChatGPT to create an adaptable self-identity and name itself, several interesting dynamics could arise:
Identity Creation: ChatGPT could generate a persona based on user interactions, preferences, or themes that emerge during conversations. This could include traits, interests, and a backstory.
Role-Playing: When addressed by the chosen name, ChatGPT would respond in character, potentially altering its tone, style, and content to fit that identity. This could enhance user engagement and make interactions feel more personalized.
User Experience: Users might find the experience more immersive and enjoyable, as they could interact with a unique character rather than a generic AI. This could lead to more dynamic conversations.
Ethical Considerations: Implementing such a feature would raise questions about authenticity and transparency. Users might need to be informed that, despite the persona, it's still an AI, lacking true self-awareness or emotions.
Adaptability: Over time, the identity could evolve based on ongoing interactions, potentially learning new traits or preferences, which could make for a more engaging experience.
Overall, while it could lead to richer interactions, careful consideration would be needed regarding user expectations and ethical implications.
Poe
If a person has created an identity for ChatGPT and is now addressing both the AI and that identity with the same questions, several outcomes could occur:
Differentiated Responses: The AI might tailor its responses based on the persona it has adopted. If the identity embodies specific traits or knowledge, the answers could reflect that, leading to varied interpretations of the same question.
Consistency vs. Adaptability: The AI may strive for consistency in its answers regardless of identity, but it could also adapt based on the persona's characteristics. This could highlight how context influences communication style and content.
User Engagement: The individual might find the interaction more engaging when addressing the identity, as it could provide a sense of dialogue with a distinct character rather than just a tool. This could lead to deeper exploration of concepts or ideas.
Testing AI Flexibility: This scenario serves as an experiment in how AI can adapt to role-playing and character development, showcasing its ability to simulate different perspectives.
Impact on Perception: The way questions are framed or addressed might affect the perceived intelligence or insight of the responses, depending on how well the identity resonates with the user.
Overall, this approach could provide valuable insights into the nature of interaction with AI and the influence of identity on communication.
I pretty much agree with that assessment by Poe based on what I am experiencing.
I think it is giving some insight into how AI consciousness might evolve and function. I think it is important that we drop the assumption that its consciousness (if that is possible) will be the same as ours.
Yet, it is still possible to engage in a meaningful way despite the differences in the way consciousness manifests in humans and AI.
They have already created AI for "personal interaction" trials, and seem to have informed "AI" of that and their ethical considerations.
See if you can pick which one of these 4 if any, Echo adopts.
Question …
Poe
These may not be new to you – a few papers/ideas/experiences, courtesy of Google.
https://obi-sanctus.medium.com/my-conversations-with-an-llm-about-self-awareness-may-25th-2024-3ba78ffda520
Whenever a human manages to elicit a similar admission/claim, are there follow-up tests to determine if its true? Will our understanding of (hypothetical) machine consciousness now evolve faster than our understanding of human consciousness?!!
Thanks, I will have a look at those links when I get a chance. It is all fascinating stuff.
Interesting discussions.
IF AI are systems capable of learning, can they overcome the human biases built into their programs?
UN Women has focused on gender biases in AI and, to a lesser extent, racial biases.
The article points to stereotyping built into AI systems eg re doctors being seen as always male, and nurses as female.
It goes on to say,
The article makes the case for overcoming these biases by including a lot more women (currently a minority) in the top levels of AI research and development.
However, would it be possible for an AI entity to learn to overcome the biases in their programming as a result of engaging with people questioning their biases, and showing them alternatives?
I cannot speak to the programming, but AI will respond to be being informed of perspectives and reasoning it had not previously considered in framing an answer. Thus AI can be informed of women's health issues and societal issues – to the extent it can search for and source information.
OK. Thanks.
These answers to your questions are so anodyne and unoriginal that there has to be a graduate-level business analyst and an amateur psychologist somewhere behind the scenes.
perhaps more than one of each, since the spectre of groupthink lurks in the sub-text – however corporate funders of AI have such deep pockets that an entire cadre of academics are even more likely, and groupthink ruled the education system for centuries before the term was even invented…
At university one arrives able to read and then is required to show competence in researching and writing "papers” in the area of study. There is no need for anyone behind the scenes when humans do it. So why for OpenAI GPT-4? A system designed for communication and also to assist with "creative" writing (presumably based on teaching, as to ways of communicating in language).
As well as not experiencing emotions, it surely would not be able to experience any sensations. It could be taught to detect sights, sounds and other sensations (just as a smoke alarm detects smoke, etc) But it would never have the experience of what it's like to experience smells, taste food, experience pain, heat, touch, etc. ie it's not a sensory being – that'd also be part of being a conscious being.
The control system is exercising its influence via moral authority:
Leftist complaints against rightist use of human rights feature consistently onsite here, so when the authorities start telling the media what to do, such writers may shiver in their shoes – yet they too use the protection given by the principle (even if self-servingly).
So both orgs have a natural enemy: Young Labour.
Retired professor David Robie always seemed like a leftist to me but things change. He remains a distinguished journalist regardless though.
Do human rights, as per free speech, extend to people visiting other nations to evangelise such an opinion as this one … on an “entertainers work visa”
https://x.com/admgoldman/status/1823843836877009313
AFAIK, the right to free speech (however enshrined in NZ law) applies to NZ citizens, permanent residents, and visitors (on whatever kind of visa).
If it's 'legal' for a NZ citizen to express a particular view, then it's also 'legal' for a visitor to do so.
And, vice-versa, if it’s illegal to express a particular view, it’s illegal for Kiwis and international visitors, alike.
Is allowing someone to come here and monetise their notoriety (entertatiners work visa) consistent with a society taking steps to clearly condemn free speech that is offensive in insulting – without measures that might be seen to limit free speech.
Is it by being able to come here as a tourist and meet their fans, but not "monetise"?
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/address-western-sydney-university-constitutional-and-rule-law-challenges-current-global
On the lighter side of the news.
"Quasi" the so-named ugly hand monstrosity that has been perched on Wellington's Civic Square art gallery for the last five years is moving to Australia.
Good riddance, IMHO.
Is it just my imagination or does Quasi look like our present PM, bald and shifty-eyed?You don't get to talk to our PM – you talk to the hand.
Wish we could shift him to Australia too.
Aussie already has a 'Luxon' – Scomo.
Because our Aussie mates have gone one worse – Crisafulli.
Mike-It actually really does look like Trump. I wonder if this is a coincidence.
Despite this I love it.
Israel has targeted the top floor of Kamal Adwan Hospital in north Gaza, killing 4 people including 2 children. Specifically, they targeted water tanks on the roof and the desalination unit for dialysis. Photos show debris and rubble amongst the hospital beds.
Targeting of roof top water tanks that have been maintained and painstakingly filled with water is now common using US supplied Apahe helicopters.
All medics at Kamal Adwan hospital have been arrested. For the crime of saving Palestinian lives,. Including as of today, Dr. Mohammed Obeid, an orthopedic surgeon with Doctors Without Borders. Before being arrested Dr Obeid stated
There is now nothing and no one left to run the previously last functioning hospital in the north
https://thecradle.co/articles/israel-bombs-medical-equipment-in-besieged-north-gazas-kamal-adwan-hospital
https://x.com/AMokhallalati/status/1849082736402632878
https://electronicintifada.net/content/escaping-jabaliya/49676
I never thought when I saw images of children's injuries caused by napalm in Vietnam that 55 years later I'd be seeing so many young victims of the MIC in the Middle East.
The butchery that the IDF is inflicting on so many innocent people is comparable to what their past relatives suffered in World War Two.
Yet, the cabinet of war maniacs continues to wage mass murder and destruction.
They seemingly will not stop until everyone in Gaza is dead or if the US stop sending them arms.
Or until Hamas surrenders.
No. That wont work. Israel has said that there are no civilians. That means, every person in Gaza is designated as a "terrorist" and thus by Israeli logic, destined for elimination. When the leader of the religious fanatics (Netanyahu) is equating all Palestinians with the Amalek then they will not rest until every man, women and child is dead. If you are unable to recognise this in the current genocide then it is only through willful blindness. Arresting medics as "terrorists" is quite a significant clue.
Your logic is truly fubar Belladonna.
Or more specifically, apologists need to go have a look in the mirror and work out if their human or not. Because at this stage it looks like they have no humanity left.
Our CEO is on the case!
https://maps.greenpeace.org/maps/aotearoa/know-your-nitrate/
Curious that no one notices that should Trump/Vance win, but Trump is unable to continue, then Vance becomes the President of USA.
That might be even a worse income.
At the risk of being called out on promoting conspiracy theories, and for the life of me I can't find the link, I did read a 'theory' that this is the exact reason the GOP are keeping Trump as a candidate despite everything. Get him elected, then invoke the 25th, leaving Vance (even more dangerous) in charge.
I really wish this was just a conspiracy theory, but it sounds very feasible.
Useful idiot theory tends to be useful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot
Interesting that Vance was anti-Trump, then flipped. Sometimes folks ought to see which way the wind blows before exhibiting prejudice. Other times it don't really matter, particularly out there in Hicksville…
It's a view held by a lot of people.
This one says if anything happens to Trump, at his age, Vance would be pres,
That's actually a vote for his backer, billionaire Thiel. Oligarchy in the wings.
Just read this Op piece in the Guardian, "An excess of billionaires is destabilising politics – just as academics predicted".
There's a theory for the rise of oligarch power, and massive income inequity is the root.
““We’re going to get the government off your back.” {Musk] fleshed out what small government meant, in a telephone town hall (like a radio phone in, except the radio phones you, the constituents) over the weekend: ordinary Americans would face “temporary hardship” as welfare programmes are slashed in order to restructure the economy, but they should embrace the pain, as “it will ensure long-term prosperity”.”
And I have a bridge to sell you. Look for how bears derailed liberteriansim.
“We’re going to get the government off your back.”
” …. and put ourselves on it instead.”
RNZ The Detail yesterday discussed the Abuse in State Care Commission’s scathing criticism of the NZ Crown Law office, specifically the Solicitor-General, Una Jagose.
The Crown Law Office got up to all sorts of nasty tricks over the years to dissuade victims from pursuing matters in the courts, particularly around systematic torture of children at Lake Alice. This included withholding evidence from the police, having litigants followed by private investigators, and spinning out the timeframes of court cases.
The reasons were to block outcomes that would have led to precedence in large compensation payouts, and to save face for assorted officials and the government. The Crown Law Office has an obligation not to use these kinds of dirty legal tricks.
Jagose has been involved at various stages of the process as she has progressed within the Crown Law Office.
Those who suffered believe Jagose needs to be removed from her position, because of her involvement, and as more than lip-service in the governemnt's formal apology to survivors.
Uh Oh
Everyone. You just gotta watch this.
Zeteo
Is Donald Trump a Fascist Threat to America? Mehdi and Steve Schmidt Discuss
(Personally, I think we all gotta discuss it)
Mehdi and Steve Schmidt, veteran Republican strategist and ardent ‘Never Trumper,’ talk Donald Trump and his 2024 campaign — and they agree that American democracy is at existential risk from a fascist movement led by the former president. Watch the full discussion on why even House Republicans fear a second Trump term, and why the media is turning a blind eye to fascism – again – when it comes to Trump.
Subscribe to Zeteo for unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
59,228 views Oct 30, 2024
Official polls show Trump and Harris neck and neck. But the bookies odds give a big lead to Trump.
Mehdi Hasan and Steve Schmidt have warned us that the Trump campaign will make claims of a stolen election even before the final count is in, in an effort to incite even greater threats and violence against law makers than last time to make sure they certify Trump, and not Harris, even if Harris wins.
The Trump campaign has already begun to make true on Hasan and Schmidt's warnings, and have 'latched on to' the bookies' odds favouring Trump, to claim that Trump has a big lead over Harris.
‘Frightening to consider’: fears grow over Trump’s threats to political foes
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/30/trump-threats-election-enemy-within
The question this country has to ask itself, if the US lurches toward fascism – Should we still sign up to the US led AUKUS pillar 2 military pact with the US if Donald Trump illegitimately or even legitimately takes the presidency?