Eight or so years ago, I was doing some work for a UK law firm. At the time, across the legal industry, there was considerable interest in AI, primarily machine learning, to automate high-volume work such as commercial conveyancing for mortgage lenders. Ultimately, the aim was to reduce costs. I remember a conversation with one … Continue reading A benchmark for AI
This week I have had flu. That is literally all.
This week I have learned: The first week back is always the longest, isn't it? Debates about remote working appear as heated as they were at the start of the pandemic. The world has definitely moved on. Expectations have changed. But there are opinions. Developers using LLMs like a coding language is fascinating. As far … Continue reading Weeknote 745: And we are back
This week I have learned: Scuba masks are an instrument of psychological and physical torture The week in media: Read: Completed The Dice Man and also Shirley Jackson's The Lottery. Just finishing Karen Hao's Empire of AI. All chilling in their own ways. Watched: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Listened: Continued the 500... Next week: … Continue reading Weeknote 744: Tioman and Singapore
This week I have learned: Singapore is a very expensive city. The week in media: Read The Dice Man (for book research) Listened The Rolling Stone 500 continues... Up to my 390th now. Next week: PADI The week in photos:
This week I have learned: That (according to a taxi driver) the people of Penang greet one another not with "how are you?" But "have you eaten?" The week in media: Read: Completed Craig Brown's book about The Beatles, One, Two, Three, Four. It is excellent. Now reading Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers. It's very … Continue reading Weeknote 742: KL and Penang
This week I have learned: about the amazing work of Jean-Jaques Perrey. Possibly the godfather of sampling. Another incredible discovery in the WB-40 Album Club. Thanks to Susi O'Neill for the introduction, and also the fascinating back stories. it's quite odd meeting someone for the first time in 21 years. We hadn't changed. WE'VE ONLY … Continue reading Weeknote 741: 787
This week I have learned: the continuing power of connecting people. There have been a few opportunities in recent weeks where I've been able to make introductions to people from strangely diverse parts of my network. It's a powerful thing to be able to do. how much I value the community that has built up … Continue reading Weeknote 740: new models
This week I have learned: what the heck deep research actually is in the LLM tools. It's been useful already. how nice it was to catch up with former colleagues from Microsoft earlier in the week. Microsoft was a pretty torrid period in my career. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. … Continue reading Weeknote 739: deep research
I've observed something over the years that I've started calling "regression to form". It's the depressing inevitability that if you give people something that looks even vaguely like a form, they will treat it as a form. As a result, the objective shifts from thinking to form-filling. From conversation to completion. From understanding to box-ticking.Take … Continue reading Regression to form
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