US private corrections facility company enters the chat...

Wait a minute. That reply was concise, helpful, and informative - without a hint of snark, disdain, or personal attacks of any kind. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE REAL DRINKYPOO??

Not really insane. If the AI can handle conversations with customers that are being done by a person before, and the person can handle 10/hour on average (6 minutes per conversation), then $20/hour for the AI is a bargain (assuming the same time spent on each call).

Also assuming the AI is way better than a chat bot.

Cheaper than the persons wages, and a lot less than the total cost of the employee (which is typically a multiple of their wages).

I think it's likely a bit of both. With AIs on the scene, companies are really looking at their processes - how they do everything. And figuring out if there is a way they can do it more efficiently.

That SHOULD be done all along, but usually isn't - when it ain't broke they don't fix it. So some companies are making AI work for them; while others are figuring out that they can streamline or eliminate processes and gain efficiency the old fashion way.

Both will let some people go, but for different 'reasons'.

This would be so hilarious if it wasn't true, and if it didn't make me want to cry.

I was the beneficiary of accelerated programs in grade school, junior high, and high school. I had college credits before attending a day of college. I'm now a Senior Principal Software Engineer at the place I work.

I had the good fortune to get the boost I needed at an early age, and the bad fortune to be witness to that door being slammed behind me as those same programs were dismantled and sacrificed on the alter of the nascent "No student left behind" movement.

This is a lesson we need to learn from China. Students learn at different rates. Children have different capacities for achievement. One size does NOT fit all.

On top of that, I doubt that the students in their "Genius Pipeline" are subjected to the same harassment and bullying I received for being part of similar programs.

Sad.

Are we tired of "winning" yet?

The cost of the machine itself is $15K. Assume it lasts 10 years - which is REALLY generous. Assume it only needs $5K in maintenance over 10 years. That is also REALLY generous. It produces 1 gallon of gas / day. That's 3650 gallons over the LIFETIME of the machine.

Do the math. Assuming electricity costs absolutely zero, and you have NO better use for it at all, your cost / gallon of gas is still $5.48

And that is JUST the cost of the machine, alone. Add the electricity costs and it's likely over $10 / gallon. Probably an all-in cost of $22 / gallon is more like it.

A jammer is effective according to how much power it can put out. But each jammer can only jam a given radius from itself. So the network is a mesh, and a jammer punches a 'hole' in the mesh. As long as there is a path around the mesh anywhere, it can still function with a bunch of 'holes' in it. Does that make sense?

Though quite cromulent to the discussion.

But at least you get the chicks for free!

Don't know if you've considered this, but you an take a cruise ship from SF to Hawaii. Neatly dodges that "flying" bullet! Plenty of luggage space, and you can carry your camera equipment on and off.

Really? Prohibition - a constitutional amendment - was rolled back. It's rare, but it can happen, wizards notwithstanding.

There is also a huge population in the US that ONLY buy used cars. Never look at a new car. Until EVs trickle down into the used car dealerships in significant numbers...they don't get considered.

Like you said, the people that buy new cars, and that wanted an EV, have them now. And won't be looking for another new car for years.

Maybe another 3 years until they really get into the resale market. Then we'll really know if EVs sell.

I'd have to agree, based on just a single anecdote - my own daughter. I had never heard of remedial classes for college students in my day. Just didn't exist. But my daughter ended up *teaching* them (kind of like a TA) while she was going to college. And teaching them in High School [she went to Derryfield, a private HS, that was basically a junior college more than a HS. Great folks there BTW and excellent school].

How big a sh**show does it have to be to need remedial classes for incoming freshmen?

Computers talking to you started with the Amigas. That was 40 years ago. No one locked us up back then.

Yeah, that's not grift. That is the CEO making use of his right to petition the government for redress of grievances. In this case that houses without hurricane (or typhoon) securing ties are not safe. Governor listened, agreed with the CEO, and decided to update the building codes on new construction accordingly.

Happens all the time - no grift involved. California itself is not buying the ties, there are other manufacturers for them (they may have patents on their ties, but there are others that look different and aren't being blocked by them), and the cost is minimal. I have a big shed that was built for us a few years ago now. Has those type of ties. Looks like it added about $20 to the $25K cost of the whole thing. And I don't have to worry, ever, that the shed will get ripped off the pad, or the roof off the shed, in a hurricane. Seems pretty reasonable to me.