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Comment I really, really hate to agree with him (Score 3, Interesting) 210

...but I kinda like the idea...in theory
H1-B visas have been used to import cheap workers, not workers with special talents who aren't available locally
There are plenty of qualified workers available, but they aren't cheap
Unfortunately, in practice, this probably won't solve the problem and will simply create other problems

Comment They didn't ask me, so here's my opinion (Score 1, Interesting) 55

Overall, I'm a fan of AI
I see great potential in AI tools and hope that AI tools develop to the point where they can help us solve previously intractable problems.
I use AI to get answers that I could get myself, but AI is faster and more convenient. Example, I'm using a new microprocessor with a 2000 page data sheet. I can read the while thing to find an answer, or use the feeble search function in the PDF reader, or just scan. All of these approaches take a lot of time and the datasheet is often confusing. I ask AI, and get a useful answer immediately. I also ask AI to supply sample code and answer questions about libraries and APIs. I either write or review every line of code in my project and don't blindly "vibe code". I believe that AI is a great tool for experts, but a dangerous tool for clueless, wannabe developers who "vibe code"

Using AI for art and music is troublesome. While I can imagine real artists using AI to make real art, I can also imagine a tsunami of crap from people who are trying to get money from publishers by feeding them an endless flood of AI generated crap. We need cryptographically secure methods to identify AI generated images and sounds

Using AI for personal stuff like companionship and psychoanalysis is the most troublesome. I see vast potential for abuse and bad outcomes and little or no real benefit. But I have also observed that people have done stupid stuff as far back as I can remember and I don't see the situation improving any time soon

Comment CEOs dream of... (Score 1) 50

...making money without needing to pay employees
AI companies feed their fantasy with predictions and the investment flows in
Real progress is being made, but not nearly as much as the hypmongers and pundits claim
Clueless executives buy immature products from lying salesweasels with predictable results
Expert workers find used for AI, using it when it works well, but understanding its weaknesses
Wannabe techies with no skill or knowledge believe that they can "vibe code" their way to riches, with predictable results
It's an interesting time in tech, finance and politics
IIRC, an old Chinese curse is something like "May you live in interesting times"

Comment This is one symptom of a deeper problem (Score 1) 242

Modern tech has a short useful life and is designed to be disposable.
Standards change, backward compatibility is becoming less of a priority, and repairability is eroding, both by technology and law.
Even worse are expensive machines like CNC or lab equipment that was built with old tech. The machines themselves were built to last, but their controllers are becoming increasingly obsolete. Some very expensive and perfectly good machines run on 286 motherboards, DOS and floppys.
I love progress, but we need to fight for backward compatibility and repairability.
A hammer from the 1800s is still usable

Comment But wait, there's more (Score 1) 111

In addition to all of the stuff in the article, there are other problems
I'm a glassworker
In the past, glassworkers used social media to show their work and make sales.
Some of the glass pieces were "functional". This is a word we use for cannabis smoking pipes.
Advertisers didn't want to be associated with "illegal drug paraphernalia". even in states where cannabis was legal, so they pressured the social media companies to delete accounts. This caused talented, hard working artists to lose sales. Some even quit glasswork.

But wait, there's more

The robots that ban accounts are stupid. Glassworkers who made objects like pendants, drinking glasses, marbles, etc were banned as well because the idiot robot misidentified the objects as pipes

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