1. Mercury: Ultra-fast language models based on diffusion
Total comment counts : 49
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the growing concern about continuous integration (CI) bottlenecks as large language model (LLM) agents become more prevalent in coding. Despite LLMs coding faster than humans, lengthy testing times hinder progress, with many teams already facing CI speed issues. Developer time is often wasted waiting for pull requests to be approved, exacerbated by slow I/O and worker availability. Although there’s potential for improvement in testing setups, there has been little progress, resulting in increasingly sluggish CI processes. The author emphasizes the need to enhance test execution to match the speed of new coding technologies like Mercury.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The tech report discusses methods for improving the learning process, building on Lou et al.’s 2023 “Score Entropy Discrete Diffusion” (SEDD) model. An independent reimplementation of SEDD was created by the author, aimed at enhancing clarity and readability, along with a complex denoising strategy not included in the original. This reimplementation operates effectively on a single GPU within a few hours using a toy dataset.
2. I used o3 to profile myself from my saved Pocket links
Total comment counts : 49
Summary
Pocket is shutting down, prompting a reflection on nearly 900 saved articles over seven years. The author explored using AI, o3, to profile their demographics and preferences based on these articles, revealing insights about age, location, family size, and more. They noted that o3’s analysis was more accurate when data was pasted directly rather than attached. The experience highlighted the potential for AI to analyze personal data in ways previously accessible only to large companies. The author is now transitioning to self-hosted services like Wallabag and FreshRSS, aided by advancements in self-hosting technology.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author experimented with their Pocket archive using three AI models: ChatGPT, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and Opus 4. ChatGPT couldn’t process the input due to size limitations. Gemini provided some accurate profile details but misidentified age range, job role, and parental status, suggesting software engineering instead of data science. Opus 4 performed well, accurately predicting the author’s city, age range, and relationship status, but also omitted parental status. The author noted that their hobby prediction was photography, while their YouTube history would indicate tennis, highlighting the potential value of combining different data sources.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author reflects on their pocket export, discovering that 99% of the articles were “unread.” They express uncertainty about what this reveals about themselves, aside from a tendency to hoard links.
3. Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks
Total comment counts : 73
Summary
The article discusses a decentralized, secure peer-to-peer messaging app that operates over Bluetooth mesh networks without needing the internet, servers, or phone numbers. The project is publicly licensed, emphasizing privacy through encrypted communication. It mentions the requirement to install XcodeGen to generate an Xcode project and highlights the use of an efficient binary protocol optimized for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), which is platform-agnostic, enabling the possibility of building an Android client. For more details, there are references to technical documentation and a whitepaper.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article explores a concept for a decentralized messaging system inspired by Apple’s Find My network. It envisions messages being relayed device-to-device using Bluetooth and other technologies. Users pay a small fee to send messages, while relaying devices earn micro-payments for transmitting them. The system is end-to-end encrypted and designed for areas with limited internet access. However, it faces challenges like latency, spam prevention, power consumption, and incentive structures. The author seeks input on its viability and potential real-world applications.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The app “Murmur: Bluetooth Group Calls” enables group voice calls and messaging through Bluetooth LE connections and is available on Android and iOS. The developer notes that it has low download rates, indicating limited demand. They personally use it with bone-conducting headphones for communication while cycling with their spouse and managing their children.
4. Adding a feature because ChatGPT incorrectly thinks it exists
Total comment counts : 83
Summary
Adrian Holovaty of Soundslice recounts an unusual issue where their sheet music scanner began receiving uploads of ASCII tablature screenshots prompted by ChatGPT, which incorrectly suggested users could import this format. This created confusion as Soundslice didn’t support ASCII tab. To address the influx of misinformed users, the company decided to develop a feature for importing ASCII tabs. Holovaty expresses mixed feelings about reacting to misinformation, recognizing the necessity of meeting user demand while questioning the implications of adapting to false claims.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author shares effective strategies for utilizing GPT-4 in programming, emphasizing the value of asking the AI to guess how an API works instead of providing explicit explanations. By doing so, the AI often suggests better approaches and helps identify confusion in the code. This method leverages the AI’s creative potential rather than its accuracy. Although GPT-4 can enhance the intuitiveness of an API, it won’t address issues like efficiency or reliability. This approach is particularly beneficial for less popular APIs.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author suggests that hallucinations in language models (LLMs) can be analogous to test-driven development (TDD) in programming. When an LLM ‘hallucinates’ a non-existent method, it may indicate a valid idea worth implementing. This concept can also apply to developing product features.
5. New sphere-packing record stems from an unexpected source
Total comment counts : 22
Summary
The sphere-packing problem, which seeks optimal arrangements of spheres in high dimensions, has fascinated mathematicians for centuries due to its complexity and significance in areas like cryptography. Johannes Kepler’s conjectured optimal packing (74% efficiency) was proved after 400 years, yet the situation in higher dimensions remains unresolved, aside from dimensions 8 and 24. Recently, mathematician Boaz Klartag has achieved significant advancements using an old technique involving ellipsoids, reviving interest in the problem. His breakthroughs could potentially approach optimal packing, highlighting the interplay between geometry and lattice theory in mathematical research.
Top 1 Comment Summary
In large-dimensional spaces, like 100 dimensions, researchers have struggled to pack objects efficiently. Despite efforts to fit as many 100-dimensional oranges into a 100-dimensional crate, they have only managed to occupy less than 1% of the available space. This highlights the peculiar challenges of packing problems in such high-dimensional settings, where finding additional placements proves difficult.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author struggles to convey the reality of their job to their parents, illustrating the challenge of communicating specialized work. They provide a humorous example: attempting to explain that they study shapes, specifically those that only project outwards and don’t have indents.
6. When Figma starts designing us
Total comment counts : 37
Summary
The author reflects on their initial encounter with Figma in 2013, praising its elegance but expressing growing concern over its impact on design practices. They argue that features like Auto Layout and Dev Mode push designers toward an engineering mindset, limiting creative exploration and encouraging rigid workflows. While these tools aim to streamline transitions to development, they may lead to excessive time spent on prototypes that are ultimately discarded, countering the author’s belief in starting the design process with rough sketches that evolve quickly into code.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author criticizes Figma for not meeting their needs as a design tool, particularly for implementing complex design systems. They find Figma’s performance inadequate, especially when managing variables, and feel it is too designer-focused for engineering purposes. After struggling for a month with Figma, the author abandoned it for coding, citing frequent bugs and limitations that hinder productivity. They express frustration with Figma’s design capabilities and seek alternatives for better design system integration. For now, they use Figma for sketching and rely on coding for their design system.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses Figma’s Auto Layout feature and critiques the notion that designers can disregard design constraints in digital media. It argues that design should consider the medium’s inherent limitations, similar to how typographers must acknowledge the constraints of type casting. Dismissing these constraints as solely the engineer’s responsibility is deemed inappropriate. A good prototyping tool should accommodate flexibility but not ignore the essential guidelines of the medium.
7. François Chollet: The Arc Prize and How We Get to AGI [video]
Total comment counts : 28
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author expresses skepticism about using high ARC eval test scores as evidence of artificial general intelligence (AGI). They argue that the test primarily measures pattern recognition, which can be ambiguous, similar to how human intelligence encompasses various types beyond what IQ tests reveal.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article argues that developing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) should involve a statistical approach, similar to how physics has evolved. Initially, simplistic notions like Aristotelian physics were replaced by Newtonian physics, which in turn was refined by relativity. The author suggests we need a system for AGI that learns and adapts like children, understanding that truths may vary under different circumstances. This adaptability implies a reliance on statistical reasoning to identify and revise truths as new situations arise.
8. Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” on German lakeshore
Total comment counts : 14
Summary
A study at the Neumark-Nord 2 site in central Germany reveals that Neanderthals, 125,000 years ago, utilized advanced methods for food preparation by boiling large animal bones to extract fat. This challenges previous perceptions of Neanderthal sophistication, demonstrating strategic planning, resource management, and a deep understanding of nutritional value. The site shows extensive evidence of butchering and fat extraction from 172 large mammals, indicating that Neanderthals actively managed their environment. This research, published in Science Advances, redefines Neanderthal capabilities and their impact on the ecosystem during the Last Interglacial period.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the surprising capability of Neanderthals to boil fat without pottery, using materials like animal hide or birch bark. This revelation challenges long-standing assumptions in paleo-anthropology that boiling was only possible after the invention of pottery. The author highlights how scientific disciplines sometimes cling to incorrect assumptions, despite evidence to the contrary. The discussion is supported by recent experimental verification.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Cut-marked remains of 76 rhinos and 40 elephants were found near Taubach, highlighting the stark contrast between past interglacial periods and today. This discovery indicates that herds of these large animals once roamed areas like modern Berlin, located at 51° north.
9. Lightfastness Testing of Colored Pencils
Total comment counts : 13
Summary
The article discusses the importance of lightfastness in art supplies, which indicates a medium’s resistance to fading from light exposure. The author conducted a 6-month experiment exposing various coloured pencils and markers to sunlight to see how their fading compared to industry standards. Artists, both professionals and hobbyists, should prioritize lightfast materials to ensure their artwork retains its vibrancy over time. The article emphasizes understanding lightfastness for art that is displayed, given as gifts, or sold, and addresses methods used to measure and compare lightfastness across different brands.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author tested ball-point pens for drawing, inspired by the ISO 12757-2 standard for archival ink. However, drawings faded quickly when displayed, contrary to the standard’s intent for archival storage. They noted that common blue ink in BIC pens turns black with sunlight exposure, which was acceptable.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Pinks and oranges are often not lightfast, with cadmium being the only reliable option, albeit toxic. Many rose and fuchsia colors, such as rose madder and alizarin crimson, are fugitive and fade over time, impacting famous artworks like Van Gogh’s and causing green cherubs in museums. Most reds used today are quinacridone or cadmium-based. Windsor and Newton’s expensive ‘rose madder genuine’ is marketed as permanent, but its durability is questioned. The term ’lake’ refers to a dye transformed into a pigment.
10. Hymn to Babylon, missing for a millennium, has been discovered
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The Fall of Civilizations podcast features an episode on Assyria, highlighting the polytheistic beliefs of Mesopotamian cities, each with its own deity. Their perception of gods resembled a sports team rivalry, where travelers were expected to honor the local god. Warfare between cities was interpreted as a divine competition in the heavens.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Dr. Irving Finkel of the British Museum shares a humorous account of his discovery of the oldest known version of the Noah’s Ark story, which is inscribed in cuneiform. For more insights, you can watch his story in the linked video.