encomiast (u/encomiast)

encomiast commented on OpenAI declares 'code red' as Google catches up in AI race theverge.com/news/836212/... · Posted by u/goplayoutside

MikeTheGreat · 12 days ago

(My apologies if this was already asked - this thread is huge and Find-In-Page-ing for variations of "pre-train", "pretrain", and "train" turned up nothing about this. If this was already asked I'd super-appreciate a pointer to the discussion :) )

Genuine question: How is it possible for OpenAI to NOT successfully pre-train a model?

I understand it's very difficult, but they've already successfully done this and they have a ton of incredibly skilled and knowledgeable, well-paid and highly knowledgeable employees.

I get that there's some randomness involved but it seems like they should be able to (at a minimum) just re-run the pre-training from 2024, yes?

Maybe the process is more ad-hoc (and less reproducible?) than I'm assuming? Is the newer data causing problems for the process that worked in 2024?

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated, and apologies again if this was asked already!

encomiast · 12 days ago

I’m not sure what ‘successfully’ means in this context. If it means training a model that is noticeably better than previous models, it’s not hard to see how that is challenging.

encomiast commented on Silicon Valley's man in the White House is benefiting himself and his friends nytimes.com/2025/11/30/te... · Posted by u/fleahunter

refurb · 13 days ago

So it's only ok for one party to fire IGs?

encomiast · 13 days ago

Who said anything about parties? And who said anything about it being okay to fire IGs (especially illegally).

Which IG did anyone say it was okay to fire? The article you posted to support this idea wasn’t even fired! He’s still in the job.

It seems that you are primarily interested in polarizing this discussion. I’ll leave you to that. I’m out.

encomiast commented on Silicon Valley's man in the White House is benefiting himself and his friends nytimes.com/2025/11/30/te... · Posted by u/fleahunter

refurb · 14 days ago

Seems like a long history of firing IGs instated in prior administrations.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/03/watchdog-report-cuf...

encomiast · 14 days ago

The article you posted is about a truly damning investigation into Joseph Cuffari.

Cuffari is STILL the IG at DHS. He was not fired -- sheesh:

https://www.oig.dhs.gov/about/MeetTheIG

encomiast commented on Silicon Valley's man in the White House is benefiting himself and his friends nytimes.com/2025/11/30/te... · Posted by u/fleahunter

refurb · 14 days ago

Which people specifically. Can you provide a source?

encomiast · 14 days ago

Here’s a small example. There are more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_dismissals_of_U.S._inspec...

encomiast commented on Don't push AI down our throats gpt3experiments.substack.... · Posted by u/nutanc

MinimalAction · 15 days ago

This might be obvious but I think the only way forwards is to disengage in services offered by these mega-tech companies. Degoogling has become popular enough to foster open communities that prioritize their time and effort to keep softwares free from parasitic enterprises.

For instance, I am fiddling with LineageOS on a Pixel (ironically enough) that minimizes my exposure to Google's AI antics. That doesn't mean to say it is easy or sustainable, but enough of us need to stop participating in their bad bets to force upon that realization.

encomiast · 15 days ago

I'm hoping "degoogle" is the 2026 word of the year.

encomiast commented on Advent of Code 2025 adventofcode.com/2025/abo... · Posted by u/vismit2000

fainpul · 15 days ago

Opinion poll:

Python is extremely suitable for these kind of problems. C++ is also often used, especially by competitive programmers.

Which "non-mainstream" or even obscure languages are also well suited for AoC? Please list your weapon of choice and a short statement why it's well suited (not why you like it, why it's good for AoC).

encomiast · 15 days ago

It was mind-boggling to see SQL solutions last year: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42577736

encomiast commented on Advent of Code 2025 adventofcode.com/2025/abo... · Posted by u/vismit2000

encomiast · 15 days ago

A little sad that there are fewer puzzles. But also a glad that I'll see my wife and maybe even go outside during the second half of December this year.

encomiast commented on Silicon Valley's man in the White House is benefiting himself and his friends nytimes.com/2025/11/30/te... · Posted by u/fleahunter

cjbgkagh · 15 days ago

The Netflix deal with Obama for $50M and book deals for $65M are a bit blatant. Certainly a $8B crypto rug pull is far worse by a few orders of magnitude. I think it’s weird that these are the new standards, I really hate presidential politics. Perhaps Jimmy Carter was the least damaging and he was forced to give up his family farm.

One difference is that the few on the right that I know (I’m sure a biased sampling) think that what Trump did is wrong but those on the left seem to have forgotten all about Obama’s deals or worse they think that its kosher.

encomiast · 15 days ago

Maybe you can explain why the Netflix deal is corruption? The deal was signed after he was out of office (2018). Did he or people in his administration create policy that benefited Netflix in exchange for this deal? Was there any sort of quid pro quo? Where is the abuse of office?

encomiast commented on Silicon Valley's man in the White House is benefiting himself and his friends nytimes.com/2025/11/30/te... · Posted by u/fleahunter

amelius · 15 days ago

Aren't there safeguards against such obvious forms of conflict of interest?

encomiast · 15 days ago

Safeguards only matter when there are people and institutions to enforce them. Remember all those people they fired? All part of the plan.

encomiast commented on Silicon Valley's man in the White House is benefiting himself and his friends nytimes.com/2025/11/30/te... · Posted by u/fleahunter

ReptileMan · 15 days ago

Trump admin is a godsend. He just does what everyone before him did, just openly. Which is better in a way - before him the upper classes in the west were quite adept at hiding corruption.

The presidential libraries, the foundations, the speaking fees, the books, the revolving door between companies and regulators - was it any different in essence?

encomiast · 15 days ago

You must see the difference between making money from books/speaking fees and using the full power of the US government to create policy that directly benefits your investments (possibly at the detriment to your competitor).