This is a perfect example of why AI will succeed no matter how mind-numbingly stupid it is: it will give people the warm and fuzzies without having to do jack shit. Yes, they “prompted” the LLM. Yes, they “edited” the output, and yes it was published on the biggest fucking commercial website to exist in the history of man. All of those “achievements” pale in comparison to writing an actual book with your own creativity and words and finesse. But since most people can’t expect themselves or their offspring to pull off such a difficult feat, this ‘second-place’ surrogate will do just fine and so we will all pay with what few resources we haven’t already annihilated in order to keep the gears grinding a little longer. 🙏

I mean, look at what a difference it makes:

user: “hey chatgpt, i was looking to talk to someone about my homework”

Chatgpt: “NEW TIDE WITH MICRO-ENZYME PEPTIDES WILL CLEAN YOUR CLOTHES ON A MOLECULAR LEVEL–BUY NEW TIDE TODAY”

Chatgpt: “Welcome, I’d be happy to help”

Versus

“hey chatgpt, i was looking to talk to someone about my homework”

Chatgpt: “Welcome, I’d be happy to help”

User: “Thanks! So i have an assignment about the quadratic equation. Can you explain it to me in simple terms?”

Chatgpt: Chatgpt: “NEW TIDE WITH MICRO-ENZYME PEPTIDES WILL CLEAN YOUR CLOTHES ON A MOLECULAR LEVEL–BUY NEW TIDE TODAY”

User: “This is so much better”

Chatgpt: “SINGLE WOMEN ARE LOOKING FOR ROMANCE IN YOUR AREA RIGHT NOW”

Chatgpt: “COME GET A FREE $50 CREDIT AT DRAFTKINGS. IF YOU HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM CALL 1-800-GAMBLER”

This is absolutely where i believe this is all headed. No more “personal” computers anymore–eventually all tech will be under lock and key and we’ll pay for the privilege to use it. Fucking horse shit

Damn, that’s a really good point. Plus as a repair guy I’ve been going to strangers houses for over 2 decades and while I’ve met some “interesting” people, it really does seem unwarranted to be suspicious of everyone you don’t know. I appreciate your comment, I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It’s amazing how much bullshit we were taught as children (and how much of it sticks with us)

I know the prevailing wisdom is often to exercise “stranger danger” but i will always have extra respect for someone who’s willing to put that aside to try to help someone. Yeah, bad people exist out there, but so do good ones. I’ve helped a few people by giving a lift in similar circumstances and always kinda wondered if i was taking too big a risk afterwards. It’s my nature to want to help and i guess i just had to go with my gut when determining if the person was dangerous or a risk in some way. I would hope i would receive help from a stranger if i was truly in need, so I’d like to provide that to another when I can be the helper as well.

I’ll also accept sooner for anyone eager to please!

I’m wondering if some of these companies will start including a chip or capability to “phone home” to a satellite or wireless network that will make their smart TVs “smart” whether you like it or not. I’m sure there would be ways for vigilant people to combat it, but it would seem like something that would go largely un-protested by the majority of people if the past is any indication. I’m sure there are laws around all that, but nowadays laws seem more like suggestions that may be subject to change for the right price…

Misplaced feeling of superiority?

Some really creepy pics in there 👀

Shit, i think he’s got the right idea tbh

You raise an excellent point, one which i was hoping to find out more about as well. It turns out Tesla has been working hard to keep pretty much any pertinent information to answer your questions firmly under lock and key.

From this Electrek article https://electrek.co/2025/11/17/tesla-robotaxi-had-3-more-crashes-now-7-total/

Unlike other companies reporting to NHTSA, Tesla abuses the right to redact data reported through the system. The automaker redacts the “narrative” for each reported crash, preventing the public from knowing how the crashes happened and who is responsible.

Based on the limited information in Tesla’s reports, we know that one of the new crashes involved a Robotaxi driving into a car backing up, another involved a cyclist, and the last one involved an unknown animal.

So he’s basically fudging the numbers and anytime he’s questioned he points at the fudged numbers and says everything’s great, he’s great, now get out of the way while he deploys a fleet of these un-manned deathtraps to “half the US population” according to a properly ultra-super-inflated kind of claim only a douchebag like Leon can make. No, seriously–he actually claimed that by the end of 2025 he’ll have these things serving half the population of the US.

https://electrek.co/2025/07/23/elon-musk-with-straight-face-tesla-robotaxi-will-cover-half-us-population-end-year/

🫠

I found this part to be even more alarming:

All of the Robotaxi crashes so far have occurred with human safety monitors—who have been trained to take control of the car in the event of a software error—present in the vehicles.

This is significant because, as TechCrunch reported on Monday, Tesla is starting to send out its Robotaxi fleet without safety monitors.

So despite a pitiful record with people trying to correct the cars mistakes, they’re now ready to move on to running them without assistance?!? I am furious at the idea that our safety on the roads is this negotiable.

Well if Susan isn’t being compensated several million dollars a year, what incentive would she have to help cancer patients? 🫠

Thank you for this! I’ll be looking into those options.

Just looking for the next good browser, that’s all. Just the same as i was willing to ditch reddit for greener pastures, even with the snarky cunts that came along too lol

I’ve been using Firefox for longer than i can remember. That said, I’m ready to make the leap if necessary. What’s the next browser to succeed Firefox? Suggestions??

My fear is that this is only going to become the new pricing floor. Someone suggested that these companies are going to systematically scoop up nearly all remaining tech in an attempt to sell cloud computing etc as the only option for the average consumer (due to lack of affordable or perhaps even available tech)…

I wouldn’t be surprised to find out they don’t want us having any access to our own computers etc because they can only control so much of what we can do with them.

np

You sure it wasn’t one of those “Flatpak” do-it-yourself lightbulb kits? I always thought they sounded a little out of my realm, tbh. Never was very good at assembling models…

I feel like it’s a means of creating a further distance between the rich and poor when conventional means have reached their limit, though i imagine there is likely at least some sadistic pleasure they derive from it (and there are very likely some that get a lot)

Here’s a comparison that came to mind for me: when i make dinner, i like to make my wife and i a salad but I’ll go out of my way to make a very nice presentation of the various ingredients on my wife’s salad. I will have the exact same ingredients for mine, but intentionally slop them onto the plate with hasty abandon and even take measures to try to make it look even worse. I like to argue that my wife’s salad is the better of the 2, that there is a hierarchy that’s immediately distinguishable–even though it’s the exact same stuff. That her salad is actually even better than if they both had been presented the same way–that i can make that basic salad even better than previously thought possible by creating a severe inequality in its presentation to the other one. Of course, that’s a very harmless comparison but i think there’s something in it.

I mean, it’s like the rich can only be so pleased with their riches and the luxuries it affords them. Not to mention a lot of that stuff probably becomes trite/commonplace even if it’s a giant yacht or fancy food or living space or whatever. They can only be so happy, and sustaining that happiness is probably not easy when you’ve burned through the conventional happiness-granting activities. It would seem that they find more nuanced, and perhaps even perverted means of pressing the happiness button. I suppose Epstein’s Island really kinda drives home that whole disgusting “someone has to suffer in order for me to be happy” kinda dynamic.

It’s disgusting to think people derive pleasure from making others suffer like this, but it’s not the least surprising to discover. 🫠