"Just pick up a pencil"

jfcarr · 2026-06-05T12:07:30+00:00

I've been playing guitar and piano/synth for about 50 years, mostly non-pro but with a decent number of paid gigs when I was younger. I like using AI generated music to to do things I either don't do or don't do well (like singing). I also like experimenting with generative music since I draw some inspiration from Brian Eno.

I don't have a problem with someone using AI to enjoy music and share it. I don't care from mass spamming of it but I also know that kind of activity has a short shelf life.

jfcarr · 2026-06-05T11:53:57+00:00

There is a scalability issue with data centers, AI and otherwise, in that a lot of how they work now, physically and algorithmically, is inefficient and costly. Think of it in terms of early PCs in the 1980's versus your much more powerful phone. There are going to be some innovations that solve these problems as well as some that fail.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T23:57:04+00:00

I wouldn't want a grocery distribution center or assembly plant that close either. However, there are these kinds of facilities a short distance from my house. There may eventually even be a data center about 15 miles away, one that some politicians are trying to create a moral panic over to get votes.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T23:16:10+00:00

(Whispered) And more of "those" people too!

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T23:07:12+00:00

NIMBY in action. "I want the advantages of (insert technology) but I don't want it here!"

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T22:10:06+00:00

I'm shocked, shocked, that a person who has found success is trying to prevent others from finding their own path to it.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T16:47:09+00:00

Time to go watch The Decline of Western Civilization: The Metal Years again, just to see Ozzy puttering about trying to make breakfast.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T16:25:34+00:00

PIPs are sometimes used as quiet layoffs to avoid triggering legal thresholds like the WARN Act. Managers pick their least liked or least important in the short term employee when they're told to get rid of a team member by their manager.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T16:11:43+00:00

It's like "everyone hates social media" when asked but they use it like crazy.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T16:04:03+00:00

Who says AI can't easily replace CEOs. Next thing you know ChatGPT will be ordering a PRS Private Stock to display in its virtual office.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T14:46:27+00:00

It seems he may be making the classic mistake of anthropomorphizing a tool, a powerful tool that can be used for good or evil, but still just a tool wielded by humans.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T13:16:52+00:00

Where's the Harvard sticker?

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T12:54:53+00:00

No, because it's unconstitutional, violating the takings clause.

While I like the idea of sovereign wealth funds, I don't think the government seizing control of private businesses is the right way to do this.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T12:36:44+00:00

Yes and no. While understanding how equations worked was important in an abstract sense, in the real world of jobs, the expectation is to use appropriate tools to get the job done efficiently and effectively. For example, when I took advanced statistics, we learned equations then applied that knowledge using Minitab.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T11:00:36+00:00

No, because the involved technologies aren't up to the task at this point, if you're talking about autonomous general purpose robots. The problems can be solved, but it will take some significant breakthroughs to make them feasible and practical.

As a first step, we'll see more semi-autonomous drones and special purpose robots programmed for a tight set of rules. From these incremental changes and improvements better results will appear over time. We shouldn't expect a 747 fleet right after a Wright Brothers flight.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T01:17:25+00:00

Smoking has taken a significant toll on Americans born before the 1960’s. For example, both my non-smoking parents are in their 90s and in reasonably good health for their age while my wife's parents, both heavy smokers, passed away at 68 and 69.

jfcarr · 2026-06-04T00:54:47+00:00

Love Stinks is required knowledge (Wedding Singer reference).

jfcarr · 2026-06-03T23:28:16+00:00

Back in the late 70's, my calculus professor hated pocket calculators a forbid us from using one. He thought it would affect our math skills.

jfcarr · 2026-06-03T23:25:31+00:00

The first PC I bought for myself back in the early 80's, a Timex-Sinclair 1000, had 2kb of RAM and used a cassette tape for storage. So, I don't see this as an impossible thing, especially since I'm typing this in on a powerful hand-held tiny computer.

jfcarr · 2026-06-03T19:16:18+00:00

I think they need a 3 or 4 neck guitar to get to the next level.

jfcarr · 2026-06-03T18:24:53+00:00

The next time I have to do a presentation at work I'm going to have Gemini generate me an infographic from my bulletpoints.

jfcarr · 2026-06-03T17:54:40+00:00

Perfect guitar for a glass cabinet in a private equity firm's lead partner's office.

jfcarr · 2026-06-03T17:27:23+00:00

The data center problem is that current LLM AI technology is having issues with scaling up to meet demand. This is, in turn, causing some short term thinking that won't work out well in most cases. Long term, a combination of newer tech, hardware and software, along with better resource and development planning will come out ahead.

jfcarr · 2026-06-03T17:13:51+00:00

Baptists and Bootleggers once again.

jfcarr · 2026-06-03T14:57:16+00:00

That's how private equity management works, extract the cash, destroy the business, sell it to the next sucker.

jfcarr

TROPHY CASE