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5 Tools to Be Safe on the Internet

November 4, 2024

computer, ignorance, programming, society, technology

It’s not just that technology is changing at a fast pace; it’s changing at an accelerating pace. Heck, even the pace of acceleration is accelerating, too. Put simply, it’s really hard to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to computers, the internet, and IT security. Sadly, IT security is not considered a crucial skill, though it is. Just imagine how much of our daily life revolves around computers. So here are 5 tools to help you be safe on the internet.

These are all things I use myself on a daily basis. I can’t imagine using a computer (especially online) without them. I’m paranoid when it comes to IT security – read my post on Home for Fiction changes to see why – so I want to absolutely minimize the risk.

To be 100% clear, in case it’s not immediately apparent: This post isn’t sponsored; none of these tools’ authors paid me to do this. I’m only doing this because I genuinely think these tools are useful to the average user. Nay, these tools are critical for a safe internet and computing experience.

tools for safe internet. Image of a screen showing computer code — The internet and computers come across as so complicated to most people that a stock image such as this (depicting some simple code) connotes ideas of a hacker penetrating a secret database or something…

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ChatGPT vs Gemini Turing Test: Hilarious but Insightful

August 12, 2024

Experiencing, Programming

art, communication, computer, consciousness, dreams, programming, writing

I recently read The Emperor’s New Mind, by Roger Penrose, and a small part of it describes the (in)famous Turing test. In simple terms, it’s a process where a machine (typically a computer) can demonstrate intelligence (and, some would argue, consciousness) enough to be indistinguishable from a human’s. With such intelligent and mature – cough, cough – artificial intelligence models like the ones we have today, the hilarious idea materialized: I should stage a ChatGPT vs Gemini Turing test!

Both Alan Turing himself and Penrose in his book expected future computers to be able to pass the test. Turing referred to a 30% success rate by the year 2000, whereas The Emperor’s New Mind, published in 1989, mentions the year 2010. In any case, to me it seems Turing would certainly assume a large language model like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini to pass the test.

I mean, it almost feels like magic: You ask it questions and it answers, seemingly “like a human”. Artificial intelligence can be an amazing tool – also for writers. But the whole concept behind a Turing test is to “unmask” artificiality. In other words, you only need one type of question to blow the computer’s cover.

And that’s what happened here. Hilariously, with the help of another computer!

ChatGPT vs Gemini Turing test: AI render of two cartoon computers facing each other — Since my topic is a ChatGPT vs Gemini Turing test, I might as well use an AI render to visualize it…

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Thucydides and Linux: a Free or a Peaceful OS?

May 27, 2024

Society

computer, ignorance, society, technology

You’ve got to admit, seeing Thucydides and Linux together in the same sentence isn’t something ordinary. “Linux” and “free” is far more common, for obvious reasons. But whether Linux is free is one discussion; whether it’s a peaceful operating system yet another.

So where does Thucydides, the ancient Greek historian, enter the picture?

You might recall from some previous posts – for instance, the concluding section of writing academic theses – that Cornelius Castoriadis, drawing on Thucydides, puts forward an apt suggestion: We can be free or we can be peaceful, but being both is impossible.

In our time – when to some/many/most/[pick depending on your neighbors] people to be free means to own guns – understanding the repercussions of freedom becomes more pressing than ever.

And yes, this includes your operating system! However, I should make one thing clear here: The role of this post is not to glorify one OS and snub others. It’s not even about computers and technology – not primarily at least. The post is about society.

Linux free, not peaceful; AI render of Thucydides using a computer on Acropolis — As if combining Thucydides and Linux wasn’t wild enough, I thought to reach the utmost of absurdity and use AI to generate this image

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