Author: Richard Parry

Blade of Glass for Free: No Strings, No Gotchas

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Here’s the deal: We’re in the middle of a cashflow drought, and people are feeling the pinch. That’s why I’m offering you my bestselling novel Blade of Glass to read for free. Why? Because I want to share my work and (hopefully!) get some traffic to my site. Win-win, right? Now, I have no idea if this will work, but hey, what’s life without a bit of mystery? 🤣 Here’s what you can expect: All posts are pre-scheduled and ready to roll, so even if I get abducted by aliens or struck by lightning, you’ll still get your fix. Mark your calendar for the first instalment on Thursday, 20 June 2024. To make sure you don’t miss out, sign up for updates below (or at the bottom of the page – you do you). I hope you enjoy the book Read More …

2.5 percent

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Just remember that figure. Apple recently announced Apple Intelligence, and it looks pretty sweet. It does the stuff you actually want – seamless workflow integration pretty much anywhere, with on device secure generation and optional access to the great LLM in the sky. It’s the dream we hoped Intel or some other Windows hardware maker would bring to life. Microsoft’s Copilot? Too limited unless you shell out, and/or confined to their apps. nVidia’s Chat with RTX? A hot mess. LM Studio? Great, but no workflow love (unless you enjoy workflow that involves a lot of copy/paste). Apple’s pitch is clear: “Buy our shiny new hardware, use whatever software floats your boat.” Meanwhile, other companies are like, “Here, have some AI, but only if you play in just our backyard.” However! Where things get spicy is on the iPhone front. Other Read More …

The Great Mexico Holiday

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My wife and I spent three weeks on holiday, mainly in Mexico but with a brief visit Los Angeles. We explored Mexico City and Zihuatanejo, which was rad. We loved Mexico’s warm hospitality and vibrant culture. I’ll dig into the holiday, and also touch on Mexico’s political landscape and local economies. We have returned enlightened. Read More …

The Reality of Universal Basic Compute

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We’re doing a break down on Sam Altman’s “universal basic compute” idea. Instead of assuming Altman’s got a brain worm, we’ll dig into why UBC could democratise access to LLMs, and drawing a parallel to libraries. While some see Altman’s UBI/IBC as blatant communism or self-interest, I think it’ll level the playing field and help people to improve their lives through education, writing, and so on. It’s not just about tech: it’s all social impact, all the way down. Read More …

On the Uselessness of AI Assistants

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I’m going to use the Humane AI pin and Rabbit R1 as primary examples to emphasise a failure of imagination leading to innovation starvation in Big Tech™. My discussion extends to the failure of larger companies and their preference for safer, incremental upgrades. This scenario applies even to AI, where the potential for AI to dynamically enhance daily life remains largely untapped despite existing capabilities. Technology might integrate and expand human-like functionalities if it could blend daily observations with generative models. Read More …

AI Tech Bros: Please Stop Attacking Creatives

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AI innovations are expanding into creative areas without addressing urgent societal needs, sometimes creating solutions for non-existent problems with quality not yet matching human capability. A shift in tech financing questions the sustainability of free AI business models. There’s a critique of AI’s high energy consumption and inefficiency compared to the human brain, as well as concerns over misuse and regulation, particularly in the corporate sector where decision-making based on AI can lead to significant errors, exemplified by Air Canada’s blunder. Ultimately, the piece emphasises the need for AI to focus on solving challenging and painful tasks, providing real value, not trivialising creativity, and avoiding becoming a low-level tax on humanity. Read More …

Author Interview: Wayne Turmel 🐺

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Wayne, a Canadian ex-standup comedian turned writer, talks about his transition to authorship and his Werewolf PI Series set in urban landscapes like Chicago and Las Vegas. His characters navigate a world of supernatural beings, facing off against rival werewolves, occult dangers, and a multitude of paranormal threats. With two books out and a third releasing May 2024, he shares advice on writing and editing, while admitting fiction’s challenges. Wayne can be found online through his Amazon author page and social media. Read More …