Image generation by AI

So, I asked AI chatbot to recreate the sketch I posted earlier in context to COP30 (it was haphazardly drawn within few minutes, more than aesthetic sensibility communicating the idea was the intent, also I was occupied with few things) with some prompts, and it created this!

Quite rudimentary but I am sure there are much sophisticated version behind paywall. How does AI create these is an interesting question. So here is how this broadly works. Quite sure it is much sophisticated than what I explain here but it is enough to get the gist of how AI is functioning in the mainstream interface. First issue is when you give a prompt it has to be understand by the computer. This is done by Natural Language Processing (NLP). NLP enables computer to comprehend and interpret (as also produce a reply) human language. NLP uses Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) algorithm to discern a word’s semantic meaning by deconstructing the sentence grammatically, relationally and structurally, to understand the context of use. It can also understand intend and emotion (whether irritated, frustrated, confused so on) to draw inference from broad array of linguistic models and algorithms. To get deeper into its working. NLP breaks sentence into chunks or each word separated. This is called Tokenization. So, if the sentence has 8 words it will be 8 tokens. Next is Stemming i.e., to derive stem of each word or token. Suffix, prefix and tense are removed to get the stem. For instance, for the words sitting, sits, sat…the stem is sit. But there is a problem, stemming cannot be correct always. There are words where stem can mean different. Like for instance Universal and University don’t stem down to the word Universe. For such situation alternative tool come into play called Lemmatization. A given token’s meaning is learned through dictionary definition and then the root (or lemma) is derived. So, the stem of word better is bet while lemma is good. Stemming and lemmatization therefore is carefully done according to the context of the token. The context is derived from speech tagging -i.e., where the token is used in the sentence -whether noun or verb. Next is finding whether the word has any entity associated with it (entity recognition), for instance, token Kerala has entity Indian state associated or Sanjay has entity of person’s name. These are some of the tools used by NLP to convert unstructured human speech into structured data that is understood by computer hence applied for any AI application. 

So now that computer understands, what happens next? This is where Deep Learning (DL) comes into play, and indeed has revolutionized AI. DL is a specialized subset of Machine Learning (ML) that layers algorithm to create Neural Network -computational model replicating brain’s structure and functionality. It is DL that enables NLP’s understanding capabilities -the context and intent of what is conveyed. ML was very much active in 1980s while Neural Network (NN) came into being in 1990s but was stuck for a long time. The arrival of Big Data (through internet), enhanced computation power (GPUs) and ofcourse Deep Learning NN is what led to AI revolution (essentially Generative AI). The traditional ML learning algorithm had major issue of efficiency and performance plateauing as dataset grows. DL algorithm on the other hand continues to learn and improve with more data. DL NN consist of interconnected nodes known as neurons that take incoming data and learn to make decision over time. NN consist of input layer, hidden layer (that varies, giving more depth as it increases) and output layer. Each hidden layer transforms the input data by applying ‘activation function’ -a mathematical function that allows network to learn complex patterns. NN is trained by feeding data, error is sent back through the network to adjust internal parameters (weights and biases) helping to reduce error in future predictions. There are different types of NN. In the above case where it analyses the drawing (image) ‘Convolutional NN’ (CNN) is used (convolution is a mathematical operation done by each layer on output of previous layer, mixing two functions). Another popular NN is ‘Recurrent NN’ (RNN) in here each neuron (in hidden layer) receives input with a specific delay in time -allowing RNN to consider context of input -access previous information in current iterations. RNN is used in predicting next word in a sentence. 

Next is to generate entirely new image. This is done through Generative AI (ofcourse all these are interconnected; I am trying to separate it for convenience of understanding) that is the rage now. GenAI creates new content whether text, images, music, audio or video. GenAI is a class of AI system that learn from large data set using ML and DL algorithm to recognize patterns and trends to create new content. The design of GenAI model changes depending on what it is designed to do and how it will be used. They specifically crafted to generate new content. There are many types of GenAI models or GenAI architectures. Where images have to be generated (after Convoluted Neural Network CNN is used to analyze the drawing) Variational Auto-Encoders (VAEs) model or Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) is used. Both are equally interesting, and it’s very likely that VAEs is being used here in this specific case where I fed the image. VAEs model works by transforming input data through Encoding and Decoding. Encoder takes the input data and turns it into a simpler form called latent space representation -which holds the key features of the data. The decoder then uses this latent space representation to create new outputs. It therefore creates new realistic images based on the pattern it has learned from the data. GANs meanwhile involves two neural networks. The Generator and the Discriminator. Generator tries to make new data samples that looks real. Discriminator verifies the generated data to tell the difference between real and fake data. The process is continued until Generator becomes so good at producing realistic data that the Discriminator is no longer able to distinguish. These are used to generate high quality realistic images. Another type of GenAI that really started the AI craze into mainstream is Transformer architecture. AI exploded into popular imagination through ChatGPT in 2022. GPT stands for Generative Pretrained Transformer. All the chatbots use Transformer architecture. Transformers are used in NLP tasks using encoder and decoder layers that enables model to effectively generate text sequence.

It is also important to know about Foundational Model (FM). These are the core of contemporary AI (except ofcourse reinforced learning -that makes my chess engine evaluate or I can play against!). All the big data, large computation and energy are going into maintaining FM. They are very large NN trained using ML and DL on tetrabytes of unstructured data in an unsupervised manner. The datasets are diverse capturing range of knowledge hence can be adapted to wide ranging tasks. Earlier each AI model was trained on very specific data to perform very specific task. Now FM is able to transfer to multiple different tasks and perform multiple different functions. They serve as base or foundation for a multitude of applications. When introduced with small amount of labelled data you can tune FM to specific task. Asking or prompting chatbot is a way of tuning information from FM. So, when I am asking chatbot to recreate the image. It is fine tuning the data from FM for this specific task of generating image. Large Language Model (LLMs) is text version of FM that fuels GenAI chatbot revolution. Different domains like models for vision, code, or science or climate change etc. are achieved by tuning FM.         

 

 

An upsetting incident

 

We common people are facing onslaught of misinformation and disinformation on daily basis. You really don’t know what to trust hence use critical thinking and try to get information from credible sources before trusting it. What if there is no credible source? Rumor of Dharmendra’s (iconic hindi actor) death was disinformation, maliciously worked without any concern or responsibility but for the stampede of viewership. Afterall how much time does it take to verify and crosscheck, they don’t need to send a horseman over mountains and across rivers, and unlike common people they have access at the highest level. Consider, this is how they deal with every ‘news’, they don’t really seem to have internal fact checking body nor are they bothered. Also, imagine how much distress it causes to people close to purportedly dead and flashed all across the media. Meanwhile social media primed in horrendous value system has started meme, AI created horror and what not. Also, there are some (not very famous, scheming from sidelines) who use even death for self-promotion. When I first became aware of it, I really couldn’t believe people could be such low life. What a horrible world we live in.

I too was carried away by the rumor and almost posted this writeup. So, after a delay and much consideration I am posting it verbatim to underline and tag the disinformation that affects us and must be dealt with all urgency. Meanwhile I hope Mr. Dharmendra lives many more years in peace.     

The age of innocence

Nowadays they call it movie, they call it paddam or cinema, but when we were young, we knew only the word picture. And in picture things were quite clear, there will be hero, heroin, villain and funny people. The template was quite fixed. What we would look forward to was good ‘fight’, which we emulated in slow motion, including open eyed death scene! Dharmendra was right at the top. His snarling dialogues were rage. I really liked enacting him. When I became aware of him, he had already passed his prime, weekend movies on television revived his glory. His death is passing away of slice of childhood.

Those were age of innocence that also coincided with my life (I wonder if I were an adult I would watch). Movies as sophisticated expression of art came quite late. Even when I was in my early 20s I would be watching movies like Cliffhanger in Chennai big screen, not once but three times, in the back row, the middle row, and right in the front. Watching movies like Cliffhanger from the front row was a unique experience! It was much later that I got into film festival circuit, as also printing fake entries (those days it was fun -trolling the system, in the present context with increased security concerns it is a serious crime). Nowadays with online access things have become convenient as also better options from array of brilliant international movies and old classics that give new meaning and understanding to art as an expression of life. There are ofcourse lots of mediocre nonsense on offer but these can easily be chaffed through. Indeed, finding a good movie (like a good book) to invest your precious time and effort has become an arduous task. Many a times when I am in a mood to watch some good movie in the afternoon, I spent more time in trying to find out what to watch! And only after finding strong recommendations from multiple reliable sources do I settle to watch. Sometimes having started to watch a movie after much scrutiny you realize that it is not matching the standards. Watching best from all across the world for many decades evolve sensibilities and you know within 15-20 minutes whether the movie is worth the time. Nobody is really interested in stories (the template is quite limited) but the nuance and depth of complexities and expressions. Even in crime thrillers stories influence is quite limited, it is how narration handled and image worked that leaves abiding impact and adds layers of meaning. For instance, High and Low made in 1960s (Akira Kurosawa) is such a brilliant movie while the recent remake (Spike Lee) such a shoddy attempt.

*What I find charming in Indian movies (ofcourse apart from reminiscence of childhood innocence) are some really soulful well sung songs and brilliant (indeed sometimes embarrassing) play of colors. Many memorable songs were filmed with Dharmendra. The thing about movie songs is that they work in limited frame of simple language so as to connect to the mass. This simplicity that touches millions of hearts is profound. What makes it further dear is life embedded in these moments of listening hence vivid association with memory. Some of Dharmendra movie songs clearly presents early teen years in mind’s eye. Ofcourse there were lots of garbage in Indian movies but some precious gems stand out. The other day I was listening to Malayalam song while driving (Olichirikkan from Aranyakam movie by ONV). O such a beautiful deceptively simple song (lyrics are amazing and well sung -Chitra, the music though is seriously lacking), it increases my happiness index every time! What I specifically find adorable is this exquisite line Thotta vadi ninne eniku enthu ishtum annanno – “touch-me-not (plant) how much I love you you-know”. What really takes this line to quaint beauty is the word enthu, the line could’ve been Thotta vadi ninne eniku ishtum annanno “touch-me-not (plant) how I love you you-know”. As also the word annanno, instead of annu. Ofcourse it creates musicality but the difference is much deeper, from annu to annanno makes it adoringly innocent. These words really change it into something very precious.  

Behold hurricane Melissa

 

  Pray for Jamaica 🙏

Jokes of the matter!

 

"Personally I have no bone to pick with graveyards" (Beckett)

Humour is existential. Good humour creates aesthetics of absurdity, the awareness of meaningless. The depth of comic is in this awareness of absurdity. The reason why this line is funny and absurd as also subtle word play that creates hilarious impact. Beckett's creative primed in theatre of absurd where meaning can be understood in depth of meaningless. ‘Should I kill myself, or have cup of coffee?’ is humourous question but an important philosophical one. That truly redefine meaning of life itself. There is a reason why Camus assumed Sisyphus to be happy. Zen master snap a laugh and the meaning becomes apparent.

Good humour is hard to find, and in a restricted crass world humour works within the limitation of system in which it performs (what happened in Saudi is assault, not only on comedy, but on liberty and freedom, it is not funny at all, indeed, a serious incursion on free society). It will rarely glimpse the existential, hence complex expression and thoughts that it initiates, but may bring the momentary absurdity of the situation or the system of control. An exaggeration and the unexpected becomes framework for humour. An evolved sense of humour is an art. It needs exceptionally talented raconteur with sense of timing and pulse of audience to execute. A good joke is necessarily compassion driven hence will not be at the expense of anyone but at the absurdity of the situation. The reason why sense of humour is an evolved attribute, nearer to understanding reality, and the bearer essentially good-natured humans. This eviscerating sincerity is what authoritarians fear. Less talented use vulgar, shock and crude expressions, to challenge the system as joke. This works with audience with limited sensibilities (something that is quite common in standup comedians these days) and may act as vent for oppressed populace and rebellious youngsters.

Indian movies are mostly quite mediocre and generally works in its juvenile limited ways (ofcourse there are exceptions but these are quite rare) to excite the herd. Even within these there are occasions where you find good humour, quite talented artists (and yes there are some songs too that leave lasting impressions). Ofcourse with usual caveat that Indian humour mostly comes with sickening prejudices and regressive ways. Despite these there are funny moments. I rarely watch Indian movies (unless ofcourse it is strongly recommended by evolved narration) but watched these as a kid. Many of these I enjoyed (though as an adult I found many quite stupid -some offensive). There were though some who were genuinely funny like Asrani and Satish Shah -both passed away the other day and the reason I am writing this. They bring back some bright faced memories of laughing neighborhood kids! Satish Shah in particular was exceedingly funny in TV serial YeJoHaiZindagi. He was my initial go-to-guy for funny expressions.

Sense of humour is quite difficult to express and I have abiding respect for people with this talent. I too tried these when I was addressing group (whether taking sessions on different topics or when on nature walk/trek) with some modest success. Worst is when you crack a joke to a group and it doesn’t work. They look at you with narrowing eyes, it is truly a mortifying experience. So you have to do a serious self-analysis to get it right. Choice of words, accent/language that match the region (for instance english is differently accented in bangalore as compared to delhi, also the link words has to be local -joke in complete english doesn't really work most of the times hence if you are in Karnataka use bit of essential kannada with english, in TN use tamil with english, in Kerala malayalam with english and in north use hindi with english so on), timing, delivery, facial expression to keep the attention…all matters. The reason why I read joke books (Asimov has some good collection, even Khushwant Singh) as also closely follow cartoons (drawing cartoon is a diligent difficult work that I am thinking of putting more attention into). The other day I was reading an old joke book on environment issues! (pic herein).              

Soul space

If you take the sight within and still

The bright cobalt blue sky etches billowing castles of white

In shades of grey and setting pink

All possible shapes the moment conjures

Paused jellyfish dissolves the leaping rabbit into nothing

The gaiety of transient forces condense and dissipate

Form, deform and reform 

Inanimate stirs the animate to breathe immense kindness  
An eternal rest for weary soul

To grasp through time  

Awards as self-validation

 

Ofcourse Nobel prize has international significance and immense ramification as it brings in people and narration that are valued. Never in living memory Nobel peace prize so keenly watched. Trump is fervently seeking validation through the award. It is no surprise since the mindset primed in neoliberal transactional value hinges on power, position, awards, to showcase self. Lacking self-awareness or redeeming quality they look for next opportunity to position for more money, power and influence. This then is fitted into myths of leaders, business model and eventually as economic growth hence development, and constructed into narration of fame and success. The hypocrisy and existential disconnect is beyond any sensibility or sanity. Though this appalling disconnect is now out in the open, the vandalizing of precious resources continues unabated without any second thought. Nor the economists show urgency to update the system as if humanity will somehow work out a miracle within the exploitative system. The technology and ideas primed in such system will naturally be misaligned. Ideally collective bodies like UN must take up the responsibility to call for re-evaluation of economic model that hinges growth and development. It is not right or left polarized binaries of ideologies but what is appropriate to immense challenges humanity face. They must present an alternative model and effectuate it at the earliest. Agreements on collective actions are failing since they are working within the exploitative system of economic growth. They are misaligned with life nurturing systems. It is clearly unethical. 

Peace is not won it is nurtured with care and concern. It is a long-term collective investment that is formalized with systems that aligns and understand the reality of people’s existence and challenges. Winning and losing are binaries of crass and stereotypes of attention seeking quick fixes. It is but natural for crude positioners to be attracted to these for validation for their meagre selves. The more depraved they are more blatant to use any means to climb the hierarchy to validate their existence. I have seen these people in realtime (and now I see Trump) stampeding for whatever awards, position of power and influence, to garner respect that their limited self is lost and vacant without it. This horror of vacant self needs things to fill, very soon it craves bigger and bigger things. They are incapable and incapacitated for meaningful involvement, it is always the next glitter for grab, next grab for validation. That the system nurtures these is where the attention need to be.        

**I watch Nobel peace prize announcement with much trepidation considering history of likes of Kissinger. I am deeply troubled if Trump wins, it will be a debilitating setback (I will quit social media altogether, as it is I am reflecting on it). I shared this with ChatAi, it assured me Trump has low chance -but nevertheless a chance and that is a concern. People with power and influence can do anything they want; they can create their own narration and mainstream it, and even make us learn it. This happens all the time. Validating them with prestigious awards will diminish humanity in no uncertain term. Ideally an award seamlessly appreciates the appropriate. 

***it is announced, great news Venezuelan democracy activist Mario Corina Machado. Phew!     

****Oops Houston we have a problem!       

Incredible MOFs

 There is a remarkable material called Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) that is the subject of this year’s Nobel prize in Chemistry. These are self-assembled hybrid material made of organic linkers. What is astounding is that they have very high surface area. These are emulating nature’s building blocks: minerals and organics. These have diverse sustainable applications. Two areas that excites are carbon sequestration and extracting humidity from air.

Few years back when I was reading about how seashell went about creating itself, the biomineralization process. It is quite amazing indeed in a way precursor to life. The carbonate ion (from dissolved CO2) and Calcium ions (from dissolved rock minerals in ocean) are guided by framework of organic molecules (like proteins)- as a scaffold, for mineral deposition -the mineralization process. These two ions combine to create calcium carbonate -the shell. So, when the organism die it settles on the ocean floor as sediments and after millions of years as limestones. These limestones are then extracted by cement industry for quicklime from calcium carbonate that is processed to release CO2 (fun fact here is that quicklime when heated produced intense light, this was used to light stages during plays in medieval times hence the term ‘in the limelight’). To cut the story short the whole process of seas shell formation is amazing. So is the case of how Namib beetles use specialized hydrophilic cells to extract water from mist. How are these structures on beetle arranged at molecular level? The high surface area of MOFs is quite intriguing. Does it have parallel in nature or is it human ingenuity of working the periodic table beyond the reach of nature?

One of the scientist awarded, Omar Yaghi, has an amazing generational leap. A refugee from Jordan to US his mother is illiterate. Imagine that. I guess it has to do with, apart from his brilliance ofcourse, framework of accessible high quality public education that US was able to offer, as also some quality teachers and infrastructure. It reminds me of Camus -his mother was deaf and illiterate, from Algeria. What is remarkable about Camus is sophistication of thinking and nuanced expressions that is really quite difficult -indeed almost impossible, to achieve in meagre surrounding and lack of intellectual context. France was able to provide the framework. The reason why liberal progressive space is so important. Now ofcourse internet is making it accessible to all across the world. 

A milestone for renewable energy

 

In the increasingly bleak scenario, something remarkable is achieved. Climate thinktank Ember reports that for the first time since 1940s clean power surpasses 40% of global electricity generation. World’s wind and solar farms have generated more electricity than coal plants for the first time. It is a crucial milestone despite overwhelming odds. What is important to note is that China and India are responsible for this surge in renewable sources of energy. This is expected to grow and with rapid advance in technology and increased efficiency we may substantially decarbonize into sustainable responsible progress syncing with earth’s life systems. Petro states and fossil fuel greed industry are a threat (the recent failure to agree on plastic ban is another setback). There is an increasing threat from sinister greed trying to undermine scientific consensus (indeed science itself) and common good.

US is becoming a rogue state as also nurturing ominous agenda across the world. Something must be done immediately. This everyday infliction on the world collective must be stopped. It causes untold misery to common people across the world. Deep state (a consolidation of interest of entrenched elite) is overwhelmingly regressive and conservative as it seeks to control power through feudal institutions, entrenched values and nepotistic clout. Incremental gains of democracy and intrusive decentralizing nature of technology weakens this clout and strengthens grassroot participation. But deep state remains powerful and has significant say in mainstream narration, even with changes in political parties running the government, as also using technology for surveillance. An egalitarian society will have benign deep state that will diminish into people. Whatever maybe the case deep state doesn’t compromise on national interest and sovereignty. Even if the foundation is flawed, state authoritarian or theocratic or corrupt, deep state doesn’t devalue its integrity as a nation. Deep state in US must realize that this narcist psychopath is a threat to US. This horror is ofcourse a threat to the world and has severely undermined collective actions but his role in substantially reducing US must be understood and noted with alarm. US is now a laughing stock, has low credibility, and obstinately in the path of self-destruction. Deep state must take action before it is too late. Post-Trump US must actively participate in collective actions against common threat. A better world is also for the good of US and everyone.             

Shadows 

In the crumbling scene, the collapse, the plumes of bleak

Trace the outlines of struggling forms

Of each soul shaping the shadows in the altered world

Witnessing, listening and seeping

The crevices of silenced sights and shattered thoughts

Vast indifferent space replicates

The anxiety of disintegration

Lost meanings articulate desperation

A new language assimilates the sinister

Hear the snapping scaffoldings that hold the precious

Feel the chill surge diminish selves

Give way to gathering procession of dread

As each fold inside

deeper and deeper into their own shadows    

       

 

"We have the choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place..."

no words can fill this void 

Rosalind Franklin

 

I was reading Rosalind Franklin’s biography (by Brenda Maddox), quite a thick book but I finished it within two days. The reason is that I am not interested in personal lives of people. Biographies (as also autobiographies) of people who have made valuable contribution to the humanity is important in its exploration of how they worked to contribute in their areas of involvement. The process of how they went about doing their work, their understandings, influences as also the impact is what is important to know. Sieving that framework gives good estimation of mind at work. A discerning, indeed responsible, reader is not interested in personal matters. The ogler’s framework that the market worked out with confession seeking inanities of ludicrous to keep it exciting for the crude is what it is reduced to. Guardians of lowest denominator are celebrated as special hence their personal lives hold meaning to herd. It spirals down to ensnare best of people’s life into superficialities so as to connect to the herd. Rosalind Franklin was significant scientist whose contribution (as also how she was systemically ignored) stands out. She made indelible contribution to find the structure of DNA hence the code of life. This contribution and how she went about working it, the challenges and process of her scientific contribution, is what matters and not whether she was a good chef (why?) or that she was insufferable during her periods (imagine this book was published in 2002, it’s unfortunate, this writer needs to apologize. To know more about Rosalind’s contribution and her struggles as a scientist was the reason I invested in this book) or her preference for French or that she had elite English accent doesn’t matter whatsoever, nor am I interested. Yes, it is important to bring out prevailing patriarchal values (how it was more in feudal Britain than in liberty driven France) and what all hardships she faced despite being the best scientist of her generation, to understand how these systems worked to undermine best of minds. This author though lacks the skills and necessary grip to emphasis and prioritize what matters and nuance of empathy that should redeem not reduce as also awareness of contemporary world she is presenting to. I never really liked James Watson -few years back his racist rant worsened the matter and points to serious character flaw. This is further consolidated by his unethical appropriation of Rosalind’s material (iconic photo51) as also cleverly and ruthlessly sidelining her. His misogynism and patronizing attitude towards respected co-scientist (like Rosalind) shows how limited context of science creates insular minds unaware of larger world or progressive ideas that nurtures science. With little more support Rosalind could have taken the leap of imagination that her prescient mind was eminently capable of but she vacillated and chose the path of assurance through diligence of experimental work (very likely so as to not to embarrass hence fall prey to prevalent misogynist stereotyping, it is easy to imagine how this mindset must have hampered her at each stage as also contributed to her steely resolve) to establish it beyond doubt, this lag was capitalized by others to claim as their own (note that previously likes of Watson&Crick, even respected Linus Pauling, had made wild claims through their self-assured imagination to claim the glory). Therein lies the lessons and learning.         

The luxury and comfort in which we live in that enhance our possibilities is not accidental nor is it a god’s gift or a special divine design but consolidation of best of values over centuries into thinking and analyzing to create systems closer to understanding of reality to decipher mysteries of nature. This seems to be underplayed by devious who try to normalize the same regressive -the same pattern, that resisted and undermined humanity’s progress as diversity. In mediocrity thriving society they create attention seekers as celebrities to awe common populace as also carrier of expected pliable transactional values of profit and greed. Best minds shouldn’t be reduced to these kinds of nonsense. Ofcourse, they had their failing but that shouldn’t be used to titillate or brought down to crude sensibilities of herd. It is a civilizational loss. Though the book seems well researched and try to empathize with Rosalind’s short and brilliant life there are only few pages in this book that really matters. What is also important to note is that Rosalind’s long and arduous work involved exposure to Xray this could be a possible reason for her cancer (the book doesn’t mention it), many early scientists were not aware of the dangers (that includes Curie). So much sacrifices were made to create the world we live in must be emphasized. World is a better place because of undaunting efforts of likes of Rosalind.  

I also wanted to bring out from the book on how the best of minds were galvanized into finding the structure of DNA by Erwin Schrodinger in his Dublin lecture series titled ‘What is Life?’. His concern was ‘why biology was treated complete separate from physics and chemistry’. He declared that time has come to think of living organisms in terms of their molecular and atomic structure. There was no great divide between living and nonliving they all obey same laws of physics and chemistry. “How can the events in space and time which take place within the spatial boundary of a living organism be accounted for by physics and chemistry? ... The obvious inability of present-day physics and chemistry to account for such events is no reason at all for doubting that they can be accounted for by those sciences.” Through this influential lecture Schrodinger introduced the idea that life is characterized by highly organized, non-repetitive molecular structures, distinguishing living matter from inanimate objects. He also introduced concept of negative entropy, "the essential thing in metabolism is that the organism succeeds in freeing itself from all the entropy it cannot help producing while alive." This series of lecture was published as book and changed the framework of discourse. Biological problems could now be tackled with physics, this opened up floodgate for biophysics which gave impetus for eventually finding the structure of DNA and advancement in molecular biology.

What Schrodinger did at the critical moment in history to galvanize research beyond silos of physics, chemistry and biology is what is needed to put in the framework of AI research (Turin’s test set up the standard, the world is well past it). It seems haphazard and spread out without a clear core as also the important issue of alignment. How to differentiate life from non-life in the complex bioAI? A prescient researcher with brilliance of Schrodinger is needed to consolidate wide range of subjects -from biotechnology to quantum, and concerns into coherent narration that is scientifically precise and ethically aligned. What is artificial life? So as to put the core of AI progress into narrative framework.            

 

Are we in a post-literate society?

 

Good books enrich human experience and carry sophisticated enlightening thoughts consolidated across time and space. Best minds don’t die they live among us through their writings, their ideas and thoughts.  And now, all the evidences suggests that, we have entered a ‘post literate’ society where people suffer from short attention span, they don’t have time to read, to understand. Youngsters are finding it difficult to comprehend complex thoughts. I was reading an article online 'The dawn of post literate society' (by James Marriot) on the seriousness of this issue. I do spend substantial time in reading, even when online, but realize that sometimes I fall into ‘doom scrolling’ without realizing. I see most people hooked to phone screen but didn’t realize that situation is now serious that warrants drastic actions, atleast impressionable growing minds (below 14 years) shouldn’t have access to smart phones.

Humanity’s progress is very much hinged to spread of knowledge through writing that percolated after invention of printing press, books became common place and led to tremendous progress and consolidation of knowledge. Awareness fueled values of argumentation, systemic thinking and cogent thoughts among common populace that led to rapid progress (historian Orlando Figes notes that the English, French and Russian revolutions all occurred in societies approaching fifty per cent literacy). Books were valued atleast until two decades back. Enter smart phone and there is a collapse. The situation has become dire. In West, studies show a decline of as much as 40%, in last two decades! Imagine the situation in other parts of the world. This is watershed moment in history with serious repercussions coinciding with immense challenges that needs deeper awareness, understanding and collective action. There is a perfect storm building up and likes of Trump are warnings of much deeper crisis. The new technology is not evolving to attract us into sophisticated forms of reading and understanding or spreading knowledge. Instead, its aims to distract and keep our attention on inanities. Imagine being cut from best of thoughts and ideas so that you can grow and progress and contribute to human understanding factoring contemporary reality, questioning and refining it. It is as if humanity is being scythed from all sources of understanding. Mind deprived of nourishment and incapacitated to think. We are rightly worried about AI but something significant is being lost at an alarming rate. A generation is growing up as functional illiterates with decreased attention and reduced cognitive ability while grownups have voluntarily stalled their literacy to be credulous medieval peasants. This is post literate society, a collection of diminished human potential that imitate preliterate society in its irrationality and primal urges. It effortlessly moves towards easy emotion satisfying certainties of authoritarian values and feudal concerns. Smart phone is doing what barbarians and marauding invaders destroying libraries did centuries back as they decimate civilization. It has started to have devastating consequences. 

We are rightly concerned about books being censored but not seems to be concerned about best books not being read and enlightening ideas not discussed. We are already primed for misinformation and disinformation unless drastic steps are taken to introduce best thoughts and enlightening ideas, and more spaces for people to gather to talk or sit quietly and prohibits smart phones to experience boredom. Responsible societies must take action. Loss of reading is not loss to humanity but loss of humanity. We collapse without the understanding of what defines and sustains we as human, the progress and awareness of complexity of our reality. There are clear indications that intellectual threshold of societies are collapsing with impoverished human experience. Without thinking mind humans are nothing but apes (democracy assures framework for equality, liberty and freedom, hence possibility of progress that doesn’t really make people equal -there is an effort needed to be aware). Barbarians with short attention that evaluates every complexity into simplistic binaries of dopamine saturated cave minds placed in modern setting that it will soon ransack into nothing. The tragedy compounded as most are incapacitated to even understand the significance of what is being lost. A world of shallow people scrolling, repeating, scrolling to ‘smartphone wasteland’.  

**

I found value of reading best minds and thoughts relatively late, therefore really had to double time to catch up. There were months where I did nothing but read. I always make it a point to introduce good books to people as also encouraging reading. It is something that is extremely satisfying. The other day I was at a bookstall in Bangalore. It was teeming with people with collection of some wonderful books, even racks of old books at discount rate -pic herein (reminds me of quiet libraries I dearly miss). There is something magical about scent of old books -surely imprint of nestling on trees! (since it has strong pull on me I am assuming it is something more than that). Unlike other cities Bangalore does have culture of reading -that initially attracted me to the city apart from ofcourse gardens and weather. Somehow that charm is lost with haphazard ‘development’. Even charming streets are reduced to glitter of inane. Crowded, noisy and polluted, the sight of tall sky jasmine trees -arguably one of the most beautiful trees, showering flowers on world least bothered to appreciate. The worst are these new opulent gold jewelry showrooms -I feel like puking every time I see one (never bought gold, never will ever buy. The sh*t colored metal is sickness of mind).                                      

Condolence to Sponge City pioneer

 

Just few minutes back I came to know that Kongjian Yu, the Chinese architect who pioneered the concept of ‘sponge city’, has died in a plane crash in Brazil. Sponge city is one of the most significant climate disaster adaptation strategies that will have a substantial say in how cities are planned to respond to extreme weather events leading to flooding as also drought. Sponge city is an important understanding towards climate resilient living spaces. It brings in ancient Chinese farming wisdom of “making friends with water” that sync deep understanding of nature into modern design (It need to be noted that ancient Chinese contribution to humanity is quite significant. This in no way an endorsement to authoritarian regime that now rules China, hopefully common people assert themselves to make it a more participatory society and a representative government for a better world as China’s impact on the world increases. Liberty and freedom define what is to be human and help express potential to be self). The underlining idea is to use soft material and terrace design to retain water to adapt, slow down and reuse, unlike modern engineering solution of draining water away as fast as possible using concrete and steel. Instead of speeding up the drainage the water is made less destructive by slowing down to nurture the habitat and assimilate as living system. There are many innovative climate adaptive strategies being explored and applied, sponge city stands out as a brilliant understanding on building green resilient architecture across the world.      

Kongjian Yu’s untimely demise is shocking and deeply felt.

Correlation is not causation

 

Cognitive complexities arising from critical thinking is the basis of human progress and compassion. Human evolution is imprinted with thousands of years of insecurities of hunter gatherer facing vicissitudes of nature and uncertainties of life. Most animals do exhibit inductive reasoning -they need specific pattern to repeat to generalize, or else they will not adapt to survive. So, it is but natural for cave minds to assume correlation for causation. In much primitive societies even coincidences are taken as correlation, and further extrapolated as causation with dangerous outcomes. It is fertile ground for charlatans pawing on primal inductive reasoning couched in modern language. Astrology is thriving ‘science’ in primitive societies, crude minds through narrative control consolidate it above everyday superstitions of common people to milk insecurities and authenticate squatter’s value system of blessedness and unknowable intelligence. As they say a broken clock is correct twice a day, for charlatans this meagre premise is enough to work out framework of deceit and misery. Much of the world was in such dark spaces with few lights of brilliance here and there. It took likes of Francis Bacon -consolidated through immensely smart people across the world, to create framework of inquiry to hinge humanity’s astounding progress. The reason why empirically rigorous inductive, deductive reasoning and critical thinking is so very important.    

Cave minds (primed in hunter gatherer insecurities) are imprinted to look for easy connection to survive the situation. That is how they survived sabretooths, infections, venom, toxins…death stalking in every step for hundreds and thousands of years as they tried to comprehend the unknown world. Systems like religion are primed in these insecurities to assert as faith, as values and norms. These primal connections are therefore soul satisfying for human facing complexities and insecurities of modern world. The lazier they get expressions are nestled in cave exhibits. With revivalist forces capitalizing on general lack in common people cave minds are active and asserting their space for fantastic claims. Likes of Trump and RFK Jr are underbelly of West thriving on luxury using general discontent of populace -valued in neoliberal transactions and juvenile superficialities that they are incapacitated to think hence rush for latest glitter couched in primal connections. RFK Jr in particular has unleashed forces that undermine foundation of human progress that is set to cause immense misery. Ofcourse pharmaceutical companies are greedy and predatory but that is a ruse to undermine system of critical thinking so as to generally vitiate the environment to control narration (hence all the issues of climate catastrophe, biodiversity loss, sustainable values etc. can be undervalued for greed). He was targeting vaccine with pseudoscience dirge from sidelines for some time now. Since he was presented with position of immense power he has unleashed his devious plans that sync with fantastical claims and posing as beholder of knowledge beyond the ambit of science. Narcist Democrats are equally responsible for empowering these psychopaths as also the repercussions of pseudoscience on much of primitive spaces across world. This is making lives much bleaker in a world that faces climate charged outbreak of new diseases. Much of the challenges and strife in the world can be addressed with clear thinking, empathy and awareness of human condition.           

**Autism is something that is studied in detail. It is not a disease but genetic condition that is open for further research and understanding, and people with severe autism were targeted in past and faced immense misery (for which humanity owes an apology). So, to target autism makes JFK Jr a dangerous criminal.

When few people mention it to me I didn’t take it seriously later online self-diagnosis consistently put me in autism spectrum. Well, since I could remember I liked to be more with myself or very few select people specific to the occasion ("soul selects her society then shuts the door to her divine majority"). I stayed and worked in extremely crowded noisy places interacting with people -to become a public speaker was an effort in itself, soon found that speaking to large audience was quite easy, larger the better, but shockingly easier than talking to one person at a time. Had to take long breaks away from crowd to gather myself (I realize that when I get stressed, I tend to repeat pattern, and use selective mutism in unpleasant situations or to cut irritants from one’s life). I recall one of earliest jobs I took up in Madras (now Chennai), I had to teach working of ‘turbo prop engines’ to pilot trainees of a flying club. I was too nervous and had to take few pegs and stuff mouth fresheners. It didn’t last too long. What I gathered was my Tamil speaking skills went up by few notches after each peg, something that is authenticated by IgNobel prize recently!        

Being dyslexic and teaching how to read fast was mostly about putting up -an act, working on gift for gab so on. Essentially it was about spending less time on making money and more time to travel and pursue new things. It was during this time that I came across ‘logical thinking’ as a subject of study, so very soon was teaching and really enjoyed it. Deductive reasoning is an important part of critical thinking. And I do firmly hold that critical thinking should be part of education at every stage -not as an isolated subject but actively engaged after every study so as to consolidate critical thinking into daily life. I did prepare a module for critical thinking and approached few educational institutions (picture herein) but they already had syllabus worked out decades back, it’s an amazing lack in fast changing world (except flashy attention seeking AI to awe hence showcase themselves as worldly smart). Indian education is moribund institution and teachers one of the worst, lacking enterprise or skills (with rare exceptions) -indeed mostly social rejects who take it on students. Indeed, I did a study on education by understanding different ways of teaching. Things are changing I am told. Though I love teaching I would never like to be part of this system of teaching in colleges (slave wagering camaraderie of mediocre), teaching same subject for years without passion or adding any new insights. No wonder youngsters’ shudder at the thought of becoming a teacher. Meanwhile primitive society values teachers as god -thus nurturing insular charlatans and their self righteous sickness as also creating authority bias in young minds while undermining vibrant ideas and participatory values of striving ordinary humans trying to bring in best possibilities.