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Terence Tao doesn't seem like a terrible guy, but I just really wish that people like him would take a few seconds to reflect on how their privilege and status effects their experience of the world and the impact of their words. Basic things like ''do I have more access to these tools than others?'', ''will my comments on these tools possible change the economic landscape of my field?'', ''does the promotion of higher productivity in my work through the use of these tools risk crating a further class divide in my field?", ''Are my thoughts about the nature or purpose of research maybe clouded, or even stifled, by the privileges granted to me in the course of my life and education?'', etc. These questions pertain to Tao because he is celebrated ''prodigy'' (the quotes are for my dislike of this word, not of how Tao fits into its use) with all the access and privileges that one could possibly be granted in the context of mathematics. This access includes the fact that AI companies are (of course) thrilled to give him all the models and tokens they can offer. And though I don't think that access comes with any strings attached (someone like Tao has enough reputation in math to be granted such things on name alone), I do think he is playing right into their hand. Moreover, when Tao makes an appearance talking about AI and math, I do think he really is just talking--I think he likely thinks that it is a net good to just say how he's using AI and to say what it is good at and what it is bad at (for him), and that he doesn't mind making speculative remarks so long as he is clear that he's speculating. But this isn't good enough; for people like Tao (whether they asked for it to be this way or not) have an influence far beyond the reach of most math departments. Simply talking about technology without baring in mind their larger socioeconomic grip can cause irreparable damage. I really just wish that people with this kind of status would keep their mouth shut unless they are willing to develop a larger thesis on these socioeconomic impacts.

pencil, ink, and ochre on paper

If Poob was a real streaming service it would be proudly advertising the "nation's first 100% AI-generated reality TV series" and running unskippable adds for sports gambling apps. The account would be run by a turbo-chud 27 year old intern with a communications degree from a scam university and a podcast that's still hung up on 2016-era phytoestrogen paranoia.

(source for the Poob logo)

my body: go get a cinnamon roll the size of a tire

Credit: Sheryl Hester