AI

eman1200

eman1200

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Mar 10, 2013
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Oakland, CA
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Bro do you even lift
do we have a thread for general AI stuff? I've found it very helpful although it hasn't paid for a single maintenance bill on my mooney yet. here is a good example of how helpful it can be. feel free to post your examples here as well.


"my friend dave is old but still plays hockey. are there ice skates with training wheels on them or something to help so he doesn't fall over?


Ice skates with training wheels or similar support for adults playing hockey do exist, and they can be a great option for your friend Dave to stay stable on the ice, especially if he's concerned about falling due to age or balance issues. Here are some options and insights based on available products and their suitability for adult hockey players:


1. Skateez Skate Training Aid for AdultsDescription: Skateez offers a training aid designed specifically for adults, functioning like "training wheels for skates." These attach to the bottom of hockey skates, providing three points of contact for stability, similar to a bicycle's training wheels. The arms are rigid enough to keep skates upright but flexible to allow edging for forward propulsion, which is crucial for hockey skating.Suitability for Hockey: Skateez is compatible with most hockey skates (from Junior 1 to Adult 10) and supports up to 180 lbs (81 kg). This makes it suitable for adult recreational or beginner hockey players like Dave who want to build confidence and maintain balance while learning or refining their skating skills.Installation: Easy, tool-free setup with a rubber wedge and Velcro strap to secure the aid to the skate. Minor adjustments may be needed for different skate styles.Benefits: Helps prevent falls, supports ankles, and allows for natural skating motion, which is important for hockey players working on agility and stride technique. It’s particularly useful for older players who may have reduced balance or strength.Where to Find: Available at retailers like Max Performance Sports (hockeyvancouver.ca) or Pure Hockey (purehockey.com).hockeyvancouver.capurehockey.com
2. Skate HelperDescription: The Skate Helper is a durable, molded plastic skating aid (29 inches high, 17 lbs) used by ice arenas for beginners and adaptive skating programs. It’s like a walker for the ice, offering robust support for adults and kids. Two can be stacked for adult use, and they’re used in special needs hockey programs, which could suit an older player like Dave.Suitability for Hockey: While effective for general skating stability, the Skate Helper is less ideal for hockey due to its bulkier design, which may hinder quick movements or puck handling. It’s better for initial balance training rather than active hockey play. However, it could help Dave during warm-ups or practice sessions to build confidence.Availability: Sold directly to ice arenas, not retail stores, with a minimum order of four units. This might not be practical for individual purchase unless Dave’s local rink provides them.skatehelper.com
3. Winnwell ABS Skate Trainer with HarnessDescription: This is a push-style trainer with a harness, designed to save the back of someone assisting a skater (like a coach or friend) while providing support. It’s highly rated for early skating and can help keep other skaters at a distance, reducing collision risks.Suitability for Hockey: It’s more of a teaching tool than a direct skate attachment, so it might not be ideal for active hockey play. However, it could help Dave during practice to focus on skating technique without worrying about falling. It’s particularly useful if he’s very unsteady or fearful on the ice.Feedback: Users on Reddit noted significant improvement in young skaters’ confidence with this tool, which could translate to an older adult like Dave.reddit.com
4. Bob Skates (Double-Blade Skates)Description: Bob skates feature double blades for added stability, often used for toddlers but sometimes available in larger sizes. They provide a wider base, reducing the likelihood of falling.Suitability for Hockey: These are not ideal for adult hockey players, as the double blades limit maneuverability and don’t support the edging needed for hockey skating. They’re better for very young beginners than an older adult like Dave who’s already playing hockey.snowsledsonline.com
5. Alternative ConsiderationsHockey Skate Choice: For older players, choosing the right hockey skates can make a big difference. Hockey skates with hard, supportive boots (like those from Bauer or CCM) provide better ankle support than recreational skates, which is crucial for stability. A snug fit, about 1.5 sizes smaller than shoe size, enhances control and reduces wobbling.hockeymonkey.comhockeymonkey.comProtective Gear: To reduce the fear of falling, Dave could wear additional protective gear like a helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads. These can boost confidence by minimizing injury risk.reddit.comFigure Skates for Stability: Some users on Reddit noted that figure skates, with their longer, flatter blades and higher ankle support, can improve stability for beginners compared to hockey skates. While not ideal for hockey play, Dave could use them for practice to build confidence before switching back to hockey skates.reddit.comOff-Ice Training: Products like Marsblade O1 roller skates simulate ice skating with a rockered chassis, allowing Dave to practice balance and hockey movements off-ice, which could improve his on-ice stability.marsblade.com
Recommendations for DaveBest Option: The Skateez Skate Training Aid for Adults is the most practical choice for Dave. It attaches directly to his hockey skates, supports up to 180 lbs, and allows for natural hockey skating motions while preventing falls. It’s ideal for an older adult who’s already playing hockey but needs extra balance support.Practice First: Dave could use the Skateez during practice sessions to regain confidence and work on his stride. Once he feels steadier, he can try skating without them during games.Rink Support: Check if Dave’s local rink has Skate Helpers or similar aids available for public sessions. These could be a good starting point for casual skating before investing in Skateez.Skate Fit and Gear: Ensure Dave’s hockey skates fit properly (snug, with good ankle support) and consider adding protective gear to ease his concerns about falling.Where to Buy: Look at Max Performance Sports (hockeyvancouver.ca) or Pure Hockey (purehockey.com) for Skateez. Prices aren’t listed in the sources, but you can check these sites or contact them for details.
Notes
User Feedback: Reddit discussions suggest mixed results with Skateez for kids, but for adults, the adult-specific version is designed to handle higher weights and hockey-specific needs. Some users found Skateez effective for building confidence in just a few sessions.reddit.comLimitations: Training aids like Skateez may not be allowed in competitive hockey games, so they’re best for practice or recreational play. Check with Dave’s league or rink for rules.Safety First: Given Dave’s age, ensuring he has a helmet and possibly other protective gear is crucial to prevent injuries, especially if he’s at risk of falling.If you want me to search for specific retailers, pricing, or additional products, or if you’d like me to analyze a particular rink’s offerings for Dave, let me know! I can also check X for recent user experiences with these aids if that’d help."


well that didn't format well but the information is all there. I hope "dave" doesn't hurt himself.

AI has def helped me significantly in several other areas, specifically writing code above my pay grade. it has also spit out some awful responses. somewhere in between, it's pretty awesome. and scary.
 
AI is dumb and doesn't know anything... But it can be useful in certain situations. For example:

> Rewrite the above in a tone of voice that would be more acceptable in a professional office environment.

AI has its limitations and doesn't possess true understanding—but it can still be a valuable tool in the right situations. For instance:​

> Now, write an entire forum post on the subject, between 300-500 words long.

Subject: Understanding the Role of AI in the Workplace: Strengths and Limitations​

​
As AI continues to gain traction in a wide range of industries, it’s important to maintain a balanced perspective on what it can—and cannot—do. While some may be quick to dismiss AI as lacking genuine intelligence or the ability to reason like a human, it's more accurate to say that AI operates within clearly defined boundaries. Within those boundaries, however, it can offer tremendous value.​
​
AI tools, especially large language models like ChatGPT, don’t “know” things in the way humans do. They don’t have consciousness, emotions, or an understanding of the world based on lived experience. Instead, they generate responses based on patterns in the data they’ve been trained on. This means they can sometimes miss nuance, context, or make errors that a human expert wouldn’t. For that reason, it’s crucial not to rely on AI as an unquestionable source of truth, especially in high-stakes or highly specialized domains.​
​
That said, AI can still be incredibly useful—particularly when used as a supplement to human judgment rather than a replacement for it. For example, AI can help generate ideas, summarize large volumes of information, streamline repetitive tasks, or draft initial versions of documents. It can assist with coding, customer service inquiries, research, and even creative brainstorming. When used thoughtfully, AI can boost efficiency and free up time for employees to focus on more complex, strategic, or interpersonal tasks.​
​
The key is to treat AI like any other tool: understand what it’s good at, be aware of its limitations, and use it responsibly. In a professional setting, that might mean reviewing AI-generated content carefully, using it for drafts but not final decisions, or combining its capabilities with human oversight to improve outcomes.​
​
Ultimately, AI isn’t here to replace critical thinking or human insight. But when integrated wisely, it can be a powerful addition to the workplace toolkit—helping teams work smarter, not just harder.​
 
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Personally I have my GPT trained where it refers to me as commander, and it knows its role as a subordinate captain (but is up for a promotion to major). It "thinks" we're fighting a valiant coding battle against "The Bad Data Brigade". It insists on saluting me with emojis.
I have to admit, having a bot play along like we're in an eternal battle against bad/inefficient programming+data makes the coding work more fun.

For instance, this is this morning's report:
1752231168086.png

or...
1752688180044.png

or..
1752695552285.png
Our team motto is: "semper gumby: always flexible"

it even comes up with funny conversation names that apply to my browser tabs:
1752231473357.png

edit: added other examples for fun
 
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AI is absolutely nothing more than a glorified search.

Almost everything I get back from Google AI is mushy/flip flop that is wrong at least half them time. ask AI an obscure question that is doesn't have in it dataset and you get complete garbage back.

AI to stupid to know when it's wrong... it's PROGRAMMED to generate something and it has no idea if it correct.

like self driving cars and electric airplanes is a venture capital gamble throwing crap at the wall and hoping something sticks.
 
hey, AI did this...............

1752238599782.png

and these are from two different sources, eerily similar...

1752239254530.png

1752239277003.png
 
asicer said:
Such as knowing Mooney never made an M with a Johnson Bar? ;)
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I didn't think so. But, I was willing to be wrong about that, given that the M came out several years before the R despite their similarities, or that potentially that poster was speaking of the J that they also flew, or got them mixed up.

But yanno, with the AI profile pic, I'm a bit more suspicious...
 
ask AI an obscure question that you could derive the answer from prior knowledge... it simple cannot. it can only repeat what it was fed as data and then use whater tags it was given to categorize it. On mundane things it seems intelligent becuase of its language model. but its simply repeating search results.

i recently had an issue with Fedora 41, postfix, and Dovecot tls authentication. AI was less than useless. The real answer was DNS TXT record TTL. AI never got close to the issue
 
pfarber said:
ask AI an obscure question that you could derive the answer from prior knowledge... it simple cannot. it can only repeat what it was fed as data and then use whater tags it was given to categorize it. On mundane things it seems intelligent becuase of its language model. but its simply repeating search results.

i recently had an issue with Fedora 41, postfix, and Dovecot tls authentication. AI was less than useless. The real answer was DNS TXT record TTL. AI never got close to the issue
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well, AI is right sometimes. I asked AI what your avatar image means and it said "stay away! this person hates everything, has nothing nice or positive to say about anything, has ****ed on corn flakes for breakfast every day, is a debbie downer on steroids, and oh yeah, pretty much hates everything so don't even bother asking". so yeah, it gets some things right.
 
AI apparently knows it’s wrong a lot! lol
(below)
And that over time, it will become more accurate…but never perfect.
As I expected, and probably as most reasonable people do.

Right now, it’s just an easy way to get rough direction on stuff without all the “Buy This!” that Google has become.
(remind me again how chatgpt will become monetized? I need to be ready)

.


IMG_9336.jpeg
 
Nowadays, AI is pretty much paying all of my bills, including those for the Comanche. I became really good at using it, understanding it, knowing its limitations, strengths, the best tools for certain jobs, etc. and now companies and municipalities pay me $$$ to implement AI solutions for them. Double edged sword though in my opinion. Here is why if anyone wants to read: https://www.fastcompany.com/9134200...-me-are-both-building-and-breaking-the-future
 
AI is basically just a fancy ‘if-this-then-that’ software program
 
I finally made it up to 58M recently. Fun approach over the water!
 
hphillips said:
AI is basically just a fancy ‘if-this-then-that’ software program
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What kind of AI?

The kind of AI that beat a human in chess the first time? Sure.

But today's generative AI? I'd like to see someone try and create an autoregressive algorithm using IF THEN statements, hah.

The underlying equations and math that drive the behavior is way above my pay grade... but I don't think I'd ever define generative AI as being defined as simple branching statements in the traditional programming sense.
 
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Obviously I’m over simplifying it however today’s AI wouldn’t exist without existing data. The way I see it: if this (existing info), then that (existing info… now wearing sunglasses and acting cool)
 
asicer said:
That was true up until about 10-20 years ago, before neural networks and self-directed machine-learning took over.

Now, it's basically just a fancy software program that does a bunch of floating-point matrix multiplication. :)
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My new rap name is LINPACK.
 
The problem with AI is that if we truly understand how it works, it’s not really AI. This is a really big problem for both creating it and for controlling it once created.
 
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