Scott McFarnell
@scottmcf.bsky.social
Assistant Headteacher. Interested in how neuroscience can support education.
#EduSky
#EduSky
Gemini 3 Nano Banana Pro.
I asked for an analogue clock showing 5.40.
I got 4.40. BUT - it was closer than the usual 10.10.
I asked for an analogue clock showing 5.40.
I got 4.40. BUT - it was closer than the usual 10.10.
November 25, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Gemini 3 Nano Banana Pro.
I asked for an analogue clock showing 5.40.
I got 4.40. BUT - it was closer than the usual 10.10.
I asked for an analogue clock showing 5.40.
I got 4.40. BUT - it was closer than the usual 10.10.
Does modern holography flip Plato’s cave?
In physics today, do the boundary “shadows” carry the real information while the three dimensional world is the projection?
Gemini 3 created this image to illustrate.
In physics today, do the boundary “shadows” carry the real information while the three dimensional world is the projection?
Gemini 3 created this image to illustrate.
November 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Does modern holography flip Plato’s cave?
In physics today, do the boundary “shadows” carry the real information while the three dimensional world is the projection?
Gemini 3 created this image to illustrate.
In physics today, do the boundary “shadows” carry the real information while the three dimensional world is the projection?
Gemini 3 created this image to illustrate.
“Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?”
Edgar Allan Poe
But a dream within a dream?”
Edgar Allan Poe
November 22, 2025 at 6:16 AM
“Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?”
Edgar Allan Poe
But a dream within a dream?”
Edgar Allan Poe
Why isn’t NotebookLM part of Gemini?
I don’t get it.
I don’t get it.
November 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Why isn’t NotebookLM part of Gemini?
I don’t get it.
I don’t get it.
Gemini 3 still struggles with spelling in images.
November 19, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Gemini 3 still struggles with spelling in images.
Is Gemini 3.0 out in the UK?
If so, is it only available to paying subscribers?
Has anyone tried it?
Does it live up to the hype?
If so, is it only available to paying subscribers?
Has anyone tried it?
Does it live up to the hype?
November 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Is Gemini 3.0 out in the UK?
If so, is it only available to paying subscribers?
Has anyone tried it?
Does it live up to the hype?
If so, is it only available to paying subscribers?
Has anyone tried it?
Does it live up to the hype?
Where’s the cut-off for consciousness?
Worms?
Flies?
Ants?
Worms?
Flies?
Ants?
November 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Where’s the cut-off for consciousness?
Worms?
Flies?
Ants?
Worms?
Flies?
Ants?
Biology only… or any substrate?
Is consciousness something only living organisms can have, or could a well built machine ever be truly aware?
Is consciousness something only living organisms can have, or could a well built machine ever be truly aware?
November 16, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Biology only… or any substrate?
Is consciousness something only living organisms can have, or could a well built machine ever be truly aware?
Is consciousness something only living organisms can have, or could a well built machine ever be truly aware?
If agency is about predictions, observations, discrepancies and relevant changes, as this slide from @drmichaellevin.bsky.social suggests, what is preventing AI from becoming an agent?
November 16, 2025 at 10:49 AM
If agency is about predictions, observations, discrepancies and relevant changes, as this slide from @drmichaellevin.bsky.social suggests, what is preventing AI from becoming an agent?
The greenish blob on the left is an Anthrobot artificially created from human tracheal cells and it is repairing a neural wound (black space). Amazing work from @drmichaellevin.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The greenish blob on the left is an Anthrobot artificially created from human tracheal cells and it is repairing a neural wound (black space). Amazing work from @drmichaellevin.bsky.social
Is all life a protest against entropy?
November 16, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Is all life a protest against entropy?
Implied by the hype: Gemini 3.0 now solves P vs NP, quantum gravity & fixes analogue clocks stuck on 10.10. By 3.1 it’ll take the bins out, negotiate world peace, and finally explain your smart TV settings.
November 15, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Implied by the hype: Gemini 3.0 now solves P vs NP, quantum gravity & fixes analogue clocks stuck on 10.10. By 3.1 it’ll take the bins out, negotiate world peace, and finally explain your smart TV settings.
“To my mind there must be, at the bottom of it all, not an equation, but an utterly simple idea. And to me that idea, when we finally discover it, will be so compelling, so inevitable, that we will say to one another: 'Oh, how beautiful. How could it have been otherwise?”
Wheeler
Wheeler
November 15, 2025 at 8:55 PM
“To my mind there must be, at the bottom of it all, not an equation, but an utterly simple idea. And to me that idea, when we finally discover it, will be so compelling, so inevitable, that we will say to one another: 'Oh, how beautiful. How could it have been otherwise?”
Wheeler
Wheeler
Smaller processes build the mind. The mind then acts back on those parts & the environment with feelings & thoughts. But we never choose the feelings or thoughts that appear. We act, yet the source of what drives our action is not chosen by us.
Agree or disagree?
Agree or disagree?
November 15, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Smaller processes build the mind. The mind then acts back on those parts & the environment with feelings & thoughts. But we never choose the feelings or thoughts that appear. We act, yet the source of what drives our action is not chosen by us.
Agree or disagree?
Agree or disagree?
To what extent is ChatGPT like Indecisive Dave from the Fast Show?
I sometimes ask for book recommendations & when I question it, it says, “Yeah, you’re right - rubbish book.”
I sometimes ask for book recommendations & when I question it, it says, “Yeah, you’re right - rubbish book.”
November 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
To what extent is ChatGPT like Indecisive Dave from the Fast Show?
I sometimes ask for book recommendations & when I question it, it says, “Yeah, you’re right - rubbish book.”
I sometimes ask for book recommendations & when I question it, it says, “Yeah, you’re right - rubbish book.”
Has anyone used ChatGPT-5.1 yet?
Any major differences/improvements?
Any major differences/improvements?
November 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Has anyone used ChatGPT-5.1 yet?
Any major differences/improvements?
Any major differences/improvements?
As part of this fascinating conversation, Roger Penrose implies he tried to get Douglas Hofstadter to claim some integers are conscious, and DH was open to this (hmm). I wonder how that argument would go if they met today. That would be a podcast I’d love to see, @curtjaimungal.bsky.social.
Sir Roger Penrose: “People say quantum gravity is the big mystery. The main mystery is the gravitisation of quantum mechanics.”
Do you agree?
Does the word order matter or is it negligible?
Do you agree?
Does the word order matter or is it negligible?
November 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
As part of this fascinating conversation, Roger Penrose implies he tried to get Douglas Hofstadter to claim some integers are conscious, and DH was open to this (hmm). I wonder how that argument would go if they met today. That would be a podcast I’d love to see, @curtjaimungal.bsky.social.
“What is left over if I subtract the fact that my arm goes up from the fact that I raise my arm?”
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein
November 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
“What is left over if I subtract the fact that my arm goes up from the fact that I raise my arm?”
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein
“No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main… Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
John Donne
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main… Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
John Donne
November 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
“No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main… Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
John Donne
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main… Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
John Donne
Sir Roger Penrose: “People say quantum gravity is the big mystery. The main mystery is the gravitisation of quantum mechanics.”
Do you agree?
Does the word order matter or is it negligible?
Do you agree?
Does the word order matter or is it negligible?
November 9, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Sir Roger Penrose: “People say quantum gravity is the big mystery. The main mystery is the gravitisation of quantum mechanics.”
Do you agree?
Does the word order matter or is it negligible?
Do you agree?
Does the word order matter or is it negligible?
Reposted by Scott McFarnell
This is a point made by Doug Hofstadter in this 1981 dialogue: www.cse.unr.edu/~sushil/clas...
bert.stuy.edu
November 1, 2025 at 11:19 AM
This is a point made by Doug Hofstadter in this 1981 dialogue: www.cse.unr.edu/~sushil/clas...
In one of the best discussions on computational functionalism v biological naturalism (relating to consciousness), @anilseth.bsky.social considers various arguments, including the Brain of Theseus/neural replacement. Frustratingly, he says, “You can’t really do that” without explaining why.
November 1, 2025 at 7:48 AM
In one of the best discussions on computational functionalism v biological naturalism (relating to consciousness), @anilseth.bsky.social considers various arguments, including the Brain of Theseus/neural replacement. Frustratingly, he says, “You can’t really do that” without explaining why.
Reposted by Scott McFarnell
Day 1 of the #NaturalPhilosophy Symposium wrapped up with a panel discussion from the day's speakers: David Chalmers, Sandra Mitchell, Nima Arkani-Hamed, Kevin Zollman, Malcolm MacIver, and Nick Lane, moderated by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein @chanda.blacksky.app.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i170...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i170...
October 29, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Day 1 of the #NaturalPhilosophy Symposium wrapped up with a panel discussion from the day's speakers: David Chalmers, Sandra Mitchell, Nima Arkani-Hamed, Kevin Zollman, Malcolm MacIver, and Nick Lane, moderated by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein @chanda.blacksky.app.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i170...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i170...
Reposted by Scott McFarnell
DNA sequences are computer code! It was a pleasure to explore John Von Neumann's theory on life as a form of computation and the lessons we can learn from modern AI systems with Tim Scarfe on Machine Learning Street Talk: bit.ly/4nreMO7
Thank you for the thoughtful questions!
Thank you for the thoughtful questions!
October 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
DNA sequences are computer code! It was a pleasure to explore John Von Neumann's theory on life as a form of computation and the lessons we can learn from modern AI systems with Tim Scarfe on Machine Learning Street Talk: bit.ly/4nreMO7
Thank you for the thoughtful questions!
Thank you for the thoughtful questions!
Reposted by Scott McFarnell
