Ben Schmidt
@freeptop.bsky.social
I tell robots how to do their jobs. Pragmatic Progressive. SFF fan. Pittsburgh Penguins fan. Former Industrial DJ. Painter of tiny starships and mechs. Huge nerd (which should have been obvious from the rest of the profile). He/him.
Pinned
Ben Schmidt
@freeptop.bsky.social
· Apr 7
I see I've somehow hit 70 followers on here, which is tiny, but still I wonder: "why?"
I mean, the people who actually know me, I understand, but the rest of you? I'm really not that interesting.
(As a side note - I don't follow back, so, if that's your aim, sorry?)
I mean, the people who actually know me, I understand, but the rest of you? I'm really not that interesting.
(As a side note - I don't follow back, so, if that's your aim, sorry?)
My wife and I watched this last night, and it was utterly hilarious. If you've ever wanted to watch a movie where the main antagonists are a criminal group that is also a book club, then this will be right up your alley.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcsI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcsI...
First Date - Official Trailer
YouTube video by Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing
www.youtube.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
My wife and I watched this last night, and it was utterly hilarious. If you've ever wanted to watch a movie where the main antagonists are a criminal group that is also a book club, then this will be right up your alley.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcsI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcsI...
For this fine Christmas Eve day, instead of a Feast of Seven Fishes, I present to you, my “Fleet of Eleven Fish Ships”.
Also known as my collection of Mon Calamari ships 🤣
Also known as my collection of Mon Calamari ships 🤣
December 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
For this fine Christmas Eve day, instead of a Feast of Seven Fishes, I present to you, my “Fleet of Eleven Fish Ships”.
Also known as my collection of Mon Calamari ships 🤣
Also known as my collection of Mon Calamari ships 🤣
If humans were running out of ideas, it wouldn't take the US Patent Office more than five years to approve a patent.
This column on Vox is the biggest pile of steaming AI crap I've seen this year. Human's aren't running out of ideas. Instead, those with power and money don't want to listen to ideas that threaten their power and money.
Ideas are plentiful. Putting those ideas into action is the hard part.
Ideas are plentiful. Putting those ideas into action is the hard part.
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
www.vox.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:21 PM
If humans were running out of ideas, it wouldn't take the US Patent Office more than five years to approve a patent.
When I first saw this, my brain decided the image was something else, so now I have to participate to add what I thought I saw…
You will be visited by 3 spirits
You will be visited by 3 spirits
December 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
When I first saw this, my brain decided the image was something else, so now I have to participate to add what I thought I saw…
You will be visited by 3 spirits
You will be visited by 3 spirits
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 8, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
The more I look at this diagram, the funnier it gets.
I think my favorite may well be the "guest suite" that's just a sink in the corner of the family room, though the "gourmet kitchen" with no kitchen appliances or even counters is up there as well.
I think my favorite may well be the "guest suite" that's just a sink in the corner of the family room, though the "gourmet kitchen" with no kitchen appliances or even counters is up there as well.
December 1, 2025 at 11:51 PM
The more I look at this diagram, the funnier it gets.
I think my favorite may well be the "guest suite" that's just a sink in the corner of the family room, though the "gourmet kitchen" with no kitchen appliances or even counters is up there as well.
I think my favorite may well be the "guest suite" that's just a sink in the corner of the family room, though the "gourmet kitchen" with no kitchen appliances or even counters is up there as well.
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
- Bald Eagle
- Grizzly Bear
- Golden Eagle
- Humpback Whale
- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
All of these were within less than 20'.
It is a bit of a misleading list, since most of them were from vacations, or before I moved back East.
- Bald Eagle
- Grizzly Bear
- Golden Eagle
- Humpback Whale
- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
All of these were within less than 20'.
It is a bit of a misleading list, since most of them were from vacations, or before I moved back East.
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
- Elephant
- Moose
- Alligator
- Brown Bear
- Mountain Goat
Listed in decreasing order of proximity. The elephant was a quarter mile away. Moose, about the same. Alligator? 15 feet. Bear? 10 feet (through a window). Goat? TOO DAMN CLOSE.
- Elephant
- Moose
- Alligator
- Brown Bear
- Mountain Goat
Listed in decreasing order of proximity. The elephant was a quarter mile away. Moose, about the same. Alligator? 15 feet. Bear? 10 feet (through a window). Goat? TOO DAMN CLOSE.
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
- Alligator
- Bald eagle
- Horned toad (many years ago- haven't seen one around here in thirty years, sadly)
- Feral hog
- Monk parakeet (they run wild in Houston)
- Alligator
- Bald eagle
- Horned toad (many years ago- haven't seen one around here in thirty years, sadly)
- Feral hog
- Monk parakeet (they run wild in Houston)
November 29, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
- Bald Eagle
- Grizzly Bear
- Golden Eagle
- Humpback Whale
- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
All of these were within less than 20'.
It is a bit of a misleading list, since most of them were from vacations, or before I moved back East.
- Bald Eagle
- Grizzly Bear
- Golden Eagle
- Humpback Whale
- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
All of these were within less than 20'.
It is a bit of a misleading list, since most of them were from vacations, or before I moved back East.
Reposted by Ben Schmidt
Lumping them together as “AI” gives readers the impression that a single class of tool is discerning novel protein structures, teasing subtle patterns out of mountains of LHC data, writing a student’s History 101 paper, and arguing a ketamine-addled billionaire could post up Shaq in his prime. No.
November 22, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Lumping them together as “AI” gives readers the impression that a single class of tool is discerning novel protein structures, teasing subtle patterns out of mountains of LHC data, writing a student’s History 101 paper, and arguing a ketamine-addled billionaire could post up Shaq in his prime. No.
Reposted by Ben Schmidt
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
This is one of the reasons it horrifies me when people talk about using LLMs to help them code. If you’re not the one writing it, then you don’t understand how it works. Which means you can’t debug it when something inevitably goes wrong.
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
This is one of the reasons it horrifies me when people talk about using LLMs to help them code. If you’re not the one writing it, then you don’t understand how it works. Which means you can’t debug it when something inevitably goes wrong.
Reposted by Ben Schmidt
No Starbucks 'til workers get more bucks
(and whatever else it is they are striking for)
(and whatever else it is they are striking for)
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
No Starbucks 'til workers get more bucks
(and whatever else it is they are striking for)
(and whatever else it is they are striking for)
As a break from doomscrolling, my I offer a set of painted starships?
First up, a Victory-class Star Destroyer in Republic colors
First up, a Victory-class Star Destroyer in Republic colors
November 11, 2025 at 12:03 AM
As a break from doomscrolling, my I offer a set of painted starships?
First up, a Victory-class Star Destroyer in Republic colors
First up, a Victory-class Star Destroyer in Republic colors
Reposted by Ben Schmidt
Another one for the "No Shit" pile (but it's nice to have the data) -- Companies have found employees can be just as productive when working remotely. And they're happier too. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/07/t...
Companies have found employees can be just as productive when working remotely. And they’re happier too.
Employers are perfecting their flexible work arrangements. They’re making in-person time strategic and ensuring new employees don’t feel isolated.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Another one for the "No Shit" pile (but it's nice to have the data) -- Companies have found employees can be just as productive when working remotely. And they're happier too. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/07/t...
Reposted by Ben Schmidt
A fine example of "AI doesn't know anything, it just picks a statistically good fit for the next word/sentence, with no memory of the previous one." So this one forgets it's supposed to be shilling for pay-us-for-reviews and pivots HARD in another direction.
November 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A fine example of "AI doesn't know anything, it just picks a statistically good fit for the next word/sentence, with no memory of the previous one." So this one forgets it's supposed to be shilling for pay-us-for-reviews and pivots HARD in another direction.
Reposted by Ben Schmidt
if you don't show up to vote, it doesn't matter how many protests you arrange or attend, how loud you yell for a general strike, or anything else you've been doing for the last 10 months.
one vote means more than all of that put together. use your power.
one vote means more than all of that put together. use your power.
November 3, 2025 at 3:09 PM
if you don't show up to vote, it doesn't matter how many protests you arrange or attend, how loud you yell for a general strike, or anything else you've been doing for the last 10 months.
one vote means more than all of that put together. use your power.
one vote means more than all of that put together. use your power.
I have to admit to being amused that YouTube has started giving me Spanish language ads on the Hocico songs I’ve been listening to.
I kind of wish it would start giving me German language ads based on other songs in my “mix” feed…
I kind of wish it would start giving me German language ads based on other songs in my “mix” feed…
October 30, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I have to admit to being amused that YouTube has started giving me Spanish language ads on the Hocico songs I’ve been listening to.
I kind of wish it would start giving me German language ads based on other songs in my “mix” feed…
I kind of wish it would start giving me German language ads based on other songs in my “mix” feed…
Reposted by Ben Schmidt
A lot of folks may think that just yelling at ICE agents is ineffective, but consider the cumulative psychological toll of being yelled at EVERY DAY when trying to do shit. Even the biggest asshole in the world who doesn't give a shit about other people will feel the pressure.
October 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
A lot of folks may think that just yelling at ICE agents is ineffective, but consider the cumulative psychological toll of being yelled at EVERY DAY when trying to do shit. Even the biggest asshole in the world who doesn't give a shit about other people will feel the pressure.
Off by one error
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
October 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Off by one error
I wish I could say I was surprised, but really I'm not. The overwork culture of Silicon Valley had already become a twisted status symbol when I was there, so I'm not surprised that "meal replacements" have become a big thing there since I left.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Tech Bros Have Been Accidentally Poisoning Themselves With Severe Brain Toxins for Years
Among the worst offenders was meal-replacement company Huel, a long-time favorite among Bay Area builders.
futurism.com
October 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I wish I could say I was surprised, but really I'm not. The overwork culture of Silicon Valley had already become a twisted status symbol when I was there, so I'm not surprised that "meal replacements" have become a big thing there since I left.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
More ships painted means more posts here.
First up, another old-school WEG ship: the Ton-Falk Escort Carrier. This ship is basically a tin can full of TIE Fighters.
Ship was modeled by Ravensfell, and printed by Pulsefired Gaming.
First up, another old-school WEG ship: the Ton-Falk Escort Carrier. This ship is basically a tin can full of TIE Fighters.
Ship was modeled by Ravensfell, and printed by Pulsefired Gaming.
October 12, 2025 at 2:32 AM
More ships painted means more posts here.
First up, another old-school WEG ship: the Ton-Falk Escort Carrier. This ship is basically a tin can full of TIE Fighters.
Ship was modeled by Ravensfell, and printed by Pulsefired Gaming.
First up, another old-school WEG ship: the Ton-Falk Escort Carrier. This ship is basically a tin can full of TIE Fighters.
Ship was modeled by Ravensfell, and printed by Pulsefired Gaming.
Reposted by Ben Schmidt
I feel like Smaug and this post is the black arrow.
My personal timeline is full of autistic people trying to explain that there isn't more autism than before, it's just that we're better at detecting it, and there's nothing more autistic than hoping explaining something at length will help matters when nobody is really listening.
October 2, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I feel like Smaug and this post is the black arrow.
It's kind of fascinating to read this article and discover it doesn't once mention that Rodney Brooks founded a humanoid robot startup company, Rethink Robotics.
That said, I think he's right. Which isn't surprising, because Brooks is (rightfully) highly respected in the robotics world.
That said, I think he's right. Which isn't surprising, because Brooks is (rightfully) highly respected in the robotics world.
‘Renowned roboticist Rodney Brooks has a wake-up call for investors funneling billions into humanoid robot startups: you’re wasting your money.’
techcrunch.com/2025/09/26/f...
techcrunch.com/2025/09/26/f...
Famed roboticist says humanoid robot bubble is doomed to burst | TechCrunch
Brooks, who co-founded iRobot and spent decades at MIT, is particularly skeptical of companies like Tesla and Figure trying to teach robots dexterity by showing them videos of humans doing tasks. In a...
techcrunch.com
September 28, 2025 at 3:13 PM
It's kind of fascinating to read this article and discover it doesn't once mention that Rodney Brooks founded a humanoid robot startup company, Rethink Robotics.
That said, I think he's right. Which isn't surprising, because Brooks is (rightfully) highly respected in the robotics world.
That said, I think he's right. Which isn't surprising, because Brooks is (rightfully) highly respected in the robotics world.
I saw a reference to a "name one band you've seen for each letter of the alphabet" meme, and decided to see just how many letters I could pull off. Turns out, I'm only missing two. Granted, some of these are rather obscure.
September 27, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I saw a reference to a "name one band you've seen for each letter of the alphabet" meme, and decided to see just how many letters I could pull off. Turns out, I'm only missing two. Granted, some of these are rather obscure.
Reposted by Ben Schmidt
Happy Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov Saves the World Day, everybody.
42 years ago today, Lt. Col. Petrov prevented an accidental nuclear war.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanisl...
42 years ago today, Lt. Col. Petrov prevented an accidental nuclear war.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanisl...
Stanislav Petrov - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
September 26, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Happy Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov Saves the World Day, everybody.
42 years ago today, Lt. Col. Petrov prevented an accidental nuclear war.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanisl...
42 years ago today, Lt. Col. Petrov prevented an accidental nuclear war.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanisl...
It would be hilarious if this ended up getting trained on the old X-Play "Stan Lee Experience" skits.
I figure it would take at most five people talking to it before they shut it down.
I figure it would take at most five people talking to it before they shut it down.
For decades, Stan Lee was the king of comic conventions. Now, nearly seven years after his death at the age of 95, he will once again be a presence at L.A. Comic Con, this time as a hologram that will use AI to have conversations with fans.
An AI Stan Lee Hologram Will Speak With Fans at L.A. Comic Con
For decades, Stan Lee was the king of comic conventions. Now, nearly seven years after his death at the age of 95, he will once again be a presence at L.A. Comic Con, this time as a hologram that will use AI to have conversations with fans.
bit.ly
September 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
It would be hilarious if this ended up getting trained on the old X-Play "Stan Lee Experience" skits.
I figure it would take at most five people talking to it before they shut it down.
I figure it would take at most five people talking to it before they shut it down.