Peter O'Kelly
@pbokelly.bsky.social
Hobbyist conceptual and logical data modeler
A timely and multifaceted reality check www.thewikipedian.net/p/grokipedia...
The World According to Grok
Is Grokipedia an existential threat, passing fad, or unexpected opportunity?
www.thewikipedian.net
December 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
A timely and multifaceted reality check www.thewikipedian.net/p/grokipedia...
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
If I were running in next year's midterms, I'd be saying: Aussies are getting free electricity, and we're getting huge price spikes.
Because they built solar, and Trump is blocking it.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
Because they built solar, and Trump is blocking it.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
Free Electricity. Like, at no cost. For everyone. Now.
Let's talk about affordability, abundance, and Australia--and why thanks to Trump we can't have nice things
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:10 PM
If I were running in next year's midterms, I'd be saying: Aussies are getting free electricity, and we're getting huge price spikes.
Because they built solar, and Trump is blocking it.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
Because they built solar, and Trump is blocking it.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
April 15, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
I would not have predicted that large universities would show more courage than either Big Law or corporate media. Good for them.
April 15, 2025 at 2:39 AM
I would not have predicted that large universities would show more courage than either Big Law or corporate media. Good for them.
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
At least the Romans waited to be sacked by the Visigoths. This is being done from inside the White House.
if I'm understanding correctly, there is an extremely small, but non-zero, chance the U.S. financial system collapses today
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
Treasury Rout Is Scariest Spectacle in Markets: Heard on the Street
The Treasury selloff that intensified late Tuesday and worsened overnight seems different. The spread between Treasury yields and rates on int
www.wsj.com
April 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
At least the Romans waited to be sacked by the Visigoths. This is being done from inside the White House.
Perhaps baby steps for ebooks + AI, but in the right direction:
"Amazon is introducing a new “Recaps” feature for Kindle users to help them recall plot points and character arcs before picking up the latest book in a series. [...] Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch that recaps are AI-generated."
"Amazon is introducing a new “Recaps” feature for Kindle users to help them recall plot points and character arcs before picking up the latest book in a series. [...] Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch that recaps are AI-generated."
Amazon Kindle's new feature uses AI to generate recaps for books in a series | TechCrunch
Amazon is introducing a new "Recaps" feature for Kindle users to help them recall plot points and character arcs before picking up the latest book in a
techcrunch.com
April 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Perhaps baby steps for ebooks + AI, but in the right direction:
"Amazon is introducing a new “Recaps” feature for Kindle users to help them recall plot points and character arcs before picking up the latest book in a series. [...] Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch that recaps are AI-generated."
"Amazon is introducing a new “Recaps” feature for Kindle users to help them recall plot points and character arcs before picking up the latest book in a series. [...] Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch that recaps are AI-generated."
"The approaching 250th anniversary of US independence has the opportunity to be a turning point—the first chapter in an American democratic renewal that shines a light of freedom into even the darkest corners of the planet. We need the clarity to see the path and the courage to lead the way."
Garry Kasparov: Why I’m Launching The Next Move
The enemies of freedom have a plan. It’s time we made one too.
thenextmove.substack.com
April 4, 2025 at 11:35 AM
"The approaching 250th anniversary of US independence has the opportunity to be a turning point—the first chapter in an American democratic renewal that shines a light of freedom into even the darkest corners of the planet. We need the clarity to see the path and the courage to lead the way."
Final paragraphs from a timely Elon Musk reality check by Jill Lepore -- gift source article link in reply
April 4, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Final paragraphs from a timely Elon Musk reality check by Jill Lepore -- gift source article link in reply
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
Google Gemini 2.5 is the first public AI model to definitively beat the performance of human PhDs with access to Google on hard multiple choice problems inside their field of expertise (around 81%).
All AI tests are flawed, but GPQA Diamond has been a pretty good one.
& conducted independently.
All AI tests are flawed, but GPQA Diamond has been a pretty good one.
& conducted independently.
April 3, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Google Gemini 2.5 is the first public AI model to definitively beat the performance of human PhDs with access to Google on hard multiple choice problems inside their field of expertise (around 81%).
All AI tests are flawed, but GPQA Diamond has been a pretty good one.
& conducted independently.
All AI tests are flawed, but GPQA Diamond has been a pretty good one.
& conducted independently.
"When you describe your topic, NotebookLM gathers hundreds of potential web sources in seconds. It analyzes them and picks the most relevant ones based on your defined topic. It presents up to 10 source recommendations, each with an annotated summary explaining its relevance to your topic."
New in NotebookLM: Discover sources from around the web
NotebookLM has launched Discover Sources, which lets you add sources from the web to your notebook.
blog.google
April 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
"When you describe your topic, NotebookLM gathers hundreds of potential web sources in seconds. It analyzes them and picks the most relevant ones based on your defined topic. It presents up to 10 source recommendations, each with an annotated summary explaining its relevance to your topic."
"You have to wonder whether Elon Musk’s Dunning-Kruger kids are now producing tariff numbers."
[...]
"If you had any hopes that Trump would step back from the brink, this announcement, between the very high tariff rates and the complete falsehoods about what other countries do, should kill them."
[...]
"If you had any hopes that Trump would step back from the brink, this announcement, between the very high tariff rates and the complete falsehoods about what other countries do, should kill them."
Trump Goes Crazy on Trade
“Liberation Day” is even worse than expected
paulkrugman.substack.com
April 2, 2025 at 9:45 PM
"You have to wonder whether Elon Musk’s Dunning-Kruger kids are now producing tariff numbers."
[...]
"If you had any hopes that Trump would step back from the brink, this announcement, between the very high tariff rates and the complete falsehoods about what other countries do, should kill them."
[...]
"If you had any hopes that Trump would step back from the brink, this announcement, between the very high tariff rates and the complete falsehoods about what other countries do, should kill them."
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
Consider the shameless greed of the tech billionaires and venture capitalists who are plundering #Wikipedia —nonprofit, crowd-sourced, and one of the wonders of the modern world—only to convert its highly reliable information into a far less reliable mash-up.
#AI
#AI
April 2, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Consider the shameless greed of the tech billionaires and venture capitalists who are plundering #Wikipedia —nonprofit, crowd-sourced, and one of the wonders of the modern world—only to convert its highly reliable information into a far less reliable mash-up.
#AI
#AI
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
This is, in large part, pandemic revenge.
As far as these oligarchs are concerned, all science does is tell them stuff they cannot do.
They can't keep spewing carbon.
They can't keep businesses open as usual when millions are dying.
They have concluded that research is the enemy of profit.
As far as these oligarchs are concerned, all science does is tell them stuff they cannot do.
They can't keep spewing carbon.
They can't keep businesses open as usual when millions are dying.
They have concluded that research is the enemy of profit.
Absolute BLOODBATH at HHS/NIH/CDC this morning. Generation of scientists, health care officials being wiped out
t.co/LeABrGqDei
t.co/LeABrGqDei
April 2, 2025 at 2:29 AM
This is, in large part, pandemic revenge.
As far as these oligarchs are concerned, all science does is tell them stuff they cannot do.
They can't keep spewing carbon.
They can't keep businesses open as usual when millions are dying.
They have concluded that research is the enemy of profit.
As far as these oligarchs are concerned, all science does is tell them stuff they cannot do.
They can't keep spewing carbon.
They can't keep businesses open as usual when millions are dying.
They have concluded that research is the enemy of profit.
Check the source for an 8-part podcast episode series on Elon Musk by Jill Lepore.
The Last Archive
The Last Archive is a show about how we know what we know and why it seems, lately, as if we don't know anything at all. Hosted by Jill Lepore.
www.thelastarchive.com
March 31, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Check the source for an 8-part podcast episode series on Elon Musk by Jill Lepore.
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
Here is my best guidance for action, rendered beautifully by the great John Lithgow. I first published these lessons more than eight years ago, in late 2016. They open the twenty chapters of "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century."
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
Twenty Lessons, read by John Lithgow
Key selections from On Tyranny, for viewing and sharing
snyder.substack.com
March 30, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Here is my best guidance for action, rendered beautifully by the great John Lithgow. I first published these lessons more than eight years ago, in late 2016. They open the twenty chapters of "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century."
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
Elon Musk has been a walking SEC violation for a decade and no one cared. The entire Trump era could have been avoided if the US took white collar crime anywhere near as seriously as it does low level drug crime.
On a 2023 earnings call, Elon Musk boasted that Tesla had bagged “over 1 million” Cybertruck reservations and that “demand is off the charts.”
So why has the company still sold less than 50,000 trucks since customer deliveries began 14 months ago?
So why has the company still sold less than 50,000 trucks since customer deliveries began 14 months ago?
‘Over 1 Million’ People Wanted a Cybertruck. Where Are They?
“Demand is off the charts!” Elon Musk crowed at the end of 2023, citing more than a million reservations for Tesla's polarizing polygonic pickup—so why has it still sold less than 50,000?
wrd.cm
March 29, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Elon Musk has been a walking SEC violation for a decade and no one cared. The entire Trump era could have been avoided if the US took white collar crime anywhere near as seriously as it does low level drug crime.
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
These guys inherited one of the most functional state apparatus in the history of the world and they are inhabiting it like a crack house.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans
U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.
www.theatlantic.com
March 24, 2025 at 7:10 PM
These guys inherited one of the most functional state apparatus in the history of the world and they are inhabiting it like a crack house.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Final paragraph from a stark Elon Musk business empire reality check:
March 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Final paragraph from a stark Elon Musk business empire reality check:
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
World’s worst parent and it’s a high bar.
March 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
World’s worst parent and it’s a high bar.
A timely NotebookLM update/overview
NotebookLM Just Got HUGE! 5 Game-Changing Features
YouTube video by Tiago Forte
www.youtube.com
March 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A timely NotebookLM update/overview
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
It turns out rule of law was on the ballot.
I am tracking 3 separate cases where the government is violating court orders. The question now is whether judges find willfulness and hold officials in contempt.
Democracy Docket members will receive my latest on this and more in their inboxes tomorrow. Join now. www.democracydocket.com/member-me/
Democracy Docket members will receive my latest on this and more in their inboxes tomorrow. Join now. www.democracydocket.com/member-me/
March 17, 2025 at 12:57 AM
It turns out rule of law was on the ballot.
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
My generous estimates, based on where SpaceX is with Starship & Tesla with Optimus. Mission launches 2026:40%, gets on trajectory to Mars:20%, Optimus demos in flight:5%, Starship soft lands:0.2%, Optimus walks on surface:0%. www.foxnews.com/tech/spacex-...
SpaceX to send Starship to Mars next year, Elon Musk confirms
Elon Musk says SpaceX will go to Mars at the end of 2026 with Tesla's Optimus, a humanoid robot. If all goes well, humans could be headed to the red planet in 2029, Musk says.
www.foxnews.com
March 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
My generous estimates, based on where SpaceX is with Starship & Tesla with Optimus. Mission launches 2026:40%, gets on trajectory to Mars:20%, Optimus demos in flight:5%, Starship soft lands:0.2%, Optimus walks on surface:0%. www.foxnews.com/tech/spacex-...
Reposted by Peter O'Kelly
Short thread by @samuelwa.de worth reading:
Demolition of Radio Free Asia / VOA / etc is more self-lobotomization by US.
(Not saying Trump/Doge are paid agents of Xi and Putin. But if CN and RU could buy control of US govt, this is their dream version of what their minions might do.)
Demolition of Radio Free Asia / VOA / etc is more self-lobotomization by US.
(Not saying Trump/Doge are paid agents of Xi and Putin. But if CN and RU could buy control of US govt, this is their dream version of what their minions might do.)
March 17, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Short thread by @samuelwa.de worth reading:
Demolition of Radio Free Asia / VOA / etc is more self-lobotomization by US.
(Not saying Trump/Doge are paid agents of Xi and Putin. But if CN and RU could buy control of US govt, this is their dream version of what their minions might do.)
Demolition of Radio Free Asia / VOA / etc is more self-lobotomization by US.
(Not saying Trump/Doge are paid agents of Xi and Putin. But if CN and RU could buy control of US govt, this is their dream version of what their minions might do.)