Plants with more flexible and responsive genetic systems were better able to adapt to changing environments and thus more likely to survive and reproduce, so yeah. However, the basic building blocks of these systems - DNA replication, gene expression, and the fundamental biological processes arose from simpler chemical and physical interactions that were likely governed by principles of self-assembly and thermodynamics. The primary drivers are different at different levels of abstraction and complexity, and there’s dynamic interaction across levels.

Thermodynamics -> Natural Selection -> Responsive (Epi)Genetics -> Memetics -> Metamemetics (probably?)

We “boil things down” to Natural Selection or Thermodynamics as is convenient for communication, but the higher levels affect the lower as well. So we can’t really reduce them like that without losing important information.

In our effort to disillusion people of the idea that evolution has a purpose or conscious hand, we over-simplify things, though. Plants actively (but not consciously) shape their own evolution through complex molecular and genetic mechanisms. They can respond to environmental stresses by altering their DNA methylation patterns, potentially priming future generations for similar conditions. Plants also engage in niche construction, modifying their surroundings in ways that influence their evolutionary trajectory. For instance, they can change soil chemistry through root exudates, creating new selective pressures for themselves and their offspring. Plants participate in intricate co-evolutionary relationships with pollinators, herbivores, and other organisms. These interactions create dynamic fitness landscapes that drive reciprocal evolutionary changes. While not “inventing” traits in a deliberate sense, plants possess sophisticated genetic tools - such as whole genome duplications, transposable elements, and adaptable gene networks - that allow for rapid evolutionary innovations. These mechanisms enable plants to continually adapt and evolve, even without conscious intent or direct feedback.

deleted by creator

Not to be a dick, but just because you don’t understand it doesn’t make it nonsense. I was well into semiotics before “tech bro” was a thing people say. Did you have a question?

Semiotics is such a fascinating study. The true power of language is astonishing, and I don’t mean marketing. We live our lives in language. LLM’s are going to change the relationship between the planes of content and expression so much that we’re forced back to first principles. It’s a bit surreal understanding this, and watching everyone argue over jobs and copyright.

An armageddon half full kinda guy, I see. I like that.

I am legion.

At this point, you’re a towel.

FetLife is a relatively respected kink social media platform. It’s not about hooking up (though that certainly happens, just like on any online platform - hell, I knew people that later married that met in EQ). From my limited experience there, it’s mostly about making everyone feel less ostracized. Of course, they have to have very explicit rules about consent, or that turns into a predator’s playground - but again, that’s true of any social media platform.

Oh, I think Art and Commerce should remain friends. And they’ll probably hook up every now and then, when Art has too much to drink. But they’ve been way too cozy lately.

A.I. will destroy copyright completely, and I’m here for it. Art and commerce have no business being bedfellows.

Did you watch Breaking Bad?

I understand this perspective, because the text, image, audio, and video generators all default to the most generic solution. I challenge you to explore past the surface with the simple goal of examining something you enjoy from new angles. All of the interesting work in generative AI is being done at the edges of the models’ semantic spaces. Avoid getting stuck in workflows. Try new ones regularly and compare their efficacies. I’m constantly finding use cases that I end up putting to practical use - sometimes immediately, sometimes six months later when the need arises.

I just meant I work for a corporation. I produce videos for marketing, been doing it for 25 years.

What tasks are you thinking about?

It saves me 10-20 hours of work every week as a corpo video producer, and I use that time to experiment with AI - which has allowed our small team to produce work that would be completely outside our resources otherwise. Without a single additional breakthrough, we’d be finding novel ways to be productive with the current form of generative AI for decades. I understand the desire to temper expectations, and I agree that companies and providers are not handling this well at all. But the tech is already solid. It’s just being misused more often than it’s being wielded well.

Don’t blame CEO tomfoolery on generative AI. Generative AI is amazing.

I literally read it to mean they’re starting to run out of women and children to kill.

Y’all run out of Confederate flags AND No Step on Snek flags?

IP isn’t going to withstand generative AI, at least not in a recognizable form. I don’t know what that means for the market.