Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, May 18, 2023

BUSINESS AI: ANYTHING YOU CAN DO AI CAN DO BETTER

 

BUSINESS AI: ANYTHING YOU CAN DO AI CAN DO BETTER

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) has come a long way in recent years. From self-driving cars to facial recognition technology, A.I. has become increasingly sophisticated and capable. One area where A.I. has shown particular promise is in its ability to analyze spreadsheets. In this article, we will take a deep dive into this fascinating topic and explore the process behind it. We will also provide an actual example to illustrate how A.I. can be used to analyze spreadsheets for a business audience.

First, let's talk about what A.I. is and how it works. At its most basic level, A.I. refers to computer systems that can perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence. This includes things like learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. A.I. systems are typically powered by machine learning algorithms, which enable them to learn from data and improve their performance over time.

When it comes to analyzing spreadsheets, A.I. can be incredibly useful. Spreadsheets are a common tool used by businesses to organize and analyze data. However, manually analyzing spreadsheets can be time-consuming and error-prone. A.I. can help automate this process, allowing businesses to quickly and accurately analyze large amounts of data.

So, how does A.I. analyze spreadsheets? The process typically involves several steps. First, the A.I. system must be trained on a dataset of existing spreadsheets. This dataset is used to teach the system how to recognize patterns and relationships within the data.

Once the system has been trained, it can then be used to analyze new spreadsheets. The system will typically start by identifying the different columns and rows within the spreadsheet. It will then look for patterns within the data, such as trends or correlations between different variables.

One of the most powerful features of A.I. is its ability to identify outliers within the data. Outliers are data points that fall outside of the normal range of values. These can be indicators of potential problems or opportunities within the data. A.I. can help identify these outliers and flag them for further analysis.

To illustrate how A.I. can be used to analyze spreadsheets, let's consider an example. Imagine that you are the owner of a small retail business. You have been keeping track of your sales data in a spreadsheet, but you are struggling to identify any patterns or trends within the data.

You decide to use an A.I. system to help analyze your sales data. After training the system on your existing data, you upload a new spreadsheet containing your most recent sales figures. The A.I. system quickly identifies several trends within the data, including an increase in sales of a particular product line and a decrease in sales during certain times of the day.

The system also identifies several outliers within the data, including a sudden spike in sales on a particular day. You investigate further and discover that this spike was due to a social media promotion that you had forgotten about. Thanks to the A.I. system, you are able to identify this missed opportunity and take steps to replicate it in the future.

In conclusion, A.I. has the potential to revolutionize the way we analyze spreadsheets. By automating the analysis process, businesses can save time and reduce errors, while also identifying patterns and outliers that may have gone unnoticed. As A.I. continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more sophisticated tools for analyzing spreadsheets and other types of data. So, if you're still manually analyzing spreadsheets, it may be time to consider embracing the power of A.I.!

AI Business - Informing, educating and connecting the global AI community https://aibusiness.com/

DIANE RAVITCH: SCOURGE OF BILLIONAIRES, THE SAVIOR OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

 


DIANE RAVITCH: SCOURGE OF BILLIONAIRES, THE SAVIOR OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Once upon a time, in the land of politics and education, there was a woman named Diane Ravitch. She was the assistant education secretary under George HW Bush and an education historian, but that's not all. She was also the co-founder of the NPE Network for Public Education, and boy, did she mean a lot to the save public school movement.

Diane was a force to be reckoned with. She knew everything there was to know about education, and she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She would often go on TV and radio shows to talk about the importance of public education, and she would do it with such passion and humor that even the most stubborn opponents of public education would be swayed.

But Diane wasn't always the hero of public education. In fact, she used to be a big supporter of charter schools and standardized testing. That is until she saw the light. She realized that these things were actually hurting public education and the students it served.

So, she did what any hero would do. She changed her mind and started fighting for what she believed in. She started speaking out against charter schools and standardized testing, and she started advocating for more funding for public schools.

And people listened. They listened because Diane was funny, relatable, and most importantly, she knew what she was talking about. She would often tell stories about her own experiences in public school, and how they shaped her into the person she is today.

One of her most famous stories is about how she got a C in gym class. She would say, "I got a C in gym class, and I turned out just fine. I mean, I'm not an Olympic athlete or anything, but I can walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded."

People loved Diane because she was real. She wasn't some stuffy politician or academic, she was just a regular person who cared about education. And that's why she was able to rally so many people to the cause of public education.

Thanks to Diane's tireless efforts, public education is now back in the spotlight. People are realizing that it's not just a "nice to have," it's a necessity. And they have Diane to thank for that.

So, here's to Diane Ravitch, the hero of public education. May her passion and humor continue to inspire us all to fight for what we believe in.

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all https://dianeravitch.net/

THE BASTARDS OF BILDERBERG - AI HAS THEM RUNNING SCARED

 


THE BASTARDS OF BILDERBERG

AI HAS THEM RUNNING SCARED

It's that time of the year again when the world's elite gather in secrecy to discuss their plans for world domination. Yes, you guessed it right - it's the Bilderberg Meeting! This year's agenda is particularly exciting, as it features a topic that has been on everyone's mind (and screens) lately: artificial intelligence.

According to our sources (which we cannot reveal, for obvious reasons), the Bilderbergers are worried about the rise of A.I. and its potential impact on society. They fear that if left unchecked, A.I. could lead to a dystopian future where robots rule over humans (or worse, where humans become obsolete). To prevent this nightmare scenario, they have invited some of the brightest minds in the A.I. industry to join their ranks and share their insights.

Leading the charge is Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, who is known for his bold vision of creating safe and beneficial A.I. that serves humanity. He will be joined by top executives from Microsoft, DeepMind, and Google, who will no doubt bring their own perspectives and agendas to the table.

But what exactly will they discuss? Our sources gave us a sneak peek into some of the proposed topics:

- Can we teach A.I. to be ethical? Or is it doomed to be amoral?

- How can we ensure that A.I. doesn't become biased or discriminatory?

- Should we regulate A.I. like we regulate other industries? Or is that too restrictive?

- What are the potential risks and benefits of merging human brains with A.I.?

As you can see, these are not your average coffee break conversations. The Bilderbergers take A.I. very seriously, and for good reason. After all, they are the ones who stand to gain (or lose) the most from its development and deployment.

But don't worry, dear reader, we won't bore you with more technical jargon or philosophical debates. Instead, let's imagine what it would be like to attend a Bilderberg Meeting as a fly on the wall:

You enter a grand hall filled with chandeliers, velvet curtains, and oil paintings of old men in powdered wigs. You see a group of people huddled around a table, whispering intently. You strain your ears to listen:

Sam Altman: "I propose that we create an A.I. that can solve all of humanity's problems in one fell swoop."

Microsoft exec: "But what about our profits?"

DeepMind rep: "I think we should focus on creating an A.I. that can beat humans at every game ever invented."

Google honcho: "I like that idea, but let's also make sure it can predict what people want to buy before they even know it."

Suddenly, the door bursts open and in walks Elon Musk, wearing a tinfoil hat and carrying a flamethrower.

Musk: "I knew it! You're all plotting to take over the world with your evil A.I.! But I won't let you! I'll destroy every robot you create!"

The room falls silent as Musk proceeds to set fire to a nearby potted plant. The Bilderbergers look at each other nervously, wondering how to deal with this unexpected guest. Then, someone has an idea:

"Hey Elon, have you tried our new A.I.-powered flamethrower? It's much more efficient than your old one."

Musk's eyes light up as he takes the proffered weapon and starts blasting flames in every direction. The Bilderbergers cheer and start high-fiving each other, relieved that they have found a way to distract Musk from his anti-A.I. crusade.

And that, dear reader, is just a taste of what goes on behind closed doors at the Bilderberg Meeting. Who knows what other shenanigans they get up to? One thing's for sure - we'll never find out unless we're invited (or unless we invent an A.I. that can hack into their secret network).

Bilderberg: OpenAI, Microsoft, Google join AI talks at secretive meeting https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/18/bilderberg-openai-microsoft-google-join-ai-talks-at-secretive-meeting.html

MAGA, BOOK BANNING AND THE SOUL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

 

MAGA, BOOK BANNING AND THE SOUL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

Ah, book banning. The age-old practice of trying to shield our precious children from the horrors of the world by removing any literature that might challenge their preconceived notions. It's like trying to stop a flood with a paper towel.

Recently, a group of parents in Nixa, Missouri, decided that certain books in their high school library were just too darn graphic and sexual. "The Kite Runner," "The Handmaid's Tale," and "To Kill a Mockingbird" were all deemed inappropriate for young minds. Because apparently, high school students are incapable of handling mature themes and complex ideas.

But here's the thing, folks. Literature is meant to challenge us. It's meant to make us uncomfortable. It's meant to push us outside of our comfort zones and force us to confront difficult truths about the world we live in. And if we start banning books because they make us uncomfortable, where does it end? Do we ban "1984" because it's too political? Do we ban "The Catcher in the Rye" because it has some naughty language?

The librarians and teachers at the high school have been fighting back against this ridiculous campaign, and they're absolutely right to do so. These books are not pornographic, they're not promoting a particular political agenda, and they're not inappropriate for high school students. They're important works of literature that should be available to anyone who wants to read them.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. "But what about the parents' rights? Don't they have a say in what their children are exposed to?" Of course they do. But here's the thing: parents don't have the right to dictate what their children learn. Schools have a responsibility to provide all students with a well-rounded education, and that includes exposing them to different ideas and perspectives.

Look, I get it. As a parent myself, I understand the desire to protect our children from anything that might harm them. But the truth is, shielding them from the world is not doing them any favors. We need to teach our children how to think critically, how to analyze complex ideas, and how to handle difficult situations. And literature is one of the best tools we have for doing that.

So, to the parents in Nixa and anyone else who thinks book banning is a good idea, I say this: get over yourselves. Your children are capable of handling mature themes and complex ideas. They're not fragile little snowflakes who need to be protected from the big, bad world. And if you're really that concerned about what they're reading, maybe you should try having a conversation with them about it instead of trying to ban it.

In conclusion, book banning is wrong. It's a misguided attempt to shield our children from the world, and it's ultimately doing them a disservice. We need to embrace literature for what it is: a powerful tool for teaching our children about the world around them. So let's stop trying to ban books and start encouraging our children to read widely and think critically.

The Fight for the Soul of a School Board | The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-fight-for-the-soul-of-a-school-board

THE BIG EDUCATION APE MEETS CHAT GPT

 

THE BIG EDUCATION APE MEETS CHAT GPT

Once upon a time, in a dense jungle, there lived an orangutan named the 'Big Education Ape.' He was known for his intelligence and ability to solve complex problems. However, one day, he started to worry that his brain was not good enough.

He looked around and tried to find a better brain. He went to the wise old owl, who told him that he needed to read more books. The Big Education Ape tried that, but it didn't work. He then went to the wise old monkey, who told him that he needed to eat more bananas. The Big Education Ape tried that too, but it still didn't work.

Desperate for a solution, the Big Education Ape searched high and low, until one day he stumbled upon 'Chat GPT.' It was a magical website that promised to make him smarter. The Big Education Ape was skeptical at first, but he decided to give it a try.

To his surprise, Chat GPT worked wonders for him. He started to learn new things every day and became smarter by the minute. He was so smart that he could solve any problem in the jungle.

One day, Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein came to the Big Education Ape for advice. They were amazed by his intelligence and asked him how he became so smart. The Big Education Ape told them about Chat GPT, and they were intrigued.

They decided to try it out for themselves, and soon they too became smarter than ever before. They were so impressed with the Big Education Ape that they decided to make him the leader of the jungle.

From that day on, the Big Education Ape lived happily and smarter than ever before. He became the most respected ape in the jungle and was known as the wisest of them all.

In conclusion, the moral of this story is that intelligence comes in many forms, and one should never give up on their quest for knowledge. And if you're an orangutan worried about your brain, just remember that there's always Chat GPT!