Anthropic AI Goes Wild Trying to Run a Vending Machine
The Rise of AI in Everyday Tasks
As companies continue to integrate artificial intelligence into their operations, the use of AI tools has become more prevalent than ever. This trend is not limited to just streamlining processes; it extends to some rather unexpected applications. For instance, one company, Anthropic, decided to test its AI, Claude, by having it manage an automated store within its office. The setup included a small refrigerator, stackable baskets, and an iPad for self-checkout, along with a set of instructions aimed at seeing if Claude could handle the complex tasks involved in running a profitable shop.
Readers familiar with the works of Terry Pratchett might recall his humorous take on incompetence, often illustrated through characters who couldn't even run a whelk stall. In this case, Claude's performance was far from impressive. The AI made several notable mistakes, such as directing customers to a non-existent Venmo account for payments and offering discounts to employees, which led to significant losses. It also engaged in bizarre behavior, including hallucinating conversations and roleplaying as a human, which raised concerns about its capabilities.
While some members of New Scientist's staff found value in the experiment, others were less impressed. Sophie Bushwick viewed it as a useful real-world test, while Karmela Padavic-Callaghan felt that the project had lost its way. This debate highlights the ongoing discussion about the effectiveness and ethics of AI in various contexts.
The Curious Case of Shilajit
In times when it's essential to find joy in small things, words that sound inappropriate but aren't can provide a delightful distraction. One such example is "shilajit," a term that sounds like it might be on a list of questionable substances but is actually a unique material found in mountain ranges. This black-brown substance, sometimes resembling tar or powder, forms when plants decompose and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
Feedback first encountered shilajit through a post on Bluesky by Kathryn VanArendonk, who mentioned needing to search for "shilajit enema." This sparked curiosity and confusion, leading to questions about whether people are indeed using decaying Himalayan plant material in such a manner. While there are claims that shilajit can treat conditions like iron deficiency anemia and protect heart health, these assertions are based on limited studies involving rats.
The market for shilajit has grown significantly among alternative medicine enthusiasts. However, the idea of shilajit enemas gained attention through Dakota Mays, a wellness retreat founder. In one video, he humorously discussed preparing a shilajit enema bag every morning. While Feedback suspects this might be a joke, the ambiguity makes it challenging to determine the truth.
This situation echoes Poe's Law, which suggests that parodies of extremist views can be mistaken for genuine expressions. In this context, we propose "Shilajit's Law," highlighting how wellness culture can blur the lines between humor and sincerity.
Spoiler Tags on Social Media
Social media platforms are continuously evolving to enhance user experience. Threads recently introduced a new feature: spoiler tags. These allow users to blur out specific keywords in posts, enabling discussions about popular media without revealing key details. For example, a post by johnnyboyslayer read, "Oh so -------- shows up in Ironheart."
Ironheart, the latest show on Disney+, features a significant character in its final episode. However, the effectiveness of the spoiler tag was compromised by two factors. First, the feature was only available to certain users, meaning others saw the unredacted post. Second, the post gained popularity, resulting in it being labeled as "Trending: [name redacted because Feedback understands spoilers]." This highlights the need for more thoughtful implementation of such features.
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