UK News and Discussions

[Vakanai]

I said we can't have a benevolent AI overlord. Because the authoritarians both in charge and trying to get in charge want to be the ones "in charge" - and they're not going to allow themselves to be replaced by an AI. Not peacefully, and they're the ones with the militaries, and the supercomputers and the AIs...

Would unironically settle for a powerful A.I. controlling said despot behind the scenes, as that outcome is at least better than the poor pathetic excuse of so called "opposition parties." Also, the thought of losing Democracy "forever" is a bit hyperbolic, no? Especially when Germany, Spain, etc... exists?

I don't see how a despot empowered by AI is somehow "better" - and again, the AI won't be controlling the despot, it will just help him impose his will.

And the difference between Germany, Spain, and so forth is none of those examples take into consideration how very drastically different our modern situation really is. Back then it was just one country's leader, GDP, old school propaganda, and very human military at play. Now we have multiple oligarchs who's income exceeds the GDP of any one nation, propaganda and misinformation empowered by the internet and social media, and an increasingly inhuman military power of AI and drones. We can't use the past examples as a 1:1 situation anymore, things have shifted.

[firestar464]

I wouldn't say with certainty that an AGI/ASI couldn't control someone behind the scenes. The sheer intelligence of the machine may make any attempt at manipulating people so easy.

[Vakanai]

I wouldn't say with certainty that an AGI/ASI couldn't control someone behind the scenes. The sheer intelligence of the machine may make any attempt at manipulating people so easy.

The problem as I've always seen it is that of will. We've no indication that intelligence in and of itself means an inherent will to do things, manipulate people for some secret plan, or anything of the like. Why should we believe that an AGI/ASI would seek to manipulate anyone in charge? Why do we assume it would have the desire to do so?

And that's ignoring that no matter how intelligent the manipulator, there's always people who resist manipulation. It's all psychology, and the understanding of such. Perfect mind control does not exist. While intelligence can not be underestimated, even a god-like intelligence can not simply will people to act a certain way - especially if those people are aware of the means of manipulation.

[firestar464]

I assumed that because assume the AGI has a goal. Now to fulfill that goal, it must convince one person to do things. Hence will.

You're right that it could simply be shaped by its early interactions and thus remain completely tame though. Maybe I should've considered that

On the bright side, that could mean alignment is easier than thought

[Vakanai]

I assumed that because assume the AGI has a goal. Now to fulfill that goal, it must convince one person to do things. Hence will.

You're right that it could simply be shaped by its early interactions and thus remain completely tame though. Maybe I should've considered that

On the bright side, that could mean alignment is easier than thought

Even if it did have a goal of its own, I think you're underestimating how difficult it can be to convince someone to act or do what you want them to. Some things are just not a matter of applying greater intelligence to it - people often fall into this category. As they say for instance, you can't reason someone out of a opinion they didn't reason themselves into. Especially for certain kinds of narcissistic leaders, if there's no gain for them, or worse, something that weakens them or inconvenience them for the benefit of the people, there may be no argument no matter how intelligently articulated that could convince them to act on it.

But that's still a big if on it even having goals outside of what is asked of it.

[firestar464]

One way it could develop semi-independent goals is when it is tasked with something broad (eg. "figure out ways to weaken Neigboristan"). The result is that while it is largely obedient when it comes to following the main goal, it may develop independent methods and strategy in regards to that goal.

Also worth noting there are still ways to trick people into believing that something is beneficial for them when it's not. That's how scams work

[wjfox]

Please stay on topic.

[firestar464]

[wjfox]

All UK families ‘to be worse off by 2030’ as poor bear the brunt, new data warns

Sat 22 Mar 2025 19.48 GMT

Living standards for all UK families are set to fall by 2030, with those on the lowest incomes declining twice as fast as middle and high earners, according to data that raises serious questions about Keir Starmer’s pledge to make working people better off.

The grim economic analysis, produced by the respected Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), comes before the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, makes her spring statement on Wednesday in which she will announce new cuts to public spending rather than increase borrowing or raise taxes, so as to keep within the government’s “iron clad” fiscal rules.

In December, the prime minister announced a series of ­“milestones” that he said would be passed before the next general ­election, which is likely to be held in 2029. The first of these was “putting more money in the pockets of ­working people”.

But with many Labour MPs already deeply concerned about Reeves’s plan to raise about £5bn by cutting ­benefits, including for disabled ­people, evidence that living standards are on course to fall markedly under a Labour government – and to decline most for the least well off – will add to the mood of growing disquiet in party’s ranks.

[...]

In what it describes as a “dismal reality”, the JRF said its detailed analysis shows that the past year could mark a high point for living standards in this parliament. It concludes that the average family will be £1,400 worse off by 2030, representing a 3% fall in their disposable incomes. The lowest income families will be £900 a year worse off, amounting to a 6% fall in the amount they have to spend.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... data-warns

[firestar464]

ugh the yap

https://news.sky.com/story/average-fami ... s-13334161

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

Royal Mail trials postbox with parcel hatch, solar panels and barcode scanner

Thu 10 Apr 2025 00.01 BST

Royal Mail has unveiled a solar-powered “postbox of the future” with a built-in barcode reader and a hatch to accept parcels larger than letterbox size.

In the “biggest change to postbox design since their introduction more than 175 years ago”, the hi-tech pillar box looks as if it is wearing a jaunty beret. The black, chequered lid is in fact solar panels that power the scanner.

The postbox’s extra-large opening hatch offers a new way for the postal service to cash in on a roaring parcel trade. While letter volumes are in steep decline, Britain is in the grip of a secondhand selling boom as consumers use sites such as Vinted to make extra cash.

In a process that will be familiar to those with side hustles, the postboxes can be used to drop off packages that have barcoded postage. Once customers have scanned their code – the postbox’s batteries store energy to power its scanner when there is no sun – the drawer on the front opens. They can then use the Royal Mail app to request “proof of posting”.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... de-scanner



Credit: Royal Mail

[firestar464]

UK: Ministry of Justice secretly developing ‘murder prediction’ system

https://www.statewatch.org/news/2025/ap ... on-system/

wtf

[Vakanai]

UK: Ministry of Justice secretly developing ‘murder prediction’ system

https://www.statewatch.org/news/2025/ap ... on-system/

wtf

This is such a dumb and dangerous idea. Minority Report was a dystopian movie, not a how-to.

[BasilBerylium]

[weatheriscool]

Starmer told UK must repeal hate speech laws to protect LGBT+ people or lose Trump trade deal

Source: Independent

Sir Keir Starmer must embrace Donald Trump’s agenda by repealing hate speech laws in order to get a trade deal over the line, sources close to JD Vance have told The Independent.

The warning came after the US vice-president suggested a UK-US agreement may be close, with the White House “working very hard” on it.

He told UnHerd: “I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.”

But allies of Mr Vance say he is “obsessed by the fall of Western civilisation” – including his view that free speech is being eroded in Britain – and that he will demand the Labour government rolls back laws against hateful comments, including abuse targeting LGBT+ groups or other minorities, as a condition of any deal.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 33806.html

[wjfox]

Universal hints at century-long plans for UK park

7 hours ago

A new theme park is "just the start" of Universal's century-long plans for its UK site, the company's president has said.

The US firm bought a former brickworks near Bedford which it plans to transform into a 476-acre attraction that will draw in 8.5 million annual visitors by 2031.

"We look at these projects as really long-term projects," said Page Thompson, president of new ventures at Universal Destinations & Experiences, speaking for the first time since the announcement.

"We try to think about the next 100 years."

He added: "We have a lot more land that we intend to develop... in ways that bring more people to the area and hopefully is beneficial for everybody."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yrg95rp5wo

[firestar464]

[firestar464]

Kneecap 'kill MP' footage being assessed by police

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8kpljj26go

[wjfox]

Downing Street forces Tony Blair to row back from net zero strategy criticism

Labour politicians warn former PM had boosted Tory and Reform climate sceptics on the eve of local elections

Wed 30 Apr 2025 18.58 BST

Tony Blair has been forced by Downing Street to row back from his criticism of the government’s net zero strategy after furious Labour politicians warned he had given a boost to Tory and Reform sceptics on the eve of the local elections.

Climate experts also accused the former prime minister of granting political cover to fossil fuel interests and weakening momentum behind the UK’s legally binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Senior No 10 officials called the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change [TBI] after he claimed the plans were “doomed to fail”, to urge it to address the fallout.

The Guardian understands that Keir Starmer has not spoken to his Labour predecessor directly but furious government insiders said that Blair had undermined Starmer on a key issue, at a crucial moment. One Downing Street insider said: “Tony fucked up.” Another said: “He has completely lost his touch.”

A third government source questioned whether the decision to release the report on the eve of the elections was entirely accidental. “It’s not the first time he’s written bombastic forewords suggesting we should slow down on net zero. It’s so disloyal to the party.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -criticism



Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA