Interesting Links for 24-02-2026

[andrewducker]

1. AIs can generate near-verbatim copies of novels from training data

(tags:copyright ai books )

2. We should make it easier for people to vaccinate their children

(tags:austerity poverty vaccination UK )

3. Green light for World Cup opening hours in Edinburgh (until 7am in some cases)

(tags:football alcohol edinburgh )

4. RFK Jr's Nutrition Chatbot Recommends Best Foods to Insert Into Your Rectum

(tags:food ai OhForFucksSake )

Comments

[bens_dad]

1. Maybe this will push the courts to accept that a significant part of the value of LLMs belongs to the providers of the training sets.

2. Members only.

4. Is a little unfair. The chat bot was asked specifically about the topic.
I can be sufficiently charitable as to accept that RFK did not consider this one when compiling a list of banned topics.

[andrewducker]

4 is a little unfair. But it is funny.

(2) I don't think I can do much about. But in summary, a lot of poor people do not have the work flexibility to get kids to vaccinations, despite wanting to, and if we got health visitors to vaccinate children during their visits then this would cover a chunk more people.

[mtbc]

There's a strong moral argument for (1) but also the inconvenient fact that various monied interests do rather like LLMs being as affordably available and potent as they are.

[nancylebov]

If it were some of the more cliched novels, I might believe AIs could do it on their own.

2.

[channelpenguin]

I vaugely recall we got vaccinations from at school, back in the 70s... I guess that doesnt work well for ones you get when younger

Re: 2.

[andrewducker]

Flu vaccines happen through school. But yeah, baby ones expect you to go to the doctor/health center.

Re: 2.

[channelpenguin]

But SOMEONE is looking after a baby, so I'm still a bit puzzled as to why whoever that is can't take them. Or have nurses visit (if a kindergarten). But I know zero about child care. Hard enough looking after my cat (reminds me, his annual jabs are overdue because it was too icy to go... Must book asap)

Re: 2.

[andrewducker]

The problem is that if they are in kindergarten then nobody is visiting them there and the kindergarten isn't going to take them to the health centre.

General vaccinations in kindergarten would also make sense.

Re: 2.

[helen_keeble]

Even in my affluent middle class social circle, there were mothers (always mothers) who had no access to transport during working hours because dad needed the family car to get to work. I imagine just getting to the doctor/health centre could be a huge issue for poverty line families.

There’s also the issue that when you’ve got multiple young kids, going somewhere with the baby involves a lot of logistical issues (taking three kids under three on a trip by public transport is an extreme sport). And even once your older kids are in school, your schedule is highly constrained by the pick up/drop off times.

I can see how doing baby vaccinations on home visits would make things a lot easier for many families!

4

[channelpenguin]

I recall an actual discussion of this topic, back in the day... not bananas, I seem to recall!