Information, Connection, Trust
From Finland's Happiness to Quantum Frontiers
Infophilia, a positive psychology of Information | December 21, 2024 - Vol. 2, Issue 55
Welcome new and returning readers!
Infophilia, a positive psychology of information, is a weekly letter dedicated to celebrating our deep intrinsic connection to information. The accompanying visual is often my own, shared to enhance the experience and offer a unique, immersive perspective on Infophilia. Sometimes, I include supplementary sections such as Wealth Watch, Wellness Wisdom, Library News, and Your 5-Minute AI (with the usual disclaimers — I’m not a financial consultant or health professional). These sections provide insights that complement the broader ideas explored in the essays, offering practical knowledge. Sometimes, they summarize or highlight news on today’s most pressing topics financial trends, wellness, and artificial intelligence.
Cite this as:
Coleman, Anita S. (2024, December 21). Information, Connection, Trust: From Finland's Happiness to Quantum Frontiers. Infophilia, a positive psychology of information, 2 (55). https://infophilia.substack.com
Today, I explore the intersection of quantum computing, value investing, and well-being, with a focus on infophilic information styles and the future of AI and technology. But, before we dive in, some housekeeping.
Announcements
Substack has just released new website features, and I took the opportunity to update the Infophilia website. Visit the revamped About page to learn more about the mission behind Infophilia.
The new layout highlights the Most Popular Essays in the right column. Below the featured essay (which is always the most recent), you’ll find collections of essays on two topics: Artificial Intelligence and Infophilic Information Styles. Please note, I'm still in the process of organizing, so not all essays will be categorized under these topics just yet.
You can also browse the Archive for all essays, both public and behind the paywall. Substack’s social media feature, Notes, is now accessible directly from the website as well.
Thank you for joining me on this journey, where we explore both the art and the science of information.
Corrections
Last week’s essay, Beyond the Fortress, had small typos and errors. I’ve corrected them for clarity and accuracy.
Conference News - Inclusion is a collective responsibility
Rachel Crookes (Sage Publishing) has shared some of the key takeaways from The Charleston Conference anti-racist work / inclusion panel, which I had the privilege of participating in this past November and December. Inclusion - dismantling institutional / systemic racism and fostering a sense of belonging in academia - is a collective responsibility. Achieving inclusion requires continual reflection and intentional small actions across all aspects of library work from instruction, to management and scholarship. Check out Sustaining the Anti-Racist Library: Takeaways from Charleston (2024, December 18 on Sage Campus), for consistent efforts to make a significant impact!
In Memoriam
I thought that AI was a thing that could be used to solve unsolvable problems, like curing diseases and stopping ageing...I thought we could invent some kind of scientist that could help solve them. Balaji Suchir
I would also like to take a moment to honor the sad passing of Balaji Suchir. His contributions to the fields of copyright and AI, particularly regarding training data (and ChatGPT), will be remembered. I had initially planned to mention him in last week’s essay on AI training data, but it was already dense. I didn’t want to add to it.
However, it’s important to note that academic researchers have been web scraping for decades, and publishers are doing so as well. Data privacy remains a critical issue, affecting well-being in significant ways.
On November 26, the body of Balaji Suchir, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower, was found in his San Francisco apartment. Balaji made significant contributions to the development of GPT-4. His insightful 10-page analysis, When Does Generative AI Qualify for Fair Use?, remains available on his website.
Rest in peace, Balaji.
As you are reading these words, you're taking part in one of the wonders of the natural world. For you and I belong to a species with a remarkable ability: we can shape events in each other's brains with exquisite precision. …That ability is language. – Steven Pinker (1995)