Lateral with Tom Scott 57: Computers that love '7'
6 snips
Nov 10, 2023 The podcast discusses topics such as the human fascination with the number seven, the use of rear projection in filmmaking, forensic techniques used to identify stolen CCTV camera systems, and the psychology behind fake Craigslist ads.
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Why AI Picks Seven As 'Random'
- ChatGPT often returns '7' as a random number because it mirrors common human choices found in its training data.
- The model reflects cultural biases rather than generating unbiased randomness.
Mobile Charging Carts In Nigeria
- In Nigeria an entrepreneur pushes a cart with a solar battery to charge up to 50 phones for a fee in places with unreliable electricity.
- The mobile-charging cart helps communities who have phones but limited access to mains power.
Phones Used To Fake Google Maps Traffic
- In Germany a performer dragged a cart of 99 phones to spoof Google Maps traffic and create fake congestion on a street.
- The stunt tricked mapping services into marking the route as congested to divert traffic.