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Genesis Content: Where Does GenAI Get Its Next Meal?

Details: Written by Douglas Eadline; Published: 01 June 2026; Hits: 74

From the well if you think about it department

Something about building GenAI LLMs bugs me. Before I begin, let me be clear: I am a supporter of AI technologies, particularly in science. Lately, however, a question keeps surfacing that I find hard to understand. GenAI promoters and sellers like to talk about "AI for Business" as a way to reduce costs and replace workers. Well, okay, all new technologies have that effect to some extent, but the GenAI industry seems to be touting GenAI as a replacement for the people who created the genesis content on which their technology was created. On the surface, this seems absurd; on closer inspection, it seems almost self-destructive. Talk about burning the ships while still at sea. There are many sectors where this question hits hard, but two specific topics of interest to me as a technical writer and sometimes programmer are content creation and programming.

A (mostly) Non-Technical AI Primer

Details: Written by Douglas Eadline; Published: 12 December 2025; Hits: 4068

from the long, but worthwhile article department

I have studied and watched artificial intelligence grow over the last forty years. Like many, back in 1968, I was inspired by HAL 9000 in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. The question on my mind at the time was, "Is HAL 9000 possible?" Thus began my interest in learning all I could about computers and something called Artificial Intelligence.

By 1970, my excitement grew when I read a quote by AI pioneer Marvin Minsky (in Life magazine), "In three to eight years, we will have a machine with the general intelligence of an average human being." The future was so bright I was beyond inspired.

We Are Back and the Beowulf Bash at SC25 in St Louis

Details: Written by Douglas Eadline; Published: 28 October 2025; Hits: 1498

Hello, is this thing on? We back on-line after a 2 year hiatus! Well, not because I did not want to post here, but I could not find the time to post the insightful content you expect from a free web site. Also, we don't use AI, never will for that matter. So someone actually has to type on a keyboard.

In any case, please go to the bash web page (we d work very hard on these things) and have a look at this years theme, complete with snarky content and foot notes.

The SC25 Bash is at the standard time after the opening Gala, 9pm on Monday Nov. 17. See the web page for directions and more information.

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HPCwire Gets a New Logo and Website

Details: Written by Douglas Eadline; Published: 10 November 2025; Hits: 1304

As a capstone to its rebrand, Tabor Communications (now TCI Media) launched a new website with extensive sections dedicated to HPC, AI, Big Data, and Quantum Computing coverage. The site was designed to encourage readers to explore topics related to the articles they are reading, with the aim of exposing them to the information they’ll soon need to become acquainted with as these disciplines continue to converge.

SC23 Beowulf Bash Video Evidence

Details: Written by Douglas Eadline; Published: 07 December 2023; Hits: 5648

The SC23 Beowulf Bash was wildly successful, or was it wild and successful? You can judge for yourself because we have video evidence.

Thank you, Kiwi, for the video.

It should be noted that even though the video shows a fun main venue, by tradition, the Beowulf Bash always has rooms and locations where attendees can engage in conversation.

All this HPC fun was made possible by the Beowulf Bash Angels and Demons team and our wonderful supporting vendors. (That is not Ted Danson on the left.) One key demon did not make it for the team picture, but he is easily identified in the video.