161 Madeira Consorcio meeting 18.7.2026

Jul 19, 2026 at 7:04 pm | Posted in Posts | Leave a comment
Tags: , , , , , ,

We met in the Gallery and saw this video:

What AI can’t do—and why you can | Svetlana Makarova

Svetlana lists five human margins that AI cannot ever have or replace: Humans have

  • Experiences
  • Inspiration for dreams
  • Social Acuity and reading
  • Emotional Courage
  • Imagination and memories

We were not sure if the speaker is not too optimistic. Humans have to use their brains. The brain is like a muscle. It needs to be used and challenged to stay up to speed. Social Media and ChatGPT etc. change that.

C. said that AI cannot produce real art. It may be able to reproduce it but such art does not transport emotions. The AI “product” may, however, cause resonance in the viewer. The Rolling Stones made a new album, and for the respective video, AI was used to make them look younger. This has also been applied in some movies. (ABBA).

A talk show host in Germany said that that young people can, based on certain formulations (comparisons for example) discern the use of AI in a text Older folks may not be able to see this. Software to detect AI use in texts is also available today.

We used to be upset if a politician was found out to have copied text from other works for their doctorate. Now AI is a lot more involved and hard to discern.

A newspaper A in Germany accepted a guest article from a scientist. It was found to be written with the use of AI. The editors decided to not accept such pieces in the future. Then the boss of Newspaper B wrote an excellent response, defending AI, and at the bottom, mentioned that this nice piece of journalism had been written with the help of AI: AI cannot be discerned easily.

AI will invent answers if it cannot find one in its database. AI developers can set the rule that AI must not invent anything in a response. In that case, it has to abide by it.

AI logarithms are so vast by now that, once AI gives an answer, no human being, not even another AI, can follow the logical chain the answer is based on. Meaning: Even if regulation were still possible, no AI product can be trusted to give proper information, let alone guidance.

Elections were manipulated in New York, as was Brexit (by Russia). AI is a tool here but the guilt lies with humans who apply it for bad motives. In these cases, money is applied to manipulate public opinion. Money always wins.

China is limiting money contributions to politicians. Other countries may follow suit to avoid that money “buys” an election.

The Social Media limit for children is very important because with the progress of AI, children may lose the ability to think for themselves, and to really properly acquire knowledge.

Resistance is growing toward AI because people come to understand that AI uses massive amounts of electricity and water in their area, without giving them jobs or good value for the money.

We as individuals have the choice to pick our news sources. We can pay for a renowned newspaper and deliberately ignore the fluff Social Media try to push under our noses. In medicine, AI is good as diagnostic tool, often doing a better job than human beings, but nothing else.

There is an AI race on between China and the US, and both sides believe they cannot stop or limit their AI, in order not to lose against the other country.

And anything we humans can think of, can be put into reality. The Neanderthal people would not have known what to make of an air plane. We can think of robots which can be turned into warriors (The Lord of the Rings), then this can become a reality.

We couldn’t come up with a last positive thought so we went for dinner!

83 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 17.9.2016

Sep 18, 2016 at 11:11 am | Posted in Posts | Leave a comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Bread Project:

V gave E. a “plastic” bag, to store bread and keep it fresh. The bag, produced in Austria, is not made with oil but of plant material, and decomposes easily; it can be re-used several times. The bag can be printed on. The producer is www.naku.at.We discussed the  logo and design for linen bags for sale along with the bread.

We also spoke about the support we want to give the Escola de S..

We shall propose to their Team to create a blog for them, based on the text that we developed after the July meeting with them. U is going to send the approved content to Do. to look at. E.has photos; we need those for a blog. U will ask Ma. for their bank details so we can perhaps also add a PayPal donation button.

We also spoke about fundraising and how to go about it

Do. said the most important issue for fundraising is to answer the questions on what the project is and what they need. The fundraisers also need to propose adequate gifts as thank you for the donations received, e.g.

  • a postcard with children’s paintings for a donation of 5€,
  • for 10€ a donor would get a mug,
  • and for 25€ he would get a yearbook,
  • for higher amounts he would receive a mention of his name as sponsor on a (movable) plaque in the school.

An ongoing fundraising effort would be better that an occasional action, with the receipt of money from time to time.

“Teaching” support

There we have many options. S.used to go to her children’s school and read a poem which would inspire the children to make a drawing/painting about the topic, S. then gave assisted them in this. Such visits can lead to the composition of a yearbook, also as Thank You to donors.

Rui A.could do physics experiments with them, and so on…

Additional info.

Open letter from a Danish Newspaper to Mark Zuckerberg: http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/kommentar/Dear-Mark-I-am-writing-this-to-inform-you-that-I-shall-not-comply-with-your-requirement-to-remove-this-picture-604156b.html

We have a recycling shop behind the Forum, “Mundo Sustentavel”, They accept used goods for household, decoration & more and resell them; the proceeds are split between the seller and the shop: Tel 291619768,  info@mundo-sustentavel.com

Frente Mar has some shops out for public tender for rent in/near the Lido Swimming pools, several artists are working there.

The list of 10 vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Funchal :

http://frommadeiratomars.com/pt/10-vegetarian-friendly-restaurants-in-madeira/

D & S like “Olive” in Oudinot best, the restaurant needs business so we should all go there and recommend it.

Also very good: “Tipografia” in the Castanheiro Boutique Hotel. “Mania de Cozinha” in S. Pedro is closed due to fire damage.

Our next meeting will be in mid-October,

79 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 13.4.2016

Apr 14, 2016 at 10:54 am | Posted in Posts | Leave a comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

We had another animated meeting in the station! The sea view is animating, that`s why…

We spoke about the obstacle in the form of JM. Nothing is going forward, not for the English page, nor with our idea to create “anuncios” as a conduit channel from citizens to the Town Halls.

Ri. was opposed to the “anuncio” project; he is however, for such a project if it channels positive input from the citizens to “upstairs” and increases democracy on the island

U. is exploring the idea of hopping on another, successful bandwagon, in order to avoid having to start at the bottom in the internet. Ideas which cannot be found in the internet do not result in any action. E. said that we could re-activate the Consorcio Facebook page (eliminated at this time). The reality is that only many “friends” make the content visible.

We were talking again about the purpose of the group.

It does not exist only to move things forward on the island but also as a forum for the members (not just a chatting club), to be able to voice ideas and exchange opinions. We have two projects at the moment, support for E.’s bread and the Club idea which is interesting to many of the members. The group could also focus on one topic, such as education, and create a project with a relevant role. E. mentioned the involvement of handicapped persons in food-making as a social endeavor and education for the non-handicapped. Gr. mentioned the association for rare diseases http://www.rarissimas.pt/. This would need to reach critical mass to become visible.

News on the Food Project. E. is looking for a space to produce professionally, he is receiving more orders on a regular basis.

We also spoke about the Club.

U. thinks it would be a good idea to create a website and have several members from the group offer different experiences. Gr. is after a social atmosphere so that people, residents and tourists alike, could get to know each other and have discussions.

U. could set up a website to take requests. This would be a new peer-to-peer business and disruptive to the existing industry.

Blog at WordPress.com.
Entries and Comments feeds.