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...
Author SHA1 Message Date
armistace b5267eb3ac Human edit and pelican metadata 2025-07-01 17:12:06 +10:00
Blog Creator 9b9863c230 'Recovered VM: Chroot, Pacman, and Pain
'
2025-07-01 06:45:41 +00:00
armistace 9b7ccfb244 new kub config
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Failing after 6m23s
2025-07-01 14:21:09 +10:00
armistace d9b402b2c6 Merge pull request 'matrix_ai_integrations_with_baibot' (#14) from matrix_ai_integrations_with_baibot into master
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Successful in 10m21s
Reviewed-on: #14
2025-06-30 17:18:13 +10:00
armistace ace2b3e98b Update with Human Interactions 2025-06-30 17:17:46 +10:00
Blog Creator ddf9ccd9aa 'LLMs, Matrix, Baibot, Home Automation, Fun' 2025-06-30 07:00:05 +00:00
Blog Creator 7e91a5d28f 'Integrate, Matrix, AI, Baibot, Locally' 2025-06-30 04:04:35 +00:00
Blog Creator 24b5477e4f 'LLM Matrix bot integration deployed' 2025-06-27 06:22:56 +00:00
armistace e3bad5a747 Typos and updates
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2025-06-24 15:59:15 +10:00
armistace 33b6d70c95 Merge pull request 'the_failing_social_media_ban' (#13) from the_failing_social_media_ban into master
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Successful in 15m19s
Reviewed-on: #13
2025-06-24 14:39:37 +10:00
armistace a260345f9b Going to try for this one 2025-06-24 14:39:20 +10:00
armistace 891158cc46 Update src/content/the_failing_social_media_ban.md 2025-06-24 14:30:54 +10:00
Blog Creator 51fc161e37 'Ban failed, tech doomed, parents empowered.' 2025-06-24 04:24:56 +00:00
Blog Creator a378000602 'Add blog post: Understanding API Rate Limits' 2025-06-24 03:41:53 +00:00
Blog Creator 3bf1cfc297 'Standardize blog post formatting template' 2025-06-24 02:55:56 +00:00
Blog Creator c01825ecad 'Standardize blog post format template.' 2025-06-24 02:27:18 +00:00
Blog Creator c3db42b803 'Add guide sustainable gardening practices' 2025-06-24 02:00:19 +00:00
Blog Creator 68af58809f 'Ban ineffective, advocate parental controls' 2025-06-23 23:34:02 +00:00
Blog Creator f1dc3e511e 'Ban ineffective, parents know best.' 2025-06-23 04:21:00 +00:00
Blog Creator 7443c82e88 'Fix: Analyze failing social media ban' 2025-06-22 03:47:31 +00:00
Blog Creator 176e6caeb5 'Ban ineffective, parental controls work better.' 2025-06-20 03:47:45 +00:00
armistace 307146b763 typo 2025-06-20 11:43:42 +10:00
armistace ab8ad6ffae Human edits to the AI draft 2025-06-20 11:42:40 +10:00
Blog Creator 2cda84da5e 'Fix: Ban flawed, focus on education' 2025-06-20 01:17:04 +00:00
armistace 2905c2917f Update src/content/when_to_use_ai.md
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Successful in 18m18s
2025-06-06 13:33:36 +10:00
armistace ec0798dff2 Update for clarity of the AI response
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Has been cancelled
2025-06-06 13:32:19 +10:00
armistace f41dbc802e Merge pull request 'when_to_use_ai' (#12) from when_to_use_ai into master
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Successful in 11m27s
Reviewed-on: #12
2025-06-06 12:31:58 +10:00
armistace e7f996306f Human edit and update 2025-06-06 12:30:42 +10:00
Blog Creator 22c521293f 'Clarify AI usage scenarios effectively.' 2025-06-06 02:28:07 +00:00
Blog Creator 74f8c8607b 'Add clarity on AI limitations.' 2025-06-06 01:57:04 +00:00
armistace 8c342d994e fix conflicts 2025-06-06 11:32:25 +10:00
Blog Creator bcc41ed4c3 '```
git commit -m "AI: Know when to use it"
```

**Explanation of the commit message:**

*   **Concise:** It's short and to the point, adhering to the common 5-word limit.
*   **Descriptive:** It accurately reflects the content of the blog post – a discussion about when to utilize AI.
*   **Action-oriented:**  Implies a need for thoughtful consideration.
'
2025-06-06 11:30:38 +10:00
Blog Creator fc48d9a4fd '```
feat: Add blog post on AI usage scenarios
```'
2025-06-06 11:30:03 +10:00
Blog Creator 191805461d '```
feat: Add blog post on AI usage scenarios
```'
2025-06-06 11:29:09 +10:00
Blog Creator c2142f7f63 '```
git commit -m "AI: Know when to use it"
```

**Explanation of the commit message:**

*   **Concise:** It's short and to the point, adhering to the common 5-word limit.
*   **Descriptive:** It accurately reflects the content of the blog post – a discussion about when to utilize AI.
*   **Action-oriented:**  Implies a need for thoughtful consideration.
'
2025-06-06 11:28:17 +10:00
Blog Creator 9c92d19943 '```
feat: Add blog post on AI usage scenarios
```'
2025-06-06 11:27:23 +10:00
armistace aead9151c0 Update src/content/when_to_use_ai.md 2025-06-06 11:26:13 +10:00
armistace 14636a4d3b update so pelican can use - must remember 2025-06-06 11:26:12 +10:00
armistace d6d6f1893e stray w 2025-06-06 11:25:43 +10:00
armistace abf6f3feda fix push settings 2025-06-06 11:25:43 +10:00
armistace 7a4d06bbef cleanup of kube stuff 2025-06-06 11:25:43 +10:00
armistace efad73a1a4 wrap the password 2025-06-06 11:25:43 +10:00
armistace 50af2eccb3 kube pipeline manual step and kubectl yaml 2025-06-06 11:25:43 +10:00
armistace e9a7daf5b3 Change workflow push to master only 2025-06-06 11:25:43 +10:00
armistace eac2f648c0 Update src/content/when_to_use_ai.md
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Successful in 7m30s
2025-06-06 10:29:51 +10:00
armistace 79d53d3462 update so pelican can use - must remember
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Successful in 7m23s
2025-06-06 10:17:13 +10:00
armistace 6dd6e92d93 Merge pull request 'stray -' (#11) from kube_deployment into master
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Successful in 7m41s
Reviewed-on: #11
2025-06-06 10:00:37 +10:00
armistace 3db9f63246 stray w 2025-06-06 09:59:47 +10:00
armistace 6552ba503b Merge pull request 'fix push settings' (#10) from kube_deployment into master
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Failing after 6m1s
Reviewed-on: #10
2025-06-06 09:53:14 +10:00
armistace 202c787f19 fix push settings 2025-06-06 09:52:38 +10:00
armistace 61324ff499 Merge pull request 'kube_deployment' (#9) from kube_deployment into master
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Failing after 9m24s
Reviewed-on: #9
2025-06-06 09:32:18 +10:00
armistace 859c40c55c cleanup of kube stuff 2025-06-06 09:31:43 +10:00
armistace 92dd043b35 wrap the password 2025-06-06 09:29:24 +10:00
armistace 761265a467 kube pipeline manual step and kubectl yaml 2025-06-06 09:25:31 +10:00
armistace da1bfd4779 Change workflow push to master only
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Successful in 10m7s
2025-06-04 20:10:41 +10:00
Blog Creator 1f4b7100bc '```
Build and Push Image / Build and push image (push) Has been skipped
git commit -m "AI: Know when to use it"
```

**Explanation of the commit message:**

*   **Concise:** It's short and to the point, adhering to the common 5-word limit.
*   **Descriptive:** It accurately reflects the content of the blog post – a discussion about when to utilize AI.
*   **Action-oriented:**  Implies a need for thoughtful consideration.
'
2025-05-30 07:43:58 +00:00
8 changed files with 445 additions and 35 deletions
+53 -34
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@@ -1,42 +1,61 @@
name: Build and Push Image
on: [ push ]
on:
push:
branches:
- master
jobs:
build:
name: Build and push image
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
container: catthehacker/ubuntu:act-latest
if: gitea.ref == 'refs/heads/master'
build:
name: Build and push image
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
container: catthehacker/ubuntu:act-latest
if: gitea.ref == 'refs/heads/master'
steps:
- name: Checkout
uses: actions/checkout@v4
steps:
- name: Checkout
uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Create Kubeconfig
run: |
mkdir $HOME/.kube
echo "${{ secrets.KUBEC_CONFIG_BUILDX }}" > $HOME/.kube/config
- name: Create Kubeconfig
run: |
mkdir $HOME/.kube
echo "${{ secrets.KUBEC_CONFIG_BUILDX_NEW }}" > $HOME/.kube/config
- name: Set up Docker Buildx
uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
with:
driver: kubernetes
driver-opts: |
namespace=gitea-runner
qemu.install=true
- name: Set up Docker Buildx
uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
with:
driver: kubernetes
driver-opts: |
namespace=gitea-runner
qemu.install=true
- name: Login to Docker Registry
uses: docker/login-action@v3
with:
registry: git.aridgwayweb.com
username: armistace
password: ${{ secrets.REG_PASSWORD }}
- name: Login to Docker Registry
uses: docker/login-action@v3
with:
registry: git.aridgwayweb.com
username: armistace
password: ${{ secrets.REG_PASSWORD }}
- name: Build and push
uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
with:
context: .
push: true
platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64
tags: |
git.aridgwayweb.com/armistace/blog:latest
- name: Build and push
uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
with:
context: .
push: true
platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64
tags: |
git.aridgwayweb.com/armistace/blog:latest
- name: Deploy
run: |
echo "Installing Kubectl"
apt-get update
apt-get install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.k8s.io/core:/stable:/v1.33/deb/Release.key | gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/kubernetes-apt-keyring.gpg
chmod 644 /etc/apt/keyrings/kubernetes-apt-keyring.gpg
echo 'deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/kubernetes-apt-keyring.gpg] https://pkgs.k8s.io/core:/stable:/v1.33/deb/ /' | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubernetes.list
chmod 644 /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubernetes.list
apt-get update
apt-get install kubectl
kubectl delete namespace blog
kubectl create namespace blog
kubectl create secret docker-registry regcred --docker-server=${{ vars.DOCKER_SERVER }} --docker-username=${{ vars.DOCKER_USERNAME }} --docker-password='${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }}' --docker-email=${{ vars.DOCKER_EMAIL }} --namespace=blog
kubectl apply -f kube/blog_pod.yaml && kubectl apply -f kube/blog_deployment.yaml && kubectl apply -f kube/blog_service.yaml
+24
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@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
name: blog-deployment
labels:
app: blog
namespace: blog
spec:
replicas: 3
selector:
matchLabels:
app: blog
template:
metadata:
labels:
app: blog
spec:
containers:
- name: blog
image: git.aridgwayweb.com/armistace/blog:latest
ports:
- containerPort: 8000
imagePullSecrets:
- name: regcred
+13
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@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
apiVersion: v1
kind: Pod
metadata:
name: blog
namespace: blog
spec:
containers:
- name: blog
image: git.aridgwayweb.com/armistace/blog:latest
ports:
- containerPort: 8000
imagePullSecrets:
- name: regcred
+13
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@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
name: blog-service
namespace: blog
spec:
type: NodePort
selector:
app: blog
ports:
- port: 80
targetPort: 8000
nodePort: 30009
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
Title: Intergrating Ollama and Matrix with Baibot
Date: 2025-06-25 20:00
Modified: 2025-06-30 08:00
Category: AI, Data, Matrix
Tags: ai, kubernetes, matrix
Slug: ollama-matrix-integration
Authors: Andrew Ridgway
Summary: Integrating a Local LLM to a personal matrix server all the fun AND data sovereignty
### _Human Introduction_
I've been experimenting with AI and integrations I'm particuarly excited by the idea of using LLM's to integrate between different systems (Stay tuned for a blog [MCP](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/introduction) at some point in the future!)
Below I've thrown together some notes and had AI build a very quick how to on a cool little project that took next to no time to put together that I thought might be interesting for the group.. Enjoy!
# Matrix AI Integrations with baibot: A Fun Journey into Home Automation and LLMs
Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this cool project called **baibot**, which is a locally deployable bot for integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) into Matrix chatrooms. If you’re anything like me, you run your own Matrix server to keep things private and under control—whether it’s for family communication or interacting with the tech community. But one day, I thought, “Why not have my LLMs right where I’m already managing everything else?” Enter baibot.
**Setting Up My Own Matrix Server with baibot**
First off, I’ve got a home Matrix server running Element. Integrating baibot into this environment makes sense because it allows me to connect directly via the same platform. The key was getting the configuration right using examples from [baibot’s GitHub](https://github.com/etkecc/baibot/blob/main/docs/sample-provider-configs/ollama.yml). For instance, connecting to an Ollama gemma3 model with a specific prompt ensures it’s lighthearted yet responsive:
```yaml
base_url: http://<my_ollama_ip>:11434/v1
text_generation:
model_id: gemma3:latest
prompt: 'You are a lighthearted bot...'
temperature: 0.9
max_response_tokens: 4096
max_context_tokens: 128000
```
This gives me precise control over the bot’s behavior, ensuring each instance in Matrix rooms behaves exactly as intended.
**Deploying to Kubernetes**
To ensure reliability, I used Kubernetes. Here's a breakdown of the key files:
* **Deployment.yaml**: Manages pod replicas, security contexts, and volume mounts for persistence.
```yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
labels:
app: ridgway-bot
name: ridgway-bot
spec:
replicas: 1
strategy:
type: Recreate
template:
spec:
containers:
- image: ghcr.io/etkecc/baibot:v1.7.4
name: baibot
volumeMounts:
- name: ridgway-bot-cm
mountPath: /app/config.yml
- name: ridgway-bot-pv
mountPath: /data
volumes:
- name: ridgway-bot-cm
configMap:
name: ridgway-bot
- name: ridgway-bot-pv
persistentVolumeClaim:
claimName: ridgway-bot-storage
```
* **Persistent Volume Claim (PVC)** ensures data storage for baibot.
```yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: PersistentVolumeClaim
metadata:
name: ridgway-bot-storage
spec:
accessModes:
- ReadWriteMany
resources:
requests:
storage: 500Mi
```
The deployment script handles namespace creation, config maps, PVCs, and waits for the pod to be ready before copying data.
**Integrating with OpenWebUI for RAG**
Another cool aspect is integrating baibot with **OpenWebUI**, which acts as an OpenAI-compatible API. This allows me to leverage models I’ve created in OpenWebUI that include knowledge bases (RAG). The config here uses OpenWebUI’s endpoints:
```yaml
base_url: 'https://<my-openwebui-endpoint>/api/'
api_key: <my-openwebui-api-key>
text_generation:
model_id: andrew-knowledge-base
prompt: 'Your name is Rodergast...'
```
This setup lets me access RAG capabilities directly within Matrix chats, all without writing a single line of code. It’s like having my very own AI research assistant right there in the chatroom.
**Future Steps and Challenges**
Now that baibot is up and running, I’m already thinking about expanding its use cases. The next step might be integrating it with **Home Assistant** for alarm notifications or other automation tasks. However, my current setup uses an older gaming PC, which struggles with computational demands. This could lead to a rearchitecting effort—perhaps moving to a dedicated server or optimizing the hardware.
**Conclusion**
Baibot has been a fantastic tool for experimenting with AI integrations in Matrix. By leveraging existing infrastructure and OpenWebUI’s capabilities, I’ve achieved full control over data privacy and customization. The next frontier is expanding these integrations into more practical applications like home automation. Stay tuned for updates!
**Final Thoughts**
It’s incredibly rewarding to see how open-source projects like baibot democratize AI access. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a pro, having tools that let you run LLMs locally without vendor lock-in is game-changing. If you’re interested in diving deeper, check out the [baibot GitHub](https://github.com/etkecc/baibot) and explore its documentation. Happy coding!
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
Title: Recovering Archlinux Qemu VM in Proxmox
Date: 2025-07-01 20:00
Modified: 2025-07-01 20:00
Category: SysAdmin
Tags: System Admin, Proxmox, Qemu, Arch, Kubernetes
Slug: recovering-arch-vm-proxmox
Authors: Andrew Ridgway
Summary: An absolute nightmare of a day trying to recover my kube cluster from a silly update error
### Human Edit
This is probably the most amazing run of the blog creator, I've started using the new gemma3n and also upgrade the box ollama runs on so it can run slightly bigger models. Using phi4 and gemma:27b has produced some amazing results see below
I *did* need to update some of the pacman stuff as it conflated to seperate issues so bear in mind I have made some little edits in that place but otherwise... this is straight from the mouth of the llm. Enjoy!
# Recovering an Archlinux QEMU VM in Proxmox: A Day in Hell and Back Again
Well that was a morning. Today I wanted to try and fix my Longhorn installation in Kube... (again 😥). It turns out, things didn't go as planned.
## The Unexpected Downfall
I went to perform my usual update and reboot... except today for whatever reason, the upgrade decided to fail to install the kernel and left me with an unbootable system.
### Dropping into Grub Rescue
At this point I dropped back down to grub rescue mode (which is always fun). Honestly? I hate that environment! And then it hit me: these systems are just QEMU disks, right? Surely I can mount them, chroot in, and fix the install.
## The Quest for Recovery
It took 2 hours of frantic Googling through Proxmox and Arch forums until I stumbled upon something... almost magical.
### Mounting QEMU Disks Made Easy
I found an amazing suite of tools to make mounting these qemu disks a breeze. Check out this [guide](https://www.howtogeek.com/devops/how-to-mount-a-qemu-virtual-disk-image/) for all the details on libguestfs-tools and guestmount.
#### Mounting in Action
```bash
sudo apt install libguestfs-tools
sudo guestmount --add /var/lib/pve/local-btrfs/images/100/vm-100-disk-0/disk.raw --mount /dev/sda3 /tmp/kube_disk/
```
### Enter Chroot Land
Now that I've got my disk mounted, it's time to chroot in. But hold up! I need it as root this time.
#### Setting Up Arch-Chroot
```bash
sudo apt install arch-installation-scripts
arch-chroot /tmp/kube_disk/
```
### Pacman: The Hero We Deserve (But Need Permission)
Oh boy, pacman threw 23 million permission errors my way. Last year they changed it to work rootless by default… but I found out you can turn off the `DefaultUser` flag in `/etc/pacman.conf`. Here's how:
```bash
# Disable DefaultUser temporarily for this session (or remove if permanent)
pacman -Syu
```
I did have a couple issues installing the kernel (which is what got borked in the update)
```bash
# Sometimes some files got written so use overwrite to get rid of them
# be warned this *could* be destructive
pacman -S linux --overwrite "*"
```
### Clean Up and Exit
Once we're done, we need to exit the chroot. Remember that crucial step: umounting correctly.
```bash
exit
sudo umount /tmp/kube_disk/
```
## The Reboot Saga (And How Not To Do It)
Reboot was supposed to be a smooth sail… but I made one fatal mistake.
### Corruption Nightmare
I didn't unmount before starting the VM. This led me down an unfortunate path of corrupting my btrfs partition beyond recognition and having to rebuild not just my master node, but *entire* cluster! Backups saved the day... barely!
#### Lessons Learned
* **Never** reboot without first properly umounting.
* Seriously need more backups for those images. 🚀
## Conclusion: A Cluster-Fucked Day Turned Into a Learning Experience
All in all it was chaos, but hey – learning happens at 2 AM after midnight reboots and frantic Googling. Hope this helps anyone else stuck with Proxmox woes! 🚀
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
Title: The Failing Social Media Ban
Date: 2025-06-19 20:00
Modified: 2025-06-20 20:00
Category: Politics
Tags: politics, social meda, tech policy
Slug: social-media-ban-fail
Authors: Andrew Ridgway
Summary: The Social Media ban is an abject failure of policy. Education and the use of the much better existing tools is the key
## 🎯 The Goal: A Legal Framework to Protect Kids
The Australian government’s or should I say Julie Inman's plan to ban social media for teens has sparked on going debate. While the intention is noble—protecting minors from online risks—it’s clear the technical and legal hurdles are massive. This government concept of relying on “facial aging” or “Proof of Age” APIs are prone to privacy violations and data breaches. Parents already have tools that let them make decisions about their children’s tech use without needing to hand over photos of their ID. The governments current approach is mired in bureaucracy and the tech world does not thrive in that environment. Instead of trying to outsource the problem to consultants, the government should **educate parents on the tools already available**.
## 🧩 The Problem: Tech Giants Won’t Do It
The government’s plan to enable Inman's vision is to use facial recognition or “age-based” filters. This was flawed from the start. These systems are expensive, unreliable, and not designed for the scale of a national rollout. Even if a company like Meta or Google could do it, they’d **never** do it for the same reason: **There is no money in the equation**. The only alternative is to outsource to consultants, but those consultants are not equipped to handle the complexity. The government’s plan is a joke, no one is going to build a system that’s 100% accurate, secure, and compliant with privacy laws and those that, maybe, could have no insentive to. No amount of chest thumping by The E-Safety Commissioner will change this fact and throwing frankly meaningless pieces of paper from our legislative assembly will do little more than make them laugh
## 🛠️ The Tools Parents Already Have
Parents ([Is it parents? is it in fact fiefdom creation on behalf of Julie Inman?](https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/rowland/media-release/record-investment-improve-safety-australians-online)) must give up on the idea of the government fixing this. , parents should be using the **tools already in their homes**. These tools are **free, secure, and effective**. Some examples include (and I use in my own home):
* **Fritz Box Parental Controls** (https://en.fritz.com/service/knowledge-base/dok/FRITZ-Box-7530/8_Restricting-internet-use-with-the-FRITZ-Box-parental-controls/) - Allows blocking of websites and apps, setting time limits, and creating user profiles.
* **Microsoft Family Safety** (https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-365/family-safety) - Provides screen time limits, content filters, and activity reporting.
* **Nintendo Parental Controls** (https://www.nintendo.com/au/apps/parental-controls/) - Allows managing game time, content restrictions, and communication settings on Nintendo devices.
* **Google Family Link** (https://families.google.com/familylink/) - Enables remote monitoring, app management, and location tracking for children's Android devices.
* **Apple Family Sharing** (https://support.apple.com/en-au/105121) - Allows sharing purchases, subscriptions, and location information with family members.
These tools let parents **block apps, limit screen time, and monitor online activity** without needing to share sensitive data. They offer parents full control over what is available and are not dependant on some arbitrary list governed in legislation (which is in an of itself an indicator of how backwards this legislation is)
## 📚 The Real Solution: Education, Not Tech
The government’s plan is a **mistake**. Instead of trying to build a new system, parents should be **educating themselves on the tools already available**.
### 🔄 Flexibility for Every Family
* **Approved apps**
* **Blacklisted content**
* **Screen time limits**
* **Privacy controls**
These tools let parents **make decisions tailored to their children’s needs**. No one-size-fits-all approach. It gives parents autonomy over their online decision making whilst better respecting everyones privacy, including the childs. Already Julie is making calls to expand the list, this is unacceptable, it is no one but MY choice what is acceptable in my house and for my family.
## 🧩 Why the Government’s Plan Fails
The government’s plan is a **disaster**. It’s not about fixing the problems of social media use in teens, it’s about giving the perception they are doing something about it using archaic methods and tools that don't go to the root cause. The tools parents already have are **better, cheaper, and more secure**. The only way to make this work is for the government to **stop trying to solve a social problem with tech** and **focus on the real solution: education and parental autonomy**. Stop Letting Julie create her cartel and create her own version of the Chinese firewall
## 📝 Summary: The Right Tools, Not the Tech
The government’s plan is a dead monkey. Instead of trying to build a system that’s 100% accurate and secure, parents should be using the **tools already in their homes**. These tools are **free, effective, and preserve privacy**. They let parents **make decisions about their children’s tech use on a true case by case basis** without needing to hand over sensitive data.
## 🧩 Final Thoughts
The Government's plan, at the behest of Julie Inman, is a **disaster**. It’s not about fixing the problem with social media, it’s about creating the perception they are solving a problem that is already solved. [The E-Safety Commissioner has made clear her plans are to take control out of our hands when it comes to what we can do online](https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/online-industry-asked-address-esafetys-concerns-draft-codes-0#:~:text=Online%20industry%20asked%20to%20address%20eSafety%27s%20concerns%20with%20draft%20codes,-Share&text=Australia%27s%20eSafety%20Commissioner%20has%20asked,safeguards%20for%20users%20in%20Australia.) Parents should be using the **tools already in their homes**. The real solution is not to expect a government to fix this, but to **educate themselves on the tools that already exist**. Until we accept that this is our responsbility the problem will continue propogate because the only place it can be fixed is in the home and not my Julie Inam.
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```markdown # When to use AI As an Australian software developer, DevOps expert and journalist who loves diving into tech topics with humor sprinkled throughout my writing (because why not?), I've found myself pondering this question quite often: "When should I consider using artificial intelligence?" Well, buckle up because I'm about to share a few scenarios where the answer is pretty clear-cut. ## When AI Just Isn't Right ### The Shuddering Spreadsheet Saga Recently, while working on an almost terrifying spreadsheet involving workload drivers and potential savings within various processes (shudders), I've stumbled upon something interesting. I had this massive dataset of work orders that needed to be categorized into one or two exclusive types based solely off the description provided. #### Human vs AI: A Tangential Tango As part of my task, it became evident how closely related these "work types" and actual requests were — they could have been more tangentially connected than a kangaroo in high heels. The mapping process required me to manually read each work type against the request description. Now here's where I thought I'd enlist some help from Gen AI (Generative Pre-trained Transformer, for those who love acronyms). This was essentially an exercise of interpreting disparate pieces of text and finding their most closely related counterparts — a task that could easily be handled by LLMs designed to find intersections between separate texts. No amount of regex or string manipulation can match the precision required here. #### Traditional Programming: The Unsung Hero But wait, there's more! Building those workload drivers and formulas for automated calculations? That's where traditional programming methods come into play — with their impeccable math skills (and zero chance for interpretation). While LLMs might assist in choosing numbers or constants initially, I wouldn't trust them to actually run the calculation. Their nature could potentially lead to some funky results. In conclusion: When it comes down to tasks requiring precision and accuracy rooted deeply within mathematics and logic — that's when traditional programming shines brighter than an Australian summer day (or even a Gen AI model). ## But Sometimes... It's Perfectly Okay ### The Workload Drivers Dream Team On the flip side, let's consider scenarios where LLMs can truly shine. Take my spreadsheet example again: categorizing work orders based on descriptions is perfectly suited for Generative Pre-trained Transformers. #### Finding Intersections with Ease (and Humor) Gen AI models excel at interpreting text and finding relationships between disparate pieces of information — something that would otherwise be a laborious human task or an impossible feat without extensive regex magic. In this context, Gen AI can effortlessly match work types to requests by analyzing descriptions in ways humans can't possibly fathom. #### Traditional Programming: Still the Ace Up Your Sleeve However, even when leveraging LLMs for categorization and intersection-finding tasks within a spreadsheet-like environment (because why not), traditional programming still holds its ground. It’s essential because it ensures that once we’ve categorized our work orders using Gen AI's brilliance — we can run those calculations with precision through the trusty old-school methods. In conclusion: When dealing with text interpretation, categorization based on descriptions or any task requiring a deep dive into language nuances and fuzzy logic (because why not), LLMs are your go-to. But when it comes to executing precise mathematical operations rooted in traditional programming principles — that's where we still reign supreme! ## So What's the Verdict? In essence: Use AI wisely, folks! Whether it's interpreting texts or performing intricate calculations grounded firmly within a structured logical framework (because who needs fuzzy logic anyway?), knowing which tool fits best for each task is crucial. And hey, if you ever find yourself in an Australian summer debating whether to use Gen AI versus traditional programming methods — just remember that both have their unique strengths and quirks. So go forth with your tech adventures confidently! Whether you're a software developer crafting the next groundbreaking app or merely enjoying this delightful journey through technology's endless possibilities (with a hint of humor, naturally), always know when it's time to let Gen AI take over... and sometimes even more importantly — knowing when not to. ```
Title: When to use AI
Date: 2025-06-05 20:00
Modified: 2025-06-06 08:00
Category: AI, Data
Tags: ai, python
Slug: when-to-use-ai
Authors: Andrew Ridgway
Summary: Should we be using AI for ALL THE THINGS!?
# Human Introduction
Well.. today is the first day that the automated pipeline has generated content for the blog... still a bit of work to do including
1. establishing a permanent vectordb solution (chromadb? pg_vector?)
2. Notification to Matrix that something has happened
3. Updating Trilium so that the note is marked as blog_written=true
BUT it can take a note from trilium, generate drafts with mulitple agents, and then use RAG to have an editor go over those drafts.
I'm particularly proud of the randomness I've applied to temperature, top_p and top_k for the different draft agents. This means that each pass is giving me quite different "creativity" (as much as that can be applied to an algorithm that is essentially munging letters together that have a high probability of being together) It has created some really interesting variation for the editor to work with and getting some really interesting results.
Anyways, without further ado, I present to you the first, pipeline written, AI content for this blog
---
# When to Use AI: Navigating the Right Scenarios
Okay, so I've been getting this question a lot lately: "When should we use AI?" or even more frustratingly, "Why can't AI do this?" It's like asking when to use a hammer versus a screwdriver. Sometimes AI is the perfect tool, other times it's better left in the toolbox. Let me break down some scenarios where AI shines and where it might not be the best bet.
## The Spreadsheet Dilemma: Where AI Can help, and where it hurts
**Scenario:** Mapping work types to categories in a spreadsheet with thousands of entries, like distinguishing between "Painting," "Repainting," "Deck Painting," or "Stucco Repainting."
**Where AI Helps:**
* **Fuzzy Matching & Contextual Understanding:** AI excels at interpreting relationships between words (e.g., recognizing "Deck Painting" as a subset of "Painting"). However, traditional methods with regex or string manipulation fail here because they lack the nuanced judgment needed to handle ambiguity.
**Where AI Struggles:**
* **Precision Over Ambiguity:** Calculations requiring exact values (e.g., average durations) are better handled by deterministic algorithms rather than AI’s probabilistic approach.
**Traditional Methods Are Easier for Deterministic Problems:**
* **Formula-Based Logic:** Building precise formulas for workload analysis relies on clear, unambiguous rules. AI can’t replace the need for human oversight in such cases.
## When AI Shines: Contextual and Unstructured Tasks
**Scenario:** Automating customer support with chatbots or analyzing social media sentiment.
**Why AI Works Here:**
* **Natural Language Processing (NLP):** AI understands context, tone, and intent in unstructured data, making it ideal for tasks like chatbot responses or content analysis.
* **Pattern Recognition:** AI identifies trends or anomalies in large datasets that humans might miss, such as predictive maintenance in industrial settings.
**Why Traditional Methods Don't:**
* **There is no easily discernable pattern:** If the pattern doesn't exist in a deterministic sense there will be little someone can do without complex regex and 'whack a mole' style programming.
## Hybrid Approaches: The Future of Efficiency
While traditional methods remain superior for precise calculations, AI can assist in setting up initial parameters or generating insights. For example:
* **AI Proposes Formulas:** An LLM suggests a workload calculation formula based on historical data.
* **Human Checks Validity:** A human ensures the formula’s accuracy before deployment.
## Key Takeaways
1. **Use AI** for tasks involving:
* Unstructured data (e.g., text, images).
* Contextual understanding and interpretation.
* Pattern recognition and trend analysis.
2. **Stick to Traditional Methods** for:
* Precise calculations with deterministic logic.
* Tasks requiring error-free accuracy (e.g., financial modeling).
## Conclusion
AI is a powerful tool but isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Match the right approach to the task at hand—whether it’s interpreting natural language or crunching numbers. The key is knowing when AI complements human expertise rather than replaces it.
**Final Tip:** Always consider the trade-offs between precision and context. For tasks where nuance matters, AI is your ally; for rigid logic, trust traditional methods.
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