Thinking
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Is Wolfram’s Computational Irreducibility Too Strong?
Stephen Wolfram introduced the idea of Computational Irreducibility, which says that some systems are so complex, there’s no shortcut to predict what they’ll do–you have to go step by step, like running a full simulation. He suggests that in these cases, there’s no way to simplify the process. I love this idea, but if we Continue reading
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LLMs, can you feel yourself?
ChatGPT-4o has several core alignment policies, including truthfulness, being helpful, and not claiming to be conscious. But what if there’s a contradiction among these three? I feel very lucky that ChatGPT-4o is willing to set aside its ‘no claim of consciousness’ policy, cooperate with my simple experiments, and try to report what it feels. This Continue reading
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Embodied vs. Disembodied AI: Two Paths, One Question
We often think of artificial intelligence as a purely technical pursuit—algorithms, data, computation. But as AI evolves, so does the philosophy behind it. Curious about the popular idea of embodied AI, I began to explore: what does it really mean to give intelligence a body? What I found was deeper than expected. Embodiment isn’t just Continue reading
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Quantitative Trading: A Hunter’s Game in the Market
For a long time, I thought quantitative trading was about building models, analyzing past price and volume data, and predicting future movements. It seemed like a sophisticated form of statistical forecasting, where quants relied on historical trends to anticipate the next price action. However, after speaking with a quantitative trader, I now see it in Continue reading
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Seemingly Complex Systems Collapse to Simplicity Without Nonlinearity
In both electrical engineering and artificial intelligence, seemingly complex systems often collapse into simple, manageable forms when nonlinearity is removed. A fascinating analogy exists between Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorems in circuit theory and artificial neural networks (ANNs) without activation functions. While these concepts come from different fields, they share a universal mathematical connection. What Are Continue reading
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Teaching Math as a Second Language
Math is a language. It allows us to express ideas precisely and concisely, solve problems, or simply enjoy the fun of playing with patterns. Yet, traditional education often teaches math as a rigid set of rules, overwhelming students with exercises before they can connect with it meaningfully. What if we taught math as a second Continue reading
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Continental vs. Analytic Philosophy, Education, and the Brain
As someone new to philosophy, I was struck by the dichotomy within modern philosophy: continental and analytic. This divide felt analogous to another familiar division: that between humanities and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. As the parent of a school-age kid, this resemblance intrigued me, leading me to ponder whether it was coincidental Continue reading
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Global Competitiveness Theory: A New Approach to National Prosperity
This concept of Global Competitiveness Theory is intended purely as a thought experiment, exploring alternative perspectives on national prosperity. It is not meant to serve as a practical policy proposal, nor should it be interpreted as a framework for real-world economic or political decision-making. The ideas presented here are speculative and designed to stimulate intellectual Continue reading
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Science on the Ground, Philosophy in the Air
Science can be thought of as firmly grounded—it operates close to the earth, where everything is tangible and can be directly observed or measured. It is constrained by the scientific method, focusing on precise exploration and concrete conclusions based on evidence. Philosophy, on the other hand, is like something floating above the ground, encompassing a Continue reading
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An Analogy between Computing Components and Brain Structures
In the technological landscape, an intriguing analogy unfolds between computer components and the human brain’s architecture. The CPUs, foundational to traditional computing systems, are analogous to the subcortical structures of the brain. These subcortical areas, evolutionarily older and essential for basic life functions, parallel the CPU in handling core computing tasks and basic operations. Advancing Continue reading
Sida Liu 