Will AI take your job?

You're eating McDonald's thinking it's food.

That's disingenuous.

Tony basically wrote off AI as useless he barely scratched the surface on a lightweight version of it a while ago (now obsolete), and that was pointed out to him. That if he invested more effort into it, and a current or different version, he would have better experience of it.

And I'm not the only one saying the same thing. No one's using any buzzwords. Dodgy analogies for sure.

Tony might know a P-51 from a A-36 but he's mistaken about AI.

Even in Copilot switching to GTP-5 is another leap. Or using Copilot Studio to tweak your agent vs the stock agents. In the last 3-4 months it's taken leaps forward. It can do all sorts of office or coding tasks it couldn't to 4-6 months ago.

Is it perfect no. Is it useful most definitely. Even Gemini has got a lot better. But do I fact check Gemini. yes I do.

Stop what? The current AI companies haven't got the cash for their proposed capital expenditure.

Tony basically wrote off AI as useless

No he didn't.

Fair enough I apologize if thats offensive. I'll quit this line of conversation.

Robots.. coming to a shop near you...

Checking shelves is a laborious task - whilst yes, the company saves some money on staff costs, they hand it back out paying for these robots and whatever service package comes with them- so potentially some better jobs created so not all bad.
It will be years before supermarkets tackle re-stacking shelves using robots- they’ll likely need bigger premises and to design the shop around that - so that will still be a human job.

I see that shelf checker as progress- humans are made for better things

The fact that all these US AI companies are run by Israeli-US dual citizens is another red flag since the tide is going out on Israel’s influence on the US; no longer is it under the radar how much Israel controls the US and of course more and more people do not trust Israel. When we see how much AI is being pushed and look at who is actually benefitting from it, alarm bells should ring.

The energy conundrum is still the biggest concern however and until someone solves this, the AI bubble will burst by 2027, taking the US stock markets with it.

That's nice…

"...To start a BSA motorbike fitted with a Vincent Black Shadow engine, follow a careful kickstart procedure that includes priming, ignition setup, and throttle control.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the startup process for this hybrid classic—typically a Vincent Black Shadow engine mounted in a BSA A10 frame:

🏍️ Starting Instructions for a BSA-Vincent Black Shadow Hybrid

Preparation

Ensure fuel is on: Open the fuel taps on the tank.

Check oil levels: Vital for older engines.

Ignition off: Start with the ignition switch turned off.

Priming the Carburetors

Use the ticklers on the Amal carburetors to flood them slightly.

This ensures the engine has enough fuel to fire on the first few kicks.

Compression and Kickstart Setup

Gently kick the starter to find top dead center (TDC).

Use the decompression lever to ease the piston just past TDC.

This sets up the engine for a full kick with maximum force.

Ignition On

Turn on the ignition once the engine is primed and positioned.

Make sure the throttle is slightly open—not too much.

Kickstart

Deliver a strong, smooth kick through the starter lever.

The engine should fire within a few kicks if properly primed.

Warm-Up

Let the engine idle and warm up gradually.

Avoid revving hard until oil circulation is confirmed and the engine reaches operating temperature.

This startup method is demonstrated in this video tutorial featuring a 1952 Vincent Black Shadow Series C engine. Another example of this setup in action—an 1110cc Vincent engine in a 1962 BSA A10 frame—is shown here.

Would you like help finding a workshop manual or tuning guide for this hybrid setup?..."

And that underlines the problem wit AI. Rather than suggest it doesn't know, or needs more information, it spews out irrelevant or wrong information and then considers the question answered.

It's called AI hallucination and part of the reason why any answer you get from an AI just cannot be trusted. The tendency for it to fill in gaps with reasonably sounding nonsense or, worse still, just make up stuff wholesale is a very serious problem.

May be my original post wasn't clear. I did specify the make of motorcycle in my first query and the make of lathe in my second. I did not expect AI to read my mind.

Yes, getting the wrong information from a book can be dangerous. For one motorcycle I am aware of, the manufacturer provided a wrong wheel assembly diagram. But there were multiple corrections published subsequently which is what you expect with old-fashioned manuals. But I am not too sure how that will work with AI.

Here is the question "how do i cut metric threads on a Pittler B2 lathe?" about metric threads asked from Copilot in windows. I originally asked the question of Google on a Linux machine

To cut metric threads on a Pittler B2 lathe, you need to configure the gear train for metric pitch, use a 60° threading tool, and engage the leadscrew properly—often without using the thread dial.

Here's a step-by-step guide tailored to the Pittler B2 lathe and general metric threading principles:

🛠️ Setup for Metric Threading on a Pittler B2

• Gear Train Configuration:
  • The Pittler B2 lathe typically uses change gears to set the correct pitch.
  • You’ll need a gear chart (often found in the lathe’s manual or on a plate) to determine the correct gear combination for your desired metric pitch.
  • If your lathe has an imperial leadscrew, cutting metric threads requires a 127-tooth conversion gear to compensate for the inch-to-mm difference.
• Tooling:
  • Use a single-point threading tool with a 60° included angle, which matches the ISO metric thread profile.
  • Ensure the tool is ground properly and set at center height.
• Lathe Settings:
  • Set the compound rest at 29° to allow for gradual cutting on one flank.
  • Set the carriage feed to manual and engage the half-nut lever to synchronize with the leadscrew.
• Thread Dial Consideration:
  • If your Pittler B2 has a metric leadscrew, you can use the thread dial.
  • If it has an imperial leadscrew, you must leave the half-nut engaged and reverse the spindle between passes to maintain synchronization.

⚙️ Cutting Process

1. Mark and Measure: Lay out the thread length and verify the pitch.
2. Align Tool: Position the threading tool at the start point.
3. Engage Half-Nut: Start the lathe and engage the half-nut at the correct point.
4. Make Passes: Cut in multiple passes, increasing depth slightly each time.
5. Reverse and Repeat: If not using a thread dial, reverse the lathe to return to the start without disengaging the half-nut.
6. Check Fit: Use thread gauges or mating parts to verify fit.

Which, I am sure you will agree, is a totally rubbish answer. But it would be misleading to anyone who, unlike you and I , doesn't actually know the Pittler Lathe and how to operate it.

https://sites.google.com/view/pittler-lathes/accessories-dropdown-menus/gears-worms

https://sites.google.com/view/pittler-lathes/accessories-dropdown-menus/pittler-literature

"...There is not a great deal of vintage Pittler literature easily available in English unfortunately. ..."

Tbh I'm impressed it found anything on a German120 yr vintage lathe where most of the information is in vintage books not likely to be on the web or digitised.

And it's an unconventional lathe to begin with. It's hardly "my first lathe". I've used conventional lathes not a lot but I have used them in machine shops when prototyping. But decades ago. So if theres nuances about a rare vintage lathe I'm hardly going to know about it.

"Tbh I'm impressed it found anything on a German120 yr vintage lathe where most of the information is in vintage books not likely to be on the web or digitised. "

That's the problem with AI. It didn't find the information to answer the question. But instead of coming back with that, it just made up an answer. You might be impressed but i am not.

But seriously, the problem is not going to be misinformation on lathes or motorcycles, important to some of us as they are, but rather when governments and public sectors start using it. What if you are refused social welfare or a pension because of some AI bot. Or your child is not admitted to a local school because of one of these AI engines. I m banned certainly would like to see them banned from any decision making role, even if it is only a supporting one. I have no problem with AI writing code. I have seen my fair share or rubbish code written by humans and I imagine AI could match it. I would also like to see consequences for misinformation so that if an answer was wrong the AI engine owners would be liable for any damage caused. Of course that won't happen, IT companies seem to have governments around their little fingers and are generally excused their liabilities, for example on online publishing.

PS. Your links, Vic is an old friend and i could of course have asked the question of him .

Will AI take your job if your job is using a 120yr lathe. Unlikely.