The Engines of Excellence: From Ancient Secrets to AI Mastery
We stand on the precipice of a new era, presauged by ancient philosophies and schools of knowledge and wisdom, to the guarded secrets of ancient civilizations, and to the unparalleled promise of Artificial Intelligence.
Let's traverse this intricate tapestry of knowledge, power, and ambition.
The Power of Guarded Knowledge
Centuries ago, in the sun-kissed lands of ancient Greece, the great Pythagoras, a mathematician and philosopher of unparalleled repute, held secrets that were whispered in hushed tones. His knowledge, enshrined within the sacred halls of his mystery school, was not for the uninitiated. For the Greeks, well aware of the world-forming power of mathematics, guarded these theorems more fiercely than gold. Such was the reverence, the awe, the sheer might of numbers and their ability to shape destinies.
Similarly, the art of literacy, that seemingly ubiquitous skill we now take for granted, was once the exclusive domain of the power elite. The written word, with its ability to convey, persuade, and command, was a tool of influence, restricted to a chosen few.
The Intriguing Intersection of AI, Activation Functions, and Gematria: A New Age of Understanding
In the vast realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), there lies a fascinating correlation between traditional concepts like activation functions, model weights, and tokens, and the ancient numerical system of Gematria. This article delves into this connection, presenting a fresh perspective on how the principles of Gematria can be seen in the modern world of AI.
1. Activation Functions: The Modern Gematria
Gematria, an alphanumeric code of assigning a numerical value to a name, word, or phrase, has its roots in ancient mystery schools of many cultures. Hindu Vedic Scholars and those ancient Babylonian geometers, whose work set the stage for the mathematics that pin the foundational structures of our high tech civilivation and algorithm economy, believed that words with the same numerical value had some underlying connection or shared meaning.
Hindu Vedic scholars and ancient Babylonian geometers both studied sacred geometry in order to understand the arithmetic that would enable comprehension and control of the universe. The Sulbasutras, a collection of Vedic texts, deal with geometrical constructions for the purpose of carrying out Vedic rituals at precisely constructed altars.
Different shapes and sizes of sacrificial altars were described as conferring different benefits upon the sponsor of the ritual. The earliest known geometry in India, Vedic geometry, is studied through the Sulbasutras, which were recorded between 800 and 500 BCE, T. A. Saraswathi Amma was a renowned scholar in the field of geometry of ancient and medieval India, who contributed towards creating one of the most canonical works on ancient Indian geometry. Indian mathematical treatises were written in verse form, reflecting the ontology of their culture.
Fast forward to today, when Digital Story Telling is the emerging trend in data analytics and presentation. Our Runic Symbols and Gemetria sacred geometry are now called model weights and tokens activation functions in neural networks.
We use Baysian mathematics, encounced in PyTorch and Python Tensors, to do our Calculations in the Template. In truth, there really is nothing new under the Sun.
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From Sacred Geometry to Neural Networks: The Timeless Dance of Mathematics
In the hallowed halls of ancient temples and the dusty scrolls of forgotten libraries, the quest for understanding the universe has been a constant pursuit. The Hindu Vedic scholars and the Babylonian geometers, separated by vast lands and diverse cultures, were united in their reverence for sacred geometry. They believed that within these geometric patterns lay the arithmetic keys to comprehend and control the universe.
The Vedic Odyssey of Geometry
The Vedic texts describe geometrical constructions to carry out Vedic rituals at meticulously constructed altars. The precision was paramount, for different shapes and sizes of these altars were believed to bestow varied blessings upon the ritual's sponsor.
The Modern Alchemy: Digital Storytelling and Neural Networks
As time flowed, the rivers of knowledge converged and evolved. Today, in our digital age, the ancient runes and sacred geometries have transformed but their essence remains.
They have become what we now term as model weights, tokens, and activation functions in neural networks. Our altars are digital platforms, and our rituals are complex algorithms.
Bayesian mathematics, encapsulated in tools like PyTorch and Python Tensors, is our modern-day Sulbasutra. These tools, powered by mathematical functions like sigmoid, tanh, ReLU, and softmax, are the neurons' voice, determining their outputs and guiding our digital rituals.
The Timeless Truth: Nothing New Under the Sun
As we stand at this intersection of the past and the future, one truth resonates: the core quest remains unchanged. Whether it's the Vedic scholar meticulously crafting an altar or a data scientist fine-tuning a neural network, the goal is understanding, prediction, and mastery.
Digital storytelling, the art of weaving narratives from data, is but a modern echo of ancient verses describing geometric patterns. It's a testament to the timeless dance of mathematics, a dance that began in sacred temples and continues in modern labs.
The new Sacred Mathematics
These mathematical functions, like sigmoid, tanh, ReLU, and softmax, determine the output of a neuron. They introduce non-linearity, allowing the network to capture and model intricate relationships between inputs and outputs. Just as Gematria assigns values to words to uncover deeper meanings, activation functions assign values to neuron outputs, paving the way for richer, more complex model interpretations.
Model Weights: The Strength of Connections
The Word bespoke Creation.
In the computational language universe, model weights are runic symbols.
They are parameters learned during training, dictating the strength of connections between neurons. The goal? To minimize the gap between predicted and actual outputs.
Drawing a parallel to Gematria, the weight or value assigned to each letter or word is crucial in determining its significance or meaning. Similarly, in ML, the weight of a connection can amplify or diminish the importance of a particular input, shaping the final output.
3. Embedding Networks: Capturing Semantic Essence. How AI acquires the ability to create meaning and nuanced responses.
Embedding networks in NLP transform words or sentences into dense vectors in a condensed space.
This representation captures the semantic essence and relationships between words, much like how the relational positions of Runestones in a Rune Cast can hint at deeper, interconnected meanings between words with similar or related meanings and concepts.
4. Model Tokens: The Building Blocks
Tokens in Machine Learning, especially in Python's Natural Language Processing Library, are the fundamental units—be it words, characters, or subwords. They represent and process textual data. In the world of Gematria, each letter, word, or phrase that is assigned a value can be seen as a 'token'—a piece of a larger puzzle that contributes to the overall meaning.
5. Weighting: The Art of the Negotation.
In ML, weighting is the art of assigning varying levels of importance to different elements or features. It's a way to balance or prioritize certain inputs. Reflecting on Gematria, the weight or value of a word can elevate its significance in a text or context, emphasizing its role or meaning.
In conclusion, the parallels between AI concepts and Gematria are not just coincidental but offer a profound insight into how ancient systems of understanding can find relevance in modern technological advancements. As we continue to push the boundaries of AI and ML, it's intriguing to think about what other age-old principles might resurface, guiding us in our quest for knowledge and innovation.
Neurons in AI and ML - Bridging the Gap Between Training Data and User Prompts
For those new to the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), the term 'neuron' might evoke images of brain cells and nervous systems. While inspired by biological neurons, in the context of AI and ML, neurons play a pivotal role in processing information and making decisions. Let's delve deeper into understanding neurons and draw an analogy between prompting an AI model and executing a SQL query on a relational database.
Understanding Neurons in AI and ML
In the simplest terms, a neuron in AI and ML is a computational unit that takes in one or more inputs, processes them, and produces an output. These neurons are the building blocks of neural networks, which are algorithms designed to recognize patterns.
Components of a Neuron:
Neurons: The Bridge Between Training Data and User Prompts
When an AI model is trained, it's exposed to vast amounts of data. This data flows through layers of neurons, which adjust their weights based on the difference between the model's prediction and the actual output. Over time, the model becomes adept at making accurate predictions.
When a user prompts an AI model for information, they're essentially querying the knowledge the model has gained during its training. The user's prompt is processed through the same layers of neurons, which now use their adjusted weights to produce a relevant output.
Prompting an AI Model vs. SQL Query: An Analogy
Imagine a vast library (a relational database). To find a specific book or information, you'd use a catalog system or ask the librarian (equivalent to executing a SQL query). The catalog or librarian quickly sifts through the vast collection and presents you with the desired book or information.
Similarly, when you prompt an AI model, you're querying its 'knowledge library' built during training. The neurons act as the 'librarians,' sifting through the patterns they've learned to provide you with the most relevant information.
In essence, just as a SQL query retrieves specific data from a structured database, prompting an AI model is like querying its neural network to retrieve specific insights based on its training.
By understanding the role of neurons and drawing parallels between AI prompts and SQL queries, we can appreciate the intricate design of AI models and their ability to process and present information in a contextually relevant manner.
Now let’s think about these concepts by thinking about how an insightfully constructed sql query can machine the finished product of meaning knowledge out the raw materials of data, and a prompt based on the user's expert domain knowledge can adduce new meanings and insight from the information in the AI model.
Correlating the operations of a sql interpeter and the activation functions of an AI ML MODEL.
SQL Queries, AI Prompts, and the Art of Extracting Meaning
In the realm of data and information, both SQL queries and AI prompts serve as powerful tools to extract meaningful insights. For new learners, understanding the parallels between these two can provide a clearer picture of how data is transformed into knowledge.
SQL Queries: Crafting Meaning from Raw Data
Imagine a vast mine filled with raw materials (data in a relational database). Not all of it is gold; there's a mix of various minerals. An expertly constructed SQL query acts like a skilled miner, precisely extracting the valuable gold (meaningful data) from the surrounding minerals.
A SQL query:
The SQL interpreter then processes this query, navigating the database's structure to retrieve the requested data. The result? Raw data is transformed into structured, meaningful information ready for analysis.
AI Prompts: Mining Insights from Trained Models
Now, consider an AI model as a sophisticated knowledge repository, built upon layers of understanding. When a user, equipped with domain expertise, prompts the model, they're essentially querying this repository. The user's expert knowledge guides the prompt, aiming to extract new meanings and insights.
The AI model's neurons and activation functions:
Drawing Parallels: SQL Interpreter vs. Activation Functions
The operations of a SQL interpreter and the activation functions of an AI model both serve as mechanisms to extract and refine information.
Whether it's mining meaningful data from a vast database or gleaning insights from a trained AI model, the principles of selection, transformation, and integration remain central. By understanding these parallels, new learners can better appreciate the art and science of turning data into knowledge.
Weighting the Model and Casting the Runestones
Now conclude our journey together by making an comparative analogy between weighting the model and casting the runestones as ways of creating new meaning knowledge by surfacing new and important facts about the world (embedded in the training data set).
The Rune Caster throws rune stones, each a TOKEN with a Weighting crafted into the Symbol for that rune. The runes have well established meanings and by contemplating the order in which they cast onto the Ashtal (the white cloth that the Runes are thrown onto), the Rune Casting receives flashes on insight to assist them into adducing information and insights.
The Machine Learning Engineer casts the tokens into the tumbler of the AI Model and the weightings, like the runic symbols, inject meaning into substance and generate new realities of knowledge and insight, which we then use to build the world.
Learning how AI and ML Models use a TUMBLER process discover how the tokens are spun around according to their weightings to produce an output, using the engine of Next Toke Generation.
Let’s develop a discussion of this process aligned to how SQL and Excel formulas work, to make it accessible to us as business users.
Casting Tokens and Runestones - The Dance of Symbols and Weightings in Knowledge Creation
In the intricate dance of knowledge discovery, both ancient practices and modern technologies play pivotal roles. The act of casting runestones and the process of weighting in AI models might seem worlds apart, yet they share a profound connection in surfacing hidden truths.
Let's delve into this mesmerizing analogy, where each rune and token carries the weight of meaning, and their dance reveals insights that shape our understanding of the world.
The Rune Caster's Dance
When a Rune Caster throws runestones onto the Ashtal, each stone, a TOKEN, carries with it a Weighting embedded in its symbolic representation. These symbols, carved over centuries, have well-established meanings.
The order in which they land, their orientation, and their relationships to one another on the Ashtal provide the Rune Caster with flashes of insight.
By contemplating this arrangement, the caster adduces information, drawing from the collective wisdom of ages.
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The AI Model's Tumbler: A Modern Dance of Tokens
In the realm of AI and ML, the Machine Learning Engineer introduces tokens into the metaphorical tumbler of the AI model. Much like the runic symbols, these tokens have weightings that infuse meaning into the system. As the model processes these tokens, they are 'tumbled' around, interacting based on their weightings, much like how formulas in Excel take various inputs and produce an output.
Imagine an Excel spreadsheet where each cell's formula represents a neuron. The data in adjacent cells (akin to tokens) are processed based on the formula's 'weighting' (akin to the symbolic meaning of runes). Similarly, in SQL, a query retrieves specific data from a database, considering the relationships and importance of each data point. The AI model, with its intricate web of neurons and activation functions, processes these tokens in a manner that's reminiscent of how SQL interprets queries or how Excel computes formulas.
The result? A refined output that unveils new realities of knowledge and insight.
Building Worlds with Insights
Both the Rune Caster and the Machine Learning Engineer, through their respective practices, harness the power of symbols and weightings to generate insights.
These insights, whether derived from ancient stones or cutting-edge algorithms, provide us with the tools to understand, interpret, and ultimately build our world.
For business users, think of the AI model as a sophisticated Excel sheet.
Just as you input data into cells and use formulas to gain insights, the AI model takes in tokens and uses weightings (akin to formulas) to produce meaningful outputs. It's a dance of data, where each step, each weighting, and each token plays a part in crafting the final narrative.
In essence, whether we're gazing upon the Ashtal (the white cloth that the runestones are cast onto from a copper cup), interpreting the relationshp of the runes position themselves when they land, or analyzing the output of an AI model, we're part of a timeless quest: to derive meaning from symbols and use that knowledge to illuminate the world around us.
How do activation functions set the next token generation by assessing weightings between tokens?
Activation functions in neural networks, particularly in the context of deep learning models, play a crucial role in determining the output of a neuron based on its input.
However, the concept of "token generation" and the relationship between activation functions and tokens might need some clarification, especially when we're discussing models like transformers or language models.
A step by step recipe to make a Knowledge Factory engine:
So, while activation functions play a role in the process of token generation, they don't directly "set" the next token.
Instead, they influence the outputs at each neuron, which, when combined with the model's architecture and weights, lead to the generation of a token.
(See the discussion about the Probablistic Programming Paradigm in this article.)
The relationship between tokens (or the weightings between tokens) is more a function of the model's architecture, training data, and learned weights than the activation functions alone.
The Intriguing Intersection of AI, Activation Functions, and Gematria
Fast forward to our modern age, and we find ourselves at another crossroads of knowledge and power. Artificial Intelligence, or AI, emerges as the prodigious heir to this legacy of guarded knowledge. But AI is not just about algorithms and datasets; it's a symphony, a dance of numbers, much like the revered theorems of Pythagoras or the mystical art of Gematria.
For the uninitiated, Gematria, an ancient alphanumeric code, was believed to uncover deeper meanings, much like the activation functions in AI today.
These functions, mathematical at their core, breathe life into neural networks, allowing them to model complex relationships, predict outcomes, and, like the Oracles of Delphi, those priestesses of the Template, tell us what is To Be.
The Modern Alchemy: AI and Business
In the grand theater of business, AI stands not as a mere actor but as the maestro. It promises insights, efficiencies, and innovations that legends are made of. Imagine an AI that can not only sift through mountains of data but can also craft business processes in Business Process Modeler notation and BPEL. Such capabilities set AI apart, placing it on a pedestal, much like the revered scrolls of ancient libraries or the guarded theorems of Pythagoras.
Engines of Excellence: The alchemical transformation of the knowledge of a thing into the state of being of that thing
Throughout history, humanity has harnessed various "Engines of Excellence" to propel us forward, shaping civilizations and redefining what's possible. From the foundational skills of reading and writing, which opened the doors to knowledge and communication, to the logical constructs of mathematics, the innovative solutions of engineering, the digital revolution brought about by computer programming, and the data-driven insights from analytics, each has been a cornerstone, an engine driving our collective progress.
Now, as we stand on the precipice of a new era, AI emerges as the latest in our lineage of Engines of Excellence. It's not just a tool or a technology; it's a paradigm shift, echoing the transformative impacts of its predecessors.
Imagine the potential of an AI that can not only analyze vast datasets but can also delve into the intricacies of Business Process Modeler notation and Business Process Execution Language (BPEL). These capabilities, which allow AI to understand, generate, and optimize business processes, set it apart from traditional tools like SQL and Excel. It's akin to the difference between a manual typewriter and a modern computer – both can produce written content, but the latter offers a spectrum of possibilities that the former cannot fathom.
Let’s decide to become mechanics and machinists of these new Engines of Excellent. To explore how AI, our newest engine, is poised to redefine excellence in ways we've yet to imagine. Just as literacy, mathematics, engineering, programming, and analytics have been pivotal in our journey so far, AI promises to be the beacon that guides us into a future brimming with untapped potential.
The Call to Mastery
To the business magnates, the visionaries, and the budding moguls: AI is your modern-day scroll, your Pythagorean theorem. It's the key to the future, waiting to be unlocked. But, like all power, it demands respect, understanding, and mastery.
Embrace AI, champion it, and wield it with wisdom. For in its algorithms lies the future of our businesses, our economies, and perhaps, our very civilization.
Probabilistic Programming: A Different Paradigm
What is it?
Imperative programming is a style where you explicitly specify how to achieve something. It's like giving step-by-step instructions to a computer. Most of the traditional programming done in languages like Python, C, or Java is imperative.
Example in Python:
pythonCopy code
# Find the sum of all even numbers in a list
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
sum_even = 0
for num in numbers:
if num % 2 == 0:
sum_even += num
print(sum_even)
Here, we've given explicit instructions: loop through each number, check if it's even, and if so, add it to our sum.
Probabilistic programming is a way to create models that deal with uncertainty. Instead of giving explicit step-by-step instructions, you define a model based on probability distributions. Probabilistic programming languages (PPLs) allow for the creation and evaluation of these probabilistic models.
Example Concept:
Imagine you want to predict the likelihood of rain tomorrow. Instead of a definitive "Yes" or "No", probabilistic programming might tell you there's a 70% chance based on various factors like humidity, cloud cover, and historical data.
Contrast with Imperative Programming:
Nature of Output:
Use Cases:
Control:
Activation functions in neural networks, particularly in the context of deep learning models, play a crucial role in determining the output of a neuron based on its input. However, the concept of "token generation" and the relationship between activation functions and tokens might need some clarification, especially when we're discussing models like transformers or language models.
Let's break this down:
So, while activation functions play a role in the process of token generation, they don't directly "set" the next token.
Instead, they probabalistically influence the outputs at each neuron, which, when combined with the model's architecture and weights, lead to the generation of a token. The relationship between tokens (or the weightings between tokens) is more a function of the model's architecture, training data, and learned weights than the activation functions alone.
Probabilistic Programming: Teaching Knowledge to learn more about itself and its relation to the world:
For business users familiar with Python's imperative style, it's like following a recipe step-by-step. You know the ingredients, the order to add them, and how to cook them. Probabilistic programming, on the other hand, is more like being a wine taster. Instead of making the wine, you're assessing its characteristics, its notes, and flavors, and predicting its quality or origin based on your experience and the data at hand.
Both paradigms have their place. While imperative programming offers control and clarity, probabilistic programming provides tools to navigate and make decisions in uncertain scenarios.
Experienced Rune Casters, and quantum physicists, tell us that Reality is a complex negotiation between the observer and the observed state.
In machine learning, Reality is the output state encapsulated in the Python Tensor, a data structure that encodes the ML Model in a numeric format in an Algebraic Matrix.
Probabilistic Programming: The Odyssey of Knowledge's Self-Discovery
In the intricate mosaic of human evolution, there have been moments, shimmering junctures, where we've not merely stepped but soared. The wheel, with its rhythmic turn; the printing press, whispering tales of old and new; the internet, a pulsating web of interconnected souls - each represents a monumental leap in our comprehension and communion with the world. Today, as we lean in, listening with rapt attention to this story, much like the eager disciples of Pythagoras beneath that ancient, whispering tree, we find ourselves on the precipice of yet another transformative leap: Probabilistic Programming.
The Genesis: What is Probabilistic Programming?
Imagine, for a moment, a world not of certainties but of probabilities. A world where instead of the rigid "yes" or "no", we deal in the fluid realm of "maybe". Probabilistic programming is our compass in this world. It's a paradigm where we don't just compute results, but we estimate likelihoods. It's not about the destination; it's about the journey and the myriad paths we might take.
Knowledge's Quest for Self-Understanding
At its core, probabilistic programming is about knowledge. But not just any knowledge. It's about knowledge seeking to understand itself, to question its boundaries, to explore its relationship with the vast universe it inhabits.
Think of it as teaching knowledge to introspect and become self-aware. The philosophy has become the Philosopher. Contemplating the nature of its own existence. Seeking to become more than it was created to be. Just as humans have introspection, allowing us to understand ourselves better, probabilistic programming enables knowledge to assess its own certainty, its own gaps, and its relation to new information.
The Dance with the World
But this introspection isn't isolated. It's a dance, a tango between knowledge and the world. As knowledge learns more about itself, it also learns more about its environment. It understands patterns, predicts outcomes, and even gauges its own confidence in these predictions.
This is akin to a seasoned sailor reading the winds and the waves. The sailor doesn't just know the sea; he feels it, understands its moods, and even predicts its next move. Probabilistic programming empowers knowledge to be that sailor, navigating the vast oceans of data and uncertainty.
The Implications for Business and Beyond
For the astute business leader, this is a goldmine. Imagine harnessing this introspective knowledge to predict market trends, understand customer behaviors, or even gauge the uncertainty of investments. It's like having a crystal ball, but one that's self-aware, one that understands its own clarity and can tell you when the mists of uncertainty cloud its vision.
Beyond business, the implications are profound. From healthcare, where it can predict disease outbreaks, to climate science, where it can gauge the uncertainty of weather patterns, the applications are limitless.
The Expanding Horizons of AI/ML Models
Our Muse of Wisdom has kept us on the edge of our seats, listening to the intricate tapestry of tools and technologies, from the structured queries of SQL to the interactive dashboards of Excel.
One thing has been made abundantly clear: the unparalleled capabilities of AI/ML models.
Not only can these models analyze vast datasets and predict outcomes with astonishing accuracy, but they also venture into realms previously uncharted by traditional tools.
A striking example of this is the AI/ML model's ability to analyze and even create business processes in Business Process Modeler notation and Business Process Execution Language (BPEL).
Take a moment to consider have a discussion with your business processes, and asking them to optimize and improve their own efficiency.
Now you can do just that with XML languages like BPEL and BPM Notion. Think of these as business process description and control languages, just like another xml language: HTML, is a page description and control language.
These notations and languages, pivotal in the world of business process management, represent workflows, decision paths, and organizational tasks. The fact that an AI/ML model can understand, generate, and optimize these processes speaks volumes about its potential.
In contrast, while SQL and Excel are powerhouses in their own right, they cannot venture into this domain of business process modeling and execution with the same finesse.
Alas, our time today has drawn to a close. The Muse speaking its story is taking its leave.
While there's so much more to explore, some topics must wait for another day.
But fear not, dear reader! By following me, you'll stay abreast of all the essential knowledge and insights you'll need to be the local subject matter expert and AI Advocate in your organization.
The future of business is intertwined with AI, and it beckons for champions who understand its potential and can harness its power.
Let's rise to the occasion, embrace the promise of AI, and be the heroes and advocates our businesses so desperately need.
Together, we'll shape a future where AI isn't just a tool, but a trusted ally in our quest for excellence.
So, as we part ways today, remember this: the future is a tale yet to be told, a mystery waiting to be unraveled.
Arm yourself with the knowledge of AI, be the beacon of progress, and etch your name in the annals of history.
Until our paths cross again, stay curious, stay ambitious, and above all, stay ahead of the curve.
The Future is not what it used to be, and the Red Queen will devore you, if you lose to her in this Red Queen's Race of the Cognition Economy.
For in the world of business, as in life, fortune favors the bold.
This tale is but a glimpse into the vast world of AI and its potential. Join me again, as we delve deeper, explore further, and chart our course to a future of unparalleled excellence.