From rob at 2disc.com Sun Feb 2 16:59:07 2025 From: rob at 2disc.com (Rob Laporte) Date: Sun, 02 Feb 2025 11:59:07 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications Message-ID: <194c79919da.c23c9d1c2501988.6595083042804935942@2disc.com> Hi All, The following intrigue-laced home insurance drama suggests great uses for LLMs, as well as entrepreneurial vistas. Insurance Policy Skulduggery Customized LLM tools like OpenAI GPTs, Google NoteBook LM, and Claude Projects enable brilliant unpacking of insurance policies and their tiny annual text changes that can undermine your coverage and increase risk. Given news about surprise clauses denying or reducing coverage for CA wildfire victims, and given that all, even non-CA, insurance corporations will have to increase rates (due in part to how re-insurance works to insure insurance companies), I thought it wise to use LLMs to scrutinize my formerly trustworthy Amica home and auto policies.? I uploaded all past and current docs to three top LLMs, and discovered that little word changes meant that my home would not actually be covered. The details are many and important, but I?ll mention just salient issues: Language regarding home office use changed such that, say, a demolishing fire would not be covered, or at best would result in costly court battles to get the coverage one had in prior years. And guess what increased enormously since the pandemic? Home office coverage subdivides by important distinctions too involved to get into here. A little new text about security devices rendered a future claim easily dismissed. The new policy itemizes various wireless security and fire subsystems, inputting some I did not have, which gave a $35 discount. In prior years, none of those devices were listed. ChatGPT explained that this is one of several tricks insurance companies use: If I had not found it, and my home burned down, the insurance company could claim the misrepresentation is a kind of fraud nullifying the contract. And one of the features Amica pre-filled for me was a ?Wi-Fi connected fire alarm? I don?t have. Yes, you could fight that in court, but you?d likely have to settle for less than full coverage or else risk losing all at trial.? Other little text changes since last year impacted full replacement costs, personal property coverage, town building ordinance costs during rebuild, and more. All of the changes either reduced coverage or injected ambiguity that corporate insurance lawyers love in denying claims.? When I called the insurance company rep (and got permission to record as they too record), she claimed that they had not gotten my contact form submission of questions I sent via a linked Google doc. I had gotten a reply that a rep would get back to me--after the renewal and auto-pay date I disabled. While spoke with a rep, I arranged emailing it directly to her, and she claimed she did not get it--while Google showed 6 new live viewers streaming in (the doc was viewable only via that emailed link). After some talk, I pointed out that several people just started looking at the doc right now, prompting the live viewers to drop off one after another like cockroaches when the light goes on. She said she?d have to refer this matter to the local branch who would call me Monday. A long hold early in the conversation--after I explained my LLM use--suggests she had already looped in managers and probably legal, who were not only viewing the doc but also must have been listening live. It seems insurance companies are gearing up for a trend of people using LLMs to scrutinize policies.? Lesson: LLMs empower us to vet contracts rapidly. Similar LLM Uses and Related Career Opportunities One can vet one?s town property taxes. A neighbor into LLMs is currently making a little interactive app which (1) shows how much more or less one?s home tax appraisal went up relative to one?s street or any selected area, and (2) shows the maximum, minimum, and range of increases in a town. This enables detecting errors costing homeowners, and then getting LLM guidance on resolving the issue/s.? One can quickly assess Terms of Service (ToS) and Privacy Policy changes. I signed up for a crypto IRA ~5 years ago. Subsequently, they had some shady changes in storage and banking custodians. A few months ago, I could not log in to view or act unless I agreed to a new ToS. An LLM highlighted new risks in the new ToS, which were buried in the many pages. Now, after each login that requires clicking agreement, I email and post to customer service that I do not concede to the new terms. (I'll be moving from them soon; and BTW, how screwy is it that a long-term financial contract can be changed at any time?). Business Opportunity:? An enterprising soul could launch an LLM service that automatically scrutinizes one?s ever changing ToS and Privacy Policies. I recall one scholar?s research showing the typical person would need ~85 days per year to actually read all these shifting terms and policies. I bet people would pay $10+/mo to get alerts and summaries of risks for all the services they easily select for tracking. Imagine the many ways people with LLM proficiency could launch service businesses that help people and businesses manage vital information. Broader Implications for We The People A bright side of LLMs, especially open-source ones that aren?t censored, is that we can verify what officials, agencies, or governments said and when. News is for sale, but now, or very soon, truth is quickly available. There?s a reason that the protagonist Winston in Orwell?s 1984 works in the Ministry of Truth editing current and past news. And there?s a reason the Internet Archive's WayBack Machine, which offers searchable, past date-stamped views of all important websites and pages, was attacked last year by lawfare and heavy DDoS attacks to take it down.? LLMs could be potent truth machines supporting the informed consent that is the lifeblood of Democracy. Oh yes, LLMs pose menace too, but let?s not overlook their bright potentials. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From yudkinyudkin at yahoo.com Sun Feb 2 21:05:46 2025 From: yudkinyudkin at yahoo.com (Marcia Yudkin) Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2025 21:05:46 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications In-Reply-To: <194c79919da.c23c9d1c2501988.6595083042804935942@2disc.com> References: <194c79919da.c23c9d1c2501988.6595083042804935942@2disc.com> Message-ID: <1312117841.4110899.1738530346678@mail.yahoo.com> Rob, Thanks so much for posting this! I will most certainly look very closely at our own Amica homeowners policy when it is up for renewal in June. Though I have to say that Amica has been extremely customer-friendly to us in the two times we have had a claim. Marcia Yudkin / Goshen? On Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 10:07:51 AM HST, Rob Laporte via Hidden-discuss wrote: Hi All, The following intrigue-laced home insurance drama suggests great uses for LLMs, as well as entrepreneurial vistas. Insurance Policy Skulduggery Customized LLM tools like OpenAI GPTs, Google NoteBook LM, and Claude Projects enable brilliant unpacking of insurance policies and their tiny annual text changes that can undermine your coverage and increase risk. Given news about surprise clauses denying or reducing coverage for CA wildfire victims, and given that all, even non-CA, insurance corporations will have to increase rates (due in part to how re-insurance works to insure insurance companies), I thought it wise to use LLMs to scrutinize my formerly trustworthy Amica home and auto policies.? I uploaded all past and current docs to three top LLMs, and discovered that little word changes meant that my home would not actually be covered. The details are many and important, but I?ll mention just salient issues: ????* Language regarding home office use changed such that, say, a demolishing fire would not be covered, or at best would result in costly court battles to get the coverage one had in prior years. And guess what increased enormously since the pandemic? Home office coverage subdivides by important distinctions too involved to get into here. ????* A little new text about security devices rendered a future claim easily dismissed. The new policy itemizes various wireless security and fire subsystems, inputting some I did not have, which gave a $35 discount. In prior years, none of those devices were listed. ChatGPT explained that this is one of several tricks insurance companies use: If I had not found it, and my home burned down, the insurance company could claim the misrepresentation is a kind of fraud nullifying the contract. And one of the features Amica pre-filled for me was a ?Wi-Fi connected fire alarm? I don?t have. ????????* Yes, you could fight that in court, but you?d likely have to settle for less than full coverage or else risk losing all at trial.? ????* Other little text changes since last year impacted full replacement costs, personal property coverage, town building ordinance costs during rebuild, and more. All of the changes either reduced coverage or injected ambiguity that corporate insurance lawyers love in denying claims.? When I called the insurance company rep (and got permission to record as they too record), she claimed that they had not gotten my contact form submission of questions I sent via a linked Google doc. I had gotten a reply that a rep would get back to me--after the renewal and auto-pay date I disabled. While spoke with a rep, I arranged emailing it directly to her, and she claimed she did not get it--while Google showed 6 new live viewers streaming in (the doc was viewable only via that emailed link). After some talk, I pointed out that several people just started looking at the doc right now, prompting the live viewers to drop off one after another like cockroaches when the light goes on. She said she?d have to refer this matter to the local branch who would call me Monday. A long hold early in the conversation--after I explained my LLM use--suggests she had already looped in managers and probably legal, who were not only viewing the doc but also must have been listening live. It seems insurance companies are gearing up for a trend of people using LLMs to scrutinize policies.? Lesson: LLMs empower us to vet contracts rapidly. Similar LLM Uses and Related Career Opportunities One can vet one?s town property taxes. A neighbor into LLMs is currently making a little interactive app which (1) shows how much more or less one?s home tax appraisal went up relative to one?s street or any selected area, and (2) shows the maximum, minimum, and range of increases in a town. This enables detecting errors costing homeowners, and then getting LLM guidance on resolving the issue/s.? One can quickly assess Terms of Service (ToS) and Privacy Policy changes. I signed up for a crypto IRA ~5 years ago. Subsequently, they had some shady changes in storage and banking custodians. A few months ago, I could not log in to view or act unless I agreed to a new ToS. An LLM highlighted new risks in the new ToS, which were buried in the many pages. Now, after each login that requires clicking agreement, I email and post to customer service that I do not concede to the new terms. (I'll be moving from them soon; and BTW, how screwy is it that a long-term financial contract can be changed at any time?). Business Opportunity:? An enterprising soul could launch an LLM service that automatically scrutinizes one?s ever changing ToS and Privacy Policies. I recall one scholar?s research showing the typical person would need ~85 days per year to actually read all these shifting terms and policies. I bet people would pay $10+/mo to get alerts and summaries of risks for all the services they easily select for tracking. Imagine the many ways people with LLM proficiency could launch service businesses that help people and businesses manage vital information. Broader Implications for We The People A bright side of LLMs, especially open-source ones that aren?t censored, is that we can verify what officials, agencies, or governments said and when. News is for sale, but now, or very soon, truth is quickly available. There?s a reason that the protagonist Winston in Orwell?s 1984 works in the Ministry of Truth editing current and past news. And there?s a reason the Internet Archive's WayBack Machine, which offers searchable, past date-stamped views of all important websites and pages, was attacked last year by lawfare and heavy DDoS attacks to take it down.? LLMs could be potent truth machines supporting the informed consent that is the lifeblood of Democracy. Oh yes, LLMs pose menace too, but let?s not overlook their bright potentials. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members From alan at 8wheels.org Sun Feb 2 21:09:10 2025 From: alan at 8wheels.org (Alan Frank) Date: Sun, 02 Feb 2025 16:09:10 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications In-Reply-To: <194c79919da.c23c9d1c2501988.6595083042804935942@2disc.com> References: <194c79919da.c23c9d1c2501988.6595083042804935942@2disc.com> Message-ID: Many of us are deducting home office costs on our Schedule C's. It's probably worth considering how much you are saving by doing so compared with the risk and expense of noncoverage if you have a clause in your policy similar to Rob's. --Alan -------- Original Message -------- SUBJECT: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications DATE: 2025-02-02 11:59 FROM: Rob Laporte via Hidden-discuss TO: "hidden-discuss" Hi All, The following intrigue-laced home insurance drama suggests great uses for LLMs, as well as entrepreneurial vistas. Insurance Policy Skulduggery Customized LLM tools like OpenAI GPTs, Google NoteBook LM, and Claude Projects enable brilliant unpacking of insurance policies and their tiny annual text changes that can undermine your coverage and increase risk. Given news about surprise clauses denying or reducing coverage for CA wildfire victims, and given that all, even non-CA, insurance corporations will have to increase rates (due in part to how re-insurance works to insure insurance companies), I thought it wise to use LLMs to scrutinize my formerly trustworthy Amica home and auto policies. I uploaded all past and current docs to three top LLMs, and discovered that little word changes meant that my home would not actually be covered. The details are many and important, but I'll mention just salient issues: * Language regarding home office use changed such that, say, a demolishing fire would not be covered, or at best would result in costly court battles to get the coverage one had in prior years. And guess what increased enormously since the pandemic? Home office coverage subdivides by important distinctions too involved to get into here. * A little new text about security devices rendered a future claim easily dismissed. The new policy itemizes various wireless security and fire subsystems, inputting some I did not have, which gave a $35 discount. In prior years, none of those devices were listed. ChatGPT explained that this is one of several tricks insurance companies use: If I had not found it, and my home burned down, the insurance company could claim the misrepresentation is a kind of fraud nullifying the contract. And one of the features Amica pre-filled for me was a "Wi-Fi connected fire alarm" I don't have. * Yes, you could fight that in court, but you'd likely have to settle for less than full coverage or else risk losing all at trial. * Other little text changes since last year impacted full replacement costs, personal property coverage, town building ordinance costs during rebuild, and more. All of the changes either reduced coverage or injected ambiguity that corporate insurance lawyers love in denying claims. When I called the insurance company rep (and got permission to record as they too record), she claimed that they had not gotten my contact form submission of questions I sent via a linked Google doc. I had gotten a reply that a rep would get back to me--after the renewal and auto-pay date I disabled. While spoke with a rep, I arranged emailing it directly to her, and she claimed she did not get it--while Google showed 6 new live viewers streaming in (the doc was viewable only via that emailed link). After some talk, I pointed out that several people just started looking at the doc right now, prompting the live viewers to drop off one after another like cockroaches when the light goes on. She said she'd have to refer this matter to the local branch who would call me Monday. A long hold early in the conversation--after I explained my LLM use--suggests she had already looped in managers and probably legal, who were not only viewing the doc but also must have been listening live. It seems insurance companies are gearing up for a trend of people using LLMs to scrutinize policies. Lesson: LLMs empower us to vet contracts rapidly. Similar LLM Uses and Related Career Opportunities One can vet one's town property taxes. A neighbor into LLMs is currently making a little interactive app which (1) shows how much more or less one's home tax appraisal went up relative to one's street or any selected area, and (2) shows the maximum, minimum, and range of increases in a town. This enables detecting errors costing homeowners, and then getting LLM guidance on resolving the issue/s. One can quickly assess Terms of Service (ToS) and Privacy Policy changes. I signed up for a crypto IRA ~5 years ago. Subsequently, they had some shady changes in storage and banking custodians. A few months ago, I could not log in to view or act unless I agreed to a new ToS. An LLM highlighted new risks in the new ToS, which were buried in the many pages. Now, after each login that requires clicking agreement, I email and post to customer service that I do not concede to the new terms. (I'll be moving from them soon; and BTW, how screwy is it that a long-term financial contract can be changed at any time?). Business Opportunity: An enterprising soul could launch an LLM service that automatically scrutinizes one's ever changing ToS and Privacy Policies. I recall one scholar's research showing the typical person would need ~85 days per year to actually read all these shifting terms and policies. I bet people would pay $10+/mo to get alerts and summaries of risks for all the services they easily select for tracking. Imagine the many ways people with LLM proficiency could launch service businesses that help people and businesses manage vital information. Broader Implications for We The People A bright side of LLMs, especially open-source ones that aren't censored, is that we can verify what officials, agencies, or governments said and when. News is for sale, but now, or very soon, truth is quickly available. There's a reason that the protagonist Winston in Orwell's 1984 works in the Ministry of Truth editing current and past news. And there's a reason the Internet Archive's WayBack Machine, which offers searchable, past date-stamped views of all important websites and pages, was attacked last year by lawfare and heavy DDoS attacks to take it down. LLMs could be potent truth machines supporting the informed consent that is the lifeblood of Democracy. Oh yes, LLMs pose menace too, but let's not overlook their bright potentials. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO | R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites Make Money Rob at 2disc.com, 413-584-6500 www.2disc.com [1] NOTE: Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don't get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members Links: ------ [1] https://www.2disc.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rob at 2disc.com Tue Feb 4 16:24:56 2025 From: rob at 2disc.com (Rob Laporte) Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2025 11:24:56 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications In-Reply-To: References: <194c79919da.c23c9d1c2501988.6595083042804935942@2disc.com> Message-ID: <194d1c68213.dba7d9d7274436.979779353105103713@2disc.com> Hi All, Amica cleared up all but the crucial matter of home offices, for which they will get back to me in a day or two. Seconding Marcia, I have found Amica excellent, with my recent experience an exception. But Insurance companies are profit-driven, and obviously half of profit entails reducing payouts. Hence all the ??trust us? marketing. The last few years have been brutal on insurance companies. I'll post the resolution about home offices when I get it. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ---- On Sun, 02 Feb 2025 16:09:10 -0500 Alan Frank wrote --- Many of us are deducting home office costs on our Schedule C's.? It's probably worth considering how much you are saving by doing so compared with the risk and expense of noncoverage if you have a clause in your policy similar to Rob's. --Alan -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications Date: 2025-02-02 11:59 From: Rob Laporte via Hidden-discuss To: "hidden-discuss" Hi All, The following intrigue-laced home insurance drama suggests great uses for LLMs, as well as entrepreneurial vistas. Insurance Policy Skulduggery Customized LLM tools like OpenAI GPTs, Google NoteBook LM, and Claude Projects enable brilliant unpacking of insurance policies and their tiny annual text changes that can undermine your coverage and increase risk. Given news about surprise clauses denying or reducing coverage for CA wildfire victims, and given that all, even non-CA, insurance corporations will have to increase rates (due in part to how re-insurance works to insure insurance companies), I thought it wise to use LLMs to scrutinize my formerly trustworthy Amica home and auto policies.? I uploaded all past and current docs to three top LLMs, and discovered that little word changes meant that my home would not actually be covered. The details are many and important, but I'll mention just salient issues: Language regarding home office use changed such that, say, a demolishing fire would not be covered, or at best would result in costly court battles to get the coverage one had in prior years. And guess what increased enormously since the pandemic? Home office coverage subdivides by important distinctions too involved to get into here. A little new text about security devices rendered a future claim easily dismissed. The new policy itemizes various wireless security and fire subsystems, inputting some I did not have, which gave a $35 discount. In prior years, none of those devices were listed. ChatGPT explained that this is one of several tricks insurance companies use: If I had not found it, and my home burned down, the insurance company could claim the misrepresentation is a kind of fraud nullifying the contract. And one of the features Amica pre-filled for me was a "Wi-Fi connected fire alarm" I don't have. Yes, you could fight that in court, but you'd likely have to settle for less than full coverage or else risk losing all at trial.? Other little text changes since last year impacted full replacement costs, personal property coverage, town building ordinance costs during rebuild, and more. All of the changes either reduced coverage or injected ambiguity that corporate insurance lawyers love in denying claims.? When I called the insurance company rep (and got permission to record as they too record), she claimed that they had not gotten my contact form submission of questions I sent via a linked Google doc. I had gotten a reply that a rep would get back to me--after the renewal and auto-pay date I disabled. While spoke with a rep, I arranged emailing it directly to her, and she claimed she did not get it--while Google showed 6 new live viewers streaming in (the doc was viewable only via that emailed link). After some talk, I pointed out that several people just started looking at the doc right now, prompting the live viewers to drop off one after another like cockroaches when the light goes on. She said she'd have to refer this matter to the local branch who would call me Monday. A long hold early in the conversation--after I explained my LLM use--suggests she had already looped in managers and probably legal, who were not only viewing the doc but also must have been listening live. It seems insurance companies are gearing up for a trend of people using LLMs to scrutinize policies.? Lesson: LLMs empower us to vet contracts rapidly. Similar LLM Uses and Related Career Opportunities One can vet one's town property taxes. A neighbor into LLMs is currently making a little interactive app which (1) shows how much more or less one's home tax appraisal went up relative to one's street or any selected area, and (2) shows the maximum, minimum, and range of increases in a town. This enables detecting errors costing homeowners, and then getting LLM guidance on resolving the issue/s.? One can quickly assess Terms of Service (ToS) and Privacy Policy changes. I signed up for a crypto IRA ~5 years ago. Subsequently, they had some shady changes in storage and banking custodians. A few months ago, I could not log in to view or act unless I agreed to a new ToS. An LLM highlighted new risks in the new ToS, which were buried in the many pages. Now, after each login that requires clicking agreement, I email and post to customer service that I do not concede to the new terms. (I'll be moving from them soon; and BTW, how screwy is it that a long-term financial contract can be changed at any time?). Business Opportunity:? An enterprising soul could launch an LLM service that automatically scrutinizes one's ever changing ToS and Privacy Policies. I recall one scholar's research showing the typical person would need ~85 days per year to actually read all these shifting terms and policies. I bet people would pay $10+/mo to get alerts and summaries of risks for all the services they easily select for tracking. Imagine the many ways people with LLM proficiency could launch service businesses that help people and businesses manage vital information. Broader Implications for We The People A bright side of LLMs, especially open-source ones that aren't censored, is that we can verify what officials, agencies, or governments said and when. News is for sale, but now, or very soon, truth is quickly available. There's a reason that the protagonist Winston in Orwell's 1984 works in the Ministry of Truth editing current and past news. And there's a reason the Internet Archive's WayBack Machine, which offers searchable, past date-stamped views of all important websites and pages, was attacked last year by lawfare and heavy DDoS attacks to take it down.? LLMs could be potent truth machines supporting the informed consent that is the lifeblood of Democracy. Oh yes, LLMs pose menace too, but let's not overlook their bright potentials. ? Best Regards, ? Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com ? NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don't get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ? _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net mailto:Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rob at 2disc.com Thu Feb 6 16:24:12 2025 From: rob at 2disc.com (Rob Laporte) Date: Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:24:12 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications In-Reply-To: <194d1c68213.dba7d9d7274436.979779353105103713@2disc.com> References: <194c79919da.c23c9d1c2501988.6595083042804935942@2disc.com> <194d1c68213.dba7d9d7274436.979779353105103713@2disc.com> Message-ID: <194dc128d8c.b6ce9c67535855.5599721681637714951@2disc.com> Hi All, Quick update. Nice rep said home is covered despite the home office. What she didn't say is what, apparently, the contract states: the coverage is reduced in proportion to the percent of home used for business. I used an LLM to unpack the legalese, which is full of serpentine references to other clauses, and uses language likely to decieve one into believing that only home day care work impacts coverage. I had ChatGPT write a letter asking for written clarification--forget friendly talk. Meanwhile, Amica auto-sent texts thanking me for my approvals, and I did not approve it yet, which I explained via Amica's communication systems, so there's a clear record. They also charged my bank despite my turning on auto-pay only for the car insurance, and there too I posted a memo indicating I did not intend this payment, again to produce a clear paper trail.? I'll let you know the final outcome of this saga. I imagine similar moves are happening at other insurance companies.? If you like puzzles, below is some of the relevant serpentine legalese.? LIMITED HOME DAY CARE COVERAGE ADVISORY NOTICE TO POLICYHOLDERS "Business", as defined in the policy, means: A trade, profession or occupation engaged in on a full-time, part-time or occasional basis; or Any other activity engaged in for money or other compensation, except the following: One or more activities: (1) Not described in b. through d. below; and (2) For which no insured receives more than $10,000 in total compensation for the 12 months before the beginning of the policy period; Volunteer activities for which no money is received, other than payment for expenses incurred to perform the activity; Providing home day care services for which no compensation is received, other than the mutual exchange of such services; or The rendering of home day care services to a relative of an insured. If you or any other insured regularly provides home day care services to a person or persons other than you or any other insureds as their trade, profession or occupation, that service is a business. If home day care service is not your or any other insured's given trade, profession or occupation but is an activity: That you or any other insured engages in for money or other compensation; and >From which you or any other insured receives more than $10,000 in total/combined compensation from it and any other activity for the 12 months before the beginning of the policy period; the home day care service and other activity will be considered a business. With respect to C. above, home day care service is only an example of an activity engaged in for money that may be a business. Any single activity or combination of activities: 1. Described in A.2. above; and 2. Engaged in for money by you or any other insured; may be considered a business if the $10,000 threshold is exceeded. With respect to A. through D. above, coverage does not apply to or is limited with respect to home day care service which is a business. For example, this policy: Does not provide: Section II coverages. This is because your business or the business of any other insured is excluded under Section II - Exclusions; Coverage, under Section I, for other structures from which any business is conducted; and Limits Section I coverage, under Coverage C - Special Limits Of Liability, for business property; a. On the residence premises for the home day care business to $2,500 in Forms HO 00 03, HO 00 04?and HO 00 06 and to $5,000 in Form HO 00 05. This is because Coverage C - Special Limits Of Liability imposes that limit on business property on the residence premises; b. Away from the residence premises for the home day care business to $1,500 in Forms HO 00 03, HO 00 04 and HO 00 06 and to $2,000 in Form HO 00 05. This is because Coverage - C - Special Limits Of Liability imposes that limit on business property away from the residence premises. This limit does not apply to antennas, tapes, wires, records, disks or other media that are: (1) Used with electronic equipment that reproduces, receives or transmits audio, visual or data signals; and (2) In or upon a motor vehicle. CAUTION: This is a summary of the limited coverage provided in your Homeowners Policy for Home Day Care services. No coverage is provided by this summary nor can it be construed to replace any provision of your policy. You should read your policy and review your Declarations Page for complete information on the coverage you are provided. If there is any conflict between the policy and this summary, THE PROVISIONS OF YOUR POLICY SHALL PREVAIL. PLEASE READ YOUR POLICY CAREFULLY. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ---- On Tue, 04 Feb 2025 11:24:56 -0500 Rob Laporte via Hidden-discuss wrote --- Hi All, Amica cleared up all but the crucial matter of home offices, for which they will get back to me in a day or two. Seconding Marcia, I have found Amica excellent, with my recent experience an exception. But Insurance companies are profit-driven, and obviously half of profit entails reducing payouts. Hence all the ??trust us? marketing. The last few years have been brutal on insurance companies. I'll post the resolution about home offices when I get it. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ---- On Sun, 02 Feb 2025 16:09:10 -0500 Alan Frank wrote --- _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members Many of us are deducting home office costs on our Schedule C's.? It's probably worth considering how much you are saving by doing so compared with the risk and expense of noncoverage if you have a clause in your policy similar to Rob's. --Alan -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications Date: 2025-02-02 11:59 From: Rob Laporte via Hidden-discuss To: "hidden-discuss" Hi All, The following intrigue-laced home insurance drama suggests great uses for LLMs, as well as entrepreneurial vistas. Insurance Policy Skulduggery Customized LLM tools like OpenAI GPTs, Google NoteBook LM, and Claude Projects enable brilliant unpacking of insurance policies and their tiny annual text changes that can undermine your coverage and increase risk. Given news about surprise clauses denying or reducing coverage for CA wildfire victims, and given that all, even non-CA, insurance corporations will have to increase rates (due in part to how re-insurance works to insure insurance companies), I thought it wise to use LLMs to scrutinize my formerly trustworthy Amica home and auto policies.? I uploaded all past and current docs to three top LLMs, and discovered that little word changes meant that my home would not actually be covered. The details are many and important, but I'll mention just salient issues: Language regarding home office use changed such that, say, a demolishing fire would not be covered, or at best would result in costly court battles to get the coverage one had in prior years. And guess what increased enormously since the pandemic? Home office coverage subdivides by important distinctions too involved to get into here. A little new text about security devices rendered a future claim easily dismissed. The new policy itemizes various wireless security and fire subsystems, inputting some I did not have, which gave a $35 discount. In prior years, none of those devices were listed. ChatGPT explained that this is one of several tricks insurance companies use: If I had not found it, and my home burned down, the insurance company could claim the misrepresentation is a kind of fraud nullifying the contract. And one of the features Amica pre-filled for me was a "Wi-Fi connected fire alarm" I don't have. Yes, you could fight that in court, but you'd likely have to settle for less than full coverage or else risk losing all at trial.? Other little text changes since last year impacted full replacement costs, personal property coverage, town building ordinance costs during rebuild, and more. All of the changes either reduced coverage or injected ambiguity that corporate insurance lawyers love in denying claims.? When I called the insurance company rep (and got permission to record as they too record), she claimed that they had not gotten my contact form submission of questions I sent via a linked Google doc. I had gotten a reply that a rep would get back to me--after the renewal and auto-pay date I disabled. While spoke with a rep, I arranged emailing it directly to her, and she claimed she did not get it--while Google showed 6 new live viewers streaming in (the doc was viewable only via that emailed link). After some talk, I pointed out that several people just started looking at the doc right now, prompting the live viewers to drop off one after another like cockroaches when the light goes on. She said she'd have to refer this matter to the local branch who would call me Monday. A long hold early in the conversation--after I explained my LLM use--suggests she had already looped in managers and probably legal, who were not only viewing the doc but also must have been listening live. It seems insurance companies are gearing up for a trend of people using LLMs to scrutinize policies.? Lesson: LLMs empower us to vet contracts rapidly. Similar LLM Uses and Related Career Opportunities One can vet one's town property taxes. A neighbor into LLMs is currently making a little interactive app which (1) shows how much more or less one's home tax appraisal went up relative to one's street or any selected area, and (2) shows the maximum, minimum, and range of increases in a town. This enables detecting errors costing homeowners, and then getting LLM guidance on resolving the issue/s.? One can quickly assess Terms of Service (ToS) and Privacy Policy changes. I signed up for a crypto IRA ~5 years ago. Subsequently, they had some shady changes in storage and banking custodians. A few months ago, I could not log in to view or act unless I agreed to a new ToS. An LLM highlighted new risks in the new ToS, which were buried in the many pages. Now, after each login that requires clicking agreement, I email and post to customer service that I do not concede to the new terms. (I'll be moving from them soon; and BTW, how screwy is it that a long-term financial contract can be changed at any time?). Business Opportunity:? An enterprising soul could launch an LLM service that automatically scrutinizes one's ever changing ToS and Privacy Policies. I recall one scholar's research showing the typical person would need ~85 days per year to actually read all these shifting terms and policies. I bet people would pay $10+/mo to get alerts and summaries of risks for all the services they easily select for tracking. Imagine the many ways people with LLM proficiency could launch service businesses that help people and businesses manage vital information. Broader Implications for We The People A bright side of LLMs, especially open-source ones that aren't censored, is that we can verify what officials, agencies, or governments said and when. News is for sale, but now, or very soon, truth is quickly available. There's a reason that the protagonist Winston in Orwell's 1984 works in the Ministry of Truth editing current and past news. And there's a reason the Internet Archive's WayBack Machine, which offers searchable, past date-stamped views of all important websites and pages, was attacked last year by lawfare and heavy DDoS attacks to take it down.? LLMs could be potent truth machines supporting the informed consent that is the lifeblood of Democracy. Oh yes, LLMs pose menace too, but let's not overlook their bright potentials. ? Best Regards, ? Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com ? NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don't get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ? _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net mailto:Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rich at tnrglobal.com Thu Feb 6 17:16:59 2025 From: rich at tnrglobal.com (Rich@tnr) Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2025 12:16:59 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications In-Reply-To: <194dc128d8c.b6ce9c67535855.5599721681637714951@2disc.com> References: <194c79919da.c23c9d1c2501988.6595083042804935942@2disc.com> <194d1c68213.dba7d9d7274436.979779353105103713@2disc.com> <194dc128d8c.b6ce9c67535855.5599721681637714951@2disc.com> Message-ID: Rob, thanks for the ongoing saga - gives one ideas of issues to review, and some ways of doing it. esp with insurance issues related to LA files and who knows what Musk is doing in DC except there is LLM in the discussion. Keep the explorations up - Cheers - Rich On 2/6/2025 11:24 AM, Rob Laporte via Hidden-discuss wrote: > Hi All, > > Quick update. Nice rep said home is covered despite the home office. > What she didn't say is what, apparently, the contract states: the > coverage is reduced in proportion to the percent of home used for > business. I used an LLM to unpack the legalese, which is full of > serpentine references to other clauses, and uses language likely to > decieve one into believing that only home day care work impacts > coverage. I had ChatGPT write a letter asking for /written/ > clarification--forget friendly talk. Meanwhile, Amica auto-sent texts > thanking me for my approvals, and I did not approve it yet, which I > explained via Amica's communication systems, so there's a clear > record. They also charged my bank despite my turning on auto-pay only > for the car insurance, and there too I posted a memo indicating I did > not intend this payment, again to produce a clear paper trail. > > I'll let you know the final outcome of this saga. I imagine similar > moves are happening at other insurance companies. > -- Rich Roth CEO TnR Global Bio and personal blog:http://rizbang.com Building the really big sites:http://www.tnrglobal.com Small/Soho business in the PV:http://www.hidden-tech.net Places to meet for business:http://www.meetmewhere.com And for Arts and relaxation: http://TarotMuertos.com - Artistic Tarot Deck http://www.welovemuseums.com http://www.artonmytv.com/ Shakers:http://www.shakerpedia.com/ Helping move the world:http://www.earththrives.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rich at tnrglobal.com Thu Feb 13 16:37:19 2025 From: rich at tnrglobal.com (Rich@tnr) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:37:19 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Looking for AI tool review site Message-ID: I've been looking for AI for a few cases. Lately anyone with experience using an AI to sort Thunderbird emails - filters just doesn't cut it anymore - ??? ??? been using them for years and TB is both over loaded and emails are now too complex to just filter. So that leads to the hunt for an site with an analysis of different AIs for different cases. Any suggestions - Ask one of them for it ?? R. -- Rich Roth CEO TnR Global Bio and personal blog: http://rizbang.com Building the really big sites: http://www.tnrglobal.com Small/Soho business in the PV: http://www.hidden-tech.net Places to meet for business: http://www.meetmewhere.com And for Arts and relaxation: http://TarotMuertos.com - Artistic Tarot Deck http://www.welovemuseums.com http://www.artonmytv.com/ Shakers: http://www.shakerpedia.com/ Helping move the world: http://www.earththrives.com From jeff at deltafactory.com Thu Feb 13 23:12:19 2025 From: jeff at deltafactory.com (Jeff Brand) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2025 18:12:19 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Looking for AI tool review site Message-ID: I don't have a direct answer but perhaps some pieces to the puzzle that might help you craft your own solution. 1) n8n as an agent workflow platform. There are many others, but this one looks cool. 2) https://artificialanalysis.ai/ Data on model speed, accuracy, pricing, and other metrics 3) Look into agentic AI workflows as a topic. There are tutorials on how to build the parts. n8n has the connectors to talk directly with an IMAP server in order to access your messages. The agentic workflows can help you create the workflow for exactly your needs. I've been going down this rabbit hole myself lately but haven't had the time to implement any of it. It's on my list for the spring! Hope this helps, even if it's an indirect answer.. - Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rob at 2disc.com Fri Feb 14 13:53:04 2025 From: rob at 2disc.com (Rob Laporte) Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2025 08:53:04 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Looking for AI tool review site In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <19504bb13ea.ceea8ee21453265.3452840281381311412@2disc.com> Hi Rich, Over a year ago I bookmarked two directories of AI/LLM tools, which seem still good, though perhaps not the best directory now: https://www.futuretools.io/ https://theresanaiforthat.com/? The pace of change may have many defunct tools still listed there, but I know the first one is run by a very active guy invited by the top AI/LLM firms (Nvdia, Google, Msoft, etc) to attend events for free, so guessing he keeps it current. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ---- On Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:37:19 -0500 Rich at tnr via Hidden-discuss wrote --- I've been looking for AI for a few cases. Lately anyone with experience using an AI to sort Thunderbird emails - filters just doesn't cut it anymore - ??? ??? been using them for years and TB is both over loaded and emails are now too complex to just filter. So that leads to the hunt for an site with an analysis of different AIs for different cases. Any suggestions - Ask one of them for it ?? R. -- Rich Roth CEO TnR Global Bio and personal blog: http://rizbang.com Building the really big sites: http://www.tnrglobal.com Small/Soho business in the PV: http://www.hidden-tech.net Places to meet for business: http://www.meetmewhere.com And for Arts and relaxation: http://TarotMuertos.com - Artistic Tarot Deck http://www.welovemuseums.com http://www.artonmytv.com/ Shakers: http://www.shakerpedia.com/ Helping move the world: http://www.earththrives.com _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net mailto:Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From valleywood2012 at gmail.com Fri Feb 14 18:12:56 2025 From: valleywood2012 at gmail.com (AI Zuckerman) Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:12:56 -0800 Subject: [Hidden-tech] AI writing question Message-ID: Dear Hidden Tech friends, I just had an editing job and it appeared the author used AI to create the manuscript. Is there a way to determine if this is true? Does AI lift content in clumps from published writing? If so, that could put the writer using it to be charged with plagiarism. I am eager to know about this. Amy Zuckerman Hidden Tech's mother emeritus -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From david.ruderman at gmail.com Fri Feb 14 20:03:21 2025 From: david.ruderman at gmail.com (David Ruderman) Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:03:21 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] AI writing question In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: There are a few AI checkers out there. I just tried it successfully on a Gemini-generated short story https://www.zerogpt.com/ And this seems useful. https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-tested-10-ai-content-detectors-and-these-3-correctly-identified-ai-text-every-time/ Of course AI-generated is different from plagiarism. -dave *Dave Ruderman (he/him)* On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 2:50?PM AI Zuckerman via Hidden-discuss < hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote: > Dear Hidden Tech friends, > > I just had an editing job and it appeared the author used AI to create the > manuscript. > > Is there a way to determine if this is true? > > Does AI lift content in clumps from published writing? If so, that could > put the writer using it to be charged with plagiarism. > > I am eager to know about this. > > Amy Zuckerman > > Hidden Tech's mother emeritus > _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rich at on-the-net.com Fri Feb 14 22:08:06 2025 From: rich at on-the-net.com (Rich) Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:08:06 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] AI writing question In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <460faf33-6a50-420e-aee0-41ebcf051cd3@on-the-net.com> > Of course AI-generated is different from plagiarism actually there is little difference when the content is inserted into the AI result that was taken from text collected by the LLM technology from some place in 'the cloud'. Exactly what legal issue there is has yet to be established via legal precedent. R. On 2/14/2025 3:03 PM, David Ruderman via Hidden-discuss wrote: > There are a few AI checkers out there. > I just tried it successfully on a Gemini-generated?short story > https://www.zerogpt.com/ > > And this seems useful. > https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-tested-10-ai-content-detectors-and-these-3-correctly-identified-ai-text-every-time/ > > Of course AI-generated is different from plagiarism. > > -dave > > *Dave Ruderman (he/him)* > > On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 2:50?PM AI Zuckerman via Hidden-discuss > wrote: > > Dear Hidden Tech friends, > > I just had an editing job and it appeared the author used AI to > create?the manuscript. > > Is there a way to determine?if this is true? > > Does AI lift content in clumps from published writing? If so, that > could put the writer using it to be charged with plagiarism. > > I am eager to know about this. > > Amy Zuckerman > > Hidden Tech's mother emeritus > _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech > Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members > > > _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page:http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -- Lots of online work, rizbang.com - ideas and history tnrglobal.com - Business greenfieldsfuture.org - local Shakerpedia.com - All about the Shakers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From editorial at gonomad.com Mon Feb 17 18:10:28 2025 From: editorial at gonomad.com (Max Hartshorne) Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2025 13:10:28 -0500 (EST) Subject: [Hidden-tech] AI writing question In-Reply-To: <460faf33-6a50-420e-aee0-41ebcf051cd3@on-the-net.com> References: <460faf33-6a50-420e-aee0-41ebcf051cd3@on-the-net.com> Message-ID: <1739815828.282424989@email.rackspace.com> just look for the word "conclusion' at the end of the story. No writer ever puts that in, so you know it is the AI, every time. ----------------------- Max Hartshorne Travel Columnist, Podcast Host GoNOMAD Travel P.O. Box 4 9 Mountain Rd. South Deerfield, MA 01373 413-512-1028 [ ]( https://www.gonomad.com/3500-writers-guidelines-gonomad-travel ) [ My Muckrack Profile ]( https://muckrack.com/max-hartshorne-13 ) [ ]( https://www.gonomad.com/199945-gonomad-travel-podcast ) [ GoNOMAD Podcast ]( https://www.gonomad.com/199945-gonomad-travel-podcast ) -----Original Message----- From: "Rich via Hidden-discuss" Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 5:08pm To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] AI writing question Of course AI-generated is different from plagiarismactually there is little difference when the content is inserted into the AI result that was taken from text collected by the LLM technology from some place in 'the cloud'. Exactly what legal issue there is has yet to be established via legal precedent. R. On 2/14/2025 3:03 PM, David Ruderman via Hidden-discuss wrote: There are a few AI checkers out there. I just tried it successfully on a Gemini-generated short story [ https://www.zerogpt.com/ ]( https://www.zerogpt.com/ ) And this seems useful. [ https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-tested-10-ai-content-detectors-and-these-3-correctly-identified-ai-text-every-time/ ]( https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-tested-10-ai-content-detectors-and-these-3-correctly-identified-ai-text-every-time/ ) Of course AI-generated is different from plagiarism. -dave Dave Ruderman (he/him) On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 2:50?PM AI Zuckerman via Hidden-discuss <[ hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net ]( mailto:hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net )> wrote: Dear Hidden Tech friends, I just had an editing job and it appeared the author used AI to create the manuscript. Is there a way to determine if this is true? Does AI lift content in clumps from published writing? If so, that could put the writer using it to be charged with plagiarism. I am eager to know about this. Amy Zuckerman Hidden Tech's mother emeritus_______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: [ http://www.hidden-tech.net ]( http://www.hidden-tech.net ) [ Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net ]( mailto:Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net ) You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. [ http://www.hidden-tech.net/members ]( http://www.hidden-tech.net/members ) _______________________________________________Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: [ http://www.hidden-tech.net ]( http://www.hidden-tech.net )[ Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net ]( mailto:Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net )You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Memberspage on the Hidden Tech Web site.[ http://www.hidden-tech.net/members ]( http://www.hidden-tech.net/members ) -- Lots of online work,rizbang.com - ideas and historytnrglobal.com - Businessgreenfieldsfuture.org - localShakerpedia.com - All about the Shakers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From shel at principledprofit.com Mon Feb 17 21:19:21 2025 From: shel at principledprofit.com (Shel Horowitz) Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:19:21 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] AI writing question In-Reply-To: <1739815828.282424989@email.rackspace.com> References: <460faf33-6a50-420e-aee0-41ebcf051cd3@on-the-net.com> <1739815828.282424989@email.rackspace.com> Message-ID: With so many AI tools out there, I don't think there's any way to automatically check. Each software will leave different sets of clues. But I might check with teacher friends to see what they're using to check for plagiarism these days. Shel Horowitz - "The Transformpreneur" ________________________________________________ Helping you find YOUR sweet spot where profitable products and services help solve hunger, racism/othering, poverty, war, catastrophic climate change, waste, etc. * First business ever to be Green America Gold Certified * Inducted into the National Environmental Hall of Fame * Certified speaker: International Platform Association https://goingbeyondsustainability.com mailto:shel at greenandprofitable.com 413-586-2388 Award-winning, best-selling author of 10 books. Latest: Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson) Watch my TEDx Talk, "Impossible is a Dare: Business for a Better World" http://www.ted.com/tedx/events/11809 (select "videos" and then "event videos") _________________________________________________ On Mon, Feb 17, 2025 at 1:10?PM Max Hartshorne via Hidden-discuss < hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote: > just look for the word "conclusion' at the end of the story. No writer > ever puts that in, so you know it is the AI, every time. > > ----------------------- > > Max Hartshorne > > Travel Columnist, Podcast Host > > GoNOMAD Travel > > P.O. Box 4 > > 9 Mountain Rd. > > South Deerfield, MA 01373 > > 413-512-1028 > > > > My Muckrack Profile > > > > GoNOMAD Podcast > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: "Rich via Hidden-discuss" > Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 5:08pm > To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] AI writing question > > > > Of course AI-generated is different from plagiarism > > actually there is little difference when the content is inserted into the > AI result that was taken from text > collected by the LLM technology from some place in 'the cloud'. > Exactly what legal issue there is has yet to be established via legal > precedent. > > R. > On 2/14/2025 3:03 PM, David Ruderman via Hidden-discuss wrote: > > There are a few AI checkers out there. > I just tried it successfully on a Gemini-generated short story > https://www.zerogpt.com/ > > And this seems useful. > > https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-tested-10-ai-content-detectors-and-these-3-correctly-identified-ai-text-every-time/ > Of course AI-generated is different from plagiarism. > -dave > *Dave Ruderman (he/him)* > > On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 2:50?PM AI Zuckerman via Hidden-discuss < > hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote: > >> Dear Hidden Tech friends, >> I just had an editing job and it appeared the author used AI to >> create the manuscript. >> Is there a way to determine if this is true? >> Does AI lift content in clumps from published writing? If so, that could >> put the writer using it to be charged with plagiarism. >> I am eager to know about this. >> Amy Zuckerman >> Hidden Tech's mother emeritus >> _______________________________________________ >> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net >> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net >> >> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. >> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members >> page on the Hidden Tech Web site. >> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members > > > _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing > list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you > are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your > list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members > > -- Lots of online work, rizbang.com - ideas and history tnrglobal.com - > Business greenfieldsfuture.org - local Shakerpedia.com - All about the > Shakers > _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From humera at humera.com Tue Feb 18 17:42:17 2025 From: humera at humera.com (Humera Fasihuddin) Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:42:17 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call Message-ID: Hello friends, I have to lead an hour-long zoom call from Greenfield later this week. Any recommendations for where I can sit (or stand) and take this call without worry that my connection will drop off? I?m not picky about background or goings on so long as there?s not music at high decibels (fine for me but might be distracting to my meeting participants). Thanks, in advance, for your advice. Best, Humera __________________________________________________________ Humera Fasihuddin, d.school at Stanford University Founder and Co-Director, University Innovation Fellows -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jim at growth-helper.com Tue Feb 18 18:11:38 2025 From: jim at growth-helper.com (Jim Geisman) Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:11:38 +0000 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: How about one of the study rooms at the library. Jim Geisman (c) 617-901-2087 (o) 413-223-5993 LinkedIn profile View my calendar ------ Original Message ------ >From "Humera Fasihuddin via Hidden-discuss" To "hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net" Date 2/18/2025 12:42:17 PM Subject [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call >Hello friends, >I have to lead an hour-long zoom call from Greenfield later this week. >Any recommendations for where I can sit (or stand) and take this call >without worry that my connection will drop off? I?m not picky about >background or goings on so long as there?s not music at high decibels >(fine for me but might be distracting to my meeting participants). >Thanks, in advance, for your advice. >Best, >Humera >__________________________________________________________ >Humera Fasihuddin, >d.school at Stanford University >Founder and Co-Director, University Innovation Fellows -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From humera at humera.com Tue Feb 18 18:47:29 2025 From: humera at humera.com (Humera Fasihuddin) Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:47:29 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Thank you, Jim. I *just* discovered this resource. Unfortunately it?s booked for exactly the time I need it. I could possibly hope for a last minute cancellation and, worst case, take it from the history room (not private, but I?m not discussing state secrets). Currently this is my best working option. H __________________________________________________________ Humera Fasihuddin, d.school at Stanford University Founder and Co-Director, University Innovation Fellows On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 1:11?PM Jim Geisman wrote: > How about one of the study rooms at the library. > > Jim Geisman > (c) 617-901-2087 > (o) 413-223-5993 > LinkedIn profile > View my calendar > > > > ------ Original Message ------ > From "Humera Fasihuddin via Hidden-discuss" < > hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> > To "hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net" < > hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> > Date 2/18/2025 12:42:17 PM > Subject [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call > > Hello friends, > I have to lead an hour-long zoom call from Greenfield later this week. Any > recommendations for where I can sit (or stand) and take this call without > worry that my connection will drop off? I?m not picky about background or > goings on so long as there?s not music at high decibels (fine for me but > might be distracting to my meeting participants). Thanks, in advance, for > your advice. > Best, > Humera > __________________________________________________________ > Humera Fasihuddin, > d.school at Stanford University > Founder and Co-Director, University Innovation Fellows > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rob at 2disc.com Tue Feb 18 19:45:22 2025 From: rob at 2disc.com (Rob Laporte) Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:45:22 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1951a970b2a.df9d1f99130371.2563175526125597860@2disc.com> Hi Humera, My home and office about a half mile from downtown is quite and offers a variety of attractive backgrounds and private spaces. Depends on when, because yesterday's scourge of ice won't be cleared from the driveway until end of day tomorrow. Two cats prevent allergies to mice (haha). Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ---- On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:47:29 -0500 Humera Fasihuddin via Hidden-discuss wrote --- Thank you, Jim. I just discovered this resource. Unfortunately it?s booked for exactly the time I need it. I could possibly hope for a last minute cancellation and, worst case, take it from the history room (not private, but I?m not discussing state secrets). Currently this is my best working option. H __________________________________________________________ Humera Fasihuddin,? d.school at Stanford University Founder and Co-Director,?University Innovation Fellows On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 1:11?PM Jim Geisman wrote: How about one of the study rooms at the library.? Jim Geisman (c) 617-901-2087 (o) 413-223-5993 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimgeisman/ https://calendly.com/jgeisman ------ Original Message ------ >From "Humera Fasihuddin via Hidden-discuss" To "mailto:hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net" Date 2/18/2025 12:42:17 PM Subject [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call Hello friends, I have to lead an hour-long zoom call from Greenfield later this week. Any recommendations for where I can sit (or stand) and take this call without worry that my connection will drop off? I?m not picky about background or goings on so long as there?s not music at high decibels (fine for me but might be distracting to my meeting participants). Thanks, in advance, for your advice. Best, Humera __________________________________________________________ Humera Fasihuddin,? d.school at Stanford University Founder and Co-Director,?University Innovation Fellows _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net mailto:Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tech at MontagueWebWorks.com Tue Feb 18 21:47:28 2025 From: tech at MontagueWebWorks.com (Michael Muller) Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:47:28 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] WordPress help In-Reply-To: <103161221.1695.1739914622447@Montague-RF2> References: <103161221.1695.1739914622447@Montague-RF2> Message-ID: <3151f154cf144a469d9dcba2b419598d@b738c20bb0a7491fb0264126823d0c3e> Hey all, Another WordPress call for help. Please contact Rebeca directly. Thanks, Mik Mik Muller, president Montague WebWorks 413-320-5336 https://MontagueWebWorks.com Powered by RocketFusion! (sent via webmail) ---------------------------------------- rdaniels at stlawu.edu Rebecca Daniels author 34 Grove St Turners Falls MA 315-528-1051 https://rebecca-daniels.com/ Mik, thanks for the return phone call this morning. I?m looking for someone who can help me update my existing WordPress author site which needs some revision and restructuring. My original designer, who created the site for me six years ago, is no longer in the web business, so I?m looking for a one-time helper who knows WordPress capabilities. I know what I would like to change and don?t need a full re-design. I know enough about Word Press to maintain the site in the future, but not enough to feel comfortable doing the revision/restructuring on my own. Please pass along my contact information to anyone willing to chat with me about this possible gig: email: rdaniels at stlawu.edu, cell: 315-528-1051. Cheers, Rebecca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From debchandler411 at gmail.com Tue Feb 18 23:01:28 2025 From: debchandler411 at gmail.com (Deborah Chandler) Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:01:28 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Humera, If Brattleboro is within your geographic range, their public library has nice private meeting rooms on the mezzanine level, one which I've used with an ethernet connection (I think study room B). I think you can reserve the rooms for 2 hour sessions. Best of luck, Deb On Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 2:43 PM Humera Fasihuddin via Hidden-discuss < hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote: > Thank you, Jim. I *just* discovered this resource. Unfortunately it?s > booked for exactly the time I need it. I could possibly hope for a last > minute cancellation and, worst case, take it from the history room (not > private, but I?m not discussing state secrets). Currently this is my best > working option. > H > __________________________________________________________ > Humera Fasihuddin, > d.school at Stanford University > Founder and Co-Director, University Innovation Fellows > > > > On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 1:11?PM Jim Geisman wrote: > >> How about one of the study rooms at the library. >> >> Jim Geisman >> (c) 617-901-2087 >> (o) 413-223-5993 >> LinkedIn profile >> View my calendar >> >> >> >> ------ Original Message ------ >> From "Humera Fasihuddin via Hidden-discuss" < >> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> >> To "hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net" < >> hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> >> Date 2/18/2025 12:42:17 PM >> Subject [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call >> >> Hello friends, >> I have to lead an hour-long zoom call from Greenfield later this week. >> Any recommendations for where I can sit (or stand) and take this call >> without worry that my connection will drop off? I?m not picky about >> background or goings on so long as there?s not music at high decibels (fine >> for me but might be distracting to my meeting participants). Thanks, in >> advance, for your advice. >> Best, >> Humera >> __________________________________________________________ >> Humera Fasihuddin, >> d.school at Stanford University >> Founder and Co-Director, University Innovation Fellows >> >> _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rich at tnrglobal.com Tue Feb 18 23:10:15 2025 From: rich at tnrglobal.com (Rich@tnr) Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:10:15 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Looking for value search AI (mostly books, cd or dvd might be interesting) Message-ID: <4f083716-d116-4b71-b797-6ec469c10966@tnrglobal.com> Next project that could use some AI Finding resale value of books, I've got a few 1000s that need looking up, trying to filter out those to give away vs to sell. I found bookscouter so far, looking for anyone with actual experience with it or any other. Rich -- Rich Roth CEO TnR Global Bio and personal blog:http://rizbang.com Building the really big sites:http://www.tnrglobal.com Small/Soho business in the PV:http://www.hidden-tech.net Places to meet for business:http://www.meetmewhere.com And for Arts and relaxation: http://TarotMuertos.com - Artistic Tarot Deck http://www.welovemuseums.com http://www.artonmytv.com/ Shakers:http://www.shakerpedia.com/ Helping move the world:http://www.earththrives.com From shel at principledprofit.com Wed Feb 19 01:22:38 2025 From: shel at principledprofit.com (Shel Horowitz) Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:22:38 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: If Rob's place doesn't work out, consider the 4th-floor space above Hawks & Reed, where Silverthorne Theater performs. Also, GCC. I don't know if they still have their downtown location but even the main campus is only a mile or two. Great Falls Discovery Center across the river in Turners. And numerous houses of worship. Shel Horowitz - "The Transformpreneur" ________________________________________________ Helping you find YOUR sweet spot where profitable products and services help solve hunger, racism/othering, poverty, war, catastrophic climate change, waste, etc. * First business ever to be Green America Gold Certified * Inducted into the National Environmental Hall of Fame * Certified speaker: International Platform Association https://goingbeyondsustainability.com mailto:shel at greenandprofitable.com 413-586-2388 Award-winning, best-selling author of 10 books. Latest: Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson) Watch my TEDx Talk, "Impossible is a Dare: Business for a Better World" http://www.ted.com/tedx/events/11809 (select "videos" and then "event videos") _________________________________________________ ? On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 12:42?PM Humera Fasihuddin via Hidden-discuss < hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote: > Hello friends, > I have to lead an hour-long zoom call from Greenfield later this week. Any > recommendations for where I can sit (or stand) and take this call without > worry that my connection will drop off? I?m not picky about background or > goings on so long as there?s not music at high decibels (fine for me but > might be distracting to my meeting participants). Thanks, in advance, for > your advice. > Best, > Humera > __________________________________________________________ > Humera Fasihuddin, > d.school at Stanford University > Founder and Co-Director, University Innovation Fellows > _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rob at 2disc.com Wed Feb 19 02:45:31 2025 From: rob at 2disc.com (Rob Laporte) Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:45:31 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Looking for value search AI (mostly books, cd or dvd might be interesting) In-Reply-To: <4f083716-d116-4b71-b797-6ec469c10966@tnrglobal.com> References: <4f083716-d116-4b71-b797-6ec469c10966@tnrglobal.com> Message-ID: <1951c17b3c9.c7894ae1223489.8944638066543317415@2disc.com> Hi Rich, I second the motion. For over a year in the murky lower depths of my todo list has been "find AI/LLM to extract book list and values from photos of my book shelves." That first part should be doable pretty easily now. For decent valuations, I suspect one would have to use one of the Deep Research features: Google Gemini's Deep Reserch comes with the 20/mo plan; ChatGPTs needs the 200/mo (two hundred) Pro plan, which blew away Gemini's in a great test I reviewed. But maybe a non Deep Research try will yield good enough. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ---- On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:10:15 -0500 Rich at tnr via Hidden-discuss wrote --- Next project that could use some AI Finding resale value of books, I've got a few 1000s that need looking up, trying to filter out those to give away vs to sell. I found bookscouter so far, looking for anyone with actual experience with it or any other. Rich -- Rich Roth CEO TnR Global Bio and personal blog:http://rizbang.com Building the really big sites:http://www.tnrglobal.com Small/Soho business in the PV:http://www.hidden-tech.net Places to meet for business:http://www.meetmewhere.com And for Arts and relaxation: http://TarotMuertos.com - Artistic Tarot Deck http://www.welovemuseums.com http://www.artonmytv.com/ Shakers:http://www.shakerpedia.com/ Helping move the world:http://www.earththrives.com _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net mailto:Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tech at MontagueWebWorks.com Wed Feb 19 17:10:06 2025 From: tech at MontagueWebWorks.com (Michael Muller) Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:10:06 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Looking for value search AI (mostly books, cd or dvd might be interesting) Message-ID: <2124e89def9447efb21dca6ec58e4792@5c55cbade0d646eca518c0307b003def> All that is assuming you find someone who will buy those books at those prices. I recently sold a bunch of my dad's old design books to Bill Hall in Brooklyn who buys/sells. I emailed him photos of the shelves, and he emailed the photos back with the books he wanted circled in yellow. I got $850 from him. Also Peter Masi in Montague Center buys old books. Mik Mik Muller, president Montague WebWorks 413-320-5336 https://MontagueWebWorks.com Powered by RocketFusion! (sent via webmail) ---------------------------------------- From: "Rob Laporte via Hidden-discuss" Sent: 2/19/25 8:57 AM To: "rich" Cc: "Rich at tnr via Hidden-discuss" Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Looking for value search AI (mostly books, cd or dvd might be interesting) Hi Rich, I second the motion. For over a year in the murky lower depths of my todo list has been "find AI/LLM to extract book list and values from photos of my book shelves." That first part should be doable pretty easily now. For decent valuations, I suspect one would have to use one of the Deep Research features: Google Gemini's Deep Reserch comes with the 20/mo plan; ChatGPTs needs the 200/mo (two hundred) Pro plan, which blew away Gemini's in a great test I reviewed. But maybe a non Deep Research try will yield good enough. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO | R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites Make Money Rob at 2disc.com, 413-584-6500 www.2disc.com NOTE: Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ---- On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:10:15 -0500 Rich at tnr via Hidden-discuss wrote --- Next project that could use some AI Finding resale value of books, I've got a few 1000s that need looking up, trying to filter out those to give away vs to sell. I found bookscouter so far, looking for anyone with actual experience with it or any other. Rich -- Rich Roth CEO TnR Global Bio and personal blog:http://rizbang.com Building the really big sites:http://www.tnrglobal.com Small/Soho business in the PV:http://www.hidden-tech.net Places to meet for business:http://www.meetmewhere.com And for Arts and relaxation: http://TarotMuertos.com - Artistic Tarot Deck http://www.welovemuseums.com http://www.artonmytv.com/ Shakers:http://www.shakerpedia.com/ Helping move the world:http://www.earththrives.com _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rob at 2disc.com Wed Feb 19 18:43:06 2025 From: rob at 2disc.com (Rob Laporte) Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2025 13:43:06 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Greenfield locale to lead a zoom call In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1951f84602c.10ac90ec8555780.6818845322337088792@2disc.com> Hi All, Though?Humera and I settled on her enjoying this space, I'm glad to hear about those others. And Humera, no hard feelings at all if you want to try one of those, though I look forward to learning a little about what you do. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ---- On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:22:38 -0500 Shel Horowitz via Hidden-discuss wrote --- If Rob's place doesn't work out, consider the 4th-floor space above Hawks & Reed, where Silverthorne Theater performs. Also, GCC. I don't know if they still have their downtown location but even the main campus is only a mile or two. Great Falls Discovery Center across the river in Turners. And numerous houses of worship. Shel Horowitz - "The Transformpreneur" ________________________________________________ Helping you find YOUR sweet spot where profitable products? and services help solve hunger, racism/othering, poverty, war,? catastrophic climate change, waste, etc. * First business ever to be Green America Gold Certified * Inducted into the National Environmental Hall of Fame * Certified speaker: International Platform Association https://goingbeyondsustainability.com? mailto:mailto:shel at greenandprofitable.com 413-586-2388 Award-winning, best-selling author of 10 books.? Latest: Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World? (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson) Watch my TEDx Talk, "Impossible is a Dare: Business for a Better World" http://www.ted.com/tedx/events/11809? (select "videos" and then "event videos") _________________________________________________ ? On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 12:42?PM Humera Fasihuddin via Hidden-discuss wrote: _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net mailto:Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members Hello friends, I have to lead an hour-long zoom call from Greenfield later this week. Any recommendations for where I can sit (or stand) and take this call without worry that my connection will drop off? I?m not picky about background or goings on so long as there?s not music at high decibels (fine for me but might be distracting to my meeting participants). Thanks, in advance, for your advice. Best, Humera __________________________________________________________ Humera Fasihuddin,? d.school at Stanford University Founder and Co-Director,?University Innovation Fellows _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net mailto:Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tech at MontagueWebWorks.com Wed Feb 19 21:45:26 2025 From: tech at MontagueWebWorks.com (Michael Muller) Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:45:26 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Be Coop Email Servers Message-ID: <6daee68a2e8541b882feedcbab45b9ae@8355b8ee8c494c6680c0041b588601f7> Hey all Anyone here on the inside track of Be Coop, who is going out of business? I am trying to migrate some mailboxes and keep getting errors, despite using the same exact settings as the clients do. Any advice or contact leads would be appreciated. Thanks, Mik Mik Muller, president Montague WebWorks 413-320-5336 https://MontagueWebWorks.com Powered by RocketFusion! (sent via webmail) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tech at MontagueWebWorks.com Thu Feb 20 17:43:41 2025 From: tech at MontagueWebWorks.com (Michael Muller) Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:43:41 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Be Coop Email Servers Message-ID: <449929939a7f4bcfa30b1d65b251df25@0ac249da946a4ab3892a563ffa73b068> > Anyone here on the inside track of Be Coop, who is going out of business? Email is figured out. We now need to transfer the domain name away from them. Anyone here formerly hosting with them who were successful in transferring their domain away, or is in contact with the owners? Thanks, Mik Mik Muller, president Montague WebWorks 413-320-5336 https://MontagueWebWorks.com Powered by RocketFusion! (sent via webmail) ---------------------------------------- From: "Michael Muller via Hidden-discuss" Sent: 2/19/25 7:18 PM To: "hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net" Subject: [Hidden-tech] Be Coop Email Servers Hey all Anyone here on the inside track of Be Coop, who is going out of business? I am trying to migrate some mailboxes and keep getting errors, despite using the same exact settings as the clients do. Any advice or contact leads would be appreciated. Thanks, Mik Mik Muller, president Montague WebWorks 413-320-5336 https://MontagueWebWorks.com Powered by RocketFusion! (sent via webmail) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kathy.reinig at kjreinig.com Thu Feb 20 19:12:15 2025 From: kathy.reinig at kjreinig.com (Kathy Reinig) Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:15 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [Hidden-tech] Be Coop Email Servers In-Reply-To: <449929939a7f4bcfa30b1d65b251df25@0ac249da946a4ab3892a563ffa73b068> References: <449929939a7f4bcfa30b1d65b251df25@0ac249da946a4ab3892a563ffa73b068> Message-ID: <1BFC187F-2AFF-44AD-94FB-0CB04B6A3FDE@kjreinig.com> sounds like I should get help getting my domains from them too. I only use them for email and always download everything as I go, so no need to get the emails themselves. Thanks for any help > On Feb 20, 2025, at 12:43?PM, Michael Muller via Hidden-discuss wrote: > > > Anyone here on the inside track of Be Coop, who is going out of business? > > Email is figured out. We now need to transfer the domain name away from them. > > Anyone here formerly hosting with them who were successful in transferring their domain away, or is in contact with the owners? > > Thanks, > Mik > > Mik Muller, president > Montague WebWorks > 413-320-5336 > https://MontagueWebWorks.com > Powered by RocketFusion! > (sent via webmail) > > From: "Michael Muller via Hidden-discuss" > Sent: 2/19/25 7:18 PM > To: "hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net" > Subject: [Hidden-tech] Be Coop Email Servers > > Hey all > > Anyone here on the inside track of Be Coop, who is going out of business? I am trying to migrate some mailboxes and keep getting errors, despite using the same exact settings as the clients do. > > Any advice or contact leads would be appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Mik > > Mik Muller, president > Montague WebWorks > 413-320-5336 > https://MontagueWebWorks.com > Powered by RocketFusion! > (sent via webmail) > _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members From rich at tnrglobal.com Thu Feb 20 19:51:46 2025 From: rich at tnrglobal.com (Rich@tnr) Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:51:46 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Be Coop Email Servers In-Reply-To: <449929939a7f4bcfa30b1d65b251df25@0ac249da946a4ab3892a563ffa73b068> References: <449929939a7f4bcfa30b1d65b251df25@0ac249da946a4ab3892a563ffa73b068> Message-ID: this sounds like something we dealt with quite a few years ago. If you still are having trouble with some domains, email me the domains and I'll see if I can be of help. R. On 2/20/2025 12:43 PM, Michael Muller via Hidden-discuss wrote: > /> Anyone here on the inside track of Be Coop, who is going out of > business?/ > > Email is figured out. We now need to transfer the domain name away > from them. > > Anyone here formerly hosting with them who were successful in > transferring their domain away, or is in contact with the owners? > > Thanks, > Mik > > Mik Muller, president > Montague WebWorks > 413-320-5336 > https://MontagueWebWorks.com > Powered by RocketFusion! > (sent via webmail) > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From*: "Michael Muller via Hidden-discuss" > > *Sent*: 2/19/25 7:18 PM > *To*: "hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net" > > *Subject*: [Hidden-tech] Be Coop Email Servers > > Hey all > > Anyone here on the inside track of Be Coop, who is going out of > business? I am trying to migrate some mailboxes and keep getting > errors, despite using the same exact settings as the clients do. > > Any advice or contact leads would be appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Mik > > Mik Muller, president > Montague WebWorks > 413-320-5336 > https://MontagueWebWorks.com > Powered by RocketFusion! > (sent via webmail) > > _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page:http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -- Rich Roth CEO TnR Global Bio and personal blog:http://rizbang.com Building the really big sites:http://www.tnrglobal.com Small/Soho business in the PV:http://www.hidden-tech.net Places to meet for business:http://www.meetmewhere.com And for Arts and relaxation: http://TarotMuertos.com - Artistic Tarot Deck http://www.welovemuseums.com http://www.artonmytv.com/ Shakers:http://www.shakerpedia.com/ Helping move the world:http://www.earththrives.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From clagier at gmail.com Thu Feb 27 17:15:43 2025 From: clagier at gmail.com (Christian Lagier) Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:15:43 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Do you know a great, local graphic designer? Message-ID: I would appreciate referrals to somebody in the Pioneer Valley area who might help me with top notch graphic design of consulting deliverables. First project is a brochure and PPT slides. Big bonus if they also have skills in UIUX for consumer/patient oriented software/web/mobile apps. Christian -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From info at artmuffin.com Thu Feb 27 22:35:43 2025 From: info at artmuffin.com (Christopher Gendron) Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:35:43 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Do you know a great, local graphic designer? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I have a friend, Aaron Wood, he's a local designer that can do the brochure and PPT. He does very nice work. You'd have to ask him about his experience with the UIUX stuff. Here's his contact info: aaronwooddesigns at gmail.com If you prefer, I can give him your info, Christian, if you'd rather I do it that way. Let me know. Thanks, Christopher On Thu, Feb 27, 2025 at 12:15?PM Christian Lagier via Hidden-discuss < hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> wrote: > I would appreciate referrals to somebody in the Pioneer Valley area who > might help me with top notch graphic design of consulting deliverables. > First project is a brochure and PPT slides. > Big bonus if they also have skills in UIUX for consumer/patient oriented > software/web/mobile apps. > Christian > _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members > -- Exclusive, early access to discounts, art, and videos on Patreon Buy original art, prints, patches and more in my Etsy shop Check out more of my work: http://www.artmuffin.com/ Get Social: Bluesky Facebook Instagram YouTube Etsy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rob at 2disc.com Fri Feb 28 14:31:06 2025 From: rob at 2disc.com (Rob Laporte) Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2025 09:31:06 -0500 Subject: [Hidden-tech] Great Use of LLMs for Insurance Policy Scrutiny; Many Hopeful Implications In-Reply-To: References: <194c79919da.c23c9d1c2501988.6595083042804935942@2disc.com> <194d1c68213.dba7d9d7274436.979779353105103713@2disc.com> <194dc128d8c.b6ce9c67535855.5599721681637714951@2disc.com> Message-ID: <1954cf6e86f.c759f1721412814.7522636461596271801@2disc.com> Hi All, My nice Amica rep has been proactively apprising me that their underwriting (and probably legal) department is still working on the matter. She re-asked relevant questions regarding my now all remote workers (none in home office) and rare clients here. Those answers are irrelevant to the problematic new generic language of the contract. She said I'll get clarity within a week or so. Fact is, any answer to the legal language problem risks admitting the problem in the first place. We'll see. Two days ago I discovered in my errant spam folder an email from?Fungai Tichawangana of?https://ArtistDynamix.com asking about using this case in a post?(on his https://Inc413.com?), to which I replied, yes for sure. I suggest others here run their insurance contracts/policies through an LLM, asking for risks. Sharing results here, beyond helping?Fungai's prospective article, will show whether other insurance companies are likewise reducing their risks of payouts.? BTW, this use of LLMs is an example of emergent business opportunities. Any law firms or insurance specialists could add such legal language critiques to their offerings. Domain pros are needed to vet LLM answers (at least for the next 3-5 years until AI/LLM may exceed all pros' value). A local association guiding LLM use per profession and populated by peer firms could offer a badge of this association that assures clients and prospects that the participating firms are using AI/LLMs to deliver more excellence than average in the nation. That's the idea in my rather back-burnered ALI (Agency LLM Innitiative) and https://www.2disc.com/services/sali/ (Simple Accelerated LLM Integrations). It's a model that various business associations could advance to gain membership and pull in national revenue to a local area. Best Regards, Rob Laporte CEO? |? R&D Manager DISC - Making Websites?Make Money mailto:Rob at 2disc.com,?413-584-6500 https://www.2disc.com NOTE:?Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don?t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call. ---- On Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:16:59 -0500 Rich at tnr via Hidden-discuss wrote --- Rob, thanks for the ongoing saga - gives one ideas of issues to review, and some ways of doing it. esp with insurance issues related to LA files and who knows what Musk is doing in DC except there is LLM in the discussion. Keep the explorations up - Cheers - Rich On 2/6/2025 11:24 AM, Rob Laporte via Hidden-discuss wrote: Hi All, Quick update. Nice rep said home is covered despite the home office. What she didn't say is what, apparently, the contract states: the coverage is reduced in proportion to the percent of home used for business. I used an LLM to unpack the legalese, which is full of serpentine references to other clauses, and uses language likely to decieve one into believing that only home day care work impacts coverage. I had ChatGPT write a letter asking for written clarification--forget friendly talk. Meanwhile, Amica auto-sent texts thanking me for my approvals, and I did not approve it yet, which I explained via Amica's communication systems, so there's a clear record. They also charged my bank despite my turning on auto-pay only for the car insurance, and there too I posted a memo indicating I did not intend this payment, again to produce a clear paper trail.? I'll let you know the final outcome of this saga. I imagine similar moves are happening at other insurance companies.? -- Rich Roth CEO TnR Global Bio and personal blog: http://rizbang.com Building the really big sites: http://www.tnrglobal.com Small/Soho business in the PV: http://www.hidden-tech.net Places to meet for business: http://www.meetmewhere.com And for Arts and relaxation: http://TarotMuertos.com - Artistic Tarot Deck http://www.welovemuseums.com http://www.artonmytv.com/ Shakers: http://www.shakerpedia.com/ Helping move the world: http://www.earththrives.com _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: