This is a special post for quick takes by TheManxLoiner. Only they can create top-level comments. Comments here also appear on the Quick Takes page and All Posts page.
In Sakana AI's paper on AI Scientist v-2, they claim that the sytem is independent of human code. Based on quick skim, I think this is wrong/deceptful. I wrote up my thoughts here: https://lovkush.substack.com/p/are-sakana-lying-about-the-independence
Main trigger was this line in the system prompt for idea generation: "Ensure that the proposal can be done starting from the provided codebase."
Should LessWrong have an anonymous mode? When reading a post or comments, is it useful to have the username or does that introduce bias?
I had this thought after reading this review of LessWrong: https://nathanpmyoung.substack.com/p/lesswrong-expectations-vs-reality
I vote no. An option for READERS to hid the names of posters/commenters might be nice, but an option to post something that you're unwilling to have a name on (not even your real name, just a tag with some history and karma) does not improve things.
There is an option for readers to hide names. It's in the account preferences. The names don't show up unless you roll over them. I use it, to supplement my long-cultivated habit of always trying to read the content before the author name on every site[1].
As for anonymous posts, I don't agree with your blanket dismissal. I've seen them work against groupthink on some forums (while often at the same time increasing the number of low-value posts you have to wade through). Admittedly Less Wrong doesn't seem to have too much of a groupthink problem[2]. Anyway, there could always be an option for readers to hide anonymous posts.
You can create another account to make an anonymous comment. But it's inconvenient.
(Not sure whether this is an argument for or against anonymous commenting.)