Rami's Readings #75 - Apple's Image Diffusion Models
The latest on AI, LLMs, Diffusion Models, Text-to-SQL, Mamba, Intel, Hilton, PM2.5, and more.
Welcome to Rami’s Readings #75 - a weekly digest of interesting articles, papers, videos, and X threads from my various sources across the Internet. Expect a list of reads covering AI, technology, business, culture, fashion, travel, and more. Learn about what I do at ramisayar.com/about.
The newsletter is shorter this week as I was entertaining visitors, visiting museums, and enjoying the wonderful summer weather of the Pacific Northwest. And, more cycling!
🤖 AI Reads
Apple Open Sourced Matryoshka Diffusion Models
Notes: Text-to-Image Diffusion Models. Biggest model generates 1024x1024 pixel images. Previous paper describing the project.
OpenAI Introduced Structured Outputs in the API
Notes: Improving the developer experience is always great to see.
Synthesizing Text-to-SQL Data from Weak and Strong LLMs
Notes: From the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and the Alibaba Group
A Survey of Mamba
Notes: Great survey of Mamba-based models and papers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Spoke to 22 LangGraph Devs and Here's What We Found
Notes: Small sample, but still useful.
💼 Business Reads
Intel’s Statement on CPU Issues
Notes: Intel stock down 59% YTD. Terrible.
Hedge Funds Smell Blood as Lenders Turn on Each Other
Creditors have been fighting since the 1980s advent of junk bonds, but the current vintage of violence dates back to 2016, when preppy clothing retailer J. Crew’s close reading of debt documents let it transfer valuable intellectual property out of creditors’ reach and use it to raise fresh debt.
The technique became known as a “trap door” or “drop-down” maneuver. Or, more simply, getting “J. Screwed.”
AND J. Crew Eyes Debt-Market Return Years After Upending Lending
Notes: Who knew the bond market was so interesting this month?
Hilton’s Big Bet on Luxury Is All About Ordinary Road Warriors
Notes: More from Hilton.
NYC Subway Riders See ‘Exceptionally High’ Air Pollution
Notes: PM2.5 pollution is the bane of the PNW every August. Sad to see this level of exposure in NYC. Interactive Map.
Signing off from Redmond.