top of page
Search


The Illusion of Validity: Why We Think We're Smarter Than We Are
The Illusion of Validity, a concept deeply rooted in behavioral psychology, refers to our tendency to overestimate the predictive power...

Aki Kakko
Dec 31, 20245 min read


Out-of-Distribution Detection in AI: Ensuring Reliable AI Systems
Out-of-Distribution (OOD) detection represents a critical component of modern AI systems, enabling them to identify when they encounter inputs that differ significantly from their training data . This capability has become fundamental to deploying AI systems safely and effectively in real-world applications where unexpected inputs are not just possible but inevitable. Understanding Out-of-Distribution Detection The core premise of Out-of-Distribution detection involves ident

Aki Kakko
Dec 31, 20244 min read


LP Co-Investment Rights in Venture Capital and Private Equity
Co-investment rights have become an increasingly important feature in venture capital and private equity fund agreements, allowing Limited Partners (LPs) to invest directly in portfolio companies alongside the main fund . This article explores the key aspects of LP co-investment rights, their benefits, challenges, and practical implications for both investors and fund managers. Understanding Co-Investment Rights Co-investment rights give LPs the opportunity to make dir

Aki Kakko
Dec 31, 20243 min read


Understanding Polysemanticity in AI: Multiple Meanings in Neural Networks
In Artificial Intelligence , we are currently living through a paradox. We have built Large Language Models ( LLMs ) like GPT-series and Claude that can write poetry, code software , and pass bar exams. We know how to build them, and we know what they output. But we generally do not understand what happens in the middle. This is the " Black Box " problem. If you look under the hood of a modern neural network, you don't see lines of readable code like if (question implies d

Aki Kakko
Dec 30, 20245 min read


Understanding Synthetic Cognition: The Bridge Between AI and Human Thought
Synthetic cognition represents an emerging paradigm in artificial intelligence and cognitive science that seeks to create computational systems that can replicate or approximate human-like thinking processes . Unlike traditional AI approaches that focus solely on achieving specific task outcomes, synthetic cognition attempts to model the underlying mental processes that humans use to perceive, reason , learn, and make decisions. Core Principles of Synthetic Cognition Pro

Aki Kakko
Dec 29, 20243 min read


The Linguistic Boundaries of Artificial Intelligence: A Deep Dive into Language, Cognition, and Reality
When Ludwig Wittgenstein penned "the limits of my language mean the limits of my world," he couldn't have anticipated how profoundly this observation would apply to artificial intelligence . In the realm of AI, language isn't merely a tool for communication—it fundamentally shapes and defines the boundaries of machine understanding, reasoning , and capability. Foundation Models and Language Constraints: The Architecture of AI Understanding Modern AI systems , particularly la

Aki Kakko
Dec 28, 20243 min read


The Gibbs Paradox in AI: When Identical Systems Behave Differently
The Gibbs paradox, originally formulated in statistical mechanics, has found a surprising new relevance in artificial intelligence. Just...

Aki Kakko
Dec 27, 20243 min read


Understanding Dataset Bias in Artificial Intelligence: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
Dataset bias represents one of the most significant challenges in modern artificial intelligence development. When AI systems are trained on biased datasets , they can perpetuate and amplify existing societal prejudices, leading to discriminatory outcomes across various applications. This article explores the nature of dataset bias , its implications, and strategies for mitigation. What is Dataset Bias ? Dataset bias occurs when training data used to develop AI models d

Aki Kakko
Dec 26, 20244 min read


The Thermodynamics of Intelligence: Carnot’s Theorem, Scaling Laws, and the Path to AGI
In the 19th century, the industrial revolution was powered by steam. Engineers raced to build larger boilers and hotter fires, believing that raw power was the only metric that mattered. It took a French physicist named Sadi Carnot to stop and ask a fundamental question: Is there a limit to how much work we can get out of this heat? His answer, Carnot’s Theorem , defined the absolute boundaries of efficiency for the physical world. Today, we are living through a cognitive

Aki Kakko
Dec 25, 20245 min read


The Transformation of Venture Capital: The Rise of Secondary Market Solutions
The Evolution of Liquidity in Venture Capital : In a significant departure from traditional practices, venture capital firms are embracing sophisticated financial mechanisms to address mounting liquidity pressures. This shift represents one of the most substantial changes in venture fund management since the industry's inception, with implications stretching across the entire investment ecosystem . Market Context and Historical Perspective Historically, venture capital

Aki Kakko
Dec 24, 20243 min read


Neural Networks and the Challenge of Spurious Correlations
Neural networks have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in various domains, from image recognition to natural language processing. However, their tendency to learn spurious correlations and memorize exceptions poses significant challenges for real-world applications. This article explores these phenomena and their implications for machine learning systems. Understanding Spurious Correlations Spurious correlations occur when neural networks learn to associate features that

Aki Kakko
Dec 24, 20243 min read


Moravec's Paradox: When Easy is Hard and Hard is Easy in AI
In the 1980s, roboticist Hans Moravec made a fascinating observation that would later become known as Moravec's paradox : tasks that are easy for humans to perform often prove incredibly difficult for artificial intelligence , while tasks that humans find challenging can be relatively simple for AI to master. This counterintuitive principle has profound implications for AI development and our understanding of intelligence itself. The Paradox Explained The essence of Mo

Aki Kakko
Dec 23, 20243 min read


The Surprising Dynamics of Learning in Deep Neural Networks: Understanding Instability
Recent research has revealed counterintuitive insights about how deep neural networks learn, challenging our traditional understanding of training dynamics. This article explores the fascinating concept that instability might not just be an unwanted side effect, but potentially a crucial mechanism driving effective learning in deep models. The Traditional View vs. New Insights Traditionally, machine learning practitioners have focused on achieving stable and smooth optimi

Aki Kakko
Dec 22, 20243 min read


Understanding AI Models vs. AI Systems
The terms "AI model" and "AI system" are often used interchangeably, yet they represent distinct concepts with important differences. This article explores these differences and their implications for AI development, deployment, and governance. AI Models: The Core Building Blocks An AI model is fundamentally a mathematical representation trained to perform specific pattern recognition or prediction tasks. Think of it as the "brain" that has learned to process certain types of

Aki Kakko
Dec 21, 20243 min read


Bootstrap Ensembles in AI
Bootstrap ensembles represent a powerful technique in machine learning that combines statistical bootstrapping with ensemble learning to create robust and accurate models. This article explores the fundamentals, implementations, and applications of bootstrap ensembles in AI systems . Understanding Bootstrap Ensembles Bootstrap ensembles, also known as bagging ( B ootstrap AGG regat ING ), operate on a simple yet powerful principle: create multiple models trained on di

Aki Kakko
Dec 20, 20244 min read


Carried Interest Multiples: Analysis and Implications for Limited Partners
The carried interest multiple serves as a critical metric in private equity and venture capital , measuring the relationship between...

Aki Kakko
Dec 19, 20243 min read


Epistemic Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence: Understanding What AI Systems Don't Know
Epistemic uncertainty represents one of the most critical challenges in modern artificial intelligence systems. Unlike aleatoric uncertainty, which deals with inherent randomness in data, epistemic uncertainty refers to uncertainty due to limited knowledge or incomplete understanding. As AI systems become increasingly integrated into high-stakes decision-making processes, understanding and quantifying what these systems don't know becomes paramount for safe and reliable dep

Aki Kakko
Dec 18, 20243 min read


Board Flipping Rights: Understanding Investor Control Mechanisms
Board flipping rights represent a powerful mechanism in corporate governance that allows investors, typically venture capitalists or...

Aki Kakko
Dec 17, 20243 min read


Policy Collapse in AI: Understanding the Challenge of Control
Policy collapse refers to a phenomenon in artificial intelligence systems where an AI's learned behavior or decision-making process breaks down in unexpected ways, often producing results that deviate significantly from its intended objectives. This concept has become increasingly important as AI systems grow more complex and are deployed in critical applications. Understanding Policy Collapse At its core, policy collapse occurs when an AI system's learned policy—its strat

Aki Kakko
Dec 16, 20242 min read


Reinforcement Fine-Tuning in AI
Reinforcement Fine-Tuning (RFT) represents a significant advancement in artificial intelligence , combining principles from reinforcement learning with traditional model fine-tuning approaches. Unlike conventional supervised fine-tuning that relies on labeled data pairs, RFT enables models to learn from feedback signals that indicate the quality or desirability of their outputs. This approach has become increasingly important in developing more capable and aligned AI syste

Aki Kakko
Dec 15, 20243 min read
bottom of page