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Can gzip be a language model?

414 points · 165 comments · networked

  1. Culonavirus · · focus · HN ↗
    This tracks perfectly with Winrar being more profitable than OpenAI... coincidence? I think not!
    1. wolfi1 · · focus · HN ↗
      winrar is profitable? sure? well, on the other hand, they sure don't make losses
      1. shezi · · focus · HN ↗
        They are a German GmbH and must publicly state their financials: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.northdata.de&#x2F;win%C2%B7rar%20GmbH,%20Berlin&#x2F;Amtsgericht%20Charlottenburg%20(Berlin)%20HRB%20109885%20B" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.northdata.de&#x2F;win%C2%B7rar%20GmbH,%20Berlin&#x2F;Amtsg...

        Looks pretty profitable to me.

        1. firtoz · · focus · HN ↗
          TIL they&#x27;re Turkish
          1. tecleandor · · focus · HN ↗
            The original author and also creator of the RAR format, Eugene Roshal, is Russian. I think he moved to the US way back in the day, but not sure about that. He has been very private with his life.

            The company doing the software distribution, is located in Berlin. The Managing Directors for that company seem to have Turkish names, but I don&#x27;t know if they&#x27;re Turkish.

            BTW, Looking for some info I just found a website [0], clearly AI generated (but not necessarily meaning the content is false) claiming Eugene Roshal had severe kidney failure this past month, and he&#x27;s waiting for surgery. They&#x27;re asking for donations. There are some names on who&#x27;s theoretically behind it [1] but they don&#x27;t link to any LinkedIn profile or personal site. I can&#x27;t find any other references. The BTC wallet they&#x27;re using for donations hasn&#x27;t seen any traffic ever. BE WARY, SMELLS FISHY.

            --

              0: https:&#x2F;&#x2F;eugeneroshal.org&#x2F;
              1: https:&#x2F;&#x2F;eugeneroshal.org&#x2F;about&#x2F;
            1. pshan · · focus · HN ↗
              WHOIS information for the domain shows it&#x27;s registered in the Philippines. The name of the owner does not show up in any of the about section people. So I think those are fake.
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