Wandering Shop Stories 84

Prompt Word: Mug Minervie and Chip 72 The party made its way toward Graendle the treant. There were no sightings of anything that wasn’t already part of the observed creatures. There was a minor confrontation with a particularly territorial juvenile black hart, but Minervie bound it quite expertly. Cathy tried multiple times to talk to Chip and spark his imagination, but Chip would just reply with, “That’s silly,” and “Why would that exist?...

2 May 2026 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink

Current Thoughts on AI and LLMs (2026)

AI Is A Moving Goalpost Artificial Intelligence does not exist. Artificial General Intelligence does not actually mean anything. Both of these things come from Science-Fiction writing. Both of these things have been co-opted by companies selling Large Language Model technology. Machine Learning is a technology, and it underlies ALL of this. Good and bad. Both AI and AGI are marketing terms, and in the last 4 years, they each have had their meaning changed, multiple times, by the people who are selling them....

1 May 2026 · 9 min · Gary Allen Vollink

Wandering Shop Stories 83

Prompt Words: Pace Union Minervie and Chip 71 Cathy stared up at Minervie, and Minervie said, “Chip? What you mean about the unicorn, could you explain?” “The unicorn appeared in the wood, and left the same day,” Chip explained like it was obvious. “Did the treant tell you this?” Minervie prompted. “I don’t remember who told me.” Chip said. Cathy said, “I think we should go visit this Graendle.” A man leaned in and said something quietly to Cathy....

1 May 2026 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink

Wandering Shop Stories 82

Prompt Word: Shining Minervie and Chip 70 The investigators followed Minervie and Chip around the side of their home, through the side gate, and into the back yard. Chip, seeing the number of adults who were present, asked, “Gramma, is Graendle in trouble?” The lead woman spoke first, “No. He is a witness to an incident we need to know about.” Minervie nodded, “I suspect the trouble is around a unicorn....

29 Apr 2026 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink