Rob Malouf

Professor of linguistics, San Diego State University

[MMitchell @mmitchell_ai]

Open-to-all! @huggingface hackathon on *small, purpose-built* AI systems -- the kinds of things that directly help people while minimizing how much data/energy is needed. June 5-15th, some cash prizes. Link in 🧵

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

@silicondog37 @tolstoybb Big Filipino and Southeast Asian populations in SD

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

@ChristinaBehme4 @RyanMorasiewicz @Hiker_Scott @MurphTWN @CWNH @Newtrailss @NateTWN @pnwkate @weathernetwork @JonFraserTF @ThierryGooseBC Some kind of cat (no claws). How big are they?

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

@JLingPystynen Dutch has native names for a few of elements, though they're mostly not mono morphemic, they're compounds with -stof "material": https://t.co/j3Wm4GknN5

[Arthur Dent @ArthurCDent]

Little positive note on using AI for more rigorous research. A few years back I had some weirdly distributed data in the context of a LME (clustered) analysis situation. I applied a Yeo-Johnson transformation rather than the ideal method, believing it would be “good enough”…

[Ethan Mollick @emollick]

We need guides through the inevitable bout of AI psychosis that affects professionals after they finally “get” AI. They often engage in intense, sleepless & impossibly complex projects in their area of expertise, with only AI for company. Its usually temporary & can be productive

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

I'm a prof but not in a research dept . We mostly teach undergrads and don't offer a PhD. AI agents are letting me tackle projects I've had in mind for years but haven't had the resources to put any sustained effort into. Transformational (maybe, we'll see how it goes)

[Tal Linzen @tallinzen]

I think we're going to need CS PhD students to do far more than provide accountability, by which I think Sayash means do code review for AI agents and make sure the agent isn't making silly mistakes.

The main value of a strong PhD student for a PI is that they're immersed in a problem, a method, an application, a collaboration with another field; they are obsessed with finding the next question to ask, not just executing the experiments their advisor asks them to do. I simply wouldn't be able to work on the range of things I'm able to work on if I were going it on my own, even if all of my code was generated instantaneously by an agent.

[Monika Bednarek (she/her) 🌈 @Corpusling]

Large language models (LLMs) in corpus linguistics – a new #SydneyCorpusLab resource https://t.co/VB9JowKGM9

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

@aran_nayebi That's a perfectly good way to make a living, but it's not a calling and you'll drive yourself nuts trying to make it one.

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

@aran_nayebi Academia is big. That might be true for you in your position. Someone who's been teaching a 4/4 load in sociology at Southwestern Technical College for ten years probably doesn't love their job and also probably doesn't have a lot of better options.

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

@ChrisGPotts I'm with you 100% on this. My least favorite movie in a very long time.

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

@yoavgo I use them for coding in Rust, but there it's the compiler that enforces proper memory management.

[Andrew Piper @_akpiper]

My basic take on the humanities contribution to AI: moving past "right answer" frameworks for validation. That alone would revolutionize the field.

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

@yoavgo Keynote is hard to replace! Also look into some of the third party utilities that make Macs more habitable (e.g., Moom, keyboard maestro, better touch tool)

[Associate Deans @ass_deans]

The faculty are too “smart” to organize anything. The staff don’t know how smart they are, but can organize anything. And they are all too risk-averse to get another job. This is how we run the university!

[Associate Deans @ass_deans]

The college cannot take a public stand on these political attacks on faculty. But we do hope someone does do something. We just can’t encourage it. Or sanction it. Also, we may have to fire you if you do take a public stand.

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

So I asked ChatGPT. "What's the part number for the plastic plug thing on the thermostat housing of a 3.2l VR6 (Audi 8p)". It instantly came back WITH THE RIGHT ANSWER.

I, for one, welcome our new part-number-knowing overlords. 2/2

[Rob Malouf @robmalouf]

📷
Now I'm convinced. I'm replacing the thermostat housing on my ancient Audi. Of course, a little plastic doohickey broke off when I took it apart. I can't find it on any parts diagram and I have no idea what it's called so I can't look it up. 1/2

[Jeremiah Dobruck @jeremiahdobruck]

As what happened in Paramount, Compton and LA yesterday bursts into the national conversation, make sure you follow responsible news outlets with people on the ground and deep connections to their local community like @LongBeachPost, @LAist, @boyleheightsbt, @latimes

[LSA 2025 Summer Institute @lsa2025_uo]

🎉 We’re thrilled to share that Joan Bybee, our Forum Lecturer (July 13th), has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences!
It is wonderful to see the Academy recognize Professor Bybee's pioneering role in leading the field to focus on the role of language use