I just received my annual TCP-1 letter from LLNS and a summary of the LLNS Pension Plan. Looked in pretty good shape in 2013. About 35% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 134.92%). This was a decrease from 2012 where it was 51% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 151.59%). They did note that the 2012 change in the law on how liabilities are calculated using interest rates improved the plan's position. Without the change the funding target attainment percentages would have been 118% (2012) and 105% (2013). 2013 assets = $2,057,866,902 2013 liabilities = $1,525,162,784 vs 2012 assets = $1,844,924,947 2012 liabilities = $1,217,043,150 It was also noted that a slightly different calculation method ("fair market value") designed to show a clearer picture of the plan' status as December 31, 2013 had; Assets = $2,403,098,433 Liabilities = $2,068,984,256 Funding ratio = 116.15% Its a closed plan with 3,781 participants. Of that number, 3,151 wer...
Comments
Well then if history repeats itself it will be built for sure.
I am not sure the labs will have much to offer in terms of AI. I think LANL tried some of this in the early 2000s and it was scoffed at as being irrelevant. LANL is now pushing AI as a big LANL focus but I none of the managers that wrote the latest mission statement have any expertise in AI or machine learning. Seems kind of hopeless.
11/25/2023 9:10 AM
There is some in LANL mostly some PIs applying known AI/machine learning methods to certain problems with some modest success but no one has developed anything that has any kind high impact, and any of the early AI, machine learning staff left 10-15 years ago. Some more recent people were doing good work on AI and quantum computing but I think they left as well. I think it is going to very hard attract strong people to work on AI at LANL with so many better options, better pay and better places to work. There are a few managers which have been titled as "AI supreme czar", "head leader of AI at LANL", "top big strong big leader AI at LANL" and none one on but these people have never done research on AI. You see lots of proposals with "we will apply AI techniques" but this is on the level of what undergraduates can do with canned programs and such. Evervody knows the buzz and hype but few really understand what it is and what type of problems it can be useful for, how accurate it can be and so one.
Go to the lab's home page for news at https://www.llnl.gov/news
and type in artificial intelligence in the "search for" box.
Meanwhile AI is being represented in Congressional circles by the likes of Boebert and AOC. Dark days are ahead.
There was some strong people looking at AI and related work about 15-10 years ago, but they have left. Some still have a few connections at the LANL. Most the AI work at LANL seems to connected with outside university. It seems like a buzz word that managers are throwing out now because everybody is using it. We are kind of late to the the party on this kind of work.