Qwen Image 2.1 in Intel Laptops

Qwen Image 2.1 in Intel Laptops

Alibaba recently released Qwen Image 2.1, an image generation model that can run with just 7B parameters. In previous articles we explored how to make an AI chatbot and code harness using local LLMs, running on an Asus Zenbook. At 7B parameters, Qwen Image 2.1 is perfect for adding image generation capability to the laptop. My laptop has an Intel Core Ultra (Lunar Lake) processor with integrated Arc 140V graphics and 32GB of RAM, shared between the CPU and GPU.

As with the previous articles, we will try to install Qwen Image using the OpenVINO toolkit and optimum-cli: Continue Reading

Tretinoin

Tretinoin

After decades of ignoring my skin, the consequences finally came as I went into middle age: melasma, hyperpigmentation, and the like. My dermatologist prescribed a couple of remedies, one of which was Tretinoin cream. The instructions were to apply it daily in the evening, so that’s what I did. After four days, I began to feel like my entire face was on fire.

When researching for side effects, I realized why Tretinoin is still a prescription medicine rather than just an over the counter cream. It works on the cellular level, boosting collagen production and skin cell turnover. If used incorrectly, it causes severe skin irritation, and can lead to chemical burns as your cells purge itself quicker than normal. Continue Reading

The Muse

The Muse

Ever since my daughter played the game Undertale, she was obsessed with it. There were only a few that genuinely piqued her interest, so I decided to give this decade-old game a shot. With low expectations, I started playing this retro-looking 2D game, and completed in just a few hours. After I finished the game however, I found myself thinking more about the story. I decided to give it another shot to unlock an alternate ending. After achieving the ending that I was aiming for, I am still not satisfied and am currently playing my third run of the game.

“Wow, this is something else“, I thought to myself. Why does this weird looking, seemingly simple game had me hooked? What was it with this game that evoked this feeling not just for me, not just for my daughter, but for millions of other players around the world? The reason was simple: the creator (Toby Fox) poured his heart and soul into making this game. Continue Reading

Kantan Dev

Kantan Dev

LLMs changed the way I do software development. Depending on who you ask, admitting that I haven’t hand-coded a feature since the beginning of the year may or may not be a good thing. Regardless of where you fall on the “AI morality” spectrum, one thing is hard to deny: software development has evolved significantly over the past year. With it came agentic skills frameworks like Superpowers that enable agents to code software end-to-end. As a developer myself, why not try to reinvent the wheel and make your own framework? Enter Kantan Dev.

Kidding aside, I enjoyed working with skill-based frameworks like Superpowers. It consistently produced higher-quality results than simply prompting an LLM to generate code. Alas, no tool is all upside, and I noticed a few drawbacks: Continue Reading

Reviews, not Resolutions

Reviews, not Resolutions

If you have read my older articles, you will know that I am not a fan of doing New Year’s Resolutions. I do reviews instead. For me, doing resolutions are pointless as it means:

Change can only happen at a “special” date – the common trap of people signing up for gym classes in January, and then slowly dropping off in the following months until they cancel their membership. And then having the mindset of “I’ll do better next year!“, waiting for the year-end, and the cycle repeats again. Change should start the moment you decide to do it. Continue Reading