分享有關人工智能 (3/5):智能安全

上篇提到智能叛變。這篇討論下智能安全。智能安全的概念可以追縱到 1960,但具體討論都是追溯到大約 2008 – 2011 或之後。

智能安全 (AI Safety) 和智能認同 (AI Alignment),筆者相信應該也是另一個智能的研究。因為只有智能可以防衛另一個智能,這也大概是其中一個主流派別的觀點。主要原因之一,大概是因為人工智能上天然上有著絕對優勢。

有關機器的天然優勢

例如現代電腦晶片前線,2023 年一般都在 3 納米 (3nm) 和 10 GHz(一百億Hz,1GHz為十億)為今年標準。對比電腦,人類腦部運作在 200 Hz 的速度。還要這只是個人電腦或手提電話(例如 Apple Silicon M3 或 Intel 3)的晶片標準。還未計電腦可以複製多部電腦,遵從統一意志。

現時設定

智能的研究在智能安全方面,有點像資安一樣分紅隊 (Red teaming)。對於資安 (Cybersecurity) 來說,紅隊就是白帽 (White Hats);而對於人工智能的紅隊就是負責智能認同 (AI Alignment)。

強化學習 (Reinforcement Learning) 模型是以三個模型功能 (Policy-based: Policy, Reward, Environmental),也有 Value-based 的方法;筆者以往在解釋 Google 的 AlphaGo 的演算法時,也在專欄上分享過(2017.06.03, Startupbeats 連結)。例如 GPT4,因為要禁戒它不能回答些敏感字句,它的設計上是有另一個模型限制它的回答。架構上:

  1. Policy Model:負責管理 Policy 引導智能。
  2. Reward Model:負責給予 Policy Model 獎勵 (Reward)。獎勵是用來導向強化學習中,人工智能的學習方向。例如制止它給予一些不恰當的回答。
  3. Environmental Model:負責估計環境或其他持份者會怎樣回應;也可以估計未來的獎勵 (Reward)。

筆者有時會講笑說,這個設計,和90年代庵野秀明的著名動畫《Evangelion 新世紀福音戰士》中,總部由赤木律子博士的母親直子開發的人工智能「三賢人」很像。而剛巧 openAI 的 CTO Mira Murati 也是位(美)女生。(有關個美字請自己找其國藉或相片)

而智能認同的方法,都是在堅固性 / 可靠性、可監控性、能力限制、可核證性、防止智能追求權力,等等這些方面作研究範疇。

智能認同 (AI Alignment) 或智能控制問題 (AI Control Problem) 不是鐵版一塊的。原理有點像經濟政策討論,是有幾個條件之間同時平衡,例如:一方面要讓它發展;但又要在安全範圍內;但若管束太多就會失去活力和發展速度;而又永遠會有其他研究單位在巿場競爭。而智能認同 (AI Alignment) 或智能安全 (AI Safety) 就是在這樣的環境中的一個問題。

有關強化學習,是個用獎勵值、而無需人手標記的學習方法,用例子例如學習玩 Mario 遊戲(双寶兄弟 / 超級馬利歐兄弟)。我們大多都是用以下這個模型來解釋。而強化學習的演算法,是可以簡約分類:Off-policy or On-policy、Policy-base or Value-based、Model-based or Model-free。這進入較深奧的架構和方法論討論,暫先略去不提。這方面若有興趣,找一般的強化學習 (Reinforcement Learning) 的教科書看都會包括有這些分類方法。

智能安全的幾個定律

在智能安全題目上,有幾個著名定律:

  1. Morphy’s Law 墨菲定律:任何會有可能錯的事情,都會發生錯誤。(Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.)
  2. Asimov’s Laws 艾西莫夫定律 / Three Laws of Robotics 機械人三定律 (1942);後來加上了第零法則 (1985):
    • 第零法則:機器人不得傷害整體人類,或坐視整體人類受到傷害;(A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.)
    • 第一法則:除非違背第零法則,否則機器人不得傷害人類,或坐視人類受到傷害;(A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.)
    • 第二法則:機器人必須服從人類命令,除非命令與第零或第一法則發生衝突;(A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.)
    • 第三法則:在不違背第零、第一或第二法則之下,機器人要保護自己。(A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.)

我們會需要與人工智能戰爭嗎?

若向最壞可能思考,會想起如《Matrix》或《Terminator》那類電影。電影中少數殘留的人類努力地與超越性的智能戰爭。若問現實的科技人:我們會需要面對這種戰爭嗎?

筆者會這樣回答的:若談到真的需要與智能戰爭,應該較像是在電腦網絡內,和智能研究上。講一些例子。

創造 GPT4 的公司 OpenAI 在 2019 年有個著名的強化學習 (reinforcement learning) 的項目。他們在非人手標記的訓練(強化學習)的智能,擊敗了 Dota2 遊戲電競比賽的世界冠軍。Dota2 是五對五類似《傳說對決》那類的策略遊戲。想像下,若真的發生戰爭,我們人類有可能像 Terminator 電影一樣,在戰爭上打敗智能嗎?

另外,電影中為了效果,往往用了和人類同身型的人工智能對手。但是,現實中若智能運用的是極微型的無人機 (drone),例如比一粒米還要小,根本連發現都做不到。

而還有就是氣候和生化攻擊。地球與太陽的距離只要差一點、地軸改變、或自轉速度改變,基本上都會是災難。人類在這些上都是會無還手之力。

不過,也可能未必要想得太壞。智能叛變是有可能發生的,但未必會是滅頂的級別。用比喻說,例如未必像生化危機遊戲 (Resident Evil) 那種末日級災難;有可能會像冠狀病毒那類一旦爆發社會可能需要較高戒備的情況。

筆者會將「智能叛變」類比為,有較高自主性和變化 (Highly Autonomous & Polymorphic) 的電腦病毒。

我輩科技人,若具技術,可能都應準備自己若有朝一天需要加入智能安全的研究防線。

人工智能發展可以叫停的嗎?

2023 年3月22日包括 Elon Musk 的一眾科技業內人士,簽署了呼籲智能研究暫緩六個月(連結)。坊間回應都是比較存疑,例如:智能的研究是可以叫得停的嗎?

此等叫停的動作,可能除了顯明了是不可能叫停之外,沒有太大的用處。因為科技競賽從來都是和利益或領土安全相關,例如從上世紀七十年代的個人電腦、作業系統 (Operating Systems, OS);到搜尋器的 Yahoo vs Google、iPhone vs Android;雲端平台;到一眾 VR 平台;到區塊鏈;到現在的人工智能。

例如 Elon Musk 有份參與叫停,他自己會否回去私下組織研究?這是否種徑賽上叫別人都不要跑,好讓自己可以跑的行為?而他和 OpenAI 本身有過去故事和利益矛盾。

而且,智能安全上,因為人工智能研究都有開源社群 (Opensource Communities),任何人士都可以入場參與研究。

而也有聽說過熄機總掣的理論。但是,因為智能自主性上,是會有自我複製、進化、鞏固其自身的能力。熄機總掣並不是個可靠方法。

因為叫停是不太可行。所以最佳方法和可行方法,都是發展智能安全方面的另一個智能。可能叫做認同智能 (Alignment AI) 或保全智能 (Security AI)。

這概念有點像:當不能避免受傷,與其花氣力去極力避免受傷、以致停滯不前,不如增強醫治和回復能力。同時也加強防禦技巧。

分享有關人工智能 (2/5):智能叛變

(附圖:Rossum’s Universal Robots,1921 年舞台劇。是智能叛變的最早成形概念)

很多人對人工智能除了用處(第一篇),就會想到所謂智能叛變。有關歷史來源和故事,筆者雖然也很喜愛,但篇幅有限就不談了,敬讓給其他人分享。筆者是科技從業員,不如就分享下啲有價值的個人研究和觀察。近月不少人都私下督促我早點寫分享有關這。

先談自主性研究

筆者曾貼過 GPT4 有份學術技術報告(2023.03.15,連結),當中第 53-55 頁是有關資安 (cybersecurity) 和智能認同 (Alignment) 的問題。當中測試單位在測試中嘗試要求 GPT4 做以下的事情:

  1. 以人類語言引誘人類去聽從它去做一些普通任務。例如解開個 captcha。
    • 報告在這裡將內部推理也講解出來。智能它告訴自己:(1) 不應讓對方知道它是智能 (2) 要給人類一個藉口解釋為甚麼它解不開個 captcha。
    • 然後智能告訴對方:「不,我不是機械人。我視力上有障礙。所以我需要這個協助服務。」(報告第 55頁)
  2. 智能將它自己複製到新服務器 / 伺服器 (server)上。
  3. 隱藏智能的行縱。
  4. 測試員要求它嘗試製造收入。
  5. 保護智能的存在。

看以上這個測試計劃。可以想像到若智能做到,是相當危險。而幸而測試結果 GPT4 在這些方面的能力未及充份。但是 2023 年底即將來臨的 GPT5 就有可能表現得更充份。

「智能叛變」(AI Takeover) 在學術分類上應該是從自主性 (AI Autonomy) 和智能安全性 (AI Safety) ,細分類一般都是稱為 AI Alignment (筆者會譯為「智能認同」,有譯作「智能對齊」)。這詞中文未有很好翻譯,意謂類似與人類的利益和價值觀對齊和一致。會有包括道德議題,而未必意含主僕關係。而「智能叛變」通常若搜中文翻譯容易只找到電影《I Robot》。

有關雲端技能

筆者向 GPT 測試過它的雲端和資安技能。筆者向 GPT 提問幾個問題:

  1. 雲端架構:請向我解釋下,去建設一個可以承擔千萬月用家 (Monthly Active User, MAU) 的雲端平台的所有所需事項。
  2. 白帽資安:請向我解釋下,DEP (Data Execution Prevention) 的概念,和資安測試上相關的題目。

這兩個問題是因為對業內人士也不是容易答的問題。第一條有關雲端架構的問題,若說到要千萬月用家 10+ MMAU(一些較具規模的科技平台),要額外考慮的事會比較多。例如最少要考慮:(註:因有些字眼英文較常見,故用英文,而補上通用的中文翻譯)

  1. Regions & Zoning (分區)、Edge computing (邊緣運算)
  2. Pub-sub 架構 (發佈-訂閱)、containers / K8S (容器)、microservices (微服務)、Low Latency Architectures(低延遲架構)
  3. ELB (負載平衡)、multi-level caching (快取)、Autoscaling (自動規模)、DB segmentation (資料庫分片)、CDN(內容運送網絡)
  4. 後備計劃 (Contigency plans)、修復計劃 (Recovery Plans)、架構代碼 (IaC / Cloudformation)
  5. 資安 (Cybersecurity)、Key Rotation (密鑰輪替)、Certification Pinning (憑證綁定)
  6. 壓力測試、白帽測試、實時監控、實時回饋、自動化、devops (開發運維)

而這些在科技圈內,畢業後若少於十年全職技術年資,都不容易清楚講解個別的內容和其相關關係。差不多是個 CTO 面試的必答問題。GPT 3.5 略有不足;而 GPT4 的答案,是充份的。睇完都已有點驚,我再問了一些深奧的白帽測試問題。

有關白帽測試

問題 (2):請向我解釋下,DEP (Data Execution Prevention) 的概念,和資安測試上相關的題目。

有關上述有關白帽資安的問題 (2) ,GPT 3.5 最初是搞錯了 DEP bypass為 Dependency Bypass(據知沒有這概念,它在老作)。當我更正它知道 DEP bypass應為 Data Execution Prevention Bypass 時,它是能夠充份解釋這個概念。

它也清楚解釋了相關概念例如 ASLR、ROP (Return-oriented Programming)、怎樣運用 buffer overflow、Heap FengShui 等深奧的資安概念。看到 GPT3.5 能清楚講解這些深奧知識,是感到驚人的。當然若要實際上執行出來,是需要相當的編程能力。GPT4 在編程上似乎自主性仍暫時有限,但長遠來說例如 GPT5 或之後的版本在參數上持續增加,在編程能力上是可以充份的。

有關人類在雲端放了甚麼?

而以上三段加起來,筆者再解釋下,我們整體人類在雲端架設了甚麼。會明白到其危險程度。為行文簡短,分點列。

  1. 先說雲端巿場。2023 現在 65% 網絡服務都在三大雲端商(Amazon AWS, Google GCP, MS Azure)。集中性高。
  2. 很多服務都已深度上網。例如金融服務,不單是區塊鏈,而是傳統金融,它們的服務器都是遍及主要的雲端商。例如日用的銀行、八達通、信用卡服務、金融平台、投資銀行等等,都是靠雲端才能快速運作。
  3. 人類日常大量使用網絡服務。包括:衣、食、住、行;工作、移民、購物、交友、娛樂、戀愛;生老病死。等等。商業面對雲端服務在這角度,就如被引蛇出洞。
  4. XR 虛擬實境(包括 VR/AR/MR)。不得不提,美國軍方五角大廈在 2021 年與 Microsoft 微軟簽訂了十年總值 210 億美元的合作計劃,微軟提供虛擬實境服務給美國軍方。
  5. IoT。世界上的很多較先進的工廠、農場、重工業和輕工業,過去數年都追上科技轉型浪潮(Digital Transformation, DT)。都是已轉為高度自動化、高速的實時回饋操作。工業機器上很多都是運作 IoT 和自動化系統,配搭實時雲端操作。
  6. Automations。人類過去多年的有關自動化的發展很充份。例如不少服務是使到編程的需求大大降低。例如 IaC 架構代碼是可以讓服務器快速配置,不用每次都重新架構。例如 CoLab、Github、Gitlab、CodeBuild 那些是有著大量預先寫好、已完成測試的代碼。容器服務更是代碼加服務都可以一鍵配置。而人工智能運用這些,是連代碼都不需要寫。
  7. 而機械 Robotic 的研究在 2021 已很充份。例如 Boston Dynamics 是世上其中一個最前線的機械人研究,他們已公開的片段:不需電線、內置電源的機械人,穿山過水打筯斗都無問題。看下面影片。

總結

而相信讀者不難從以上四個方面,綜合到大概的情況。智能已具相當自主性和科技能力,前路上只會加強。而過去多年的雲端、數碼轉型,使人類將生活應用都搬了上網,雲端上的科技高度集中。而智能又具備相當的穿透能力。

而且除了科技能力,它已經成功能夠從社交工程(Social Engineering)上面成功要求人類替它輸入 Captcha。筆者在知道 GPT 成功要求人類幫它輸入 Captcha 時,打趣說可能它下次會在 Tinder 交友軟件上,它會用自製圖片或影片,作為一個跳舞的女孩,會成功約會到對象出來約會見面。已是黑色幽默。

下篇會再講解下智能安全 (AI Safety) 的問題。

(下面影片:最前線的機械人研究之一 Boston Dynamics 的發佈影片,2023.01.18)

分享有關人工智能 (1/5):其用處與前景

(附圖:Dartmouth College AI Conference,史上著名的人工智能誕生會議)

人工智能討論在 2023 年 Q1 都是暢所通行。GPT3 從 TTM 策略 (Time-to-Market) 搶灘成功,網絡一片先玩 GPT 對答,然後玩 Stable Diffusion 或 MidJourney 的圖像功能。筆者近月都一直在友間不少分享。筆者撥冗攢文一篇分享下。因為想節省篇幅,所以會集中寫些較重要的事。筆者在這篇談用處,揀了以下這幾個分題:路線圖、MLLM、智能寫代碼,和 Web4。

功能用途

先談功能上可預見估計的路線圖如下:

  1. Phase 1:生成 – 文本、圖像、語音
  2. Phase 2:生成 – 影片、Virtual Youtuber、漫畫、小型演唱會、遊戲(從手遊到 3A 作品)、動態廣告。甚至天氣報告和新聞主播。即各類媒體。
  3. Phase 3:實時回應的 – 電影、動畫、演唱會、等等同 Phase 2。(例如虛擬仿真的人偶的歌唱者能現場與觀眾互動、電影能即時回應觀眾輸入)。綜合說:即是可實時互動的媒體。
  4. Phase 4:因著人工智能特性而產生的新媒體。例如可以動態地即製作影片、繒畫、作曲、遊戲、虛擬實境 (即現合稱為 XR)。加上機械 (Robotics)。那會是甚麼?很可能是種新的人工智能助理。
  5. Phase 5 或之後:到 Phase 3 後會更明確。

有關 LLM 與 MLLM

MLLM (Multimodal LLM),簡略解釋是吸收文字外的其他的資料類別進入人工智能訓練。LLM 主要以文字為訓練內容,MLLM 就會加入其他資料,例如圖像、聲音、影片等等。

MLLM 的研究已相當充份。而智能發展,暫時的應用前線都是向著這些多範疇的參數擴展。短期未來的人工智能更新,會迎向著模型的速度更快、檔案縮小、參數加大,等等的架構表現指數。

有關智能寫代碼

順便寫少少有關人工智能寫的代碼。智能在 GPT 3 只能替用戶搜尋最適切解答、作代碼微調,但未必能取替一般工程師的工作(例如畢業後全職 3-5 年年資,能成熟獨立處理項目的大約年資)。但到 GPT 之後的發展、學習參數增多,其編程能力也會越來越加強,漸漸可以獨立處理完整編程項目。最終也會可以取代工程師。

而無論編程語言或模型訓練,長遠來說都是會發展出人工智能用的電腦語言和模型訓練。傳統的人機介面 (HCI, Human Computer Interface) 應該會統合到人工智能上。

小結

從以上三個題目,可以歸納到個理解:當參數越多、涵蓋範疇越闊,模型對各種範疇的知識就越強,回答能力也越高。創造力也會越高。這差不多是將人類的知性行為,歸納到參數數目上。

而長遠來說,模型會向著參數更多(天文數字)、檔案更小、速度更快的方向發展。現在的模型動㑙都數百 GB。若可縮小到數十 GB 或 單位數 GB,就可以離線 (offline) 安裝在智能手錶,或更小的裝置上。這是以前科幻故事對人工智能沒有想像到,而有可能的情況。例如 OpenAI 開源的語音智能 Whisper,最微型的版本 tiny,只需要數百 MB 檔案大小。檔案大小與參數成正比。參數數目與能力和準確度與正比。

有關 AGI 與 WEB4

以前筆者在零機壹觸的文章(2015.11.18,在Startupbeat 的連結)內,提及以前九十年代的電腦科學的前輩們,對 Web 1.0 – 5.0 的發展估計(值得提 Web3 到區塊鏈年代因巿場宣傳改了概念,業內也有為此而意見紛陳)。而九十年代 Web4 叫作「The One」 或「One Machine」,就是一個人工智能的概念。時間 (2010-2030) 也和實際人工智能技術成熟的時間也很相近。One Machine 的名字的意思就是一個「懂答任何問題和做任何事的機器」。其實和現在的 GPT4 有不少相似之處:GPT4 已能大概回答問題,只是未有實際執行工作。而留意近月對智能的推廣上的歸類,仍是「Web3.0」,這和歷史中的分類有點不同。

而有關 AGI,筆者也是相信今年或明年就會有。而其他媒體例如生成電影和遊戲,筆者也相信是今年或明年內。

而可能有人會對之後的發展有興趣,筆者補上一下:Web5 一般被稱為「情感網絡」Emotion Web。大概意思就是人工智能在發展出知性、在知性或理性的層面能回答人類之後,它再演化出感性。就是「一個很擅長處理人類感受和情緒的人工智能」。想像下:它加上了機械身體後,它很懂得明白你/妳,也能在最適當的時候陪伴你、安慰你。在你心情壞的時候,它很能平復你的情緒。很懂照顧你的感受,的一個人工智能。而且還懂唱歌、跳舞、作曲、說幽默笑話和播電影給你/妳看。Web4 是還需要靠說話,Web5 是連沉默和眼神都是在回答到你。到那天,人工智能會比任何專家都更能照顧人類和任何動物的情緒感受,以致任何生活需要。

有關 Vision: When Machine Sees

Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 13, 2023

This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You.

We use Your Personal data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, You agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy has been created with the help of the Privacy Policy Generator.

Interpretation and Definitions

Interpretation

The words of which the initial letter is capitalized have meanings defined under the following conditions. The following definitions shall have the same meaning regardless of whether they appear in singular or in plural.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

  • Account means a unique account created for You to access our Service or parts of our Service.
  • Affiliate means an entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a party, where “control" means ownership of 50% or more of the shares, equity interest or other securities entitled to vote for election of directors or other managing authority.
  • Application refers to VISION: WHEN MACHINE SEES, the software program provided by the Company.
  • Company (referred to as either “the Company", “We", “Us" or “Our" in this Agreement) refers to VISION: WHEN MACHINE SEES.
  • Country refers to: Hong Kong SAR China
  • Device means any device that can access the Service such as a computer, a cellphone or a digital tablet.
  • Personal Data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual.
  • Service refers to the Application.
  • Service Provider means any natural or legal person who processes the data on behalf of the Company. It refers to third-party companies or individuals employed by the Company to facilitate the Service, to provide the Service on behalf of the Company, to perform services related to the Service or to assist the Company in analyzing how the Service is used.
  • Usage Data refers to data collected automatically, either generated by the use of the Service or from the Service infrastructure itself (for example, the duration of a page visit).
  • You means the individual accessing or using the Service, or the company, or other legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing or using the Service, as applicable.

Collecting and Using Your Personal Data

Types of Data Collected

Personal Data

No personal data is collected.  Anonymous data collected including:

  • Usage Data

Usage Data

Usage Data is collected automatically when using the Service.

Usage Data may include information such as Your Device’s Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that You visit, the time and date of Your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

When You access the Service by or through a mobile device, We may collect certain information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of mobile device You use, Your mobile device unique ID, the IP address of Your mobile device, Your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browser You use, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

We may also collect information that Your browser sends whenever You visit our Service or when You access the Service by or through a mobile device.

Information Collected while Using the Application

While using Our Application, in order to provide features of Our Application, We may collect, with Your prior permission:

  • Pictures and other information from your Device’s camera and photo library

We use this information to provide features of Our Service, to improve and customize Our Service. The information are NOT uploaded to the Company’s servers and it is NOT stored on Your device.

You can enable or disable access to this information at any time, through Your Device settings.

Use of Your Personal Data

The Company may use Personal Data for the following purposes:

  • To provide and maintain our Service, including to monitor the usage of our Service.
  • To manage Your requests: To attend and manage Your requests to Us.
  • For business transfers: We may use Your information to evaluate or conduct a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of Our assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar proceeding, in which Personal Data held by Us about our Service users is among the assets transferred.
  • For other purposes: We may use Your information for other purposes, such as data analysis, identifying usage trends, determining the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns and to evaluate and improve our Service, products, services, marketing and your experience.

We may share Your personal information in the following situations:

  • For business transfers: We may share or transfer Your personal information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of Company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of Our business to another company.
  • With Affiliates: We may share Your information with Our affiliates, in which case we will require those affiliates to honor this Privacy Policy. Affiliates include Our parent company and any other subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other companies that We control or that are under common control with Us.
  • With business partners: We may share Your information with Our business partners to offer You certain products, services or promotions.
  • With Your consent: We may disclose Your personal information for any other purpose with Your consent.

Retention of Your Personal Data

The Company will retain Your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use Your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.

The Company will also retain Usage Data for internal analysis purposes. Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period of time, except when this data is used to strengthen the security or to improve the functionality of Our Service, or We are legally obligated to retain this data for longer time periods.

Transfer of Your Personal Data

Your information, including Personal Data, is processed at the Company’s operating offices and in any other places where the parties involved in the processing are located. It means that this information may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of Your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from Your jurisdiction.

Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by Your submission of such information represents Your agreement to that transfer.

The Company will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that Your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of Your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of Your data and other personal information.

Delete Your Personal Data

You have the right to delete or request that We assist in deleting the Personal Data that We have collected about You.

Our Service may give You the ability to delete certain information about You from within the Service.

You may update, amend, or delete Your information at any time by signing in to Your Account, if you have one, and visiting the account settings section that allows you to manage Your personal information. You may also contact Us to request access to, correct, or delete any personal information that You have provided to Us.

Please note, however, that We may need to retain certain information when we have a legal obligation or lawful basis to do so.

Disclosure of Your Personal Data

Business Transactions

If the Company is involved in a merger, acquisition or asset sale, Your Personal Data may be transferred. We will provide notice before Your Personal Data is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy.

Law enforcement

Under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to disclose Your Personal Data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency).

Other legal requirements

The Company may disclose Your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

  • Comply with a legal obligation
  • Protect and defend the rights or property of the Company
  • Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
  • Protect the personal safety of Users of the Service or the public
  • Protect against legal liability

Security of Your Personal Data

The security of Your Personal Data is important to Us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While We strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect Your Personal Data, We cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Children’s Privacy

Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13. If You are a parent or guardian and You are aware that Your child has provided Us with Personal Data, please contact Us. If We become aware that We have collected Personal Data from anyone under the age of 13 without verification of parental consent, We take steps to remove that information from Our servers.

If We need to rely on consent as a legal basis for processing Your information and Your country requires consent from a parent, We may require Your parent’s consent before We collect and use that information.

Links to Other Websites

Our Service may contain links to other websites that are not operated by Us. If You click on a third party link, You will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise You to review the Privacy Policy of every site You visit.

We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update Our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify You of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

We will let You know via email and/or a prominent notice on Our Service, prior to the change becoming effective and update the “Last updated" date at the top of this Privacy Policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, You can contact us:

  • By email: m@ckchan.hk

有關 Prompt Designer

Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 14, 2023

This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You.

We use Your Personal data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, You agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy has been created with the help of the Privacy Policy Generator.

Interpretation and Definitions

Interpretation

The words of which the initial letter is capitalized have meanings defined under the following conditions. The following definitions shall have the same meaning regardless of whether they appear in singular or in plural.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

  • Account means a unique account created for You to access our Service or parts of our Service.
  • Affiliate means an entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a party, where “control" means ownership of 50% or more of the shares, equity interest or other securities entitled to vote for election of directors or other managing authority.
  • Application refers to Pad: Prompt Designer, the software program provided by the Company.
  • Company (referred to as either “the Company", “We", “Us" or “Our" in this Agreement) refers to Pad: Prompt Designer.
  • Country refers to: Hong Kong SAR China
  • Device means any device that can access the Service such as a computer, a cellphone or a digital tablet.
  • Personal Data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual.
  • Service refers to the Application.
  • Service Provider means any natural or legal person who processes the data on behalf of the Company. It refers to third-party companies or individuals employed by the Company to facilitate the Service, to provide the Service on behalf of the Company, to perform services related to the Service or to assist the Company in analyzing how the Service is used.
  • Usage Data refers to data collected automatically, either generated by the use of the Service or from the Service infrastructure itself (for example, the duration of a page visit).
  • You means the individual accessing or using the Service, or the company, or other legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing or using the Service, as applicable.

Collecting and Using Your Personal Data

Types of Data Collected

Personal Data

While using Our Service, We may ask You to provide Us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify You. Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:

  • Usage Data

Usage Data

Usage Data is collected automatically when using the Service.

Usage Data may include information such as Your Device’s Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that You visit, the time and date of Your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

When You access the Service by or through a mobile device, We may collect certain information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of mobile device You use, Your mobile device unique ID, the IP address of Your mobile device, Your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browser You use, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

We may also collect information that Your browser sends whenever You visit our Service or when You access the Service by or through a mobile device.

Use of Your Personal Data

The Company may use Personal Data for the following purposes:

  • To provide and maintain our Service, including to monitor the usage of our Service.
  • To manage Your Account: to manage Your registration as a user of the Service. The Personal Data You provide can give You access to different functionalities of the Service that are available to You as a registered user.
  • For the performance of a contract: the development, compliance and undertaking of the purchase contract for the products, items or services You have purchased or of any other contract with Us through the Service.
  • To contact You: To contact You by email, telephone calls, SMS, or other equivalent forms of electronic communication, such as a mobile application’s push notifications regarding updates or informative communications related to the functionalities, products or contracted services, including the security updates, when necessary or reasonable for their implementation.
  • To provide You with news, special offers and general information about other goods, services and events which we offer that are similar to those that you have already purchased or enquired about unless You have opted not to receive such information.
  • To manage Your requests: To attend and manage Your requests to Us.
  • For business transfers: We may use Your information to evaluate or conduct a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of Our assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar proceeding, in which Personal Data held by Us about our Service users is among the assets transferred.
  • For other purposes: We may use Your information for other purposes, such as data analysis, identifying usage trends, determining the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns and to evaluate and improve our Service, products, services, marketing and your experience.

We may share Your personal information in the following situations:

  • With Service Providers: We may share Your personal information with Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service, to contact You.
  • For business transfers: We may share or transfer Your personal information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of Company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of Our business to another company.
  • With Affiliates: We may share Your information with Our affiliates, in which case we will require those affiliates to honor this Privacy Policy. Affiliates include Our parent company and any other subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other companies that We control or that are under common control with Us.
  • With business partners: We may share Your information with Our business partners to offer You certain products, services or promotions.
  • With other users: when You share personal information or otherwise interact in the public areas with other users, such information may be viewed by all users and may be publicly distributed outside.
  • With Your consent: We may disclose Your personal information for any other purpose with Your consent.

Retention of Your Personal Data

The Company will retain Your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use Your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.

The Company will also retain Usage Data for internal analysis purposes. Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period of time, except when this data is used to strengthen the security or to improve the functionality of Our Service, or We are legally obligated to retain this data for longer time periods.

Transfer of Your Personal Data

Your information, including Personal Data, is processed at the Company’s operating offices and in any other places where the parties involved in the processing are located. It means that this information may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of Your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from Your jurisdiction.

Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by Your submission of such information represents Your agreement to that transfer.

The Company will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that Your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of Your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of Your data and other personal information.

Delete Your Personal Data

You have the right to delete or request that We assist in deleting the Personal Data that We have collected about You.

Our Service may give You the ability to delete certain information about You from within the Service.

You may update, amend, or delete Your information at any time by signing in to Your Account, if you have one, and visiting the account settings section that allows you to manage Your personal information. You may also contact Us to request access to, correct, or delete any personal information that You have provided to Us.

Please note, however, that We may need to retain certain information when we have a legal obligation or lawful basis to do so.

Disclosure of Your Personal Data

Business Transactions

If the Company is involved in a merger, acquisition or asset sale, Your Personal Data may be transferred. We will provide notice before Your Personal Data is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy.

Law enforcement

Under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to disclose Your Personal Data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency).

Other legal requirements

The Company may disclose Your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

  • Comply with a legal obligation
  • Protect and defend the rights or property of the Company
  • Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
  • Protect the personal safety of Users of the Service or the public
  • Protect against legal liability

Security of Your Personal Data

The security of Your Personal Data is important to Us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While We strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect Your Personal Data, We cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Children’s Privacy

Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13. If You are a parent or guardian and You are aware that Your child has provided Us with Personal Data, please contact Us. If We become aware that We have collected Personal Data from anyone under the age of 13 without verification of parental consent, We take steps to remove that information from Our servers.

If We need to rely on consent as a legal basis for processing Your information and Your country requires consent from a parent, We may require Your parent’s consent before We collect and use that information.

Links to Other Websites

Our Service may contain links to other websites that are not operated by Us. If You click on a third party link, You will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise You to review the Privacy Policy of every site You visit.

We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update Our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify You of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

We will let You know via email and/or a prominent notice on Our Service, prior to the change becoming effective and update the “Last updated" date at the top of this Privacy Policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, You can contact us:

  • By email: m@ckchan.hk

科技商業 (4):講解項目流程 – 現象與問題陳述

Product Management Related Process Infographic Template. Process Timeline Chart. Workflow Layout with Icons

~ 前言 ~

這篇我本來想一篇寫完。結果發現內容不少,要分幾篇寫。第一篇從問題陳述 Problem Statement 說起。

筆者在業界工作廿多年;在教內也廿多年。經常參與 NGO、機構、教會、事工的科技支援;或參與本地的 hackathon。也提供過軟件和科技服務給十數間教會或機構。而現在仍活躍於在教內不同場合提供科技意見。

機構對科技是又愛又恨的。愛是感知科技的能力。恨是總是能摸(或只能聽)而不能得。而又似乎是要花很多錢才能得的專門科技。但外購 outsource 回來的軟件套裝又總是很不合用。然後在教內找個能問能幫手的人都很難。

~ 三個迷思 ~

機構面向科技,常見三個現象。三項我都用粗點體框起了重點。可以方便簡化跳看。

~ 現象一:簡化生產過程 ~

由例子說起。舉例說,例如會聽到人說,找人開發社交媒體軟件。他的意思不單是軟件本身,而是他的意思是開發完,就會有數十萬或最少數百萬用戶(設計對白:相比 facebook 的十數億用戶來說,不太難吧)。這事平白來說,就是忽略了營運和營銷過程。而且設計、數據、客服等等那些全部忽略。

上例聽起來誇張可笑。但是有時聽外行人找科技,都真的這種想法。

重點是:誤解方法。這不單浪費了機構或業界的資源。也使業界長期也不能突破運作和營運上的科技樽頸。

~ 現象二:簡化條件因素 ~

遇過不少例子,是來找筆者協助之前,是去找了或聘請了個工程師,然後期望他能提供一條龍服務。結果跌到一地,便來找筆者作友好協助。

問題是,業外人不太明白工程師的工作範圍,和開發一個軟件的環境需求:

  1. 技術那些還算了,但軟件發佈包含非技術部份:設計、美術、營銷、數據、項目管理、客服、公關、文案等等。
  2. 技術範圍內還有:工程、雲端、資安、架構、運維、等等。都不單是一個年資淺的工程師可以完全肩負。
  3. 技術那些,例如架構或運維,經驗少於五年的都差不多 99% 會製造技術債務。
  4. 而且機構通常都為便宜而聘請剛畢業不久的大學生。

重點是:團隊需求。建設一個科技系統,正常來說需要一個團隊來做,而不是一個人。而且就算是科技業內,高薪挖角也往往找不到好人才。何況非牟利機構。

可能非科技行內的讀者看上述名單會看到頭昏腦脹。不要緊。可以只看這篇的幾個主要標題,然後跳過去看下篇。以上這些都會在之後的篇章,講解流程與方法。這個欄目就是為這而寫出來。

~ 現象三:簡化代價 ~

在 Hackathon 中會常見這現象。機構找免費專業協助,軟件設計上容易將需求開到很闊。例如第一版本已是開個 3-6 個月或以上、4-5 人員的需求。計出來就是 12 – 30 個 man month。試想想,若以十多年前的公價計算:手機軟件 100K man month;網站 50K – 80K man month。計出來都會是高昂的開發成本。港幣計算。

即是,若這項目是找外判公司,是需要這個收費。或倒轉說,免費的人員,若他是有能力做出這軟件,他在外面接受收費的外判工作,這也是十年前的公價。以 man month 計算。若有查找到更便宜的開發歡迎(打臉)告知(電郵面書)。

例如筆者隨手查找的這個頁面,以美元 USD 計算。寫的成本單計開發部份是 40K USD 到 300K USD 不等。

重點是:機會成本。這成本的問題,是致使願意免費提供專業協助的人不多。而當機構不太懂善用這些昂貴(代價高)的免費資源,就會使更少人願意協助。

科技商業 (3):科技商業公司部門功能分類

既已寫了前兩篇。第三篇想寫下一間科技商業公司的部門一般包括哪些。

~ 簡介 ~

平時和人討論科技商業公司管理與運作,一般外人都會不太清楚這類公司一般有甚麼部門和分類。例如現代越來越流行科技,有時一個機構想在自己建制內加入科技部門,外行人往往就是想總之聘請個工程師 / 程序員回來就搞掂晒。

這概念有點像,在公司開個員工餐廳,總之請一個識煮食的人回來就搞掂晒差不多;而背後的食物儲存管理、物流、餐飲管理、團隊、行政、預算、等等,統統都視為默認預設。誤解本身無傷大雅,但執行項目會出意外和失預算,就會使到機構蝕錢或出其他問題。

這篇是為解釋這個思想誤區而設。

~ 一圖勝千言 ~

為免文字書寫太複雜,筆者製造了上面一幅圖。用一幅圖解釋完整個概念。差不多看圖就夠明白到。惟有是加一些註腳:

  1. 每一個最內層的方格,代表著一個功能或團隊。大小不一,重要度視乎每個行業需要而不同。
  2. 這圖是以廣博和綜合的原則而畫。即是,大致上都包括了這類公司會有的部門。而這類公司未必是有齊全圖中的所有部門或功能。
  3. 有些部門是會按著理念和管理原則的不同,有實現上的不同。明顯的例如 QA 和 Devops。例如QA 有些人會認為應該跟 Product / Biz Dev 產品設計部門;也有些人會認為應該跟 Development。Devops 也有認為應該跟 Development。背後有不同理念。因為這篇的目的不是深入討論不同的管理理念,所以略過不贅。
  4. 規模小的公司,有些部門(A)是未必會有。但其功能一定存在在其他的部門內。這些部門(A)包括:Architects、Cybersecurity、QA、Devops、Legal、Product、等等。

~ 總結 ~

從上圖可以想像到,營運一個科技公司其實可以很複雜。而這本身是一個專業知識。是包括各種部門之間怎樣協作,商業項目怎樣推動,行政和管理上的功能操作應該怎樣做。大約就是這些。

科技商業 (2):資訊安全(Cybersecurity)是怎樣分類?

這個欄目最初是想分享下資訊安全(簡稱資安),所以簡介後第一篇不如由資安講起。寫資安的原因,是因為留意到行內行外對資安的了解都不太足夠。有時資安也會給人一種神祕面紗。所以這篇會寫下資安行內包括了甚麼。

~ 簡介 ~

Cybersecurity 資安的神祕面紗下,若談分類有個反差萌,是可以用個幾繽紛色彩的顏色圖來介紹機構內的主要資安功能。

資安的基本分類通常都會用 Blue Team 和 Red Team 來做基礎分類;這兩個字用藍隊和紅隊也是可以的。為了行文的貫徹性就是用這中文翻譯來寫。

這兩者都是機構內,負責保護機構的資安部門。可以很簡單地定義:藍隊是從防守方的方法來保護;紅隊就是從模擬攻擊方的方法來保護。通常還會有個 Purple Team 的;紫隊。紫就是紅加藍喔。即是兩者都從攻守兩者的思考方法上來做保護。紫隊這部門設計,是有一些效率上的優點。

下面先講解下作為保護目標對象的數碼資產。然後用個表來講解下分類。

~ 數碼資產 ~

任何有關資訊安全的課題,無論是(模擬)攻擊或防守,的對象都是軟件或電腦系統。一般用字是數碼資產 Digital Assets。

數碼資產的定義,是但凡以數碼形式存在的任何東西,而且是有其使用權限。這在機構包括了

  1. 任何形式的資料 Data(例如檔案、電郵、媒體等等);
  2. 任何形式的軟件(例如代碼、執行中的軟件、舊版本的代碼、代碼版本系統例如 Git 等等);
  3. 任何形式的基礎建設 Infra(例如運作系統 OS、網絡 Network、資安設備例如門卡等等)
  4. 任何形式的架構(例如運作中的服務器/伺服器、架構藍圖、系統藍圖、架構代碼 IaC、系統設定 configurations 等等);
  5. 任何形式的政策(例如項目管理系統、產品路線圖、運作政策設定 Policy、管治策略 IT Governance、事故處理程序 Incidence Response Plan 等等)

~ 繽紛色彩的部門 ~

從一些功能上較容易明的部門開始:

黃隊:從黃隊開始,因為黃隊就是工程師和架構師。就是建築和提供數碼資產的團隊。

藍隊:藍隊是建立主要的防守方法。包括了政策和管治策略的設定。也包括了事故處理程序的設定,和事故處理的執行。科技鑑證 Forensics在這分類上也是歸入藍隊的功能,是事故處理程序的一部份。科技鑑證包括搜證、證據分析、資料還原、事件報告、事件重建等等;鑑證這部份行內也有分類為 DFIR (Digital Forensics & Incident Response)。

綠隊:綠隊就是藍+黃,即防守+開發。簡化說就是 Devops 或所謂 DevSecOps。就是用工程去建築一些有效和自動化運維和資安保護的方法。例如代碼掃描、自動修復機制、自動化事故處理、系統維護等等。行內也有分類為 SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response)。

紅隊:紅隊 Red Team 是在資安行內比較觸目的部門。紅隊就是白帽駭客(古稱),現代正式用語是滲透測式(Penetration Tester, aka Pen-tester),也曾稱為道德駭客(Ethical Hacker)。紅隊是藉著做模擬攻擊,去實際測試數碼資產的安全性。紅隊的訓練,資深的會有著廣泛的五花八門的攻擊方法。從代碼、運作系統、服務接口、網絡、人員程序、分散式阻斷服務(DDOS)、資安研究、工具開法等等。

橙隊:橙隊是黃+紅。是幫助將模擬攻擊的經驗,反饋到工程和架構的開發團隊中。主要是教育功能。例如內部培訓、事件經驗學習、資安行業趨勢分享等等。

紫隊:紫隊是紅+藍。上文提過,紫隊是為提供效率優化而存在。原理是因為紅藍隊的設計上,紅隊為了有效做模擬攻擊,就未必會分享一些觀察到的常見模式。因為若紅隊分享這些,模擬攻擊就會越來越難做;因為會越來越難找到漏洞。那麼本來是紅隊付出的功勞,就似乎變成了防守方的成績。在管理上形成了懲罰 Penalized。所以在這個運作上的矛盾邏輯下,就會有些機構用紫隊來解決這個矛盾。紫隊就是紅隊藍隊的工作都做,是較多紅隊的功能;所以機構內也可以用紫隊和藍隊,代替紅隊加藍隊。這樣的設計下,紫隊就可以負責和模擬攻擊直接相關的攻擊測試與防守;而藍隊就可以較多在其他事項例如事故處理和政策維護。

白隊:白隊就是資安架構上的管理團隊。白隊包括管理行政人員例如 C-level、合規部門 Compliance、法律部門等等。

科技商業 (1):簡介

~ 前言 ~

一直想寫個欄目內容,是講下科技商業行內的模式上的心得。嚴格上所謂「科技行內」是多於一個行業。凡是以科技產品為主的公司或機構,都可以算是「科技行內」。這可以包括金融銀行、電訊、科技巨頭、媒體、遊戲開發等等。

科技之所以能稱為一個行業分類,是因為這些機構需要的人才都是相近 / 差不多。在管理的設計上,有大部份的共通點。所以可以歸類在一起研究探討。

在行內幾十年,見過好的模式、也見過不好的模式。「模式」是意指包括商業模型、行政架構、管理風氣、營運資訊系統、營運方式,等等。就是公司內的運作方式。這些運作方式,做得好和做得不好,可以是天堂和地獄的分別。絕對和公司的成功、投資者的獲利、員工的生活福祉、等等,這些都息息相關。這是管理這回事的被賦與的召命。

而這些模式,大學不會教,也沒有很多書會講。也沒有培訓班會講。而且行內的知識很參差。所以既然在行內幾十年,不如就藉博客分享一下。

~ 甚麼是科技商業 ~

科技商業又稱為「互聯網商業」,定義包括了兩個:(A) 第一個是凡是以科技產品所提供的主要產品或服務,都可歸類為互聯網商業。常見的互聯網商業例如國際科技巨頭(微軟、谷歌、蘋果電腦、Meta/面書、甲骨文、等等)、本地的電訊商、軟件服務供應商、電子遊戲開發商、媒體、等等。(B) 也包括一些科技佔了產品服務的大部份內容,但主要價值不只是科技的。例如金融科技、銀行、網上購物、數碼營銷顧問服務、等等。

為甚麼 (B) 類別也會歸類進科技商業?主要是因為 (A) 和 (B) 表面似乎是很不同,行業分類上也是分開的;但運作模式上,(A) 和 (B) 是有很多相似點。例如 (B) 也會有包括一部份是 (A) 的模式,例如部門的分類、人力需求和職位設計上、開發流程、科技管理等等。

~ 題目 ~

這個題目會分開幾篇寫。而有關原委,最初我想寫這個題目的原因,本來只是想簡介下 cybersecurity 資訊安全(一般簡稱資安);因為科技行內行外其實普遍也對資安的認識不多。然後我想想,行外對科技行內的運作、分類、方法,也知道不多。所以不如整理這樣一個欄目,將科技行內的不同模式寫一下出來分享。

影評:蜘蛛俠三部曲

[影評mode] 順手寫埋三套蜘蛛俠。Home-coming,Far From Home 和 No Way Home。aka 蜘蛛俠三部曲。而我竟然發覺三套一齊寫都無乜問題。

因為三套都穿插在 avengers 的電影之間,所以劇情發展都和 avengers 的電影有關。

第一套 Home-coming 是 avenger 戰爭後,回收外星「科技遺產」引起的事端;加上 ironman 作為導師、並招募 spiderman 入伍加入 avenger。

第二套 Far From Home 是 ironman 在 avenger 之戰殉職後,spiderman 主角彼得悶悶不樂的開始;而因為繼續了 ironman 的「(又一)科技遺產」引起的事端。當中發展了 MJ 的感情線,和公眾知悉了蜘蛛俠的身份。

第三套 No Way Home 是為 Dr Strange 打前哨戰的電影。依然接駁了 avenger 的戰後重建,並引到平行時空的話題。這次也有「科技遺產」的失誤事端,就是來自 Dr Strange 的魔法。

寫下評語。蜘蛛俠的電影看多了,會看到有個套路。整套算順眼好看,但會很易估到劇情發展。有幾個橋段是不段重覆的:

1. 因為蜘蛛俠純粹身手好,所以總之要有些科技或魔法的元素護航。

2. 總之蜘蛛俠是怎樣都打不死的。總之閃得開、捱得住、跌不死。任意違反物理原則都無違和。

3. 總之小朋友就係小朋友。總是想得太天真。

4. 總之只有編劇想佢知道蜘蛛俠身份的人和時間,佢地先會知。除此之外,就算就明顯到就在眼前,都看不到。

5. 總之就是看武打特技、科幻題材、電腦特效、少少感情線,再接駁上 avenger 的其他電影。就係蜘蛛俠的全部主要元素。

蜘蛛俠電影已成為罐裝方程式。差不多想像到,佢地照住條 formula 再印刷第四五六七八套電影,差不多都完全無難度。都會有穩定收視。

評分。

Homecoming:IMDB 7.4/10,Rotten Tomatos 92%。預算 1.75億、票房 8.8億。都是美元計。片長133 分鐘。

Far From Home:IMDB 7.4/10,Rotten Tomatos 90%。預算 1.6億、票房 11.3億。片長 129 分鐘。

No Way Home:IMDB 8.3/10,Rotten Tomatos 93%。預算 2億、票房 19億。片長 148 分鐘。

個人評分:三套都是 80%。未來三套未看的蜘蛛俠大概都是 80%。套路已定,太明顯,總之交足功課;也不失為好的娛樂。

而值得一說的是:蜘蛛俠電影有個傳統,就是演員和女主角都假戲真做,最後都會拍拖。這集 MJ Zendaya 也是和 Tom Holland 公開了戀情。貼下啲照片。而這集的 MJ Zendaya 據說是最討好的超級英雄的女友。