‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

The LLMentalist Effect (2023)

235 points · 309 comments · jalev

  1. bonoboTP · · focus · HN ↗
    I don't care if it's "intelligent", I don't care if it "has a mind". I don't care if it is "really reasoning", I don't care if it "understands". I don't care if it is "sentient" or "conscious".

    None of this matters for the practical outcome.

    You'd think that this has been understood over the last 4 years, but apparently it keeps circling back to this.

    [Edit: I see that it was written back in 2023. Then (2023) should be added in the submission title]

    If it generates functional output that works, then it works. And it works. It's not a psychic's con when it outputs Lean-verified proofs. It isn't a con when it can find and exploit zero-days.

    The OP is still in the "denial" phase. Most I see are already in "anger" (a blurry fury against everything AI-shaped, from vague reasons piling on all "bad stuff" political reasons they already hated before) or "bargaining" (mathematicians scrambling to come up with a new definition of their job and retcon that it was always the main part anyway). A few are already in "depression" and feel like spectators on the Titanic, and the tiniest sliver is at "acceptance" with some kind of well-informed plan for their future.

    1. jackyinger · · focus · HN ↗
      Actually, there are material differences in the practical outcomes of using AI or not. Proofs don’t confer understanding. AI prose and “art” is materially different than human made.

      There is a difference between you not liking something and it being wrong. Maybe think about that with your grey matter.

      1. bonoboTP · · focus · HN ↗
        Things can work whether humans understand the details or not. One can build layers of technology on top of each other, with no human understanding required.
        1. bayindirh · · focus · HN ↗
          Looks like you have some reading to do. Let me start with two:

              - The Machine Stops
              - Pump Six
          
          These are short stories. If you want to get into more stuff, you can go through Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons.

          For anyone wondering, yes, a good Sci-Fi novel(la) is also a great philosophical piece. It's not only robots vs. humans, all the time.

Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.