There is a failure to understand that the process is the result. You don't study mathematics or computer science and information theory to produce commodities. You study them to transform your mind. The output of an LLM is useless without a human mind to comprehend it. We can have Super Intelligence, but if humans are incapable of comprehending it, it is just another useless dead artifact. Practice, applied over a lifetime, is what creates the capability for comprehension. Asking an LLM to give you an answer creates an artifact. Humans being humans, most of their requests boil down to "make me rich without having to work for it," so the request itself is paradoxical and impossible to satisfy. Philosophers have only been saying this for all of human history, so don't hold your breath for any breakthroughs.
> You don't study mathematics or computer science and information theory to produce commodities. You study them to transform your mind.
As a taxpayer I do not fund CS and math research because it "transforms minds." I fund it because it produces commodities. If you want to transform your mind, whether through math or meditation retreats, you are free to do so, but don't expect research funding to do it.
That's only relevant insofar as it can be a long time before the commercial viability is realized or apparent.
If an AI can make 100 commercially unviable discoveries (for now) on its way to each immediately commercially viable discovery, that's great - bank them in the discovery library for later.
Still doesn't mean we need mathematicians doing everything with pencils instead.
>At least historically, we haven’t really been able to tell what will be transformative in terms of real world applications ahead of time.
This is mostly false. There are certainly some famous cases where math pursued for theoretical reasons later resulted in major practical applications but historically a great deal of math was developed either in response or alongside practical problems with anticipated real world applications, with war, industry and commerce being the major drivers.
As another taxpayer I find I don't have much say as to which sort of math the money goes to and I'm sure a lot ends up in stuff that doesn't produce commodities.
Transformed minds are what produce 'commodities', or more so an envionment conducive to a comfortable world; the mentality that does not even stretch to the ramifications of a civilization shaped by enhanced humans is a dangerous thing, producing policy guided by misaligned and incomplete rationale. Perhaps most problematic, potentially causing a reduction in those who can even consider and interact with such systems at all.
This is so sad for me. What's humanities purpose? Generate shareholder value? Is this the best we can come up with?
We are destroying the planet and ourselves. There are a few things which we do that are just good in of themselves, which can inspire and proof that there is good. Friendly competition, exploration, art and understanding the world around us.
What world do we want to live in? And what are the kind of personalities that would be required for such a world? A thousand Picards or a thousand Musks?
metalspot · · focus · HN ↗
levocardia · · focus · HN ↗
As a taxpayer I do not fund CS and math research because it "transforms minds." I fund it because it produces commodities. If you want to transform your mind, whether through math or meditation retreats, you are free to do so, but don't expect research funding to do it.
camdenreslink · · focus · HN ↗
At least historically, we haven’t really been able to tell what will be transformative in terms of real world applications ahead of time.
generalizations · · focus · HN ↗
If an AI can make 100 commercially unviable discoveries (for now) on its way to each immediately commercially viable discovery, that's great - bank them in the discovery library for later.
Still doesn't mean we need mathematicians doing everything with pencils instead.
Maxatar · · focus · HN ↗
This is mostly false. There are certainly some famous cases where math pursued for theoretical reasons later resulted in major practical applications but historically a great deal of math was developed either in response or alongside practical problems with anticipated real world applications, with war, industry and commerce being the major drivers.
tim333 · · focus · HN ↗
Infinint · · focus · HN ↗
mzhaase · · focus · HN ↗
We are destroying the planet and ourselves. There are a few things which we do that are just good in of themselves, which can inspire and proof that there is good. Friendly competition, exploration, art and understanding the world around us.
What world do we want to live in? And what are the kind of personalities that would be required for such a world? A thousand Picards or a thousand Musks?