3 ms·

Long essay that doesn't really say much? What if ChatGPT could be like LARCS? But isn't building something like LARCS the goal of ChatGPT? I don't follow the ar

Long essay that doesn't really say much? What if ChatGPT could be like LARCS? But isn't building something like LARCS the goal of ChatGPT? I don't follow the argument that billions of dollars have been wasted building this, but we could have built that, which is actually the same thing?

CatWChainsaw 3y ago
That's only a "long" "essay" for people whose attention spans have been melted by rapid-fire TikTok.
Animats 3y ago
> Long essay that doesn't really say much. Not long, but yes. He starts out as if he has something to say, but doesn't, except to plug something at "I recommend ..." So it's clickbait. His argument seems headed in the direction of declaring that advertising is bad, but he quits before he gets there. One can make a strong argument that advertising and finance, once rather small industries in terms of employment, have become much too large. They're supposed to be service functions for manufacturing and distribution. For many products, advertising is a significant portion of product cost. When promotional cost becomes a significant fraction of retail price, a company is in the self-promotion industry rather than offering a product. Perhaps tax policy should make this unprofitable. Arguably, it's a driver of unnecessary inflation. "Advertising", viewed broadly, includes Google and Facebook. We should be thinking of the advertising industry rather than the "tech" industry.
- bbor 3y ago
  Hmm very interested to hear how you think it relates to advertising? It seems to be about productivity tools. Also I'd say the first part of the article is a general "the state of affairs sucks" kvetching that is repeated frequently these days in response to the AI surge, as evidenced by the two links. I find the use of the term "plug" in the context of linking those two resources a little needlessly pejorative lol - just illustrating his point quickly by citing existing literature.
YeGoblynQueenne 3y ago
The premise, as far as I understand it, is that Star Trek offers a view of the future of technology that is preferrable to the one in Snow Crash. Preferrable because it's about the humans, not the machines. That's how I read the article anyway. It is a bit hastily written, I think.
- joejerryronnie 3y ago
  Idk, I highly value speedy pizza delivery
bbor 3y ago
Commented elsewhere but I think the point of the article is the focus on the creative use of the system. In his vision I think the "ChatGPT version of LARCS" would be something like the computer searching for answers to questions in its own ways, and if it doesn't know an answer, you're out of luck. I think it's important to distinguish b/w ChatGPT and LLMs in general - I think he's using the former term to describe monolithic corporate systems, not all LLMs.

CatWChainsaw 3y ago

That's only a "long" "essay" for people whose attention spans have been melted by rapid-fire TikTok.

Animats 3y ago

> Long essay that doesn't really say much. Not long, but yes. He starts out as if he has something to say, but doesn't, except to plug something at "I recommend ..." So it's clickbait. His argument seems headed in the direction of declaring that advertising is bad, but he quits before he gets there. One can make a strong argument that advertising and finance, once rather small industries in terms of employment, have become much too large. They're supposed to be service functions for manufacturing and distribution. For many products, advertising is a significant portion of product cost. When promotional cost becomes a significant fraction of retail price, a company is in the self-promotion industry rather than offering a product. Perhaps tax policy should make this unprofitable. Arguably, it's a driver of unnecessary inflation. "Advertising", viewed broadly, includes Google and Facebook. We should be thinking of the advertising industry rather than the "tech" industry.

bbor 3y ago
Hmm very interested to hear how you think it relates to advertising? It seems to be about productivity tools. Also I'd say the first part of the article is a general "the state of affairs sucks" kvetching that is repeated frequently these days in response to the AI surge, as evidenced by the two links. I find the use of the term "plug" in the context of linking those two resources a little needlessly pejorative lol - just illustrating his point quickly by citing existing literature.

YeGoblynQueenne 3y ago

The premise, as far as I understand it, is that Star Trek offers a view of the future of technology that is preferrable to the one in Snow Crash. Preferrable because it's about the humans, not the machines. That's how I read the article anyway. It is a bit hastily written, I think.

joejerryronnie 3y ago
Idk, I highly value speedy pizza delivery

bbor 3y ago

Commented elsewhere but I think the point of the article is the focus on the creative use of the system. In his vision I think the "ChatGPT version of LARCS" would be something like the computer searching for answers to questions in its own ways, and if it doesn't know an answer, you're out of luck. I think it's important to distinguish b/w ChatGPT and LLMs in general - I think he's using the former term to describe monolithic corporate systems, not all LLMs.