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I wish I had done this starting a decade ago. Now, with AI, it feels pointless. These powerful AI tools have slurped all of that valuable information up while s

by mvdtnz 2y ago

I wish I had done this starting a decade ago. Now, with AI, it feels pointless. These powerful AI tools have slurped all of that valuable information up while simultaneously removing all value from actually posting any of it going forward.

zem 2y ago
seriously, just ignore the AI, and create the human internet you want to see.
protocolture 2y ago
How have they done the second?
benatkin 2y ago
It turns into write the messages/prompts to get the answer you wish you’d received and put it somewhere where it can be used to train the AIs and in the meantime searched by humans
robocat 2y ago
If you're writing to help altruistically, then AI shouldn't matter. If you want recognition, then writing tech articles is a difficult path to help you gain status or become known. My guess is that you just dislike helping the enemy. I'm often more driven for negative reasons than I am for positive ones.
netghost 2y ago
Three reasons to write regardless of whether AI slurps it up. 1. You will learn more, even when you think you know everything there is to know about the topic. 2. You can point to a thing you personally created. It's nice to be discussing a technical topic and be able to say, "Hey, I actually wrote an article about that, I'll send you the link." 3. AI might slurp up some of what you write, but it's a blurry filter over information. Your unique writing, details, and perspective are your own. Finally, it can be fun or rewarding in the same way drawing, painting, or any other creative act can be. If it's not, then channel your effort into something else.
iamwil 2y ago
LLMs aren't good at everything. If you're on the edge of knowledge and taste, it's very apparent. Might as well write it down. Not at all. That's like saying it feels pointless to write a blog if there's search. Like gwern says, lots of people are probably going to be looking for information through LLMs in the future. If you don't write what you're thinking, you'll likely be invisible or illegible to the future. Might as well write it down.
ZaoLahma 2y ago
If your target audience is yourself, there's still plenty of value in writing it down. Wait long enough and there will be situations where you did something in the past that works really well, but you can't remember anymore what you did or why you did it. An AI doesn't really help you then.
gpjt 2y ago
I just posted a follow-up about exactly that -- why I think it's still worth blogging even if AIs will copy everything you say. Would love to know your thoughts! Here's a link: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43166761 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43166761

by mvdtnz 2y ago

zem 2y ago

seriously, just ignore the AI, and create the human internet you want to see.

protocolture 2y ago

How have they done the second?

benatkin 2y ago

It turns into write the messages/prompts to get the answer you wish you’d received and put it somewhere where it can be used to train the AIs and in the meantime searched by humans

robocat 2y ago

If you're writing to help altruistically, then AI shouldn't matter. If you want recognition, then writing tech articles is a difficult path to help you gain status or become known. My guess is that you just dislike helping the enemy. I'm often more driven for negative reasons than I am for positive ones.

netghost 2y ago

Three reasons to write regardless of whether AI slurps it up. 1. You will learn more, even when you think you know everything there is to know about the topic. 2. You can point to a thing you personally created. It's nice to be discussing a technical topic and be able to say, "Hey, I actually wrote an article about that, I'll send you the link." 3. AI might slurp up some of what you write, but it's a blurry filter over information. Your unique writing, details, and perspective are your own. Finally, it can be fun or rewarding in the same way drawing, painting, or any other creative act can be. If it's not, then channel your effort into something else.

iamwil 2y ago

LLMs aren't good at everything. If you're on the edge of knowledge and taste, it's very apparent. Might as well write it down. Not at all. That's like saying it feels pointless to write a blog if there's search. Like gwern says, lots of people are probably going to be looking for information through LLMs in the future. If you don't write what you're thinking, you'll likely be invisible or illegible to the future. Might as well write it down.

ZaoLahma 2y ago

If your target audience is yourself, there's still plenty of value in writing it down. Wait long enough and there will be situations where you did something in the past that works really well, but you can't remember anymore what you did or why you did it. An AI doesn't really help you then.

gpjt 2y ago

I just posted a follow-up about exactly that -- why I think it's still worth blogging even if AIs will copy everything you say. Would love to know your thoughts! Here's a link: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43166761 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43166761