3 ms·

Much as i agree with the point about overhyping from companies, I'd be more sympathetic to this point of view if she acknowledged the merits of the technology.

Much as i agree with the point about overhyping from companies, I'd be more sympathetic to this point of view if she acknowledged the merits of the technology. Yes, it hallucinates and if you replace your brain with one of these things, you won't last too long. However, it can do things which, in the hands of someone experienced, are very empowering. And it doesn't take an expert to see the potential. As it stands, it sounds like a case of "it's great in practice but the important question is how good it is in theory."

nottorp 2y ago
If it works for you... I use LLMs. They're somewhat useful if you're on a non niche problem. They're also useful instead of search engines, but that's because search has been entshittified more than because a LLM is better. However 90% of the marketing material about them is simply disgusting. The bigwigs sound like they're spreading a new religion, and most enthusiasts sound like they're new converts to some sect. If you're marketing it as a tool, fine. If you're marketing it as the third and fourth coming of $DEITY, get lost.
- noufalibrahim 2y ago
  I completely agree about the marketing material. I'm not sure about 90% but that's not something I have a strong opinion on. The stream from the bigwigs is the same song being played in a different tune and I'm inoculated to it. I'm not marketing it. I'm not a marketer. I'm a developer trying to create an informed opinion on its utility and the marketing speak you criticize is far away from the truth. The problem is this notion that it's just completely bullshit. The way it's worded irks me. "I genuinely don't understand...". It's quite easy to see the utility and acknowledging that doesn't, in any way, detract from valid criticisms of the technology and the people who peddle.
  - brookst 2y ago
    Exactly. It’s so strange to read so many comments that boil down to “because some marketing people are over-promising, I will retaliate by choosing to believe false things”
    - nottorp 2y ago
      Don't forget that before "AI" there was crypto. Same attitude among their promoters. So someone who isn't already invested can genuinely draw the conclusion they're similar and not worth the time. Edit: oh wait >because some marketing people are over-promising all "AI" marketing people that I've seen. Ok 98%. And all my LLM info is from what gets posted on HN. > I will retaliate by choosing to believe false things "I will retaliate by cataloguing them as pathological liars and not waste my time with them any more".
      - brookst 2y ago
        But it’s not the marketers building the products. This is like saying “because the car salesman lied about this Prius’ gas mileage, I’ll retaliate by refusing to believe hybrids are any better than pure ICE cars and will buy a pickup”. It hurts nobody but the person choosing ignorance.
        nottorp 2y ago
        No, I'm afraid it's like 90% of the Prius owners who post something about their car post fake gas mileages. And 100% of the marketers of course.
        brookst 2y ago
        I disagree, but even conceding the point — why would that make you choose to believe falsehoods just to stick it to the liars?
- nulbyte 2y ago
  > I use LLMs. They're somewhat useful if you're on a non niche problem. They're also useful instead of search engines... The problem for me is that I could use that type of assistance precisely when I hit that "niche problem" zone. Non-niche problems are usually already solved. Like search. Popular search engines like Google and Bing are mostly garbage because they keep trying to shove gen AI in my face with made up answers. I have no such problems with my SearxNG instance.
  - nottorp 2y ago
    > I could use that type of assistance precisely when I hit that "niche problem" zone Tough luck. On the other hand, we're still justified in asking for money to do the niche problems with our fleshy brains, right? In spite of the likes of Altman saying every week that we'll be obsoleted in 5 years by his products. Like ... cold fusion? Always 5 years away? [I have more hope for cold fusion than these "AIs" though.] > Popular search engines like Google and Bing are mostly garbage because they keep trying to shove gen AI in my face with made up answers. No they became garbage significantly before "AI". Google at least has gradually reduced the number of results returned and expanded the search scope to the point that you want a reminder of the i2c api syntax on a raspberry pi and they return 20 beginner tutorial results that show you how to unpack the damn thing and do the first login instead.

nottorp 2y ago

If it works for you... I use LLMs. They're somewhat useful if you're on a non niche problem. They're also useful instead of search engines, but that's because search has been entshittified more than because a LLM is better. However 90% of the marketing material about them is simply disgusting. The bigwigs sound like they're spreading a new religion, and most enthusiasts sound like they're new converts to some sect. If you're marketing it as a tool, fine. If you're marketing it as the third and fourth coming of $DEITY, get lost.

noufalibrahim 2y ago
I completely agree about the marketing material. I'm not sure about 90% but that's not something I have a strong opinion on. The stream from the bigwigs is the same song being played in a different tune and I'm inoculated to it. I'm not marketing it. I'm not a marketer. I'm a developer trying to create an informed opinion on its utility and the marketing speak you criticize is far away from the truth. The problem is this notion that it's just completely bullshit. The way it's worded irks me. "I genuinely don't understand...". It's quite easy to see the utility and acknowledging that doesn't, in any way, detract from valid criticisms of the technology and the people who peddle.
- brookst 2y ago
  Exactly. It’s so strange to read so many comments that boil down to “because some marketing people are over-promising, I will retaliate by choosing to believe false things”
  - nottorp 2y ago
    Don't forget that before "AI" there was crypto. Same attitude among their promoters. So someone who isn't already invested can genuinely draw the conclusion they're similar and not worth the time. Edit: oh wait >because some marketing people are over-promising all "AI" marketing people that I've seen. Ok 98%. And all my LLM info is from what gets posted on HN. > I will retaliate by choosing to believe false things "I will retaliate by cataloguing them as pathological liars and not waste my time with them any more".
    - brookst 2y ago
      But it’s not the marketers building the products. This is like saying “because the car salesman lied about this Prius’ gas mileage, I’ll retaliate by refusing to believe hybrids are any better than pure ICE cars and will buy a pickup”. It hurts nobody but the person choosing ignorance.
      - nottorp 2y ago
        No, I'm afraid it's like 90% of the Prius owners who post something about their car post fake gas mileages. And 100% of the marketers of course.
        brookst 2y ago
        I disagree, but even conceding the point — why would that make you choose to believe falsehoods just to stick it to the liars?
nulbyte 2y ago
> I use LLMs. They're somewhat useful if you're on a non niche problem. They're also useful instead of search engines... The problem for me is that I could use that type of assistance precisely when I hit that "niche problem" zone. Non-niche problems are usually already solved. Like search. Popular search engines like Google and Bing are mostly garbage because they keep trying to shove gen AI in my face with made up answers. I have no such problems with my SearxNG instance.
- nottorp 2y ago
  > I could use that type of assistance precisely when I hit that "niche problem" zone Tough luck. On the other hand, we're still justified in asking for money to do the niche problems with our fleshy brains, right? In spite of the likes of Altman saying every week that we'll be obsoleted in 5 years by his products. Like ... cold fusion? Always 5 years away? [I have more hope for cold fusion than these "AIs" though.] > Popular search engines like Google and Bing are mostly garbage because they keep trying to shove gen AI in my face with made up answers. No they became garbage significantly before "AI". Google at least has gradually reduced the number of results returned and expanded the search scope to the point that you want a reminder of the i2c api syntax on a raspberry pi and they return 20 beginner tutorial results that show you how to unpack the damn thing and do the first login instead.