2 ms·

> Why are these different than using LLMs? I would say that with a computer you're using a tool to take care of mundane details and speed up the mechanics of t

by gtowey 1y ago

> Why are these different than using LLMs? I would say that with a computer you're using a tool to take care of mundane details and speed up the mechanics of tasks in your life. Such as writing a document, or playing a game. I can't think of a way I would be seriously disadvantaged by not having the ability to hand-write an essay or have games I can readily play without a computer. Computers are more like tools in the way a hammer is a tool. I don't mind being totally dependent on a computer for those tasks in the same way I don't mind that I need a hammer anytime I want to drive a nail. But for many people, LLMs replace critical thinking. They offer the allure of outsourcing planning, research, and generating ideas. These skills seem more fundamental to me, and I would say there's definitely a loss somehow of one's humanity if you let those things atrophy to the point you become utterly dependent on LLMs.

Brendinooo 1y ago
>But for many people, LLMs replace critical thinking...[and] outsourc[e] planning, research, and generating ideas Sure, but I guess you could say that any tech advancement outsources these things, right? I don't have to think about what gear to pick when I drive a car to maximize its performance, I don't have to think about "i before e" types of rules when spell check will catch it, I don't have to think about how to maintain a draft horse or think as much about types of dirt or terrain difficulties when I have a tractor. Or, to add another analogy, for something like a digital photo compared to film photography that you'd develop yourself or portrait painting before that: so much planning and critical thought has been lost. And then there's another angle: does a project lead not outsource much of this to other people? This invites a "something human is being lost" critique in a social/developmental context, but people don't really lament that the CEO has somehow lost his humanity because he's outsourcing so much of the process to others. I'm not trying to be clever or do gotchas or anything. I'm genuinely wrestling with this stuff. Because you might be right: dependence on LLMs might be bad. (Though I'd suggest that this critique is blunted if we're able to eventually move to hosting and running this stuff locally.) But I'm already dependent on a ton of tech in ways I probably can't even fully grasp.

by gtowey 1y ago

Brendinooo 1y ago

>But for many people, LLMs replace critical thinking...[and] outsourc[e] planning, research, and generating ideas Sure, but I guess you could say that any tech advancement outsources these things, right? I don't have to think about what gear to pick when I drive a car to maximize its performance, I don't have to think about "i before e" types of rules when spell check will catch it, I don't have to think about how to maintain a draft horse or think as much about types of dirt or terrain difficulties when I have a tractor. Or, to add another analogy, for something like a digital photo compared to film photography that you'd develop yourself or portrait painting before that: so much planning and critical thought has been lost. And then there's another angle: does a project lead not outsource much of this to other people? This invites a "something human is being lost" critique in a social/developmental context, but people don't really lament that the CEO has somehow lost his humanity because he's outsourcing so much of the process to others. I'm not trying to be clever or do gotchas or anything. I'm genuinely wrestling with this stuff. Because you might be right: dependence on LLMs might be bad. (Though I'd suggest that this critique is blunted if we're able to eventually move to hosting and running this stuff locally.) But I'm already dependent on a ton of tech in ways I probably can't even fully grasp.