[Discuss] LLMs and AI

[markw at mohawksoft.com (markw at mohawksoft.com)]

> markw at mohawksoft.com wrote:
>> Anyone want to discuss?
>
>
> 1. What are they useful for?

I think as a data technology an with so much data compiled, we will have
the ability to discover trends and information hidden in plain sight.

>
> 2. If they were perfect for what they are useful for, would they be
> worth the fully-loaded cost including externalities?

I'm still not sold on what they are "useful" for. Sure they can do some
things, but their output is not deterministic. Well, not in any
predictable way. It is technically "possible" to analyze an output based
on the input and figure out how it got there, but the sheer amount of data
and a lack of data and tools make it impossible on a practical level. This
leads to the conclusion that it can not be trusted.

What good is a computational or analytical tool that can not be trusted to
produce accurate data?


>
> It appears to me that the answer to the second question is
> "rarely, if ever", so the answer to the first question is moot.
>
> This is a variant of Newton's Flaming Laser Sword.
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Alder#Newton's_flaming_laser_sword
>
> "We should not dispute propositions unless they can be shown by
> precise logic and/or mathematics to have observable consequences."
>
> My variant:
>
> "We should generally dismiss solutions which cost far more than we are
> willing to pay."

That is an interesting statement. I like it with one caveat, "willing to
pay" is very subjective.
>
> You might argue that a subscription to Claude costs $17 per
> month, but this is much like saying that the cost of your first
> hit of meth is $5.

Is it $5? lol, I have no idea.
>
> And people actually like meth.


I imagine it is like alcohol. Night time drinker is hated by his morning
self. :-)


>
> -dsr-
>