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Robert Elliott Smith's avatar

Super essay, one of the best on AI I’ve read in ages. I think you’ll enjoy this, which I see as connected: https://aeon.co/essays/why-language-remains-the-most-flexible-brain-to-brain-interface

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Rob Nelson's avatar

Appreciate the pointer! I read Aeon, but have no memory of that essay. In a similar vein, I'm just finishing Superbloom by Nicholas Carr and hoping to write a review.

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Robert Elliott Smith's avatar

It’s also reminded me why the protagonist in my favorite book is called Phaedrus: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance

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Rob Nelson's avatar

Indeed. It was on my list to re-read as I was writing this piece, but that list got out of hand, as you might imagine.

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Ayman Hossam Fadel's avatar

Mind blown, man!

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Stan Goings's avatar

A great frame to think about LLM’s. Why are you abstaining from their use? Your essay made me think you accept them as the newest tool for language.

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Rob Nelson's avatar

I do accept them as a new writing tool, and I have found using them uncomfortable because they automate writing in ways that replace thinking. As someone who values thinking, this is a problem.

I wrote the essay in part to interrupt the assumption that using everyone who chooses not to use them is setting a bad example or a bad teacher.

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