Writes and Write-Nots
paulgraham.com
Writes and Write-Nots
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Re: Writes and Write-Nots
#2Another (albeit optimistic) possibility: today we have an informal oral culture contrasted with a formal literary culture, so Graham perceives the latter as synonymous with thinking. However, before literacy was widespread there was, on top of the informal oral culture, also a formal oral culture, so maybe with the popularity of short video clips we might see a resurgence in structured speech?
Re: Writes and Write-Nots
#3We're also on the edge of the read, and read-nots. There is an abundance of content to consume and AI lets us consume it in any format easily.
Why read a book when we can have an idea distilled in a quick infographic, a shortform video, or a pithy tweet? I love a deep dive book that lets you immerse yourself in idea and study it from multiple angles, done masterfully in Dune or Thinking, Fast and Slow.
But are we losing that chance to really contemplate given the speed at which more information is being thrown at us across every form factor?
Re: Writes and Write-Nots
#4All the more important that everyone goes to school and is required to write (and think) there. Not everyone will become a great writer or thinker, but everyone gets the basics and the opportunity.
Re: Writes and Write-Nots
#5Very scary.
Re: Writes and Write-Nots
#6Idiocracy indeed.
Re: Writes and Write-Nots
#7Even smart people completely over-rate “AI” it seems
Re: Writes and Write-Nots
#8That writing is the only way to do deep, clear, thinking simply isn't true.
Stephen Hawking is the first example that comes to mind.
He developed a remarkable ability to perform complex calculations and visualize intricate mathematical concepts entirely in his mind. He once mentioned that his ALS diagnosis, which limited his physical abilities, led him to focus intensely on theoretical physics, as it required more intellectual than physical effort.
But sure, writing (and drawing) is a great tool to aid in deep thinking. So are AI tools.
Re: Writes and Write-Nots
#9Another (albeit optimistic) possibility: today we have an informal oral culture contrasted with a formal literary culture, so Graham perceives the latter as synonymous with thinking. However, before literacy was widespread there was, on top of the informal oral culture, also a formal oral culture, so maybe with the popularity of short video clips we might see a resurgence in structured speech?
If you observe the trend speech has actually devolved with the arrival of popular internet networks. Today's elites talk in a fashion that would embarrass even their immediate parents, let alone their ancestors.
Just look at the quality of presidential debates and political discourse we've been having for the past decade. Not just in the US, but all over the world. The situation is perilous.
Re: Writes and Write-Nots
#10New and non-plagiarized text is essential for all the AI models to train on. Without these the AI models will reach the saturation point or worse the output will not be as effective as it can be.
If AI trains on generated text it is equivalent of an incestuous relationship and I don't have elaborate on analogy further.