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LLM Inevitabilism

tomrenner.com

11–20 of 1001 posts

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#11
I think you are confusing "I don't like it" with "It's not going to happen".

Just because you don't like it, it doesn't mean it's not going to happen.

Observe the world without prejudice. Think rationally without prejudice.

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#12
post #5
post #2

If in 2009 you claimed that the dominance of the smartphone was inevitable, it would have been because you were using one and understood its power, not because you were reframing away our free choice for some agenda. In 2025 I don't think you can really be taking advantage of AI to do real work and still see its mass adaptation as evitable. It's coming faster and harder than any tech in history. As scary as that is w…

Ironically, this is exactly the technique for arguing that the blog mentions. Remember the revolutionary, seemingly inevitable tech that was poised to rewrite how humans thought about transportation? The incredible amounts of hype, the secretive meetings disclosing the device, etc.? That turned out to be the self-balancing scooter known as a Segway?

> Remember ...

No, I don't remember it like that. Do you have any serious sources from history showing that Segway hype is even remotely comparable to today's AI hype and the half a trillion a year the world is spending on it?

You don't. I love the argument ad absurdum more than most but you've taken it a teensy bit too far.

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#13
post #5
post #2

If in 2009 you claimed that the dominance of the smartphone was inevitable, it would have been because you were using one and understood its power, not because you were reframing away our free choice for some agenda. In 2025 I don't think you can really be taking advantage of AI to do real work and still see its mass adaptation as evitable. It's coming faster and harder than any tech in history. As scary as that is w…

Ironically, this is exactly the technique for arguing that the blog mentions. Remember the revolutionary, seemingly inevitable tech that was poised to rewrite how humans thought about transportation? The incredible amounts of hype, the secretive meetings disclosing the device, etc.? That turned out to be the self-balancing scooter known as a Segway?

That was marketing done before the nature of the device was known. The situation with LLMs is very different, really not at all comparable.

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#14
post #2

If in 2009 you claimed that the dominance of the smartphone was inevitable, it would have been because you were using one and understood its power, not because you were reframing away our free choice for some agenda. In 2025 I don't think you can really be taking advantage of AI to do real work and still see its mass adaptation as evitable. It's coming faster and harder than any tech in history. As scary as that is w…

Literally from the article

--- start quote ---

Anyone who sees the future differently to you can be brushed aside as “ignoring reality”, and the only conversations worth engaging are those that already accept your premise.

--- end quote ---

Mass adoption is not inevitable. Everyone will drop this "faster harder" tech like a hot potato when (not if) it fails to result in meaningful profits.

Oh, there will be forced mass adoption alright. Have you tried Gemini? Have you? Gemini? Have you tried it? HAVE YOU? HAVE YOU TRIED GEMINI?!!!

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#15
post #5
post #2

If in 2009 you claimed that the dominance of the smartphone was inevitable, it would have been because you were using one and understood its power, not because you were reframing away our free choice for some agenda. In 2025 I don't think you can really be taking advantage of AI to do real work and still see its mass adaptation as evitable. It's coming faster and harder than any tech in history. As scary as that is w…

Ironically, this is exactly the technique for arguing that the blog mentions. Remember the revolutionary, seemingly inevitable tech that was poised to rewrite how humans thought about transportation? The incredible amounts of hype, the secretive meetings disclosing the device, etc.? That turned out to be the self-balancing scooter known as a Segway?

I remember the Segway hype well. And I think AI is to Segway as nuke is to wet firecracker.

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#16
post #2

If in 2009 you claimed that the dominance of the smartphone was inevitable, it would have been because you were using one and understood its power, not because you were reframing away our free choice for some agenda. In 2025 I don't think you can really be taking advantage of AI to do real work and still see its mass adaptation as evitable. It's coming faster and harder than any tech in history. As scary as that is w…

We might not be able to wish it away, but we can, as a society, decide to not utilize it and even actively eradicate it. I honestly believe that llm's/ai are a net negative to society and need to be ripped out root and stem. If tomorrow all of us decided to do that, nothing bad would happen, and we'd all be ok.

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#17
post #2

If in 2009 you claimed that the dominance of the smartphone was inevitable, it would have been because you were using one and understood its power, not because you were reframing away our free choice for some agenda. In 2025 I don't think you can really be taking advantage of AI to do real work and still see its mass adaptation as evitable. It's coming faster and harder than any tech in history. As scary as that is w…

I still can't make some of the things in my imagination so I'm going to keep coding, using whatever is at my disposal including LLMs if I must.

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#18
If someone invested a lot of money in something, they probably are convinced that something is inevitable. Otherwise they would not invest their money. However, sometimes they may be a little bit helping their luck

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#19

I think you are confusing "I don't like it" with "It's not going to happen". Just because you don't like it, it doesn't mean it's not going to happen. Observe the world without prejudice. Think rationally without prejudice.

Things “happen” in human history only because humans make them happen. If enough humans do or don’t want something to happen, then they can muster the collective power to achieve it.

The unstated corollary in this essay is that venture capital and oligarchs do not get to define our future simply because they have more money.

Re: LLM Inevitabilism

#20
post #6

I hate AI. I'm so sick of it. I read a story about 14 year olds that are adopting AI boyfriends. They spend 18 hours a day in conversation with chatbots. Their parents are worried because they are withdrawing from school and losing their friends. I hate second guessing emails that I've read, wondering if my colleagues are even talking to me or if they are using AI. I hate the idea that AI will replace my job. Even if…

I'm just hoping for a huge solar flare to reset this once and for all.
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