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I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

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Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#11

Post by endemic »

zB2sj38WHAjYnvm wrote: post #6
jml78 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not a writer. My oldest son,16, started writing short stories. He did not use AI in any aspect of the words on the page. I did however recommend that he feed his stories and ask a LLM for feedback on things that are confusing, unclear, or holes in the plot. Not to take any words it gives but read what it says and decide if those things are true, if so, make edits. I am not saying it is a great editor but it is b…

This is very sad.

Why? Seems like a good idea, relying on the LLM to write for you won’t develop your skills, but using it as an editor is a good middle ground. Also there’s no shame in saying an LLM is “better” than you at a task.

Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#12

Post by DanHulton »

zaphod420 wrote: post #7
zB2sj38WHAjYnvm wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is very sad.

It's not sad, it's using modern tools to learn. People that don't embrace the future get left behind.

You say that as if it's a justification, not an observation.

For one, the world doesn't need to be that way, I.e. We don't need to "leave behind" anyone who doesn't immediately adopt every single piece of new technology. That's simple callousness and doesn't need to be ruthlessly obeyed.

And for two, it's provably false. What is "the future?" VR? The metaverse? Blockchain? NFTs? Hydrogen cells? Driverless cars? There has been exactly ZERO penalty for not embracing any of these, all sold to us by hucksters as "the future".

We're going to have to keep using a classic piece of technology for a while now, the Mark 1 Human Brain, to properly evaluate new technology and what its place in our society is, and we oughn't be reliant on profound-seeming but overly-simplistic quotes as that.

Be a little more discerning, and think for yourself before you lose the ability to.

Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#13

Post by mrbluecoat »

I avoided cell phones too when they first came out. I didn't want the distraction or "digital leash". Now it's a stable fixture in my life. Some technology is simply transformational and is just a matter of time until almost everyone comes to accept it at some level. Time will tell if AI breaks through the hype curve but my gut feeling is it will within 5 years.

Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#14

Post by ryeats »

You know that teammate that makes more work for everyone else on the team because they do what they are asked to do but in the most buggy and incomprehensible way, that when you finally get them to move on to another team and you realize how much time you spent corralling them and fixing their subtle bugs and now when they are gone work doesn't seem like so much of a chore.

That's AI.

Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#15

Post by ryanblakeley »

endemic wrote: post #11
zB2sj38WHAjYnvm wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is very sad.

Why? Seems like a good idea, relying on the LLM to write for you won’t develop your skills, but using it as an editor is a good middle ground. Also there’s no shame in saying an LLM is “better” than you at a task.

Creative expression is also about relationships with other people and connecting with an audience. Treating it like product optimization seems hollow and lonely. There's friction to asking another person to read and give feedback on something you wrote, but it's the kind of friction that helps you grow.

Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#16

Post by ApeWithCompiler »

mrbluecoat wrote: post #13

I avoided cell phones too when they first came out. I didn't want the distraction or "digital leash". Now it's a stable fixture in my life. Some technology is simply transformational and is just a matter of time until almost everyone comes to accept it at some level. Time will tell if AI breaks through the hype curve but my gut feeling is it will within 5 years.

True, but at least for me also true: Smartphones are a stable fixture in my life and by now I try to get rid of them as much as possible.

Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#17

Post by jml78 »

DanHulton wrote: post #12
zaphod420 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not sad, it's using modern tools to learn. People that don't embrace the future get left behind.

You say that as if it's a justification, not an observation. For one, the world doesn't need to be that way, I.e. We don't need to "leave behind" anyone who doesn't immediately adopt every single piece of new technology. That's simple callousness and doesn't need to be ruthlessly obeyed. And for two, it's provably false. What is "the future?" VR? The metaverse? Blockchain? NFTs? Hydrogen cells? Driverless cars? There…

Dan,

Do you have kids? Outside of discipline, and even there, I want to have a positive relationship with my sons.

My oldest knows that I am not a writer, there are a ton areas that I can give legit good advice. I can actually have a fun conversation about his stories, but I have no qualifications to tell him what he might want to change. I can say what I like but my likes/dislikes are not what an editor does. I actually stay away from dislikes on his writing because who cares what I don’t like.

I would rather encourage him to write, write more, and get some level of feedback even if I don’t think my feedback is valuable.

LLMs have been trained on likely all published books, it IS more qualified than me.

If he continues to write and gets good enough should he seek a human editor sure.

But I never want me to be a reason he backs away from something because my feedback was wrong. It is easier for people to take critical feedback from a computer than their parents. Kids want to please and I don’t want him writing stuff because he think it will be up my alley.

Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#18

Post by GlacierFox »

mrbluecoat wrote: post #13

I avoided cell phones too when they first came out. I didn't want the distraction or "digital leash". Now it's a stable fixture in my life. Some technology is simply transformational and is just a matter of time until almost everyone comes to accept it at some level. Time will tell if AI breaks through the hype curve but my gut feeling is it will within 5 years.

My phone is a fixture in my life but spend a lot of effort trying to rid myself of it actually. The thing for me is currently, on the receiving end is that I just don't read anything (apart from books) like it has any semblance of authenticity anymore. My immediate assumption is that a large chunk of it or sometimes the entire piece has been written or substantially altered by AI. Seeing this transferring into the publishing and writing domain is just simply depressing.

Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#19

Post by threatripper »

ryeats wrote: post #14

You know that teammate that makes more work for everyone else on the team because they do what they are asked to do but in the most buggy and incomprehensible way, that when you finally get them to move on to another team and you realize how much time you spent corralling them and fixing their subtle bugs and now when they are gone work doesn't seem like so much of a chore. That's AI.

You sound bitter. Did you try using more AI for the bug fixing? It gets better and better.

Re: I avoid using LLMs as a publisher and writer

#20

Post by jml78 »

moregrist wrote: post #10
jml78 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not a writer. My oldest son,16, started writing short stories. He did not use AI in any aspect of the words on the page. I did however recommend that he feed his stories and ask a LLM for feedback on things that are confusing, unclear, or holes in the plot. Not to take any words it gives but read what it says and decide if those things are true, if so, make edits. I am not saying it is a great editor but it is b…

Have you looked for: - Writing groups. They often have sessions that provide feedback and also help writers find/build a sense of community. Your son would also get to listen to other writers talk about their work, problems they’ve run into and overcome, and other aspects of their craft. - School (sometimes library) writing workshops. This helps students develop bonds with their peers and helps both students: the one…

Good feedback, we live a somewhat unusual lifestyle. We are digital nomads that live on a sailboat. I think some of that is possible and I will recommend he look for some online writing groups but the places we generally sail to are countries where schools/libraries aren’t going to have those types of things. It is challenge enough flying him back to the US to take AP exams
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