Inspired by a recent talk from Richard Stallman.
From Slashdot:
Speaking about AI, Stallman warned that “nowadays, people often use the term artificial intelligence for things that aren’t intelligent at all…” He makes a point of calling large language models “generators” because “They generate text and they don’t understand really what that text means.” (And they also make mistakes “without batting a virtual eyelash. So you can’t trust anything that they generate.”) Stallman says “Every time you call them AI, you are endorsing the claim that they are intelligent and they’re not. So let’s let’s refuse to do that.”
Sometimes I think that even though we are in a “FuckAI” community, we’re still helping the “AI” companies by tacitly agreeing that their LLMs and image generators are in fact “AI” when they’re not. It’s similar to how the people saying “AI will destroy humanity” give an outsized aura to LLMs that they don’t deserve.
Personally I like the term “generators” and will make an effort to use it, but I’m curious to hear everyone else’s thoughts.
AI has a very broad definition. Their products are AI.
Well, according to the broad definition, a Google search or recommendation systems like those on Netflix or Instagram would also be considered AI. And we don’t call them that, but rather by their proper name.
And language shouldn’t be underestimated. It has a profound impact on our thinking, feeling, and actions. Many people associate AI with intelligence and “human thinking”. That alone is enough to mislead many, because the usefulness of the technology in a given application is no longer questioned. After all, it’s “intelligent”. However, when “LLM” is used, a lot more people wouldn’t grant it intelligence or one might be more inclined to ask whether a language model, for example in Excel, is truly useful. After all, that’s exactly what it is: a model of our language. Not more, not less.
Yes, correct.
Why would any honest person agree to promote this kind of garbage disinformation? There is nothing “intelligent” about a search engine or any other computer program. These lies are a huge part of the problem.
Just because a lie has become a “definition” to some people that doesn’t make it the truth.
It is not a lie but a widely accepted and agreed on definition that precedes LLMs by years, and had been created by people way smarter then you and I combined, and who have spent more time in AI research than most people here.
An LLM is an ANI (artificial narrow intelligence), and any ANI is an AI, the broader term for any artificial intelligence. An ANI operates not on intelligence as a human intelligence, its intelligence is a set of rules. A search engine algorithm is a set of rules. Your phone’s keyboard is a set of rules. T9 typing on your old Nokia is a set of rules and can be classified as an ANI. An LLM has rules how it spits out the next token.
There is no universal definition of AI, because we would need to have a universal definition of human intelligence for that first. Since there is no single universal definition, it’s free for you to disagree on that definition. But calling it disinformation, that no computer program is intelligent, or a lie is simply wrong.
Nah, it is just correct.
search engines are definitely more intelligent than the video game AI i have seen
i have seen people do
Well said! Echos my feelings exactly.
But even so- surely you don’t believe that Generative AI programs and Hal 9000 are functionally identical? I just think it would be helpful to have a word that doesn’t lump those things together.
Even more so… It has no definition. It’s fake. It’s a phony term used by grifters. It’s not helpful at all to encourage them and participate.
Nah, words actually don’t stop having definitions just because you are upset about them, and LLMs do appropriately fall within its real definition.
Perhaps educate yourself before commenting on things you do not understand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence The problem here is that you have confused AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) with AI (Artificial Intelligence).