Post AuePjHDRv4XfrdIF7I by adb@todon.eu
(DIR) More posts by adb@todon.eu
(DIR) Post #AucD4DOvbvpaOSOdvM by jasongorman@mastodon.cloud
2025-05-30T05:20:32Z
4 likes, 3 repeats
What makes LLMs work isn't deep neural networks or attention mechanisms or vector databases or anything like that. What makes LLMs work is our tendency to see faces on toast.
(DIR) Post #Aue93FRcW6pywOrJVQ by jwcph@helvede.net
2025-05-30T08:03:39Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@jasongorman No, seriously - that's exactly what it is & it's a mechanism exploited by charlatans since always: https://softwarecrisis.dev/letters/llmentalist/
(DIR) Post #AuePjHDRv4XfrdIF7I by adb@todon.eu
2025-05-30T20:00:02Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@jasongorman Thanks. I've wondered about that. A close friend ADHD relies heavily on a LLM tool to support themself psychologically and regulate their nervous system, as well as help them write cogently about their work. The personal support stuff they get from it reminds me of like a Tarot reading: an array of symbols we interpret to to help orient us in an otherwise scarily disordered world. Or,as you say, like seeing faces on toast. IMO Tarot and similar tools are very helpful and can be used immensely positively - but lets not overrate what's happening there.
(DIR) Post #AuePjIne1z5amBEfAm by davesomebody@twit.social
2025-05-31T06:07:06Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@adb @jasongorman had someone come to my home recently to repair my HVAC system. Individual told me they were ADHD, they shared a lot of things I don't need to know. But he was using ChatGPT to try and troubleshoot my AC. I got tired of that real quick. He somehow heard logic in the word salad it produces. I heard meandering assembly of words that could take you any direction you want. I could see how it helping in one aspect of life would lead to it impinging on others.
(DIR) Post #AuePjK0RXsvAWAEOlE by ozzelot@mstdn.social
2025-05-31T10:57:04Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@davesomebody @adb @jasongorman I may or may not have significant ADHD and autism traits, but it makes me seek controlled, intentional information, rather than the ad hoc generated texts produced by a bunch of GPUs.
(DIR) Post #AueZdv7jd54tRLhlvU by condret@shitposter.world
2025-05-31T12:48:16.170204Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@jasongorman we see faces on toast, because there are faces on toast
(DIR) Post #Auk5FpdkXBoXo42LIW by davesomebody@twit.social
2025-06-03T04:35:59Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@ozzelot @adb @jasongorman I think some of us know too well how it works to trust it. It is great at producing walls of word salad. And to some people that is great. If you value precision LLMs are just too random.