cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/33174237
By Zeynep Tufekci - Opinion Columnist
July 11, 2025We all somehow adjusted to the fact that machines can now produce complex, coherent, conversational language. But that ability makes it extremely hard not to think about L.L.M.s as possessing a form of humanlike intelligence.
They are not, however, a version of human intelligence. Nor are they truth seekers or reasoning machines. What they are is plausibility engines. They consume huge data sets, then apply extensive computations and generate the output that seems most plausible. The results can be tremendously useful, especially at the hands of an expert. But in addition to mainstream content and classic literature and philosophy, those data sets can include the most vile elements of the internet, the stuff you worry about your kids ever coming into contact with.
Found it at the library 10+ years ago, read the flyleaf, thought, “This is pants on head idiotic. I need a break on something light. Let’s try it.” I have never been more wrong in judging a book by it’s cover.
Read it probably 13-14 times, kinda embarrassing. Anyway, the ship’s captain is a vampire. And it’s hard sci-fy, no sparkles. My post was the vampire talking about humans.
Holy shit will you love Blindsight. You are going to scream with joy. Free on the author’s site.
One more thing, Watts puts a bibliography (science journals and books) in the back for every idea he writes about.
Dude, what is this book. Who writes like this? I fucking adore it
Oh fuck yeah, buddy! I’m grabbing it right now! Might buy the audio on libro.fm to support the author too