Post #2358196

2024-11-28 10:40 UTC

In school we heard "you won't carry a calculator around all the time" as reason for doing math on paper. OK, that was a total goof, because now we all have phones that, potentially, can serve as arbitrarily powerful calculator anytime and anywhere. But that's not the gotcha you think it is. I don't think teachers were just blind to technological progress here, they were fully aware of one thing that they neglected to teach: it's a tool, and a tool is only as powerful as the mind that uses it. If you don't know how something works, you fall back into a magical understanding: you throw in ingredients on one side, and a solution pops out on the other side. There is no way for you to tell if the result is reasonable, or the magical process completely goofed out. Also, you will be completely dependent on the tool where a little understanding could show you shortcuts that make things easier for you, or at least feed the machine easier. We're now in a worse situation like this concerning LLMs. They are branded AIs, advertised as machines that give answers, and if you don't know the shape of the answer already, and have no idea about the facts, you are completely at the mercy of a magical process that tells you fairytales. When things don't work with that answer, you are completely adrift with no idea how to fix it. Because a tool is only as powerful as the mind that uses it.

Replies (8)

@ity@estradiol.city 2024-12-03 10:55

@thatfrisiangirlish@blahaj.zone what does the first part have to do with the rest, we are failing to see the connection. The argument of "you won't carry a calculator around all the time" is stupid, and the quote on quote "math" that has nothing to do with math tested in schools remains mostly pointless outside of very rare occasions. LLMs are a subset of AI. But indeed, they are a tool. It's not an answer tool. It's a tool that makes certain tasks easier. It's no replacement for a human.

Open ##2396587
@Takiro@meow.social 2024-12-10 16:09

@thatfrisiangirlish@blahaj.zone I see this with the use of software a lot recently, too. Software is at this point where it is so accessible to most people, that it doesn't require any technical understanding anymore about how it works. And then, if it doesn't work one day, people are completely helpless and try a bunch of random and unrelated things in the hopes it fixes their problem, like it's some magic ritual. This also is reflected in the language they use to describe their problem which then often sounds like complete nonsense and more like a magic formula to the people who have the knowledge and want to help them. Sometimes it's like someone telling you they removed their cars engine and put it back in but the doors still wont open, or something.

Open ##3171821
@beatadalhagen@pawb.fun 2024-12-03 02:53

@thatfrisiangirlish@blahaj.zone What was that short story.... Feeling of Power?

Open ##3171822
@quadrivial@beige.party 2024-12-01 01:04

@thatfrisiangirlish@blahaj.zone Great observations. As a math teacher of long standing, I wish I could boost this entire thread.

Open ##3171823
@barrygoldman1@sauropods.win 2024-11-28 18:21

@thatfrisiangirlish@blahaj.zone for the most part... H. sapiens is happy to give away control, power, to whoever will take it. It always has been this way. "The Matrix" was supposed to scare the shit out of us... but alas, i fear most would find those pods cozy.

Open ##3171824
@basexperience@mastodon.scot 2024-11-28 15:42

@thatfrisiangirlish@blahaj.zone @mewbassprr@mas.to absolutely and completely this. A great analogy there, too. I’ve done some work with ML and read a little on how LLMs do what they do, and the degree to which unenlightened people think it provides correct solutions all the time is terrifying. Plus, of course, this is how Idiocracy happens.

Open ##3171825
@DaveHowe@ioc.exchange 2024-11-28 14:14

@thatfrisiangirlish@blahaj.zone - I must admit I love how much the app on mine looks like the casio I wasn't allowed to use in exams as a kid LD

Open ##3171826
@capnthommo@c.im 2024-11-28 13:13

@thatfrisiangirlish@blahaj.zone Didn't have calculators in my day - not available yet - but you're right. It's not the availability or otherwise, it's knowledge of the process. And as a carpenter it was always easier to do the workings in my head even when they were around.

Open ##3171828