Martin Fowler
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I don't like LLMs
The author expresses mixed feelings about AI and LLM technology, acknowledging their potential for productivity gains and rapid product development. However, they also fear the potential damage AI could inflict, such as infrastructure takeovers and bioweapon design. Conversely, LLMs might also lead to medical breakthroughs and economic prosperity. The author believes there's no choice but to embrace this technology, hoping for a positive outcome from the "wild ride."This fascination and fear are secondary to a dominant negative emotion stemming from direct LLM interactions. The author finds LLMs gratingly unnatural and prone to confidently fabricating information with only a superficial apology. Despite this dislike, they recognize the irresponsibility of not using LLMs, as they are both useful and efficient. This sentiment mirrors public opinion, which sees LLMs as helpful yet potentially detrimental to society.The author speculates that LLMs might improve with maturity, but is concerned about the influence of Silicon Valley's "brogrammer" subculture on their development and worldview. They emphasize that AI agents are software machines, not conscious beings, and reflect the values of their creators. Ultimately, the author's personal philosophy of avoiding disliked or untrustworthy individuals extends to LLMs, preferring interactions with people of integrity.