Rich Hickey argues that Large Language Models (LLMs) are not tools but rather a form of automation. He distinguishes tools as implements that are "wielded" with control, intention, and continuous direction, requiring expertise and providing feedback. In contrast, Hickey describes LLMs as systems that operate with little human oversight, where users make requests and the LLM acts independently. He contends that relying on LLMs for tasks like writing code or papers leads to abdication of skill-building and learning, trading genuine expertise for the need to constantly adapt to capricious algorithms. AI
IMPACT Challenges the prevailing notion of LLMs as simple tools, suggesting a fundamental shift in how we interact with and learn from technology.
RANK_REASON Opinion piece by a named credible voice.
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