Large Language Models: On This Site
Because, with the way the world is, someone will eventually ask the question of ‘Do you use AI to write your posts?’
Does AI write my posts?
First, if I was forced to use one syllable to answer, I would use the word ‘no’. But life is more complex than that. And that one word doesn’t give a complete picture.
Second the non-answer: The purpose of this site (and it’s other side) is for me to write up my thoughts. Focusing on what I find interesting, on particular topics. Such is incompatible with asking a model to write for me.
But that’s also not a denial.
What I do use
As people are tool users, I do use a variety of tools. The computer itself is a tool. But more precisely, so are text editors, spell check, web browser, and so on. Do any of them qualify as ‘AI’? They are all clearly artificial. But are they intelligent? Obviously not (even if Clippy tries). Arguably, neither are LLM’s.
And you’ll notice LLM’s was not on the list of tools I do use. Does that mean I don’t use LLM’s to generate content for this site? Not directly. But indirectly? Well that’s where it gets complicated.
Great authors
Do I use Shakespeare? Asimov? Lewis? And all the other authors I’ve read? Not directly, but in a sense, yes. Because what I’ve read influences how I write. The ideas, the wording, and so forth all have an impact.
I’m not saying I compare in skill to any of those great authors. But ideally, reading them has improved my own writings.
Yet the same logic would apply to LLM ‘writing’. Which is to say, If I read enough generated by models then, at some point, they will start influencing my own writing.
Of course, this is a very different thing then the apparent intent behind the question as it is normally asked.
The future?
Having said all that, with my artistic skill what is is, I could envision someday having an LLM make images for my posts. Or maybe not, as the site seems to be working fine with the few images I put up as is. After all, the intent is about my words.