alt Hacker NewsI find it really annoying that the first line of the AI response is always something like "Great question!", "That's a great insight!" or the like.
I don't need the patronizing, just give me the damn answer..
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Yes, it feels transparently manipulative to me. Like talking to a not-very-good con artist.
When I talk to peers and they respond in that way, it is definitely a signal. If I do ask an insightful question, acknowledgment of it can be useful. The problem with LLMs is that they always say it. They don't choose when it IS really appropriate, they just do it over and over, like your biggest fan would. Syncophacy is the worst.
It's worth noting that while you are annoyed by this repeated behaviour, for the LLM this is always the first conversation ever. (At least it doesn't have memory of any previous ones).
Great point! ;)
Realizing that the people they’re targeting DO need that is kind of frightening.
That's the part most people miss—and here's why it actually matters.
That signal is real, and it’s hard to ignore.
You can add "don't flatter me" into your custom instructions. it's not 100% effective, but it helps. (also "never apologize")
You're absolutely right
It's there to poison the context, making your further token spend worthless. Internally they don't have that.
What I hate even more is when you ask something problematic about another system and they immediately start by reassuring your problem is common and you’re not bad for having the issue. I just need a solution to a normal knowledge issue, why does it always have to assume I’m frustrated already and in need of reassurance?
This drives me nuts. "What a clever question to ask! You must be one of the brightest minds of your generation. Nothing slips by you. Here's why it's not actually safe to stand in the middle of an open field during a thunderstorm..."