alt Hacker NewsI don't find it jaw-dropping because the idea is quite simple. Just feed the model an enormous amount of unethically sourced data, build data centers that cause droughts, and use all chips available so that normal people can't afford to buy RAM anymore.
We're all sacrificing great things in order to make these models more capable. Whether it'll all be worth it, only time will tell.
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> We're all sacrificing great things
Oh please.
> Unethically sourced data
Is that a great sacrifice?
> data centers that cause droughts
That's nonsense.
> normal people can't afford to buy RAM anymore
Lol? Another great sacrifice?
This isn't a healthy or sensible way to think.
Then again, looking back, that’s the way history is made. Modern democracies in the west are built on foundations of slavery and colonialism; yet we cherish them as to all the greatness they have brought as well. We need some amount of tolerance to ambiguity, and LLMs are undoubtedly both extremely cool but also extremely concerning.
Edit: Note that I am not saying that this is good, or desirable; just that it is. The technology is here know and not going anywhere, with all the flaws of its conception. We can be skeptical and curious at the same time.
The arguably sketchy means used to get there —and the resulting side-effects— do not take away from the impressiveness of the emerging capabilities themselves.
I agree about the uncertainty regarding the value for humanity in the long-term. But that's not my point. Being jaw-dropped != being happy and cheering for it.