Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by kusokurae on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @05:07AM
(#46614279)
It's incredible that on Hacker News we still encounter posts by people who will or cannot differentiate mathematics from magic.
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Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by adrianN on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @05:18AM
(#46614347)
Intelligence is not magic though. The difference between intelligence and mathematics can plausibly be the same kind of difference between chemistry and intelligence.
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by qsera on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @06:22AM
(#46614789)
There is Intelligence and there is Imitation of Intelligence. LLMs do the latter.
Talk to any model about deep subjects. You ll understand what I am saying. After a while it will start going around in circles.
FFS ask it to make an original joke, and be amused..
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by adrianN on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @06:35AM
(#46614881)
Many animals are clearly intelligent, but I can't talk to them at all.
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by obsoleetorr on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @06:26AM
(#46614823)
> After a while it will start going around in circles.
so like your average human
> FFS ask it to make an original joke, and be amused..
let's try this one on you - say an original joke
oh, right, you dont respond to strangers prompts, thus you have agency, unlike an LLM
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by qsera on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @06:53AM
(#46615012)
>so like your average human
If an average human has seen and read all that is written till now, I bet that they can hold the conversation going for quite a long time...
>say an original joke
I asked an LLM if it had a good night with sweet dreams, It said, "I don't sleep and I only dream when I work!"
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by ltbarcly3 on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @09:24PM
(#46627223)
If you understood anything about this topic you would know that imitation of intelligence requires intelligence. It's the same thing.
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by qsera on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @09:36PM
(#46627328)
Give it some thought.
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by ltbarcly3 on Friday January 16, 2026 @08:21AM
(#46646097)
It has been given significant thought already. This isn't a new topic.
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by energy123 on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @05:21AM
(#46614360)
Human intelligence is chemistry and biology, not magic. OK, now what?
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by ACCount37 on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @05:44AM
(#46614492)
Your brain is just math implemented in wet meat.
Re:LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by obsoleetorr on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @05:12AM
(#46614320)
it's also incredible we find people which can't differentiate physics/mathematics from the magic of the human brain