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LLMs will tell you whatever you want to hear. You subtly direct them with the way you ask the question, and then they give you the answer you want. That's basic
by kentonv 8d ago
LLMs will tell you whatever you want to hear. You subtly direct them with the way you ask the question, and then they give you the answer you want. That's basically what they're trained to do. So of course they always give you the answer you want -- but you can't just go around telling people to ask an LLM to back up your argument, as other people will get a difference answer.
- kubb 8d agoI don’t think that’s true anymore. You can ask for weak points of a position (e.g. that luxury spending is good for the economy) and they will give you a reasonable answer. You could do the opposite - what are the weak points of the position that accumulation of wealth leads to waste and see what are the weak points there. And then think which position can be dismantled more easily and is therefore less well founded. Or ask for a steelman version of it.
- kentonv 8d agoIf you had ten million dollars, what would you spend it on?
- kubb 8d agoImmediate retirement for me and 4 more people who I like. What's that got to do with anything?
- kentonv 8d agoBut that's such a waste! 5 whole people taken out of the economy, no longer producing value, just going around consuming resources in retirement. How is that any better than me spending to build a nice house that facilitates my family's comfort and my friends' enjoyment of getting together to play games?