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points by jdw64 1 day ago | 0 comments

Sometimes I think about that. In the LLM era, what is the meaning of my existence? Compared to the past, I’ve become able to do so many things, but there isn’t really anything I want to make. I don’t know where to place my identity.

[–] rayiner 1 day ago

If you’re spiritual, AI doesn’t change the meaning of your existence. And if you’re not spiritual, didn’t you always accept that you are a transient region of low entropy? You’re a carbon-based computer turning food into bits and now silicon-based computers can turn electricity into bits faster.

I’m not trying to be snarky. I spent most of my life as an atheist and it never occurred to me to think about the meaning of my existence. It was obvious that I’m just a wet bag of carbon. What else could I be?

[–] vconnor 1 day ago

Meaning != cause != destiny

I am likewise atheist and I have spent half a decade thinking about meaning. It has nothing to do with religion or God, though some find their meaning there.

I’m not trying to be snarky, but you should read more philosophy. Everybody asks about meaning at one point in their life, and find themselves woefully unprepared.

[–] guitarlimeo 1 day ago

This is a guess (correct me if I'm wrong) but probably you valued the mastery of a skill to create, and now the mastery is worthless as anyone can create anything, be it music, art or software if they just have access to latest AI?

[–] deadbabe 1 day ago

He enjoyed the intellectual superiority over others more than the mastery of the skill.

[–] triggis 1 day ago

And what’s wrong with that? Spending years to understand the intricacies of technology or to master a science or an art field, and as a result, among other things, gaining a competitive advantage in life over those who haven’t done that - is that a bad thing?

[–] deadbabe 1 day ago

Your competitive advantage should be used in the service of others and the benefit of society, not self enrichment and status games.

[–] triMichael 1 day ago

This is the exact issue I've been having though. I feel like I'm unable to benefit society now. My whole life I've spent learning math and computer science so that I could help other people do things. Now they don't need me, and I feel lost.

[–] AndrewDucker 1 day ago

If you still want to use maths and science in the service of society then you've been handed a massive multiplier. Learn to use it and be better in using it than others.

[–] deadbabe 1 day ago

They never wanted you.

[–] jdw64 1 day ago

I think everyone enjoys that kind of feeling of intellectual superiority to some degree. But doesn’t using an LLM make it easier to feel that way even more? As you know, current LLMs produce different answer quality depending on the input, so using an LLM actually makes it easier to feel a sense of omnipotence. Papers that would normally be hard for me to understand—if I just put them into an LLM, it explains them clearly enough that I can understand them. I can’t say that the feeling you’re talking about doesn’t exist… but, well, I’m not sure.

Rather, I tend to feel that sensation even more now, while LLMs are still in their early stages.

[–] jdw64 1 day ago

It could be that, or it could not be—but rather than that, maybe it’s because work has decreased. Normally around this time of year is a season when freelancers have a lot of work, but there isn’t any, so maybe that’s why. People say I should just do creative work for myself, but maybe I’m feeling rushed because I don’t have any ideas.