I liked this essay about LLMs are weird computers.

· Bits and Bobs 5/12/25
  • I liked this essay about LLMs are weird computers.
    • Normal programs can't write a sonnet to save its life.
    • LLMs can't give you the same results repeatedly to save its life.
    • Deterministic vs non-deterministic computers have different strengths.
    • System 1: powerful and deterministic but finicky.
      • Mechanistic.
    • System 2: broad and stochastic but forgiving.
      • Emergent.
    • Humans have Systems 1 and 2, and so do computers now.
      • Though funnily enough which system is expensive and which is cheap is flipped for humans and computers.
    • The future is obviously the combination of both system 1 and system 2, not either or.

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