Christopher Weeks wrote:Has anyone ever asked one of these LLMs for information and had it just say "I don't know" or something to that effect? I haven't had that happen, which seems kind of weird.
Hi Christopher,
I have this all the time. It is never stated that clear, but on really specific questions, I have received advice like "talk to an expert on the matter" or "maybe the answer can be found in the actual document". Of course I ask more questions then, but I never get an answer that really helps me forward.
My husband (software programmer) uses AI for work a lot. He feels it saves him lots of time, even if the answers are wrong half the time. His enthousiasm, and enthousiasm of my younger colleagues, made me want to try it. At work (creative engineer), I have asked AI for a list of possible approaches to a generic technical issue, just to ensure I did not overlook anything. It came up with a perfect list, that had more solutions than I had thought off. However, the extra things on the list, were relevant answers to my generic question, but not applicable to my specific problem. For me it confirmed that I did a good job and did not overlook anything.
I have been amazed by the kindness in an email (to all) from a verry angry colleage. When I complimented him on the tone of his email, he simply said "AI". I think it was very wise of my colleague to ask AI to make his email friendlier. Personally, I think I am friendly enough, but AI definetely wins! Ever since, I recognize the pleasant, though unnatural kindness of AI when I read it. A lot of people / institutions use it. I start to recognize it as unpersonal, written by people who migth not care at all and probably lack human kindness.
When I ask AI about permie-things, like non-mainstream edible plants, the amount of crap it comes up with is mindblowing. It varies from total nonsense to dangerously wrong information on plant identification, practically advising me to eat anything. It confuses blackberry with elderberry. It describes both plants having oval shaped leaves etc. Of course admitting all mistakes that I point out, in the most friendly way possible. Never getting tired of doing so, while replacing one wrongfull fact with the next. It is like talking to a really stupid person who does not know when to stop talking. When it comes to permie-subjects, it is more like artificial stupidity.
I definitely prefer the real human kindness of permies. I feel free to ask anything. I like that people all react in their own way, from their individual viewpoints, using their own style of communication. Some reactions are purely informative (it is an act of kindness to make the effort of writing), others are overflowing with kindness and humanity. Those that have nothing to contribute simply shut up. That is what I want, that is what I need: getting a variety of answers that I asked for, mixed with free inspiration and encouragement that I did not ask for.
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