Stratechery AI Homework
Dec 5, 2022
A personal story about a child's homework reveals inaccuracies in AI descriptions of Hobbes' philosophy. The discussion pivots to how AI tools like ChatGPT challenge traditional education, prompting a rethinking of homework. A comparison between AI-generated methods and conventional coding sparks debate on reliability and accuracy. The sandwich workflow illustrates collaboration between human creativity and AI, while navigating trust in media encourages skill development in information verification.
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AI Homework Fail
- Ben Thompson's daughter asked for help with her history homework about Thomas Hobbes.
- ChatGPT gave a confident answer citing Leviathan but was completely wrong about Hobbes' views on separation of powers.
Accessibility Drives AI Interest
- ChatGPT's ease of use and free access have sparked interest in AI's societal impact.
- This is similar to the increased awareness around AI-generated art with MidJourney and Lensa AI.
Probabilistic vs. Deterministic
- AI-generated text, unlike calculator results, is probabilistic, not deterministic.
- ChatGPT uses statistical models to predict language, leading to potential errors.