Better Offline The Case Against Generative AI (Part 1)
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Sep 30, 2025 Dig into the world of generative AI as Ed Zitron dissects its foundational myths and market hype. He highlights how companies misrepresent labor and the dubious growth narratives surrounding AI. Ed critiques the disparity between impressive marketing and actual performance, questioning whether AI can truly replace creative roles. He explores the financial chaos of the AI industry and the bubble brewing beneath its surface, setting the stage for deeper critiques in this enlightening series.
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LLMs Are Probabilistic And Costly
- Large language models (LLMs) are probabilistic guessers that often hallucinate and lack deterministic reliability.
- Their high compute and legal costs, plus unclear monetization, challenge their business viability.
Hype Filled A Growth Vacuum
- Hype around generative AI was driven by novelty and investors seeking growth as SaaS valuations slowed.
- Media amplified vague claims of inevitability despite weak evidence of real disruption.
Translators Felt Early AI Pain
- Ed cites translators as a field already hollowed by LLMs, with many forced out by degraded wages and automation.
- He references Brian Merchant's reporting showing sloppy cost-cutting enabled by AI hype.