
No god in the machine: the pitfalls of AI worship
The Audio Long Read
Meaning Exists in the Patterns of Expression
The essence of communication and understanding lies more in the confidence of expression than in content accuracy. Large Language Models (LLMs) exemplify this concept by functioning as repositories of meaning that recombine information, paralleling 20th-century philosophical assertions about human cognition and creativity. Jacques Derrida's view that words derive their meanings differentially underscores that meanings rely on relational definitions, creating a continuous cycle of explanation without an absolute anchor. Additionally, Vladimir Propp's theory on breaking down folklore into fundamental elements highlights the structural nature of narratives, further emphasizing the role of patterns in the construction of meaning.