Regression to the Mean: on LLMs and the quiet death of the new
This essay argues that reliance on Large Language Models is leading to a cultural 'regression to the mean' by prioritizing probable, consensus-based answers over original thought. It suggests that true innovation requires embracing the 'strange tails' of ideas that AI models are designed to correct.
Why it matters
It raises philosophical concerns about the long-term impact of generative AI on human creativity and the evolution of new ideas.
We were handed a machine that could think alongside us, and told it would set off an explosion of new ideas. It may do the opposite — so gently that we mistake the flattening for progress.
The piece is a philosophical critique of technology, focusing on intellectual trends rather than partisan politics.
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