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by criddell 1042 days ago
> improper terminology

But in English, there is no central authority for determining correctness. For the general public, the meaning of words and phrases is entirely determined by usage. In a lecture hall, courtroom, or research lab, definitions may be more precise.
1 comments
mdp2021 1042 days ago
> no central authority

That no one is appointed as bearer of the authority does not mean that randomness is as valid as the authoritative facts behind a term.

Only one hour ago I accidentally found myself in front of a definition on a dictionary: «anon (adv.): late Old English Old English anon, earlier on an, literally "into one" [...] By gradual misuse, "soon, in a little while" (1520s)». Repeat: «By gradual misuse». Linguists recognize proper and improper.

> For the general public

But the general public has little importance. We are not necessarily speaking its language. On the contrary... Here we often speak as specialists (supposedly).

There is little use in reapplying 'cube' to something that hardly deserves the name. People do: this does not mean that we should follow. And potentially, with that, lose discrimination. Like, in this context, an awareness about the whole context of AI, replaced by some fog that on the contrary we work to dissipate.

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criddell 1041 days ago
Randomness? The broad use by the general public, mainstream publications, and many experts (e.g. Google calls their Bard LLM an AI) isn't random. Search for "generative ai llm" to see for yourself.
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mdp2021 1041 days ago
> Randomness?

You were talking about «central authority for determining correctness». I replied that no authority does not mean that there is no "more or less wrong or right".

> Google calls their Bard LLM an AI

It is a .com :) , what did you expect?

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criddell 1041 days ago
> I replied that no authority does not mean that there is no "more or less wrong or right".

I never said there isn't right or wrong, only that what is correct is determined by broad usage.

> It is a .com :) , what did you expect?

Actually, it's a .google

https://ai.google/discover/generativeai

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mdp2021 1041 days ago
> I never said there isn't right or wrong, only that what is correct is determined by broad usage

Others - like us - call "correct" what seems to be "more right". In the context, I proposed that calling LLMs AI has improper sides - substantially, irregardless of the number of people who would adhere to that use, and which I suspect do so mostly out of inattention.

> Actually, it's a .google

Yes, but substantially, what I meant is that of course a commercial entity («.com») is using a language that lures glamorously, "sales oriented", before precision.

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