- cross-posted to:
- linux@programming.dev
- cross-posted to:
- linux@programming.dev
cross-posted from: https://piefed.social/c/linux@programming.dev/p/2509642/linus-torvalds-posts-his-first-ai-assisted-patch-to-the-linux-kernel-synthetic-test-clo
cross-posted from: https://piefed.social/c/linux@programming.dev/p/2509642/linus-torvalds-posts-his-first-ai-assisted-patch-to-the-linux-kernel-synthetic-test-clo
This whole situation reminds me of people’s distrust for Big Pharma. Forgetting the actual problem and just assuming everything it produces is evil and will kill you. The problem with big pharma isn’t that modern medicine doesn’t work, it’s that pharmaceutical companies charge so much for it that poor people are condemned to die preventable deaths in the name of profit.
The problem with AI isn’t that it can’t produce good code, it’s that it’s capable of producing a shitload of bad code at volumes no human can possibly review. It doesn’t surprise me at all that the guy who made Linux can wrangle an AI to produce exceptionally good outcomes. The problem is that there’s a million Joe Normals who are gonna try to replicate it with no idea how to audit the output.
Fair enough!
I’ve been vocally against Linus AI advocacy, but I do understand all the points you make here.
I don’t like that a lot of stupid people will take Torvalds use and embrace of AI as gospel that AI is some be all end all.
I also LOATH that he is indirectly benefitting fascist corporations that committed the largest theft in human history.
But the code is good 🤷♂️
To say I am conflicted, is an understatement.
I’d like to steal this comment for my Detailed And Nuanced Opinions On AI.
Isn’t the AI problem the vast amount of resources needed to produce code?
Text doesn’t seem to be much of a resource hog, at least not compared to static images and video. For example, ChatGPT seems like it will go all day running text errands, though I’ve never dived too deep or for long. Want free pics? A handful a day, for now. Video? Only the most primitive options are free.
That as well
Compare the resources used to the alternatives.
Unfortunately, we will never enjoy the fruits of prosperity, because our system is designed to squeeze first, ask questions later.
Instead of being reduced, human misery will be redirected, and little will change.
Plus all the employees who’ve been forced to produce and sift through that garbage code, because their bosses bought into the hype and don’t see the software for what it actually is.
Yet even for those Joe Normals, I kinda like the democratising effect that they’re now able to produce software, or modify existing software for their own use. Just don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s enterprise grade. Understand your limitations. And don’t spam open source projects with slop PRs because you think the AI makes you a software wizard.
I would think a siginificant portion of the population doesn’t possesses this sort of nuance.
Yeah, they clearly don’t. At the moment the downsides by far outweigh the upsides, but I keep hoping that eventually people will come to their senses.
This is an old argument
Right, like from March or so. Everybody in the loop, especially CEOs know that AI now produces clear code that doesn’t need any review.
But sometimes worth repeating.