Large Language Modeling

[brian]

I do not consider AI to be Artificial Intelligence. It is a very clever algorithm, one that calculates advanced pattern matching results on massive data sets without much prompting. At quick glance, it feels like it is thinking. It is not, it is a Large Language Model (LLM). This does not mean it is not useful.

LLMs have done reviews of this web site and other sites I am working on. They are able to pull apart the pieces and determine, with relatively high accuracy, my intent. They have fixed dozens of bugs, many that would have gone unnoticed for months. I always appreciate performance tweaks. They found quite a few.

Most important are the security fixes. They found vulnerabilities in my code. Malicious LLMs used by hackers could have found the same holes and exploited them (they do not have my source code, but still...). If we are not using the same caliber of tools to protect ourselves as are available to malicious actors, we are essentially allowing them to come in.

My opinion: LLMs can do a lot of heavy lifting, saving us a lot of time and helping to fill the gaps we missed. They should not be given free reign on our tools or systems. Only someone who truly understands the work they are doing can safely and effectively keep the LLMs in line and on track.

Use LLMs (AI). Learn from them. Check everything they do. This is a new class of tool, we must learn how to safely and effectively use it.