Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is often described through various metaphors, such as a “calculator for words.” While this analogy, popularized by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, attempts to simplify the technology, it can misrepresent the complexities involved, including ethical considerations and inherent biases. Unlike traditional calculators, generative AI models, like chatbots, are powerful collocation systems that mimic human language patterns based on statistical calculations. This “feel right” factor—how familiar word sequences in our interactions sound—plays a crucial role in AI’s output, achieving results that can deceive human intuition. Despite advancements, the roots of generative AI remain deeply entwined with linguistic principles and historical developments in natural language processing. However, companies often describe these tools as “thinking” or “reasoning,” which obscures their true function as statistical calculators. Recognizing generative AI as a tool primarily for calculating language patterns is essential for understanding its capabilities and limitations in human communication.
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