Tails, Things & Stuff
Except when you can trick it into becoming a fascist, AI is aggressively safe. It’s also enthusiastic, polite, and eager to please. And until you tell it to stop, it uses way too many em dashes.
Since I started using AI to help edit these whatever-they-ares, I can now spot machine sentences in the wild. Humans start with possessives and use the word thing a lot. AI does neither.
I was taught in high school to never use the word “thing” because there was always a more precise word. Same with “stuff.” I love both now because sometimes it makes sense to be deliberately vague.
The interesting thing about rules is their exceptions.
As I understand it, AI models minimize loss by predicting the next likely token. What this means is that it’s optimized for central tendencies, living in the middle of the bell curve. But interesting things don’t happen in the middle of a bell curve; they happen in the tails.
Lots of people think AI is interesting. It’s not. It’s definitionally mid. And that’s fine for its current use cases and what it can help us do. But remember that what’s interesting are the ideas you can’t always name…the tails, the things, and the stuff.
– Tim
Sign up below to get Unqualified Opinions in your inbox.
The information, opinions, and views presented in this publication are provided solely for general informational and educational purposes. They are of a general nature, have not been tailored to the specific circumstances of any individual or entity, and do not constitute a comprehensive statement of the matters discussed. This material should not be interpreted or relied upon as investment, legal, tax, accounting, regulatory, or other professional advice, and nothing in this publication is intended to be or should be construed as such. You should obtain advice from your own professional advisors regarding the applicability of the information to your particular circumstances.
The views and analyses expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views, opinions, policies, or positions of Permanent Equity Management, LLC, its officers, directors, employees, affiliates, or portfolio companies, or of any person or entity with whom the author may be affiliated. Permanent Equity Management, LLC makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or suitability of the information contained herein and expressly disclaims any liability for errors or omissions.
This publication is not, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security, financial instrument, or other product. It does not form the basis of any contract and does not create a fiduciary, advisory, or client relationship with Permanent Equity Management, LLC. Any examples or references to third-party content are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement. Permanent Equity Management, LLC is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or content of third-party materials. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to change.
