# AI is wonderful and will make your life better! (not) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** ai\ **Created:** [July 20, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117 "2025-07-20T16:40:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 33
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/641 "2026-02-11T19:08:23Z")
Anyway, we have AI programming AI. Is this the singularity we’ve been expecting? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/642 "2026-02-11T19:11:15Z")
AI seems to shine in tasks like that (porting C code to TypeScript) were it doesn’t have to actually _create_ new things, only convert data in state A to data in state B. I used it successfully to generate simple documentation for an API for example, I told it “Take this previous documentation for API A, and generate documentation in that style for API B”, and it did it, I had of course to fill it with the _purpose_ of each endpoint in the api, but the doc about parameters and stuff was copied and the markup documentation generated flawlessly. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/643 "2026-02-11T19:13:46Z")
Whenever I ask it to generate a document it gives me a Word version but the formatting is utterly fucked. I’ve had to manually retype everything to a different document because even copy/paste text only doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/644 "2026-02-11T20:05:30Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > AI seems to shine in tasks like that (porting C code to TypeScript) were it doesn’t have to actually _create_ new things, only convert data in state A to data in state B. This is true. LLMs are extremely good at tasks that are transforming input text to output text. I would say this is their core strength. Rewriting code, language translation, summarizing, annotating text, etc. The more correlated the input and output, the better it does. Other tasks like write this code, question & answer, create an outline are also transformations, but the inputs and outputs for these are less correlated. This is why the quality of the outputs depends so much on the training. It’s also why LLMs aren’t, by themselves, search engines or Q&A. If you feed them the results or the answers they can do a good job formatting the output to give you the answer. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/645 "2026-02-11T21:05:13Z")
I didn’t finish my last thought properly. LLMs can work well for tasks like Q&A if they’re used to (a) parse the question, (b) query a knowledge base, then (c) use the prompt and the knowledge base result to create an answer. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/646 "2026-02-11T21:06:42Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > > Good Lord, it’s so sycophantic. I can’t stand that. > > I haven’t tried this, but according to ChatGPT itself: I recommended to you several hundred posts ago that you do this. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/647 "2026-02-11T21:14:03Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Check out this article by a guy who works in AI. The article has a lot of claims with little to back them up. This is another example of how over hyped AI is. I agree with some of his points about trying it for broader and real tasks instead of Q&A. But I disagree that GPT Codex is increasing rapidly month to month. I have been able to get it to do amazing things with “vibe coding”, but it is not perfect and not turn key. I don’t think it’s ready for mission critical (i.e. production) code. I do think LLMs have hit a wall. The next innovations are customizing applications around them and decreasing the compute/power. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/648 "2026-02-11T21:31:13Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I recommended to you several hundred posts ago that you do this. I think the obsequious tone of the program is one reason so many people are falling for it. I’d rather continue feeling repulsed. I’m one of those people who is very prone to compulsive technology use. (See: my history on this board) so I’ve stayed away from it as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/649 "2026-02-11T23:06:30Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I’ve had to manually retype everything to a different document because even copy/paste text only doesn’t work. I haven’t had that problem with ChatGPT. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/650 "2026-02-11T23:24:12Z")
I have! Repeatedly. I have no idea what kind of documents you’re creating. Mine have lots of indents and bullets that aren’t actually bullets and a bunch of other random shit that is not formatted in any way that a rational thinking person would ever format a Word document. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/651 "2026-02-11T23:35:50Z")
It throws in random stuff, but I can copy and paste text only, and clean it up easily. I’ve also had it remove formatting. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/652 "2026-02-11T23:41:57Z")
I could try the latter. Or just write my own documents. I wrote an SOP today all by myself, took a couple of hours but I’m very pleased with the result. I don’t feel much pride in things I created with ChatGPT. And I NEVER write grants with it, dear God, every grant I’ve seen written by AI is hot garbage, but nobody seems to know the difference any more. My CEO occasionally sends me things that are so obviously AI, I just use it occasionally so she stops pestering me about it. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/653 "2026-02-12T00:06:01Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Or just write my own documents. There are different uses for AI and some work for me. I teach beginning and intermediate ESL, and part of my job involves makes simple sentences with the vocal for the day. I don’t feel any particular pride in creating ten sentences with a particular pattern such as “They were walking in the park when it started to rain.” I have AI generate 15 sentences, toss the ones I don’t want, modify any needed and go on to the next task. In this case, it’s not any different for me than getting sentences from a textbook. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/654 "2026-02-12T00:35:14Z")
Although I’m not amazed by it now (recent frontier LLMs are much more powerful than what happened here), I was certainly amazed 2 years ago when I first saw LLMs that could respond correctly to an easily google-able query asked and answered in natural language. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/655 "2026-02-12T00:53:54Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > I have AI generate 15 sentences, toss the ones I don’t want, modify any needed and go on to the next task. > > In this case, it’s not any different for me than getting sentences from a textbook. Sounds like a good way to save time. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/656 "2026-02-12T01:27:30Z")
I think AI should be labeled in a manner that allows it to be filtered. I have started keeping a list of AI generated videos on YouTube because it’s nicely wrapped nonsense. As an example, I like historical material. But I find it offensive to click on a video that is spun out of a nugget of truth and then back-filled with unrelated images and fluff narration. If I click on it I’m treated to a list of similar videos with the same style of narrative. And to add insult to injury it’s pushing out legitimate videos that were painstakingly put together by real people who deserve the audience. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/657 "2026-02-12T01:56:30Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Sounds like a good way to save time. It is, as well as mental energy. Well, AI’s translation isn’t perfect, it’s a lot better than other computer translations. For the sample sentences, I can have them translated into Japanese and typed in, which is a significant time saver for me. Well, AI’s translation isn’t perfect, it’s a lot better than other computer translations. For the sample sentences, I can have them translated into Japanese and input which is a significant time saver for me. However, the problem is when people start to blindly cutting and pasting. The example sentences aren’t all good and the translation is often wrong. > [@Magiver](#): > > I have started keeping a list of AI generated videos on YouTube because it’s nicely wrapped nonsense. As an example, I like historical material. But I find it offensive to click on a video that is spun out of a nugget of truth and then back-filled with unrelated images and fluff narration. If I click on it I’m treated to a list of similar videos with the same style of narrative. Personally, I think the “creators” of this type of content should have unprintable things happen to them. > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I think the obsequious tone of the program is one reason so many people are falling for it. It annoys the hell out of me, too. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/658 "2026-02-12T02:16:13Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > > [@Magiver](#): > > > > I have started keeping a list of AI generated videos on YouTube because it’s nicely wrapped nonsense. As an example, I like historical material. But I find it offensive to click on a video that is spun out of a nugget of truth and then back-filled with unrelated images and fluff narration. If I click on it I’m treated to a list of similar videos with the same style of narrative. > > Personally, I think the “creators” of this type of content should have unprintable things happen to them. I agree, but don’t blame the AI, blame the irresponsible jerks who post this stuff and the platform that allows it. If a similar irresponsible jerk engages in street racing and plows into a tree, another car, or a pedestrian, don’t blame the car. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/659 "2026-02-12T02:21:59Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I agree, but don’t blame the AI, blame the irresponsible jerks who post this stuff and the platform that allows it As you quoted me, point to where I blamed AI. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117/660 "2026-02-12T02:35:53Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > As you quoted me, point to where I blamed AI. I thought it was clear that I was agreeing with you. “Don’t blame the AI” was directed at @Magiver. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-is-wonderful-and-will-make-your-life-better-not/1021117.md?page=34)