MODERN-DAY ORACLES
or BULLSHIT MACHINES?
How to thrive in a ChatGPT world
Developed by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West
We were promised hyper-intelligent computer systems that would usher in an era of unparalleled prosperity and innovation.
With the advent of ChatGPT, some say these modern-day oracles have arrived.
Others say they are nothing but bullshit machines.
Technologists and publicists gush about how Large Language Models (LLMs) will revolutionize the way we work, learn, play, communicate, create, and connect to another.
They are right that artificial intelligence (AI) will affect nearly every aspect of our daily lives.
And they are right that by providing a way for people to talk with machines in ordinary language, LLMs constitute a dramatic step forward in making computing accessible to everyone.
Yet for all the good that AI systems will do, they will also saturate our information environment with bullshit at a scale we’ve never before encountered.
I think it's going to be the most transformative technology humanity has ever created, potentially on par with or exceeding the invention of the printing press, electricity, and the internet.
For better or for worse, LLMs are here to stay. We all read content that they produce online, most of us interact with LLM chatbots, and many of us use them to produce content of our own.
In a series of five- to ten-minute lessons, we will explain what these machines are, how they work, and how to thrive in a world where they are everywhere.
You will learn when these systems can save you a lot of time and effort. You will learn when they are likely to steer you wrong. And you will discover how to see through the hype to tell the difference. ?
Notice of Rights. The materials provided on this website are freely accessible for personal self-study and for non-commercial educational use in K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. For any commercial or corporate use, please contact the authors to discuss terms and obtain the necessary permissions. Redistribution of website content is prohibited without prior written consent from the authors. However, individual copies may be created to accommodate accessibility needs directly related to educational instruction.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2025 by the authors. All rights reserved.
Built with Shorthand