LLM Analogies I've heard

A better blogger would cite all the sources but I think a lot of these have been claimed by multiple people, and I don't remember where I heard of them all.

LLMs are Airplanes (and we're birds)

I remember this from Life 3.0 I'm pretty sure but also have heard it other places.

I like this one for what it implies that LLMs don't need to be like human brains but they still can "operate in the same space" to a degree

LLMs are supersonic jets

I wish I remember where I heard this, I don't

If I recall--maybe current LLMs are expensive enough that eventually we settle on smaller, way cheaper models that do 95% of what current models do but can run way faster and cheaper? So like the Concorde was the fastest passenger jet ever but now is in a museum, maybe the 'smartest' LLMs (which could still be years away) won't be worth the overhead to run inference on

LLMs are Crypto

As in, a few years ago everyone was crazy about crypto and it was everywhere then the hype died when after a while there weren't as many use-cases as it seemed like there might be early on.

LLMs are transformative on the scale of the Printing Press/Industrial Revolution/Pick Your Favorite Huge Thing

Sure. I mean, talking computers are pretty crazy.

LLMs are the Next Big Paradigm Shift in Computing (on the scale of cloud & mobile)

I like this analogy because it highlights something I think we're already seeing for some of search where chatGPT or a similar product just straight replaces google.

starting to see chat-first interfaces for sign-up flows for events

LLMs are a database

I think of Chollet , certain others have made similar points. I like this way of thinking.

LLMs are Microwaves

There's definitely a stigma if you were to use an LLM to compose a letter to your partner, or microwave an entire thanksgiving dinner (though both are possible)

microwave when new seemed obviously better than a conventional oven but instead found select niche use-cases.

Wish I knew who came up with this, have heard it at least a couple times