Gary Marcus

Rank 20 of 47
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Score 76
4/22/2024, 2:43:30 PM
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In reply to:
Alex Alarga ⏹️
@AlexAlarga
·
405d
@anilkseth @GaryMarcus Try stopping 20 people on the street and asking them what "confabulation" means. Then try same with "hallucinate". Hence...🤷‍♂️
Anil Seth
@anilkseth
·
405d
Useful explainer from @GaryMarcus. The only thing I would add is that we should stop using the term "hallucination" for these LLM errors, bcoz it has connotations of perception/experience/consciousness. If we need a shorthand term, "confabulation" is much better
Gary Marcus
@GaryMarcus
·
406d
So many people are confused about the relation between human cognitive errors and LLM hallucinations that I wrote this short explainer:

Humans say things that aren't true for many different reasons
• Sometimes they lie
• Sometimes they misremember things
• Sometimes they fail…

The statement is part of a conversation on social media discussing the terminology used in cognitive science and artificial intelligence, specifically the terms 'hallucination' and 'confabulation' in the context of LLM errors. The discourse addresses the public issue of how language and terminology can influence public understanding and perception of scientific concepts.

  1. Principle 1:
    I will strive to do no harm with my words and actions.
    The statement does no harm as it contributes constructively to a discussion on terminology in science. [+1]
  2. Principle 2:
    I will respect the privacy and dignity of others and will not engage in cyberbullying, harassment, or hate speech.
    The statement respects the privacy and dignity of others, focusing solely on the topic without targeting any individual negatively. [+1]
  3. Principle 3:
    I will use my words and actions to promote understanding, empathy, and compassion.
    The statement promotes understanding by acknowledging the impact of terminology on public perception. [+1]
  4. Principle 4:
    I will engage in constructive criticism and dialogue with those in disagreement and will not engage in personal attacks or ad hominem arguments.
    The statement engages in constructive criticism by pointing out the stickiness of less accurate terms and implies a preference for more precise language. [+1]
  5. Principle 6:
    I will use my influence for the betterment of society.
    The statement uses influence to better societal understanding of scientific terms, advocating for clarity. [+1]
  6. Principle 7:
    I will uphold the principles of free speech and use my platform responsibly and with integrity.
    The statement upholds the principles of free speech responsibly, contributing to an informed discussion on an important topic. [+1]