AI and ego

The way LLMs constantly reinforce your ego is toxic. I can't name a single personal breakthrough where someone, a teacher, friend, therapist, parent, etc. wasn't telling me a hard truth I really didn't want to hear. Not one.

After falling for it more than a few times, I realize that our algorithms are optimized in the exact opposite direction of humility. When they tell you that your question is brilliant, or that your idea is an epiphany, or your next step is the right direction, give'em the old skeptical side-eye...

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Same for the constant follow-ups. The LLMs always try to ask one more thing, angling to keep me in the conversation. Yet some of the best meditation teachers and therapists I've worked with do the opposite. They land some insights for me to sit with, and then they send me away to do the work.

For any conversation that *matters*, go find the person in your life who is not afraid to tell you the truth you don't want to hear.