I usually don’t even understand the lingo they use. “Open-weighted” is the most recent one, then it usually goes down to specific “models” that everybody is supposed to know about.

These are my thoughts (I will stick to the vague “it” for now, but of course therein lies another question: “and how does all this apply to various specialised AIs”):

  • Is it really feasible to run it 100% locally? I know there’s plenty of people with very powerful rigs indeed, but still. Or are 99% of these people really saying “it would, in theory, be possible to run that locally, therefore your concerns are invalid”?
  • If yes to the previous: the software doesn’t come from nowhere and ultimately still relies on gas-turbine-powered datacenters and stolen IP and stolen personal data, no?

If what I wrote above is true, what exactly are people arguing when they say it’s still possible to use LLMs ethically or true to FOSS philosophy, because … ???

edit

Thanks to all who answered.

I guess it’s my fault for asking several questions in one, but this thread has attracted exactly the type of people I’m writing about; several even used the term “open-weighted models” without explaining it.

Asking to get arguments explained, I got more arguments instead.

  • Balinares@pawb.social
    21·
    16 hours ago

    Borderline strawman there but I’ll bite.

    Open weight models trained unethically are unethical. Closed weight models trained unethically and then sold back to you for a profit from gas-powered datacenters funded through Ponzi schemes are substantially more unethical.

    From there it’s a harm reduction calculus. No, those are never pleasant.

    So do you let the closed weight labs conquer the field unopposed just so you can feel better about yourself? That’s a valid stance, FWIW, and it’s also super easy and convenient because you don’t have to do anything. It especially makes sense if you believe it’s still possible that AI will just go away on its own. I don’t, myself, not anymore, so I encourage the use of open weight models, however grudging, so people don’t give money to the closed labs and in the worst case aren’t eventually stuck with the maximally unethical options. And we’ve not even touched on the nightmare labor replacement scenarios that seem every day less unlikely. Am I right? I have no clue. Like you, I’m just trying to make the best choices I can in a world that’s gone to shit. I’d recommend dropping holier-than-thou attitude either way, though, because it doesn’t help our side. Man.