> This is how I make sense of AI reasoning. LRMs, chains of thought, thinking tokens: It’s wishful mnemonics all the way down — a heady mix of shorthand and suspended disbelief, like Oprah-style “manifesting” (opens a new tab) with a computer science spin. This isn’t necessarily a dig; all novel research likely requires some version of this mindset just to get off the ground. It certainly doesn’t mean AI reasoning can’t or doesn’t work. But the “wishful” part seems to be as powerful as ever.

“We react to language in a way that is very anthropomorphizing. That’s just the way that we humans work,” Mitchell told me.

I can definitely confirm the last part. Every time I read the output of an LLM, I picture a person talking to me.

I agree that these concepts seem a little vague and hand-wavy, but this is a) no substitute and b) far vaguer and unsubstantiated.

I think sensible legislation might require that commercial AI providers discourage anthropomorphisation by avoiding personal pronouns from chatbot interfaces.

"Hey, customer service chatbot, can you help me get a refund for my order?"

BAD: "Sure thing, I'll be happy to help you with that, I just need your order details..."

GOOD: "Yes, this computer system can start the refund process. Please enter your order number."