Comment by randomgermanguy
2 days ago
Very strange article.
I have indeed forgotten how to do long-division, or how to multiply 3-digits numbers in my head. I also forget things without writing them down in a calendar.
How are these bad things ? We have tools for a reason
The context of Jensen Huang's comments and Tante's commentary is in teaching children the multiplication table, long division, and square roots. As adults we might use a calculator to multiply or divide large numbers to high precision but we understand what we're doing because of practicing easier arithmetic by hand.
> How are these bad things ? We have tools for a reason
The bad thing is not bothering to learn basic arithmetic. If kids don't learn that they won't understand what the tools are doing.
I guess you'll be avoiding any thoughts that require you to do basic mental arithmetic from here on out. It actually won't be as blissful as you think. Trust me, no one envies your inner world.
I’m kind of sad I can’t do that sort of multiplication in my head anymore. But I think you are missing the point of the article. It’s not that it’s bad people can’t do mental math, it’s about why it is that all these supposed geniuses and titans of industry keep publicly admitting (bragging?) that they lack basic skills, such as knowing their own zip code.
> that they lack basic skills, such as knowing their own zip code
Knowing your zip code isn't a skill though.
I don't know my ATM pin. Does that make me an idiot? Turns out I just don't need to know it.
Sure, remembering basic facts about your life isn't a "skill", per se. But it's pretty crazy to think that Jensen literally doesn't know his own address.
But again, I think you're missing the point of the article. The point of him bragging that he can't remember basic stuff about his own life is both in-group signaling and a test to the interviewer. If the interviewer pushes back and asks "You really don't know your zip code? Are you insane?", the interviewer is never going to get any more time with any of these rich and powerful people. It's an easy way to filter out any critical coverage and a way for the media to show fealty.
The title of the podcast episode is "Jensen Huang vs the AI Doomers", not "Shovel seller is so rich he cannot conceive of what it's like to be a normal person".
You are not a child whose basic brain biology is being formed and improved by learning how to do these. Neuroplasticity is gone for you and it's all downhill from there. Children _need_ to learn because it builds the basis of every single thing they're going to improve on later. They're already being given a world in a catastrophic state, if the only answer they have to things is "i input it in the funny chatgpt box", you might as well condemn them to die.
Jensen saying huehuehue i don't know how to do math in my head in indicative that 1/ He never has normal, day to day interactions where simple calculation needs to be made on the spot 2/ He also doesn't give a shit about making the world worse.
> Neuroplasticity is gone for you and it's all downhill from there.
The field of neuroscience would object to this, I think.
No, neuroscience agrees that there is a slowdown, as well as specific points at which different parts of the brain stop improving at the rate it used to. 35+ years old is widely agreed upon to be a point at which it is extremely difficult to form new neural connections at the rate it used to when you were 16.
No, you are not on track to become a vegetable the day you turn 25. Yes, it requires more and more investment, and literally noone in neuroscience disagrees with that.