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karmakurtisaanitoday at 3:39 PM8 repliesview on HN

I find it really annoying that the first line of the AI response is always something like "Great question!", "That's a great insight!" or the like.

I don't need the patronizing, just give me the damn answer..


Replies

dividefueltoday at 6:42 PM

This drives me nuts. "What a clever question to ask! You must be one of the brightest minds of your generation. Nothing slips by you. Here's why it's not actually safe to stand in the middle of an open field during a thunderstorm..."

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SubiculumCodetoday at 5:10 PM

When I talk to peers and they respond in that way, it is definitely a signal. If I do ask an insightful question, acknowledgment of it can be useful. The problem with LLMs is that they always say it. They don't choose when it IS really appropriate, they just do it over and over, like your biggest fan would. Syncophacy is the worst.

magneticnorthtoday at 3:58 PM

Yes, it feels transparently manipulative to me. Like talking to a not-very-good con artist.

bombcartoday at 3:49 PM

Great point! ;)

Realizing that the people they’re targeting DO need that is kind of frightening.

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airstriketoday at 4:25 PM

That's the part most people miss—and here's why it actually matters.

That signal is real, and it’s hard to ignore.

belindertoday at 3:49 PM

You're absolutely right

camillomillertoday at 4:39 PM

What I hate even more is when you ask something problematic about another system and they immediately start by reassuring your problem is common and you’re not bad for having the issue. I just need a solution to a normal knowledge issue, why does it always have to assume I’m frustrated already and in need of reassurance?

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casey2today at 5:30 PM

It's there to poison the context, making your further token spend worthless. Internally they don't have that.