WTF Apple why release this AI white paper?



AI Summary

In a recent talk, the speaker discusses a new Apple white paper on large language models (LLMs) and reasoning. They start with an analogy based on a simple riddle that kindergarten children can solve, emphasizing how both humans and LLMs rely on pattern matching from an early age. The speaker raises three significant claims from the white paper:

  1. Current large reasoning models lack generalizable reasoning.
  2. Benchmarks are poorly indicative of performance.
  3. There are fundamental scaling limitations in current architectures.

They illustrate these points through examples like chess and Starcraft 2, comparing the complexity of reasoning and pattern matching in games versus real-world problem-solving. The main argument revolves around the idea that reasoning involves pattern matching and that high performance in LLMs is not purely about correctness, but rather about context and the ability to leverage patterns effectively. The talk invites reflection on the implications of the paper and the current status of AI development, suggesting that while LLMs are improving, there are still challenges and limitations that need to be considered. Finally, the speaker questions whether the paper signals a need for change or simply highlights existing knowledge about AI limitations.