←back to thread

YC is wrong about LLMs for chip design

(www.zach.be)
317 points laserduck | 1 comments | 16 Nov 24 14:07 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
EgoIncarnate ◴[16 Nov 24 16:57 UTC] No.42157406[source]▶
The article seems to be be based on the current limitations of LLMs. I don't think YC and other VCs are betting on what LLMs can do today, I think they are betting on what they might be able to do in the future.

As we've seen in the recent past, it's difficult to predict what the possibilities are for LLMS and what limitations will hold. Currently it seems pure scaling won't be enough, but I don't think we've reached the limits with synthetic data and reasoning.

replies(4): >>42157469 #>>42157563 #>>42157650 #>>42157754 #
DeathArrow ◴[16 Nov 24 17:08 UTC] No.42157469[source]▶
>The article seems to be be based on the current limitations of LLMs. I don't think YC and other VCs are betting on what LLMs can do today, I think they are betting on what they might be able to do in the future.

Do we know what LLMs will be able to do in the future? And even if we know, the startups have to work with what they have now, until that future comes. The article states that there's not much to work with.

replies(1): >>42157664 #
brookst ◴[16 Nov 24 17:39 UTC] No.42157664[source]▶
Show me a successful startup that was predicated on the tech they’re working with not advancing?
replies(4): >>42157914 #>>42158080 #>>42158193 #>>42159132 #
jeltz ◴[16 Nov 24 18:11 UTC] No.42157914[source]▶
Most? I can list tens of them easily. For example what advancements were required for Slack to be successful? Or Spotify (they got more successful due to smartphones and cheaper bandwidth but the business was solid before that)? Or Shopify?
replies(1): >>42158202 #
1. brookst ◴[16 Nov 24 18:40 UTC] No.42158202[source]▶
Slack bet on ubiquitous, continuous internet access. Spotify bet on bandwidth costs falling to effectively zero. Shopify bet on D2C rising because improved search engines, increased internet shopping (itself a result of several tech trends plus demographic changes).

For a counterexample I think I’d look to non-tech companies. OrangeTheory maybe?