More convinced of writing but still not on board with ubiquity of essay/paper writing. Very asymmetric communication and easily biased/masked by language. And I don't want to outsource the decision-finding on whom to employ to the applicant.
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The form should follow the type of communication needed. I hear LLMs are not very good at mimicking mathematics notation because predicting the next mark requires logic that is either correct or incorrect, not 'probably correct because that's what's in the training data'.
jun 22, 2025, 11:13 am • 2 0 • view
Writing prose is also like that, but it has a larger range of choices of the next word. By outsourcing it to probabilistic automation, there is regression to the mean bulit into the writing process, ie, the writing is inherently average.
jun 22, 2025, 11:19 am • 2 0 • view
That might do the job, but it won't be good - one might convey one's thoughts more frugally or with more colour, helping the reader. And one won't have had the process of self-criticism that happens through considering options for the operative words, and choosing one.
jun 22, 2025, 11:22 am • 2 0 • view
Ah interesting points, wasn‘t aware about the bit with math formulas. As a probably below average writer l’m okay with average writing. It‘s also worthwhile to read up on the connection between essays and class/socioeconomic background and consider implications for inclusivity.
jun 22, 2025, 11:30 am • 1 0 • view
Yes absolutely. Literacy isn't everything, and it's more important in some fields/jobs than others, but it's a core skill that almost all occupations need, especially in an advanced economy. So is numeracy, and it's a big failure of the British education system that you can stop at 16
jun 22, 2025, 11:35 am • 3 0 • view