dsubburam

> But do I “understand” the proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem, given that earlier this year I gave 22 hours worth of lectures on the topic?

Even if no one human can understand the entirety of a complex proof, surely we can piece together multiple experts' separate understandings, so the community as a whole 'understands' the proof?

Is there value in us 'understanding' a proof? Even if no single human can understand a complex proof soup-to-nuts, and we have to piece together several experts' understandings?

If the answer is Not really, then the value of a proof is its utility, its utility in making new products/services, and its utility in making new proofs. If in the case of abstract math, all the utility is of the latter kind (making new proofs), then we have a pyramid scheme here.

Interesting. I think this also explains in part why I prefer CDs to a streaming service for listening to music.

Article looks substantially AI written, and I find it difficult to get past that, especially on a topic like ethics[1]. We already have the following guideline for comments:

"Don't post generated text or AI-edited text. HN is for conversation between humans."

I for one will value a similar guideline for submissions. Maybe we can have a poll. @dang.

[1]maybe an AI written article is fine if it is e.g. documentation for some new gadget.

How about speed and speedometers in cars? For some reason I prefer digital readouts of speed while I prefer analog faces for watches/clocks.

> They are not vocal because any political activism is not encouraged in China . Check jack ma story .

This is an under-rated comment. "Nice" seeming places in Asia might be so because the governments tightly control the narrative and brook no dissent. Citizens end up minding their own business and become apolitical. Society looks neat and organized; but if you don't conform, you get hammered down.

I do not know what fraction of LLM-processed messages are due to posters not being confident in their written English. To the extent that it is meaningful, we can

a) be welcoming and indicate that we're OK with broken English (content and intent typically do get through), and/or

b) allow posting in languages other than English (does this even work right now?).

Above probably ahead of its time, but thought I'd just make the suggestion.