I owe a nod to my wife for the inspiration for this (short) article, and for her patience as I dove back into "The Walking Dead" (TWD), now grappling with Season 7... yep, it's a tough ride. 🧟
A fresh thought hit me recently, sparked by a back-and-forth with
on the topic of juniors using Large Language Models (LLMs). The concern? It boils down to the need for better guidelines for those new to tech teams.Why not lean into pop culture for insights? Rick Grimes, the heart and soul of AMC's "The Walking Dead."
The Real Walking Dead
In essence, "The Walking Dead" goes beyond the zombie apocalypse; it's a deep dive into the human condition, as people wrestle for survival, question their ethics, and fight for leadership amidst chaos.
This narrative mirrors the ongoing dialogue surrounding technology's evolution somehow, particularly around Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI. Our battle isn't against the tech itself but against the potential erosion of our values, ethical standards, and visions for the future.
LLMs are the virus (in this scenario); however unlike the purely destructive connotation in TWD, LLMs have a dual nature. They can lead to positive outcomes when used responsibly, and help drive innovative thinking by automating mundane tasks and reducing cognitive load for devs.
The key to avoiding the apocalyptic outcome; where “zombie” like behaviours are commonplace in teams, is the thoughtful use of LLMs and AI that can benefit learning and ultimately society.
So lets go back to the original post subtitle. And lean on Rick Grimes to fill in the blanks.
Rick's Three Questions
And what they really mean, for LLMs (and AI) - I’ll mention LLMs only from hereon, you get it.
1. How many walkers have you killed?
What's your track record? Rick is digging to find out about a survivor's resilience and effectiveness.
On the context of LLMs, we must evaluate its effectiveness. Has the model been battle tested, can it handle curveballs of misinformation and bias, is is resilient to being jailbroken?
2. How many people have you killed?
This question is purely about Ethics and Moral compass - Rick is asking, Are you a team player, do you work well with others.
In LLM terms: What's the impact of this model? Where was the information sourced from to train it? Is it possible for this model to go rogue or impact your team in a negative way?
3. Why?
This is the big question, and characters who answer this question correctly usually have a lasting impact on the group.
Again for LLMs, it’s simple really. Ensure that you’re using it for the right reasons, i.e you’re boosting team efficiency (and its measurable), that you’re fostering innovation and not just because everyone else is jumping on the bandwagon.
I’ll leave you with the question, what other parallels can we draw from TWD?
Who are the Saviours in the LLM world?