LLMs as Index Funds
1. Start with a Structural Analogy
Identify a complex system in one domain (LLMs in language) and map it to a well-understood system in another (index funds in finance). Ensure the analogy is not superficial—seek systemic parallels in behavior, incentives, and emergent dynamics.
2. Establish Historical Precedent
Introduce a real-world, data-backed p... See more
Identify a complex system in one domain (LLMs in language) and map it to a well-understood system in another (index funds in finance). Ensure the analogy is not superficial—seek systemic parallels in behavior, incentives, and emergent dynamics.
2. Establish Historical Precedent
Introduce a real-world, data-backed p... See more
Venkatesh Rao • LLMs as Index Funds
prompting idea from venkatesh rao
Foundation models like GPT and Claude now serve as the index funds of language. Trained on enormous corpora of human text, they do not try to innovate. Instead, they track the center of linguistic gravity: fluent, plausible, average-case language. They provide efficient, scalable access to verbal coherence, just as index funds offer broad exposure ... See more