I'm a Data Scientist currently consulting for a project in the Real Estate space (utilizing LLMs).
I understand the article is hyperbole for perhaps comedic purposes, and actually do perhaps 80% align with a lot of the authors views, but it's a bit much.
There is industry-changing tech which has become available, and many orgs are starting to grasp it. I won't deny that there's probably a large percentage of projects which fall under what the author describes, but these claims are doing a bit of a disservice to the legitimately amazing projects being worked on (and the competent people performing that work).
> I'm a Data Scientist currently consulting for a project in the Real Estate space (utilizing LLMs).
Consultants are obviously making huge amounts of money implementing LLMs for companies. The question is whether the company profits from it afterwards.
Time will tell, but I would cautiously say say yes.
Note that I don't usually work in that particular space (I prefer simple solutions and don't follow the hype), didn't sell myself using 'AI' (I was referred), and also would always tell a client if I believe there isn't much sense in a particular ask.
This particular project really uniquely benefits from this technology and would be much harder, if possible at all, otherwise.
Would you recommend to still get into freelance consulting (with a ML background) at this point in time? Or will the very technology you're consulting about, replace you very soon? AutoML, LLMs etc..
I'd say it depends on what your other options are. I don't think the technology will replace me soon, even at the rate I see it improving. At this point it's still a tool we can use to deliver faster, if we use it wisely.
Especially about ChatGPT et al. - I use it daily, but having the proper foundation to discern and verify its output shows me that it's still very far from being a competent programmer for any but the 'easy' tasks which have been solved hundreds of times over.
Like I hinted, I also view all of this hype sceptically. I dislike the 'we need AI in our org now!' types and am not planning on taking on projects if I don't see their viability. But there's obviously still a lot of demand and people offering services like those in TFA who're just looking to cash in, and that seems to work.
If you can find projects you believe you can make a difference in with your background, why not give it a shot?
There is industry-changing tech which has become available, and many orgs are starting to grasp it. I won't deny that there's probably a large percentage of projects which fall under what the author describes, but these claims are doing a bit of a disservice to the legitimately amazing projects being worked on (and the competent people performing that work).