Founder of Baixing.com: The Notion That Large Language Models Will Devour Everything, I Believe Half of It
Founder of Baixing.com: I Only Half-Believe the Saying “Large Language Models Will Devour Everything”
Author: Wang Jianshuo, Founder of Baixing.com
Many proclaim that large models are everything, but the author is skeptical. He argues that such sweeping claims often stem from a limited understanding of the future. Drawing parallels to past technologies like electricity and the internet—which were predicted to “devour everything” but didn’t—he suggests that large language models (LLMs) are better seen as a foundational base. Like electricity, this base is essential for modern development, but its real value emerges only when applied to specific scenarios through various “machines” or “tools” (e.g., Claude Code for programming, Claude Design for design).
The author acknowledges that LLMs may indeed replace many existing software systems built on rigid rules, workflows, and forms (e.g., CRMs, SaaS tools), as these are precisely what LLMs excel at processing. However, he emphasizes that beyond software, elements like customer data, execution capabilities (e.g., booking a flight), trust, and physical-world interactions will not be “devoured.”
Instead, he foresees that after streamlining existing software, LLMs will open up a larger space for innovative, next-generation applications. These new tools will likely feature fluid interfaces and rely less on fixed rules, unleashing greater creativity. The author cautions against short-sightedness, recalling how in 2004 many believed internet giants like Sina, Sohu, and NetEase would monopolize the market—only to be proven wrong by subsequent disruptions.
In conclusion, while LLMs are a crucial foundation and a current focal point, the true mainstream of this wave lies in the diverse applications built atop them to solve concrete problems. The phrase “devour everything” is imprecise; the real opportunity lies in identifying and leveraging the areas where LLMs do bring transformative change.
marsbit07/07 13:54
