---
title: "Navigating the AI Wave: Innovations, Hurdles, and Prospects"
description: A primer on generative AI given at Billd AI Week — where large language models came from, where they break, and how to start using them.
publishDate: 2024-08-12
canonical: https://www.mandalivia.com/talks/billd-ai-week/
---

Large language models break from the mental models of software we're used to. For
decades we worked with deterministic programs that explicitly follow directions.
Language models are probabilistic — exciting when you want imaginative creation,
alarming when you need facts.

This presentation traces the origins of large language models, gives practical tips
for using them, and outlines steps for individuals and organizations starting out.