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X-WR-CALNAME:AI is a Gungfly: Why We Need New Mental Models for LLMs
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UID:alt-britchi-strange-relations-with-ai-ai-is-a-gungfly-why-we-need-new-m
 ental-models@britchi.uk
DTSTAMP:20261014T154232Z
DTSTART:20261102T120000Z
DTEND:20261102T121000Z
SUMMARY:AI is a Gungfly: Why We Need New Mental Models for LLMs
DESCRIPTION:BritCHI 2026 · alt.britchi: Strange Relations with AI\nHunt\, 
 Nemeth\, Holmquist\nLarge Language Models (LLMs) are now used for a large 
 area of applications. However\, everyday users need better mental models t
 o understand and navigate these Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. In H
 CI\, mental models are historically shaped by deterministic computer syste
 ms delivering consistent outputs. LLMs overturn this principle\, deliverin
 g what are essentially probabilistic outputs. This can be a strength\, but
  the variability of outputs and notably the untruths can cause misalignmen
 t between deterministic user expectations and probabilistic system functio
 nality. Because the inner workings of AI systems are hard to determine\, w
 e used synthetic ethnography to observe user inputs and system outputs. Us
 ing a synthetic probe\, we observed variable iterative outputs from a simp
 le calendar-based question. Based upon this\, we suggest users accept the 
 data landscape of LLMs is not reliable terra firma\, but more like a gungf
 ly – a Swedish term for a place where the ground is unstable and changea
 ble.
LOCATION:Brunel University London\, Kingston Lane\, Uxbridge UB8 3PH
URL:https://www.britchi.uk/programme/schedule/alt-britchi-strange-relations
 -with-ai/
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