Richard Stallman on ChatGPT

Free‑software firebrand Richard Stallman lobbed a grenade at ChatGPT, calling it a “bullshit generator” that “doesn’t know or understand anything,” and warning that server‑locked, closed systems trash users’ computing freedom. That’s the spark; the blaze is the comments. Some rushed to defend the tool, arguing it’s useful even if flawed. One pragmatist quipped that “GNU grep also generates output ‘with indifference to the truth’,” implying Stallman’s standard would doom half the toolbox. Another rolled eyes with “submarines can’t swim,” suggesting the argument hinges on picky definitions instead of real‑world utility.

But the anti‑hype crew arrived with receipts: “It’s not intelligence, it’s a simulacrum,” said one, warning people not to trust word‑shuffling machines with facts or freedom. Meme lords had a field day—“Old man yells at cloud” became the thread’s unofficial caption—while cynics shrugged: “All a large language model does is hallucinate; some hallucinations are useful.” The split is sharp: freedom-first purists cheering Stallman’s warning about closed servers, and get‑stuff‑done pragmatists who just want their robot helper, warts and all. Verdict from the crowd? ChatGPT is handy, but trust is on trial—and Stallman’s still the loudest lawyer in the courtroom. And yes, the drama is half the fun for everyone online.