---
format: "aidr-story-markdown/v1"
id: "85d2d8791a79d99be52c1c4c9a21d29ee95b6796b6e04ecb41ffbe4d78c12a48"
canonical_url: "https://aidr.today/85d2d879?lang=en"
title: "Pragmatic Anthropomorphism, or: How to Talk to an Autocompleting Cricket"
lang: "en"
requested_lang: "en"
available_langs: ["en","vi"]
translation_fallback: null
fallback_fields: []
published_at: "2026-09-28T05:48:54.000Z"
category: "Models"
topics: ["llm"]
source_urls: ["https://blog.lmorchard.com/2026/09/27/pragmatic-anthropomorphism/","https://lobste.rs/s/yidvju/pragmatic_anthropomorphism_how_talk"]
summary: "TL;DR: Arguing over whether LLMs \"truly understand\" or have an inner spark misses what's actually useful when sitting in front of one. Treating an AI as a competent collaborator isn't magical thinking or naive anthropomorphism—it's pragmatic navigation of a vast latent space. Sometimes you have to suspend disbelief, show some objective respect, and let the alien eat its own spilled guts in peace."
---

# Pragmatic Anthropomorphism, or: How to Talk to an Autocompleting Cricket

> [Open the canonical story](<https://aidr.today/85d2d879?lang=en>)

**Published:** 2026-09-28T05:48:54.000Z
**Category:** Models
**Topics:** llm

## Summary

TL;DR: Arguing over whether LLMs "truly understand" or have an inner spark misses what's actually useful when sitting in front of one\. Treating an AI as a competent collaborator isn't magical thinking or naive anthropomorphism—it's pragmatic navigation of a vast latent space\. Sometimes you have to suspend disbelief, show some objective respect, and let the alien eat its own spilled guts in peace\.

## Sources

- [Story source](<https://blog.lmorchard.com/2026/09/27/pragmatic-anthropomorphism/>)
- [Discussion](<https://lobste.rs/s/yidvju/pragmatic_anthropomorphism_how_talk>)