No, Toothbrushes Were Not Used in a Massive DDoS Attack

A reflective essay critiques the notion that large language models constitute intelligent, Turing-complete programs, likening neural networks to digital filters and FFT-like transformations rather than general computation. It emphasizes the roles of randomness and layered transformations, argues that LLM capabilities are often overstated, and warns about their use as surveillance tools, framing their impact within broader societal trade-offs between individual rights and social responsibility.