# Still "Talking About Large Language Models": Some Clarifications

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.10291 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.10291/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 1 of its 8 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 13 Dec 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [LLMs are Not Just Next Token Predictors](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.04666/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Mechanistic Indicators of Understanding in Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.08017/) (2025)
- [On the Creativity of AI Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.13242/) (2026)
- [Explainability Through Systematicity: The Hard Systematicity Challenge for Artificial Intelligence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.22197/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

My paper "Talking About Large Language Models" has more than once been interpreted as advocating a reductionist stance towards large language models. But the paper was not intended that way, and I do not endorse such positions. This short note situates the paper in the context of a larger philosophical project that is concerned with the (mis)use of words rather than metaphysics, in the spirit of Wittgenstein's later writing.