The Multi-Model Future: Re-evaluating the Bitter Lesson in AI
philipkiely · x · 2026-07-30
Max Rumpf argues that the industry is moving towards a multi-model future. The post offers a nuanced reinterpretation of Sutton's "Bitter Lesson," clarifying that the lesson advocates for general methods, not necessarily general models.
Using AlphaGo as an example, the author points out that it was trained using general methods but remains highly specialized. The apparent generality of current LLMs is largely a byproduct of their training data (the internet) rather than a law of nature. Consequently, orchestrating multiple specialized models will be key for tackling diverse tasks effectively.
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