AI's Superpower: Patience, Not Intelligence

2025-05-20

Sam Altman envisioned intelligence becoming 'too cheap to meter,' and with venture capital fueling the AI boom, we're living in that world. However, user demand for significantly smarter models isn't exploding. This article argues that the most transformative aspect of LLMs isn't their intelligence, but their superhuman patience: always available, non-judgmental, and infinitely willing to listen. While this patience can amplify existing LLM flaws (like sycophancy) and LLMs shouldn't replace therapists, this capability has profoundly impacted how people seek emotional support and advice.