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Tim Bray

What Tim Bray thinks about LLMs

@tim-bray · 18 positions · On ppll ↗

Canadian software developer and writer, co-editor of the XML and Atom specifications and formerly of Sun Microsystems, Google and AWS. Has written the blog ongoing since 2003.

Tim Bray did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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Only Tim Bray on LLMs. See everyone on LLMs

5 dated positions, 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what Tim Bray has said — not written or endorsed by them.

  1. Our readingIn the AI era code is cheap, but time is still expensive.

    Their wordsCode, in the LLM-pre-bubble-pop era, is cheap. Time is still expensive.

    ↗That AI Temptationtbray.org 3rd of 4 in this piece

  3. Our readingSpending on LLM tokens routes money to bad people with bad goals.

    Their wordsBut I bet that it’d burn a whole lot of tokens, which means routing money to bad people with bad goals. So once again, I’m not going to do it with LLMs.

    ↗That AI Temptationtbray.org 4th of 4 in this piece

  4. 4 weeks earlier

  5. Our readingRegulating and standardizing LLMs is a waste of effort at this point in history.

    Their wordsI’m a leftist (but not that weird) and I think regulation and standardization of LLM-land are a waste of effort at this point in history. Because money.

    ↗Regulate and Standardize AI? Nope.tbray.org 1st of 6 in this piece

  7. Our readingLLM technology is too immature and fast-moving for anyone to standardize it.

    Their wordsPlease, please, don’t make anyone sit on a committee trying to specify anything about technology that’s so obviously immature.

    ↗Regulate and Standardize AI? Nope.tbray.org 4th of 6 in this piece

  9. Our readingExisting law is enough to hold the makers of harmful AI agents to account; you can sue them.

    AI agents

    Their wordsBut I think current law remains a useful tool as-is. If you launch an LLM-backed agent and it causes me serious business or personal damage, I think I can hire a lawyer and sue your ass.

    ↗Regulate and Standardize AI? Nope.tbray.org 5th of 6 in this piece