I have to admit, PDF parsing being such a hot and profitable topic in computer science was really something I never saw coming.

PDFs? The things you can select text from? And when not, there's decent OCR? And when not, you just ask the person to send you an email or a word doc?

It sounds like LLMs are looking for a new unpolluted source of historical data that they can learn from, and this source exists in the form of old scanned-in paper documents. That's the only reason I can fathom as to why this is such a big thing now.

Like opening source code in Word.

Ah yes, the famed document <-> JSON converter.

This is that special blend of Tablet Kid "I don't need to know things I can google them" and Rich Kid "I don't need to do things I can crowdsource them" that makes for that Distinctively VP "I don't know what I'm doing and nobody can tell 👈😎👉"

Technically OCR is an application of machine learning.

Not an LLM, though.

The secret to success in software engineering:

1. Lie and say that there is
2. Write or use a conversion algorithm
3. Boss won't know the difference
4. Collect bonus at performance evaluation
5. Put "AI engineer" on resume

No need, there's an unmaintained javascript library for that (written by a 12-yr old)

Initially, I didn't think these kids were fall guys.

Now I think they're fall guys.

Yes it’s an LLM called pandoc, you can run it locally

Imagine getting a job like this and now half the nation knows your name...thats terrifying. being an intern may mean you have no idea of the true scope of what they are asking you to do.

yes me send me what you want me to parse and i will get back to you in 3-4 business days

Oh yeah the hosted DeepSeek has that

Is this fake?

For context, this is the guy who figured out how to see what's written on some ancient Greek Scrolls without destroying them. It seems slightly far-fetched that he wouldn't know better.

Actually this is what they do.

Just use Deepseek for US government data .... what could go wrong?