Calculator for language, is a nice insight. I visualize generally as LLM's as big mathematical expression that produce next word.

But then , one difference I found on LLM's is on scaling laws, where at some point, it have interesting emerging properties, that nobody thought would be possible now being possible.

Tools: Though It is a tool, but powerfull tool that is automating existing manually done jobs, large scale. Adapting to new roles where we definite goals, needs and motives judging of AI output, at large level is an issue. And humans are used to day to day repeating job, doing same thing repeatedly. Now the AI is taking over that. I see that is a challenge.

Also I see we are moving to creative world, where we will spend more time on creating something really new, leaving mechanized parts to AI.