The remarkable advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology around the world are astonishing people. Chatbots are conversing like humans, creating art like artists, and even offering advice reminiscent of doctors. But have we ever stopped to consider—does the technology behind all of this actually possess intelligence?
Cognitive neuroscientist Guillaume Thierry puts it bluntly: “AI is not intelligent, and we should stop this deception.”
Does AI Understand?
According to Thierry, today’s AI systems are fundamentally statistical machines. They find patterns within vast amounts of data and generate responses based on those patterns. But there is no ‘understanding,’ ‘feeling,’ or ‘intent’ at work. In other words, no matter how human-like AI sounds, it has no idea what it is saying—it’s simply making educated guesses.
So Where’s the Danger?
The riskiest aspect is that these AIs look, sound, and interact so much like humans that people mistakenly assume they are genuinely intelligent. And that’s where the trouble begins.
Thierry argues that the real threat is not AI itself, but rather the intentions and methodology of those who create it. When designers present AI in a human-like manner—with eyes, faces, emotional expressions, and even voices—ordinary users become emotionally attached. They start accepting AI as a friend, colleague, or even as an advisor.
The Source of Human Consciousness
The foundation of human consciousness lies in bodily experience—what we see with our eyes, feel on our skin, our sadness, and our joy. Without these biological experiences, no consciousness can form. But how can software systems, which have no body or feelings, possibly possess consciousness?
What’s the Solution?
The solution Thierry proposes is a cultural shift.
- We must refrain from describing AI in human terms—such as “it thinks” or “it understands.”
- Ways of giving AI applications eyes, faces, or expressions of emotion should be eliminated.
- AI should be used and presented only as a tool.
Conclusion
AI is a powerful technology—no doubt about it. But it is not an intelligent, feeling, or conscious entity. If we start to see it as such, poor decisions, emotional misuse, and abuse of technology will become inevitable.
We have to recognize AI within its actual limitations, not the form in which it is designed to appear. The technology itself is not as dangerous as those who give it a human face.
Source:
https://theconversation.com/we-need-to-stop-pretending-ai-is-intelligent-heres-how-254090
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