tech
December 8, 2025
Is language the same as intelligence? The AI industry desperately needs it to be
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TL;DR
- Leading AI figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman predict the imminent arrival of superintelligence, fueled by large language models (LLMs).
- LLMs are based on processing vast amounts of linguistic data and predicting word sequences, essentially modeling language, not necessarily thought.
- Neuroscience suggests human intelligence is distinct from language; individuals with language impairments can still think and reason.
- Language is primarily a tool for communication, developed to share thoughts efficiently, rather than being the source of thought itself.
- While AI can excel at specific tasks, achieving general intelligence may require understanding beyond linguistic data, such as embodied experience (e.g., riding a bike).
- Some AI researchers, like Yann LeCun, are moving towards 'world models' that incorporate physical understanding and reasoning, acknowledging LLM limitations.
- True scientific and creative leaps, akin to paradigm shifts described by Thomas Kuhn, may be beyond AI's current capabilities, as they stem from dissatisfaction with existing frameworks, something data-driven models may not experience.
- AI may become a sophisticated 'common-sense repository' remixing existing knowledge but might lack the capacity for revolutionary innovation.
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