From Angels to Artificial Agents?
From Angels to Artificial Agents?
AI as a Mirror for Human (Im)perfections
If AI is “intelligent,” what does that mean for us humans and our intelligence? Is there a difference?
Artificial intelligence is advancing and outsmarting human intelligence in many domains, beating human champions in games like chess and Go, and demonstrating superior performance in fields like finance, law, and science. Alpha Go Zero, a self-learning AI system, surpassed its predecessor by improving its skills through playing against itself.
However, AI lacks the capacity to understand its own reasoning, making it also “dumb” in a sense. In his paper, Pim Haselager explores AI’s relationship with religion and how AI is altering our own understanding of ourselves as humans.
One fascinating aspect of AI is its capacity to learn, specifically through deep learning neural networks. These networks analyze large amounts of data to generate responses. Generative AI systems, like GPT-4 and DALL·E 3, are increasingly integrated into human practices. So how will AI learning impact education and religion? We are still figuring that out.
Yet, the distinction between “intelligence” as smartness and “intelligence” as understanding becomes apparent when comparing AI to human cognition. Despite its impressive performance, AI lacks true understanding. Mistakes made by AI reveal its limitations. It operates based on correlations between words, working with “syntax and statistics, and no semantics.”
AI's lack of sentience has significant consequences for how it can be applied. And so, effective human oversight is crucial to ensure responsible and meaningful use of AI.
However, AI also presents an opportunity for humans to reflect on their own intelligence and the importance of dimensions like understanding, empathy, and consciousness. Comparisons between AI, animals, angels, and humans can deepen our appreciation for the unique qualities of human beings.
In conclusion, AI's progress raises questions about human self-understanding and the values we prioritize. The presence of “intelligence” without understanding in AI serves as a reminder of the importance of empathy, wisdom, and care in human interactions, and the need for a more comprehensive understanding of ourselves.