Is Artificial Intelligence Intelligent if It Just Follows Instructions?
The headline triggered you, right? At least it did me. I’ve often had this question on my mind. Why does everyone talk about “intelligence” when the AI actually only does what humans have specified?
In this short and snappy article, I will address this question and hope to be able to answer it halfway by the end.
When we hear “artificial intelligence,” it might sound like machines are getting as smart as humans. The Chinese Room idea for instance says that even if a computer can act really smart or human-like by following a program, it still can’t have a “mind,” “understanding,” or “consciousness.” This argument was explained by philosopher John Searle in a paper in 1980. He used a special example called the Chinese room to show his point.
But let’s take a closer look. Are these AI systems truly intelligent, or are they just really good at following instructions?
Exploring the Misconception: Imagine you have a robot helper at home. It can vacuum, clean dishes, and even order groceries. Sounds super smart, right? Well, not exactly. The term “artificial intelligence” can be a bit tricky. Unlike us humans, these AI systems don’t have real intelligence. They lack things like consciousness, self-awareness, and a deep understanding of what they’re doing.
The Instruction-Following Machines: So, how do these AI machines work? Think of them as super-smart assistants. They’re designed by humans to do specific jobs, like recognizing pictures or predicting what you might want to watch next on TV. But here’s the catch — they don’t understand these tasks like we do. They follow rules and patterns, almost like a recipe in a cookbook.
In the context of following instructions, AI systems operate based on algorithms and rules provided by human developers. They excel at pattern recognition and can make predictions or decisions based on the data they were trained on.
Example: Picture Recognition: Consider your phone’s ability to recognize faces in photos. It seems like magic, right? Well, your phone isn’t actually saying, “Hey, that’s Aunt Mary!” Instead, it follows a set of instructions given by humans. It’s excellent at spotting patterns in pictures, but it doesn’t know who Aunt Mary is.
No Consciousness or Creativity: Unlike humans, AI lacks consciousness. It doesn’t “know” it’s recognizing faces or predicting your favorite song. It’s missing that lightbulb moment when you suddenly get a great idea. And don’t even talk about creativity — AI can’t paint a masterpiece or write a song from the heart (but from instructions).
AI: A Super-Powerful Tool: In reality, AI is more like a super-powered tool. It’s amazing at crunching numbers, analyzing data, and doing repetitive tasks faster than we can. But here’s the key — it’s doing all this based on instructions given to it. It doesn’t have its own thoughts or feelings; it’s just really good at what it’s been told to do.
Analogy: AI as a Recipe-Follower: Think of AI as a fantastic chef in a kitchen. It can follow a recipe flawlessly, making the most delicious dishes. But it doesn’t truly understand the taste or have a passion for cooking. It executes a set of instructions exceptionally well.
My personal answer to the question:
So, is artificial intelligence intelligent? Well, it depends on what we mean by “intelligent.” While AI is fantastic at certain tasks, it’s not thinking, feeling, or creating in the way humans do. It’s an extraordinary tool designed by us to make our lives easier, but it’s not about joining us for a deep philosophical chat anytime soon (Unless you are already satisfied with the conversations on ChatGPT).
The intelligence attributed to AI is more about its ability to perform complex tasks efficiently and accurately rather than displaying true understanding or consciousness.
AI systems are designed to perform specific tasks based on patterns and instructions they’ve learned from data. These systems don’t have consciousness, self-awareness, or an understanding of their tasks in the way humans do.
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Best regards,
Alexander Stahl
