AI & the Nature of Human Intelligence

In the past year, many of us have come to realize the profound impact that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) may have on technology and likely on society as a whole.

Yet, what might still be underappreciated is the significant influence such breakthroughs could have on our comprehension of the fundamental nature of humanity, articulated around three key points:

1. Intelligence: The notion of “human exceptionalism” has been widely accepted, rooted in the belief that our species’ distinct intelligence sets us apart. Despite this, the true nature and mechanics of our intelligence remain elusive—we know the biological components of the brain but are still decoding how it processes memories, thoughts, and logical reasoning. By recreating, and possibly exceeding, human intelligence through synthetic means, neuroscientists may gain invaluable digital models to better understand the human brain, ranging from close approximations to potential full replication.

2. Consciousness: Humanity has celebrated the unique attributes of consciousness and sentience, typically considered exclusive to organic life. However, as a computer scientist myself, I join many colleagues in pondering whether these traits are inherently linked to intelligence. It’s conceivable that within the next decade, our perception of consciousness will shift dramatically and we may realize that it’s much less unique than we’d long conceived.

3. Language: While it’s known that animals communicate in beautifully complex ways, human language’s expressive capabilities have been credited with the evolution of societies, from tribes to nation states to an increasingly more globally-conscious world. Traditionally seen as a tool only for communication, emerging scientific insights—particularly due to the success of large language models—suggest language may be much more than a communication tool; instead, it may be a cornerstone of intelligence. It’s plausible that language and intelligence are fundamentally connected, a hypothesis that may be confirmed in the coming years.

I love that a technical science focused on computation, probabilities, and linguistics may end up being most revelatory study of the nature of humanity, thought, and intelligence.