Comment by npteljes

I have trouble with the notion "understanding". I get the usefulness of the word, but I don't think that we are capable to actually understand. I also think that we are not even able to test for understanding - a good imitation is as good as understanding. Also, understanding has limits. In school, they often say on class that you should forget whatever you have been taught so far, because this new layer of knowledge that they are about to teach you. Was the previous knowledge not "understanding" then? Is the new one "understanding"?

If we define "understanding" like "useful", as in, not an innate attribute, but something in relation to a goal, then again, a good imitation, or a rudimentary model can get very far. ChatGPT "understood" a lot of things I have thrown at it, be that algorithms, nutrition, basic calculations, transformation between text formats, where I'm stuck in my personal development journey, or how to politely address people in the email I'm about to write.

>What if our „understanding“ is just unlocking another level in a model?

I believe that it is - that understanding is basically an illusion. Impressions are made up from perceptions and thinking, and extrapolated over the unknown. And just look how far that got us!