Comment by MetaWhirledPeas
2 months ago
From the wikipedia article:
> applying syntactic rules without any real understanding or thinking
It makes one wonder what comprises 'real understanding'. My own position is that we, too, are applying syntactic rules, but with an incomprehensibly vast set of inputs. While the AI takes in text, video, and sound, we take in inputs all the way down to the cellular level or beyond.
I don't think you're on the right track.
When someone says to me "Can you pass me my tea?", my mind instantly builds a simulated model of the past, present, and future which takes a massive amount of information, going far beyond merely understanding the syntax and intent of the request:
>I am aware of the steaming mug on the table
>I instantly calculate that yes, in fact, I am capable of passing it
>I understand that it is an implied request
>I run a threat assessment
>I am running simulated fluid mechanics to predict the correct speed and momentum to use to avoid harm, visualising several failure conditions I want to avoid (if I'm focused and present)
>I am aware of the consequences of boiling water on skin (I am particularly averse to this because of an early childhood experience, an advantage in my career as a line cook)
>my hands are shaky so I decide to stabilise with my other hand, but I'll have to use the leathery tips of my guitar-playing left hand only, and not for too long, otherwise I'll be scalded
>(enumerable other simulated, predictive processes running in parallel, in the blink of an eye)
"Of course, my pleasure. Would you like milk?"