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0 pointsfc417fc80228d ago0 comments

The distinction you're making reads like substance dualism to me. Are you able to provide a clear and objective metric for assessing "understanding"? If not then you're just handwaving an effectively meaningless semantic distinction.

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qsera28d ago

>objective metric for assessing "understanding"

It should involve consciousness. You would not call an AI reacting to red color as "seeing" red. Same thing.

fc417fc802OP28d ago

And where is this objective metric for consciousness? Last I checked we didn't even have a sensible definition for it.

It seems to me you're just kicking the can.

Setting that issue aside. While I certainly don't believe LLMs to be conscious (an entirely subjective and arbitrary take on my part I admit) I don't see any reason that concepts such as "intelligence" and "understanding" should require it. When considering how we apply those terms to humans it seems to me they are results based and highly contextual (ie largely arbitrary).

qsera28d ago

>humans it seems to me they are results based and highly contextual (ie largely arbitrary).

Is that right? It seems that we generally say that "the computer is programmed to do", instead of "the computer understand" or "the computer knows", even if the programmed computer can produce the same result as a human who does it.

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basch28d ago

If I “convey understanding” I transfer it from one person to another. Consciousness does not transfer with understanding.

Some people argue that consciousness emerges in early childhood. I can get an infant to understand what I am saying even if they aren’t conscious.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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qsera28d ago

>objective metric for assessing "understanding"

It should involve consciousness. You would not call an AI reacting to red color as "seeing" red. Same thing.

fc417fc802OP28d ago

And where is this objective metric for consciousness? Last I checked we didn't even have a sensible definition for it.

It seems to me you're just kicking the can.

qsera28d ago

>humans it seems to me they are results based and highly contextual (ie largely arbitrary).

2 more replies

basch28d ago

If I “convey understanding” I transfer it from one person to another. Consciousness does not transfer with understanding.

Some people argue that consciousness emerges in early childhood. I can get an infant to understand what I am saying even if they aren’t conscious.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse