AI School › What AI is · Lesson 5 of 130

🦜 Does AI really understand?

AI computes which word is most likely: it seems to understand, yet it is different.

When an AI answers you with perfect sentences, it is natural to think it understands like a person. It actually does something different: it computes, word by word, which one is most likely to come next. It is extremely good at this, so good it looks like magic.

Think of an extraordinary parrot that has listened to every conversation in the world: it could reply sensibly almost every time, yet with zero emotions, personal memories or knowledge of what is true. AI is similar: super capable with words, while emotions, experience and responsibility remain human things. Remembering this helps you use it the right way.

🎒 Try it in class (or at home)

Discussion: ask an AI "what does lemon ice cream taste like?" and read the answer. Well written? Sure. Has the AI ever tasted ice cream? What is the difference between describing and experiencing?

← Lesson 4: What data is · Lesson 6: A short history of AI →

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