Beyond Artificial Intelligence: How Algorithms Communicate without Understanding

The remarkable performance of recent algorithms grounded in machine learning and Big Data is often portrayed as a milestone in Artificial Intelligence (AI), suggesting a replication of human cognitive processes by machines. This article challenges such interpretations, arguing that systems like ChatGPT excel not by achieving intelligence akin to humans, but by generating outputs that can be used by humans to create their own relevant information. Without understanding content, algorithms have learned to participate in communication. The evolving interaction between humans and such technologies is likely to significantly influence the future of intelligence. However, understanding these effects requires shifting focus away from direct comparisons and competitions between human and machine cognitive abilities, toward exploring their complementary roles in communication.