Consciousness, creativity, and understanding are not obstacles to machine intelligence

Abstract

Can large language models be considered intelligent? Arguments against this proposition often assume that genuine intelligence cannot exist without consciousness, understanding, or creative thinking. We discuss each of these roadblocks to machine intelligence and conclude that none of them rule out the possibility of viewing current AI systems based on large language models as intelligent. We argue that consciousness is not relevant for intelligence, while creativity and understanding should be considered functional traits that, in principle, can be implemented in a machine. Many arguments concluding that current AI systems necessarily lack these traits either rely on human exceptionalism or flawed understanding of human intelligence. Arguments that highlight alleged shortcomings in current systems—such as a lack of reliability, agency, or understanding—often obscure the many qualitative similarities between human cognition and current AI models. We further suggest that a critical examination of high-performance AI systems can serve as a mirror through which we can reflect on our own intelligence. Many arguments against the prospects of AI may be based on naively optimistic assessments of capacities of the human mind.