Steven Pinker: Human Cognition vs. AI

This episode explores the computational theory of mind and the analogies and differences between the human brain and artificial intelligence with guest Steven Pinker. Pinker explains the computational theory of mind as intelligence derived from information processing, contrasting it with theories involving immaterial substances or special chemicals. Against the backdrop of AI advancements, particularly in large language models, the discussion pivots to the similarities and differences between artificial neural networks and the human brain, highlighting the human brain's efficiency and use of symbols versus AI's reliance on vast datasets and statistical patterns. More significantly, Pinker addresses AI safety concerns, arguing against the notion of AI as an existential threat, emphasizing the importance of designing AI systems with multiple goals and built-in safeguards. As the discussion progresses, the conversation shifts to the impact of technology on cognitive abilities, the nature of violence, and the importance of rationality in assessing risk, concluding with Pinker's views on intellectual diversity in universities and the role of hypocrisy and common knowledge in human interaction.