How does artificial intelligence think? The big surprise is that it ‘intuits’ | Technology

How does artificial intelligence think? The big surprise is that it ‘intuits’ | Technology

How does artificial intelligence think? The big surprise is that it ‘intuits’ | Technology

https://english.elpais.com/technology/2026-01-31/how-does-artificial-intelligence-think-the-big-surprise-is-that-it-intuits.html

Publish Date: 2026-01-30 23:00:00

Source Domain: english.elpais.com

Here’s a summary of the article in an unordered list:

  • Machines Can Learn: Introduction to the concept of machine learning, highlighting that machines can be trained to learn from examples rather than being manually programmed.

  • AIs Have Emergent Abilities: Discusses how artificial intelligence systems exhibit complex, emergent abilities from simple, scalable processes mimicking human linguistic and cognitive tasks.

  • AI’s Learning Process: The article points out how AI adopts a learning method similar to evolution’s gradual acquisition of traits, where massive data and simple algorithms lead to impressive capabilities.

  • Automated Cognition: Explores the degree to which AI systems can perform cognitive tasks, debating whether it’s purely memorization or something akin to real intelligence.

  • Intuitive Over Rational: Discusses modern AI’s operation more akin to human intuitive thinking rather than rational processing, using patterns and shortcuts like humans.

  • Human Pattern Recognition: Suggests that humans may also operate more on pattern recognition than we realize, blurring lines between human and AI capabilities.

  • AI Cambrian Explosion: Refers to the rapid advancement and novel approaches in AI research akin to the Cambrian explosion, emphasizing that we’re witnessing a significant transformation that might reshape our world.