Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently achieved a significant milestone, surpassing a key human ability for the first time. This remarkable advancement raises the question of whether machines will eventually reach or surpass human intelligence.
The human brain possesses a unique capability to learn the meaning of words and apply them to various linguistic concepts. This ability to recognize abstract concepts and identify objects based on their shapes, despite differences in color or material, is a fundamental skill shared universally among humans. Take, for example, our ability to identify specific cloud formations by their shapes alone.
This aspect of human intelligence, known as composite generalization, has intrigued cognitive scientists for years. Jerry Fodor and Zenon Pylyshyn were among the first to suggest that artificial neural networks would eventually achieve such capabilities. However, progress in this field has been relatively stagnant since the mid-1980s.
Nevertheless, researchers from the University of New York and Pompeu Fabra University in Spain have been diligently working in this area for some time now. Their efforts have led to the development of a groundbreaking technique specifically aimed at reproducing composite generalization.
Recently published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, their study unveils a novel approach called “Meta-aprendizado para composicionalidade” (MLC), which enables ChatGPT-like tools to master compositional generalizations.
Field tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of this new technique. The results showcased that artificial intelligence not only has the potential to match human intelligence but can actually surpass it.
Interestingly, this achievement was reached through a combination of doing and learning. The system was fed with a word and then prompted to apply it in a different context. To illustrate this, let’s consider the example of the word “falar” (to speak). The AI system was asked to create various contexts, such as “falar muito” (to speak a lot), “falar pouco” (to speak a little), “falar baixo” (to speak softly), and “falar alto” (to speak loudly).
As AI continues to develop, it will gain the ability to comprehend idiomatic expressions like “falar abobrinha” (to talk nonsense) and “falar besteira” (to speak nonsense) in both their literal and figurative senses. This will greatly enhance the language capabilities of AI systems, enabling them to communicate effectively with a broader audience.
These recent breakthroughs hold tremendous promise for the field of programming. With the newfound ability to receive, understand, and act upon more complex commands, computers will become increasingly proficient at executing intricate tasks.
In conclusion, the advancement of AI has led to the replication of a key human ability – composite generalization. With the development of the MLC technique and the demonstrated ability to surpass human intelligence in certain aspects, it is becoming increasingly foreseeable that machines will eventually catch up to and even surpass us in various domains. However, the full extent and implications of this potential future remain to be seen. Nonetheless, these advancements undoubtedly pave the way for exciting technological possibilities and opportunities for mankind.
