Dr. Adam D. Cobb, an AI expert and Robotics Research Professor at Stanford University, recently made comments about the limits of generative AI and its place in the world of technology. Dr. Cobb believes that generative AI is likely “to be no smarter than a ‘stochastic parrot’ in the near future; a parrot which has merely learned some statistical patterns in a dataset.” He commented that the lack of ‘creativity’ in these AI systems will prevent them from obtaining the high-level intelligence of human beings.
Despite the fact that these AI systems can produce sophisticated products which are indistinguishable from human creations, it does not mean that the AI is similarly intelligent to humans. Dr. Cobb noted that current AI systems do not need much understanding or awareness of the world to function, as they simply can imitate the patterns it has seen from another source.
Though there are some very impressive applications of generative AI in the world of art or literature, Dr. Cobb believes that generative AI will not surpass humans in the near future. He said the only way for the AI technology to reach the same level of creativity as humans, AI technology must draw “upon a much better understanding of the world” and have human-like capabilities of understanding and decision-making.
Overall, the expert believes that generative AI has its limits and is unlikely to surpass humans in the near future. AI technology can create impressive products, though it is unable to match the intelligence of humans.
