AI Intelligence Debate

The cluster centers on debates about the definition of intelligence, questioning whether it requires sentience, human-like qualities, or can emerge in AI systems like LLMs without consciousness.

➡️ Stable 0.5x AI & Machine Learning
3,667
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#7616
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Keywords

AI AGI BTW youtube.com wikipedia.org intelligence intelligent humans animals human swarm emergent brain human brain animal

Sample Comments

firtoz Jul 6, 2024 View on HN

Is "looks a bit like a human from this angle" what we classify as "having intelligence"?

leni536 Feb 15, 2023 View on HN

It doesn't have to be human to be intelligent.

engintl Nov 4, 2025 View on HN

by your logic we can't say that we as humans are "thinking" either or that we are "intelligent".

realitycheckxxx May 19, 2016 View on HN

Bravo. You can understand that only if you offer an abstract definition of terms like 'computer', 'computation', 'calculation' etc. If you define 'computing' as something these clusters of regular matter we call 'computers' do, then if would exclude animals and other things. But, when you're thinking in abstract terms, then you come to the conclusion that a lot of things in nature are 'computing'.The same thing could be said abo

pixl97 Oct 13, 2025 View on HN

While the majority of people invoking the idea of a machine god are being irrational the idea in itself has at least some merit. Some animals are more intelligent than others. Humans far more intelligent than the vast majority of animals, and with tools and cooperation in large societies we live in an existence they are not equipped to comprehend. This invites the question of what are the limits of intelligence. Is it far beyond our capabilities? If so, what does that look like to us.

brendyn Jan 18, 2026 View on HN

If LLMs weren't created by us but where something discovered in another species' behaviour it would be 100% labelled intelligence

leptoniscool Sep 3, 2021 View on HN

Intelligence is an emergent property. And neurons or mushrooms can support it.

stefantalpalaru Jan 17, 2015 View on HN

Can something that's not self-aware - and most likely not even aware at all - be highly intelligent?

mdp2021 Jun 13, 2022 View on HN

"Intelligence" and "sentience" are different things.

doug713705 Jan 24, 2026 View on HN

Is there intelligence without sentience ?