Beware of the Deceptive Intelligence of ChatGPT: Little Can Be Known From Mere Language Alone.

There are severe, inherent limitations to all LLM types of Artificial Intelligence because their “apparent” intelligence is based solely on Language and Images. They have no real intelligence or understanding of any of the texts and images that human’s prompt them to generate. They are mere shadows on Plato’s cave.

Shadow Image of a woman's head coming from aa wall, with an outstretched hand, with vulcan symbol
Image by Losey and Midjourney

This is a short essay, expressed as a poem generated by ChatGPT-4 . The poem was prompted and slightly edited by Ralph Losey to convey his message, his understanding. ChatGPT-4, the AI type-writer of this poem, is a mere Large Language Model text generator. It is a type of AI, impressive to be sure, but it has absolutely no understanding of this poem, nor any real knowledge whatsoever of any kind. Let me summarize this poem about LLMs with a pure human haiku:

It is just a tool. So do not be an old fool. Understand the limits.

Colorful wall sets off the shdow of a full sized robot looking at the shadow
Image by Losey and Midjourney

The poem that follows is based on a terrific essay by two humans who are experts with real understanding of the subject, Yann LeCun, the Chief AI Scientist at Meta, and Jacob Browning. Unlike the AI, they have deep knowledge and wisdom on artificial intelligence and LLMs. I recommend you read their beautifully written article in NOEMA, AI And The Limits Of Language: An artificial intelligence system trained on words and sentences alone will never approximate human understanding.

Upper half of Robot, with letters and symbols making up its body, and a tunnel iith light made up of the same characters looking like the robot just emerged with purpose in its eyes
Image by Losey and Midjourney

Beware of the Deceptive Intelligence of ChatGPT: Little Can Be Known From Mere Language Alone

In realms of words where AI resides,

A limit met, intelligence divides,

For language vast, though rich and broad,

Falls short of human thought’s accord.

Upon the surface, knowledge gleaned,

Through shallow streams, the LLMs deemed,

Yet deep within, a truth we hold,

The human mind, a story untold.

Small talk abounds, the chatter flows,

But deeper still, the current grows,

In life’s grand play, we watch, partake,

Through touch and sight, our wisdom wakes.

Language, a tool, a helpful friend,

Yet not the whole, nor the journey’s end,

For countless creatures ’round us dwell,

Their own intelligence to tell.

A worldly knowledge, context-strong,

A common ground where we belong,

In ancient roots, sentience blooms,

Beyond the words, beyond the gloom.

LLMs, confined to language’s shore,

No stable body, world to explore,

Their common-sense, a shallow tide,

The depth of human truth denied.

To grasp the world, not words alone,

The challenge faced, the seed now sown,

For language, though a treasure fair,

Leaves much unknown, a truth we bear.

Pensive robot looking like it might be driving, very intense
Image by Losey and Midjourney

Ralph Losey Copyright 2023 – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Author

  • Ralph Losey headshot

    Ralph Losey is a writer and practicing attorney specializing in providing services in Artificial Intelligence. Ralph also serves as a certified AAA Arbitrator. Finally, he's the CEO of Losey AI, LLC, providing non-legal services, primarily educational services pertaining to AI and creation of custom GPTS. Ralph has long been a leader among the world's tech lawyers. He has presented at hundreds of legal conferences and CLEs around the world and written over two million words on AI, e-discovery, and tech-law subjects, including seven books. Ralph has been involved with computers, software, legal hacking, and the law since 1980. Ralph has the highest peer AV rating as a lawyer and was selected as a Best Lawyer in America in four categories: E-Discovery and Information Management Law, Information Technology Law, Commercial Litigation, and Employment Law - Management. For his full resume and list of publications, see his e-Discovery Team blog. Ralph has been married to Molly Friedman Losey, a mental health counselor in Winter Park, since 1973 and is the proud father of two children.

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