Human intelligence, artificial intelligence

NARENDRA KINI looks at Artificial Intelligence versus Human Intelligence, and whether AI has the potential to develop intuition and higher wisdom, perhaps even replacing HI?

As we find ourselves fast approaching the debate over whether AI can ever replace HI (Human Intelligence), it’s helpful to start with the common element, intelligence. When that is understood, we start investigating frontiers beyond intelligence, for there lie the potential realms toward which we can progress.

Humans have always looked to ancient texts and references to explore aspects of existence, whether from a scientific, spiritual, or religious context. While understanding different sheaths in the human system, the physical body, subtle body, and causal body are concepts from the ancient yogic traditions that are now universally accepted.

Intelligence is a derivative of the subtle body. The subtle body includes the mental functions of the mind (Manas), intellect (Buddhi), and ego (Ahankara), all playing out within the field of consciousness (Chit). Here, we may explore only the intellect as it relates to intelligence. 

The evolution of Buddhi (intellect) with inner growth is considered to be:

Intellect  => Intelligence => Intuition => Wisdom

This progression is possible when we turn our minds inward through the practice of Meditation. As a resultant, we expand our consciousness. If we pick up on this thread of reasoning, it is but obvious that intelligence in itself is only a pitstop toward the ultimate destination for Buddhi, which is Wisdom.

So the question then arises is: What is the ultimate destination of AI?

The ultimate level of AI is often referred to as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which may theoretically possess capabilities similar to human intelligence, including the ability to reason, learn, and adapt across diverse situations; potentially even mimicking aspects of intuition.

Currently, however, most experts agree that AI cannot truly develop intuition in the same way humans do, as it lacks the necessary biological and experiential foundation for “gut feelings” or the subconscious reasoning that underpins human intuition.

Between AI and HI: Intuition

Limitations of current AI: Current AI systems are primarily data-driven, making decisions based on patterns found in large datasets. This does not translate to the kind of flexible, context-aware decision-making that human intuition enables.

“Artificial Intuition” as a goal: Researchers are exploring ways to develop AI systems that can better approximate human intuition by incorporating elements like contextual understanding, uncertainty modeling, and learning from incomplete information.

Human-AI collaboration: Rather than aiming to fully replace human intuition, the future of AI might lie in leveraging its computational power to augment human decision-making by providing insights and data analysis, allowing humans to apply their intuition more effectively.

Thus, one could very well conclude that as long as humans are on the path of evolution of their subtle body, via their progression from intellect to intelligence toward wisdom, AI may find it hard, rather, impossible to replace them. However, if they stagnate at the level of intellect alone or intelligence—they are limiting themselves and very well may make themselves and their decision-making predictable enough to be replaced by AI.

If then the objective of every human is to march toward wisdom, then, the logic is to develop a focused mind that ventures to expand its consciousness by evolving past intelligence to intuition and wisdom. What is the means to this outcome? Meditation.

Why Meditation?

If our goal is to evolve and expand consciousness, we must give ourselves the opportunity to go beyond the intellect. Effortless focus is Meditation. Focus with effort is Concentration. Can we have a discriminative mind without focus? Can we have a focused mind without Meditation? Hence, to move past the intellect and intelligence, we must meditate.

An amusing corollary to this is whether or not AI can be trained to meditate and develop its own intuition. It may seem unfathomable for now, but in the future? It remains to be seen.