Can AI Ever Understand Purpose?

[Michie]

A (Human) Scientist-Theologian-Philosopher’s Perspective​

I asked AI for a writing prompt, and AI told me to answer this question. “Can AI Ever Understand Purpose?” Thinking myself clever, I put the question right back to AI. You tell me. AI’s answer was that it “processes data, recognizes patterns, and generates responses based on algorithms, but it doesn’t ‘understand’ like humans.” So there. We're done. Well not quite.

Then AI switched to first person and addressed me directly: “I can analyze chemistry or theology, connecting concepts like quantum uncertainty or Laudato si’s ethics, yet I lack subjective experience, emotions, or personal insight. My ‘understanding’ is computational—mimicking comprehension through trained models, not grasping meaning or purpose as humans do. It’s a functional simulation, not a lived experience.”

I pretty much agree with AI. No, AI cannot understand purpose. We were not, however, to the bottom of this question. First of all, it is still weird to me that AI remembers past conversations and seems to know who I am (chemistry and theology), and second of all, by invoking the first person (“I can…”), AI seems to imply a “…yet” at the end of its sentences. I lack subjective experience, emotions, or personal insight…yet. It’s not a lived experience…yet. AI’s use of “I” suggests it already is a living human. It’s the human part that concerns me.

Why AI Scares Me a Little​

Continued below.

Can AI Ever Understand Purpose?

A (Human) Scientist-Theologian-Philosopher’s Perspective

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