Computational linguist Emily Bender has voiced strong scepticism about the current state of AI, particularly large language models and chatbots. She argues that much of the AI field is overhyped, lacking genuine understanding and instead relying on pattern recognition without true intelligence. Bender likens current AI systems to a 'glorified Magic 8 Ball,' suggesting they generate responses based on statistical probabilities rather than actual comprehension.
Bender's critique focuses on the potential dangers and societal impacts of deploying these technologies without fully understanding their limitations. She is particularly concerned about the environmental costs, the spread of misinformation, and the reinforcement of biases present in the training data. She advocates for a more cautious and responsible approach to AI development, emphasising the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical considerations.
Bender challenges the notion that scaling up language models will lead to meaningful progress towards artificial general intelligence. She believes that true intelligence requires more than just the ability to generate human-like text and calls for a shift in focus towards developing AI systems that are grounded in real-world understanding and capable of reasoning.
