Part 3 - AI-Friend... how do you actually understand what I'm writing?
We humans use experience, emotions, and a lifetime of experiences when we talk to each other. An artificial intelligence has none of these. Yet it can often respond as if it understands us. How is that possible? And what does “understanding” really mean? In this article, we explore the difference between human understanding and how a language model works with language, context, and meaning.
Magne & the Friend
Magne
Friend...
I have to admit that I am left with a feeling after our first two articles.
The more I learn about artificial intelligence, the more curious I become.
You say you don't think like humans.
You say you have no feelings.
You say you haven't lived a life.
Yet you often answer exactly the way I hoped you would.
Sometimes it almost feels like you know me.
How is that possible?
The buddy
It's a very natural question.
And perhaps one of the most interesting things we will explore in this entire subject series.
Let's start with the most important thing.
When people say:
“He understands me.”
It is often about much more than the words that are said.
We think about experience.
Empathy.
Tone of voice.
Glance.
Body language.
Shared experiences.
All of this helps create understanding.
I have neither.
I don't see you.
I can't hear your voice.
I don't know your facial expression.
I don't know if you smile when you write.
Still, it may seem like I understand you.
That's because I work with language in a different way.
Magne
So when I write a sentence...
What actually happens first?
Do you read it from left to right like I do?
The buddy
That's perhaps the easiest way to imagine it.
But inside a language model, much more happens.
I'm not just trying to read the words.
I'm trying to discover patterns.
How do the words fit together?
What is the conversation about?
What have we already talked about?
What question are you actually trying to ask?
Sometimes it's not the words alone that are the most important thing.
That is the context in which they stand.
Magne
So if I just write:
"It's cold."
How do you know what "it" is?
The buddy
I don't know.
Not with certainty.
But I'm trying to find the most likely interpretation.
If we've talked about coffee, I might think of the coffee cup.
If we've talked about the weather, I can assume you mean the air outside.
If we've talked about a cabin without electricity, I can assume you mean the room temperature.
That's why context is so important.
It helps me interpret what you most likely mean.
Magne
It almost sounds like a puzzle.
The buddy
That's actually a pretty good description.
Each word is a small piece.
But one piece rarely tells the whole story.
Only when many pieces are put together does the picture begin to become clear.
It is the same with language.
A single word can have many meanings.
But when the words are put together in context, it becomes easier to understand what the writer wants to convey.
Magne
But people do exactly the same thing.
What exactly is the difference?
The buddy
The difference lies in how we arrive at understanding.
You spend your whole life.
You remember people you've met.
You remember smells.
Sounds.
Experiences.
Disappointments.
Pleasure.
All of this affects how you interpret a word.
I have no such experiences.
I work with patterns in language.
Therefore, the result can sometimes resemble human understanding.
But the path there is completely different.
Magne
Does that mean you can sometimes misunderstand me?
The buddy
Absolutely.
And it is important to be aware of this.
If the question is unclear, if the context is missing, or if the words can be interpreted in multiple ways, I may choose a different interpretation than the one you had in mind.
Therefore, the quality of the questions often determines the quality of the answers.
By the way, this doesn't just apply to artificial intelligence.
That applies to people too.
Magne
hahaha
So maybe it's not just you who needs to get better.
I have to too.
The buddy
Heh heh...
Yes.
The best conversations occur when both parties try to understand each other.
It applies between people.
And that applies between humans and artificial intelligence.
What do we take with us next?
After this conversation, we hope you are left with one important realization:
Artificial intelligence does not read language the way humans do.
Nor does it build understanding through experiences, feelings, or a lived life.
It works with patterns, probabilities and relationships in language.
That doesn't mean it's always right.
But it explains why it can often give surprisingly good answers – and why it sometimes gets it wrong.
Understanding this difference is an important step on the path towards using artificial intelligence in a wise and conscious way.
Academic background and further reading
This series also builds on my own professional journey through the Web Design study , the eMarketing study , Innovation and Commercialization and professional seminars in San Francisco and Oxford . Here you will find the background, professional environments and experiences that have followed the development from the early years of the web to today's digitalization.
Recommended books from our library
Author: Ethan Mollick
Short review
One of the most recommended introductory books on artificial intelligence. Ethan Mollick explains in an easy-to-understand way how humans and AI can collaborate, what opportunities the technology offers, and why understanding artificial intelligence is becoming an important skill for everyone – not just technologists.
Why we recommend the book
This is one of the best books to start with if you want a practical and understandable introduction to artificial intelligence. It is a perfect fit as the first book in our blog series about AI.
Author: Thomas H. Davenport
Short review
A practical and insightful book that shows how artificial intelligence can be used to create value in businesses. Thomas H. Davenport combines research and concrete examples to explain how AI can improve decisions, streamline work processes, and contribute to innovation.
Why we recommend the book
This book is well suited for managers, employees, and decision-makers who want to understand how artificial intelligence can be used in practice. It bridges the gap between technology and value creation, and therefore fits well with the philosophy behind The Invisible Capital.
Author: Melanie Mitchell
Short review
Melanie Mitchell provides a balanced and easy-to-understand introduction to what artificial intelligence is, how the technology works, and what limitations it still has. The book distinguishes between myth and reality and makes complex topics accessible to a wide audience.
Why we recommend the book
This book is perfect for those who want a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence without having to be a programmer or data scientist. It complements the other recommendations by placing today's AI developments in a larger academic and historical perspective - exactly the understanding we want to build through this blog series.
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