June 16, 2023 – Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a topic of great interest and speculation in recent years. As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, there are ongoing debates regarding the potential impact of AI on society. At a recent Viva Tech conference in Paris, Yann LeCun, the Chief AI Scientist of Meta (formerly Facebook), shared his perspective on the current state of AI and its limitations.
LeCun emphasized that despite the significant progress made in the field of AI, its intelligence level is still far from matching that of even a dog. He argued that AI systems, although capable of performing certain tasks with impressive precision, lack a fundamental understanding of the real world. These systems rely heavily on vast amounts of text-based data, which limits their ability to comprehend the intricacies of human knowledge that are not language-dependent.
To illustrate this point, LeCun presented a thought-provoking example. While an AI system might be able to pass the bar exam, it would struggle to install a dishwasher—a task a 10-year-old child could learn in just 10 minutes. This disparity highlights the limitations of current AI technologies and the crucial aspects of human experience that they fail to capture.
LeCun stressed the importance of addressing these limitations and advancing AI to a level where it not only matches human intelligence but even surpasses the cognitive abilities of animals. He acknowledged that AI development has overlooked crucial elements, and there is still much to be accomplished. However, he expressed optimism about the potential benefits of AI, envisioning a future where each individual has an AI assistant that is not only smarter than them but also acts as a helpful companion in their daily lives.
Meta is actively pursuing AI training based on video content, a more challenging task compared to language-based training. LeCun explained that by training AI models using video, the intention is to enable machines to understand and interpret visual information. He provided an example of how a five-month-old baby might not react much to an object floating in the air, but a nine-month-old baby would exhibit surprise because they have started to grasp the concept that objects typically do not float.
LeCun’s vision of AI’s future involves machines that are more intelligent than humans. However, he emphasized the importance of designing AI systems to be controllable and subservient to humans. He dismissed the notion that robots would take over the world, emphasizing the potential of AI as a highly beneficial tool that enhances our capabilities rather than posing a threat.
Recently, Meta unveiled its groundbreaking “I-JEPA” AI model, which represents a significant step toward LeCun’s ideal of truly intelligent AI. This model demonstrates enhanced accuracy in analyzing and completing missing elements in images, surpassing existing models.
As the field of AI continues to evolve, it is essential to critically evaluate its limitations and potential. LeCun’s insights shed light on the current state of AI while highlighting the need for further advancements to unlock its full potential as a transformative technology in our society.
