On machine learning, myths about general AI, and what understanding is

The first part of the article discusses the book The Myth of Artificial Intelligence by American scientist and entrepreneur E. Larson, which focuses on debunking some myths about artificial intelligence. These myths, which have persisted for over half a century, suggest that the emergence of human-like ("general") AI and eventually superintelligence is inevitable, occurring naturally as AI systems evolve. The book criticizes these myths in two ways: scientific and social. It is shown that machine learning does not lead to general AI, and the myth of AI makes human potential look weaker. The second part of the article considers the problem of understanding. The concept of cognitive semantics is proposed, based on the ideas of J. Lakoff, S. Pinker, A. Damasio and A. Seth. In particular, it is noted that: understanding is an interpretation in terms of a person’s picture of the world; the picture of the world is constructed by our brain, and it is structured through the categorization of human experience; meanings (senses) are formed earlier than conceptual structures are formed; biological goals underlie meanings; not only the brain but also the body participates in cognitive processes, and understanding is associated with actions in the environment, knowledge of which is contained in the picture of the world. The article concludes by pointing out dead ends, difficulties and dangers on the path to general AI.