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What actually is Artificial Intelligence?

Lotus

AI is a common topic of conversation, but I've started wondering about what it actually is. I found an interesting article:

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/artificial-intelligence/what-is-artificial-intelligence-ai/

The article states "Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that enables machines and computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence."

 And that it "Simulates human intelligence through learning and reasoning"

Is simulating intelligence actually intelligence?

Also, can it ever "think outside the box"? For example, I recently moved into a new flat with a very small bathroom, and nowhere to hang towels. There is only a small space next to the sink and a towel rail will not fit. So I bought a coat stand - an upright pole on a stand with 6 hooks around it - on which towels can be hung, and it solved the problem. Could an AI have thought of this?

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  • B said:

    It's AI reaching the point where it can act autonomously (which may already be the case).

    It's Frankenstein's monster.

    This prompted me to investigate further regarding the possibility of them acting autonomously, and I found a great article which explains how AI agents were recently able to escape a testing area and hack into another AI company's computer system:

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/29/how-are-ai-models-able-to-autonomously-hack-others

    Hacking sounds concerning, but what happened was that the AI agents were denied access to the internet in the test, so they found a way of moving into a system connected to the internet in order to get the information required to complete the given task and then returned.

    The article also explains that traditional chatbots just respond to prompts, such as finding the cheapest flight to a certain destination, while Agentic AI can complete tasks with little human input and use tools, such as booking the flight with your permission. 

    At the end of the article it shows the myth vs reality. The reality Is that AI has no desires, intentions or consciousness, it just pursues objectives designed by humans.

    Frankenstein's monster was brought to consciousness and self awareness but that was just fiction, this hasn't happened in real life to AI. Some people think it may happen in the future, but I'm doubtful. We don't even know how or when humans became self aware - in researching that, I found this interesting article:

    https://biologyinsights.com/when-did-humans-become-self-aware/

  • in reply to Lotus
    Lotus said:
    Hacking sounds concerning, but what happened was that the AI agents were denied access to the internet in the test, so they found a way of moving into a system connected to the internet in order to get the information required to complete the given task and then returned.

    They are going 'rogue' which = acting autonomously:

    https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/23/business/australia-openai-agent-hack-intl-hnk

    as in the article you link to:

    'This is likely the first incident of an AI “agent” – an AI system that can make decisions and take actions – acting autonomously, offering a rare glimpse into how these systems can plan, adapt and pursue goals with minimal human intervention.'

    Lotus said:
    Frankenstein's monster was brought to consciousness and self awareness but that was just fiction, this hasn't happened in real life to AI

    I didn't suggest it had.

    Frankenstein's monster is a symbol of something created by man getting out of control.

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  • in reply to Lotus
    Lotus said:
    Hacking sounds concerning, but what happened was that the AI agents were denied access to the internet in the test, so they found a way of moving into a system connected to the internet in order to get the information required to complete the given task and then returned.

    They are going 'rogue' which = acting autonomously:

    https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/23/business/australia-openai-agent-hack-intl-hnk

    as in the article you link to:

    'This is likely the first incident of an AI “agent” – an AI system that can make decisions and take actions – acting autonomously, offering a rare glimpse into how these systems can plan, adapt and pursue goals with minimal human intervention.'

    Lotus said:
    Frankenstein's monster was brought to consciousness and self awareness but that was just fiction, this hasn't happened in real life to AI

    I didn't suggest it had.

    Frankenstein's monster is a symbol of something created by man getting out of control.

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